Yes, I am a runner...

5:29 am - I open my eyes one minute before my alarm goes off. Do I really want to get up? I could sleep a little longer. YES - I do want to get up. GET UP!

5:30 am - My alarm goes off and I quickly shut it off so I don't wake Chris. I go to the bathroom, step on scale (ugh...5 pounds of baby weight remaining) and then head to the living room to quietly get dressed. I slip on my clothes and head out the door, iPod ready to blare some motivating music.

As I warm up heading down our street in Broadmoor, I think about today, my birthday, and how much I have accomplished in my 31 years. I have an amazing husband who moved from Maine for me and loves me, despite all my faults. I have two healthy and wonderful children who bring so much joy to my life - one precious princess and one handsome prince. A boy and a girl - such a blessing to have one of each. I have a job I love where I can see my BFF everyday. I live in the same town as my parents, two wonderful people who adore their grandchildren.

As I continue on my trek, I'm about at the 1/2 mile mark. I'm already sweating, but it feels good. I pass three other runners. It's barely light outside, but we still wave to each other - something I LOVE about this town. People wave... particularly runners passing each other. I start to reflect on my running. Since Brady was born, I've only been running for about four weeks. But a gift from my husband, the Nike+ chip, has made it fun to track my distance, times, and pace! I never imagined being someone who liked running.

The interest started in the spring of 2007 when my dear friend Susie and her hubby Ford were training for the Chicago marathon. They have been running for years, but I hadn't run since being on the cross country team as a freshman in high school. I am certainly NOT in the same shape as I used to be. But Susie mentioned a Couch-to-5K plan online and that maybe I should give it a shot. Thus began my new hobby. I worked up to a 5K and then started training for a 10K. I was about two months pregnant when I ran the 10K, but I was DETERMINED to run it since I had trained for so long! I finished it in 1:06:26 - not bad for a first timer! I don't run fast or very long distances. In fact, I have always considered myself a "jogger." But today, as I am running a quick 2 miles before work, I decide that I am a "runner." I try to run at least three times a week and it's something I enjoy doing. So now... I think I'll add that title to my resume.

Wife... Working Mama... Friend... Runner...

She is so amazing

I am so amazed by my daughter. She is so beautiful and lights up my life in a way I can't describe. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I try to make myself slow down and spend a few moments with her to let her know how much she means to me... not just in words, but in action. Yesterday was the perfect example. I received an e-mail from Barnes Portraiture in Ruston that was asking for model volunteers to take photographs with a hand-carved Cinderella-inspired carriage.
This picture does NOT do it justice. Of course, Cinderella being Kennedy's favorite princess, I volunteered us. The best shoot time available for us (considering Ruston is an hour away) was Thursday at 5:00 pm. So Chris picked up the kids early, I left work early, and Kennedy and I flew to Ruston, hoping to not be late. In the midst of the craziness of my work day, we were running behind and I grumbled to myself that I was CRAZY to commit to something else! I just can't say no! But I am so happy that we went. Not only did we get to spend some valuable mommy-daughter time together, but Kennedy had a blast and looked like an angel. She didn't want to leave! Photos of her IN the carriage coming soon....

Sleep

I have come to realize that sleep is not a right, it's a privilege. For the past nine weeks, I have been sleep deprived because of the sweet cries and hunger pains of my baby boy, Brady. But those cries aren't so sweet when I hear him "calling" around 2:00 am. Just in the last few nights, Chris and I have finally gotten B to only wake once a night. And I am optimistic that B will start sleeping through the night very soon! Kennedy seemed to sleep through around the two-month mark, but as I hear from everyone - each child is different.

So last night, my wonderful husband let me sleep all the way through the night. (Thank you honey!) It's only the second or third time I have gotten more than 3 or 4 hours straight since Brady was born. So you'd think I would feel recharged today with 7 hours under my belt, but the fact is - I need more sleep! One night just didn't do the trick I thought it would. In fact, a co-worker bluntly told me today, "You look tired. Are you okay?" Maybe I need more concealer. Maybe I need some caffeine. But what I really want is precious sleep.

Athletic Babies?

So Kennedy and Brady could be athletically inclined - OR they could just be good luck charms. YOU decide.

I must preface these facts with the very important fact that we are huge fans of all Boston/New England teams. The year I was pregnant with Kennedy, the Boston Red Sox broke the curse and won the World Series for the first time since 1918. Also that year, the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl... again. The summer Kennedy was born - we were glued to the TV for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

When I was pregnant with Brady, the Red Sox again became the National Champions. Unfortunately the Patriots did not win the Super Bowl, BUT the Boston Celtics had a stellar season and beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals. My husband has been a Celtics fan, even when they were one of the worst teams in the NBA. And again this summer, after Brady's arrival, we find ourselves watching the Olympics in Beijing.

So do we have future Olympians? Or maybe a baseball player? I haven't seen any prodigy-type athletic tendencies yet. Stay tuned...

New House Update

We are half-way home! Literally! Chris approved the frame of our new house this morning, so now the walls will go up... appliances, carpet, paint - the works!

I cannot wait to move into our new house. Living in our rent home has been... challenging. One bathroom means racing to see who gets there first in the morning. I'm constantly stepping on Kennedy's bath toys. And let's not even mention how Kennedy doesn't quite understand how to KNOCK before walking in!

It's looking like we'll move in around the beginning of October. We were hoping for middle of September, but I guess we will just have to wait a few more weeks. We've waiting this long, we can wait some more.

We visit the house every weekend, so now Kennedy knows exactly where her room is. She now gives US tours when we're there. She is standing in her (future) closet. Bossier City, here we come!

Back to Work

As my dear working-mommy friend Angela recently told me, "I don't want to live in a trailer in South Dallas.... so I work." My sentiments exactly. And not only do I work for the new house we're building, the big SUV I love and the occasional shopping trips - but I also work for me. I enjoy getting my creative juices flowing when I'm developing a new PR campaign. I thrive on being busy and crunching before my magazine deadlines. I like the feeling of accomplishment when I've finished a big project.

But.... all this doesn't make it any easier to hand my kids over to the daycare workers (who we really like, by the way!) I naively thought that dropping off Brady on Monday would be easy! I'd done this before with Kennedy, so mentally - I was prepared. But emotions are a different story. It took me 20 minutes to hand B to nice nursery ladies. And when I left, I cried. Not just a small tear rolling down my face - I had to reapply my eye make-up! But with the fantastic support of my friends and family, each day this week has been a little easier.

One day, I hope my kids will realize that I'm working to make our family life a little nicer. I hope they realize that I want to set the example for them that moms CAN work, if they want to. Women can be career-oriented AND be excellent mothers, too! But most of all, I hope my kids realize that more than any career - the BEST job in the world is being their mother.

Birthday Party

Kennedy celebrated her 4th birthday today with a party fit for a princess. Kennedy really enjoyed her class at Power & Grace last year, so she really wanted to have her party there. It was so much fun to see the girls pick out a princess costume and follow the dance moves of the teacher, Mrs. Kourtney (who was also Kennedy's dance teacher). The girls shrieked with excitement when Cinderella walked in and performed a ballet for them! Thanks to everyone for joining us!