Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

My day was beautiful! Jesse made Norwegian pancakes for breakfast. Yum! My inlaws took the boys after breakfast so Jesse and I could go mountain biking together. It has been so long since we have been able to get out on the trails together. They've actually added new trails since the last time we went. We rode about 5 miles through the woods and around the lake. The new trail we went on is awesome. It is well maintained and scenic. It's also friendly enough that there are no spots on it where I feel inclined to get off my bike and walk it over hazardous conditions. It was the perfect morning ride. Afterwards, my father in law made lunch for everyone. He made hamburgers, which became my favorite food while I was pregnant with Trent and never changed back after he was born. Outdoor adventures, good food, and great company make me a happy mama!

Everything is Growing!

First of all, bear with me this week. My computer decided that it had lived long enough. So, until I get a replacement set up, my pictures and posts will be iphone quality. That being said...

So excited to see my garden looking so good so far. We've had some crazy weather here lately, including a lot of rain. (Side note, thank you to everyone who checked in on us after the tornadoes came through. We are safe and incredibly blessed.) In the front yard, we have tomatoes, eggplants, beans, and peppers. In the backyard, we have all the herbs (due to the proximity to the kitchen), more beans, and my lime tree.

Container Garden

And look who else is growing!

5 months

Beautiful Produce

I love my new CSA. Last year, I couldn't get into my first choice CSA because it was full. This year, they emailed me at the beginning of the season to let me know they had an opening. I love, love, love the new one! The produce is fresh and beautiful, and the family that runs it is easy to work with and well organized. But, the BEST part is that they plant such a variety! This time of year 'greens' are in season. I like most greens, but no one in our family is a huge fan of turnip greens or collard greens. This week we received bok choy, strawberries, onions, salad mix, and radishes. The strawberries are delicious and the onions are so sweet. It's so much fun to open the box each week and see what's inside!

Florida Trip

Last week we visited my grandparents in south Florida. We had a such a good time. It was a refreshing break. My grandparents do an amazing job keeping up with the kiddos too. I hope I'm that energetic when I'm 80-plus!

We experienced a lot of firsts. It was Sean's first ride in the car that was longer than 4 hours. It was the boys first time sharing a room. It was Sean's first time meeting his great grandparents. It was Trent's first time at Nanny and Poppy's house where he could walk...

The trip down went really smoothly. The car rides are always the toughest part. Trent did much better than he has done in the past. Overall, the boys did surprisingly well sharing a room. Sean still gets up at random intervals each night, so I was anticipating him waking his brother up each time, but Trent always went right back to sleep.

Trent had fun hanging out on Poppy's fishing dock and riding toys in the driveway. While we were in Florida, we went to the local park a couple of times, the zoo, and the beach. Trent had a ball at all of them. Sean had his own little tent to snooze in while we were at the beach.

Feeding Deer at the Zoo

Macaw, Macaw!

Daddy provides a better view

Hanging Out

Bonding with Poppy

Born to Run

I have been intrigued by the whole barefoot running craze. Vibram Five Fingers have moved from a group of avid runners wearing toe shoes to a full blown fad. The other day when I tried them on, school children were buying a few pairs. I wanted to know more about why people were choosing to run barefoot. Enter this book by Christopher McDougall:



I really enjoyed reading the book. As an avid runner, it was both inspirational and informative. Some interesting quotes from the book:

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

"Shoes block pain, not impact! Pain teaches us to run comfortable! From the moment you start going barefoot, you will change the way you run."

"When your feet aren't artificially protected, you're forced to vary your pace and watch your speed: the instant you get recklessly fast and sloppy, the pain shooting up your shins will slow you down."


On Thursday, I gave it a try. I ran 3 miles with "barefoot" shoes. I did not purchase the Vibram 5 fingers. When I tried them on, I had a ridiculous time attempting to get each toe in the appropriate toe spot. I could not commit to spending half the day getting shoes on my feet. Plus, aesthetically, they fall somewhere in between froglike and Big Foot. So I bought a pair of Merrell's that have a thin bottom. They protect your feet from objects on the road but with the thin bottom and large toe box, they still encourage proper running form.

The shoes did force me to focus on my form. In traditional, cushioned running shoes, you end up pounding your heels because of all the extra padding. When running barefoot, it causes you to shorten your stride and land in the middle of your foot. I really enjoyed the run and they are really comfortable. You feel like you could run forever. They also make great every day shoes. I was told to proceed slowly though as your body has to adapt to the new form. The barefoot running wakes muscles you didn't use as much when running with traditional shoes. My calves have been tight for two days!

Growing Boys

Big Bro "helping" Lil Bro

Last Tuesday, the boys had their 2 year and 4 month doctor appointments. It was my first time taking both boys to the doctor by myself, but they did great. They're both on track developmentally and physically. Trent continues to be consistent in his height/weight ranges. He is 37 inches tall (97th percentile) and 32.5 lbs (95 percentile). Sean is 26.5 inches tall (95th percentile) and 15 lbs 14.5 oz (75th percentile). The doctor gave Sean the green light to start on solid foods so we'll be starting that sometime in the near future. Overall, good checkups for both!

Blessings

I'm a big Laura Story fan. In turn, so are my boys. It's kind of comical because they can be upset and as soon as I start playing Laura Story music or singing Laura Story songs, they calm down. She has a beautiful voice and her songs have great lyrics. She has a new album coming out on the 12th. You can download the new album here.
Her new single is called Blessings.

Repurposing

Tonight I made Trent some really comfortable flannel pajama pants. They're worn in, super soft, perfect kind of pajama pants. How do I know? Well, they used to be mine. I wore these pajama pants religiously in college. They were actually my college roommate's, but I eventually inherited them. Anyway, along the way, they got a big hole in them. A patch would look funny so they sat in my closet in a bag of clothes intended to throw away or be given to goodwill. Alas, the bag never made it to either destination. So during naptime today, I decided to go through the bag. I realized there were so many items in the bag that could be repurposed for the boys to wear. So now, Trent has a a great pair of pajama pants!

Diversified Skill Set

Ahh, the life...

Today's morning went a little like this:

Architect - constructed castles, made of sand, with a surrounding moat
Ecologist - collected and identified trees, sticks, pine straw, pine cones, rocks, etc.
Teacher - explained the letter A, identified colors and played games to learn names of different kinds of fruit
Athlete - Ran 2 miles pushing 75lbs in front of me
Baker/short order cook - baked rolls for tonight, made lunch
Housekeeper - 'nuff said
Physical Therapist - Encouraged tummy time and dancing
Mediator - kept numero 1 from inadvertently harming numero 2

Spice Rack

So excited about my new spice rack! Jesse made me a spice rack that hangs on the wall, right next to the stove. I love convenience and extra counter space. Perfect!

Celebrating Two with Thomas

Our Thomas filled Day

On Saturday, we spent the morning with Thomas the Train. Trent is a big fan and really enjoyed all the Thomas related activities. There was plenty to do! Some highlights... (clockwise on the picture) We played with Thomas the Train trainsets, played in the sand and bubbles, got a Percy tattoo, took our picture with the famous engine, fed some goats, and rode on Thomas!

After naptime, we celebrated his birthday meal with all the grandparents and great-grandma Janet. We had a cheese and cracker platter, followed by Shepards Pie for dinner, and chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes for dessert.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes - Yumm!!

The cupcakes were delicious. It was a new recipe, but they really turned out well. I only let Trent have one, but he definitely let me know he wanted more!

Blowing Out the Candles!

Making on Monday

I try to sew a little bit each week because I've put myself on a fabric buying freeze until I knock out some of the projects that I need to get done. I love to knock projects out all at once and move onto the next one. However, with two little ones, I don't have the time to finish an entire outfit in one sitting. So, I cut out the pattern one day, make the lining another day, etc. until the project is completed. Specifically, Trent is in need of pajama pants and shorts for the summer. So today, I finished up three pairs of pants/shorts. They had made it to the 'need elastic in the waistband' stage and had been sitting on my sewing desk. The green and blue jungle themed pants are pajamas. The Thomas the Train pants are for Trent's birthday party this coming weekend. The green and white plaid shorts are bermuda shorts for the summer.

Finished!

Super Fast!

Full speed ahead. That's the only speed TJ knows. We have a sloped driveway. He has a bike and a scooter. He gets a running start, aims straight, and off he goes!

And speaking of fast, can you believe this little guy is already four months old?! He has turned into such a laid back, happy baby. He is ALWAYS smiling - such a joy to be around!

Team Rump 'N Roll

Rump 'N Roll

I ran a 5K this morning. It was so much fun! It was the first race that I have done in a couple of years. We put together a team called Rump 'N Roll. The race was called the Rumpshaker. It raised money for colon cancer research. There were eight of us on the team and everyone did great! It was a fun atmosphere. Jesse brought the boys along to cheer. There were a ton of people running so it was hard to meet up with everyone, but we did manage to get a picture with 5 of the 8 team members.

2 Years Old!

Trent turned 2 on Tuesday. To celebrate his actual birthday, we went out for Mexican and ice cream. We're having a 'Thomas the Train' party for him in about a week. Thomas is taking over a local railroad museum, so we'll be making a trip to see Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt. Afterward we'll have a little party at our house. Trent loves Thomas the Train. He doesn't watch much TV, but when he does, his first request is usually for 'Mas! I made these cupcake toppers yesterday:

Cupcake Toppers

Nurture vs Nature

When raising kids, I often wonder what is a result of parental behavior and what happens purely just because. When Trent was about Sean's age, he slept at 9, 1, and 4. Eventually, he gave up the 4pm nap and then later he gave up the 9am nap. He still takes a 1pm nap. Most moms I know that have their kids on a nap schedule, keep one fairly similar to Trent's original schedule.

Then, we had Sean. For the first few months of Sean's life, he wasn't really into sleeping. It eventually came. When the exhaustion was really sinking in, I started putting both boys down at the same time. I figured we'd start a bedtime routine, even if Sean didn't believe in going to bed. It worked. Soon after, Sean started sleeping through the night. He and Trent both sleep from 7pm until about 6am every night. (Sean gets up at 4 to eat and goes right back to sleep.) I don't know if he just embraced the schedule we started setting for him or if at that same time he was ready to start sleeping through the night. Then, there was naptime. Trent would consistently nap and Sean would inevitably catnap throughout the day. Well, between 1 and 4, I was always "resting" with Sean because I didn't want him to wake his brother. (Our house isn't that big and Sean has a set of lungs that could wake the neighbors.) Eventually, Sean started taking his nap at the same time as his brother. So he may or may not go down for an hour in the morning, but he usually sleeps from 1-4 in the afternoon. So again, is it nature that he established his own sleep pattern or nurture that him sleeping at the same time as Trent was the behavior I was encouraging? Regardless, I try my best as a mama but I don't take a lot of credit for their behavior. I just accept the fact that God has blessed me with two adorable little boys.

Places to Go

Baby Sean is rolling over!

The boys and I went for a run this morning. We ran for three miles around the neighborhood. I love our neighborhood. It's really pretty. The area is wooded and hilly and there's a creek that runs behind some of the homes. The people you meet are always friendly. Both boys really seem to enjoy the stroller most of the time. Plus, as I get faster, we are able to cover more distance in the same amount of time. Today we kept a 12 minute pace. The first two miles were at an 11 mile/min pace, but the climb up to our house is a rough one. On a treadmill, I've been doing about an 8.5 min/mile pace (if that gives you any indication as to the effects of what hills and pushing 50lbs of kiddos will do to your pace). We had fun though. Sean faces me so we smile at each other the whole time and Trent points out all our surroundings. When we got back to the house, I laid a blanket on the grass for Sean and I. Trent went in and got his toys. While Trent was drawing masterpieces on our driveway with sidewalk chalk, Sean rolled over from his back to his front. So fun to see! We were outside all morning. Sean was happy as could be to soak up the sun and Trent was all over the place. It really feels like spring is here!

Different Approach the Second Time

First, let me tell you about round 1: I ran on and (mostly) off during and after college. Then, in the fall of 2005, I decided I was going to do a triathlon. The first problem was I never had a swim lesson. I had no idea how to swim competitively. My idea of swimming back then could be defined as movement in water to avoid drowning. I did that well. But, that's not necessarily enough skill to compete in a race. I met some people at the YMCA and they taught me the correct form. My swim stroke and confidence in the water is so much better now, thanks to them. The next problem I encountered was I didn't own a bike. Easy enough, I went out and bought one. However, prior to 2005, I was probably 14 the last time I rode a bike. So, I started riding regularly after work. The running was the only thing I had semi been doing before I decided I was going to do a triathlon. I am competitive. Back then, I worked out before and after work. I would lift weights, swim, or run in the morning and bike, run or swim in the afternoon. Two-a-days were pretty common. I competed during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. I wanted to get better and better. I was decent. I never expected to win, but I was usually in the top part of my age bracket.

Fast forward four years and two babies later and we're starting round 2. During round 1, I discovered that running and biking are two of my favorite forms of exercise. I love how fast you can go on a road bike, but also enjoy being in the woods on a mountain bike. Same with running, I love to push myself on the pavement, but also love running the trails. My affection for swimming is more than it used to be, but I still wouldn't say, "I heart swimming." Some friends of mine convinced me to train for another race in June. With two little ones at home (one that is still breastfeeding), I obviously can't train to the same degree that I trained previously. Oddly enough, that has been really refreshing. I am enjoying each workout more this time because there aren't as many of them. I don't feel SO tied to the sport. Mountain biking is something Jesse and I love to do together. Unfortunately, there can be a good chance of getting hurt while doing it. I used to be afraid an injury would end a triathlon season. This time around, since I am racing for fun and nothing else, I am not worried about it. So I probably won't be winning any awards this summer, but it'll be great for shedding the baby weight, enjoying time with friends and exercising outdoors!

Reading More

Around the new year, I decided I wanted to read more in 2011. I made a long list of all the books I have been wanting to read and just haven't had the chance. So far, I'm averaging a few books per month. None of them have been terrible, some of them have been average and some I've really enjoyed.

My favorites so far:

Blue Like Jazz - really enjoyed this book. I read through the whole thing in a day. It's one of those books that you don't want to put down and yet you want to stop and think after each paragraph. It came out several years ago and has been on my "to read" list for a while and I finally got to it. It's a narrative of Donald Miller's spiritual journey with Christianity. It is told through a bunch of short stories.

The Help - this book was recommended (and borrowed from) a good friend of mine. It's set in Mississippi in the 60s, during the civil rights movement. The story is told from three different points of view. Living in the south, but not having been raised in the south, it is an interesting glimpse into a moment in time in American history.

Fun Friday

Today:

1. The boys and I watched five deer meander through the backyard.

2. We tackled "Big Nasty" in the jog stroller. It's a very hilly 5K loop (with one enormous hill, hence the name) that I normally run on the weekends without the kids. Definite accomplishment!

3. We cleaned out the garage this morning so on rainy days Trent can still play with his outdoor toys (and Jesse's workshop area is more organized)

4. Trent may be ready for potty training judging by the conversation we had this morning:

TJ: (Squatting/Grunting)

Me: Are you making Stinkies?

TJ: (Smiles and runs to the corner to finish his business)

Me: (After he's done) Did you make stinkies?

TJ: Yeah, I did!

Me: Where are stinkies supposed to go?

TJ: Bah! (His word for potty)