I'm training for a marathon.

 

Remember the list I made on my birthday? One of the things I put on that list was "run a marathon." I've dreamed of running one for so long, but always felt like it was out of my reach, too hard for ME, more running than I could handle. In high school, when I ran cross-country, the longest distance we ever had to run was 4 or 5 miles.  Cross-country started in August and if you're at all familiar with the type of weather we experience here in Georgia you know that our 3:30 practice time nearly killed all of us.  90+ degrees with almost no shade...yeah.  So I think my high school running days really gave me a solid running foundation.

Throughout college I would go through phases where I would run as seldom as once every 3 or 4 weeks to as often as 2 or 3 times a week.  I never fell out of the habit.  And during both my pregnancies I continued to run until my 20's weeks.  Running has always been a pleasure for me.  I end my runs feeling invigorated and powerful and THOSE emotions remind me of giving birth {something else I love}.  Intense and painful and completely individual, I love that, the intense and individual part, not the painful part. Yes, there have been some horribly difficult runs throughout the years, but those are the runs that have made me stronger.  I'm a competitor at heart and love the thrill of running.

Kyle and I {and CammyB} running on the trail next to the river at our apartment.

My sister ran her half-marathon in March and after reading her post about her experience I became inspired and a bit jealous to be honest.  She ran 13.1 miles with hardly any training! I was so proud of her!  And all I could think about was how I wanted to start running again {remember I had a baby in February :P} So we all signed up for the Peachtree 10k and after running and competing with all those people I got some serious runner's itch.  With the Rock n' Roll Marathon series coming to Savannah on November 5th I knew I had to do it.  So I signed up for the half-marathon, just in case my training didn't go as planned.  After a few weeks of training I started to feel like I wanted to make the commitment and about that time I also found TEAM FREEMAN, a cause I am so excited about running for! More on the details about all that later.. 

After doing a little bit of research on the internet I found Hal Higdon's 16-week Novice 1 training program I wanted to follow.  And so far everything is going awesome!  I'm running longer distances than I've ever run and I'm starting to eat more than I've eaten in a long time,  It's been tricky trying to find time for all my runs, but Kyle and my mom have been a great help.  If I didn't have the support from Kyle I would never be able to commit to something like this, I'm so very thankful for him!  Here's a copy of my training plan.  I'm hoping for continued motivation and no injuries in the weeks to come.  I will update again soon with more details!

**I'm currently on week 6**

Marathon Training Schedule: Novice 1

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	Rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	Rest	6	cross
2	Rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	Rest	7	cross
3	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	Rest	5	cross
4	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	Rest	9	cross
5	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	10	cross
6	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	7	cross
7	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	12	cross
8	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	Rest	Half Marathon
9	Rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	10	cross
10	Rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	15	cross
11	Rest	4 m run	8 m run	4 m run	Rest	16	cross
12	Rest	4 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	12	cross
13	Rest	4 m run	9 m run	5 m run	Rest	18	cross
14	Rest	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	Rest	14	cross
15	Rest	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	Rest	20	cross
16	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	Rest	12	cross
17	Rest	4 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	8	cross
18	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	2 m run	Rest	Rest	Marathon

Scenes from a birthday party {8.1.11}

Martha Stewart pom-poms.  Easiest party decoration to make EVER.

Although this photo does them no justice, the grilled pizzas were delicious.

12 people eating around 1 table = lots of birthday LOVE

Love from the Aunts

a new way of opening presents

LOTS of presents.. :)

strawberry birthday cake

I think Cambria is thinking "when am I getting a cousin guys?!?!" :P

bubbles with Grandpa

Happy 2nd birthday sweet Cambria. I love you.

{most of the pictures were taken by the talented Aunt Katelyn}

Mema, forver in our hearts

Clara Mae Nixon

October 16, 1927 - July 29, 2011 

Kyle's Mema was the sweetest southern lady.

She lived 83 beautiful years!

I will remember her kindness; always offering help and sweet tea the moment you stepped foot in her home. 

I will remember talking with her about her childhood, her children, and her cooking.

I will remember the breathtaking quilts she created almost entirely by hand.

And I will remember her unwavering faith in God. 

I'm so grateful I knew such a truly lovely person. 

May she forever rest in peace. 

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
-Kahlil Gibran 

Photo Booth

Me and the babies {and now Kyle} are here hanging out at my parent's house.  Cambria loves being here because it's like visiting our old home! Actually, it's exactly that.  But as I was perusing the internet on my parent's computer I decided to look through the photo booth pictures, and after looking through them all I realized that I have to share a few. {most of them were taken on different days}

 

A Brief Absence

My laptop is having some work done, and all we currently have to use is my friend's very old laptop that is crappy and slow.  (thanks Ashley!!!)

Sooooo I probably won't post much these next few days.  

New weekend is Cambria's birthday weekend so there will definitely be lots to post about once I get my laptop back!!

Until then!

:D 

Ezra Amos, my FIVE(!!!) month old

Our sweet Ezra is 5 months already!? Really? 

I feel like he's still a new member of our family, but really, he's not anymore.

I'm proud to say that he's become quite the "mama's boy." 

I have a closeness with him that I never had with Cambria.  

I think it can be attributed to the fact that he's attached to my hip 24/7 and he's been an amazing eater since Day 1. 

We have lots of bonding time and I love every single second of it

I know I will always long for my nursing days when my children are older.  It's one of the things I treasure most about motherhood.

Speaking of which, he's started to refuse bottles...might be a problem...

I swear he's going to get a tooth any day.  He's been drooling like crazy and gnawing on anything he can get his hands on. 

Ezra smiles all the time and is generally a very happy baby, unless he needs a nappy or some milky in his tummy.

He still loves his big sister.  I think she's his favorite person.

And he still wakes up a few times a night.  I can't resist his sweet self, so I let him nurse and cuddle.  I'm going to stop giving in....one of these days :) 

Please look at these pictures of little Ezzy-Pooh.

I hope E & C are weird like their mama.

 I'm sorry, but isn't he precious!??!

I am in love. 

And now enjoy this video of him excited in his jungle gym. 

Happy 5 months my beautiful son!

Where I'm Happy

Some days I want to live a chic life in NYC. 

Eat at amazing restaurants. 

Ride the subway everywhere.

Experience all the creativity and life the city has to offer.

And then some days I want to live on a farm.

Have animals to take care of and love.

Create a garden that requires lots of hard work and sweat. 

Nothing but nature and wholesome living.

But then I realize that wherever I am in this life, if I'm with my family, I'm home, and I'm happy.

Talking Cam

she loved those geese in my grandpa's backyard, NY

Cambria's language has officially exploded.  Everyday she's saying new words and phrases like "right here"  or "go outside"  or "hummingbird" or "get off".  It's truly incredible the way the human brain works at this stage in development.  She will hear a phrase or a word that she's heard dozens of other times and one day it'll just click and instantly she'll say it and it will become a part of her vocabulary.  It oftentimes doesn't sound perfect and only me or Kyle can understand what she's saying, but I know she'll get better at that in time.  

The only thing that makes me sad about all this is that Cambria hardly ever uses her signs anymore. :(  I loved communicating with her through all her baby signs, but she doesn't really need to use them anymore when she can just verbally say eat, more, sleep, etc.  {I've heard parents say they don't do baby signs because it delays speech, but it's done nothing but benefit Cam}  It was fun watching Cambria reach her 1st year milestones, but I'm finding it more fascinating finally hearing her thoughts, opinions, and ideas come out of that head of hers.  And that little girl has OPINIONS.  She's able to say exactly what she does and does not want and sometimes it can be no fun for everyone. 

We'll be eating or driving and she'll just start talking about something that happened yesterday or something we're planning to do later that day.  And gosh that does girl have a memory! Currently she loves talking about the rainbow we saw while we were at Arlington, her birthday and how we're going to have cake, my parent's cat Riley and how he has a funny haircut, Ashley's dogs Noah and Gypsy, and doing yoga.  She used to call her pacifier "mama" and now she calls it "pacy", she used to call her blanket "dada" and now she calls it "blankie."  I guess it's all a part of growing up.  It's really just bitter sweet.  But I think my favorite part of her talking is getting to know her sense of humor.  She cracks us and herself up on a daily basis.  Boy oh boy we loooooooooooove her. 

Here's a video I took a few days ago.  In between loud smoothie slurps you can hear some of CamJam's talking.  

Husband

I don't like referring to Kyle as my husband. 

And I DON'T like it when he calls me his wife.

I love him, I promise.  And I do take our wedding vows seriously. 

I think it's just that in this country a "husband" can mean something different to so many people, but really, it's just a title. 

And I guess I'm not into titles.
Not ALL people have the right to get married.

And I don't believe you have to be married to create a stable and loving home for your relationship or your children.

So I guess I feel sort of pretentious calling him my husband.

And I'm only 23, so it makes me feel old. 

He IS my husband, but to me he's MORE the father of my children and my best friend and companion for the last 7+ years. 

Good thing KYLE is my husband because HE doesn't care what I call him.

I love him dearly, and that's all that matters in both our books. 

{maybe when I'm 40 something it'll feel normal}

happy, and he wasn't even my husband yet ;)