Tag x3

I was inspired by Shirley to do this. (So blame her!)

1. Where is your cell phone? nightstand
2. Your hair? its natural color for the first time in 10 years
3. Your mother? deceased, courageous
4. Your father? deceased, my hero
5. Your favorite food? green beans
6. Your dream last night? can't recall
7. Your favourite drink? sadly, it is water as I am cola-free for 8+ months now
8. Your dream/goal? to be a good mother to Isaac
9. What room are you in? office
10. Your hobby? running!!!! (although some say it is my passion)
11. Your fear? not being a good mother to Isaac
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home room mom
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something you aren't? tolerant
15. Muffins? sure - and make 'em chocolate
16. Wish list item? time to work
17. Where did you grow up? Little Rock, Arkansas
18. Last thing you did? put Isaac's blanket back on him
19. What are you wearing? t-shirt
20. Your TV? all too often my only contact with the "outside world" (other than the 'net)
21. Your pets? none - I have a 1-year-old, after all!
22. Your friends? dearly appreciated
23. Your life? just what I want, even though I complain a lot
24. Your mood? optimistic
25. Missing someone? no
26. Vehicle? NOT the awesome Jetta I used to have
27. Something you're not wearing? shoes
28. Your favourite store? Breakaway Running
29. Your favourite color? orange
30. When was the last time you laughed? a few minutes ago
31. Last time you cried? within the past week, I'm sure
32. Your best friend? Chasen
33. One place that I go over and over? the laundry room
34. One person who emails me regularly? Martina, who is sharing her experiences in Japan with me!
35. Favourite place to eat? church, actually

Name 10 Things That Make You Happy
1. New running shoes!
2. Getting Isaac out of his crib in the morning.
3. Getting a paycheck (it is rare these days)!
4. Having time to read Runner's World (also rare these days)
5. Having time to read blogs (which is all but extinct)
6. Spending time with my beloved mommy friends and their kiddos.
7. Spending time with my mommy friends alone!!!
8. Finding an interesting topic for Chasen and I to discuss.
9. Being able to run and blow off some steam.
10. Giving Isaac a bath. It is the best part of our time together!

Name 10 Specific Goals for 2010
1. Run another marathon.
2. Pick up cycling again.
3. Find the right "Mother's Day Out" for Isaac and adjust to spending 10 less hours per week with him.
4. Finish Isaac's baby book.
5. Run a sub-10 mile at least once.
6. Skype more often. I have now started! Wanna Skype?
7. Stay in contact with my Team Point Two teammates.
8. Become more tolerant of young mothers who seem to only know how to talk about children! (Get a life, people!)
9. Work more (professionally speaking, of course).
10. Take a non-marathon related vacation.

What's Up?

Sometimes life throws a lot our way. All we can do is the best we can! My "saga" begins about two weeks ago, actually, when I detected some knee pain. I cut a run short and then got through a longrun pain free. Score! Next thing I knew, it hurt after standing on my feet all day a week ago baking for Isaac's birthday party. I literally had to ice it after that. Two days later when I tried to run 12 miles, I had to stop at 8.75 due to the same pain. Aaack! Needless to say, this, in combination with an overly busy husband, has put the skids on P90X for about a week and a half. *sigh*

Next, my non-running life got busy. One walk/run was all I could handle this past week, and NO P90X. I was trying to give the knee a chance to get some peace, among other things, but my body was still very tired because Mr. Isaac is cutting some molars, I believe. Aaah, Calgon, take me away! But not before we go see the pediatrician...

Here is the 1-year-old waiting to go back for his 1-year checkup on Wednesday.

Come on, Doc, where are ya?

Isaac is in the 40th percentile for weight and the 90th percentile for height. Tall and slim -- nothin' wrong with that! And he has now given up bottles and formula in exchange for sippy cups and whole milk like a champion! That is a huge relief for me, because I have some friends who are having a really rough time with that transition right now.

On Thursday, after only four hours of sleep, I had to get myself to Hernando, MS to board a bus by 6:15 AM with the rest of my Leadership DeSoto group to take a trip to the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, MS. Man oh man - I was tired. But the day was awesome. And I don't think I have to explain how good it felt to get to be "Susan" instead of "Mommy" that day! As a bonus, I discovered that one of the guys recently ran his first marathon. Oh the chatting began!

Here is the front of the Capitol. As a new Mississippian, it was great to be able to visit Jackson.

Here is the view from the entry of the rotunda.

I got home and was exhausted, as you can imagine. Four hours of sleep, six hours on a bus, walking and talking.... ack! That night I got eight hours of sleep and still woke up tired. But, I had a continuing education class to get to in nearby Southaven, MS. Chasen, who now has a cold because he too darn busy and tired, stayed home with Isaac both days. At the class I learned all about fire safety and sprinkler systems. That day I got to be "Architect" instead of "Mommy." Again, it was awesome!

I am determined that effective immediately we (or at least I) are getting back on the running/P90X schedule. Wish me luck! I am sure all you parents (especially mothers) can relate to the challenges of trying to manage it all. It is certainly a challenge. Some days are victories simply by being able to get cleaned up and put a good meal on the table. Other days I get to "do it all" and feel a lot more accomplished. That's the thing about not being able to run or work out -- I feel like I accomplish nothing that day. Not a good feeling! It makes me wonder how moms who do not run cope with it all, because running is definitely my outlet. My knee has better let it continue to be!

Happy Birthday To Isaac!

My sweet baby boy is one year old today! Time does fly. I have neglected this blog for several reasons, but namely because I have been swamped getting our home ready for his big par-tay! The past week was the definition of insanity: cleaning all day, Chasen coming home late, trying desperately to fit in running and P90X. Something had to give, most days! Plus, Isaac and I were each sick one day last week. Oh what a life!

But back to the important stuff: the amazing year I have been blessed to spend with this awesome lil man. Things have changed sooooo much! One of the best things was the chance to meet fellow new moms at our Thursday afternoon "mommy and me" group. Isaac "graduated" from it last week, as it is for birth to one year old. So, like every other departing mom, I made treats for the day.

Chocolate glazed peanut butter cup brownies with #1's on top.

I literally spent all day Friday baking. The party was Saturday, and there were 28 of us present!

(mostly) Gluten-free monkey cupcakes. One of my friends is intolerant to gluten.

"Regular" monkey cupcakes

Chocolate covered strawberries - much easier to make than monkeys!

Edible arrangement (see the #1?) courtesy of Chasen.

We also had mini-cheeseburgers and french fries. Everything was a hit! Just call me caterer...

Isaac wanted to grab his candle!

Mmmm... chocolate!

Little by little... he is not the chocoholic that his mother is, thankfully.

That's enough, Mommy.

He received so many wonderful presents from his friends. We are so lucky!

Today, on his actual birthday, he woke up before his actual birth time (7:15 AM). I immediately sang Happy Birthday to him.

Here is my best buddy, the birthday boy, after his breakfast.

What the heck, let's have some leftover cake!

Seriously, Mommy, throw away the cake. (I did.)

I honestly do not want to see any more chocolate for a very long time. I never, ever thought I'd say that!