SEVENTH ANNUAL

Last Sunday we celebrated Easter with our seventh annual seafood Easter dinner.

Our Easter began a little later than normal (read: K was up at 6:40ish; not her usual 6:05am). We got ready and rushed off to church for brunch. I stress the rushed part of the morning. We did get out of bed later than usual on Sunday. Top that off with me not having any clothes that fit - maternity clothes are too big; regular clothes too small. I hate the awkward stage of pregnancy. I ended up wearing a too small black skirt that nearly bruised my expanding belly. K, on the other hand, had a beautiful and perfectly fitting little Easter dress to wear. Unfortunately, the sleeves hurt her armpits. She cried from the moment we put the dress on until we took it off and dressed her in another dress. The real bummer is D took the tags off the dress before we realized K wouldn't wear it. Maybe our second baby will also be a girl and she'll like the dress...

We arrived at church half an hour late for the brunch. On the flip-side, we were 45 minutes early for church. All in all it was a successful morning.

After church K napped and D and I scrambled to get ready for our dinner.

K woke up and opened her Easter basket from United States Grandma and Grandpa. The sunglasses and stickers inside were a big hit; as were the cashews.

Our guests - all NINE of them (not including the three of us) - arrived around 4:30. We snacked on deviled eggs and more cashews. Around 5:30 we sat down to a feast that included:


1. baked salmon wrapped in puffed pastry and spinach;
2. baked shrimp encrusted with cornmeal - this was by far K's favorite dish of the night;
3. sauteed brussel sprouts with carmalized onions;
4. spinach salad with black beans and blue cheese;
5. homemade bread; and
6. ice-cream cones and bunny cookies for dessert.

I took very few pictures during the day. My major fail was not getting a picture of K in either one of her Easter dresses. I did successful take pictures of our appetizer, the cookies and K's casual afternoon outfit.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Spring has arrived and I am feeling healthy again. Early this morning I received an email saying that the azaleas at the National Arboretum are in full bloom. The sun was shining, a cool breeze was blowing, and I was ready to get out and enjoy the day. So off we went...

We spent some time admiring the azaleas. Then we hiked across the meadow to check out the original columns of the U.S. Capitol.

Afterward we spent some time running through the meadows, checking out the fountain, and sitting on every bench at the park.

 

We ended up trip at the choi ponds. No pictures were taken because I spent the majority of my time trying to keep my two year old out of the water (and away from the fish).

2011 GOALS: REVISED

*** written Saturday, January 29, 2011

When I wrote my goals for this year, I wasn't pregnant. And now that I am pregnant several of my goals need to change. For instance, I am not going to be able to run 1250 miles this year. More than likely I won't be running much between June and November of this year. Getting more than 100 miles per month in isn't going to happen. And so, I have revised my goals for the year; making room and planning for Baby #2.

Here's what my revised 2011 goals look like. Additions and modifications are in a GENDER NEUTRAL GREEN.

MOM:

• Get everything in place  for K to attend preschool in the fall
• Plan one outing with K each week
• library
• museum
• pool
• spray park
• Read to K every day
• Introduce one new food/recipe every two weeks
• Prepare K for the arrival of the new baby
• Get things read for Baby #2
• buy new crib
• rearrange house
• plan maternity leave

WIFE:

• Plan one date night per month 
• Plan five year wedding anniversary celebration
• Encourage, support, and help D plan for his sabbatical
• Train for and run at least one race together
• Read book with D and take action accordingly

FRIEND:

• Plan 12 coffee dates (one per month with a freind)
• Organize an event for K's friends and their moms quarterly
• cookie decorating
• backyard sprinkler party
• picnic in RCP
• Make and start getting out with a running buddy

COMMUNITY / FAMILY:

• Volunteer
• at a local running / triathlon event
• in one of the many neighborhood groups
• Plan a family trip to California for Christmas 2011 

ATHLETE:

• Run 1250 miles (that is 2011 km)
• Achieve half fanatic status by June 2011
• Set personal records (PRs) in half and full marathon
• Race a 5K and a 10K
• Run one race in my Vibrams
• Do strength training at least twice per week
• Cross train at least once per week
• yoga
• spinning
• swimming

HEALTH:

• Lose 10 pounds
• Gain a healthy amount of weight while pregnant (do not exceed first pregnancy weight)
• Introduce K to health behaviors --- get her outside and moving at least three times per week
• yoga
• swimming
• bike riding
• walking
• Make / try a new healthy snack each week
• East at least 4 fruits / veggies each day

STUDENT:

• Defend dissertation by July 2011
• Complete at least three papers for publication by September 2011

CAREER:

• Practice patience
• Apply only for jobs I am excited about
• Make a list of what I really want to do and necessary steps to get there by June 2011
• Write out 3-, 5-, and 10- year goals
• Explore some non-traditional part-time opportunities

FINANCE:

• Set aside enough money to pay for K's preschool 
• Brainstorm ideas to make extra money
• Make plans to pay for delivery of Baby #2 and insurance of Baby #2

HOME:

• Paint, furnish, and decorate K's big girl room
• Make space / room for Baby #2
• Paint living room
• Choose color and paint our bedroom
• Plant garden with K in the spring

PERSONAL GROWTH:

• Read books on my to be read list:
• Born To Run
• Breaking Dawn
• Celebration of Discipline
• Anatomy of the Soul
• Me, Myself, and Bob
• Run Like a Mother
• Chi Running
• Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families
• The Help
• Read Bible (all of it before end of year)
• Learn how to use my camera

ME:

• Plan a me outing each month
• spring shopping with ACE
• afternoon at the library reading
• walk around The Mall 
• Pay for and get one massage
• Complete a year long photo challenge (commence in February)
• Save money for:
• Lightroom
• Keen boots
• bike and seat for K
• double stroller
• Get spinning instructors certification 
• Have a natural childbirth

MORNING SICKNESS

*** Written February 10, 2011

When I was pregnant with K, I had a little bit of morning sickness. I can remember feeling hot, dizzy, and slightly nauseous during the morning for several weeks. Once I came close to throwing up while on the train to Baltimore. But, all in all, it wasn't that bad.

This time around, things seem to be amplified. The nauseousness is worse and my ability to hold-back (or hold down) the vomit isn't going to last much longer (especially if things get worse in the coming weeks).

This morning, I got up and did 30 minutes with Jillian (30 Minute Shred), showered, ate breakfast, and got ready to leave. I left the house with a travel mug full of chai tea - as in a teabag of chai tea (not a latte or anything fancy; just straight up tea). As I was driving to Baltimore, I started to feel a little queezy. I opened a window to cool the car down and get a little fresh air into my lungs. I started to feel better. Once in B-more, I parked and started by trek to school. As I'm walking down one of the main roads of Baltimore, I was hit was a HUGE urge to barf.

LOVELY.

I actually stopped at a trash can along the sidewalk and stood there. Throwing up probably would have made me feel better, but I just couldn't do it. Instead I puked a little bit in my mouth and kept on walking.

Since then, I was thrown up twice in my mouth - a nasty, bile-fill, chai-flavored barf.

Um... I think I have morning sickness!

I would love to drink some ginger ale, but having a bottle of ginger ale on my desk at 8:57am screams, "I AM PREGNANT." So I'm going to pass for now. If I still feel sick and have the desire for a ginger ale in half an hour - when my advisor will be in a staff meeting and most students are in class and I can shut my office door - I will get one then.

Here's to not throwing up today...

IRONIC

***written Thursday, January 27, 2011

Webster's Dictionary defines IRONIC as: coincidental; unexpected

The events of the past week have been in more ways than one IRONIC. Last week over the MLK Jr holiday, we moved K into her big girl bed. I was sad to see the crib disassembled, but I was eager to get the crib out of our house. I remember saying to D (and others), "even if I were pregnant right now, we wouldn't need a crib for another year. Let's just sell this one on craigslist and buy a new one if and when we need it."

D was thrilled not to have to find a spot to store a crib. We took a set of pictures of the crib together and then took it apart. Before posting an ad on craigslist, I mentioned to a pregnant friend that we were getting rid of K's old crib and she offered to buy it. Sweet. She and her husband made arrangements to pick it up from us on Monday evening.

On Monday afternoon, I met a friend for coffee. We had a delightful time. After sucking down a warm chai tea, I walked with my friend to Target to get a couple of groceries and some soap. While walking through the pharmacy section of the Target, it occurred to me that I was late.

Hmmmmm....

Do I buy a pregnancy test? Or wait it out a week?

Obviously I bought a test and ran right into the bathroom at Target to pee on a stick.

And wouldn't you know it? POSITIVE. No need to wait the three minutes. I got an immediate positive result.

HOLY CRAP. Pregnant with baby #2.

I went home and after the nanny and the other family in our nanny-share left I took another test (you cannot be too sure). Positive. Again.

I stuck both positive tests in my pocket and spent some time with my baby until D got home. As I was reading K Fox in Socks for the 10,000th time, I was thinking about how I was going to tell D. I had a plan. Then moments after D arrived home, I got out of bed where K and I were reading an the test fell out of my pocket. K asked what it was; I said a pen. D noticed it was not a pen. I handed off both tests when we were in the kitchen getting ready for dinner. Not the most dramatic way of telling him, but the message was relayed.

Moments later, our friends knocked on the door and loaded up our crib. So with Baby 2 on the way, we don't have a crib. Isn't that ironic?


As of right now, I'm about four weeks along. So my insides are looking something like this:

 

I'm feeling ok. At nights I'm experiencing sea-sickness, and during the day I've had some mild headaches. My anxiety related to being pregnant is significantly less than the first time around. I'm actually excited and looking forward to hearing the baby's heartbeat at my first OB appointment (still to be scheduled). 

According to the online calculator, my due date is between September 30 and October 3.

SPRING

It looks as if SPRING has arrived - for keeps this time (*fingers crossed*). Warmer weather, thunderstorms, and flowers will be filling the days to come. The past few months have been trying for me, but with spring upon us I feel excited about new opportunities, growth, and many flower-filled days at the park (or our backyard).

 

Note: details about the past few weeks will be forthcoming.