Me Today: March 2013

1.  Loving having Marc on holiday with me.  It has been twice this year, Christmas and now, and it is so luxurious and restful!

2.  Enjoying our clean Spring Break house, as we have time to maintain it all.  Looking for ways to continue this while working.

3.  Trying out a new, more standard monthly meal plan using 16 dishes we like that I know how to make, plus Marc's own creations for Thursday nights.  All recipes are typed up with ingredients, directions and weekly shopping lists...excited to see if it works.

4.  20 weeks pregnant and feeling pretty good. Except for one fairly regular 4-5 a.m. hunger wake-up I'm sleeping well and have pretty good energy.  We have the ultrasound Tuesday - hope to find out the sex of the baby.

5.  Finally did some Project Life scrapbooking from as far back as September.  Mostly just placing and commenting on printed photos, but it felt good.

6.  Looking at summer off and making plans for Kai and I.  Hoping I have energy to entertain him.

7.  Looking at getting back to yoga with Damiani.  Almost 3 weeks off...my body is getting restless, but it was nice having a break in routine.

8.  Mark working from home...it's nice to have dinner together.

9.  Thinking about how to get a dishwasher...

Zen and the Art of Running

Okay, let's be clear - I am not a runner.  I have been an athlete of sorts all my life, competitive through university and continuing for fun since then.  However, I play sports and the only running I have done has either been part of those sports (basketball and field hockey in particular) or as training for them.  Although I understand the benefits of running, I have never enjoyed it by itself.  When I ask people why and how they enjoy it, usually they respond with some craziness like 'it let's me turn off my brain' or 'I like being out in nature and appreciating the view while I run.' Really?  Your brain doesn't just keep noticing how heavy your legs feel and how bored you are?  Your eyes don't keep checking your watch to see how long you have to go until this monotonous activity is over?  Don't get me wrong, I know my body and mind need exercise to stay strong and healthy, and I love how I feel after I run (and actually how good I feel during most activities except running by itself)...I just have never understand the zen side of running.  Until Saturday.

Two weeks ago I began the Sun Run Training Program as a way to get back into shape after gaining a whopping 50 pounds with my second pregnancy.  What I know about myself is that I need people (other than myself) to whom I am accountable for showing up and following through on a fitness plan.  Perhaps this is why I mostly played team sports growing up.  Do I want to do a 10K race particularly?  No.  Do I think I can do it? Absolutely.  I have never doubted my ability to train and do most things, I have just never had the desire.  It won't be easy, especially 5 months after giving birth, but I am ready and looking forward to the challenge.

So along comes Saturday.  Week 2, run 2 of 3 this week.  Marc had taken Kai out for a long bike ride and I packed up Nico in the stroller and set out for what should be a pretty easy, short run.  I had not been in a good mental space for a few days, as I left my beloved camera in a taxi and obstacles kept stepping in my way of attending Mama Gena's Mastery Course.  I had just been Facebook conversing with some girlfriends who were sharing so many successes, and I was SO proud of them.  Yet it just made me feel like I was stuck and could not find a way through the walls that kept appearing in front of me.  So let's just say I was heading out on this run low on juice.  It was a very chilly winter day and the chill in my bones made me feel fresh instead of frozen.  As I headed towards a new neighbourhood, I actually started noticing interesting sights - like the cute little corner play area with benches, trees and a sandbox.  A great place to rest for future walks with my little ones.  Then I started finding that my mind was processing and slowing finding ways around the walls that had me 'stuck', without my focus on them at all.  About two-thirds of the way through the run I noticed that I had started trying to figure out how I was going to get these runs in when I had to go back to work after my maternity leave.  WHAT?!? Somehow my brain had decided that I was enjoying running enough that, without my willing it to, it was working out a future running plan?

For the rest of my run I truly began to see the shift in myself.  Running felt good.  I was out of my funk and starting to see possibilities where they never before existed.  I was appreciating the wonderful life I had that my entire family was out enjoying activity on this brisk day and would all return home refreshed.  When I returned home and was about to step in the shower, I saw a glimpse in the mirror of my pre-pregnancy body.  I was the same woman who left for a run an hour earlier, but who returned home to see a new version of herself.  Zen and the art of running...

My running buddy.

Nico: 4 months and as happy as ever...

 We are all so in love with you...

Four months of easy, happy, and loving those around you.  Right back at you, kid.

Nico, I love...

My sweet boy,

I love how when you are feeding and tired, you put a hand over your eye to block out the light.

I love how when you are sitting on my lap facing away from me, you tilt your head back and look up at me.

I love your fake coughs when you are bored or want attention.

I love that you smile so easily and frequently.

I love your belly laugh when we tickle you or say 'Gotcha!'

I love how you curl into me when you have just woken up.

I love that you love your brother SO much, and the way you look at him and talk to him, always waiting for him to smile back at you.

I love the excitement in your body and face when you know naked time is coming.

I love how when I lay you on my lap, you automatically life you head to try to sit up, even though you don't have the strength yet.

WHAT YOU ARE UP TO THESE DAYS...
You:

• do tons of kicking...you especially love 'playing' the piano
• just learned about the jolly jumper and have your 20 minute work out at the same time as me
• love music, especially to dance to in your jolly jumper
• chat all the time.  Kai probably taught you about that.
• sucking and chewing on things constantly.  We are pretty sure you must be teething.
• you got your four month shots.  They threw you off for a few days and you wanted to be held, but you were such a trooper.
• love to slam your feet down while on your back, especially to let us know that you have woken up in the morning
• scratch your face all the time, you poor guy

We are so lucky to have you in our lives, you wonderful little boy.  We love you to the moon and back.

Nico: 3 months

 You happy little boy, you make every day a joy.  This first picture is so like you - relaxed, happy and enjoying life.  This has been a full and fun month with you.

Some growing milestones:

Every minute you are awake, it is like we have taken you to an amusement park for you first time.  Everything makes you smile: when we stick our tongues out, when we make noises, people walking by...I hope life continues to be so amazing and wonderful for you.

Like the loving boy you are, at 12 weeks you waited until I, Daddy and Kai were all watching to roll over from your tummy to your back for your first time (and ironically, last time for much longer).

Experimenting - the world and everything in it is a toy.  You stick your tongue out and twist it like no one has ever done it before. Being able to lift your legs up now, you train like you are heading to the Olympics.  People, television in the background, moving objects...like the are the best thing you have ever seen, each one.

You are beginning to have some hand control, which is perfect timing to help yourself learn how to put yourself back to sleep, but you are sucking on your fist and thumb now for soothing too.  The other side of hand control is grabbing - you find my hair fascinating and Oma bought you a rattle that you shake and chew on all the time.

Sleep training:  You love to sleep...on me mostly, as it happens.  Since the beginning, you have taken to cuddling up on me in the carrier or on the couch and when I am with you, it is the only place you will sleep.  When Daddy took the 'night shift' so I could sleep, for some reason you would sleep in the bassinette for a few hours at a time, but as soon as I entered the feeding/sleeping cycle, day or night, it was on me you preferred.  As much as I loved the sweet smell, warmth and feel of you curled again me and totally surrendered, my back was less enthusiastic.  So we decided it was time for some sleep training.  As with everything, you took to it like a dream.  Yes, we had a few days of you being confused and upset on and off, but the routine suited you and you began to sleep in your crib, getting up less and less during the night.  After a few weeks, you were routinely sleeping through the night to everyone's surprise and excitement.

FAMILY

You are blessed, our wee one, to be surrounded by family so often, but December is an especially busy, exciting time of traditions and visits with both sides of the family.  Before the actual day of Christmas (as we will include that in your 4 month post), we had a tree decorating party and family photos at Uncle Jason, Auntie Lisa and Lizzie's new house in Langley; we went to the Christmas train; we had a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's and watched your brother toboggan one evening with his good friend Ben and his family.  This is one of my favourite times of year, and I am so glad this is the beginning of sharing it with you.  You are so loved, Nico, and share your love openly in return.  We too are blessed.

A Quiet Moment

Snow falling

good book in hand

baby sleeping

hot mug of chai

exhale...

Winter Joy Calendar

Yes, I know.  It is just like me to try to schedule in joy.  However, I love this season so much that there are things I want to make sure to do and to experience.  In fact, maybe I will try to do this kind of list for every season.  Will we get to them all?  Probably not.  I do value calm and downtime as much as (or maybe often more than) the next person, but I like to have options.  So here are some activities I will put on my list in no particular order.

Giving

1. Donate pyjamas to Dr. Janelle's yearly Pyjama Drive in coordination with the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.  To read more about it, go to http://www.mainstchiropractic.ca/pyjama-drive


2. Put together a Christmas gift basket to a family in need through Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House.

3.  Make cookies/treats to take to the people who work Christmas Eve to help people in need.  For example, the hospital emergency room, the fire hall, the ambulance hall or the police station.

Making

1.  Make baking in a jar gifts.  For example, this year we are making Cowboy Cookies in a Jar.  You can find some great ideas here: http://theartofsimple.net/17-last-minute-gift-ideas-from-your-pantry/

2.  Participate in our yearly cookie exchange the first weekend in December.


3.  Create our yearly Christmas tree ornament.  I hope to begin a new tradition this year with the kids making an ornament every year that will then go in a box for them to take when they move away from home.

Having Fun

1.  Toboganning at Cypress Mountain with friends and family.

2. Weekly Friday night movie nights.  We will start tomorrow night with the Polar Express.  In the future I hope to watch this the Friday before we...

3.  Go on the Polar Express in Squamish.  I didn't hear about this until too late this year, so will try to book earlier next year.

4.  Continue our yearly family tradition of Bright Nights in Stanley Park.

5.  Snowshoeing.

Learning

1.  Even though I am not religious, I would like Santa Claus to have a little more meaning that someone who brings presents.  So I think I will incorporate St. Nicholas on December 6th next year.  See this blog for more information: http://theartofsimple.net/st-nicholas-the-real-santa-claus/

Any winter fun you have that we may love too?