Daily Darling 7/1

Where the f*ck is my bow, Mom? Yes, Zoe is pretty perturbed, here. I was wearing her on my back while the boys and I were weeding the yard today (20 square feet down, only a million square feet to go!). When I took her out after an hour or so for a nursing/diaper/change break, she was BOW-LESS! I looked and looked, but alas, her pretty light pink crochet band with the turquoise peony is missing. Oh well, she still looks pretty darn cute with her "sausage-fit" pink capris and "Ray Of Sunshine" onesie. But she misses her headpiece- a mother just knows these things;)

Daily Darling 6/30

Here's little Zo-Zo sitting on Auntie Jenese's lap... I sware, Zoe loves her Auntie Jenese a lot more than this picture lets on! She looks too cute in this green gingham sunsuit with her fat little thighs hanging out. And what's that poking out from behind that pretty headband? Yes, it's hair! Now she almost has as much as she did the day she was born:)

I'm Sorry But It's Way Too Hot...

For attachment parenting! Too bad Zoe doesn't think so... Yesterday she decided the only place she would sleep was on my back in the Oh Snap!. And to make matters worse, I had to vacuum the entire downstairs. Ugh, I love that baby, but she's like a sweaty little oven. And then there's the little issue of co-sleeping... THIS is what I get into bed with every night:


Cozy and cuddly on a winter night, downright cruel when the weathers like it's been. Oh well, today was actually nice, the weather was just right for babywearing, and I'm looking forward to cuddling up with my little cuties tonight:)

Daily Darling 6/27

Aww, look at that little darling, she's so proud of her mama. I have to say, I maybe didn't put quite as much effort into her outfit today as I normally would, because a family of 5 with 3 kids UNDER 5 attempting to leave the house by 7am is just slightly stressful. Yet somehow, big surprise, she looks as adorable as ever.

Can I Just Say How Awesome I Am?

So here I am just 2 minutes before the start of my very first half-marathon. Just to give you a little background, running has only recently become a hobby of mine. About 2 months after I had Zoe, I started a modified version of the couch to 5k program, which I highly recommend for beginners. When I started, running 1 city block was a challenge. Really. But after doing the couch to 5k, I was able to jog 3 miles without stopping, which was huge for me. I enjoyed running because I could just put the kids in the stroller and go... I got my exercise and they got some fresh air after being trapped indoors all winter.

Then one day I was browsing in Walmart, killing time while Greg was in a dentist appointment, and I noticed a cover story on the March issue of Fitness magazine, entitled, "Yes, YOU Can Run A Half-Marathon". I bought the magazine, and read the article. The proposed training plan was for anyone who could run 2+ miles without stopping. That was me! In April I bought my first pair of real running shoes, and a double jogger marketed for "serious" runners.I began following the training program religiously, rain or shine, all the while falling deeper and deeper in love with the sport.When I finished the program, I still had some time before race day, so I began following the advanced "Race in Record Time" version of the Fitness Magazine program, which includes hill training and speed intervals. It kicked my ass, but felt AMAZING at the same time.

So here I am. 5 1/2 months after giving birth, down 12 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight, and in the best shape of my life. Here I am, a beginner, really, standing at the starting line of a 13.1 mile race, and not a flat and fast one either. This is the Fairfield Half-Marathon, and here is the course map, if you're interested. Those hills are no joke.

I wish I had an after picture, but I was too busy trying not to pass out to whip out my camera phone. I can tell you that as I was climbing those hills, a couple of things were going through my head. 1) Wow, this is a picnic compared to pushing 45 lbs. of kids and 25 lbs. of stroller! and 2) The worst hill on this course is about a million times more pleasant than my worst contraction during transition. If I can survive natural childbirth, I can ACE 13.1 miles.

And I did. I finished in 1hr, 46 min, and 7 seconds, #394 out of 2,824 runners. I finished number 34 in my division, and 91st in my gender. There is something to be said for hard work, dedication, and striving towards a personal goal. And there is even more to be said about the super-powers of your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill Mommy:)

Daily Darling 6/25

10:17pm. Asleep. Finally. Getting sick? Teething? Gas? Spoiled rotten? Off to bed now, who knows what the rest of the night holds. I am probably the only mother on earth who is now about to pick up her sleeping baby from a swing and transfer her to my bed. But that's just the way I am,,, I can't sleep unless I know my baby is safe and sound, an arms reach away:)

Daily Darling 6/23

Here's my girl, looking very much like the late Chris Farley wearing a giant bow... um, in a cute way. The dress is one that I snagged for her this weekend. It's a Piper and Posie, and was on the clearance rack at Marshall's for 6$! Up close, the pattern is adorable... it has the cutest little pink birdies... I couldn't resist!