Marathon - 26.2 miles!

Right before the start...

The start line

Running through the finish!

SO happy to be DONE!!

This past weekend I ran, and completed, the St. Louis Marathon! It was super exciting to look back and realize what I had done, but in the moment was not so glamorous. I was feeling great until about 13 miles, and then the course got very hilly and very hot and humid. Afterwards, people were saying it was in the 80's, and I believe them! I was drinking a cup of water and a cup of Gatorade at every aid station, and it didn't feel like enough. My hips also started cramping badly around 20 miles, so it was all I could do to run a mile. I walked quite a bit in the last bit, but promised myself I would run the last mile, and I did! That day, and even the next, I swore I would never ever do this again, because I was in so much pain, but now I think I might, just to get my time down. I'm really not sore and just have a sore big toe, so for my first marathon, I think it turned out alright! I might try to do some half marathons over the summer just to stay in shape, but we'll see...

Peaceful Moment

Last week, Tom was out of town all week, so on the morning that I had to go into work really early this is how Julia was in our bed when I went to wake her up! She was sleeping so peacefully, it was heartbreaking to have to wake her up before she was ready. Her resemblance to Tom in the mornings is quite uncanny - they both have the burrow into the blankets act down pat! Sometimes I hate being the early riser of all of us, but other times it's precious because I get to see all these little moments of peace :).

Painting!

For daycare, Julia had "homework" to do a painting over the weekend, so her and I sat and did a bit on Saturday. This inspired me to get a couple of cheap canvases for her to play with, and she really enjoyed it! I think this will have to become a more regular activity. I'm also looking forward to displaying her art :).

Breadmaker :)

1st loaf - French Bread

2nd loaf - Cinnamon Raisin bread!

3rd loaf - caved in Whole Wheat bread :(

Although it looks hideous, it doesn't taste too terrible!

For Christmas, Mom and Dad gave us a bread machine (thank you! thank you! thank you!). We received in the mail a couple weeks ago, and I've testing out a few recipes, and I LOVE using this thing. I've always been a much better baker than cook, but bread was one thing (unless it was quick bread) that I've never been able to have turn out quite right. I'm going to try to stop buying bread and just make all of ours, since it's super easy, and I can start a loaf right as I'm making dinner and have it done by the time I go to bed.

Look who's 2!!

Classic Julia "excited" expression!

Opening gifts from Gramma and Papa, thank you!

Taking a bite of cake, yum...

Mama's birthday girl

Daddy's princess ;)

Homemade carrot cake!

She loved blowing out her own candles :)

Her best friend, Cookie

Playing with her new kitchen!

What's cooking?

For Julia's 2nd birthday, we did our usual low-key celebration with cake and gifts at home. We actually spread out our celebrating over a few days, since the birthday girl was sick over the weekend. We had plans to go to the zoo, but just stayed in, and then took her to an indoor bouncy gym place the next weekend (more photos to follow...). We decided to get Julia a play kitchen, since she pretending to cook, so this was perfect for her :). It's so incredible how fast the last couple years have gone by. I remember so vividly the moment she was born - hearing her before I even saw her! Our lives changed in an instant, but it's difficult to imagine what in the world we ever wasted our time and energy on before Julia! We seem to move through seasons of her growing so quickly - one minute we're up all night with her and sleeping in the recliner with her on our chests, the next we're bolting upright in bed, worried because she's slept the whole night without making a peep! We used to have conversations that consisted of coos and winks and soft kisses, now we're having conversations about what she did at daycare, how we should behave and treat others, and how big girls use the potty! In some ways I feel like I wish I could go back to the days when she was an infant, but at the same time it's so exciting to see what she's going to learn next :).

Week 13 and 14

Week 13 - I ran 13 miles and it was not good. Week 14 - I ran 20 miles and it rocked!! It definitely made me feel more confident about at least completing the marathon, so I'm going for it. This is one of those things that I'm working hard for purely for the self-satisfaction of knowing I can do it. It sounds selfish when I write it out, but I think it's actually important for everyone to have those one or two things they do just take care of themselves. All day everyday I'm a wife, a mom, and an officer, but sometimes it's good to be just me, and that's how I feel when I go running. I have a feeling this will be my last marathon for awhile though, because I do miss have lazy quiet weekends with Tom and Julia ;).

Week 12 - 16 Mile Run

This was by far my worst run. I know I've said this before, but I actually had to sit down at one point. I don't think I prepared for it well, and I took too much time in the morning getting ready, so it was later than usual when I started. I was definitely not hydrated (after 10 miles I drank half a Gatorade bottle and still had a dry mouth...), and haven't been eating well enough, or enough to properly fuel myself. Yuck. Bottomline though, what should have only taken 2 hours and 40 minutes took 3 hours. And...since it was a gorgeous sunny day, I got sunburnt. Lesson learned. Also, this midwest wind is killing me! Literally half my run I was running into what felt like a 20 mph wind! I'm sure that'd make anyone tired! Hopefully I make it to the marathon. I really want to realize the results of all this work. Tom has been very encouraging and patient (since long runs take up a good portion of our weekends), and that means quite a lot to me.