Ella Endorses Obama!

Last night as we were driving home from church, I told Ella that I had gone to vote that day. We talked a little about voting and I asked her who she thought should be our next president. She excitedly answered, "Barack Obama." We're not sure where she learned about Barack Obama or John McCain, but apparently we talk about them more than we think. I think that Barack Obama is a pretty fun name to say. Nonetheless, the child has given her opinion. I guess that we'll see how the rest of the country feels in just a few days......

Life never gets back to "normal"

I, of course, have been pretty excited about my new diet/weight loss over the last year and a half. Not to mention becoming a "runner" (I'm still not sure if I can call myself that yet). But, I have forgotten a lesson that I learned in the beginning of my weight loss: Life never gets back to "normal", meaning that I never get to go back to eating whatever I want. Even with running I can't eat dessert everyday, and not measure out portions, and eat "just a little more." The pounds slowly but surely creep back on.

So, does this mean that I am on a perpetual diet? Does this mean that I can never eat what I want again? I guess that the answer is both yes and no. I am on a sort of diet, I have never been, and obviously never will be, the kind of person who can eat whatever they want and keep up the weightloss/maintenance. What I need to do is remember the lessons that I learned, in eating you make choices, a lot of them. If I want ice cream in the evening, then I can't have a cookie in the afternoon. If I want a little more dinner, I should eat a little less lunch, or vice versa. If I am eating badly, it's even more important that I make time in my day to go running (which is pretty hard with a little one). These are good lessons to learn, but hard to live out.

I guess this post is more of a reminder to myself, it's time to get serious, and be healthy! Being happy with who I am and proud of how I look is more important than that cookie that looks so tasty. If you have experienced the same thing and have any advice about staying on track, I would appreciate it!

What's the Matter with me?

Those of you who know me well know that when I say that I like sleeping, it's an understatement. I actually list napping as one of my hobbies. If a Sunday goes by and I don't get my Nazarene nap, I'm not a very happy camper. Lately, though, it seems that no matter how much sleep I get, I am never rested. I can sleep 8 hours a night and wake up feeling like crap, just the same as if I get 6 hours of sleep. I drag myself out of bed every morning bleary eyed and wanting more sleep. Every night when I get home, I count down the hours until I can go to sleep at a time reasonable to most adults (and after my 2 year old).

I just don't understand it. I eat a very healthy diet, I exercise about 2 hours a week, I can run 3 miles. Why can't I stay awake? One might think that it's some thyroid thing, but I've had that checked. One might say that it's because I am the mom of a toddler, but my toddler sleeps for almost 12 hours, and only 1 or 2 times a week wakes me up in the middle of the night.

I hate being tired, I want more energy. I have so much to do that I can't afford to go to bed at 9:00 every night. I just don't know how to make it better. Any suggestions?

P.S. I can't do caffeine, it gives me headaches and makes me want to sleep more!!!

What a Big Girl!

I have been meaning to write this post for a while, but I haven't' been able to because our computer has been on the fritz. This has been a big summer for our little one, who is slowly but surely making the transition from being a baby to being a "big girl."

In May, Ella started going to daycare at Vanderbilt, just a few blocks from Brad's school. It has been such a blessing. One drawback for her was that they don't allow 2 year olds to have pacis at Vanderbilt. So, on her first day, we prepared her, "No pacis at Vanderbilt." We decided to go cold turkey, and that evening we put all of her pacis into a box, and took them out to the mailbox where the mail carrier would come to "take the pacis to the babies." That night, we questioned our decision while for 2 hours (from midnight-2) Ella cried, "I want my paci." But, after that night, we were done! What a relief. But even now, if you ask Ella what makes her happy she will say without hesitation, "my blankie and my paci."

Ella also made the leap of potty training this summer. She still has the occasional accident, and is working on giving up Pull-ups at nap time and nighttime, but we're making progress. She loves to wear big girl underwear, and often reminds us, "Diapers are for babies."

The last big leap that we made this summer is moving Ella from her crib to a big girl bed. She wasn't climbing out at night, but when she was in her bed for time outs, she would throw her legs over the side. We knew it was time. So, we got a great bed on Craigslist and put it in her room. She loves being able to climb in and out herself, and thankfully still stays in bed until we come and get her when she wakes up. She loves to bring 2 stuffed animals to bed with her (only 1 for nap time she tells us), and loves to "switch" them each night. Here are some pictures of Ella in her big girl bed.

Ella is such a joy, and we are really enjoying being parents to her. She is learning all of her letters and numbers, is very interested in reading and amazes us each day with new things that she is learning. She has also started trying to interject herself into all of our conversations. "You talking about cousin Andy, or another Andy." And is very insightful. Last week, Brad was talking animatedly to get a point across and she said, "You mad at mommy, daddy?" It made us laugh. Her favorite thing to do is hang out at the park. We are thankful for the blessing that she is, and look forward to the years ahead.

I Made It!

On Saturday, September 20, hundreds of people from toddlers to grandparents gathered together to run a race. I arrived a
few hours before the race and watched as children, parents, grandparents and college students streamed into the center of Belmont’s campus to register for the race. All around me, people of all shapes and sizes were chugging water, eating bananas, stretching and running warm-up laps to prepare for the big event, the 5K.

All of my training culminated Saturday night at the 5K. I lined up on Belmont Avenue for the big race (about 20 Trevecca students ran it, too). After some delay, and a few sprinkles, the starting gun sounded and we were off. It was hot, it was dark, and it was hilly. Most of the runners were ahead of me, but I kept running (sometimes, though, I had to walk to keep going). But as I came to the top of the final hill and could see the finish line ahead, I got a new burst of energy. And though I was hot, though my ankles were sore, and although I could barely breathe, the end was in sight. The time on the finish line clock was more than the 14:51 that the winner finished in, but it was faster than I had ever run (okay, it was 34:04). And what began as a dream in June became a reality. It wasn’t ever easy, and it was rarely fun, but it was worth it. I’m already looking toward a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day.






Ella and mommy after finishing the race.














I did it! Yes, I'm really red!

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.