do something nice for yourself

I have been hard on my body lately. Eating stuff I shouldn't and telling myself I'll just run a billion miles to work it off, BUT I'm pretty sure that's not how good health works OR how we are supposed to treat the amazing gift that is our bodies and it can't be good for you in the long run. (unintentional pun. wha-whahhhhh)

Plus I have old lady feet and have been feeling the pins in my feet from surgeries in years past, so I am taking a running hiatus and swimming laps in the morning and I LOVE IT! Swimming is so gentle on the body while still being a huge workout. I already feel more toned. I don't know about looking more toned. But I feel good and I come home all energized to start my bright-and-early day with the family.

Swimming laps is the nicest thing I have done for myself in a while and we all deserve something nice don't we?

Another nice thing I've been treating myself to is a delicious green smoothie every morning. My dad was intrigued so I told him I'd post the recipe.

My cousin's cute wife posted this recipe on her blog a while ago and we started out doing the orange juice variation which was good, but one day I didn't have orange juice and so I tried the milk variation and have never looked back. It's like a tasty milkshake.

Here's my version:

1 cup milk
3 HUGE handfuls of spinach (fill up that blender!)

Blend until smooth.

Then add:
2 TBSP flaxseed (buy from costco. easy huh.)
2 heaping scoops of vanilla protein powder (Also from costco. You have no excuse. Get the purple and silver bag. Not the white container. TRUST ME.)
a frozen banana cut up (I buy 2 bunches at a time, peel them, throw them in a bag all together, and freeze them like that.)

Blend all that up together til it's nice and milkshake-y.

And that's it. And Thomas and I drink it, and the boys gulp some down too. Every morning and BAM you started your day with a HUGE green salad with calcium, protein, omega fatty acids, and a serving of fruit. You can add fresh or frozen berries...etc. if you want, but we keep it simple and it's totally delicious.

ENJOY!

dear diary,

A couple Thursday thoughts here.

Why does poor Asher have more fevers than anyone I've ever met. Fevers and other yucky stuff since Saturday night. That's right, even on his first birthday. Tragic. We have a urine test being processed right now and hope they can figure it out so we don't have to go back in for the blood one.

Don't get me wrong, I love the extra cuddles this misfortune affords me, but all the day-long lethargy, tears, and all-nighters of keeping nervous, sleepy vigil over my feverish boy are starting to take a toll on the family. And I just want my feisty, happy boy back!

Get better little one.

Ambrose is going stir-crazy too. But! We are going to Disneyland this summer and so I've been piling on the Disney movies via Netflix. How is he supposed to know just how magical Disneyland is if he doesn't know all the characters??? I'm just trying to get my money's worth here.

Have you watched Lady and the Tramp in a while?

Aside from the Siamese cat part making me feel embarrassed for Disney and like apologizing to Asians everywhere, the stylings of the house are AMAZING! I want all the large graphic "arts and crafts movement" (thank you Mel P) wallpaper, tile, and rugs rugs galore. I am well aware that it's just animation. But wow.

I feel the same way about Snow White though. That whole Eastern European vintage cottage in the woods look makes my heart sing. I think I got this from my mom.

I can't really find a good picture example, but you know what I mean right? Quilts, and carved wooden beds, and lots of forest creatures roaming around... and like, this kind of ribbon everywhere:

Anyway, this morning was Bambi and boy is that movie precious. I want the whole soundtrack. Nothing cuter than seeing Asher boy perk up for a few minutes and dance with a silly grin on his face to "drip drip drop little April showers..."

Oh! And society soul mates! Have you started your apron yet? I've gotten as far as realizing that I want to attempt my first made-up-by-myself pattern and improve an existing apron that I have. I love this one:

for it's almost full-body coverage, but want to improve upon it by making sure I can tie it at the waist like I have in the picture AND go to above my chest. When it's tied up now the apron strings go up much higher than my waist, which was cute when I was pregnant, but makes me look awkwardly pregnant now. Not so cute.

So, I searched through my scraps and came up with this:

An old curtain from Ambrose's room in the old house, a tiny scrap of some Japanese fabric I have saved every last shred of that may be just BARELY big enough for the torso part of the apron, some pinstripe denim that I cut out for a baby bag that never was for the waist band, and some olive solid scraps from a backpack I made for the straps around the neck. Oh, and some hippo IKEA fabric scraps from Ambrose's party favors when he turned two for a pocket.

All cut out.

Waiting for me to get the guts to execute my made-up pattern.

I really don't want to mess up so I am just letting them sit there.

Maybe until the night before we all get together at the end of the month.

But hopefully before.

Welp, I think this concludes this long diary post. I don't want to waste all of Asher's nap, but it sure feels good to dwell on something silly for a couple of minutes. I'm gonna go watch those gosh-awful Siamese cats with Ambrose and maybe even eat some more bread from our brand new bread maker!

Shout out to Thomas Robertson for doing some research and buying an affordable, yet awesome one. Did you know this thing can make bread (duh), all kinds of dough, including pasta dough, and jam! Let's hope I don't gain 100lbs. exploring all the options, but I'm excited to get all homemade up in here.

Aloha!

you wanna run too?

BYUH students, faculty, and staff can run this awesome 5k for Haiti that my friend Jonna is in charge of

aaaand in September there is the Hina Mauka 5k Dry Walk and Recovery Run in Kapiolani Park. I know September is a long time from now, but if you register now it is only $10 so even if you back-out you are only out $10.

It's a lot of fun. Me and Sheila are doing it since she will have had her babe by then and wants to run a race. Great way for all of us moms to get in shape. Join us! Sign up here before Feb.28th and you will only have to shell out $10. The proceeds go to a great cause too of course!

Also, both these runs are, of course, not on a Sunday. This is really rare in the running community. Seize the opportunity! :)

Totally worth it.

coming to terms with two things

No.1: I don't think we can afford to come home for Christmas this year to see my family as we had planned/hoped. This means my family won't see Asher until August when he will be a whole year and two months old! This makes me sad. Ambrose also talks about cousins non-stop and I really wanted him to be with them.

No.2: My wallet is GONE. I needed to just recognize that fact and quit waiting for it to show up.

SO, I went to a cheap store and chose the only one without sparkly sequence or cheetah print and I think it is fitting that my new wallet is large and purple and plaid. HA! It will be hard to lose/misplace this big mama!

I got a new license.... and my weight on there.... well, I hope you can't actually see it (YOU'RE TRYING TO ENLARGE THIS PHOTO AREN'T YOU!? Well, lucky for me the stupid license wouldn't photograph clearly no matter how I tried. Must have something to do with the finish... reminds me of Freaks and Geeks when they try to photograph themselves into a large fake ID... wow, back on track.) but I maybe sorta put five pounds less than I am now... something to shoot for- HAHA!
Got a new BYUH ID as well:
and all those empty slots?
Well, of course we had to cancel all my cards and so the new debit card and credit card are on their way.

Now I just need a library card and a Costco card replacement.

Never lose your wallet. It's annoying.

goal met!

i only have a quick second to make this happy announcement:

i am wearing my old skinny jeans today!

i hit my target weight this morning (just barely, but i'll take it.)

i've been hitting my little goals slowly but surely but not posting about them since, well, i just figured it was T.M.I. (too much information-hehe).

BUT the end weight was met today! and really, those last ten pounds ARE the hardest and really, i haven't exercised in almost two months (minus playing with my kids and the random family stroll around Laie)

so this brings me to my sad conclusion, this is the fastest and easiest i have ever lost weight and although i am sure nursing a baby helped me some really-

I WAS CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I ATE

for maybe the first time in my life.

i'm not 18 anymore. :(

did i do free saturdays? no, those were nasty and out of control.

did i do atkins.

no. sick.

southbeach? YOU diet? grapefruit? hollywood? insert trendy diet name here?

nope, nope, nope.

i just didn't eat a ton of crap. that's it.

and then for the last five pounds i joined my friend in trying to break our sugar addiction.

because i know from my own experience and a million others around me that once the impossible to live with diet is over you gain weight back because no body lives on extremes forever.

so, if i got my body to crave sugar less then when i entered the real world again i wouldn't yo-yo or balloon- making all my hard work for nothing.

the first week of breaking my sugar addiction was not easy because i didn't even realize how much of my everyday diet was so sugary. i would be like irritated at night- like i could feel it under my skin and then from there on out it got easier and easier.

i get my frozen yogurt with toppings once a week and i am good and as the weeks go by, i feel less and less like i want those toppings, which is nice. i can enjoy them but not HAVE to have them and all the other junk i used to eat.

so, that's it. i'm keeping it up for curiosities sake, maybe until christmas. if you are interested in my results i will let you know.

it feels good to be more healthy, less addicted to sugar, and more able to fit into my clothes and run around with my kids. i have toning to do for sure, your body just changes as you have kids, it's a fact, but i feel good and that makes me happy!

work in progress

i feel like i'm in the middle of everything lately.

my syllabus is done except for one part that i am working on and will hopefully be done with someday.

our contractor for the apartment remodel is so confident that permitting will be done soon that he brought an electrical contractor over today and i let my little hopes get up about { this } much.

i need to get over my nerves and quilt that dang old quilt for ambrose already.

i'm still workin on my fitness, but lost steam when i was sick and i know i'll get back to it, but it's just something that feels like a lost cause. do stretched out abs ever go back in? i've stretched them far and wide. twice now.

anyway, all i'm saying is i'm in the middle of some big things and it would be nice to have something finished.

meanwhile, i can be happy for others.

i reconnected with a dear old pal of mine. we go way back and she is doing some amazing things! no really-it's pretty inspiring.

normally when i meet up with an old friend on facebook or whatever, i feel a little slapped in the face about what a freak i am being my age with two kids, married for five years...etc. when they're living the fabulous life miles away (literally and figuratively, you know). but after browsing countless pictures of them in a parade of stylish outfits, holding sassy cocktail after sassy cocktail, i start to feel a little better... like, i think bars and clubs are boring (actually depressing if you think about it) and i would rather own my parade of i-can-roll-around-with-my-kids-in-these-clothes, holding sassy baby after sassy baby any day... and really, who's that thirsty?? haha

anyway, you get the point.

so, it was fun to see a peak into your wonderful life old friend. refreshing and i am excited to see what you'll do next!

and i'm happy for you, mom-to-be! and your sister, bride-to-be! and you, future-project-runway-winner!, and i've been thinking about how happy i am for you, my love - you are gonna be a great mom, and i'm always happy for how well things are going for this peach and her photos cuz really she's da bomb, and i am so so pleased about your current phase of life because although it is making you sick as well, i wanted it so bad for you too, because you are awesome and i love you. wow, there's a lot of pregnants in that paragraph and a few more who have yet to announce it on their own blog so i wont do it here.

and honestly, i guess just about everyone i know right now is in the middle of something and working through it (even if the thought of that brick building come monday is just too much) with perseverance and patience. thanks for your good example. let's just keep pressing froward together. i love you! i'm thinking about you. good nite.

finally.

5 pounds down and this lovely shirt is mine!

these pounds arent melting away as quickly as i remember with ambrose. i must be older. dang.

time to make my diet a little healthier i think, but i will probably never be the fanatical, drive everyone around me crazy type. i want to enjoy my life. so, i think i'll take a cue from my good pal matti and save treats for the weekends. i can live with that.

really, you're posting about this??

the kids are asleep. i want to hold myself to something here. let's talk vanity.

i used to work several jobs in high school and college and spend most of that income on clothes. i loved it. i still love clothes, but it's just not a priority when you are on a reeeally tight budget and you have to drag two babies to the store with you... oh yeah, or when you are pregnant or carrying around a bunch of postpartum weight.

these days, i am a pretty low maintenance girl (you wouldn't have guessed this if you knew me back in high school).

my 25th birthday was last month and my mom sent me some money to buy clothes that would make me feel and look good after giving birth to asher. i spent the money on fabric, a book, and these big, decorative vinyl stickers for my walls in the new place because i couldnt even think about trying on clothes.

i dont really buy new clothes anymore and getting ready for the day consists of possibly showering, a ponytail, and maybe some sunscreen on my face. that's just the way i roll these days.

but i'm not saying this is the way to be. nor am i suggesting that being obsessed with clothes and waking up two hours earlier in the morning to primp is virtuous either.

i think you should take care of the body you were given by:
1.eating healthy at least 90% of the time
2.moving your body at least once a day
3.giving personal hygiene some consideration (ha!)

that's what i'm shooting for anyway. pretty basic.

and i discovered something about myself.

I AM SICK TO DEATH OF MY UNIFORMS!! oh, i mean, the 5-6 outfits i wear on a weekly basis. it is not like these are my favorite articles of clothing i just cant live without. they are just what fit right now without being too big or way too small.

so, i am starting a little reward program for myself (it works on kids right??). i want to get fit. without going overboard and sharing too much personal detail (i think i've already done that), i'll just say that i have certain goals i have made for myself. each time i reach one of those goals there's a reward and they all come from this website. affordable, modest, really cute, and very basic (it's in the name people) so i can wear items with a lot of things, but nice enough that i want to work for it- it's not like a cheap trip to ross or savers or something.

i've already started the motivation by buying this:

to get me kick started. and i cant wait! so, if you shop from this site, and end up buying some of the same clothes, get ready to have a twin because i already have all my rewards picked out and i'm excited. :)

because you cant really be too big and not look unsightly in this:

so i've got some work to do, but i can do it and so can you!

go find some inspiration! i've got mine. vain as that may be. :)

do something for yourself every once in a while

i'm going to do this:

it's the same run i did last year when i was like 1 week pregnant with asher! if you want to do it too- it's on spet. 19th and you can go here for info

i got the ok to run yesterday so i went for a delicious jog last night and it was like reuniting with an old friend. so nice.

this 5k gives me something to "train" for and the money goes to a good cause so that's always nice. i figure i can get out in the morning with the kiddos:









and then have a real, long jog by myself at night. i have always loved running because it gives me time to myself to think, plan, get a little personal inspiration, and listen to my headphones full blast.

anyway, life as a mom sure is a whole lot easier when your body is healed and able to do the things you love to do. we are all very happy now that we can get out and about and PLAY!!!

here's to long runs, good tunes, and FITTING INTO MY SKINNY JEANS AGAIN SOMEDAY!!!! ;)

steaming hot hippo

i have a large baby boy inside of me and i hope he wants to come out soon because it is TOO DANG HOT up in here.

several months ago when people would ask me my due date and i would say, "june 5th" - without fail everyone would say, "ooohhhhh, good. right before it gets hot." and i would enthusiastically nod and pat myself on the back. way to go me. i planned this perfectly.

well, it's plenty hot.

i cant sleep right now because every time i lay down i feel like i might suffocate from the weight of this baby, the humidity, and the heat.

and the fan is on full blast!!

thomas is all wrapped up in the blankets and sheets, poor man. he jokingly told me recently that he feels like he's been living in a wind tunnel. :)

so, son no.2, if you are listening or reading this (how would he be doing that?? stick with me people.): please come soon.

please!

i promise to take you for sunday evening walks on the beach with me and amby. it's fun. you'll like it.
i'll even let you sample the rocks you pick up along the way. i swear, i'm cool like that.


see you soon!(?)!!!!!!!!

love always,

hippo mama

you would be proud dad

i didnt ignore easter this year. you told me years ago that i was the easter bunny now but it was too much work for me. :) i like holidays. i dont know why i can never get my act together for this one. so, this is what foodland had to offer at 8PM the night before and so this is what we got!



and here's big mama in her thrift shop easter dress. look out!

what happened to me?!? :)

as i got the frosting ready for the 72 cupcakes i made today, filled the inside of six or seven or eight batches of homemade oreos, put the caramel brownie cheesecake in the fridge to sit over-night, trimmed the 32 beanbags i sewed, brushed homemade salsa off my over-sized tent, uh, i mean, maternity shirt, rolled my swollen from standing and baking for the last five hours ankles one-by-one, brushed my need-to-be trimmed bangs out of my face, scratched an itch on my i-dont-know-when-the-last-time-i-wore-make-up-was nose, and contemplated all the cleaning and setting up i need to do tomorrow after i bring the snack for ambrose's preschool in the morning.... i just had to laugh.

who am i?

when did this happen?

when did i turn into this ultra-weather-beaten, project doing mom?

weird.

but fun, and good, and it's what i am supposed to be doing right now.

i know it.

it's still just funny.

four years and 10 months ago i was running atop a very historic tower in ireland in only my underwear, converse, and t-shirt.

not too many years ago i could do what i wanted, buy whatever i wanted, sleep in, and have a body free of the wear and tear of two pregnancies, and a day to myself.

two and a half or so years ago i met the guys from the lawrence arms and most of lagwagon in the front bar before their show and rocked out all night in the pit.

five years and a few months ago a bunch of us went to a strokes concert in waikiki and missed the show and the bus home and spent the whole night running around and "borrowing" towels from random hotels so we could sleep on the beach somewhere.

oh yeah,

but then five years ago i met a very unique, complicated (in a good way), sweet, artistic, thoughtful, and passionate boy and fell in love.

two years ago tonight we took the ride of our lives down to castle medical center in kailua and went through the biggest ordeal we had ever felt or known.

two years ago tomorrow a loud, demanding, sweet, affectionate, sassy, hilarious, smart, lovable baby boy was born and i kept waiting for his mom to come pick him up and then i figured out he was mine.

i didnt just have a baby. i had a human being that i am responsible for for as long as i am living and i get to enjoy him for eternity.



i feel the weight of this and realize that we have a lot ahead of us, but we have already come so far.

i'll gladly give up running around in my underwear, meeting rockstars, staying out all night, and my figure for him. he's most definitely worth it.

24 weeks

here you go mama.

and i am attempting to make something for thomas for valentines day. it could be really great or maybe it will just be sad. let's hope not. either way... it's the thought that counts right?

pregnant teen alert

usually i get these fuzzy (in a good way) little moments where i know that even though i am young- i am doing exactly what i am supposed to be doing in life right now and i feel really really lucky.

other times, i am bent over with my underwear showing out the back of my pants, trying to scrape a tantruming toddler off the library story-time floor and simultaneously bribing him with candy/juice/his toy dog/anything short of his own Nintendo DS if he promises to get up... my hair is falling out of it's messy ponytail, my broken out skin (thank you pregnancy hormones) is flushing red since i know everyone can hear me and him, and i'm doing all of this in a stance that can best be described as "granny bowling" since i have a five-month bun cooking in my oven that makes it hard for me to bend over these days.

someone will walk by and take note of him and me and the impending baby bump and mutter something helpful like, "looks like you've got your hands full..." with a tone of equal parts pity, humor, and a little disdain for the young girl who is apparently very fertile or something...

this is when i feel like a pregnant teenager. a little in over my head and seemingly unequipped to "deal" with it all.

but then there are all the other moments when something whispers to me that i am doing all this for a reason and it's probably no coincidence that i just happen to be young while doing it, that my son is healthy and happy and loves his mama, that my family (both sides)and husband are proud of me and always so helpful (i'm not alone in other words), and there are many other girls just like me.

yup girls, we are all just young girls trying our best. trading something that seems more exciting and glamorous for something a little more lasting and not always as easy.

so, when we head to the park for a lovely lunch and mother/son play excursion and i look down to see that his clothes are mysteriously soaked and lo and behold i havent packed a spare outfit for him since he was nine months old and he's squealing to get out of his soggy attire and saggy diaper - i can relax, maneuver my melon-esque torso to a suitable position conducive to getting down in the grass and putting him in a clean diaper, leave him in nothing but that and his clompy shoes and continue on to more time playing in the fleeting good weather... soaking it up.... ambrose, his bun of a brother, and his pregnant teen mom. :)

you are what you eat, i like it (right now i'm a piece of pie)

i dont know if i always loved produce so much or if it just happened gradually as i got older, but i love it. im no health expert by any means and i eat my fair share of junk and i really enjoy that too, but the good news is that i also absolutely love fruit, vegetables, tofu, fish...etc... moderation in all things, right? so, anyway, my friend rachel sent out something enjoyable today and i thought i would share since it made me feel extra fruity and more like a vegetable.... what? hmmmm..... anyway, hopefully you love it too.

(this is just a bad quality photo taken by my phone of a sample of my weekly share in this co-op i am a part of. i am so grateful to be a part of this awesome co-op- this is only a portion of what we normally get for so cheap and everything is always big and beautiful and tasty and i dont have to take an impatient toddler to the grocery store, beautiful!)

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

“We’ve all heard we are what we eat, but did you know that studies
show that every whole food we eat has a pattern that resembles a body
organ or physiological function and gives us a heads up on what
benefits that food might provide us? Here are a few examples:

“A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and
radiating lines look just like the human eye...and science shows that
carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

“A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four
chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and
blood food.

“Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape
looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that
grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

“A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere,
upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are
on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help
develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

“Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes,
they look exactly like the human kidneys.

“Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods
specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these
foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the
body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish
the skeletal needs of the body.

“Eggplant, Avocados and Pears target the health and function of the
womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs.
Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it
balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical
cancers. And how profound is this? ... It takes exactly 9 months to
grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000
photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these
foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

“Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the
glycemic index of diabetics.

“Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help
clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce
tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.”

(Source attributed to David Bjerklie, of TIME Magazine)

20 weeks today

half way through my pregnancy and feeling good.

i really like: putting embarrassing songs on my iPod

my iPod was found recently... never stolen, just put somewhere odd that i promise i looked in fifty times... never believe me again when i draw such accusatory conclusions. :) but dont you love it when you are in someones car and a really embarrassing song comes up on their iPod mix and they fumble around to change it or make up an elaborate story to explain why they have it on there? this has not only personally happened to me, but i have been in the car with too many friends to count and this very thing has happened. i love it! let's just embrace it people - if you like it there must be a reason and if there is no reason that's even better.

my car is going to be ok. i get her back in a day or two and the warranty covers everything (sigh of relief).

and i forced myself to think of like six boy names that i could be excited about when naming this second baby and told thomas to choose from those... he hasnt gotten back to me, but it's a start.

and diana, i know! i need to post a picture of my pregnant self... i just dont have one. i'll take one this weekend and that's a promise! (if you want to go to echo's blog, i look the same, just picture my head on her body to get the full effect.)

and ambrose got a couple time outs today, but he also got to play with a lot of friends, said like three new words, and ate dino shaped chicken nuggets so the whole day wasnt a total wash.

and i might finally do a little work this week (from home, of course, as always) which i am actually happy about since our family is having sort of a lean month with the new job adjustments.

oh yeah, melissa c., that most certainly is a sports bra in those pictures (how tacky!!)

and i may or may not have marched my big pregnant bum outside in it with some shorts to the beach right after those photos were taken... all over in my neighborhood and down to the beach.... pretending it was a swim suit of course, but i mean, i DO live in hauula.... no one blinked an eye. they probably thought it was classy. :)

we got iPhones, midnight came, we looked up from our iPhones long enough to kiss, then we went back to our iPhones

it's always good to look around and figure out ways to be a little better. no one will ever be perfect, but we are supposed to try and be our best self right? anyway, i enjoyed coming up with some resolutions yesterday and i thought i would put them up here since i have been inspired by some resolutions many of you have shared.

in 2009 i am going to:

* put more nutritious and natural food into my body and little, to no processed foods (i'm being realistic here, i think everyone should have a treat once in a while!)

* stretch and get my blood circulating by moving my body everyday - involve ambrose in this and have fun with it!

* reach beyond myself: learn to sew, and cook/bake things i've been too scared to attempt

* look beyond myself: serve others continually (i have some fun plans for this one already and i'm pretty excited to get started!)

* make time for the things that are most important:
-finish reading the second half of the BOM
-dedicate my days (and energy, attention, and patience) to ambrose
-dedicate nap time to myself
-dedicate evenings to quailty time with thomas

live simply

show patience

chose to not be offended

keep trying my best

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! 2009 is looking good so far.

i saw myself naked recently

you should try stealing a glance next time you're about to get in the shower... there's no escaping that truth in all it's glory...

so i went for the first run i've been on in about five months this morning...

"but stephanie, today marks the third month of your pregnancy... you're only 14 weeks pregnant... what about the other two months of slothful inactivity??"

my answer: laziness and also five months ago is about when i took over all the supervisions... so stress and exhaustion in general. (all lame excuses really, but there they are)

i did pretty good. i didnt jog the whole length, but we did our old route and made it all the way without dying. the jogging stroller has seen better days though. time for t-rob to take over his manly responsibilities and fix it up for me: flat tires, hood broken on one side, sludgy mud on random areas, and generally nasty from non-use.

oh yeah, and if you're the thief who stole my iPod shuffle, kindly replace it. it is awkward to run with a regular iPod whilst pushing a chunky toddler in an awkward jogging stroller... i felt like i was trying to pat my head and rub my tummy at the same time for the duration of the jog. plus, the big iPod only has thomas music on it, which i normally like, but my shuffle had some really embarrassing songs on it that got my energy up every time. i need it. i wont judge you, just put it back where you found it... in my car i guess. oh, the iPod thief is an illiterate scumbag who cant read this pardon i am so graciously extending his or her way? oh well. someone let him/her know. thanks.

hooray for the second trimester! my energy really is beginning to restore itself and it's time to act! we dont want to see this lovable beast again do we? (yes, this picture is from last pregnancy) i know better this second time around... it's fun to eat a mcflurry or two everyday, but not actually good for your body or baby. i'm not kidding myself this time. :)

here's the next one

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 @ 11:30AM
Camp Smith 5k Grueler
"Race over to Camp Smith for the Camp Smith 5K Grueler, and show the mountain what you're made of. The 5-K foot race takes diehard runners throughout Camp Smith’s rugged mountainous terrain beginning at the panoramic Bordelon Field. If you think you can handle the race, you are in for a visual delight. High above the Pearl Harbor basin, this race will treat runners to scenic vistas, from Honolulu to Ewa Beach."

register here : www.mccshawaii.com/cgfit.htm

this one is only $20- sounds tough, but good. i'm all signed up. see you there if you want to do it. if not, see you elsewhere some other time ;)