An Update on my Athletic Pursuits

Well, I made it from the Couch to the 5k. In a fit of feeling awesome, I went and researched 1/2 marathon training schedules. I put the start date on my calendar.

And then I went back to the couch and stayed put.

Until July 16, when my google calendar buzzed to alert me that it was time to start training. Grr. So I printed off the schedule, stuck it to my fridge and mapped my 3 mile run for Tuesday (Note: I left the map on the counter in case Rob or EMS needed to find me).

Tuesday's run wasn't too bad, but I felt it that night. Today was a shorter 2-miler, but added on to yesterday's run it was hard. I thought I had a streching/strengthening day, but it turns out I was wrong and I need to do 3 miles tomorrow. I am not sure if I will be able to walk tomorrow afternoon.

The good news was I found a 51% discount on my 1/2 marathon registration, so if I can't make it, I will feel 51% less guilty.

Wish me luck!

9 Months!

(Required comments: It is going so fast! This month has been so much fun!  Each month gets better than the last!)

Drew,

Holy moly, this month has been great.  Let's take it by some big categories, shall we?

Food- you are eating more and more big kid food.  It's probably a little late to start, but I'm just now getting confident enough that I'm not going to have to do the Heimlich with every goldfish.  You are eating lots of Gerber baby finger foods ("junk food"), Cheerios, gold fish, cut up fruit, veggies, string cheese, and even some chicken.  You have really started "chewing" (even though you still have just the two bottom teeth).  You seem to be phasing out of baby food--you just aren't interested if you can't put it in your mouth yourself.  You can do the "pincher" grasp, but sometimes you get so eager to get the food in your mouth you will just grab entire handfuls at once.

Movement- You LOVE being mobile!  If anyone picks you up it takes about 15 seconds before you start squirming to be put down.  You can pull up on everything, and have started to cruise some.  Doors and drawers are your most favorite, though you smash your fingers in both pretty frequently.  You will push anything that is on wheels, including your high chair.  And I feel for the person who helps you walk by holding your hands- you can do that for hours and throw MASSIVE fits whenever someone stops.

Sleep- You still sleep quite a bit, but you keep waking up way too early.  I'm not sure what you think you should do at 5:30AM, but apparently you feel like you need to get up and be productive.  I think it has something to do with being mobile and thinking that sounds more fun than going back to sleep.

Bath time- You are now a bath-a-day type of guy, mostly because the crawling allows you to get in the dirtiest of places in our house and you end up covered in dog hair.  You do seem to really like the bath these days, especially since you can pull up on the side of the tub. 
Favorite toys- You are very into toy cars and balls right now- I think because both move and give you something to crawl after.  I finally put in your ball pit for the time being, but I know it will make a return visit soon.  You have also really gotten into looking for things that go away.  I can often find you face down, searching for a missing ball or car under a piece of furniture.

And Sophie continues to be the very best thing you could ever have asked for.  As your dad said earlier this month, "they truly act like siblings."  Sometimes we will watch Sophie walk past you and very deliberately knock into you with her hip.  And you've been known to pull on her ears.  But you guys are just as likely to share a bone or a toy for a game of tug.  Sophie is always in your room when you go to bed and usually has her head over the tub during bath time.

Personality- You have the cutest little personality.  You are 100% independent.  You have never had any problem going to/staying with other people.  You will play quietly in your room for quite a while (although we are now getting to a spot where too much silence means you are probably chewing on electrical cables or something).  You have NO FEAR in the least as evidenced by the way you pull up on things and then just let go or crawl off the stairs.  If you don't like something, you don't hesitate to throw a fit to tell us that.  You talk and sing at volumes that increase daily.  Your dad and I like to congratulate each other on what a cute kid we made.  We love you.

Drew, you are the sunshine in our world.  Happy 9 months, buddy.

Love,
Mom and Dad

(Dragging out Soapbox)

I have two things I want to vent on today- and it's my blog, so I can do that.

1. This story about Michelle Obama's cheeseburger/fry/milk shake/diet coke lunch.

I have two issues with this. First, it's not news.  Facebook, the reigning king of "Things People Broadcast that Isn't Really News" doesn't even have this type of nitpicky detail about people.  There are lots of people in the world who don't have clean water.  Or places to sleep.  Write about that.  I know the idea is Michelle Obama has this "healthy living" campaign, and that is why this lunch is newsworthy.  Which brings me to my second point.  Perhaps she has one cheat day a week/month/year.  Perhaps she just ran a marathon on the White House treadmill.  Perhaps the First Family was planning a 7 mile walk that evening to catch up.  I don't know.  Let the lady eat her lunch.

That bugs me almost as much as this story, where Mrs. Obama was criticized for wearing modest shorts.  On family vacation. To the Grand Canyon.  Because one should wear what to the Grand Canyon?

2. This story about a restaurant who no longer allows children under 6 in the dining room.

This comes after kids are kicked out of first class on certain airlines.  I can't say I blame the restaurateur- I know I've seen unruly kids in restaurants.  A few lacks parents can ruin it for all of us, and I suppose it's easier to spot the six and under crowd than the "I don't care to discipline my kids" crowd.

I'll put my soapbox up now.

Mom Reality #8

Sometimes a complete stranger might compliment your well behaved child in a children's clothing store.  While having this conversation you might have to fish a piece of hanger out of your child's mouth that he perhaps thieved from under a rack when you put him down for a second.

Hypothetically.

You're So Vain

Ok, friends, I think my baby has a self image problem.  Here is my case:

1. For about two weeks now he has insisted on getting on the scale multiple times per day:

2. He recently has been trying to figure out how to use my pilates "Magic Circle."*

Is it time to do some sort of baby intervention?


*(It should be noted that I haven't used the pilates magic circle in, oh, about 18 months)

Issues Commenting on Blogger?

I was having this problem, and I know at least one other person was (Hi, Sara!).  I was googling around and found this and it worked for me.  Hope it works for you all, too.

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=3115df39d8d4a613&hl=en

8 Months!

Drew,

You are 8 months old!  Actually, you are closer to 8.5 months old.  Why is this post late?  Well, you are moving now, and it has added a whole new level of work to having a baby!

You spent most of your seventh month trying to crawl.  First you would get up on all fours.  Then you rocked back [stopping to take you away from the curtains you were pulling on] and forth.  Then you did a modified version of the worm- moving [wow- beeline back for the curtains.  Stopping again] both knees, reaching out with one hand, lurching forward to land on your stomach, then pulling up again.  It got you where you wanted to go, but (lucky for me) it took some time.

[Putting you in our baby pool "ball pit" hoping to contain you] We baited you forward with all the toys we could think of, but really what caused you to move the fastest were (1) the dog's half-chewed rawhide bone, the iPhone, and a Reef.  I'm not sure why we spend the money on toys.

But then on Tuesday, June 21 (3 days after your 8  month birthday), you took off and haven't slowed down since.

You had another bout with illness this month, and it was worse than the last time.  About 10 days of a goopy nose and eyes and generally just feeling miserable.  You now run from your "nose sucker." [Taking you out of the ball pit because you seem to be stuck]

You are pulling up some now, and are quite proud of yourself when you do it.  I left you on my room (pre-crawling) to run to the kitchen for something and came back and you were standing at the ottoman at the end of our bed.  I screamed in excitement and you fell over (whoops- less enthusiasm, I guess.  You were fine).  You also greeted your daddy in a standing position after nap time, so we moved your crib down.

Drew, you are a GREAT baby.  You are pretty easy going (unless you are tired) and tons of fun.  You are changing every day [stopping to pull you out from under my feet in the desk, where you are going for a power cord].

If I had to make an educated guess, you are going to be a jeweler.  You have [stopping to prevent you from pulling over the fragile wedding gift that is sitting on the floor] been showing quite the interest in my wedding ring and watch.  You seem to have excellent taste.  Good news. [Stopping to take the business cards for my eye doctor out of your mouth] [Stopping to prevent you from pulling up on the desk][Stopping to pick up all the business cards you knocked over]

Ok, this has been fun.  You are a joy.

Readers, I think postings may get shorter and fewer.  Here are some pictures from the month.

Your dog just tolerates you, until you eat. She now knows you are a great bet for "people food."

Callegaris love Target!

Swimming

You guys help me paint (obviously pre-crawling. This would never work now).

Circus Freak!

Much love, son!

Mom and Dad