Don't Start With Me

Ooo I'm in a mood.  .  

Just a whiny exasperated mood.  There are no roses in this post.  No shiny happy people.  No sunny beaches.  No hot bubble baths with a good book.  No wonderful date nights with your husband.

Dangit.

My day started off alright.  Planned on going into town so I could run on some hills since the 10K on hills kicked my trash and I died.  And I don't want to die in August when I run a half marathon where there are still lots of hills. 

I planned on starting around 8:30-9 a.m.  You know, before it got too hot.  Well, I didn't get to my sister's apartment till almost 10, then she talked to me for 15-20 minutes and finally I was able to get started.  And by that time it was at least 10:30 or something.  I don't know.  I didn't look at the dumb clock.

Picture this:  80 degree's, no wind, not a cloud in sight, I know some of you are drooling and getting out the mental boat to put in the mental lake to do some mental wake boarding.  Well, put the darn boat back on the mental ramp and park it will ya?  Because I ran 8 bloody (is that a swear word?  I keep hearing it might be across the pond, but I like the sound of it.  I guess I could say something like...  smelly, or itchy or caboodley, or fanninnilily, or cotton-pickin (from Elf, eh?)) miles, with 6 of them being on hillyness and I died.

That's right, I'm not really here, I died.  Whitney, who would have been 25 at the end of this month died. 

Ok, then I came back to life.  But really, I hit about 7 1/2 miles and decided I've never felt so incredibly drained ever. 

Picture this:  a girl in a purple tank top jogging, red faced, looking like she's giving her all, then from behind comes a woman walking, pushing a double stroller with a baby on her back and a kid hanging on each leg and she passes the purple tank top, then does one last look back before she is out the front of the screen. 

That was me the last half mile.  Your grandma could have waddled past me, but I was sure not gonna stop jogging! 

So, I stagger up to Lindsey's door and I lightly knock (because my brother in law is sleeping).  No answer, I try the handle - nothing.  I knock a little louder.  Nothing.  I knock louder.  Nothing.  I yell through the door "OPEN UP!  I'M DDDYYYYIIIINNNGGG!!!!"  (I'm not making this up).  Nothing.  I walk to the window, bang on that.  Nothing.  I walk back to the door, "Lindsey!  I need water!!! I'm DYYIIINNNGGG!!!"  Nothing.  So then, I look at the parking lot, because I swear I saw her car.  There it is.. and.. wait... why is my car so far away?   Why is Lindsey's car so far away?  And Nate's?  Ohh... wait a minute. 

WRONG BUILDING.

See?  Heat stroke or something.  Delusional.  I went to the wrong building.  I waddle to Lindsey's door, lightly tap at the door and 2 seconds later the door opens and Linds says, "I didn't even lock it after you left."

So I stumble in, drink 3 gallons of water, eat one of her bananas, steal a gatorade, use her face wash, change and head back out the door.

I had a million errands to run.  One of which was picking out paint to paint my upstairs.  Now, my feet are killing me from the run and since I died and came back to life my left eye is twitching and so I enlist the help of my interior designer sister-in-law who has a paint-color-wheel thing and we figure out which color to do the entire upstairs and which color to do my one accent wall.  The guys were taking fooorrever mixing my paint.  So I say, "Hey, I'm going to run to Big 5 real quick, I'll be right back."  Ok, they say.  So I go buy my yellow version of the purple tank I was running in because it's my new favorite piece of exercise clothing and one is not enough. 

I come back to Ace, and see one of my paint cans sitting on the counter and the other wasn't.  So I wait, someone comes by, asks if I need anything.  I tell him I need paint can number two, he finds it in the mixer and I say thank you Mr. Kind Sir and pay and leave.

So, I'm just plum spent.

I get home, unload, thank my Mother in Law for watching my nugget, and then the nugget get's a little fiesty later and I'm just plum spent.  Jaren's not home,  feels like he never is these days (oh, wait, it's 10 p.m. and he STILL isn't home.)  I haven't showered, I feel disgusting, my feet hurt, my left eye is still twitching from my near death experience and Naomi is throwing things.  From behind.  She get's quite the distance covered that way, let me tell you. 

Jaren came home around 6:30, I made dinner, we ate, he said, "go take a shower, honey.  You really stink.  And would you do something about that left eye twitch?  It's really unattractive."  So, he takes Naomi down stairs and I shower and I'm done, and Naomi wants to sit on my lap while I try to pluck my eye brows and Jaren says, "Well, this has been fun, I've got to go check water or something.  See you all later."  So he leaves me juggling tweezers and a wiley little nugget. 

I get her ready for bed, put her down and this whole time I have a massive pounding head ache - I'm convinced it's from heat stroke.  Or the near death experience.  Or both.  Along with the eye twitch. 

So, she's down at 7:30 - HALLELUJAH!  I don't remember the last time I put her to bed that early.  But I'll just say that because of it, my eye stopped twitching.

So, I get ambitious, pull out the paint cans, open one, paint a square on my accent wall.  Open the other and - WAIT ONE COTTON PICKIN MINUTE!!!!  It wasn't MIXED!!  Those fanninnilily boys thought that when I walked away, they could too!  Without mixin my paint!  UUUUGGGH.  So, I have to mix my self, do I?  So... I do.  But it wasn't any fun, let me tell you.  Walkin around shakin a thing, talking on the phone to my sister-in-law.  Rollin the can on the floor, it get's away from me and slams into my shin.  I have a bruise.  Itchy can. 

I finally get it mixed, I put it on the wall - look at the accent wall and what?!  Wait one caboodley minute!  The accent square is cobalt blue!!  Or maybe it just looks that way because of the brown walls next to it and under it?  Oh man, I don't know.  All I know is I can't have a cobalt accent wall.  Can't wait to hear what Jaren says when he see's I desecrated his wall. 

So, I need to find a different color for my accent wall - I like the one on my other wall.  I have to tape my entire upstairs, get Jaren to caulk along the ceiling because it's not been done in the over 4 years we've lived in the house and I'm tired of lookin like a hillbilly. 

And.  HE IS STILL NOT HOME.  It's been this way since April.  He's got more ground he's running and is trying to get that running like all of the rest of it.  There are lots of break downs everywhere, I get it.  I get the why, but I'm starting not to care.  There get's to be a point where I'm tired of being a single mom and tired of Naomi going 3-4 days a week not seeing her Dad at all.  And I'm in a mood.  And I died today.  And my left eye finally stopped twitching.  And I have a cobalt square on my accent wall.  And my feet feel 73 years old.  And I have a sunburn on my neck.  ONLY MY NECK.  And my bedroom is a mess.  And my bathroom is a mess.  And I'm tired.  And Jaren isn't home. 

And he gave everyone the day off.  He says, "It'll only be 6 hours out of the day.  Instead of... 14."  Oh.  Fantastic. Yeah, I know, someone has to do it - why not the boss?  Look, I'll feel better tomorrow and I'm so grateful for all he does for us and everything we have because of all of his hard work.  But I miss him.  And Naomi misses him.  And so when I'm in a mood - like today - I just don't care and I just want him home.  Dangit.

This is the end of my giant rant.  Tune in next time for shiny happy people.

Half Marathon VS. 10K

I ran in the Teton Dam Marathons 10K last Saturday.  Remember last year?  I did the half marathon and enjoyed it quite a bit.  I had also been running for five months previous and spent 2 and half of that officially training.  I was totally prepared.  And I laugh at how I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to do it.

This year, I waited too long to start training.  Well, running again because the saddest thing is that I hadn't run for more than 3 weeks strait at a time since I finished that Half Marathon last year.  April rolled around and I kept thinking.. one year ago I was running 6 miles without stopping.  Then May rolled around and I thought... one year ago I was running 8 or 9 miles without stopping.  It was depressing.  But, I put off running because I kept thinking, I might be pregnant by June and running would be much harder.  So I didn't get myself out the door to run. 

Well, beginning of May came around and Chelsey, one of my friends asked me to run the Teton Dam 10K with her.  By that time we had already decided to continue waiting to start trying, so I knew I wouldn't be pregnant.  So, I started running again.  I had only been running for four weeks by the time last saturday rolled around.  What's amazing, is that 2 weeks before the race I was running and had meant to run 4 miles and felt so good I ran 5 and a half.  I was so happy that my body jumped right back into it.  Then Monday happened (Memorial Day) and I ran 3 miles and felt like poo.  Wednesday, felt even worse - Thursday same thing.  By that time my throat had started killing so I knew I was sick. 

I never kicked the cold/sore throat (Strep? who knows) by the time the race was and so I ran that 10K (4 miles up hill and only 2 flat/downhill) and didn't enjoy it.  I mean... I enjoyed it, I find I really enjoy a race although, I'm not really racing anyone, my goal is to run the whole thing without stopping and hit around a 10 minute mile. 

The results?  Last year I ran 13.1 miles with a 10.14 minute mile.  This time it was 10.21 minute mile!  What the?!  I ran less than half the distance and it took longer!!!  I realized that I need to do better training, run for more than 4 weeks before a race, RUN HILLS and do interval stuff. 

How did I feel?  Like poo.  I wished I had gone to the doctor the first morning I woke up with my throat in shreds and my voice gone.  I enjoyed the experience but after I crossed that finish line I didn't not feel the euphoria I did last year.  Last year I was inexpressibly happy and felt so good that I had accomplished that.  I was ready to do it again the next weekend.  I smiled the whole day.  This year I was like, "Oh, so glad that's over."  

Lesson learned:  Train, intervals, hills and DON'T GET SICK. 

I also decided that barring I'm not too pregnant or haven't just barely had a baby I will run in that race every year.  Even if I am 8 weeks postpartum and only do the 5K.   Although, they give you the really nice running shirts if you run in the half or the full.  If you do anything else you just get a cotton T-Shirt.  So, I'm aiming for the half if not the full (someday) every time so I can get the nice running shirts every time! 

Here are some last years and this years:

Last year this was the picture soonest to the finish line.  Jaren showed up about 15 minutes after I was done...

This year:  So he made sure to be there super early this time!

This Year: (since I didn't have any of him right after wards last year, here is this years)

This year:  Lindsey came!!!

Last Year:  I got a medal!  I think they only go to the Half and Full Marathoners, because I didn't get one this year. 

 

This Year:  no metal :(

 Last Year:  Number

This Year:  Number (last years was green (for halfers) this year was orange (for the 10K)

 

Last Year:  Family Picture!

 This Year:  Family!

 Last Year:  The Nugget

 This Year:  The Nugget!

 I just want to leave you with a picture of the year 2030's most beautiful woman in the world.

She's watching Dora :) 

The Teton Dam Marathon

Half Marathon for me!  2 hours, 14 minutes 39.6 seconds. 32 minutes behind the first runner.  I averaged a 10 minute 16 second mile. 

Friday night I was so antsy.  I ate a giant plate of spaghetti, 2 slices of garlic toast, 5 meatballs and a big glass of milk.  It's been a long time since I've ate that much and felt that full!

I made a running play list for my iPod.  And went to bed around 9:30 which is early for me.

Woke up at 5:50 a.m.to the wind screaming outside my house.  20-30 mph.  I was immediately filled with dread for how the run was going to go.  I was planning on wearing shorts and changed my mind to capri's, a tank top and then a long sleeved shirt over that.

I pumped, made breakfast: hash browns, kielbasa (mmmmm...), eggs and toast.  Jaren and I ran around the house looking for safety pins to pin my number to my shirt.  We managed to scrounge up three.

I left at 7:00 a.m.  The Half Marathon started at 7:30.  There was a lot of people there(377).  I was surprised at all the different ages.  Teenagers, 30 something Mom's, 20 something college girls, 40 or 50 something men.  I thought it was awesome.

When it first started I felt a little claustrophobic.  I didn't like that I had a hard time setting my own pace with people in my way in front of me, people passing me, bumping shoulders.  And it was that way for the first 3 miles.  Ironically, the first 3 or 4 were the hardest for me.  I had never trained on hills and the entire first 8 miles was a constant steady incline and some steepish hills.  

Right away I regretted wearing the capri's.  The wind wasn't blowing as bad around town as it was out at my house.  And within the first 15 minutes I got hot.  Around mile 4 I pulled up my pants so they were up past my knees and that cooled me off a lot.  Then at mile 5 I took off my long sleeved shirt and tied it around my waist.  All while running!  I had to undo my iPod and put it back on.

It was around that 5th mile that I started to feel good.  At the 6th mile I ate my gel and got it on my fingers.  I kept trying to lick my fingers and wipe them on my shirt so they wouldn't be sticky.  It was annoying.

At mile 7 I had a banana and somewhere during that 7th mile into my 8th mile I felt amazing.  I couldn't believe what a difference half a banana and that gel made!  The hills didn't bother me and I was passing people every few minutes.  My pace picked up and I got excited.  I think being out in the country and not having so many people around me made a difference, too.

The course leveled out and started to do some down hills around mile 9.  That was nice.  Nice that they put that at the end because it was quite the spirit lifter.  Not that I needed much - I was flying.  I felt so good.  So happy.

I had another half of a banana at mile 11 and it was around mile 10 I thought I needed to pee.  But I was so close and didn't want to add to my time so I just kept going.

There was one point that I was running down hill a little and looked up and saw the sand dunes, the Junipers, the beautiful blue sky and thought about all of the blessings in my life and felt so grateful.  Grateful for this experience because I was actually enjoying myself.  I was almost done with a huge accomplishment - something I had wanted to do for such a long time.  I smiled at every volunteer I think.  :)

The last mile and a half to two miles were totally downhill and I almost sprinted those.  I just picked up momentum and kept going! 

I had told Jaren to take pictures of me crossing the finish.  I also told him he didn't need to be there till 10 because I was sure I couldn't run it in under 2 1/2 hours.

I looked for him and didn't find him.  I was sad, but still happy and in a good mood because of what I had just done.  I found a friend and he let me borrow his cell phone and I called him - that's when I saw the time.  9:50!  I had ran it in under 2 1/2 hours!!  Jaren was just getting into town.   He felt bad.  I'm saddened that I finished such a monumental thing for myself and no one was there.  But I understand.  How were we to know I would be that fast?  I've never ran a race before.  He promised next time he'd get there an hour and a half before we think I'd be in :)  There was a professional photographer out on the course and I think at the finish line.  They will post pictures online and I'm hoping there are some of me on there.  I'll buy them.  They are priceless to me.

T

This was the first picture he took when he saw me.  I'm in the pink.

Random Thoughts

• I think it was during the 7th mile that there was a clump of grass rolling across the road and I caught a glimpse around my feet and jumped because I thought it was a mouse.  I felt a little silly and laughed.  I wondered what the people behind me thought. 
• I also had a wedgie for 9 miles.  I didn't want to pick it because there were so many people behind me!  Then at that ninth mile I was far enough ahead of the people behind me that I didn't care anymore.  I can't believe it took me 9 miles.
• After I took my long sleeved shirt off I remembered I didn't shave my armpits.  I hoped no one noticed.  Such a silly thought, I really don't think anyone did.
• Around mile 8 or 9 we ran past some of Jaren's fields up on the hill and I wished there was someone to say, "Those are my husbands fields.  Those are potatoes poking through and that is his grain."  But I didn't.  So I just looked and smiled. (anyone seeing me smiling so often probably thought I was a weirdie)
• Two of the four times I drank water from a cup when I passed the stations I choked on it.  I didn't want to stop running so I tried to drink while running and I ended up splashing it on my face and inhaling it.  So then I would cough and cough and feel silly. 
• When you pick up your water you just toss your cup when your done with it.  The volunteers pick it up after wards.  But each time I tossed my cup I felt guilty for littering.  Even though I guess I really wasn't.
• There was a lady with a visor who had candy taped to it.  I wondered if she would notice if I casually picked the small Hershey bar off of it.

Oh yeah! My feet!  They started bugging me at around mile 8 (I took three ibuprofen), but didn't really start to hurt bad until the down hill.  All that pounding took it's toll.  And now my left foot is killing me and my right feels okay.  So weird.

My legs are so so so very sore.  But everything else (except my feet) feels fine!

In the end I am so happy I did it.  So happy I just bit the bullet and signed up for the half.  Because I did it and I felt good (after the first 3-4 miles) and I was SO incredibly happy while running it.  I am so proud of myself for setting a goal and reaching it.  So impressed with myself for keeping a 10 minute mile pace and not stopping (except for the 2 seconds or less to peel my banana and throw it in the garbage(the one thing that would decompose I took the time to throw in the trash... ugh).

The thought of running a full scares the bajeebees out of me.  But the thought of running a half did, too.  So, who knows?  I would consider it a huge huge life accomplishment if I ran a full.  We'll just have to see!

Yay for me!  Naomi was especially excited I got a metal.

Countdown: 1 Day

My race is tomorrow.  I've never ran a race before, at least an organized official one.  I had always hoped to build up to a marathon by starting with a 5K, 10K, half marathon and then hopefully full.  I have started training for a half marathon twice, one of the times I didn't get further than 2 weeks and the other I should be finishing tomorrow. 

I originally started training to help lose the baby weight and then it turned into something a bit more.  I learned I could push myself and see results.  That the human body is an amazing thing.  In school I minored in two things: Child Development and Exercise Science.  I know what the body is capable of, I know down to the molecular level what it does during exercise and how to condition your body to certain degrees.  But to learn is one thing and to experience is another.

The biggest struggle lately has been dealing with my feet.  My Chiropractor adjusted them today (did you know you can adjust feet?!).  And they feel better. Weird.  That's what I'm most nervous about.  Is having to stop running because of my feet when I feel good enough to keep going, cardiovascular wise. 

Tomorrow morning at 6 I'll wake up, eat a nice big starchy breakfast, get dressed, brush my teeth, put my hair up, tack on my number and head out the door.  My goal is to finish below 3 hours, but what I would really like - considering everything goes well is to finish in under 2 hours and 40 minutes.  I haven't taken any ergogenic aids (gels, energy bars, gummy bears, Gatorade, etc.) while running before so I'm hoping those will help and give me enough of a boost to keep a steady pace.  I also hope I don't need to pee more than once since the clock doesn't stop for potty breaks.

Countdown: 1 Week

So I skipped a week.  And I changed my mind.

When I went home to Washington for my grandma's funeral I ran 8 1/2 miles one morning.  I didn't think I could do that so easily.  And I felt good.  I wasn't even tired when I finished, but my feet were hurting VERY badly.  Especially my left. 

I spent the next two days going through a mental battle - do I run the half and just suck it up?  Or not because my feet will hurt too bad. 

On one hand I was obviously trained enough for it and because I now know how badly my feet hurt I may not be able to run one that often.  So will I be able to train for one and then run it?  I should probably just run this one, suck it up and finish it so that at least I ran one once.  Because right now I'm conditioned enough to do it.

In the end I decided just to do it.  So, I signed up for the half on Monday.

I ran 5 miles Monday, 7 Wednesday and 2 Thursday (busy day....).  Then 10 today!

I didn't stop at all any of those times.  I was pretty impressed with myself today.  Especially since the last mile I ran against 15 mph wind.  That sucked. 

My feet did a bit better for a few reasons.  First I took Ibuprofen before I went (why haven't I done that every time?!).  I also wore a bandaid/moleskin type thing (it's AMAZING) over the arch of my left foot that keeps getting blisters from the soles of my shoes and so that took away that pain.  I also switched the expensive orthotics for the ones the shoes came with and that seemed to help.  So dumb that I paid 45 dollars for those insoles that weren't helping.  My Chiropractor tipped me off to that idea. 

I don't think I'll be able to run the entire half without having to walk for a bit here and there, but I'll try.  Even if I'm jogging 5 mph I'll still be happy that I finished without stopping.  But, I'm okay with having to walk.  My goal will be to make it at least 10 miles nonstop.  Unless I have to pee.  Does that count? 

I'm excited and nervous.  I'm feeling so sore right now and tired that I know I'll need a giant nap afterwards.

Countdown: 3 Weeks

And a change of mind.

I decided to push the half marathon to July and run a 10K instead. 

A few reasons.  When I run I don't want it to be horrible.  I don't want to finish and say, "Oh man, that was so hard, I'm never doing that again"  or be in so much pain.  And with how conditioned I am at the moment that's probably how it would be.  I could run it and finish it, but it wouldn't be so fun and I want to enjoy it.

This week didn't go as planned.  Thursday I received some news that my Grandma was dying.  Now, her health has been failing for 3 or 4 years now so it was sort of expected.  I just didn't expect to feel so emotional about it.  I wasn't in the mood to run after receiving the phone call - I bummed around waiting for the final phone call that never came.  I called my Mom later that evening and found out the bleeding had slowed and that she was still hanging on. 

Friday I was going to run, but I had a friend over and then I just didn't feel like it again that night.  I've been really beating myself up over needing to run and not doing it. 

Saturday was going to be my 8 mile day and the weather was atrocious.  Wind, rain, snow, hail - you name it.  Running on the treadmill drives me nuts and for 8 miles that would drive me bonkers.  And I wouldn't be able to go the entire time like I can outside because I can't set my own pace.  So I kept putting it off.  And I was in a funk of a mood.

Then that afternoon I got the call that she had passed and any thought of anything went out the window. 

I've been struggling with feeling like a failure.  I have been planning on running this particular race since last year and decided on a half marathon when I was pregnant to help loose the baby weight.  Well, I lost the weight, but the training hasn't gone as I had hoped.  I wasn't able to do any long runs (detrimental to long distance races) for a month and a half.  With being out of town, weddings, being sick - it all worked against me. 

I could finish the race, but it wouldn't be fun and it would be very, very hard and I would hurt for a long time afterward.  So.  I decided the best thing for myself and to relieve some of the stress - especially since this weekend will be spent in Washington at the funeral - is to just do the 10K.  I can do 6 miles easy.  And I'm going to try to do it within an hour.  Give or take 5 minutes.  Probably more like give....  And I'll start training for the half in July now. 
 

It's About Time!

That the weather is nice enough for me to run outside!

These pictures were taken the day I cut my hair.

It was 40 degree's and I was so excited about it.  I bundled up my babe and got out my jogging stroller that I was so very excited about getting and headed out the door. 

I went 3 miles and Naomi slept.  The road out where I live is very rough so she was giggling all over the place so I don't think it was the best sleep.  I don't think I'll take her out again until I can sit her in the front and I get a cover for wind/sun.  Also when she will be awake for it. 

Who knows, maybe she liked it.

I know I did! 

In fact, Saturday I dropped her off with my Mother in Law and ran 5 miles without stopping.  In 53 minutes!  I'm very proud of myself as I haven't done that in almost 4 years. 

Very exciting.

See how I'm running? :)

And now I have a snazzy amazing ponytail.  Or.. part of one. 

Running Outside VS. Inside

For those who have never experienced a Rexburg winter, let me introduce you.

And there's another 2 feet on the ground in addition to this.

 

Here is Jaren clearing some of it last Saturday with his giant snowblower

But on the bright side - look at it in June!

I have played sports just about my whole life.  Softball and Soccer being outside sports and Basketball and dancing being an indoor one.  Soccer is how I learned to love to run and get in shape.  While living in Washington (where I grew up) I had a few routes I used to run.  A 1, 2, 3, and 4 mile.  There is snow on the ground during the winter, but not all winter and usually it's warm enough (30, 32 degrees) that you can run outside.  So I never ran on a treadmill until I went to college.

Right away I didn't like it.  You can't run at your own pace - you have to pick one and keep at it.  It's boring because there isn't much to look at.  Thank heavens for CD players - do you remember when you had to just carry your walkman to run?, which is what I used until I got an iPod.  I was late on that bandwagon; I didn't get one until the fall of 2006.  I use the same one.  I'm hoping to upgrade to a 16 gig nano someday.  But there are other things on my list that come before that one.

Music was the only way I could run on a treadmill without going nuts.  Guess I'm a little ADD.  I've had to learn how to run on one effectively and how to put up with it. 

When I first got married I informed my new husband that unless he wanted a fat wife we needed to invest in a treadmill before I graduated from College (since I wouldn't be able to use the gym anymore).  Yes, there are a few (2 that I can think of) gyms in Rexburg, but since I live 15 minutes out of town I didn't want to drive into town and then back when I could just change, go downstairs and then come back up when I was done.

Last winter we did a bunch of research and finally bought one.  What is nice is that I have a TV in the room so I can watch and walk/run.  That helps with the being cooped up inside.

As for running outside - you can guess that I LOVE IT.  I love the sun, the warmth, the freedom to control your speed.  The views.  I especially love running in the country (good thing since that's where I live) because I think farmland is beautiful.  I love starting in April when the fields are just being worked and planted and then coming out each day through the growing season and watching the plants grow.

I'm already going nuts with my treadmill even though I've only been training for 4 weeks.  Because I knew I would be running outside a lot I did lots of research and bought a nice jogging stroller.  I've used it a few times around the mall or other places, but not to run with (as there is lots of snow covering the road).  I can't wait to run with it!  It's so smooth and light and amazing.  And Naomi will love being able to look around the outside since she's not seen much of it yet.

So, the good outdoors wins it for me.

I am so excited for March!

What do you prefer?