My First 5K

So here's the chronology of how we got to Saturday...

August 2008: I turn 30 and my metabolism decides it no longer likes me.

September 2008: Morgan turns one and I quit nursing. Now where will all those extra calories go?

Holidays '08-09: I eat like a pig, counting on my turbo metabolism to even everything out for me post holidays.

Spring 2009: The rubber tire settles in around the ol' midsection and I get repulsed. My clothing starts to rebel.

Father's Day 2009: JD & I decide that it's time to do something and finally join a gym - something we haven't done in almost six years.

August 2009: All our friends (okay, at least a dozen of them) decide they want to run the San Antonio Half Marathon or Marathon. I ain't cut out for that. However, we decide to hop on this psychotic bandwagon and sign up for a 5K. We also drag along JD's sister Jen and their parents.

Aug-Oct 2009: Oh the training! Seriously people, I played softball growing up. My extent of running was around those four little bases and from the dugout out to my position and back. Running is not for me. I begin to question my mental sanity but continue to plod away - even in the hot, sticky S.A. weather.

This Friday: It rains much of the day and brings in a cold front. The 5K is scheduled in a park that can be known to flood out in portions. I call the event sponsor to find out if maybe I'll be getting a "free pass." No such luck.

This Saturday: The 5K arrives. I haven't yet been able to successfully run 3.1 miles (without at least some walking) in my training. My goal is to run the entire thing with no walking, but I have become resigned to the fact that that may not be possible. I also don't own running clothes for cold weather. Do I really want to do this?

JD & I start off. We run through several puddles from the rain. JD completely submerges one shoe. We are surrounded by a group of high school girls who find it amusing to sprint, then cold stop right in front of us, walk awhile, and start this routine all over again. I'm trudging along; JD is trying to talk with me, distract me from my suffering. Doesn't he get that I'm just trying to breath, not carry on a conversation?!? The course curves and swirls like the fall wind, going in no particular direction. The end seems nowhere in sight. I'm wondering at what point I should take a little "walk break". JD continues to stick with me even though he could be running faster. He's playing around, keeping me entertained, convincing me we are almost at the end. Each new turn and I think "yeah, this is it" but then I'm wrong. Getting more pissed off. Finding it harder to breath. My legs are barely doing the fatty shuffle.

Then we finally get to a portion of the park I recognize and I know that we are now getting near the end. But to ruin my joy, one of the participants (a white haired older man - grrr) who has already finished the race comes jogging back in the opposite direction, smiling gleefully saying, "You're almost there." I wanna punch him for being done, for smiling, for being old and not winded while I'm choking out each breath left in my deflating lungs. And then another twist and we're headed away from where I think "the end" is supposed to be. NOOO! However, I can hear the lady on the loud speaker calling people toward the finish so I know I'm getting close. Finally, we make it there. And my sweet husband graciously pushes me across the finish line to let me complete the race first.

I DID IT! I ran the whole thing. It took me about 34 minutes to complete it, but I did it. I couldn't have done it without my rockin' husband (thanks Babe!). I feel pretty darn good about myself too. However, I don't really want to do it again anytime soon. I just want to return to going to the gym and enjoying (as much as I can) my time on the elliptical and weight machines and not feeling the pressure to run all the time. But it is nice to know that running can be added to my repertoire if I feel so inclined (which I don't think I will be for a long time).

Now good luck to all my marathon and half-marathon running friends! You all are my heroes. Three miles is barely a warm up for you guys, but it was challenge for me.

Postscript: I wish I could say that tire around my midsection vanished in the course of my working out and training. Alas, no such luck. What's a girl gotta do?!? I'm sorry metabolism for ever taking you for granted; will you forgive me and please return?

Pre-race - You can tell b/c I'm smiling.

My awesome MIL and sis-in-law pre-race.
They graciously pushed Morgan in her stroller so JD & I could run.

Nearing the finish line.

Bored by her three mile stroller ride :P

The fam post-race.

Halloween ideas

No, Morgan is not going to be paying tribute to Heath Ledger's depiction of The Joker for Halloween this year. But she does really love blueberries!

I'm TWO!

Courtesy of a free portrait package at Picture People, I took Morgan last week to get a few second birthday pictures taken. Unfortunately, she had flatly refused to eat breakfast that morning so she was in no mood to cooperate an hour later at the studio. The photographers nearly gave up on her until one of them whipped out a balloon that captivated her attention and got a few smiles out of her. However, I don't really mind the lackluster experience because (1) it didn't cost much, and (2) I'm waiting for my talented friend Bre to do her Christmas photo sessions which will produce infinitely better results (plus maybe Morgan will have more hair by then!).

... and many more!

Happy Birthday to You...

Happy Birthday to You...

Happy Birthday dear Morgan...

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

Celebrate Good Times

I think I've finally recovered from the multiple second birthday celebrations so now it's time to post some of the pictures. For Morgan's first birthday, we had a 40+ person celebration complete with fajitas, a stunning cake made by my uber-skilled friend Kara, hay-rack rides, and even fishing out at my in-law's beautiful ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas. I wasn't willing to repeat that feat for year two so I determined to go small-scale. And for the most part I achieved my goal. However, I ended up going small-scale three times over.

The first mini-celebration was at Morgan's MDO class. This was pretty simple - I just made dinosaur-shaped rice crispie treats for the kids' snack time. The teacher graciously allowed me to come and snap a few pictures as well. And just so you know, I gave M the option between star shapes and dinosaur shapes, and she picked dinosaurs. She's very into them right now.

This is what M's hair looks like after she pulls out both her pigtails :(

The next mini-celebration was also pretty effortless. I just brought cupcakes to one of our semi-regular playdates at Dynamoze, a really great indoor play place here in S.A.




Finally, on Morgan's actual birth date, we had Jonathan's parents and sister and brother-in-law over for our "official" celebration - if you could call it that. Morgan was showered with many awesome gifts, including a 42-piece tool set from Aunt Jenny & Uncle Brian (I'm sure she won't lose any of the pieces :). Jonathan and I also gave her a little play kitchen. However, her favorite gifts were those of jewelry. She received multiple necklaces and bracelets. They have been worn EVERY DAY since. And EVERY piece must be worn. It's super cute. However, Jonathan is a little worried that she may have scrapped her enjoyment of golf (a game he loves) for something more girly.

This was the first time Morgan actually showed any excitement over receiving and opening gifts. Makes me excited for Christmas with her!

Happy 2nd Birthday Button!

Sweet Morgan,

You are two! It amazes me how quickly these two years have flown by until I step back and survey all the ways you’ve grown and things you’ve accomplished. For most every phase of your life so far, I have thought, “This is the best phase yet. I don’t want to move forward. Don’t grow up any more.” Then you subtly slip or boldly bound into the next phase and I think the same thing all over again. I’m sure part of this amazement with your growth and development comes from you being my first child and my naiveté in this daily learning experience called parenting. However, I will never forget going through this time in your life. I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home with you so I don’t miss a thing!

Your smile is still my favorite feature. One flash of that big grin melts my heart and breaks my defenses. It makes your eyes sparkle and your plump cheeks shine. I LOVE it! Your big brown eyes remain one of your most commented upon features by strangers. They truly are beautiful (thanks Grandma Schlueter!). Your hair is slow to grow out – much to my chagrin. It is a pretty light brown color that has grown even lighter as we spend time outside. Your bangs have required a few trims, but other than that, your hair remains at the nape of your neck. At the present, I joke that it looks like a Beatles bowl cut. However, it is long enough to pull in two small pigtails on top of your head. I just have to get you to leave them in!

You are incredibly verbal – more so than many other kids your age. People are always shocked when they hear you speak in full sentences – never longer than four to five words, but sometimes you’ll even string together multiple sentences. And you mimic everything! Your dad and I have learned this the hard way on more than one occasion. Even your MDO teacher mentioned it after only your second day of class. I love the sound of your little voice, and I love hearing you say, “I nub you Mommy” which you often do spontaneously for no reason at all. You can also sing all of “Jesus Loves Me” and “Ring Around the Rosie”.

You love to read. Your favorites this year included, “Hug,” “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” “Guess How Much I Love You”, “Farmer McPeepers and His Missing Milk Cows,” “Good Night Gorilla,” and “Tyson the Terrible.” When it comes to TV, Dora the Explorer is always the first choice. Your memory is also incredible. You remember things and repeat them long after even I have forgotten them. You even can tell us your first and last name which sounds mostly like “Morgie” or “Morgan” “Sheeter”. Long ago it seems you mastered naming animals and making their sounds. You can also count to twenty with your favorite numbers being two and eight. And you have just begun to nail down significant chunks of your ABC’s. We are now working on colors though you almost always answer “green” when asked what color something is.

Your favorite toys are your stuffed puppies, Sasha and Tramp. You won’t go anywhere without them, and consequently they have seen a lot of the inside of the washing machine as I disinfect them from some disgusting adventures you have taken them on. Recently, you have become a big fan of girly things like purses, bracelets, and necklaces. One of your other favorite objects is your Sleep Sack. Once you outgrew the ability to wear it, it became your blankie/security item. You won’t go to bed without it, and you would carry it with you all day if we let you. Consequently, we have two of them – just in case one gets dirty or goes missing. Also, whenever you hold it, you suck on your index finger.

You began to walk just a week or two after your first birthday. It seems you went from walking to running in no time flat. Daddy liked to say you went places in mini high speed. Then, of late, it seems you have turned from running to running away. You seem to think it’s a fun game for me to have to chase you.

At the start of June, you got an unplanned-for, premature move into a big girl bed when your crib got recalled. It blew my mind how easy the transition was for you. I had fully expected a protest and long struggle to accomplish the change. Nope, not you. You did sleep right behind the door for a few nights as though wanting to be as close to us as possible and had a few weeks of sleeping in the crevice between your bed and the wall, but eventually you got it. However, the true struggle arrived a month and half later when you learned you could open your door and come out of your room at bed and nap times. That was an unpleasant fight, but we got through it a few weeks later.

Mid-August you began Mother’s Day Out. I think it was a positive step for you and Mommy. You have thrived being around other kids in a social setting and under the instruction of your teacher and structure of your classroom. And I have found I have a renewed energy and joy for the time I spend with you by just having ten hours a week either for myself or to accomplish errands toddler-free. Only a few weeks into it and you already take off into your classroom with a smile and a quick, “Bye Mommy.” I’m so glad … and only a little sad.

As you move into the toddler years, we find ourselves wondering if your spirited strength of character is just a symptom of this phase of your development or a stubborn strong-will that we will have to deal with all your life. But we continue to pray daily that God guides us as we endeavor to be the parents that you need us to be and that will ultimately lead you to Him. We don’t take a single day of our lives with you for granted. You are such a blessing God has given us! We love you more than we can even begin to express in mere words and look forward to another year with you,

Mommy (& Daddy)

Winding down the summer

While Labor Day typically indicates the end of summer, for us it meant VACATION. We hadn't originally planned on taking a vacation this summer after all the travel we did earlier in the year. However, after so many of my friends went of vacation (sometimes multiple vacations), I just couldn't resist the urge and began submitting my petitions to Jonathan. Once I received the go-ahead, JD & I settled on a long weekend down at the Gulf Coast, staying in Corpus Christi.

JD warned me ahead of time that CC is not like Hawaii, our normal beach destination. He had both his and my expectations set low so we both were very pleasantly surprised when we realized just how wonderful the beach was there. The water was clear, the perfect temperature, and of a shallow grade that allowed for plenty of area to play and wade into the surf. Even Morgan, who I fully expected to flip out at the sight and sound of the water, enjoyed herself -- though, granted, the sand was a bigger hit.

Our vacation had a little something to appeal to the whole family. I'm a sit-on-the-beach-and-soak-up-the-sun type while Jonathan is a go-and-see-what-there-is-to-see type. Morgan is too young to voice many opinions or objections, but we threw in some activities there for her too. I got my requisite time on the beach and in the water, JD got a visit to a retired aircraft carrier (the USS Lexington), and Morgan got a trip to the Texas State Aquarium where she could see dolphins (one of her favorite animals). Add into that mix a daily nap (sometimes for the whole family), an early bedtime, and lots of good food (that I didn't have to prepare) and we were all happy.

What Morgan learned this trip: That it stinks to sleep in a pack-n-play in the bathroom. This is a major downside to not renting a suite. Next time we may look into a condo even.

What we learned about Morgan this trip: That she now understands the concept of "home" and may be a homebody. After waking up the first morning, she said, "I wanna go home" and repeated her request at least once each day we were away. This was interesting to us because we have traveled a lot with her, and this is the first time she has ever made such a request.

All in all, a really great trip! And nice to know that we have a close 2 1/2 hour beach getaway available to us next time we get the hankering. Now we just wait for the Texas heat to get the message that summer is over...

First walk on the beach

Catching waves

Another walk on the beach

Building our family sand castle

Highlights from beyond the beach

The best blackberry cobbler in Texas

USS Lexington

Dolphin show at the Aquarium

Taken while waiting on the dolphin show -
oddly, probably one of the best pics taken of me in awhile