Race Day is on It's Way

Well, just a few more days until the race on Saturday. I have a short (2 mile) run tomorrow, and then I'll be resting (from running that is) until the race Saturday evening (how horrible to have to wait until 6:30 p.m.!). I'm not quite sure yet what the best thing to eat is on Saturday leading up to the race.

I feel like I'm ready, although I'm not sure that I'll be able to run the whole time. A friend of mine ran a whole marathon going 4 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I might do something similiar if the hills of Nashville get to me. Either way, though, I feel a sense of accomplishment. When I began in June, I could barely run for 30 seconds in a row. Now, I can run up to 2 miles without stopping, and sometimes even more. I thought that by now I would like running more, but I don't. I still haven't experienced the "runner's high" that people say gets them through. I'll probably never be a marathon (or half-marathon for that matter) runner. But, I'm in a better place than I was 3 months ago. And, running is a pretty efficient form of exercise that you can do anywhere.

I'm already planning my next race. My dad, brothers and I will be doing a Turkey Trot in Savannah on Thanksgiving Day. Two years ago, I couldn't even walk a 5K at that race (I probably could have, I just didn't want to!). I guess that I must just like poultry events :) I appreciate your prayers for Saturday, and I will post pictures when I can.

Ready or not, here I come!

I thought that I was the favorite

Most days, I drop Ella off at school and Brad picks her up. However, on Wednesdays this semester, our schedules dictate that we switch. I decided that today I would leave work a little early and spend some extra time with Ella (a precious commodity in our household). As she and Brad were leaving this morning I told her that I would pick her up after nap. She looked crushed and said, "But mommy, I have to have snack, and group time and play outside then you can pick me up." I told her that I could pick her up at 3:00 and she said, how about 5:00 (funny, since she knows nothing about time). We continued to discuss it for a few minutes, but she never backed down. She wanted me to pick her up from school, but not until she finishes her favorite activities :) I guess that spending time with mom isn't top on her favorites list anymore.

The Potty Truck

It's been a while since I've posted. Our Mac is out of commission, and all the of cute pictures that I have of Ella to share are hanging out there. As soon as it's fixed, I'll post on Ella's big girl bed, and my new dresses :)

But, this morning, Ella and I walked out of the front door to see a His and Hers Plumbing truck in front of our neighbors house. Their logo is above. She looked at me and said, "Mommy, why do they have a potty truck?" It was all that I could do to keep from laughing. We spent a lot of time on the way to school discussing potty trucks!

The Promise of Baptism

In June, we spent a long weekend with my parents in Savannah. As a part of the weekend's festivities, my 11-year-old sister, Anna, was baptized. We had talked with Ella about it as we prepared for the occasion, and also talked with Ella about her own baptism. Since then, Ella has talked about baptism a lot. She has wanted to thank God for her and Aunt Anna's baptism, talked about what happens at Baptism (we have told her that we become Christian when we are baptized), and watched her own baptism video on Brad's computer.

Last night, I was giving Ella a bath, and she had some little cubes that hold water. She filled one up, poured the water over her head and said, "I get baptized, I'm a Christian now." She proceeded to "baptize" herself several more times during the course of her bath. It's amazing how kids think about the things that we tell them! Who knows, perhaps Ella is destined to be a pastor!

P.S. For those who care, I can run 1 1/2 miles in a row now!

Shopping

For most of my life, I haven't really liked shopping. It's been mostly because until now, I haven't had the best luck with getting clothes to fit, but now, I think that it's ultimately for a different reason.

Last night, Brad and I took Ella to Opry Mills Mall here in Nashville to get fitted for some shoes that she will soon need. But, while there, Brad and I both decided to look around for somethings that we had been thinking about (pants, a dress, some shoes). As we walked around the mall, I began to get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, and it was getting worse and worse the more stores I went into and the more clothes I tried on, and the more things I found myself wanting to buy.

Now, I don't really like to spend money (I have some issues that someday I'll figure out how to deal with), but then I figured out that shopping for me is a little like eating dessert. I can live without eating dessert, but the moment I begin, I want more. I can eat a serving of chocolate ice cream, and then once I finish, I think, "Now, if only I had a few more bites." More often than not I yield to temptation and go to the kitchen to get some more ice cream (part of the reason that running is so important for me!). I think that shopping is like that. When I don't go to the mall (or Target), I am pretty content with what I have, and find it easier to live simply. But, the moment I walk into the mall and see all of the clothes hanging in the stores, and the sale signs, I begin to get the itch...."Oh, I love that dress, now if only I had a sweater to go with it in case I get cold, and none of my shoes really match, so I might need to get some new ones." And so it goes.

Just like it's much easier to resist the chocolate ice cream (or Nutella, or cake, or brownies, or cupcakes) temptation if I never bring them into my house, or open the freezer door. It's easier for me to resist consumerism if I don't ever make it to the store. Now the trick is to find a way to live in harmony with my temptations..........

Keepin' On

Nothing too new or exciting is happening, but I thought that I would write about a few things:

Update on Running: It's been almost a month now since I started my running quest. It's going well, I think. This week, I walked/ran about 3 miles, with 1.2 of those miles being 2 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I'm starting to feel less and less tired when I'm running, although I'm still pretty sore. I don't love running yet, but I'm liking it more, and it makes me feel good about myself. I am having a hard time getting up at 5:00 a.m. to do my running! I still have a lot more work to do, but I'm optimistic.

Update on Mothering: Thanks for all of your advice and suggestions about dealing with a toddler. I've found that I get the most frustrated when I have agenda, such as a certain time that I want to leave the house, or a certain schedule for the evening. So, each time I find myself getting angry and wanting to yell, I think about whether or not Ella doing want I want her to is for her or for me. I'm yelling a lot less! I think that she appreciates it :) I would say that it's still a growing edge, though.

Random Thoughts on our Current Economic Situation: Some of you may know that I worry about money, sometimes more than I should. Every time I turn on NPR, or the news, or go to cnn.com, I find that the news is just bad, bad, bad (although the price of oil has dropped this week $18/barrel!). And the more I hear people talk about it, the more anxious I feel. I sometimes even find myself not being able to concentrate on work because the state of the nation's economy is weighing heavy on me. So, as irresponsible as it may seem, I'm trying not to pay much attention to what I hear on the news, I find that it makes me have a better outlook on life. Is that bad?

Tonight we had our first Daugherty Family Movie Night. Brad and Ella went to our local Red Box and picked up "The Bee Movie". Once they arrived home, we changed into our pajamas, popped some popcorn, poured a small amount of soda, and sat on the couch with our blankets. She was pretty tired at the end, but she seemed to love it. We look forward to more fun times and traditions together.

The Life of a Toddler Mom or just a grumpy lady?

So, I often find myself frustrated with Ella, and even raising my voice more than I would like. I especially noticed it after being together all day today. Ella is 2 1/2 now and is starting to flex her independence muscle. She wants to do everything, and she wants to do it her way. This works most of the time, but when we need to get somewhere, or when something needs to be done (or if it needs to be done in a particular way), I find that it's very hard to get her to do it, or to listen. We haven't made a habit of spanking, or using any kind of physical punishment, but are thinking that maybe we need to use a little to get her to respond. I often find myself yelling her name in exasperation.

So, is that what life is like as the mother of a toddler, or am I just a grumpy lady? Those of you who have raised (or are raising) toddlers, what do you think??