A is for Beautiful

Yesterday my sister and I ran outside. It was such a pretty day here and it felt good to be out in the fresh air. The husband came home from work early and offered to keep the little girl so we tried to run 3.1 miles up the road past the Dell plant and back. My sister made it almost all the way. I’d say I only ran about 2.5 miles of the 3.1 mile loop. It is very different running on the road when you’ve been running on a treadmill inside all winter. Anyway, I’m still proud of myself. My plan said that I was supposed to go 3.5 miles yesterday so I will probably try to make up that extra mile today.

I’m at the point in my training where it is getting harder and harder to go the distance. Saturday I am supposed to run 5 miles. The farthest I have run without stopping to walk is 4 miles and I have only been able to do that once. I am not letting that discourage me though and I am keeping on keeping on. Plus I have started to get lots of compliments on my appearance lately and that is very encouraging.

So today I hit my pre-baby weight. It took me almost eleven months and one week to do it. I never thought it would take that long and it seems like I have been fighting off that last ten pounds for an eternity.

Now I am half way to my goal of 34 pounds lost. I’ve lost 17 pounds total. Seventeen. Pounds. Isn’t that awesome? My BMI is back to a healthy number and I have dropped one or two pant sizes since before Christmas. If I lose seventeen more pounds I might be able to wear a size 6, but probably a nice size 8. I would be very happy with that.

I have run 81 miles since December 12th; 39 of those miles were in this month alone. And I STILL haven’t had a soft drink. Now go ahead. Give me a pat on the back. Besides, my birthday is Monday.

Dear Doodle,

Where, Oh, Where does the time go? Yesterday you were 11 months old. It seems like just last week that I sat down to write your ten month letter and here I am again.

I also can’t believe that you’ve almost spent a year with us. We’re planning a little birthday party for you! Just immediate family, but I know you’ll have a blast. I can’t wait to introduce you to CAKE!

Some of your achievements this month include learning how to gives high fives and kisses and hugs. When asked, you point out eyes, ears, nose, mouth, belly and your all time favorite - teeth. You love to brush your teeth and you get excited when you see the toothbrush. You have so much fun trying to jump and climb. You love when we count, “1, 2, 3!” and lift your arms so that you “jump” high off the ground. You can sign eat, more, milk, and bath. You also feed your baby the bottle and play with giving it the spoon.

Occasionally you will say “Anna” when we ask you to say “Julianna.” You’ve also been saying Nanna and Papaw when we say things like, “Where’s Papaw? Can you call Papaw?” Your vocabulary has grown exponentially this month and you know so many new words. Words I never knew that you knew. I can say, “Julianna, will you bring me the giraffe?” and you will go to the toy box and find the giraffe and bring it to me.

You haven’t been sleeping that great because of those darn molars and a little chest cold you’ve gotten this month, but you’re still just such a good baby. We wouldn’t trade you for the world.

I spent the weekend away from you this past weekend because I went to the beach with the girls from church. It was my first night apart from you and it was so hard! I missed you so much! I had forgotten what it was like to not have our little routine. And when I came back I was surprised to see that I had forgotten parts of our routine. It took me just an hour or two to get back in sync with you.

Saturday when I called to check on you and daddy you talked to me briefly on the phone. When he took the phone away you got upset and starting crying, “Ma ma ma ma ma!” It broke my heart. I wanted to be with you so badly and pick you up and squeeze you tight giving you lots of kisses and hugs. I got off the phone and had a good cry. I knew it had to happen sometime and I’m glad you got some bonding time with daddy, but just know that I missed you very much. You are such a large part of my life now and being without you was like walking around with no watch, feeling naked and not having a clue what to do…

I love you girl. Happy 11 month birthday!

Love, Mama

Beth over at Playgroup Dropout started this small change thing. This month’s challenge
is to make some small sacrifice and give the money that sacrifice would normally cost you and donate it to charity. There have been some good ideas listed in response to her post and I’ve been thinking about it a lot off and on for the last week.

I’ve also been thinking about Lent since Ash Wednesday was this week. I think I’ve decided to give up soft drinks for Lent. It’s going to be pretty tough because I used to not really drink soft drinks, but lately for some reason I’ve gotten back on a diet drink kick so I’ve decided to give them the boot (no pun intended – really). Anyway, I got to thinking about connecting the two. Sooooo, I guess I’m going to give up soft drinks for Lent and then whatever money (probably about $3/twelve pack) I save I will donate to a children’s charity.

I realize that Lent is longer that the monthly challenge should be but since Beth is extending her challenge from Feb. 15th to the end of March (to make it an even month thing) then I can surely do it one more week or so after that, don’t you think? It’s going to be hard people. But I am confident that I can do it. And besides, it’s almost Friday and I haven’t had one since before Lent started on Wednesday.

little J has already cut one molar and apparently is cutting another. she’s had HORRIBLE diarrhea as a result and on top of the runny nose she’s had since Tuesday, she’s really not feeling that well. her little tush is so raw because of all the poop. she’s been a little crankypants. it just took her about 55 minutes to fall asleep for her morning nap. i can hear her breathing loudly through the monitor now.

anyway, i’m off this weekend for a ladies beach trip. i’m excited, but also stressed about the thousands of things i have to do before then so i am not going to post much today. here’s some cute pictures of my little girl to keep you entertained.

I’ve been thinking about “the next baby” a lot. Names have been running through my head. Thoughts about what I wish I’d known before I had little J. Lots and lots of thoughts about better preparing myself for breastfeeding “the next baby”. If you’ve read this blog for a while you know that I quit nursing Julianna right about 3 months. I felt that she wasn’t getting enough milk and I was having a really, really hard time with it mentally and psychologically. It was just hard! And I was self-conscious and inexperienced. So I’ve been wanting to make sure I have anything that would help in any way at all make nursing “the next baby” easier than it was with little J and hopefully more successful. I want to get some nursing shirts and a sling. I picked up a Boppy pillow at that consignment sale I went to a while back. I also have lots of other goals in mind like having the baby try to nurse more in the hospital, etc.

I know that none of these things are necessary, but I don’t want any silly excuses to quit the next time around. I didn’t get a bunch of those things before because people told me that you could do without them and that there were always easier, less expensive substitutions to use instead. I’ve thought about it though and after paying over a thousand dollars in formula this year, buying a few special nursing pillows and shirts are worth the money if it helps me breastfeed more easily. I really feel more determined now although I know my thoughts will probably change when faced with the challenge again. It was hard, people! Anyway, please don’t judge me for quitting so soon and for admitting that it was hard for me the first time around.

Any ideas for baby girl names?