swimming

As you may know if you've ever read my blog I'm not a great swimmer. I've learned to semi enjoy swimming but I can never seem to go faster, I sometimes cut more workouts short if I'm tired and if I miss a swim and don't sweat it. But tonight I found a fun way to train - train with someone!! Brilliant Eh!! I can't believe I just figured this out tonight after 4.5 years of swimming!

Tonight's swim was so fun, and went by so fast...and I even tried to swim a little faster than normal...I was still being lapped :-)

I'm joining a swim club next week, and hopefully it will be the start to faster times, better technique and even some new friends!!

a little uninspired

Obviously I've been feeling a little uninspired lately.

Life has been a little tough - lots of work, a little training and not as much sleep as I would like.

With that being said there have been little inspirations along that way keep giving smiles.

* Max has started walking - it's been so amazing to see him stand up, take a step, then take some more steps and then get the proudest look on his face...a few steps and a few claps. Greg was lamenting today how he just has the best disposition.

* I've started training more...with more consistency and specificity

* I finally had a day to make cookies and muffins - I've missed baking

* With the help of my friend Sarah, I've set a new "old lady" PB in my 10km time. She totally pushed me, we pushed either, and we suffered through to a 43:44 finish!!

I will find some inspiration more regularly...

Ode to Family and Friends

Well not really an ode because I have no poetics skills whatsoever, but definitely a tribute. Without my family I would rarely get to see my friends and life would be way harder.

My family is constantly stepping up when Max can't go to daycare, or when I need an extra hand because of a long work day. My sister is always here when I need to get out with my friends. She came over nice and early yesterday so I could meet Angie and Sarah for a run and early lunch. And I drove home with a smile...it's so nice to get out for some fresh air, and reconnect with friends.

So a big thank you to my family...without them I would be way too stressed and way more of a hermit!!

About the run...it was fantastic! It was pretty crisp out but we hardly noticed hte weather or the fast clip we were keeping because of all the talking that was going on. I smiled the whole way home!

On Max news...he's learned to climb the chair by himself, brush his own hair (so cute), stand for a couple of seconds, hit blocks on the wall that cause dents and put Mommy's dirty shoes on the wall...he's such a mutchkin and I love it...so much perosnality!!

Another Week Down

Well, I've finished another week of work. The transition of stay at home mom to working mom is complete, however, still not easy.

Max's transition into daycare has been rough - so many germs - and therefore, so much sickness. It's been making me rethink my daycare strategy and see if I can find a nanny. I interviewed (along with my friend Anu from work because we would share the nanny) a woman last night but it wasn't a good fit. Just like daycare, it's actually hard to think that anyone would take as good of care of Max.

Weekends have been wonderful - I get to see his smile all day, I get lots of hugs, lots of kisses and lots of reminders why he's the sweetest baby!

Training has been tough. I had grand plans that I would fit everything in, with maybe just a little less volume and unfortunately that has not been the case. My efforts are definitely lower because by 7:30 or 8:00 I just don't have much gas left in the tank. I've been worn out by the end of the week so a friday bike or run is missed because I actually fall asleep on the couch (not my MO). But the weekend workouts have been good, and hopefully I'll start to get stronger during the week. I miss being is great shape and having the energy to kick every workout's A@#!! So if you have any extra energy please send it my way!!

Yuck!

It's been 10 days of throwing up - as Sarah says, Max has the Daycare blues!!

Hopefully the virus will subside very soon, or they will figure out what it is when we head back to emergency tomorrow morning. The poor little dude is loosing weight...his belly is gone and he's so lethargic...barely playing!

Daycare is hard on babies...so many germs. How can I make this easier on him?

Thank goodness for grandparents though! If it weren't for my parents and my sister I don't know what I would have done. I always think about all the single mom's out there who don't have a support family...I can't imagine how hard things can get for them.

The Munchkiness of Max Almon

Max can be quite a Munchkin. I personally think it's his budding personality, hard headness and social butterfliness that causes all of this monkeying around. It cracks me up...I love it!

Here are a couple examples of his Munchkinesses:

1. He sat with one leg up on the grocery cart flirting with all the ladies this morning.
2. He screamed when I took him out of the swing to bring him home when it was getting dark.
3. He throw his food all over the floor...really purposfully...then looked at me and smiled.
4. He played "I throw my cup, mommy picks it up" through half of dinner.
5. As soon as I took his diaper off for his bath he peed all over the outside of the bath tub
6. We spent his bath time playing "mom I want to stand, please stop making me sit"

I know all mother's say this, but he is seriously the sweetest boy I've ever met...I'm so lucky.

One of the positives of working full time is that the time I get with Max I truly truly cherish and try to enjoy every second...every instance of munchinkiness!

Trying Fit it All In

Holy Crap going back to work is HARD! Everything about it is hard...I've spent a year hanging out with Max everyday...the longest I was away from him was during IMC, I could fit my training in while he napped, I could clean up the house (kind of) at night, and even sit down and relax once and while. And now, Reality has hit. So I have a whole new appreciation for anyone with a job and a child that fits in a workout...kudos to you because I had no idea!

So logistically, this is how my day looks:
*5 to get ready for work and unload the dishwasher (or some other day to day chore that should be done...and one day this week have a conference call with my boss...that's right 5:30am)
*6 - get Max up and spend some time with him while we get ready to leave
*6:50ish - leave the house to drop Max off at daycare and continue onto work. This probably the hardest part of the day because he cries and like all mom's I can't stand to hear him...I just want to make it all better but I can't
*7:30 - start work and try to minimize breaks and lunch so I can leave at 4pm (an hour earlier than we're suppose to and there are lots of days that I have manditory meetings that I have to stay for)
*5 - arrive home with the Big Guy - make dinner, play, bath and give him all the hugs and kisses I can
7:45 - get on the treadmill or bike with the utmost disdain and wonder how I'm going to make it through the workout.

And I have it easy, in some ways, because my husband works over seas so I'm not worried about fitting time in with him...what's going to happen when he gets back...how's it all going to fit in...

On the positive side, work is good...it's exciting to be back in the swing of things and there's always optimisim in January! Max has ha d a couple of days with my parents to help break up daycare in the first week, and I have one workout cut short because of a whole in my tire, so I get a little extra rest with minimal guilt this week!

Another Holiday Season Come and Gone!

Another holiday season has come and gone. As with all holidays there are some ups and downs. Thankfully mostly ups. Lots of food (I am too scared to step on the scale), lots of family, lots of friends, and lots of celebrating our Little Man!

I think my favorite night was Christmas Eve. We had ribs...wierd, and not a tradition, but really good! And cards games...so fun!! Christmas is so much for fun with Max...he makes it really special again and I want nothing more than to see him smile, so we try really hard to get funny gifts and enjoy the paper and boxes that they come in!

Today I took him out in his new sleigh (birthday present from Poppa Pete and Grandma B), and he was smiling the whole time...a big toothy smile that was saying "good faster Mommy"!! When it was over (it was kind of a quick trip because it was cold) he was not impressed that I took him out of the sleigh and he tried to bite me - a few times!! So hopefully we can head out again tomorrow.

But now it's over, and reality is about to hit - I'm back to work! Yikes!! This year has been so amazing. I feel so fortunate that I got to spend a whole year with him - watching him grow, learn new things, and smile...he has the best smile ever!! But like many other women I am back to work monday. It will be so hard to leave him at daycare, and miss a whole day of him playing and discovering and smiling. I don't know how I am going to concentrate - my boss said he would order me an extra box of kleenex and I really think I'm going to need it. To help me get a little excited about work I bought a new dress - a big thanks to Sarah for giving me the little encouragement I needed to go back in the store after brunch!!