2009: A Year of Change

I'm a big fan of lists, of schedules, of training logs. But this year's numbers don't tell the whole story. If you were to just look at my numbers from this year's training log, you would think it was a pretty mediocre year. You would see a lot of zero days. A lot of slow running. And not a lot of miles. But the fact is that no matter what the numbers say this year, it was a great one.

Why? Because on October 9th at 9:16am, little Sam came into our life.


So tiny!

I am one lucky lady to have given birth to Samantha and to have such a happy little girl as my daughter. I am even luckier to have such a supportive and loving husband, and such wonderful family and friends, to share her with. I am lucky to have been healthy through my pregnancy and to have kept up my running, albeit very slowly, through week 36. And I am lucky to have recovered quickly and well, and to be back running.

Would I love to have run more miles this year? You betcha. But, I am proud of each of the miles I did run and I wouldn't trade Samantha for a million miles more. Yes, being a parent is hard. It is tiring. It is challenging. It has brought me to tears on occasion and made me want to scream on others. It has been an adjustment after 10 years of it being just Ryan and I, and being able to go out the door at a moment's notice to do whatever we wanted. But when Sam smiles up at me or Ryan, and recognizes us from across the room, my heart just melts. What's not to love and be happy about? Change is hard. Change is good. Life is no longer the same. But that is not a bad thing :-)


Smile!

As we move forward into 2010, I'm looking forward to continuing to watch Samantha grow and change, and I hope for a year filled with joy, laughter, happiness and lots of adventures, both on trail and off! I wish the same for all my family and friends out there in the wide wide world. Happy New Year everyone!

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I capped off the year with a 5 mile run earlier this afternoon just as the snow was starting to fall, which brought my 2009 numbers to the following:

Total Miles Run: 675.5
Total Miles Walked: 71.75
Total Miles Hiked: 32.8
Total Ski Days: 10 (9 days cross country and 1 day backcountry skiing)

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And since this blog is my baby book for Samantha, I feel I should note that she rolled over again yesterday morning. Upon witnessing the roll, Ryan said, " That wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be." :-)

Warm Afternoon 5-Miler

Although Ryan was motivated enough yesterday morning to run on the treadmill before we left his parent's house to join my family at the Saco SportZone for my niece Morgan's 4th birthday party, I was not. And we didn't get to the party in time to actually participate in the fun at "The Bounce Zone" so my activity for the day consisted of making multiple trips up and down the stairs in the late afternoon putting away presents and doing laundry. Sam was the clear winner at Christmas this year and got lots of cute toys and clothes. We are lucky to have such nice family who will fill her closets and drawers with all this stuff!

Needless to say, the combination of lots of Christmas cookies and not working out for two days, left me antsy for a run today. Ryan was nice enough to watch Sam after lunch (luckily she slept most of the time I was out) so I could get out for a run, clear my head and hopefully burn off a few of those cookies :-) Although the forecast was calling for "100% chance of snow" in the afternoon, when I headed out at 2pm, it was sunny and 41 degrees. Not exactly the weather they were calling for, but I'll take it! I headed across the street and did the 5 mile loop through Highland Green. It was nice to run without gloves and to be out enjoying this strangely warm December day. I followed some deer prints on the powerlines, and listened to the chickadees, blue jays and crows chirping and cackling away as a I ran along. I finished feeling refreshed and a bit sweaty, and as always now, happy to have been able to get out!

I don't have any new photos of Sam to share today, but it has been neat to watch her change so much in the past few weeks - she has really been following voices, faces and toys as they move near her, and today was enjoying watching and listening to the Chime Garden that Meg and Chris got her for Christmas, as well as several of the JitteryPals that are now in residence :-) Fun to see!

Christmas Festivities

We just finished round #2 of Christmas down at Ryan's parent's house, after spending yesterday afternoon with my family. I think Sam was the big winner this year! :-) Thanks everyone! We are so lucky to have such great family and to be able to share Sam's first Christmas with them all!

Here are just a few photos from the past few days:


The girls


Morgan and Sam


Dad and Morgan



Watching the present opening with Grammie


Smiley girl


Hanging with Great Grammie


Sam dressed in her Scottish tartan best, courtesy of Joyce and Ian


Christmas family portrait

In running news, I snuck out Christmas morning for a 4-mile run on the roads. The last hints of pink were clinging to the edges of the purplish-blue clouds as the sun rose in the sky, and the trees and grasses were frosted over. The roads were quiet, and it was a great way to start the day! I smiled as I ran along, thinking I was one lucky lady in more ways than one!

Five with Ryan

My parents are up visiting for the holidays, and today after lunch they happily hung out with Sam while Ryan and I went out for a run. Ah, these grandparent visits are wonderful! We actually get to run together :-) Hurray! Not to mention, it was 42 degrees today. A heat wave! Ryan threatened to wear shorts on our run, but decided against it :-) Still, it was nice not to have to bundle up! I wanted to get in a 5-miler this week, so we headed across the street and did the long loop through Highland Green. We saw a number of couples out walking and enjoying the nice afternoon as we ran along. The wind was in our faces on the way out, but on the way back with the wind at our back and the sun shining brightly, it seemed downright hot! It was great to be able to get another run in with Ryan, and although it was at a pretty slow pace with the start and finish on the powerlines and the wind, it felt good to get another longer run in this week!

We spent the rest of the day hanging out, cooking and eating and of course, taking lots of photos of Sam! Ryan and I were noting that we don't think we've ever taken so many indoor shots with our camera :-)


Storytime with Nanie


Talking with Daddy


Hi Pip!

Another 3

I hit the Commons this afternoon for a 3 mile run. The inch or so of new snow from the other day combined with the warmer temps made the surface almost feel tacky beneath my feet, so the going was a bit easier than last week, although the surface was still uneven. I really wish I was running this loop faster, but realize that my time off from running over the past months, and even more time off running on the trails, combined with my lack of core muscles at the moment, means I am not running as easily on uneven surfaces and so I'll just have to keep at it. I'll get faster at some point, I'm sure, or at least I hope so!!!

The dusting of snow provided a window into the comings and goings of some of the animals traveling through the Commons - I saw deer, mouse and rabbit tracks along with what I assume were fox tracks. Always a fun thing about running through the snow in the winter.

Before my run, I ate my lunch at the kitchen table with Sam in the BebePod facing me. While we were chatting away, Gigi decided to come up for a visit and bestow a few kisses on Sam - so cute!


Kisses from Gigi

Busy Day

Yesterday was a busy day but I managed to get in a 3 mile run before breakfast. I headed across the street to do the Highland Green loop. It was cold and windy, and as I ran down the Highland Green road, I felt like I was barely moving against the gusting wind. The sky was that steel grey color it turns before it snows, although in the end, we only got a dusting out of the storm. Come on now! I mean, what a waste to drop all that snow in NYC and Maryland! They don't want it...we do! Ah well, I'm sure we'll get some more snow soon enough.

Anyway, it was nice to get in my run before we headed off to show Sam off for the afternoon :-) First, we stopped in at my aunt and uncle's to hang out for a bit with my grandmother. Mim and Sam had fun together, with Mim holding her for most of our visit. Sam smiled and gurgled, and was awake and alert for most of the time, and it was so cute to see Sam grasping Mim's hand! Then, it was over to New Hampshire for the Great Glen Christmas party. It was good to see everyone, and to have everyone meet Sam. She was pretty good, considering we totally messed with her evening routine by staying over there until 9pm and getting home way, way past her bedtime! All told, a busy, but nice day!

Cold and Icy

I got out this afternoon for a 3 mile run in the Commons. As always, thanks for Ryan for taking Sam for a bit while I run! I figured the woods would shield me a bit from the wind that was whipping around outside, and it's also a nice change of pace to run in the woods instead of heading across the street. The Commons gets a lot of use, and the trails had been packed down by myriad skiers, walkers and dogs. This translated into the trails being sketchy, uneven, ankle-turning and icy. I felt like I was running a million miles an hour, when in fact it meant that I was running at 10:07 pace. Ah well. It was a nice afternoon run in the woods!

And for those of you who want to watch Sam squirm and wiggle around, here is a video that Ryan put together from a few clips taken in the past week. Enjoy!

Samantha - December 2009 from sn0m8n on Vimeo.

2010 Thoughts

As 2009 draws to a close, my thoughts turn to the new year and all the adventures - both on trail and off - that I am sure 2010 will bring. I hope the year will include us sharing with Sam the things we enjoy most - taking her skiing on a warm and sunny spring day, putting her in the backpack and going for a hike as the season shifts to summer, exploring some of the trails in Acadia and Baxter with her, joining our friends on runs, and instilling in her a love of the outdoors and the beauty of this place we call home. I know too that the year will no doubt bring with it a fair share of challenges as we navigate our new roles as parents, as Sam grows and changes, as I return to work full-time and we send Sam to daycare in the spring, but such is life, and we will do the best we can with it all! I also hope, for myself, that 2010 will include getting back into shape and running some good races. So what will those races be? That is the question...

Here are a few races I am pondering:

1a. January 10 - Scarborough Frozen 5k. I have been trying to find a 5k around Gorham to run with my sister Kristen and niece Caitlin. This would be close to home for them and starts late in the day, which could be useful in early January! Assuming the weather isn't too horrible and they both still want to run, I will plan on running with them, and so won't be racing all out, which probably is a good thing, considering it is only a month away!

OR

1b. April 3 - Gorham Lions 5k. If the early January temps are too cold for Kristen and Caitlin, this is the other option close to home that I've found. Early April might be a bit less scary (and less chilly) of a time of the year for a few newbie road racers to run a race!

2. May 30 - Pineland Farms Trail Challenge. I will definitely be running at Pineland this year, but am not sure what distance. Ideally, I would love to run the 50k, but am not sure it is realistic this year. We'll see how the winter goes in terms of training. If I don't feel I can run the 50k and run it well, I will run the 25k as fast as I can and save the 50k for 2011 :-)

3. July, August and September - dates TBA - Bradbury Trail Running Series. I volunteered this past year at all the Bradbury races, and really enjoyed it. However, I hope to be able to actually race the series this year!

4. Fall race options - I definitely want to run a fall marathon, but am unsure what that marathon might be. Ryan is thinking that depending how his summer of racing goes he might run 1) MDI, 2) Maine Marathon, 3) Stonecat Trail Marathon, or 4) not run a marathon at all this fall, and I think it would be hard for me to watch him run any of the three and not run myself! So, really, I could be tempted by any of the first three options, and although I realize it might be logistically difficult for us to both be training for the same marathon now that we have Sam, I think we could pull it off if we really wanted to. Of course, this would mean we would need someone to take care of Sam while we're racing, but I am sure we could figure something out! Or perhaps we would run different races. Time will tell. Regardless... MDI is tempting because it is just such a cool race in a cool place. Maine is tempting, as I'd be curious to see how fast I could run that course, having run it back in 2006 in 3:55. Perhaps I could even run under 3:45 and qualify for Boston? I know I ran 3:44 at MDI in 2008, so I should be able to run under 3:45 on a flatter course, but I did just have a baby, so who knows what this year will bring training-wise! And of course, Stonecat is tempting because it's a trail marathon, many of our friends run it, and it just sounds like a cool race with a cool atmosphere. Only Maine would allow me to truly say I ran a marathon before my daughter turned 1 year old, but the others are close enough to fulfill my desire to run a good marathon in the year following Sam's birth. So, no decisions yet on the fall marathon front but lots of fun ideas to ponder!

And really what all of this means is that if I'm planning a 25k or 50k in May and a marathon in the fall, I'd better put a training plan together for the winter and get to it! :-)

Big Girl

We've moved a new baby item downstairs. Sam is probably slightly too small for it and doesn't quite have the neck control, but she really, really loves to hold her head up and sit up like a big girl. So, we figured, why not? So, here she is, all smiles in her BebePod.


Big girl

In other news, it was 6 degrees when I woke up this morning. Brrr! Winter is here! Sam and I were up at the gallery both today and yesterday, so I didn't get any running in. I'm still trying to get myself into the routine of going up to work with her, and haven't quite managed to make the leap to getting up to run before going to work yet. Luckily, we're only open part-time through the winter, so I'll have more days at home to get my runs in. So far, having her up at work with me makes for a tiring day, but it's been going pretty well. And it helps that everyone is happy to see a smiley baby when they walk in the door :-)

Looping through Highland Green

Both yesterday and today saw me out on the 3-mile Highland Green loop, running comfortably in warm temps and slipping and sliding around in the messy conditions. The snow on the powerlines was alternately mushy and slippery or icy, and similar conditions prevailed in the woods on the other side of the loop. But the roads in between were clear, so at least I could pick up the pace in those spots! I didn't feel particularly speedy on either run, but oh well. Today was run #3 in a row, so I know I was feeling the effects of both Sunday's longer run and yesterday's run. Still, it is always nice to get out, and I must thank Ryan for letting me get out this afternoon - I didn't think I'd get a run in today, so I really appreciate him watching Sam for the 30 minutes while I was out!

Speaking of Sam, she is cooing and gooing and babbling like crazy, which is very cute. It's almost like you can hold a conversation with her if you don't care that you have no idea what she's saying in her half of the conversation :-) We've tried to get her to roll over from her stomach like she did on Saturday to no avail, but she is definitely trying to repeat the motion! I'm sure she'll do it again at some point soon.

Down to the Ocean

High tide at Simpson's Point

Last week was pretty dismal running-wise, with me logging only 2 runs and 6 miles total, so I wanted to start out this week on the right foot (yes, my week starts on Sunday, doesn't yours?). Ryan was more than willing to watch Sam, especially as he had been away all day yesterday, so once the temperatures had warmed up a bit, I headed over to the Pennelville fields for my run. I wanted to get in 5 miles, so I figured a road run would be the way to go, as I hadn't run 5 miles in many months, and so why not run to the ocean when I had the chance? It was a bit windier than I had anticipated, but the skies were blue, and as I always love running out this way, I wasn't complaining. The wind and rain had created some interesting patterns in the snow-covered fields, and tufts of brown grass poked up through the crust, determined not to give in to hibernation just yet. Down at Simpson's Point, the sun sparkled off the water, and I stopped to take the view in. Beautiful. Always makes me happy!

As I headed back down the point, I knew I could backtrack to the car, or loop around. Backtracking would get me 4 miles, and the loop would get me 5. I figured one extra mile couldn't hurt that much :-) As I neared the end of the run, I could certainly tell that I wasn't used to running this far and my pace had slowed slightly, but overall I felt pretty good. I ended the run in exactly 45:00 for the 5 miles, and although my initial thought at 9-minute pace on such a flat road loop was to be a bit depressed, I do realize I'm just coming back from pregnancy, over 2 months off from running and the c-section, so really I am just happy to be able to go out and run 5 miles 9 weeks after having Sam! Still, I am looking forward to building up my base and mileage in the coming weeks and months and picking up the pace as I get back in shape!

In Sam news, yesterday during naked time/tummy time, she rolled over from her stomach to her back! Yes, our child is very advanced :-) Of course, who knows if she meant to roll over or was surprised that her movements led to such an action, and we'll see if we can replicate it today while Ryan is around, but who cares? :-) A roll is a roll!

Two Months

Smiley girl!

Sam is nine weeks old today. Amazing that more than two months have gone by already!

We had her two-month appointment this morning, and can now report all the important statistics that grandparents and great-grandparents wish to know :-)

She is weighing in at 9 lbs 8 oz, and is now 21 3/4" long. Her head circumference is 14 1/2". She is in the 25th percentile for height and between the 10th and 25th percentile (pretty exact, huh?) for weight. So, she is small, but we knew that. The doctor also said that we are in trouble :-), as Sam is a strong little girl and is already rising up from her stomach and lifting both her head and shoulders up straight, which is something that a 4 month old is more likely to be doing versus a 2 month old. This means she'll likely roll over and be moving around earlier than some. An active child who wants to move, and move now?! We wonder where she gets that from?!

We are also enjoying her smiles, new noises, and having her be more alert and awake more often. And, even better, we have moved her into her crib in the other room and she has been sleeping like a champ (knock on wood)! Last night, I fed her at 10:00, we put her down at 10:30 and she didn't wake up until 5:30. That was a nice stretch of sleep, let me tell you :-) We hope she continues with this trend!

As for me, I had hoped to get up and out for a run this morning after I fed her at 5:30 but despite the seven hours of sleep, I was still tired, so I went back to bed instead. And with the doctor's appointment, a few errands, and Ryan working the rest of the day, I will likely not get out in the next half hour before the sky gets dark. Ah well... I have to work on this whole 'get up early and get out after first feeding' thing! I think it is going to be the only way I get my runs in this winter. Maybe tomorrow morning before Ryan heads up to New Hampshire? If not, there is always next week...

Skiing!

Enjoying some early season skiing!

I was supposed to work today, but as the snow began to fall before 9am and the forecast was for at least 6" of snow followed by a mix of snow and rain, we all opted to stay home instead. Sam and I spent the morning watching the snow fall, and fall fast, accumulating on the ground and in the trees as a soft, pristine white blanket. I thought briefly about going out for a run, but ultimately decided against it. That being said, I was feeling a bit restless and so when a window of opportunity presented itself after lunch, I grabbed my rock skis from the loft, and headed out for a short ski. I put the skis on at the door and skiied through the parking lot, which had yet to be replowed after their first sweep through earlier in the morning, across the street and onto the high school road. My first thought was to head onto the powerlines, but the skiing was actually really nice on the high school road - plowed, but with an inch of two of fresh stuff on top of the pavement. Perfect for gliding in my beater skis! So, I decided to ski the 2-mile loop I had been walking late in my pregnancy instead, which worked out well. I was only out for about 25 minutes, but I am sure I'll be sore from using muscles I haven't used since last winter. Regardless, it was fun to be out enjoying the new snow and I ended with a smile on my face!

Misty Morning

I got out this morning for a nice 3 mile run. The sun was peeking through the rising morning mist above the powerlines, making for a pretty sight as I ran along. The ground was a funky mixture of clear rocks, snow, ice and sand. There was a slight dusting on the sidewalks in the Highland Green development, but the snow actually seemed tacky, and that made for easier running than on the cleared pavement which was wet and therefore was just icy enough to be sketchy. The run felt good, and it was great to be out on such a nice morning!

Here are a few photos from the day - one of Sam's morning smiles for me, plus one of Ryan and Gigi - just another crazy morning!


Smile!


Yup.... crazy cat, crazy man

Snow!

We had a great night last night at Jim and Shauna's. Thanks guys! It was great to see everyone, and Sam was a good girl. Of course, it helped that Shauna and Linda were so nice about holding her and keeping her happy :-) The snow started as we were on our way down to the party, and by the time we left, there was a healthy amount on the ground. First snow of the season!


Early morning view out back

This morning, Sam and I were up early, and around 9am, I passed her off to Ryan and headed out for a run to enjoy the snow. It was a gorgeous morning. The trees were snow-covered, making it look like a winter wonderland even with just the 3" to 4" of snow we received, the sun was shining and the sky had cleared to bluebird blue.

The roads were still a bit icy, and I was glad I had taken my screw shoes out of hibernation :-) I didn't get first tracks on the powerlines, as someone had already been out walking their dog, but I did have fun kicking up the fluffy stuff. Underneath the snow, the sand and dirt were still soft, so I got a good workout between that, the snow, ice and wind! It was a fun run and I was so glad to be out enjoying the gorgeous morning!

In Sam news, she is really starting to get strong! Yesterday Ryan was holding her on his lap and she was pushing up off his chest. She is going to be one tough cookie :-)


Holding her head up high

Double Digits

Today's run brought me to double digits for the week. Woohoo! Of course those digits are 1 and 2, but I'll take it :-) I had originally hoped to do a longer run today, but then realized that perhaps adding both a 4th run for the week and having that run be a longer run might not be the smartest idea. So, I ran another 3 mile run instead, which was fine with me. Ryan was nice enough to watch Sam, so I headed to the Commons for something different. I haven't run there in months, so it was a nice change of pace. Plus, it's trail running but mellow trails, which is really what I need right now as I continue to gain back my fitness. The woods were quiet, and I felt good as I ran along at a moderate pace. It was a good way to round out the week!

It's Just Not Right...

...to have been running today in shorts and short sleeves in 60 degree weather... It is December 3rd! What is up with this weather? While I don't need freezing cold weather in December, it should certainly be seasonably cold, and the ski areas should at least be able to make snow if there isn't any natural stuff on the ground. Crazy! And who said global warming is a myth? Yikes.

Yesterday Sam and I were up at work from 10am to 4pm, so no running for me. I still haven't perfected the "get out the door after first feeding at around 6am to get in my run" thing yet. I'll have to work on that one... Sam was great all day - awake and alert and happy. She didn't seem as congested either, so that makes us all happy! Today we went up for a few hours before lunch, and then when I got home, I headed out for a 3-mile run. I felt good, and am hoping to get in a slightly longer run on Saturday and actually hit double digits this week mileage-wise :-)

I haven't posted a photo of Sam in a few posts, so here is a cute shot of the three of us that Ryan's dad took over Thankgiving. I have a lot of photos of Sam but not many with me in them too, so it's nice to have a good family photo :-) Thanks Dana!

Frozen

Yesterday's run was in the rain, but this afternoon when I headed out, the sun shone brightly, there were blue skies above and the air was crisp. The ground along the powerlines had the variety of conditions so common this time of year - mud, soft sand, crunchy sand, a bit of hoar frost, frozen sand and mud - with the warmer days and cold nights. The standing water was covered with a light glaze of ice, which gave a satisfying crack and crunch when I hit the edge of the puddle as I ran by. Both runs felt good, and were a bit faster than last week. I'm getting there.

Unfortunately, today I returned home to a cranky baby. Sam has been congested since Sunday. Perhaps the 2+ hours outside was a bit much? We feel badly, and it doesn't help that she really dislikes the aspirator, which we've had to use to suck the snot out. Not that I can blame her! Hopefully she'll feel better soon - poor girl!

A Trail Monster in the Making

This morning, in preparation for Blackstrap Hell II, we got Sam geared up and ready to go... a Trail Monster in the making!

We had a blast hanging with Neighbor Kate and Ann at the finish line, and watching all the race proceedings. It was a beautiful day to be out and Sam was such a good girl! Sounds like the race was fun - muddy and wet - just as it should be! Thanks to Jeff for putting the race on and organizing the post-race pizza and beer! It was great to see all our friends and expose Sam to the crazy and fun world of trail running and the Trail Monsters :-)

Burning off all that Turkey and Pie

Thanksgiving morning Ryan and I got out for a run on the roads around his parents house. While Ryan had originally hoped to race a Turkey Trot that morning, he said a slow run with me was just as good... or hopefully at least less painful! :-) We left Samantha in the capable hands of her grandparents, great grandparents and aunt and uncle, and set off on our merry way. Skies were overcast and it was a bit humid, but we had a nice time, chatting as we ran through along and generally enjoying a bit of "us" time. The 3.2 mile loop took us 29:20. It is the first time I've run all on roads, and flat roads at that, since I've been back running, so I was happy with the pace, and even happier with the company :-) A great way to start off the morning.

Of course, we returned to hear that Sam had cried most of the time we were gone... Do you think babies know when their parents head out the door?! But luckily, no one was too upset about it, and she was a great baby the rest of the day, and very happy to be passed around from relative to relative. We gorged ourselves on a yummy turkey dinner, stuffed ourselves with pumpkin and apple pie, and then of course, went back for "snacks" around 8pm before bed. Ah, Thanksgiving!

Friday morning dawned rainy and nasty. A perfect stay-inside day. Except that I really wanted to run. But I put it off, hoping the rain might stop, or I might feel less guilty about not running as the day went on. In the end, I went out around 3pm, fueled mostly by frustration over the conversations about scheduling Christmas. Man, it is tough to try to make sure everyone sees everyone at the holidays! Anyway, a run seemed a good way to escape it all, and I ended up doing the loop in 27:47. Oops. Guess running to escape something means running fast (or at least fast for me at this point!). Saw a pair of hooded Mergansers on a small pond along the route, which made me smile, and calmed me down a bit. I came back soggy, and with a clearer head, knowing that it will all work out in the end and that I had at least burned off a few more bites of the pie and ice cream I had eaten with lunch :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

From Dreary to Happy

After the nice reprieve we have had from typical November weather, the dreary gray days I expect out of this month came back on Monday. Ryan was up at work all day, so it was just Sam and I. We did get out for a walk, but Sam was cranky the whole way and the overcast skies did nothing to boost my spirits. I could never live someplace like Seattle, where it is rainy and overcast a lot of the time! I seem to be really affected by the weather. Usually exercise will snap me out of it, but for some reason I was really feeling it on Monday.

Yesterday I was supposed to work, but my boss wasn't feeling well, so Sam and I just ended up going up to the gallery for a few hours in the morning to catch up, which was fine with me! It was quiet and I cranked through what needed to get done. When I got home, Ryan was just headed out for his run and upon his return, it was my turn. I hadn't expected to be able to run yesterday so it was a bonus workout! Hurray. I did the 3-mile out-and-back on the powerlines and felt pretty good. The gray skies only accentuated the bright red of the winterberries in amongst the otherwise barren bushes, and as I slipped and slid in the mud, I had to smile - it was good to be out.

The run also made me realize that despite November being my least favorite of the months, it does hold my favorite holiday. These days it seems like all holidays are simply one marketing ploy or another to get consumers to buy something, send something, spend something. And yes, while Thanksgiving has that aspect as well, it rings truer to me than a lot of the other holidays. There are no gifts, no costumes. There is always a Turkey Trot to run, and any holiday that involves running is a good one! There are family and friends getting together to laugh and talk and eat and drink and enjoy each other's company. I know that I often forget how much I have to be thankful for. It is easy to overlook how lucky I am and easier still to get caught up in the day-to-day gripes and worries. Yes, life is not perfect, but I am happy. I am healthy. I have wonderful family and friends. I am married to my best friend. And this year, to add to the list, I have a beautiful, healthy little daughter, who we stare at in wonder every day, even if it is wonder at how little she is sleeping or how much she is crying :-) How could I not be happy?

And so with that, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Wish us luck with our first long car ride with Sam later this morning! We're headed down to Ryan's parents for a few days. That means many hands to hold Sam ... maybe Ryan and I will even be able to sneak out and get in a run together?!

Maine Running Company Turkey Trot: Spectator Report

With Ryan's recent decision to race short and race often, we headed down to Cape Elizabeth this morning for the Maine Running Company Turkey Trot. Of course, Ryan didn't decide he wanted to run this race until Thursday, and we almost didn't get out the door this morning as we hadn't set the alarm and we're both still sleep deprived. Luckily, Sam woke up hungry at 6:45am and with that, Ryan looked at the clock, said "Oh s***." As I still had to feed Sam, I wasn't sure I'd be able to get out the door with him in time for him to get there to register, but amazingly, we were all out the door at 7:35am. Pretty good with a 6 week old who hadn't yet eaten when we woke up!

While Ryan registered and warmed up, Sam and I hung out in the car. It was cold, and she was sleeping and I wanted to keep it that way. I got her into the B.O.B. in time to go down and see the start, and as I was walking back up to the car, Kristen called and said she was parked across the street with Morgan. On a whim yesterday, I had told her we were planning to come down for the race and wondered if she and Morgan wanted to come hang out with me and Sam while Ryan raced. As we're getting into crazy holiday season and their weekends are going to be busy with the kids, she figured this was as good a chance as any to see us, so they motivated too and came to cheer Ryan on. It was fun to see them - thanks for making the trip over guys!

Morgan had fun at the playground while we waited for the runners to start to come in, and I saw Blaine, who was volunteering, and chatted with him for a minute or two before he took off to man the finish line.


Morgan enjoying the twisty slide

When we saw the winner round the corner, we walked over to the 3 mile marker, figuring Ryan would be coming within 5 minutes or so. We saw him right around the 20 minute mark and he was pretty far up there in the field. Go Ryan go! We cheered for him and walked over to meet him at the finish line. Morgan thought Ryan was pretty gross in his post-race state of snot and sweat and stink, but once he changed she had a change of heart and wanted him to put her up on his shoulders :-)

We all hung out for the awards as Ryan came in 2nd in his age group with a time of 20:19 and in 25th place overall. Nice! Sam was a trooper, and pretty much slept the entire time. She finally woke up when we stopped at Tim Horton's for some celebratory and much needed coffee and donuts! Of course, Morgan just ate the frosting and sprinkles off her donut but it was fun :-) All in all, a great morning!!

Saturday Double

OK, so by most people's standards, today's morning run and afternoon walk aren't really a double in the true sense of the word, but I figure at 6 weeks post c-section, I can get away with calling it that :-)

This morning, I headed out for a run along the powerlines. It has been a long time since I've gone farther than the rise just past Highland Green Road which was my walking turn-around late in pregnancy, and I had forgotten how nice it is down the hill along the lines before Topsham Crossing. It was great to squish through the mud, looking up at the fluffy clouds and blue sky above, listening to the chickadees, bluejays and robins chattering and chirping and the wind whistling through trees, bushes and brambles. Today's run was a bit tougher on me than yesterday's run, in part due to the rougher terrain but also as it was the second day in a row of running. Still, I was happy to be out on yet another warm and sunny November morning.

After Ryan got in his run, and we did a few things around the house, we set out to enjoy a bit of the afternoon together. We drove to the Skofield Shores Preserve in Harpswell, and after Ryan suited up with Sam in the Ergo (Thanks Sean and Kris!), we walked down to the water's edge and then along the trails that wind through the woods farther out onto the peninsula. Although the loop is likely only a mile or so, it is a beautiful walk - winding along the edge of several fields, through the pines, meandering by a saltwater marsh and then back along the ocean. The late afternoon light was hitting the golden marsh grasses and glinting off the water, and Sam was content in the carrier, sleeping away as we walked along. It was really nice to be out, with all three of enjoying the woods together!


Sam enjoying her ride in the Ergo


Beautiful November afternoon

6 Weeks

I had my 6-week appointment today. Things are healing up fine and I've been given the green light to do what I want to do provided I feel good. So, I am back to running officially :-) Hurray! Also am back to just 5 pounds above my weight at the beginning of the pregnancy, so I won't complain about that either!

Sam and I got a walk in yesterday afternoon while Ryan was down in Boston for the Boston Ski Show for work, and today I went for a run. I had intended to get out after I fed Sam at 6am, but it was still dark and I was tired, so I crawled back into bed instead. A little extra sleep these days is always a good thing :-) I woke up at 8am and after feeding #2, got dressed, ate a quick snack and headed out the door to run the same loop I ran on Sunday. Of course, by that point it was raining. Oh well. Luckily, it was warm, so the rain and wind didn't feel too bad. I did feel like I was working a bit harder than during Sunday's run, but perhaps part of that was doing battle with the wind both heading out on the powerlines and coming back on the road. I returned soggy but happy, having finished the 3.0 miles in 29:48 (I wore the Garmin this time out of curiosity to both confirm the loop's distance and my pace), and feeling like a runner again having gotten out despite the rain and wind :-)

In other news, Ryan took my car down to Boston, so the B.O.B., which has been living in the back of the car, has been parked in the entry way the past few days. Both Ronnie and Gigi have taken a liking to it, with Gigi curling up in the storage basket below the seat, and Ronnie settling down right in the seat, ready to go for a ride!


I'm ready, are you?

The Test

Yesterday and today were my big test. Could I make it alone through 1) the day with Sam, 2) the evening with Sam, 3) the night with Sam, 4) get out the door to work with her in the morning, and finally 5) survive at least until mid-afternoon at work with her?

I knew I could handle the day along with her. We had a fine time yesterday hanging out, doing some tummy time (She is getting strong and can raise her head up and shift it from side to side too. Yes, she is sooo advanced!), taking a nice afternoon walk, sleeping a bit (for Sam) and relaxing on the couch. She is definitely more alert and active these days. We are also being rewarded with a smile back at us from time to time, which is adorable! Of course, she is also still losing her hair in a rather haphazard fashion, but she is gaining some beautiful eyelashes as part of the deal, so perhaps it is evening out?! :-)


Smile!

The early evening went as well as could be expected, as that time of night is definitely her fussy time and she is a bit of a challenge, but the big kicker was that she did not want to go down to sleep! Ugh. I ended up bringing up the bouncy chair and putting her to sleep in that. I know as she gets older, she'll have to learn to go to sleep in her bed on her own, but for now, all I wanted was to get some rest!

And work, well, I'm still getting the hang of getting up to and being at the gallery with her. She was very good today, and we lasted until around 3:15pm, which was about what I was hoping for. As we move forward, the plan is for her to be up there with me for the 2 days a week I'll be working in December, and then the 3 days a week we're open from January into March. So, I have to get used to it, but it's definitely a juggling act. Luckily it's quiet through the winter so hopefully it juggling paying attention to Sam and getting a bit of work done won't be too much of a problem! I can hope anyway!!

A Run! A Run!

OK, so I cheated a bit... Six weeks after Sam's birth will be this coming Friday, so I technically shouldn't run until then. I do not want to mess up my recovery, and realize I am still healing on the inside even if I feel OK on the outside. But I also have been feeling good and admit to feeling in part that the 6-week rule is just a rather arbitrary number, and that we all are different in our recoveries, much like all of us moms were at a different level of fitness going into pregnancy and birth. So all that being said, I headed out yesterday mid-morning for a walk, with the thought in the back of my mind that I would try running and see how it felt. Well, I walked to the end of the walkway and started to run. And it felt good, so I kept going. Ryan set the over/under for my return to running at 4.5 weeks so I at least held out for longer than that!

I set out on the 3-mile loop through Highland Green, or "the Suck Loop" as Ryan has deemed it. I started out very slowly, gingerly almost. I was unsure how I would feel, and I was really focused on my middle, as I wanted to be sure to stop immediately if anything felt off. I was mostly just praying that my insides wouldn't feel like they were about to fall out. And they didn't. It felt a bit odd at first, but then so did running while pregnant. As I ran long, I got more comfortable, although I still kept the pace mellow. I wasn't breathing hard but I could feel things a bit in my legs. After all, I have had a 9 week layoff from running, so that was inevitable! With the torrential rains Saturday night, the powerlines were wet as were the section of woods by the high school. It was fun to tromp through the puddles and feel like a runner again :-)

I didn't wear the Garmin, but did time the run on my wristwatch, and I finished off the loop in 30:10, which made me pretty happy. It was great to be able to run the whole 3 loop at 10 minute pace without too much effort and to feel good doing it. Of course, I was tired out by the afternoon - perhaps the combination of being up a fair amount that night, running 3 miles, making dinner and feeding and taking care of Sam was a bit much for the day. I suppose a run/walk combination to start out might have been the smartest thing to do, but that is just not me! Anyway, I figured how I felt this morning would be the real test, and I woke up this morning feeling sore not in the stomach area, but in my quads, so I deemed the run a success! I took today off, but hope to get in a walk tomorrow and hopefully run Friday and Saturday. My six-week appointment is on Friday so I should have my official go-ahead for things then :-)

2 and 3

Yesterday Sam and I got out for a 2-mile walk on yet another nice day. It was a bit cooler than Monday, but I still shed my long-sleeve shirt partway through the walk. The B.O.B. is a nifty contraption, and I appreciate that it allows me to get out when I can't leave Sam behind. And I am sure once I'm back running, it will be a good resistance workout as well!

Today, I asked Ryan if he would mind watching Sam while I got in a 3 mile walk. I headed out on the powerlines to do what Ryan has deemed "The Suck Loop." I must admit I did not think of it as sucky today, probably because I haven't run the loop since August, and because I was just enjoying being out on my own on a longer walk. It was a bit chilly with the wind, but the downed leaves crunched beneath my feet, the chickadees chirped in the trees and the sun was out, so all in all, a pretty nice November afternoon. The loop took me 43:00 to walk, and I was walking at as fast a clip as I could. Man, it takes so much longer to walk things than to run them! However, I felt strong as I strode along (and even took a few running steps at one point, but only to cross the street quickly, I swear!) and am really looking forward to running more than a few steps by the end of next week!

One Month

Samantha is one month old today. Amazing! It seems both like we've had her forever and that time has flown by and this month has passed so quickly. Somehow I think this trend will continue, and we'll be saying this again and again as time passes and new milestones are reached. She had her one month appointment this morning, and she is up to 7 pounds 15 ounces and 21" inches. This puts her in the 50th percentile for height and the 25th for weight. She is also losing some of her dark hair (or as Ryan puts it so nicely, she is getting power alleys in the front!) and also has a case of baby acne. Poor little one. Ah well, we still think she is a beautiful child, even if she is going through 'an ugly phase' :-)

She is definitely changing - following objects with her eyes, focusing more on our faces, giving us what seem like little smiles here and there. She seems to be getting pretty strong too, holding her head up for good stretches when we hold her upright by our shoulders and lifting her head off the mat during 'tummy time.' She also graced us with great night last night. I fed her at 9pm, and she didn't wake up again until 3:00am! Hurray! This meant we actually got to sleep for over 5 hours. I feel almost human again :-) Of course, prior to Sam's birth, 5 hours of sleep would not be cause for celebration, but hey, I'll take what I can get at this point!

In other news, it was yet another gorgeous day today. I have never been all that fond of November, as it tends to be a bit dreary as the leaves fall off the trees and the days get cold and dark with the time change. However, I must admit that this year, the month has been pretty nice, and I've been fully enjoying this warmer weather! Now, I do want us to have winter eventually, but I'll take an extension of this warmer early fall weather into late November with no hesitation! After Sam's doctor's appointment, she and I headed across the street for a walk. It was so warm, I almost immediately shed my long sleeve top and was comfortable in tights and short sleeves. I'll take it! I have been feeling good and strong, and am counting down the days until my 6-week appointment next Friday. You had better believe I'll be out for a run that next morning!

This was supposed to be a test

This weekend was supposed to be a test. Ryan had to be up at work all weekend, staying overnight last night. This was bound to happen eventually, and I knew it would be a big test for me... an overnight alone! I was a little nervous, but figured it would work out OK, even if it would mean it was a pretty long weekend of just 'me and Sam' time. However, the test was diverted to another date, as my mom decided this was the perfect excuse to fly up for a long weekend and help me out. Isn't that nice?! Thanks Mom!

She flew in on Thursday, which gave her the chance to hang out with Kristen and Morgan too, and then the three of them came up yesterday morning to visit. Morgan had a cold, so we headed outside and took a walk around the neighborhood in an attempt to keep little Sam healthy out in the fresh air. Despite her cold, Morgan was on the run the whole time and did not want to stop to be photographed. I got a bunch of shots of her back and shadow, but did at least manage to catch this one shot of her on the fly!


On the move

After a mellow afternoon hanging out and a good night, this morning, Mom, Sam and I got out for another walk. We headed to the bike path to enjoy the sunshine and warm temps. The blue sky above and bare trees were reflected in the flat, calm waters of the river, and the path was busy with people out biking, walking and running. What a perfect day!


Mom pushing the B.O.B.

We did 3 miles at a quick pace, and it felt great. It was a really nice walk, except that about 3/4 of a mile from the end, Sam let us know she was hot and way overdressed. She screamed the rest of the way back to the car. She was not a happy camper and was sure to let us know it! Poor girl! She calmed down once we took off her sweater and took her out of the carrier for a few minutes to cool down before heading home. Amazing how the day warmed up while we were out there!

However, lest you think this post will go by without a photo of Samantha, here is one of her smiling up at me yesterday morning. I suppose it might be gas, but it sure looks like a real smile to me! :-)


Smile!

Good Day for a Day Off

We awoke to a dusting of wet snow on the ground, and although that has melted, it has stayed cold, overcast and damp. It is a good day for a day off, as Ryan is up at work and I'm home alone with Sam. Not exactly the best weather to taking an almost-4 week old baby out for a walk.

Yesterday however, I took Ryan up on his offer to watch Sam and headed across the street on my own for a walk on the powerlines. As I walked along, I was thinking that next week I'm planning to slightly lengthen my walks to 3 miles. Walking 3 miles takes a lot longer than running 3 miles but at this point I have the time, and if I am planning to start running again in 2 weeks, I want to at least be able to have walked 3 miles a few times before I head out running 3 miles again! It was a bright afternoon but a bit blustery. I enjoyed the change of scenery from the road route that has become my "normal" loop, and as I crested the rise before my turn-around, I stopped and watched a Red-tailed Hawk circling on the air currents and listened to the chickadees chirping in the bushes. Ahhhh. Another nice day to be out.

When I returned, we went out for ice cream. I've been craving a "Pumpkin Pie in the Sky" from Cold Stone ever since Sam was born, and finally got it today! Yum. There should be pumpkin beer, pie, ice cream and coffee (yes, I like Pumpkin Spice coffee, what can I say?!) all the time! But I guess that would make it less special. Needless to say, pumpkin ice cream with caramel, graham crackers, mysterious whipped topping and cinnamon mixed in is a heavenly treat!


This ice cream is bigger than my head!

Myths

Yes, Samantha is only a little more than 3 weeks old, and no doubt things will change in the upcoming weeks, months and years, but in the meantime, there are a few baby myths I'd like to clear up.

1. "Sleeps like a baby." I'd rather sleep like an adult. 8 hours without waking up. If I were to sleep like a baby, I'd be up every 2 to 4 hours, crying and hungry. This is not how I want to be.

2. "All babies need is love." Having a baby has meant our home is quickly filling up with ridiculous "stuff." Plastic stuff. Swings. Pack n' Plays. Play mats. Diapers. Wipes. Toys. A special bathtub. And on, and on, and on. It's impossible to resist. Yes, what babies need most is our attention and for us to listen to their cry and respond, to change their diaper and feed them accordingly, but really, it's all about the stuff!

3. "We're loving every minute!" We love Sam. We did before we even met her. But it is work. And it is tough. It is not all rainbows and candy. All the advice we've gotten from people in these past few weeks is that you just have to get through the first three months, and then it gets better. That is not an endorsement for "loving every minute." Still, when she smiles (or is it gas?), and is cute and quiet, we love it. When she's crying at 3 am, and won't go to sleep, I won't lie and say I'm loving it. But I know this too will pass, and that better days are on the way. I think having a baby is like most other things. There are good times and bad, and it's all in how you handle it. Hopefully we'll continue to handle it OK! :-)

4. The whole breastfeeding thing. Yes, it might be best, and it might be "the most natural thing in the world" but man, it is a lot of work. They don't tell you this beforehand. All the portrayals of breastfeeding are of quiet, contented babies, and moms gazing down at their babies with stars in their eyes. While this may be true for some, I am not finding it to be so. Sam is a squirmer. She burps and poops and moves around. It's a workout keeping her eating. I am feeding her many hours a day. It is tiring. Again, as she gets older, all this will likely change and get better, and I'm not giving up yet, but all I have to say is, if you're thinking of breastfeeding in the future, be warned!

5. "Breastfed baby poop doesn't smell." This is just not true. It is poop. It smells. Perhaps it smells less than formula-fed baby poop. And likely less than once we start to feed her solid foods. But seriously, people, don't lie.

I'm sure there will be other myths to contend with as we continue on this journey, but in the meantime, here is a photo of little Sam in her FuzziBunz cloth diapers. So, far it is going well and we are loving not buying and throwing out a zillion disposable diapers!


Fresh as a Daisy!

This afternoon, Sam and I didn't get out for a walk until right before 4pm. The soft late afternoon light was hitting the treetops, and I walked along, the sun beginning to set, highlighting the clouds as they began to turn light purple. I was tired and hadn't known whether it was better to take a nap or take a walk, but as always, once I got out there, I knew it was the right choice.

Halloween

After lunch today, with Sam happily fed and contentedly hanging out on the couch with Ryan, I headed across the street for a walk. As I was alone, I decided I would do my 2 mile walk on the powerlines. I haven't been walking along the powerlines in more than a month, and the first thing I noticed was that it looked like November out there. The vegetation has changed to its late fall palette of shades of brown, punctuated only by the magenta leaves of the raspberry and blackberry brambles and the bright red winter berries.

Today though, the brown didn't seem all that dreary, as the sun shone bright in the blue bird sky and the breeze was warm. It was a gorgeous afternoon to be out, and I felt better for it. However, I did have to restrain myself from running. It was just so nice, and I was feeling good. I wanted to let loose and run! Also, I have been feeling a bit jealous of Ryan these past few days, out running in this nice weather, while I'm home with Sam, and while my exercise routine consists only of walking. This is not to say, not in the least, that I feel trapped at home with Sam, or that Ryan is not helping out - nothing could be further from the truth, but I cannot wait to run again!

As for Halloween, neither Ryan or I are huge fans of it as a holiday. However, Ryan's parents came up for a visit in the afternoon, and for their benefit, we dressed Sam up in a cute outfit that Sean and Marisa sent us. And of course, we did our duty and bought a big bag of candy to give out to all the trick-or-treaters in the neighborhood. Luckily there were only a few mini Twix left, so as not to tempt us too much! We had a fun visit with Irene and Dana, and Sam was really good all day long. She even slept through our lunch at Sea Dog! Good girl :-) (Meghan and Chris, we missed you! Hope you feel better!)



So cute it's scary


Even cuter when sleeping ;-)

Update - Walks and Weight

Ryan finally agreed that it was OK for me to be out walking along with Sam now that I'm feeling more like my old self (I know, so protective, isn't it sweet?), so yesterday and Monday, I walked the 2-mile road loop across the street, pushing Sam in the B.O.B. Monday was beautiful, and while yesterday was a bit cooler and cloudy, it was nice to be out and about. I can now walk the loop, even with the stroller, faster than I was walking it in those final weeks of pregnancy, and am feeling good, so I take all this as a good sign. I'm still pretty tired though but I know that is to be expected with all the nighttime feeding, and am just happy to be able to be out and mobile!

Both Sam and I had doctor's appointments today. Sam is up to a whopping 7.0 lbs! Ryan has taken to calling her "the Tank," which is not really true as she is still pretty darn tiny, but it is an impressive weight gain of over a 1/2 pound since last Thursday's visit. She also peed all over the doctor's office scale after the weigh-in... Yup, that's our girl! :-)

My appointment went well too. The incision is healing up fine, and I am down to 10 pounds above my weight on that first visit to the doctor at 10 weeks. I have no idea what my real "pre-pregnancy" weight is, as we don't own a scale, but losing 17 pounds since Sam's birth seems pretty good to me. (Yes, I gained 27 pounds during the pregnancy. Wow and yikes, all at once!) I'm pretty happy with that, although I know my body is definitely a different shape at this point and I've absolutely lost muscle along the way. Oh well, hopefully that will come back relatively easily once I can be running again.

OK, enough about weight... I'll conclude the update with two 'Ronnie & Gigi' photos (oh yes, Sam is in one of them too) that are too cute not to include :-)


Ronnie the watchcat


Gigi being mischevious

A Night Out

Last night, we tempted fate, packed Sam up in the car and went to Mindy and Pete's for the evening. It was great to see everyone and enjoy some adult conversations! And little Sam was a doll and slept most of the time in her carseat, unfazed by the party going on around her. We couldn't have asked for the night to go better! Of course, by the time we left at 9pm, I was exhausted, but it was well worth it :-) Thanks guys!

On the walking front, Ryan and Sam in the B.O.B. joined me for a nice walk across the street both on Friday and today. Although yesterday was a dreary, cold and rainy day, both Friday and today were gorgeous, and it was so nice to be outside! I am feeling much, much better (no drugs needed for the past few days - hurray!), and today Ryan commented that my idea of a "walk" was not quite what he had in mind, and it was making him sweat. Sorry man, this is my workout! Gotta keep the pace up :-)

Now that Nanie and Pip are gone, and we aren't having visitors every day, we haven't been taking quite as many photos, but just in case you need your fix of Sam photos, here are a few shots from the past few days:


Our little monster :-) - outfit courtesy of Sean and Marisa


Can I play too?

Maiden Voyage of the B.O.B.

Happy lady.

Yesterday afternoon, Ryan suggested we take advantage of the Indian Summer day and go over to the bikepath to take the B.O.B. for a spin. It was gorgeous out - 61 degrees with bright blue skies - so I was more than game. Besides, getting outside is always good for the soul, especially a tired one :-)

We walked 2+ miles along the river, enjoying the views. I pushed the stroller for about 0.75 miles, while Ryan pushed it the rest of the way. It was easy to manuever and definitely seemed like it would work well when I'm finally back up and running. It will be a workout on hills, though! As for whether Sam enjoyed her first ride in the B.O.B., I would like to think yes, but truth be told, she was asleep the whole time. Perhaps that means it was a success? :-)

Beautiful Day, Rough Night

Yesterday morning, we headed over to Brunswick to the farmer's market on the town green. The farmer's market is one of the reasons we love this area. It is a vibrant community that supports things like the farmer's market, and being able to talk with the farmers and producers and get local, fresh produce that was just picked it such a great thing! Yum. Of course, I dressed Sam in her "Let's Go to the Farm" hat from Krisser :-) Couldn't resist!


Sam at the farmer's market

We then headed up Maine Street towards Bowdoin, stopping to pick up cups of coffee along the way. It was a nice morning, and so good to be out. Campus was, as usual, looking gorgeous with the foliage and fallen leaves. We walked around the quad, and got a few pictures. Couldn't miss out on getting Sam in front of Mass Hall!


Can you see the baby? :-)



Happy with coffee in hand

Of course, after such an idyllic morning, last night did not go so well. There was lots of inconsolable crying. And little sleeping. I finally sent Ryan to bed around midnight, and let him sleep into the morning hours. He reciprocated this morning by watching Sam while I took a nice nap after breakfast. Hopefully tonight will go a bit better!

Family Visits

I realize this blog was intended to be about running, hiking and skiing, but as my exercise at this point in time consists of small walks and carrying around a 6 pound baby, for the time being, you'll just have to put up with posts about our new life with Sam :-) I promise there will be talk about running, hiking and skiing soon enough! I am already looking forward to my first run next month, especially now that I can move around better and without much pain ;-)

This past week, my parents have stayed in Brunswick and came over every day to help us out around the house, watch and hold Sam, cook dinner for us and generally support us. A huge thank you to them for all their help! It was awesome, and we really appreciate it!


Mom and Sam

They also went over to my aunt's house and picked my grandmother, Mim, up for a visit this week. Sam loved hanging out with her great-grandmother and Mim was in fine spirits for the whole time.


Visiting with Mim

We also had a wonderful visit yesterday with Ryan's parents and grandparents. Sam didn't get put down for a second, and truly enjoyed Great-Grammie's singing and hanging out in Great-Bampie's lap! Thanks to Irene and Dana for making the trip happen :-) We loved seeing you all!


Hanging out with Great-Grammie and Great-Bampie

But as of tomorrow, we will be on our own, and the week should be fairly quiet. We have really enjoyed having everyone visit and help out, and hope we'll do OK without the extra help, but are also looking forward to settling into a routine with just the three of us. With Ryan working at home for the next few weeks, things will be much easier for me next week as I continue to heal. Even after only a week, he is already a great dad and has been really involved in helping out with feedings, diaper changings, calming Samantha, cleaning, etc. He even purchased an adorable (albeit huge) onesie for her during a quick trip to Target the other day. She has him wrapped around her finger already :-)


Ryan's first impulse buy for Sam

And today, he gave Sam the majority of her second bath this morning, and now she is all sparkly clean.



Bath time!

As I write, Ryan is holding Sam on his lap on the couch, watching football. He says her first words are going to be "nickle defense" or "shotgun formation" if he can help it. Oh my!