Wordless Wednesday

And I Ran, I Ran So Far Awaaayy

I ran a half marathon last weekend. All 13.1 ridiculous miles. My first. Likely not my last. It's my sister-in-laws fault. She had signed up to walk it with some friends and caught me during my post Life's A Beach Triathlon (the Triathlon for Slackers) high.

The half marathon was in Charleston and they advertised shrimp and grits and beer at the end. How could I refuse the opportunity to be back in my city, see some family, and have a great excuse to eat food I love somewhat guilt free?

So I committed. The persuaded Jonathan to commit. And then, my brother committed. I must admit that looking at the 13.1 mile route on the map was daunting but we all began training.

Last Saturday was the big day. The Notorious MRA and ASA both had the flu and the forecast for the event was a sunny 37 degrees. But we persisted. And I bought some "cold gear" to run in.

On the drive up, MRA vomited all over Chik-fil-A and the forecast changed to include WIND! We decided if it rained we were throwing in the towel and sleeping in. We finally made it to South Carolina, dropped the boys off with my parents and were relieved to finally be in a car without incessant hacking coming from the back seat.

My runner friends all insisted that 37 degrees was PERFECT marathon weather but if you know me, I am a cold weather wimp. I turn mean and angry and I say things to people I love that are rude and ugly. I hate to be cold.

Long story short, I did it! We all did it. Chad clocked the winds at 19 mph around mile 10 which is about were my knee gave out (and my headphones died) but we finished. And we finished within our goals. Jonathan was super fast (although he doesn't think so) and my brother and I finished in stride, crossing the finish line together. Robin also finished with a great time.

I could not have crawled another mile.

My mother-in-law asked if I was going to get one of those 13.1 stickers for my car and all I could say was, "NO! I am more proud of 37*F. I'll take one of those stickers.

I loved finishing with my brother and hopefully we will all do it again next year and I learned that I can run in the cold but I can absolutely do without the wind.

And next year I need to add a little Flock of Seagulls (I Ran) to my play list.

And here are the stats so I don't forget them: Charleston Half Marathon Stats

Wordless Wednesday

Happy New Year!

My husband just unexpectedly became a guest blogger and provided the content for the first blog of 2014.

I just received the following email from him. I think this may give me high hopes of the year to come!

"MRA and ASA had their squabbles this AM as usual. Being that I’m still recovering from the sleep deprivation from the past week, I tell both of them to go to their rooms. They both do while I’m finishing getting ready. When I go up to get them, I open MRA’s door 1st, and not only is he playing quietly, but he’s also both gotten himself dressed and cleaned-up his room (which he quickly told me about). It was one of the more proud moments that I’ve had of him."

Wishing you all much hope in 2014!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

"A good conversationalist is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember." John Mason Brown

I had my first conversation with Chubalicious the other day! A whole, meaningful conversation. An exchange of ideas, back and forth, give and take. It went like this:

Chaubalicious: Mama? Mama? MAMA? MAAAAMAAAA?

Me: I'm back here.

Him: Mama, MamaMamaMAMA

Me: Right here, Bud, whatcha need?

Him: All done (handing me his empty cup).

Me: Okay, thank you, need anything else?

Him: No (walking out of the room).

I didn't say it was riveting conversation but a milestone, nonetheless.

When Its Over, Its Really Over

Sometimes it feels like we have been potty training MRA FOREVER. He has the pee thing down fairly well but the poop thing is still hit or miss. There are days at a time where he uses the potty followed by what seems like weeks at a time of cleaning out poopy underwear.

The other day, though, we had a successful potty experience and decided to reward MRA with a trip to Chick-Fil-A after school. Sadly, one there, the playground was closed and Chubalicious wasn't cooperating.

Jonathan decided to take Chubalicious home leaving me with the Notorious MRA. I tried to make it fun. I told him we were on a date. This is how it went:

Me: Its like a date. An MRA and Mama date!

MRA: A date?!

Me: Yes, a date. When we leave, you are going to have to open the door for me.

MRA: I can open the door.

ME: You should open the car door too. That's what gentleman do on dates.

MRA takes two bites of his sandwich and crawls under the table and out of the booth and begins goofing off in the aisle.

ME: What are you doing?

MRA: Dates over!

I guess I pushed it too far with the car door?

We Had A BALL!

Chubalicious celebrated his 1st birthday recently. Because he loves the ball so much, we went with the theme. I had these great invites made by Paper and Cake. They did a great job and also made thank you notes and food labels that matched.

It turned out to be one of the easiest parties I have ever put together. Sticking with the ball theme, we had lollicakes (from the Lollicake Queen), and sugar cookies with bouncing balls from Sugar Me Dessererie. They did a great job of matching the invitations!

Of course there were fruit balls and meatballs and shrimp boulettes. We also had a caprese ball salad and a cheese ball. For drinks, we had a Midori melon ball punch and Eight Ball beer as well as sodas and water.

 

The decorations were super easy - balls everywhere. And maybe a few paper lanterns and streamers.

I think that you can't have a great party without great friends. I have made some of the best Mama friends. They made the party so special and we had a great time. It meant so much to us to celebrate with them - all the children who came and us Mamas have known each other since these babies were just a few weeks old. Now look at them all.

Of course MRA was in on the action, too.

The smashing thing took a little bit of time to figure it out. I am sure he was confused by this thing set in front of him, however, when he decided to go for it, he went full on.

My only regret... not having a better picture of these cuties!

The party was a few days prior to Chubalicious' actual birthday. This meant we got to celebrate it again - this time at Steak and Shake for a first milkshake!

Happy birthday my dear, sweet Chubalicious. You make the world go round and we love you way, way more than you know! XOXO

Wordless Wednesday

For Nana

Some people I know, who's name I will not mention (but is in the title post) are obsessed with my babies eating. 

I don't imagine this video will be of much interest to anyone else... and, I understand. I am really not interested in watching anyone else's child destroy a banana. But when its my own child, its a whole other story, because what would be disgusting is suddenly the-most-adorable-thing-I-have-ever-seen.  Actually, its still pretty gross and I really, really wouldn't be that interested if it weren't my own child. 

Prince Charming

You may recall that I mentioned ASA was christened in a gown made from my mother's wedding dress. MRA also wore the gown and each child has his monogram on the bottom. I think ASA, in particular, looks a little royal.

Here are some comparisons...

The Prince of Norway

The Prince of Wales

The Prince of Sarasota

A Notorious Baptism

Well, we managed to make it through last weekend's baptism festivities. The good news is ASA has been baptized and I am getting pretty darn good at arranging tulips. Of course, at some point, I will probably have to do something different but I digress.

For his brother's big day, MRA began the celebration being very sweet. As you see here, he wanted to hug ASA and hold his hand during the baptism.

He was also very helpful climbing up to the baptismal font and helping out the minister.

Oh, wait, that's Reverend Clay helping MRA. Seriously, he really can be helpful.

See, helpful.

That is until the attention stops being on him. Then its like an internal switch flips and there is PANIC. Its like he is thinking, "HOW, HOW, HOW can I get the attention focused BACK. ON. ME!

Oh, I know, I will roll on the floor!"

Like I said, he was helpful... until he wasn't anymore.

ASA, however, was perfect. He cooed, and smiled ,and looked like royalty in the family baptismal gown (hoping some one will send photos of that for me to post).

He was passed from adoring relative to friend during the luncheon and fell asleep on anyone who held still long enough.

Also at the luncheon, MRA stole tomatoes from the gourmet grocer across the street for which my MIL had to run back to pay for. Bless her heart.

He enjoyed the tomato with a "let them eat cupcake" attitude. The cupcake design was awesome.

I may have had one two three glasses of wine (thank you Mollydooker Shiraz for also being all kinds of awesome.) And, a happy day was had by, well... most.

The. End.

The Difference Between One and Two Is Tenfold

It really is amazing how dramatic the difference is between the first and second child... in EVERY way. I mean, obviously, their personalities are different but so is the way that they get treated.

With MRA, we were all in such a hurry for everything to happen. I read each chapter of "What to Expect the First Year" each month and spent the next four weeks ticking off the milestones in my mind. Or sometimes trying not to panic if the milestones hadn't been reached yet.

I couldn't wait for the first smile, laugh, or roll. Every next milestone we eagerly anticipated and encouraged in any way we could.

My parents would have force fed the poor kid rice cereal at eight weeks if I would have let them. And my Dad, my Dad was ready to give him ice cream at three months.

But with ASA, things are different. There is no rush. And although I find myself infinitely busier, I also find myself wanting to cherish the little moments a little longer. Of course some of this may be due to the fact that I had my tubes tied.

Actually, they were cut. No little eggs slipping through a loose knot for me. The nurse even showed me the sections they cut out. (Which, even in my heavily sedated haze, I could have lived happily for the rest of my life without seeing.)

So, yeah, just about zero chance of a third miracle in our lives. This is fine and also what we wanted but there is such a sense of finality to it that in some ways is... sad.

However, I also think that we are so much busier that we don't have the time to sit and oogle over every little move ASA makes. This, too, is kind of sad. And ASA is such a relaxed child, which, I suppose is good since he is often times left sitting alone while MRA demands a cookie, or a pillow, or his feet rubbed (thanks Nana for that one) or time on my lap.

But when I do get time with my little, scrumptious, gummy smiled marshmallow, I savor every second. I breathe deep his smell and try to hold on to the way his little hands feel when they hold my finger. I try to hold onto every wonderful, blissful second because, hoe lee shizzle - next week, my little pumpkin pie will be SIX MONTHS old!

My friends warned me this would happen if I fed him.

Dr. Ferber, redux

It's that time again. We revisited Dr. Richard Ferber and once again are very, very thankful. Dr. Ferber has given us our lives back and changed parenthood for us, for the better.

You may recall me gushing about him two years ago when we were sleep training MRA. Not much has changed. ASA took a little longer with the program than his older brother but we started a few weeks earlier, so maybe that was the issue. In any event, the following photos are of MRA and ASA post- Ferberization.

Can you tell who is who?

I told some one the other day, "I think I would leave my husband for Dr. Richard Ferber. Actually, the truth is I think Jonathan would leave me for Dr. Ferber!"

Sweet dreams and fingers crossed this continues.

Wordless Wednesday