Courtney's Maternity Shoot

If you haven't already, read the post below.

I noticed all of these places around my house that I wanted to take pictures of someone in front of. I immediately thought of Courtney, my roommate from when I first met and started dating Jaren in March of 2006. She is expecting her first, a little boy early this fall.

This was my first "real" photoshoot and I enjoyed every second of it. Her husband Jordan came and I am so glad because some of these smiles wouldn't have happened without him there. And we got some sweet shots with him in there, too.

I like so many of them I am having a hard time choosing what to put up.  So here are a whole lot.

And probably one of my favorites:

What is the most amazing thing is that I took these pictures next to my fence, fiber glass, overgrown bushes, cellar door, shop door, grain silos, a ditch, side of the road and sand dunes.  Totally random places that came to life.

There you have it.  What do you think?

Me? A Photographer?

This is something I've been thinking about and thinking about for a while now.  I have always loved taking pictures, but didn't discover such a love for it until I got my DSLR May of last year.  And even then I had no idea what it would turn into once I discovered how to actually use it!

Starting January of this year I started reading everything I could come across on aperture, shutter speed, ISO and white balance.  I wished I had discovered this obsession in college so I could take classes.  I probably would have minored in it.

I bought a book called "Understanding Exposure" off of Amazon and that is when the rest clicked for me.  I started using my light meter (bingo!) and I just practiced and practiced and practiced.  So much that we had to buy a desktop to fit all of my pictures on.  I used up every ounce of space on my laptop and we have moved most onto our external, but I needed a desktop to work with.

I've also been using Photoshop Elements since January of last year, but just for scrapbooking.  Then last winter after Naomi was born I discovered editing pictures with it.  And so then I began to mess around with that.  Now I'm using CS5 and am learning how to use that.  I cannot believe the amount of things you can do with it!  It's very exciting.

So.  I was sort of sure that I didn't want to become a photographer.  But then I fell in love with it.  I really didn't want to be one of those girls or SAHM's who get a DSLR and call themselves a photog and charge and take mediocre pictures.  So I practiced some more.  And I had my first real "shoot" last Friday with a former roommate of mine who is now pregnant and I had so much fun.  I have been scouting locations for this particular shoot for weeks and have kept my eye out for places for months.  It was so awesome to see the fence in my backyard come to life!  Or the bushes I thought I would rip out.  Or the fiberglass under my porch!  Simple things started to stand out to me and had such potential.

My confidence has been boosted by this and my roommate.  She has nothing but such good things to say about these pictures and I would like to think she's not just saying it :)  I know I have a whole lot of room to improve but I want to.  I want to take more pictures and learn and improve and get better and experiment.

This new world is exciting and fun.  If you want me to take your pictures email me!  I am looking for more experiences to build on.  I am also trying to decide on a name;  Whitney K or Whitney Rae.  K is the initial of my middle name and Rae is my Mom and Grandma's middle name as well as the beginning of my last name(Well, it's Ray, but I like the look of Rae (the middle name) better).  I'm going to put a poll up on my sidebar to see which sounds better.  Let me know :)

Tomorrow I'll post pictures from Courtney's Maternity shoot!

Project Clean House

Is underway.  Since I've been done with my race I've not ran more than a mile and a half....  I feel a little guilty, but I'm getting so much done around my house!

My sister has come out and helped me a bit and I am so grateful.  I'm planning on totally ransacking the entire thing then putting it back together again room by room.

First up is the kitchen.  That has been cleaned, but just needs to be maintained.  Oh man how I hate unloading the dishwasher.  Only takes 5 minutes, but for some reason drives me crazy.  But I don't mind loading?  So weird.

Next is the family room.  Lindsey dusted and wiped down all of my shelves.  Just need to fluff cushions, switch cushions, vacuum couch, vacuum floor, clean windows, clean blinds, scrub floorboards and...  umm.. re-decorate.  But that wont happen for a while.

Thursday I cleaned out my closet.  Something I had been needing to do since I could fit back into my old wardrobe.  I have quite the give-away pile.  I still need to organize and dust.  And re-decorate.  Which is something that may happen in the near future! Wahoo!

Bathrooms.  Basic cleaning and need re-decorating.  Cleaning will get done this week, re-decorating may take a few months.  If only money grew on tree's.....

Naomi's room.  STILL have not hung her stuff.  I'm annoyed every time I walk in there because of that.  But I need 2 people!  It's a problem because either she is sleeping or Jaren isn't home.

Dining room.  A work in progress.  Needs picked up and a rug and the hutch sanded and re-painted.  Oh, and new chairs for our table.

Should I post before and afters of everything?  I plan on doing it with the decorating thing.  But maybe not the cleaning thing.  Cause that would show just how messy I've let things get in my quest to run really far really fast consecutively. 

Today

• I woke up at 1:00 a.m. and stuck a bottle in the babe's mouth and she downed almost 6 ounces in her sleep.  (so proud)
• Woke up at 5:50 a.m. for the day - touched up my previous days make up and washed the rest of my face, got dressed, pop tarts in toaster and packed the diaper bag
• 6:20 a.m. woke up the babe, changed her, put her in her car seat and headed to the hospital
• 7:20 a.m. nurse comes in to take Naomi away - she is NOT happy to be taken away from me in a strange place, by a strange lady - so I walk her to the O.R. doors - my heart breaks
• 7:35 a.m. Doctor shows up while we are watching and playing along with Dora the Explorer - surgery went great - just some fluid in her right ear, she'll be back when she wakes up
• 7:40 a.m. Naomi comes in and is not happy with us
• 8:10 a.m. find the faucet entertains her enough to stop screaming her feelings at us for a few minutes
• 8:50 a.m. We check out of the hospital and she is still not happy with us or anyone else
• 9:30 a.m. Finally home after getting her prescription ear drops - she is happy happy to be in her room, in her crib and goes right to sleep
• 10:30 a.m. after eating some toast and having a "feelings" (as we like to call them) talk with Jaren I lay down and sleep for the rest of Naomi's nap
• 12:00 p.m. wake up, Nae is up, feed her some pear's and raspberries (which she loves) and fight with a bit of her fussyness 
• 1:00 p.m. playing with the babe - still fighting the fussy's, but is still a happy girl
• 2:15 p.m. lay her down again for her second nap and think, "Oh man, I hope she is sleeps longer than an hour and a half"
• 2:20ish p.m. answer formspring questions
• 2:45 p.m. clean out my closet.  Put away clothes, try on clothes and have a huge pile of "give away" clothes.  So happy to see my closet less heavy.
• 5:00 p.m. Naomi is still sleeping... starting to wonder if she will ever wake up
• 5:09 p.m. she wakes up
• 5:10 p.m. happy, happy, happy baby
• 6:30 p.m. eats her green beans and beef gravy mixture and is still happy happy happy
• 6:45 p.m. is in her Jumparoo while I unload the dishwasher only to notice she is currently pooping her pants
• 6:46 p.m. take her out of jumparoo, put her on floor, take off her diaper. let her finish pooping (she really likes emptying her bowels freely)
• 6:50 p.m. put her back in her Jumparoo and I clean the kitchen
• 7:15 p.m. give her a bottle and grab her pajamas
• 7:20 p.m. put her in jam's and hold her and sing to her until it's time for bed
• 7:35 p.m. lay her down and she get's angry when I try to put the drops in her ear - give her teething tablets and that makes her happy
• 7:40 p.m. eat my dinner
• 8:00 p.m. Jaren comes home and we talk and we laugh
• 8:20 p.m. I eat some cookie dough
• 9:13 p.m. watching the Real Housewives of New York reunion and blogging
• 9:14 pm. Happy for tomorrow with a happy pain-free-in-ears baby

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.

Hidden Treasures

Monday night I went around my house and took a few pictures after an inch of rain had fallen.  The greens were so vibrant and the lilacs were beautiful. 

Then I looked up and saw this:

That's when I decided to see what else I could find.  I walked behind my house and looked under our deck.  I know I've seen this little wagon before, but somehow it struck me as a pretty neat item.  I decided I was going to get it out, clean it up and use it for something. 

Pretty awesome, right?  If I repaint it I'll lose the wee wagon name and I want that.  So, I'll just find some use with the rust.  Apparently it was Jaren's when he was younger which means it has probably been sitting there for over 20 years.

Baby Favorites: Part 1

I am going to try to review some items and tell you what my favorites are.  I'll see if I can start at what I loved for a newborn, 3 month old, 5 month old.. etc.  


Baby Monitor
I didn't think much about these things before I had Naomi.  Back when we went to Tahoe I noticed my brothers monitor that had a small video screen on it and I watched my nephew sleep.  I thought, oh that's neat!  And that's about all that ran through my head.

It was something like this from Summer.  Priced on Amazon for $105.

Then Jaren's sister mentioned how she had free Amazon one day shipping the week before we went into the hospital.  I told her I was pretty sure I wanted a video monitor.  She sent me a lot of links to different ones and their reviews.  They were all a bit spendy and I was looking for something somewhat like my brothers with that small screen.

Then I saw the 7 inch flat screen and Jaren was okay with the price. I didn't want to regret not getting the 7 inch and had already put out over 100 bucks only to want the bigger one and fork out the $160.  Totalling to almost $300.  So I bought it.

It was this monitor from Summer.  Priced at $161.98 on Amazon.

We didn't end up using it until I started laying her down for naps in our room and I fast realized how grateful I was for it.  Not just for the video, but for the big screen.  I put it on my mantle and can see it from across the room.  It wasn't until we had to send it in and replace it with a 5 inch T.V. like one that I appreciated the flat screen part.

The screen stopped working for some reason.  The sound worked fine, but I wanted what I paid for.  I sent an email to their customer service and found out the warranty is one year from date of purchase (if you have the reciept) or one year from manufacture date.  Well, I didn't have the receipt and luckily I was with in the year of manufacture date.  They sent me a label and I sent it in and had to wait a week for the new one.  Well, I'm a spoiled little girl and had to have my video monitor!  Jaren found a 5 inch T.V. like monitor at K-Mart for $70.  We bought and now Jaren's parents have it at their house for when she stays with them.  They had wonderful customer service - I just didn't like that I was stuck without a monitor for a week to two weeks (which was their estimated wait time).

This is the 5 inch monitor we bought as a replacement. $82.54 on Amazon.  It was much much bigger, a lot louder (not so good when I wanted it turned way down while we slept) and didn't have color.  Which wasn't too big of a deal.  The picture wasn't as clear and it had more "noise".  And you have to tune it like you did the old T.V.'s - kind of funny.

It was important to me to get her to have long naps (at least 2 hours) and to do that I would go in and replace the pacifier when she would start to wake up and she would quickly go right back to sleep.  Which led into solid 2 hour naps.  I also would be able to move the pacifier when it fell out of her mouth because she would lay her cheek on top of it and that would wake her up.  I also could see when she spit up (she had really bad reflux) and I could go in and get her cleaned up so she wasn't laying in the wet and it wasn't drying on her face.

My camera's shutter is too loud to take a picture while she is sleeping in there so I get my pictures this way. 

Not to mention that you can see what she is doing when she is crying.  If she is just doing it because she wanted me to come in or if something was really wrong.

Of course, I love it the most for the sole fact that I catch the funniest, sweetest moments.  It was worth every penny when I caught this (and this was the only time she did this):

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes. The warranty is great, the picture is wonderful, the noise is perfect and only pick's up her noises.  Many times I've heard a noise and thought to run in until I look at the monitor and see that it's in her sleep or that she is fine.  It's easy to grab and move around.  You can by extra monitors or camera's if you'd like.  And we run this thing constantly (naps and sleep time) and it is still performing really well.  I'm sure I could get away with no video just fine, but I kind of like this way too much - so why go without it?  I love technology!

Weight Gain Throughout My Pregnancy

I have been wanting to do this post for a long time.  Since I am almost 8 months postpartum I figure it's about time.

I weighed myself every morning.  I traveled quite a bit last summer and so there are a few gaps here and there (you'll notice the weeks were clumped together).  I used the same scale so it would be accurate and followed the same routine each time.  Wake up - pee - weigh - get dressed and then eat breakfast.

For those of you who are interested in week by week weight gain here is how it went for me.  I also linked to my weekly posts.  If you want to read about a certain week, just click on that number.

I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks, but started weighing myself at 6 weeks.

1st Trimester
6 weeks: .4 ounces (120.4)
7 weeks: 1 pound (121)
8 weeks: 0 pound (121)
9 weeks: 0 pound (121)
10 weeks: 1 pound (122)
11 weeks: 1 pound (123)
12 weeks: 0 pound (123)
13 weeks: 2 pounds (125)

2nd Trimester
14 weeks: 0 pounds (125)
15 weeks: 1 pound (126)
16 weeks: 3 pounds (129)
17 weeks: 0 pounds (129)
18 weeks: 1 pound (130)
19 weeks: 1 pound (131)
20 weeks: 2 pounds (133)
21 weeks: 3 pounds (136)
22-23 weeks: 4 pounds (140)
24 weeks: 2 pounds (142)
25 weeks: 2 pounds (144)
26 weeks: 1 pound (145)

3rd Trimester
27-28 weeks: 4 pounds (149)
29 weeks: 3 pounds (152)
30 weeks: 2 pounds (154)
31 weeks: 2 pounds (156)
32 weeks: 2 pounds (158)
33 weeks: 2 pounds (160)
34 weeks: 4 pounds (164)
35 weeks: 1 pound (165)
36 weeks: 1 pound (166)
37 weeks: 0 pounds (166)
37 weeks and 1 day:  Had Baby

It was really interesting to look back.  I gained 5 pounds my first trimester.  Twenty pounds my second and 15 pounds my third.  It started piling on once I hit 21 weeks.  I was running up until 23 weeks, then I would walk.  When I was only walking I was going anywhere from 2.5 miles to 4.5miles 4-5 times a week.  I started cramping really badly at 29 weeks and was told to stop walking which was really hard.  I felt like the only thing I was doing to prevent some of the weight gain was off limits and I struggled with it.

It was really hard to understand why it was coming on so incredibly fast.  I was eating healthy, of course I had my sweets here and there (I ate what I craved, but I had small portions), but I was exercising A LOT!  During my third trimester I finally came to grips with the fact that my body must need it.  For some reason this is how I was reacting to pregnancy.  And I'm aware you need to gain during pregnancy, I just knew the healthy weight passed me at 30 pounds and most likely everything from there on was fat (and I know now it was) that I would have to lose after wards.

It didn't change the fact that I was depressed about it often.  That I didn't feel like I looked like myself (see post below).  And it was never about her  - never about the size of my belly - I LOVED THAT.  I loved how my tummy was round and big and how I could feel her move and know she was growing inside me.  It was how huge my thighs were (I grew out of some of my pregnancy clothes) and my face was unrecognizable to me.  I think unless you've been there do you understand.

I vowed to lose it all.  That I wouldn't get pregnant again until I was back to 120 pounds (118 preferably).  That I would train for a half marathon, because I've always wanted to run one, so the weight loss was my excuse to train and my motivation.  And I was highly motivated!

Here are some photos following my growth:
The weekend before I found out I was pregnant.  I felt sick the morning after this Jazz game and hoped it meant pregnant, but tried not to think much of it.

I was 10 weeks here dressed up for my dance final.  

At 13 weeks - I believe I had to start undoing my top button here.  I was very excited about this, it meant my tummy was getting bigger!

This is Sharlene and I, our due dates were 5 days apart (I ended up having mine around 2 weeks before her).  I was 19 weeks and she was 20.  (not sure why the picture looks a little distorted)

At 22 weeks in Michigan.  This was the last week I wore my wedding ring.  And the last week I wore those pants (I tried them on the other day and they were super baggy.  It was weird)

At 25 weeks a front shot.  These were a pair of the last pre pregnancy pants to go. (24 pounds gained)

Only a week later on my birthday

I felt like it was after this trip to Oregon that I really ballooned.  I was very, very swollen.

28 weeks in Lake Tahoe.  It was right after this trip I was told I couldn't walk (to exercise) anymore.  And almost any walking for that matter hurt (because of the cramping).

Such a flattering picture, huh?  30 weeks at my baby shower.  34 pounds gained - 10 pounds in almost 4 weeks!

35 weeks.  Two weeks before I had her.  I think the preeclampsia had hit by this point but my doctors appointment wasn't until the next week.  So I started to swell even more.  45 pounds gained.

This is the morning we went into the hospital.  We stopped at Jaren's parents house for a minute and Jaren's mom took this picture.  It's the only one of the two of us before she was born and the others of me before the surgery are on his phone.

They pumped 2 bags of fluid in me before the C-Section and I couldn't believe how much more swollen I got.  It took a good week for all of that to come off.  I had to stop taking the Ibuprofin as often.  It was very uncomfortable to move (not only because of the giant hole in my belly, but because I couldn't even flex my foot).  And I woke up completely wet from sweat for 2 weeks after.

And here is my almost 16 1/2 pound nugget now :)

Cassie Mickelsen of Pink Paisley Photography took this and the family picture in the post below.

The Difference 24 Pounds Makes

We had our family pictures taken 3 weeks ago and we just got the pictures back.  I really really like them!

But I had to laugh when I went back and looked at the one we had taken when Naomi was 4 weeks old.

Get a load of this:

Yikes!  We didn't like how either of us turned out, but I had an extra 24 pounds on me - apparently 10 of them were in my face.  On the bright side - the baby is adorable.  And I made that dress!

Hard work, determination and a lot of running and breastfeeding led me to lose all 46 pounds I gained from my pregnancy.  And we now have a family picture that looks like this!

Yahoo!  Doesn't even look like the same person, huh?  And might I say my husband is rather good looking.  And the baby is adorable.  And I adore them both!

Cassie Mickelsen of Pink Paisley Photography took both of these.

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. 
 

Did You Know?

That I pick the bread off the edges of my sandwiches and burgers?  I feel like I have to have an even amount of stuff (meat, cheese, lettuce..) and bread.  And around the edges there is too much bread.  Drives Jaren nuts.  But he says it's "endearing".  I'm convinced that the things that annoy him he says are "endearing" to convince himself they are :)

I never felt, until recently (past 8 months or so... blaming it on pregnancy) that I have crooked teeth.  Never had braces, but I almost want them to fix my two front teeth.  My dentist says he can round them to make them look more strait.  So now I want that and whitening, but don't want to shell out the $150 or so.  So, I smile a lot with my mouth closed.

I cracked my nose when I was 5.  Doctor wanted to put stitches in and I cried and told him No because I didn't want the scar.  I'm quite proud of my 5 year old self.  I still have the scar and can feel where the crack was.

I met Jaren in March and didn't let him hold my hand or kiss me until August.  We dated off and on that whole time.  It took me a long time to realize how I felt.  And I didn't want to hurt such a nice guys feelings by leading him on, so I never let it happen.

I played Softball, Soccer, Basketball and was on the dance team in high school.  I also played Softball for four seasons in college and was on the championship team three of those times.  I'm currently looking for a league to join for this summer.  But soccer is still my favorite sport.

I am a horrible housekeeper.  Like now, I'm blogging and I have two basket's of laundry that need folded, two bathrooms that need to be cleaned and my entire house needs to be vacuumed.  I have such a hard time being motivated.  But once I get going I get a ton done. 

I enjoy making cards.  One day I'll show you what I've done.  I want to sell them to feed my photography fetish.  And my jean fetish.

I love jeans.  I love designer jeans.  I have never paid full price for a pair.  I don't have quite the collection I would like.  I have 5 pair and I'm looking for 3 more from different designers.  But if you saw the amount of jeans I had in my closet you'd give me a good shove. 

I have a ridiculous amount of clothes I don't wear.  I wanted to get back down to my pre-preg weight so I could try them on and get rid of the ones that don't fit right or that I don't want.  I need to do that.  Last night I pulled a few, but most I thought, "I might need that someday".  I just need to get rid of them.  It will give me an excuse to buy new if the occasion ever comes where I actually need the item I discarded.  The entire collection is from when I was 15 years old to now.  It's silly.

I sing and dance for my daughter.  I look like a nincompoop but she thinks I'm awesome.  So I do it everyday. 

I probably kiss her over 100 times a day.  I am constantly lotioning her cheeks because of it. 

Countdown: 4 weeks

First week of serious training is done.  I was a bit nervous about it.  Running on the treadmill is harder than running outside.  Seeing the numbers and not being able to control your own pace is annoying.

I ran 7 miles Saturday in 75 minutes.  Not bad for having only ran 5 miles outside and it was a month and a half ago.  I didn't stop once.  Here is how it went for me.

I dropped a water bottle on the way to my In Laws (to drop the babe off) at the nexus of my route.  I grabbed it at 1 mile took a swig, dropped it again (kept running).  Grabbed it after 2 miles, 4 miles and 6 miles, then carried it the last mile back to the house. 

After the first mile I started to think, "Oh crud, I'm already tired... how the heck am I going to run 13 miles?!"  But, I thought, "I've ran 5 miles without stopping, I can think about walking when I get there."  So I kept on.  It wasn't until I had just turned to start my fourth mile that I started to feel really good.  And I thought I could do it. 

During my fifth mile my hips started to hurt, but conditioning wise, my respiratory system was doing great!  I had hit my steady state and I knew I just needed to push my body. During my sixth mile my hips stopped hurting, but my feet, left ankle and left knee started to bug (man, I feel old with all these aches and pains).  And it wasn't until the last half mile that I started to get out of breath and tired.  Then my feet REALLY started to hurt.  I'm attributing that to the new shoes that I'm still currently breaking in. 

So, what I learned from this run is I need to work harder.  That I still have 5 more miles to run in 4 weeks.  So, I'm going to try to do 2 outside runs this week instead of one so I can continue to pace myself myself (yes, meant to say that twice). 

I haven't registered yet and I wont until this week is over.  I am going to see how training goes and how my 8 mile run goes Saturday.  Or 9... not sure what I'm doing.  But, since I already ran over a 10K yesterday I  should just do it. 

I'm just nervous!  And excited!

I'm (Just About) Back!

My body, anyway.  Today marks 7 months postpartum and I am 1 pound away from my goal weight.  I'm sure it will come off sometime in the next few weeks while running like a crazy. 

There are a few things that are different after going through a 46 pound weight gain during my first pregnancy.

• My back seems to be holding onto fat more than it used to(bra fat and love handles)
• My tummy isn't totally completely flat like it used to be, but it's close.  The muscles are - I just have a small tire going around my middle.
• The arm acne.  Never had it before, but it popped up while pregnant and has not gone away and has gotten worse and worse.  It really really bothers me.  I don't know why it's there and why it wont go away!  
• My breasts are different because of breastfeeding and will never be the same.  Kind of bummed.
• I'm a bit weaker.  Can't do as many push ups like I used to.
• My thighs are a little more shapely. 
• A few fading stretch marks on my outer thighs (never got any on my tummy!)

But these things really aren't bad.  The only noticeable thing I think is the layer of fat around my middle.  And it's not much, just a little.  Maybe others may not notice it much.

I haven't posted a recent body picture, but I had Jaren take these 2 weeks ago. 

Except this one.  This is me a year ago 6 weeks preg.

6 1/2 Months Postpartum

Overall I'm very happy with how I've bounced back.  I am not exactly as thin as I was before, but I feel like if I keep exercising hard I can be with time.  If not, that's ok.  At least that's the mood I'm in now.  Tomorrow I may feel differently.

Countdown: 5 weeks

Till the Dam Marathon that I plan on running.  Well, not the full marathon - the half.

I've always wanted to run a marathon and wanted to be realistic with starting with a half.  And gaining 46 pounds during my pregnancy was great motivation to train for one to help loose that weight. 

I'm one pound away from my pre-pregnancy weight.  I've been hovering at 2-3 pounds to go for the last 2 months!  Annoying.

I'm worried about being able to run since I've not been able to train properly for the last almost month and a half!  Every Saturday I've been busy and that is my long run day. 

Then the last 2 weeks I've been sick.  I ran 3 miles Friday and it wasn't very easy.  So I decided I'm going to work super super hard and after two weeks I should know how easy it will be.  Worst case I run the 10K.

I ran 4 miles today and it wasn't so bad.  I'll do 5 Wednesday, 4 1/2 Thursday and 7 Saturday. 

Good luck to me!

All Night Long

I slept! Hooray for zonked out babies! We've had a few nights where she has slept from 7 - 5:30, but nothing where she sleeps from the moment she initially falls asleep till we wake up. Oh it is so nice. It took one night of her crying during the night. A lot better than I thought.

I ran yesterday for the first time in 2 weeks and I learned I am going to have to really push myself to run a half marathon in a month.

I did the laundry! And cleaned the kitchen! And got my new high chair!

I get as excited for new baby stuff as I do for new clothes for myself. The high chair came yesterday and I set it up with my Mother in Law. I love it because it straps her in like a back pack. With straps over the shoulders and everything. We've been having problems with her chewing on the left side of her bumbo while I'm trying to feed her. Crazy girl.

And I got new spoons that I am in LOVE with. Weird? Does this mean I'm totally a boring mom now that I am so excited about a high chair and SPOONS? Oh... don't get me started on the magical booger sucker.

Pictures of spoons and high chair and boring Mommy person to come as soon as I get my new desktop with space to unload the massive amount of pictures on my camera.

Today

I had hoped to start running again.  But didn't.

I thought I would get all of the laundry done and put away.  But didn't.

I figured I could get my kitchen clean and spotless.  Didn't get that done either.

I wanted to put away Naomi's clothes she has outgrown.  They made it to the front room for folding, but not in their totes.

I needed to go grocery shopping, run to Wal Mart and pick up pictures.  I did do that.

I also got a nap and played with a very happy squealy squirmy girl. 

Maybe tomorrow will be more productive with all of those things I didn't do.  Plus playing with the happy baby again.  I don't mind repeats. 

And on a side note here is a picture Cassie from Pink Paisley Photography took of me a few weeks ago.  We are going back in a week and a half to have her take our little families pictures.  I'm very very excited.