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We're alive!

Everyday, I think to myself that I need to update this thing! And the guilt sets in that I used to take a picture of Baker almost daily when he was an infant and now, I only seem to take a picture if my phone is in hand and the thought crosses my mind. Two kids more than doubles the busy-ness, I'm finding. Since I last posted, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas happened (along with too much excitement and sugar for the preschooler and some hard days for the little guy as his first two teeth appeared). Days pass in a blur and somehow Forrest is almost 6 months old.

Forrest...he's a delight. I don't know what I did to deserve another mellow, smiley, good-natured baby but I'll take it. I had forgotten what a sweet age this is. I am trying to soak up every moment of babyhood since it is such a fleeting time.

Baker...you might wonder why there are no recent photos of him and that is because he refuses to let me take a shot of him. I mean, he runs from the camera. But my little man is growing up before my eyes. He continues to crack us up daily with his Baker-isms and make our hearts swell with his caring ways. I mean, how do you top his prayers at night, being thankful for his "sweet mommy, sweet daddy, and sweet little baby Forrest?" I've had the hilarious experience of watching him line up at the preschool playground when I come to pick him up - when he doesn't know I am watching him. Inevitably, he's either the line leader or holding one of the teacher's hands. I have no idea where our little extrovert came from but his social energy far exceeds my own.

So, we're happy. We're healthy. We're loving this mild winter that has allowed for lots of outdoor play time. Mama is happy because running is going especially well. The real test is on March 18th at the Quintiles half marathon. But I'm doing the work, thanks to Michelle.

Whew. This post only took me a few months to write. Maybe I'll get back on here before May!

Baker, 3 years old

I have a little (ok, a lot) of guilt that I haven't even updated this thing to celebrate Baker's birthday which was almost 2 weeks ago!

Forrest, 3 months old

One-handed typing

Because Forrest is a crankster today and doesn't want to be put down. I seem to remember this whole 3-week/6-week/3-month/6-month growth spurt thing and wonder if that's what is going on with him. My normally laidback little guy has just been fussy and seems uncomfortable the last few days.

3 months. Really, how has it been 3 months? Sometimes I feel this sense of, holy cow, time is moving TOO quickly and my baby is growing up too darn fast. I want to soak in every moment of his babyhood since this is our last child. I love his little baby head smell, his milky breath, gummy smile, the way his legs still curl up under him when I pick him up, how he looks up at me when I am nursing him with his big eyes. Such sweet moments. I am going to blink my eyes and he is going to be a big boy like Baker.

Speaking of, he is just cracking us up lately with the things he says. I love his observations of the world. His perspective is so hilariously spot on sometimes. I love this age (well, minus the fits about things not being "just so")...the big kid conversations mixed with little kid innocence. He is such a loving little guy. I will be so sad one day when he doesn't need a hug and a kiss at random and when he shies away from me when I tell him how much I love him. I also love his independence - that I can just set him free at the playground and he'll climb and run with the other kids rather than needing me to be right there. I love hearing him talk about "all my friends" from preschool. He has this whole other little life that I am not part of and while part of that makes me sad, I am also so joyful that he feels connected to other little people. Social butterfly he is.

I'm not sure how I got so lucky with these kids but I hit the jackpot.

Updates coming...

I WILL get some new pictures, at the very least, on this thing this weekend!!

Too lazy to blog

(Forgive the paragraph spacing.  No matter how many times I have tried to edit it, I can't correct it!!!)

Or maybe too busy to blog? Either way, I think about posting and then just don't get around to it! Some days I just feel overwhelmed by taking care of two kids. Thankfully there are other days when I just feel so fulfilled that it doesn't matter.

Things are going well here - kids, work, running, repeat. I guess I should post Forrest's stats for prosperity's sake so he doesn't read this one day and think that Baker got more attention. HA. I took him in for his 2 month check up on Thursday and he weighed a whopping 14.6 pounds (96th percentile) and was 25 inches long (99th percentile). He's definitely getting nourishment, that's for sure! He continues to be a pleasant, smiley baby who sleeps well and just takes things in stride. Thank goodness, because he just gets toted around a lot with Baker and has to nap in the midst of loud playing. I would never have believed that I would say this when Baker was an infant, but having a small baby is SO MUCH easier than having an almost 3-year-0ld. Baker is a wonderful kiddo, it's just a demanding age that requires a lot of energy on my part. You forget how quiet and simple infants are.

Baker has decided that he wants to be a "big, black monster" for Halloween, whatever that means! He is adamant about it, so I guess that'll be an easy enough costume to finagle! He's pumped about going to the pumpkin patch later today so I'll have pictures of that and from the fair last weekend. He's had some funny statements lately like when he was rocking his stuffed animal and pretending to give it a bottle. I told him that he was a great daddy and he looked at me and rolled his eyes, saying, "Mommy, I am just a kid!" Touche!

Running continues to get better by the week. I ran with my friend Karen this morning and we did 6 very chatty miles, averaging 7:47 pace so I feel like my speed is getting there. I signed up for the local Mistletoe 5k in December with hopes of at least winning my age group. Last year's winner in my AG ran 21:56 and I'd like to think I will be more than able to run that by December (of course you never know who might show up to the race). The top three overall women all ran 21:something, so my secret goal is to win an overall award. It's a hilly course so we'll see what happens. Last year there were over 1500 runners in just the 5k (there is a half marathon that goes along with it), so it's not a small race. The slower times indicate how hard the first half of the race is...uphill. I am just pumped to get back out there. I am eyeing February and May half marathons but those details are fuzzy.

Nap

I couldn't resist.