So, You Wanna be a Runner?

I'm a very goal-oriented person.  Goals are what keep me going.  So far I've accomplished all my life goals; college degree, professional employment, master's degree, home ownership, marriage, babies (in that order).  So lately I've been feeling pretty lost without a goal.  I would love to have another baby....but honestly I'm just not ready for that-and babies are expensive! 

I needed a new goal.  Something to work toward.  Something to keep me busy (not that my boys don't keep me busy enough).  I decided toward the end of October that my new goal would be to lose all the pregnancy weight I had gained.  Well...its been 3 months and I am almost at my pre-pregnancy weight...about 10lbs away.  I would like to lose that 10lbs and about 10-15lbs more, but.....I got a little bored with simply trying to lose weight. 

So..............I decided that I wanna be a runner!

Yeah...I don't know.  Crazy huh?!?  Its especially crazy because, though I am a regular at the gym, I do NOT run!  I think the last time I ran was for my 5th grade fitness test when they make you run a mile....and I've always joked that I wouldn't run if someone was chasing me.  But, putting all that aside,  I decided that running would be my new life goal.

Super.

I started running a couple weeks ago.  I get on the treadmill, turn on Kayne West's "Stronger" (on repeat) and pray.  Ive been trying to run at least every other day and I guess I'm getting better.  I can run for 30 minutes straight and I go a little over 2.5 miles (which sucks-but I'm a beginner!).  I still hate running, but I'm trying.  I will not give up.  It is my new life goal-there is no other option but to succeed. 

Dave (my husband) is a runner.  He used to run 1/2 marathons every year and he even completed a whole 26.2 mile marathon a couple years ago.  So, he is supportive and my new found interest in running as even gotten him back on the treadmill!

We are going to run the St. Patrick's 4 Miler on March 12th.  That's what I'm working towards right now...being able to run 4 miles without stopping.  If I can do that then I am going to consider maybe running a 1/2 marathon on May 15th. 

Lofty goals.  We'll see....

Ahhhh! Report Cards!

When I was a little girl playing school and dreaming of being a teacher I thought that correcting papers and doing report cards would be soooo much fun!  Boy, was I soooo wrong!  Correcting papers and doing report cards might actually be the very worse part of being a teacher! 

I. Hate. Report cards.

On the other hand...snow days might be the best part of being a teacher!  And if the meterologists get this one right there may be TWO snow days in my very near future!

I. Love. Snow days!

A Good Cause

On April 3, 2009 my baby sister's life was forever changed.  She was witness to a mass shooting that happened in the place where she was teaching.  As she sat huddled in a closet with her students, down the hall 13 people were losing their lives to gunshots.  Though Megan was not killed or hurt, she is still very much a victim and she will be forever affected by the events of that tragic day.

The ACA Memorial Park Fund was started to build a monument to honor those affected by that horrific day.  Land was donated for the park but additional funds are still needed. 

The Pepsi Refresh Project will give $50,000 to the top 10 "Good Ideas".  We are currently in 15th place and need to move up 5 spots by January 31st. 

Please take a minute to go to the link and vote for this very good cause.  And please share with your friends...every vote counts!

http://pep.si/f9hvm9

Va-cation!

It's a little early to be thinking about summer vacation but....we got our beach house this week!! 

We usually spend our summer vacation with Dave's family in the Outer Banks.  But this year Dave's niece is getting married....on a cruise....in the Mediterranean.  So vacation was canceled.  Since we cant afford a cruise these days and we have 2 babies under 2, we obviously won't be going on the cruise. 

We needed a Plan B. 

We still wanted to go to the beach.  So back in August we made tentative plans to go with our friends, Kim & Bill. We got together this past weekend, found a house and booked it!  Now we have a summer vacation again!  YAY! 

I can't wait until July 23rd!

Katmandu

 Our Pool

Our short walk to the beach!



My Baby is 6 Months Old!

Well technically he is 6 months, 2 weeks old.  He had his 6 month check up today!  The pediatrician says he looks great...I expected nothing less!  He weighs 15lbs and is 27in. long.  He is following the same growth pattern as Brayden.  I guess I just make tall, skinny babies! 

At 6 months old Ethan is rolling...when he feels like it, he's been sitting unassisted for about a month now and I'm pretty sure he says Dada.  I know...kind of early for that but I swear I heard him and then my mom heard him (without any prompting from me) and when she told Dave, he said that he heard him say it too.  So....I think its fair to say-he says Dada! 

Ethan is a happy, curious boy who loves to suck on his hands!  Everyone says "Oh!  He must be getting teeth!" and I have to very politely say, "No.  He just likes to suck on his hands".  Brayden didn't get teeth until he was almost a year...so I suspect that Ethan will be the same.  Though I am trying hard not to compare my boys.  Brayden was crawling all over the place by 6 months, 3 weeks....and by the looks of it Ethan will not be following suit.  But that's ok!  In his own time!  I don't want to rush him anyway....2 boys on the go will probably be more than I can handle!

Ethan is a love and I enjoy spending time with him so much!  The next 6 months are going to be filled with so many changes!  I can't wait to watch him grow, learn and turn into a little boy! 

Happy 6 Months!

Weigh In

It's not official yet (and won't be until Tuesday) but.....I have lost 20 pounds! 

Yay!  I am so excited!  It's been about 11 weeks and the weight seems to still be coming off.  After this past Tuesday's weigh in (I was up 1.6lbs) I was starting to feel very defeated and bad about myself.  I decided that I needed to get to the gym every night this week and I did...and my hard work has paid off!  I lost what I gained, plus some more!

I am signing up for another 10 sessions with my trainer (early birthday gift from mom & dad) and then I hope to be able to pay for another 10 sessions after that.  In that time I hope to lose another 20lbs and finally be at my goal weight.

Woo-hoo!

Christmas in Pictures

Visiting Santa
Brayden was unsure about the guy in red...but he was a good sport for the picture!

Shopping for the perfect Christmas tree
Best part-Gi pays!



Helping Daddy string the lights.



Pre-Christmas Eve dinner with the Walker Family
These are all the Walker cousins-Brayden & Ethan are the youngest.

Christmas Eve at GG's house

Costello cousins with GG
(Megs is missing and Dave, Amy, Caleb & the boys are extra)



Cookies for Santa

The stockings are hung

Santa came!

I think this basket of food is B's favorite gift....

If only because he can now shove food into E's mouth!

Hanging with Gi at Christmas morning brunch

Making a gingerbread house at Grandpa Walker's after Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas!

Phew!  Christmas is over!  I was happy that it was here but equally as happy that it's over!  It was wonderful spending so much time with friends and family, but it's so exhausting!  I need a vacation after vacation!  Ha!

The boys had a great holiday and were completely spoiled!  I look forward to the years to come as they begin to realize what is happening and can be as excited about the day as I was for them! 

I am now looking forward to the new year and the wonderful things to come as my boys turn 2 and 1 year old!  I can't wait to watch them grow!