1 year plan: 18 minute miles to a Marathon.

Fall(ish) color on the way to the beach

This time last year I had just finished running the Richmond half-marathon after half way committing myself to the training plan. I squeaked by with a PR by mere seconds. Although the PR wasn’t huge, it felt huge to me. The Richmond half course is vastly different from the Shamrock half and the Rock n Roll half based on one big item: HILLS. When you live, train, and run in FLAT Virginia Beach, running a race on a hilly course has its challenges.

Each fall weekend that passes, I hear about more people running marathons. More people are setting new PRs. My want to cross the finish line of a full marathon (not just train for one! Ugh! Stress fracture!) is HUGE. I’m ready to start running again. I’m ready to train and set new standards for my post-pregnant body. I have thought a lot about my race schedule for 2012. You all have had to read about it a lot too. The biggest question mark has been what marathon should I run next year? I just want to run one marathon in 2012. I want it to be a good one.

I’ve mentioned Chicago. Friends have mentioned New York. I’ve thought about Atlanta and Richmond. There is even a full marathon in the outer banks in November.

Perfect time of year to Run

As I read over status updates on Facebook this weekend, I realized that this weekend was the inaugural half-marathon in Norfolk, Virginia. Yes! I wish I had been half-marathon ready so I could have run it too. I spent a good chunk of my 20s living in Norfolk. It sure would be fun to run through the city streets. As I glanced over the race’s website, I discovered that the City of Norfolk has pledged to support this race for the next five years. The website also says that next year it will host a FULL marathon.

If, in fact, they do have a full marathon next year…..I think this is going to be my race! It’s close to home – 15 minutes away. I won’t have to juggle baby sleeping schedules, keeping an 8-year-old entertained, and making sure my husband isn’t overwhelmed. I can focus on running and nothing more. Although a family vacation to Chicago or Atlanta would be great, it might be stressful to cram in my first marathon.  I’d much rather take a family vacation (without running a race) and run a full marathon (without the stress of family vacationing) in 2012. And if that Marathon doesn’t happen, I’ll be heading to Richmond to run again!

Last November, I was PRing in Richmond. This November I’m creeping up on a very different finish line. 6 more weeks until my due date. Since we have been lucky enough to enjoy 70 degree days this November, it has been very tempting to be outside.

Yesterday I meet my mom for a walk. We drove towards the oceanfront, parked at the Aquarium, and walked the 1 mile to the boardwalk up and over the Rudee Inlet Bridge. From there we headed to 2nd street so I could use the bathroom and back to the pier. All in all, the entire walk was 4.11 miles.

Rudee Inlet

It was my first time in running shoes since the Wicked 10k two weeks ago. Oops. The entire time we were walking at snail’s pace (which felt fast to me), I kept thinking “How in the world did I run two weeks ago?”  There wasn’t a bone, a muscle, or a portion of my brain that felt like jogging yesterday. My 18 minute mile felt hard. In fact, my legs are little sore today.  I know I feel like my stomach is growing A LOT these past two weeks, but it really must be growing. I don’t think it helps that it is all compacted in the front of my torso either. For those of you who are pregnant and you wish you were “all belly” ….TRUST ME….it has its disadvantages. I’d give anything to be carrying this baby a little bit wider than I currently am just so I could be more comfortable. I feel like my belly needs a kick stand 🙂

Seriously! I'm supposed to get even bigger?

Running or walking, it felt great to be moving yesterday. I’m more than happy with four 18 minute miles (including photo stops and potty breaks!). Maybe I’ll have the urge to run again this week. Maybe I won’t. I just want to keep moving until Maute Moo makes his appearance at the end of the year.

2011 Veteran’s Day Weekend – 18 minute mile

2012 Veteran’s Day Weekend – Marathon Finish Line

Mark you calendar……I want it; therefore, I will make it happen!

Thanks for strolling along with me Mom!!!

Soup-er Sunday – A Perfect Blend

When I told Christian I wanted to make broccoli cheddar soup this weekend, he scrunched up his face at me. He suggested I make potato instead. So like the good wife that I am, I made his request…….without letting go of my want for broccoli cheddar soup. I made broccoli cheese and potato soup.

I found the recipe on the same website as our yummy chicken nugget recipe from last nights dinner. (Seriously who needs a cookbook now that the internet is full of great food blogs?) Skinny Taste came to my rescue again and produced another winner.

I need to get better at taking my own pictures

The recipe was simple and straight forward. My favorite detail was that it only required on pot to cook everything. I normally have a lot of dishes to wash after I make soup. Not tonight. I just had to wash out my food processor and the soup pot.

Here is the recipe and the directions straight from the website:

Broccoli Cheese and Potato Soup
Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes 
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1-1/4 cups • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 7 pts
Calories: 281.6 • Fat: 8.0 g • Carb: 33.0 g • Fiber: 5.0 g • Protein: 20.4 g  

  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 1/2 cups fat free chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1 cup fat free milk
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced small
  • salt and fresh pepper
  • 4 cups (about 2 heads) broccoli florets, chopped into small pieces
  • 1-1/2 cups 2% shredded sharp cheddar
  • 2 slices 2% American cheese
  • 1 tbsp parmesan cheese

Chop onion, carrot, celery, garlic in a chopper or mini food processor.

In a large soup pot, melt butter.  Add chopped vegetables and sauté on low heat until soft, about 5 minutes.

Add flour, salt and pepper to the pot and stir until smooth.

Add chicken broth, milk and potatoes and set heat to high until it comes to a boil, then cover and cook on low until potatoes are soft, about 10-15 minutes.

Add broccoli florets, parmesan cheese, and stir well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Cook uncovered until broccoli is cooked, about 5 minutes. Add cheddar and American cheese, stir well and remove from heat.

Using an immersion blender, quickly blend part of the soup for a quick second or two. If you don’t have an immersion blender, remove about 1-2 cups of potatoes and broccoli, place it in your chopper, then add it back to the soup. This helps thicken it a bit.

I followed the instructions step by step EXCEPT I sautéed my veggies in olive oil before I realized I was supposed to saute them in butter. Oops. I choose to leave the skin on my potatoes since a lot of the nutrients in a potato are in the skin. I skipped the last step on the recipe too.  I don’t have an immersion blender YET (I have a feeling there will be one under the Christmas tree waiting for me though, I hope!). My soup was plenty thick without the last step.

Cole even helped me in the kitchen tonight. It was fun to have a little side kick adding potatoes and broccoli. I’m convinced that he is more willing to try foods and enjoy them when he helps me cook them.  The soup was hit with the whole family. Cole, Christian and I enjoyed every last bite. For once I wish the recipe made more. I will double the recipe next time I make it.

Nesting

I’m not sure if it’s nesting or just my type-A personality shining through, but ever since I took my pregnancy test back in April I have had an increase in three things:

  • Desire to cook and bake
  • Need to have my house organized
  • Longing for family time

The three of these things are great except for when they collide with pregnant hormones and turn me into a crazy pregnant lady.

I’ve been baking a lot. I’ve been baking more food than three mouths can eat. Fortunately I’ve controlled the quantity of the food I’m making so we haven’t been wasting dozens of muffins and entire cakes. Soup-er Sundays have been great for my need to cook and feel domesticated in my kitchen.

With the arrival of Maute Moo right around the corner, I’ve been searching for recipes that a quick, easy to prepare, healthy, and Cole-friendly. Tonight I hit the jackpot with these Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets. Cole is quick to complain when we have chicken since we cook with it a lot. Tonight he asked me to put more on his plate because they looked good to him. He also finished his dinner in record time without complaining. They were super easy to make. I’m sure they will be a go-to item after Chet’s arrival.

Skinny Taste blog has been officially added to my google reader.

I’m not sure if the house organization has something to do with pregnancy or the fact that we have now been in our house for a year. We now know how rooms function for us (or don’t function….hello messy front room! Thank goodness it has been converted to the kid cave!) One of the big causes of our house disorganization has come from emptying out our third bedroom for Chet. Today we finally conquered the closet situation.

The third bedroom closet used to belong to Christian (our house was built in 1960 so closets spaces are small. There is no room for him in our bedroom). In order to make the closet work for Chet, Christian had to find a new home for all of his stuff. The hall closet soon became his designated space EXCEPT the hall closet was already full of wrapping paper, winter coats, luggage, storage stuff, etc. All of these items had to find a new home. Today everything got moved. I finally organized all of the wrapping paper. My coats got put in my closet. The luggage was moved to the storage space above our garage. Christian finally has a home for his clothes.

Gift Wrap is Organized

All of the gift wrap is finally in one spot tucked away in our laundry room (next to the winter coats and hats). The top crate is filled with gift bag (half from Chet’s baby shower). The bottom crate is saved tissue paper from Chet’s baby shower. Wrapping paper is on the right (in the box from Chet’s diaper cake from my sister). I love when projects don’t cost a penny!

(I also worked on Chet’s closet, but you’ll have to wait for those photos.)

My need/craving for family time may not be brought on by pregnancy, but my emotional reaction to this craving most certainly is hormone induced. Poor Christian and Cole. I want to hang out with them both. I want everyone to be happy and having fun. If I feel like I’m not getting enough quality family time, an emotional meltdown is sure to follow. Good thing my family likes me.

Do you watch the show Parenthood? If so, Kristina is me! The good, the bad, and the embarressing….my emotional roller coaster has followed her emotional roller coaster identically. If you watch it and you saw the episode of “Forced Family Fun”……..well, that might be me 🙂

I didn't leave my family in the street though.

Not too shabby for a Saturday…I managed to satisfy all 3 of my nesting needs. Closets are organized. Dinner was yummy. I got to do both with the help of Cole and Christian.

Time for family movie night and popcorn!

Cole Creations

Yesterday I mentioned that I want to cover our Kids Cave wall with Cole’s artwork…and one day Chet’s artwork too! Cole loves to draw. He spends hours a day with paper and markers, crayons, pencils, and sharpies (his new favorite – not my favorite).  We’ve known for sometime now that Cole has a special talent for his artwork, but I tend to forget. I see endless stacks of papers with drawings all over them. Drawing is what he does. It’s what he enjoys.

And then every now and then I get a nice reminder of how talented Cole is when it comes to drawing. He left his signature on the bottom of one of Christian work boxes yesterday.

I also had a parent-teach conference today. He got a gold star! His teacher was also quick to point out that Cole has a gift for art. The art teacher has also taken notice. They are encouraging him to apply to the gifted art school in Virginia Beach. Definitely a proud mama moment!

Here are just a few of the junk pieces of paper we have lying around our living room right now.

The Birth of a Kid Cave

Our house is and probably always will be a constant work in progress. When we moved in to our house, the 3rd bedroom became a storage room, Christian’s closet, and part office. All of the clutter quickly got moved out once I found out I was pregnant. Christian’s clothes have been shifted to our bedroom and a hall closet. The office stuff joined the rest of the office stuff in our unused front room. The junk also found its way to the front room.  Chet’s room was officially ready to be a nursery.

While Chet’s room was ready, the rest of the house turned into a war zone. The front room, the first room you see when you walk into our house, turned into a storage unit. I had dreams of turning that room into my library slash office slash yoga space. With an extra two thousand dollars, I know I could have made it beautiful. Since we don’t have an extra two thousand dollars lying around, the room never evolved. It remained a storage space.

Sadly this is what the room looked like before - Christian is switching out the outlets!

Day after day, I’ve come home. I walk into our house. I’m greeted by crap! Piles of office stuff, piles of legos, piles of old photos, piles of books have all screamed hello to me everyday when I walk in our front door. If you have a pile of crap greeting you when you come home, get rid of it. It is not a stress-free way to transition from work to a family evening. I needed the clutter gone.

I stared at the room. I sat on our steps and waited for the room to reveal its true identity to me. All I wanted to see was a peaceful room with bamboo floors and yoga mats surround by my favorite books and a cozy couch. And then the room decided for itself that it did want to be my tranquil space but not through books and yoga. The room was begging to provide me sanity by making it a play room.

On Saturday morning, the true vision of my front room became clear. The room would provide me with tranquility by designated a certain space in our house as keeper of the kids stuff. All the office stuff could be moved to a tucked away corner in our long family room. All the extra crap could find its way to the garage and goodwill. My books could be moved to the hallway. The toys that are scattered in EVERY SINGLE ROOM in our house could find their way to the front room. A Kid’s Cave was born.

Christian and his dad quickly got to work on Sunday morning. The TV that had been sitting in the corner for a year was mounted to the wall. The toy storage that was in our family room was moved upstairs. The office desk and supplies took the storage bins place in our living room. The book shelf was moved upstairs. The final icing on the cake was the couch and the chair. Good family friends have been holding onto their old cargo furniture couch and chair for us since they moved into their new home. Christian had plans to put them in our garage to create a man cave. The kid cave decided for itself that it deserved the furniture instead of the garage.  We picked the couch up on Sunday afternoon and the kid cave came to life.

Our front room, a room with no purpose but a huge presence in our house, finally has an identity. It’s cozy and inviting. It’s fun and comfortable. It doesn’t scream play room yet everything in the room is kid friendly. I’m in love. It was the missing piece to our house.  Giving meaning to that one room in our house has enhanced the meaning of every other room.

After!!!!! We will be hanging a large map to the left of the window.

The benefits of giving up my dream yoga library for a family playroom has given me more peace than any yoga practice can offer. Cole now has a place to play with friends, play Wii, and be a crazy 7-year-old away from the rest of the family. I can watch Wheel of Fortune (yes! I watch it every night!) and he can build legos or play Pokémon. His friends can come over and I can sit on the couch without being in the middle of the play. What has me even more excited is what it will offer us in the next few months. The playroom is completely open to our kitchen. If I’m cooking, Chet can be in the play room and I’ll be able to see him. If I’m nursing Chet downstairs, Cole can escape to his playroom. If Chet is napping in the family room, Cole can be hyper in the playroom.

Although the bamboo floors and yoga mats and stacks of books make my heart happy, the kid cave makes my heart sing. Our house feels even more like a home now that our boys have room to grow and play and be kids (without stepping on their parents’ toes).

That wall will be covered with Cole and Chet's art work. The crates are now filled with Wii games too!
I know two kiddos that like the room (and I found a company to order solid brown cushion covers for the furniture after the holidays)

AND….the Kid Cave didn’t cost me a penny. We used things we already have in our house. Even my bank account is happy!