McFatty Monday - C25K Run #1

20 minutes removed from my first workout.  My legs are jello, my lungs burn, and I'm still sweating a little even though I've rinsed off in the shower. 

It feels like success. 

Seriously.  I was almost discouraged by the cold in the basement.  I was almost discouraged by the fact that my legs hurt mere moments into my warm up walk.  But I made myself keep going, and I am proud.  For the first time in probably years, I set out to work out and I actually did it.  It's these little successes I know I am going to need early on in order to keep myself going. 

Here's hoping the pain of tomorrow and the following day don't put a dent in my plans to keep this up!

My little lady

It's hard to describe the stage Kayla is at better than my mother in law did the other day.  "She's really starting to put things together."  She does much more than repeat what she hears from us; words are becoming phrases and questions.  She knows her family members inside and out; right down to my dad and step mom's dog.  She can count to 5 on her (my) fingers and to 10 while looking at her number puzzle.  She's smiley and adorable yet moody and tantrum prone all at once.  It doens't seem so long ago I was wondering who she'd be.  Now it seems we're starting to see it. 

It really does go so fast. 

I need an acountabilibuddy...

So I'm jumping on Blair's bandwagon.  It's about time.  Really, it is. 

I started this blog to tell the story of how we became a family.  I have been using it to tell what our life is like as a family.  One thing I haven't really been telling is the toll it's taken on me physically.  For the last 18 months, it's been one thing after another.  I'm a brand new mom, I'm tired.  I'm a working new mom, I'm tired.  I'm making weak attempts to keep house, I'm tired.  I have a toddler, I'm tired. 

I need to get out of this rut.  I need to stop making excuses. 

So beginning next week, I am going to hop on the train to McFatty Mondays and a modified version of the nine-week Couch to 5k workout.  And I want - no, need - to be acountable to someone.  So blogosphere, you are it.  You're my accountabilibuddy.  Healthier eating has already started.  Playlist making starts tonight.  Daily weigh ins start tomorrow.  Working out starts Monday. 

I'm still ironing out the details, but my plan looks a little like this:

• Monday - Couch to 5k run 1 (for the appropriate week)
• Tuesday - Light weight training
• Wednesday - Couch to 5k run 2
• Thursday - Light weight training
• Friday - Couch to 5k run 3
• Saturday - Rest
• Sunday - Light weight training

Run days will be spent on the eliptical since my knees won't tolerate running anywhere else.  Once I'm through those 9 weeks, we'll see where I can go from there.  My goal is to lose the last 10 pounds still hanging on from pregnancy and in doing so, gaining a little bit of myself and my confidence back.  I'm really excited to get this going.  I want to be the happiest and healthiest momma I can be so that I can be around for this little girl for a long time.

18 month checkup

We just got home from Kayla's 18 month checkup, and it seems that thanks to a lollipop and some Yo Gabba Gabba, the shots are all but forgotten.  Since she screamed through her entire 15 month checkup I was a little bit worried, but she was a champ for this one.  She even smiled at the doctor a little bit. 
According to Dr. S., the two shots she got today are her last until she is ready for kindergarten.  She'll still get her annual flu shot, but that will be it for a few years.  Even though I do OK when they stick her, I'm glad that we don't have to do that again for a while. 

Basically she's totally healthy and developmentally on track.  She has a little cold, but what kid in daycare doesn't have one this time of year?  Or any time of year for that matter.  She is 31 1/2" tall and weighs 23 lbs 8 oz.  She's still cruising right along the 50th percentile on the growth charts, except for her head circumfrence, which is still in the 75th percentile.  It's great to once again see everything really is going well.  I rarely doubt that they are since she's hitting milestones and eats and drinks like a champ, but it never hurts to hear it from an expert!

Happy 18 Months!

Hard to believe a year and a half has passed since this little girl turned my world on its ear. All my love little angel.

A week later, the Christmas Recap

Now that the last waves of illness seem to be receding from the house, I wanted to FINALLY try to get caught up here.  Kayla's second Christmas was definitely a memorable one; I couldn't wait to share. 

Christmas Eve started with breakfast at Pepere and Grammy Sue's house with our dear friends the Fraileys.  Deb, Peter and Noah are like family to us, and their angel Eli is never far from any of our hearts or minds.  They also brought their furbaby Maggie along - Kayla couldn't get enough of her!  After breakfast and gifts with them and Aunt Paula, we came home for an unsuccessful nap attempt. 

Deb and Kayla

The Bedger family stopped by for an afternoon visit on their way to see their families.  Thanks for the yummy cookies guys, they were great!  After that it was time to get dressed and head out for our traditional Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family.  Kayla was utterly adorable in her new dress...

But the adorable factor only lasted so long thanks to that entirely too short nap.  Thankfully we got to enjoy the time with family a bit (that particular gathering holds a lot of special memories for me and is super meaningful, so it meant a lot to be there even just for a couple of hours) and Kayla slipped into a snooze on the ride home.  We didn't get to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" this year, but that's OK. 

While Kayla was snoozing, Santa came and left her some goodies in her stocking and under the tree.

Which she happily tore into on Christmas Morning. 

After Santa presents, it was over to Grandma and PawPaw's house for breakfast and more presents.

And some puppy kisses

We came home and had nap time, then went back to Grandma and PawPaw's to see Dena, Jaime and three of their boys.  There were (of course) more gifts, and lots of playing and laughs and hugs. 

Christmas then continued on Sunday with Nana...

It was a busy, but wonderful 3 days.  We spent the next week hanging out at home, passing our cold germs around and resting.  I didn't accomplish as much as I'd wanted to, but it was great to have us all home together for a few non-hectic days.  We celebrated a quiet NYE at home with champagne and chocolate souffles and more cold germs.  Thankfully we're all feeling pretty much better now and we are looking forward to all that 2011 has to offer! 

Our Year in Pictures

So the innerwebz seem to have eaten the lovely year in review post I was working on.  In frustration I present a year in pictures...

JANUARY

Kayla at 6 months, still sporting the crazy-awesome spiky hairdo. 

FEBRUARY

First venture out into the snow. 

MARCH

Self feeding in full swing already... Kayla starts crawling this month too. 

APRIL

First Easter, not liking being placed in the grass. 





MAY

So much fun.  We celebrated Pepere's 50th birthday this month, although his birthday is in April.  Kayla's first teeth finally appear in May. 

JUNE

We celebrated Aunt Dena and Uncle Jaime's wedding this month.  Kayla's first steps also came in June; just in time to be fully mobile for her party. 

JULY

Pictures in the dead heat of summer - dead referring to the grass of course - on her FIRST BIRTHDAY!  We went to Avalon in July too. 

AUGUST

Kayla did a brief stint as a vampire when her lateral incisors popped through but the centrals took their time making an appearance.  We also paint, rearrange and re-accessorize the living room.  Little improvements make a big difference. 

SEPTEMBER

We took a mini-vacation to Ocean City.  Our first trip as a family.  <3

OCTOBER



The first time she was actually awake and aware for Trick or Treat night. 



NOVEMBER

Her second Thanksgiving - third if you count the fact that I was pregnant in 2008.  Hard to believe how much things can change in 2 years.  This month we celebrate Nana's 50th birthday too. 

DECEMBER

Spoiled silly at Christmas.  We are so very lucky. 

And that my friends, is the short version of our 2010 in review.

We hope that your 2010 treated you well and that 2011 is even better!

Merry Christmas to all

I'm expecting a busy week so I wanted to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, from our family to yours. 

We are all alive and well

So once again it looks like I've fallen desperately behind on both blogs.  Last week I was dying of strep throat.  This week we are temporarily without internet while we redo our office and assemble our new desk and hutch.  I promise I will be back next week!

Things to come:

*Christmas cards are sent.  I need to give the one going farthest away (Colorado) some time to get there, and then I can share the amazing Shutterfly card that we made this year.

*I have the weirdest toddler on Earth.  She actually WANTS to wear a hat and mittens. 

*This weekend begins the Christmas festivities in our house.  I plan to document with lots of pictures. 

*Working on the 2010 recap… hope to have that posted soon.