A 5K jump start to a better me!

Have I mentioned that I don't like to run? I have never been good at it and I find it boring. But, as I find myself getting older and heavier, I realized I needed to find a way to love it. So, I decided that one way I might enjoy it is if I actually trained for something. I decided to start small. If you remember from previous posts, I ran the midnight run in Central Park. I didn't really train for that, but I swore I would train for another one. Well, let's just say I worked out, but I never really ended up training for a 5K. My friend Monica decided she wanted to train for a 5k and asked if I would do The Wall Street Run and Heart Walk, I said sure. Alas, the event neared and I never really ended up training for it. Mostly, it was because of my feet problems, but I am sure the fact that I hate running factored in there as well. But, I did it anyway.

It went pretty well. I was able to run (well, jog/shuffle is a better word for it) and I think I finished in about 40 minutes.

I didn't really want to post these pictures, because I look horrible, but I did think it was a cool shot of the Statue of Liberty in the background. Boyd and the boys and Adam and their kids were cheering us on at the finish line. Gavin gave me five as I was finishing.

Monica did awesome and finished in under 30. My goal now is to actually train for one and run it in less that 30 minutes.

I used to call myself an athlete, but those days almost seem like a dream. I was once a volleyball, basketball, tennis, ultimate Frisbee player. The other day I was at the church building and there was a group playing volleyball and it made me realize how much I missed playing. I was still playing right after I got married, but then I sprained my ankle. I haven't really played much since.

Now, I find myself a tired, overweight and a non-athlete. I decided I don't want to be that way anymore. I want to be athletic again. I work out and I walk EVERYWHERE, but that is not enough.

So, I guess I will start with another 5k, but I hope that I can find more ways to be an athlete.

What my 32 year old husband wanted for his birthday!

Now, my 3 boys can go scootering together. Boyd puts Eli on his back with a carrier and a helmet and off they go!

I hope he doesn't feel jipped

A couple of weeks ago Eli wanted me to rock him in his arms. He is 20 months, so it seems like this wouldn't be a notable event, but it was to me. Of course, I rocked him when he was a newborn. But, after Gavin required rocking, nursing, singing, bouncing, and on and on to go to sleep, we wanted to make certain that Eli didn't need those things to go to sleep. It wasn't a problem. From very early on, he slept best when we just put him in his bed and let him go to sleep on his own. Now, all he requires is his pacifier (which he is becoming increasingly more dependent on and his blankie. ) and he falls asleep. He has never every really wanted to be rocked or held when trying to sleep. He is a cuddler, and he likes to be held, but he hasn't never really wanted to be rocked.

So, a couple of weeks ago I brought the boys into their room and I sat in the rocking chair to sing their good night songs. Eli started crying. He wanted to be held. I sat down and I rocked him and I sang to him. I rubbed his face. As I sat there, I realized I couldn't ever remember doing this with him since birth. He hasn't every really let me. It was a tender moment for me.

Now, when I bring him into bed at night he wants to be help for a bit. I hope I haven't erased 20 months of good sleep training. I don't mind rocking him for a few minutes before I put him in his bed.