a formal announcement...

Well, just to make it official and to make myself really accountable, I'd like to announce that I'm currently training for the San Antonio Rock-N-Roll 1/2 Marathon on November 15th!!! I made this decision shortly after my birthday, and after I ordered my jogging stroller. I wrote in one of my blog posts that it was time I did this, and it really is. I need to quit just saying that and DO IT already! I found the race through something I was looking at on the internet and decided right then and there that I was going to do it. I've even gotten a couple of friends on board with me and I'm so excited that we can all train and be in this together!

So, I've been running every other day for the last 2 weeks and it feels soooooooooo good. I've missed it. The first few days were hard; I felt clunky, sloppy, and completely uncoordinated on the road. My right knee hurt, my left calf got some weird twitching pain in it, and my breathing was heavy and not patterned with my steps. I'm starting off VERY slow: run 1 minute, walk 1 minute for 20 minutes. Then I ran 1 1/2 min., walked 1 1/2 minutes. Today I ran 2 mintues and walked 1. I'm already getting it back; it gets better every time I go and things are starting to feel familiar again. My mind just goes like it used to back in the day, and I find myself thinking of all sorts of things besides when my time is up or when can I walk again? I really can't believe that I can consider myself a runner.... In high school I was always the "fast little white girl" and consequently, did short, fast races when I was on the track team. Ariel and I used to HATE long distance days (and Ariel is one of the girls doing the 1/2 marathon with me now!). I've also lost 3 lbs. and 2% body fat already! I have about 5 lbs. to go before I'm back at my pre-pregnancy weight. Thank goodness something is working.... this baby belly hasn't been as easy to get rid of the 2nd time around!

It feels so good to have a goal and something to work towards. It feels good to do somthing I enjoy. It feels good to do something for myself. I've been considering making a separate blog on the joys of running :) and my journey to the 1/2 so I don't bore you with the details in the family blog. That way, if you want to read it you can, and if not, you don't have to. I want to because I think it's going to be interesting to see myself evolve as a runner and an endurance athlete over the next few months. I'm soooooooooooo excited, ready for the journey, and up for the challenge.

Anyways, hmmmm. Kids are doing good. Keith's good. I'm good. I've been pretty freaked out about the swine flu thing. It's very scary, especially when you have young children. I pray we don't come in contact with it, with all the places we go and all the people we see and all the things we touch. With Keith traveling, Bradyn going to school, and me going to the grocery store------AAAHHHH! I get queasy just thinking about all the germs we come in contact with. Hopefully it'll pass and won't come back in the fall.

Bradyn has 5 more full days of school left and he's out for the summer. May 21st is his end of school program. He's such a smart boy and has grown leaps and bounds since September when we put him in the program. I am so proud of him. Bradyn can usually be found stripped down to his underwear being a superhero. Every morning he takes his PJs off and announces, "I have to be a superhero now Mom!" LOL. Lizzie is doing great also; growing like a weed! We got on the scale today and I think she's already weighing about 14 lbs! She is coming out of the newborn phase and getting such a little personality. She has a beautiful disposition and is usually a very content baby. She is holding her head up now, no problem at all, and can roll over with a little assistance (she holds onto Keith's finger and pulls herself over, back to tummy). She sits in her Bumpo chair and looks around. SO cute!!! I am grateful to God always for these kids (even on days when I want to pull my hair out!); I have been blessed beyond belief and I have so much love in my heart for my wonderful, amazing husband and precious babies. :)

I really cannot tell you how much I miss my dad. I wish he were here to see Elizabeth. He'd absolutely fall in love with her.
my dad holding newborn Bradyn

I think most days I've learned to accept the way things are now. Some days though, it REALLY hurts still.... like that day I told Bradyn to lay down on the couch to have quiet time and he said, "Mom, I miss Dada." I stopped what I was doing and sat down by him. The direction he was facing, he could see a picture of my dad. What do you say to a 3 year old about that? I said, "Me too baby," and cried. This is so hard.

Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday I celebrated the big 2-7. What a great day it was! We actually had a birthday party/BBQ for me this past weekend. Mom, Zach, Jenna, my mother-and-father-in-law, Tammy, Travis, Wyatt, and Kevin all came to hang out on Saturday, the 18th. Keith made a WONDERFUL meal for us: brisket (mmmm! his best one EVER!), salad, beans, and bread. Add a couple of beers and a carrot cake, and what's not to love about turning 27? I received some funny and sweet birthday cards, some money, an Itunes gift card, and the movie "Fireproof." Thank you everybody for coming to hang out, visit, eat, and sing "happy birthday" to me! Yes, I felt special!

Kevin and Zach 

Keith and his dad, Larry

Bradyn and Auntie Jenna

Tammy, Travis, and Wyatt

Elizabeth, fast asleep!

my mother-in-law, Kris

my mom, Vicki

made my own cake, yum!

blowing out the candles!

me with Zach and Jenna

b-day roses from Keith :)  

So, with the help of some birthday cash, my husband let me get a BOB double jogging stroller for my birthday! I ordered it yesterday morning and can't wait to get it! I really want to get into running again. I LOVED running before I had children, and it's a goal of mine to one day run a marathon. I love to exercise, but I never really got back into running much after I had Bradyn. I don't know what makes me think it's going to be easier to run with 2 kids verses 1, except the fact that it's easier to strap them both in the stroller and GO! than it is to round everyone up and make it to the gym everyday. Plus, let's face it... I'm not getting any younger. I sat my marathon goal about 5 years ago, it's time!

Keith got off work early yesterday to spend the afternoon with the birthday girl. :-) Before we got too comfortable, I went out for a quick run. It was more like a run for a minute, walk for a minute, for 20 minutes. Phew!!!!! I was glad when it was over! It's definitely going to take some time to get my running legs back. I came home and we all hung out on the back porch for a few hours; it was a gorgeous day and I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend it than with my sweet little family! Hopefully 27 is going to be a great year!

Happy Spring!!!!!!!!

Well, it's been a while since I've updated our blog, so I have alot to write about today! I guess I'll start with where I left off last... cloth diapers. We've been using them on and off for the last 3 weeks or so. I like them alot, but I'm not a total cloth convert yet. We do cloth during the day and disposables at night and when we go out. Using cloth requires more frequent diaper changing, and if Elizabeth is actually sleeping at night, I'm NOT waking her before I go to bed to change her diaper! They have stay dry liners that I may look into for nighttime. Right now, we're just trying to adjust to this different way of diapering, and I just have the basics. Oh yes, Lizzie has a new nickname: Princess Fluffy Butt. LOL! Here are some pics of Lizzie in her new knickers.

Needless to say, I am glad Keith's two back to back weeks of traveling are over with. TGFS--thank goodness for sisters! Jenna came down the first week when Keith was in Vegas and stayed with us Tuesday-Friday; what a lifesaver she was! She helped out a ton with Bradyn, and on Tuesday/Thursday when Bradyn was in school, we went shopping. It was nice to spend some sister-time together! She's a wonderful sister and aunt. :-)  Keith got home late Friday night and on Saturday went to Academy to buy Bradyn a playscape, a purchase we have been considering for a few weeks now. The thing was a pain to put together, as none of the wood planks were labeled and none of the holes were pre-drilled; it took Keith about 15 hours total (and he had help from our neighbor and his friend Travis). Bradyn was so patient while Daddy worked and I think he thinks it was worth the wait.... he LOVES it! It's not completely finished yet. There are monkey bars, but I don't know if we're going to put those on just yet, Bradyn's still a little small for them.

 

The next week Keith had to go to California. He left on Tuesday morning and got home Friday afternoon. It was just the kids and me that week, but we did pretty good.... the evening gets hectic, but a couple of glasses of wine and I'm ok. ;-p

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday!!!!!!! It was so much fun dressing Elizabeth up and watching Bradyn hunt eggs in the backyard. We got up early that morning and went to church at Redeemer Lutheran in Austin. There was no Sunday school that morning, so Bradyn sat in big church with us and did exceptionally well for a 3 yr. old. I had to hold Elizabeth the whole time, but she did well too. The day started off rainey, but by the time we got out of church at 10:45, the sun had come out and it was a GORGEOUS day! We came home and took some pictures of the family and of the kids, had lunch, then Bradyn went out to hunt eggs. He was so much fun! Last year he didn't really know what was going on, but this year he was so excited and knew just what to do! Easter pics below:

We asked Keith's mom if she would mind watching Bradyn for the night, and she said yes, so Keith and I got to spend some much needed couple time together. Lizzie was there of course, but she can't talk yet, ha ha ha. She chilled on the porch with us in her bouncer while Keith and I talked and grilled steaks. It was a nice evening. Thank you Nana!

I am happy to announce that I actually got 6 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night! I put Lizzie in bed at 10:30 and she slept until 5:30 this morning. I got in bed at 11 and was SHOCKED when I woke up and saw 5:27 on the clock! YIPPEE!!!!!

Here are some more random pics of everyone:

 

Sweet kiddos!

 

Ok, so it's pretty obvious that Bradyn adores his little sister! He's a great helper when it comes to getting me burp rags, diapers, and washcloths, and he occasionally keeps Elizabeth entertained while I finish up the dishes, cooking, getting ready, etc. Things are going MUCH better with our sleep situation; we are finally in a routine and I'm feeling much better (alot more sane and not so sleep-deprived)! I bathe, nurse, and then put her down and she usually sleeps at least 3, if not 4 hours. She wakes up to nurse around 1 or 2am and then goes right back to sleep. She usually wakes every 1 1/2 - 2 hours after that, so I'm still getting up at least 2X a night (most nights 3X). That's fine though, it's so nice getting to bed at a decent time and being able to sleep 4 hours straight a few times per week.

Mr. Bradyn is doing well. We have exciting news!!! I think we are finally DONE with diapers AND pull-ups! Bradyn's been consistently peeing in the potty since before he was 2, but we've had the hardest time with him pooping in the potty. He (thankfully) would never go in his underwear, he'd just wait until we put a diaper or training pants on him at nighttime and go in those. He adamantly REFUSED to go in the toilet, with the exception of a handful of times. It's been so frustrating!!!!!! The last 2 weeks though, he's done a complete turnaround! This week, he slept in underwear and has stayed dry every night! That's the END of diapers and training pants for him! WOO-HOOOOO (I never thought this day would come!)!!!! I may be done for the most part buying Elizabeth disposable diapers also.... we are going to give cloth diapers a go. They've come a long way in recent years and have some really cute things out there! They are much better for baby's skin and obviously better for the Earth. I've had a tremendous guilt trip lately when changing diapers... every disposable diaper takes 500 years to decompose; I can't take it anymore! We are at home enough that I think cloth is a convenient option for us. I ordered a few prefolds and Bummis (pronounced Bum-ease) covers yesterday, so hopefully they'll hurry up and get here!

Keith is going to be in Vegas next week (all week), then has to go to California the next week for 3 days. I'm not looking forward to it. I do enjoy not having to cook :) but that's about it. It is hard juggling 2 cranky kids at the end of the day, when I'm tired and cranky also. I really miss Keith when he's gone; it gets lonely and overwhelming sometime. We are so blessed that Keith has his wonderful job though, so I won't complain too much.

I'm going to post a few more pictures--ENJOY!

Keith and Elizabeth, 7 weeks

Bradyn playing with Moon Sand

Bradyn and cousin Ephram playing puppet show

    

tummy time for Lizzie!

her first pair of jeans!

We LOVE our Moby wrap!

Mommy and kiddos!

SMILE!

found her thumb!

It won't be like this for long.....

 

I heard this song on the radio in the car the other day and started bawling!!! What sweet lyrics, and how true they are. When I'm up for hours on end in the middle of the night I think of this song and it helps put it all in perspective. 5 weeks has already flown by with Elizabeth, just like 3 1/2 years has flown with Bradyn.

Speaking of, at the ripe old age of 5 weeks, Elizabeth has already had (and still has) her first cold. I guess she got it from Bradyn, who probably got it at school. It's been pretty upsetting to me seeing her so stopped up and coughing. Her little voice is even hoarse when she cries. :-(  We went to the doctor 2X this week, once on Tuesday and again on Friday to make sure it hadn't moved into her chest. They were really impressed with her weight gain--she was 9lbs. 5 oz. on Tuesday and 9lbs. 7 oz. yesterday. What can I say???... she likes to eat (like mother, like daughter)!

Life with baby....

...has been so many things, but WONDERFUL and EXHAUSTING describe the last month the best. We are so blessed to have Elizabeth in our lives and in our family. I am in awe of God and His wonderful works and His impeccable timing. Keith and I love our babies so much!

Sorry I haven't kept up with the blog better...As you can imagine, sleep for Mommy is rare these days. Sometimes life seems overwhelming and I just want to cry. The laundry never ends, the housework never ends, my breasts are on call 24 hours a day, there are bills to pay, Bradyn wants me to play with him, I need to cook dinner, get groceries, Elizabeth's crying and I don't know why, Bradyn's screaming, I need to change another diaper, AHHHHHHHHHH! Some of this is hormonal, but most of it is pure exhaustion. I am much better (mentally and emotionally) when Elizabeth and I have a "good night" and I get decent sleep. Overall, baby care in general is soooo much easier the 2nd time around, but juggling 2 children and not being able to rest during the day after being up most of the night is difficult. Elizabeth slept good for about a week after we got home from the hospital. There were a couple of times she slept 3 or 4 hours at a time and I would have to wake her up to nurse. That quickly came to an end though as she stopped liking being swaddled in a receiving blanket. When I try to wrap her up, she gets upset and struggles to get out, but when I leave her unwrapped, her arms fly out and she startles herself. We got into a bad habit of putting her in our bed because she wouldn't sleep alone in her pack-n-play that is set up right by me. Keith slept on the couch for about a week just so I could get some sleep. Terrible, I know. Thus, we have already moved her into her own room and she is now sleeping (or not sleeping!) in her crib. She makes little baby noises all night long and jumps alot, but I am not nearly as aware of it hearing it on the baby monitor. Also, she cannot hear and is no longer disturbed by me getting back into bed, going to the restroom, or Keith occasionally snoring. In fact, we have a baby monitor that has a camera on it (thanks to my husband and his job at Supercircuits!!!) and I watch Elizabeth on it for a few minutes when I get into bed. I only get up when I hear her start to cry..... which is still about every 1 1/2 hours, give or take about 30 minutes.

We took Elizabeth downtown when she was a little over two weeks old to get her newborn portraits. Getting there was kinda crazy.... we got in the middle of a marathon they were having down by the Capitol, which detoured us because several streets were blocked off, and when we were about a mile away from our destination, we almost had a wreck! I suppose it was all worth it; we got some great pictures of Elizabeth.

Days and nights are tough right now, but I am trying to take it all in; these newborn moments go by so quickly. These are precious, precious days. :-)