Onward, again

It happened again. For the second time in my bloggy-blog history, I've let what was supposed to be a quick, fun way to keep tabs on my life silence me from addressing other things. 

Current case in point: My monthly write-ups for the kids. They were never meant to be serious literary fanfare, but somewhere along the way they actually became important to me, lessening my guilt over half-filled and untouched baby books because at least the information was still being recorded. And if I were still posting several times a week like I did for Parents, absolutely I would continue to write them. But with increased work responsibilities including more travel, child rearing, half-marathon training, and random household tasks slowly threatening to overtake me on a daily basis, if I'm going to maintain any kind of regular presence here, it has to be without the pressures associated with have-tos or shoulds. So, effective immediately, I'm exnaying the updates and will instead incorporate those tidbits into my regular posts, which I should have been doing in the first place. In the event I do have specific stories to share about the kids, I'll file them under their individual names for easy searching.

Alrighty, then! *Claps hands* Moving on.

Yesterday marked week five of my training for the Indy 500 Mini-Marathon, and if the athletic powers that be were to assign me a grade, it would probably fall somewhere around a C. On the positive side, I'm faithfully running three to four times a week as dictated by my training schedule, which is pretty much a 16-week version of Hal Higdon's half-marathon novice plan combined with the long runs from Katy's plan, which was in turn inspired by Men's Health. I hit my tempo runs on Tuesdays, strength train on Thursdays (mostly), and long run my ass off over the weekend. In return, I've dropped back to my pre-pregnancy weight (range) (damn you, Dairy Queen and your close proximity), and the hollow of my throat no longer burns near the end of a run. In fact, the bulk of my injuries are mostly confined to my knees and ankles, with the occasional side stitch when I start out too fast and the black toenail on my left foot slowly rising to the surface. I've been trying to stay a little ahead of my endurance schedule, so right now my top mileage is 6.5 for a single run instead of five, and once I hit six, I knew, just knew, with every euphoric bone in my body, that I could go the distance in May. Hurrah fitness!

On the negative side, I have not embraced training with my whole heart. I'm constantly switching my days around so there's little consistency to my workouts. I usually skip Monday with the exception of one Level Two shred and a poor attempt at yoga that had me turning off the video twenty minutes in to catch up on All My Children. Eating habits are still spotty. I'm still climbing into bed far too late, thus sabotaging my ability to spring from the covers at five. I have days where I push my morning workout to the evening and then scrap it altogether because I'm just too tired. I have ended runs early.

There is much room to grow. And while it's easy to visualize logging extra miles, it's harder to imagine reaching a speed that will propel me beyond just average. But it's fun, and I love it, and it's mine, mine, mine.

Watching "Pa" break in his new snowplow over the New Year's holiday.

Kara and Nathan are growing fast as weeds these days. They run around the downstairs together, gathering at their kitchen set to make coffee and graze on plastic utensils, respectively. They continue their love of reading and are going ape over a set of non-fiction books we ordered written by one of our favorite children's authors. Kara is chattering up a storm, parroting random phrases and creating even more of her own. The list includes:

"Daddy helping you?" (when she wants Luke's assistance)
"Oh, don't worry, I'll get it!" (upon learning there were cupcakes for dessert)
"Momma coming soon?" (Grab knife, insert into heart)
"You hungry, baby?"
"Nathan, play with this!"
"I've got you, Momma!"

She also pronounces Nathan’s name correctly and even knows the terminology for natural gas. One night after dinner, it was just Kara and me at the table, and after hearing the unmistakable sound of broken wind, I smiled and asked knowingly, "What was that?"

"Fart!" she replied.

In regards to television, she now splits her love between Max and Ruby and Dora the Explorer. She's also sweet on Dora's cousin, Diego, which appeals to Luke's and my appreciation for nature, so we'll give that a go, too. (We are unanimous in our complete disdain for Hey, Gabba, Gabba!)

Afternoon naps aren't a given anymore, but her cheerful mood is no longer dependent on them. She loves watching family videos on the desktop and riding on Daddy's back and pulling Nathan into well-meaning neck hugs and holding marathon conversations among her Little People villagers. She never sleeps without her bunny, baby dolls, or teddy bear - three, sometimes four stuffed companions gathered to her chest as I cover her with a blanket at the end of a long day, on the nights when it's my turn to tuck her in. Bedtime involves bath, books, and a series of kisses blown to each other before I turn out the light. My baby is gone for good, it seems, and yet, she'll never be lost to me.

Sampling at the stove.

Nathan, on the other hand, is still so very much a baby in my eyes, so tiny when compared to his sister at the same age, even though he's more than twenty pounds with six teeth in his mouth and walking and jibber-jabbing with the best of them. Can you blame me? He's still wearing a respectable amount of 12-month clothing and can still be rocked to sleep at night in a cradle hold. DON'T YOU TAKE AWAY MY BABY.

He is growing up to be such a fun little person, though, delighting in snow and pictures of puppies and books about turtles and chicks. His laugh still mimics a hyena, and he still screams bloody murder during diaper transactions on the changing table (as if we hadn't been doing this several times a day EVERY DAY SINCE HE WAS BORN) and still uses a pacifier at bedtime. He is fighting naps with a passion and often skips the one in the afternoon. He is extremely picky when it comes to reading choices and will reject book after book at bedtime with a shake of his head and a turn of his body and a steady stream of no-no-no-nos until just the right one is chosen. He'll sleep with his lion or his puppy but isn't as attached to them as Kara is to her night time crew. He still has only a mild interest in his Taggies blanket. He does not fall asleep in the car, does not want you to move him off the couch, does not appreciate standing on his feet when he would rather be in your arms. He rarely sits still, but so long as he gets to do his own baby thing, he rarely makes a fuss, and he wears a smile on his face constantly, which (almost) makes up for the emotional turbulence.

 

Chillaxing in a transporation device not intended for actual living beings. 

The first quarter of the year is coming to an end, and I find myself restless thinking about all Luke and I want to do this year - build our emergency fund, decorate our house, take some vacations - in addition to pondering new paths for the future. I'm not sure what exactly will cure this sense of dormancy. A new job? New house? New baby (Luke shakes head vehemently)? New state? All of these (eventually)? None of these? All I talked about in 2009 was owning the sense of calm that would be sure to blanket 2010, nothing changing, just building on what we have, and here I am, two months in, already searching for the next big thing. Silly humans, never satisfied. Oh, well. At least I'm grateful.

 

Comments

[Jess]

My kids have been addicted to Max and Ruby since they were little. My question is always: where's the mother? And why is Ruby so annoying? Why is Max such a total turd?

The things we ponder as mothers.

[Luke]

Actually, it's called "Yo Gabba Gabba," and unfortunately she's been asking for it, even though she's only seen maybe two minutes of the show.

[Kelly]

We are ALL about Elmo and Thomas the Train. I can handle them better than your shows anyday!

[Jessi]

Mallory is a HUGE Yo Gabba Gabba fan (as are my husband and me) - I've noticed people either LOVE it or absolutely hate hate hate it...lol :)

[eva]

I think I love Yo Gabba Gabba more than Megan does! Have you seen/heard "There's a party in my tummy"...LOVE IT!

Also good job on the running. Careful with the knees though, 'cause once they go, it can be really hard to avoid chronic knee issues. Stretch lots ok?!!

[Grandma Molly]

The picture of Nathan and Kara standing at the window and watching Pa's plowing is one of my favorite...although this is a moment that I might remember even without a picture.

[Julie]

I can't believe how tall Kara is in the picture of them at the window!
As for the not doing monthly updates, good for you! You will mark their progress as it is, and putting pressure on yourself is no help. Besides, as they get older, I found there was less change month by month. It sounds as though Kara has quite the imagination!! Our fave shows between both girls are Diego/Dora (in that order), Little Bear, Berenstein Bears, Rolie Polie Olie, Wibbly Pig/Olivia/Toot and Puddle (really anything that has a pig in it...), and Toopy and Binoo (the only one they can agree on!). We also just started reading Mo Williams books. Especially the Knuffle Bunny books. Since both of the older girls LOVE LOVE LOVE their stuffies, they could really relate to the books.
I was really happy to check your site today and find a new entry!! Glad you're back!

[Maggie]

Ha! Wow - your children are changing so much! It's amazing. And great job on the running! I'm still trying to get up to a full 5K :)
I know you said it's been kind of random for you...but do you usually try and do a morning workout? I am so not a morning person, but I'm thinking that might be the only way to geta regular workout in. Sleep is so goooood...

[DaddyD]

Life moves on and on. There might be a time that things are all so perfect. But then the pace of living may not allow for the knowing just how good it is at that time. Keep thinking and doing will produce results worth while.
Great window picture.

[Must Be Motherhood]

SuperWhy on PBS has practically taught my kid to read all by itself. (Well, our reading to him since he was 1 month old + Montessori School is helping too...) We love that show!

Keep giving the yoga a try. You don't have to look anything like the people on the video. It's all about your own progress. I've been doing it somewhat regularly for 10 years now and I'm still not super flexible. But I'm a stronger yoga practioner for ME than I was 10 years ago.

[Jen L.]

Here is my one and only piece of workout advice ever: Power Yoga. I like it because it never stops moving, which means I fall down less than in regular yoga.

I hear you on the restlessness. No matter how hard we all try to JUST BE, it seems we're waiting for the next big thing in the back of our minds. Maybe it's because that's exactly what the last decade has been about for most of us: working toward the next big goal. Now that we're married with kids and a bit settled, it seems hard not to ask "what's next?" I'm hoping springtime will bring a renewed sense of peacefulness to my household. (Yours, too.)

[AJU5's Mom]

I guess since we just embarked on the two kid thing a few months ago, that life is still crazy enough for us. But, I wonder how I will feel in a year?

As for TV shows, AJU5 is a big fan of Curious George, Word World, and Veggie Tales. We don't have cable, so all of the Nick shows are not available. We just DVR the two PBS shows and have 10 Veggie DVDs for her to go through.

Glad to hear everything is going so well at home that you are "bored." Hopefully it stays fairly calm but exciting none the less!