Race thoughts

The Great Aloha Run ~ 8.1miles
I set a personal record coming in at 57:58. That is a 7:07 minute mile average. I was a sickening 20 seconds away from 3rd place in my div. Below is a time line of thoughts and actions in prep and during the race for I'm sure no ones interest but my own....but like I said, this blog is like a journal so on I go....

11pm the night before-The decision is set. I am going balls to the wall on this one. I get faster and faster each year even when I'm prego. This year I want a PR (personal record) as well as podium. I only have to beat out 20,000 people. I can do it. Chris gives me a coach talk of encouragement and drive.
4:30am-That alarm comes way to early when it seems like I just fell asleep. Oh wait I did just fall back asleep, Colin had already woke up twice this morning.
5- Pick up Jaime, exchange groggy hellos and head out. We have been doing this for years and know each other so well that it's not to say that we don't have jitters, because we do, but the anxiousness is lessened as dark early race mornings have become routine.
5:10-Hit traffic headed towards the stadium where we usually go and catch a bus to the start downtown. Aggravating. Obviously half the island is competing this morning. Marketing sucks for my competitive edge.
5:55-We have made 1/8th of a mile progress and that was only succeeded because I cut people off. We won't make the last bus leaving the stadium now we have to head into town.
6:10-Perfect parking...relief. Head into Safeway to use restroom behind the 20+ people already waiting. We soon leave as the girls in front of us were waaay to hyper and annoying to make it worth toilet paper and cleanliness. Walk toward the street lined back to back with porta potties...maybe 100+ of them. Pick a line that seems to go on infinitely, but moves faster than expected. I should stretch, but too may people to poke my bum into if I move.
6:45-Push toward the start...excuse me, pardon me, move your slow damn ass out of my way because yes as you shoot me those glaring eyes I can honestly reassure you that my fast ass will leave your jean wearing but in the dust...please excuse us. Upon registration you predict your time and are allocated a certain color bib to wear and line up at the starting line accordingly. Fast people in front with yellow and others set back in order. We are yellows. The problem is that everyone wants to be close to the front and they don't realize how much effort goes into running through an obstacle course of moving road blocks. I am a tad bit competitive and have learned that if you want to set a PR you need to set yourself up for success and as far forward as possible. Plus you get a sense of good runners, they are not the ones with the cutest outfit, most expensive gadgets and gear, or stretching endlessly. They are usually relaxed, and focused, and assured. I wonder if I look like that?
7am-Gun goes off to start the race, 4 1/2 minutes later we cross the start with the loud pinging sound as our timing chips are activated. Move, stretch on the go, and by the way Nic, GO! The maze is endless and includes half the course taken up by Military units running in formation. They are actually off my hook, I like them. They make you feel super speedy as you fly by, they block out a ton of people if you get on the left side of their formation, and they scream cadence at the top of their lungs that motivates me and makes me laugh!

"When my granny was 92... she did PT just like you!!!"... "Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon..." and so it goes with each unit I fly by.

7:15-Too crowded to run side by side as we dodge in and out of people. Jaime is on my tail, but I need to push faster and stop looking back. I don't see her a few lookbacks in a row and although I know she is there I am easier for her to see. She will keep me in her sights, I need to push, "follow me Jaime" I say in my head.
Mile 3- The course is widened and I stay way left with the next goal in my sights. I pick him/her out and overtake them one by one. Feeling good and flying.
Mile 6- My goals (a selected person running in front of me at a good pace) are getting harder to catch. I am still passing people by the dozens, but at a slower pace. Too slow for podium promise. They see me coming, watch me overtake and try to stay with me, it's even more exhausting hearing someone else breath just as hard as you.
Miles 6.5-8 - Hills. I get passed by a few long legged men. I pass them on the downhill. We even out and I watch their calves, to pace my legs and preoccupy my mind screaming at me to slow down the pace.
Mile 7-I want to slow down now. Hold on to this, you can hold on to this! This was my weakest mile.
Mile 8- Girl goals got sparse around mile 7 and then all of the sudden as I enter the stadium parking lot with 1/4 mil to go I see 5 more up ahead. Catch them. At all costs. I did. Finish!!!!
Finish-I want to lay down, just put some orange caution cones around me and let me take a quick nap as the rest of the runners come through. Jaime crosses the line within a few minutes and we head to the food. I hear my name being yelled by the most amazing man in my life that I didn't think was coming. As I look up Jake and Chris are waiving from the stands in the stadium. My motivation, my drive, my love...surprise.
Results: 5th in my div. Missed 3rd by 20 seconds. Ready for the next race. :)

Colin is 5 Months!

5 Months Old!

Colin is 26in and weighed in at 13.6lbs at his last visit. He has great strength and drive and with a little more upper body strength I fear he will be scooting all over within a month. His favorite activity is anything where his active brother is in plain view to entertain him and his favorite toy is still the human face. He sheiks, laughs, and even growls :)

Beautiful baby blues!

In other exciting news: Jake officially started potty training!
So let me give you the background on my little devil. He has ALWAYS hated diaper changing ever since he was a few months old he would cry as soon as he felt the hand gently guide him backwards for a change. He never grew out of it no matter how many different techniques and approaches we took. Firm, gentle, explaining, rewards...nothing. A third party (friend, family) would have some luck and boast about how they had cured him only to do it a few more times and get the same defiance once the newness wore off. The bottom line was that he hated stopping what he was doing, no matter how fast I got (believe me I had lightening speed skills), it was still taking him away from his current activity.

Sooo potty training was no different. Do want to try on the potty? NO! or No thank you :) Finally I decided to stop asking and give it a 3 day committed trial. I started on Friday in hopes that that would be the worst and the weekend help of Dad would ease us into a routine. Friday was horrid. I was ready to give in by 8am. He threw every bad behavior plus some new violent ones at me and suddenly I realized that I was in a standoff and I was committing myself to 3 days of holding my ground. Saturday ticked by with a timer designating potty time just to prove the point and get into the habit. By Sunday we had only 5 successes for the past 3 days and now I was looking at a week alone again. Crap, now what? I can't give up and throw away all that hard work of encouragement and most of all patience that we have all put into this! Honestly I was at a loss of how I was going to be able to continue.
Low and behold my stance was noticed and Monday morning as soon as I asked him to go potty he eagerly headed in and peed within seconds. Are you kidding me?! What a little....angel :) It was downhill from there and he is good about going while we are out on the town, but still has accidents from time to time when he is having too much fun playing and I get too wrapped up in Colin to take him. So, we are still in training, but being on the road to success is so rewarding for both of us!



Valentines Day Biathlon

Chris and I did the annual V-Day biathlon this year and enjoyed a day of paddle boarding at the beach with all the kids.

How many kids can a long board take?



Surf's up!

Jake and Daddy enjoying some quality time before bed complete with a guitar lesson on how to play twinkle twinkle little stars.

Cookies! I eat peanut butter on a daily basis. I eat so much of it that I am sure that it would show up in my bloodstream if it were tested. Anyhoo, my friend had a friend who made these Peanut butter cup cookies and I had to share them with you. They are delicious!



Enjoy!

Jake enjoying one of his many rewards for going potty like a big boy. This rewards thing is going to cost us more than Christmas! Time to downgrade to stickers :)

Colin enjoying his Valentines gift from Dad!

Cuteness in curiosity

I have been wanting to take Colin's pictures in Jakes big Tonka truck for weeks now and finally got the candid chance the other day...



Jake soon joined in and pushed Colin all around the yard. Colin and Jake were laughing and I was quick to follow to make sure Jake didn't "dump" his cargo!

My aging infant

It's all about the growth chart at this age. Isn't it funny and amazing how much growing and development happens in just a few short months? I though last month that I should post about Colin doing well with tummy time and his neck healing, but now that is nothing compared to his toe grabbing, rolling over, cereal eating, and jabber sessions as of late!

Some thearapists came to the house last month and concluded that all the diligent stretching and time had healed his neck muscles! Colin (being a great student like his Mom and Dad) passed with flying colors in all the other areas of development, speech, and fine motor skills for his age as well. Jake was babbling away with the two pretty ladies in our home and they assessed him with 3-4yr old language skills!

Tummy time gets easier and easier especially now that he can roll over when he's had enough :)

Tada!

Jake really enjoys his small plastic animals and his imaginative dialogue always takes us on an adventure. We have been spending a lot more time at home these days and although I feel guilty it is just what I can manage. We still go the park, run, do errands, but our hiking, beach sessions, and other adventures are put off until there are two parents involved.

Be prepared to see many more zoo pics as we paid for the annual pass, it's educational, and manageable. We never see the whole park in one visit, which makes it even more exciting to see something new each time. This day the tortoises were out and about capturing Jake's attention and some instructions to go back into the water. (he thinks they are all sea turtles)

It looks like we are in an African safari right? Oh I look so tired in this pic....and I am. Just another difference between my two boys is their sleep patterns. Jake was sleeping through the night by 8wks, Colin still wakes up twice a night and hardly naps longer than 60min during the day. I am exhausted so beware this may lead to an increase in misspellings!

Jake was not interested at all in his toes. I had to force him to hold onto them while I quickly snapped a pic to record the passive milestone. Colin loves his toy toes and couldn't be happier that they are attached to him at all times. They make him laugh, are a great chew toy, and have helped him become quite the rolly polly.

My good friend Linda is such a talented lady and she just sent a fun filled package for the boys to include this amazing ocean themed quilt for Colin. It is a masterpiece and the boys are eager to dive on every time I pull it out. She even made little stuffed animal fish to match for each of the boys...love it!

Bumbo time!

Colin meet the Bumbo. It's only a match made in heaven for the first few minutes, but as he gets stronger I think that he'll enjoy his seat and new view. We have started feeding him cereal with formula to pack on some pounds and get in some more calories. Something happens to my supply around this time as we had to do the same with Jake. I luckily still have milk this time, it just doesn't have enough fat. So on with the quart a day ice cream schedule and trying to find other healthy ways to pack in protein to my busy day. Suggestions anyone? I am trying to find a protein shake that is prepackaged for time savings and ease to grab and go, but it needs to taste good. Preferably like a peanut butter cookie:)

From the bouncy seat to the walker Jake tests the weight limits on it all!

Colin loves bath time

I usually don't talk about personal dilemmas here on the blog but this one was a big part of our stressful holiday season and finally seems to be resolved. Timing was not on our side as our perfect tenants moved out of our rental property the day Colin was born. Thus the quick and crazy race to get another tenant was on. After a month of showings and background checks revealing secrets, we were hopeful in a newlywed military couple. In a matter of one month they caused enough damage to make remodeling the kitchen and bath a necessity. Not a financially fun situation with a newborn entering our household. The volatile military couple was suspected of sabotaging the property and numerous unsolicited reports were given about their crude violent behavior towards property and persons. Ultimately, they were encouraged to leave, the remodel was completed and now it has been rented out again. We are hopeful that things will look up for the property. The pic above is of the remodeled kitchen, new oak cabinets and all stainless steel appliances.