Abort! Abort! Abort!

Sweet Rina,

I have to face the facts: the dreaded shin splints are back 😦 I was feeling a soreness in my shins all day on Wednesday after my jog and today, when I went to run errands with you in your stroller, I could feel the all too familiar pain in my shins. I am really bummed out as I was determined to do the C25K once and for all. I will bench myself for a week, hopefully recover, then give it another try. In the meantime, I’ll be doing Pilates, yoga and other workouts by Tracy Anderson. I’m just hoping I keep losing some weight.

I called Jess to let her know I wouldn’t be doing the jog tomorrow and we decided to go walk instead. I am really disappointed, but there is no way I will “push through the pain”. That’s what I did last time and it got me nowhere, so I won’t be doing that this time around. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) all the way. I guess I will have to walk the TC10K too 😦

You know what, I won’t be disappointed. I’ll keep working out, it’ll just be a different kind of workout. I just finished a cardio Pilates in the living room and I was sweating my tush out so I have to have burned a few calories right there! 🙂 And, of course, I will keep taking you out for walks and errands !

In other news, your dad is acting very weird, asking me if I’ve used my computer today and if it was working fine, then asking me if I received an email from him. I don’t know what he’s up to, but I’m thinking it has to do with my upcoming birthday. When I asked him what he was up to and demanded for him to tell me what he had done, he just replied: “Think of it as an Easter egg hunt”. I CAN’T stand surprises! I am the most curious person there is! Our first Christmas in BC, we woke up one morning (close to Christmas) to the sound of the fire alarm in the apartment complex where we used to live and once we decided to exit the apartment, my 1st reaction was to go grab the presents from under the tree because I didn’t want to miss finding out what your dad had gotten me! That’s how curious I am! You can imagine that his behaviour is simply killing me right now!

In yet another unrelated topic, you slept really well last night. You did 8h30, had a bottle and then slept again for another 3hrs in you own bed! Normally, I get up with you anytime between 4-6am and we both go to the futon to “sleep in” until 7am or 7:30am! Ha! However, last night, you slept until 7am in your own bed and had done the same 2 days prior to that. Could it be that you are starting to sleep a little bit more? Here’s to hoping!

We love you very much my gorgeous girl!

Mom & Dad Xxo

We’ve been through hell…

…and it looks like this:

 

You are super cozy in there… and dry…

and here’s what I look like, after our run today:

I'm a wet, scary Babymama without makeup. Obviously, I'm enjoying this... NOT!

Yes. We woke up to freaking rain, yet again and both Jess and I wanted to get this done and over with so we decided to head out in this lovely weather. At one point, there was so much noise from the highway traffic  that I didn’t hear the Garmin telling me it was time to jog, therefore, we missed an interval. We decided to just add one at the end. We kept on trudging along, being miserable. I think I was soaked by the time we finished the 1st interval. Joy!

Finally, it we were up to our 5th interval and Jess turned around to me and said: “I’m so done for today!” I managed to convince her to do the 6th and last interval of the workout. Good job Jess! I can understand her exhaustion as Alexis is getting sick and she was up all night. I am so very thankful to have Jess as a running partner. I don’t think I would do as well without her! I used to love jogging in the rain. Today, jogging in the rain and pushing a stroller was pure hell. Whatever, it’s done and over with. Now, I’m just trying to warm up. I figured I should be able to by the time I go to bed tonight!

Oh yeah, and now the sun is shining so bright outside right now, it’s really pissing me off!

Love you Monkey!

Mom & Dad Xxo

The happiness that almost never was…

Sweet Rina,

As I was playing with you today, I was thinking about how my life would’ve been so completely different without you in it and how much you’ve changed my life, in a very good way.

If you had asked anybody who knew me as far back as 7 years ago, you would find out that, at that time, I didn’t want to have children. That’s right, I was ready for a hysterectomy at the ripe old age of 26! I was in a weird relationship with someone other than your dad and, although I didn’t know it then, my needs (emotionally, mainly) were not being met. I’m not saying that this person was a bad person, he just wasn’t the right person for me.

After that relationship dissolved, I stayed single for well over a year. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for in a potential partner, but I knew what I didn’t want. I was meeting people, working hard at the hospital, running (yep, I remember doing the C25K in the cold January of Montreal, coming home from work after my night shift and going out running!) and hanging out with my friends and I was pretty happy with my life.  Then, one day, I met your dad and I felt complete. He was everything I didn’t know I wanted and he wasn’t what I didn’t want, if that makes any sense.

Eventually, we moved across the country and started our lives together as an engaged couple. I knew your dad wanted to have kids (we’re still debating over the 7 children he says he wants to have!) and ever since we started dating, the idea of becoming a mom had slowly germinated in my mind. Your dad was providing a safe, loving, respectful relationship and I really felt I could trust him. I still do. However, the fact that I had been so dead set against having children for a few years before I met him made me doubt that I would ever be a good mom. Would my “would-be” children ever feel that, at one point in my life, I didn’t want to have children? Would I be able to bond with my kids and love them unconditionally? Would my children even like me as their mom?

After a “baby? Maybe” moment last year where we thought we were pregnant and it turned out we weren’t, we realized that we were both saddened by the fact that we weren’t expecting and decided to go with the flow. We weren’t actively trying to get pregnant, but we weren’t preventing it either. Nature was going to take its course. You can read all about how I found out we were expecting you here and the rest, they say, was history.

So, while I was playing with you today and looking at the little person you already are, I was thinking about all the joy and love you provide me. Thinking that I could’ve missed on all that makes my heart swell with tremendous sadness. I may not be the best mom out there, but you have to know that Im doing my best for you and I want only your happiness. You are my little bundle of love and you melt my heart whenever you give me your huge smile. Thinking that someone could ever hurt you makes the lioness in me come out and I would lay down my life in order to protect yours. You are such a small person, but already, you have become a part of my everything. Together, with your dad, we are a family. I can honestly say that I am embracing my role as a mother and I am loving every second of it. I know we’ve had a rough start, but I would go through it all over again, just to get to where we are. Being your mom is the best feeling ever and I want to be a better person just because I want to set the best example for you. I love our family and, right now, I can honestly say that I don’t feel like it is yet complete. I’m not saying I would like to have another child tomorrow, but I think down the line, I’d like to add to our family.

Funny how life has a way of surprising you. The girl who didn’t want to have children is now thinking about having a second one. You have worked your magic on me, little one and I love you more everyday for doing so.

Sleep well my little magician!

Love (more than you will ever know),

Mom & Dad Xxo

Down 1lb and you are giggling at 3 months!

Sweet Rina,

Today was my weigh-in and I’ve lost 1.2lbs (to be precise!) Nothing dramatic, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Only 28.8 left to go! I woke up this morning to the lovely sound of Timmy-the-cat puking. It was dark in the living room (where you and I were cuddling on the futon) and I only realized too late that he had puked on the couch and carpet. Well, good morning to you too! Once I was done with cleaning up the mess, I opened up the curtains to find out there was frost on the ground. Ugh! I texted Jess and we decided to wait until it warmed up a bit before heading out for W2D1 of the C25K. Because of that, I went to meet Jess without you as you were falling asleep for a nap as I left. You stayed behind to spend some quality time with Babydaddy while I was on the trail with Jess.

To be honest, I really didn’t feel like it and it’s AMAZINGLY nice to have Jess as a partner in this. She will be leaving for 4 weeks (I think) at the end of the month and I need to work on my motivation until then, if not, it’ll be unbearable when she’s gone! I don’t know what happened to me, I used to love running. I missed it all the time when I wasn’t doing it and now, it’s a struggle to get out and hit the trail. Once I’ve started, it’s fine, but it’s to get my butt outside that’s the real challenge! Whatever, it’s done, even though the Garmin stopped working mid-workout, Jess and I timed ourselves manually.

It turned out to be a super sunny day and I really didn’t feel like being stuck outside, so I dressed you up and we went to cuddle outside on the front porch, basking in the sun!

Pursed lips...

I see dimples!!!

When we got back inside, we played a bit together (tummy-time and all) and then, I managed to capture your 1st “giggles” on camera. They are quite subdued, but they are giggles to me! (Sorry about my crazy laughter, but it worked to get you to giggle!)

I just have to do some yoga and stretches and then I can relax for the night!
Sweet dreams gorgeous girl, I can’t believe you are 3 months old already!,

Love,

Mom & Dad Xxo

Sunday was meant for resting!

Sweet Rina,

Yesterday, I cleaned from 8am until 1:30pm. It took me that long because I had to either carry you on my chest (thank you BabyBjörn!) or care for you and also because I dusted and vacuumed everything (with a small accident implicating the ash pail from the fireplace emptying itself on the living room carpet!!!) and I mopped the floors once I was done with all that. I was exhausted by the time I was done and my lower back was killing me (thanks again BabyBjörn!), but the place is spotless and I still have a few hours to enjoy it before your dad gets home and things go back to the way they were! I went to bed early and fell asleep reading my Runners’ World!

Tomorrow is my weight day and we have to go running for week 2 of the C25K program. I’m a bit nervous about meeting with the scale again, but whatever happens will be ok. Here are a few pictures I snapped yesterday in some of the new clothes I got you. You were just basking in the sun on our bed! Mommy simply adores you Monkey!

So adorable!

Little angel

Love,

Mom & Dad Xxo

Week 1 done and over with!

Sweet Rina,

We did it! We finished the 1st week of the C25K program this morning. I was sooo not in the mood to go out running, but just knowing that I have the next 2 days off and that Jess and Alexis were counting on us to join them was enough to give me the kick in the bum I needed. Although it was a hard one and both Jess and I could really feel it today, it was our best run of the week! We managed to log 3.36k today! Yay for us! we’ll be moving on to week 2 next week.

I’ve been trying to focus a bit more on my running form and try to run more on my toes (which is the ideal running form) or at least, trying to achieve a midfoot strike. So far, it seems to work as I don’t feel too much soreness and my shins are hanging in there (no shin splints yet! Double Yay! for that one!) My shoes seem to be working out great for me too, which I’m really happy about. I was afraid to go from a very supportive shoe to a more minimalist one, but so far, I feel great! I’ve also been good at either doing yoga or Pilates on my non-running days!

Yesterday, you had another photo shoot, curtesy of this Babymama! Man, I love my digital SLR! I snap a few hundreds pictures of you every other day! Here are a few I took yesterday. There are also a few taken with my phone as I was putting you to bed last night.

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Busy bees on a busy day!

Sweet Rina,

We woke up this morning and wanted to go do our jog with Jess and Alexis, but there was this crazy windstorm all night (up to 140km/hr) and there was now way we were gonna go push strollers and babies in crazy winds (I think it was down to 80-110km/hr by then, but still!)

Instead, Jess invited me to go with her to a baby massage class. It was cheap ($3) and we weren’t doing anything else so we went. It was actually a lot of fun! At the beginning, you and Alexis were cooing to one another. It looked like you were chatting to each other. Then, you were crying in response to one another! That made me laugh! Whenever you would stop crying, Alexis would pick it up and vice versa. Eventually, you fell asleep in my arms until I put you down on the mat. You woke up and I was able to give you a bit of a back massage while you had a blast impressing everyone with your how well you supported your head while being on your tummy. In total, there were 4 babies including you at the session and I’m sad to announce that you were the most hair challenged baby there! 😉 There was another baby born on the same day as you who had enough hair to make you a wig and she still would’ve had enough hair for herself! She was also quite bigger than you, but don’t you worry, I love you just the way you are and I wouldn’t change you for anything in the world!

 

We came back home and I grabbed a quick bite to eat while you remained asleep in your car seat and then we met up (again!) with Jess and Alexis for our run. We went a bit slower than on Monday, but it wasn’t so bad considering I’m still battling a cold and it was still pretty windy out there! We came back home just in time to feed you and Jenn came by for a visit. I forgot to take pictures of you with her. I’ll have to remember next time we see her! She is leaving for a well deserved vacation under the sun so it’ll have to wait until she gets back.

You are now asleep in your bed and I just finished eating dinner. I’m currently watching House Hunters while waiting for Survivor to begin! I’ll do some stretches/yoga in front of the TV and tomorrow: Pilates all the way with the Challenges, just to switch things up a bit!

Sleep well my love!

Mom & Dad Xxo

The afternoon and evening after…

Darling Rina,

This is my second post today, but I feel the need to write. You have been a challenge today as you were completely exhausted, but refused to sleep. Actually, you wanted to sleep… only in my arms and it’s not something I normally do except in the afternoon, when you get to your witching hour before bath time. I tried lying next to you on the futon to put you to sleep which worked for about 5 mins. Then, I tried putting you to sleep in my arms and putting you down after, only to have you waking up as soon as you touched your mattress and start crying. We pretty much spent the entire day playing that game, with me trying to put you down and you being overtired all day.

Needless to say I haven’t had time to do any workout today. Add to it that my cold is worst today (I’m praying for a good night of rest so I can do my 2nd run/walk tomorrow). I barely had time to do laundry and still have to fold 2 baskets worth of clothes. As I was eating dinner, I took the opportunity to watch some TV and fell on The Biggest Loser and as sappy as it sounds, I was bawling my tired/sick eyes out when Arthur got on the scale. It inspired me to at least attempt some yoga targeted at runners and repeat the stretches for my shins. Depending on how things go, I may do the Challenges too.

Trying to tire you out so you'll sleep

Doing some crunches in the meantime!

So I’ll get to it now and the baskets of laundry folding will just have to wait a bit longer. I’m taking some well-deserved time for me right now!

Hopefully, you’ll get a restful night and will be better tomorrow!

Love,

Mom & Dad Xxo

Monkey has a cold and Babymama is excited about running again!

Sweet Rina,

You’ve been coughing and sneezing since yesterday and, at times, seem to be choking on your mucus, but so far, you don’t run a fever and your lungs sound clear. (The one good thing about being a nurse is that I am well equipped with a decent thermometer and a very good pediatric stethoscope from my time as a Pediatric Emergency nurse!) I’m keeping a close eye on you and making sure you are hydrating (feeding) well. This afternoon, you were a bit of a snuggle-bug and wanted to cuddle with me a bit more than usual, but I’m not going to complain! Your spirits are still good as you are currently playing on your exercice mat and giving me smiles all around! What a trooper you are!

I can’t remember if I’d mentioned this on here before, but because a lot of my co-workers and other people I know are recent new moms, I had created a walking group on Facebook and whenever it was convenient to some, we just post where and when we’re going for walks. This morning, one of the moms in the group had the best idea. The Times Colonist (newspaper here in Victoria) runs a 10K race every year and this mom suggested that we run it with all our little ones in strollers as a group! I am so excited about: 1-Getting back into running again. 2- Having a running goal (I won’t be up to 10K by the time the race comes around as it is held on May 1st this year, but I’ll do run/walk intervals) and 3- Jess, another mommy-friend who lives a street away from us wants to join us on our C25K (Couch to 5K) training program! It’ll be nice to have a running buddy and I’m sure you’ll have a blast with Alexis (her daughter).

So there. We will begin our training next week, bright and early in the morning and on days where we’re not “running” (as best as we can with strollers and me being so out of shape!), I’ll keep doing the Challenges and go out for walks with you. I would like to lose 30lbs and I think this combination is a good beginning to getting back into shape. I am also tracking all my food intake with the Plate tracker from livestrong.com

 

I can’t wait to get back into shape and to enjoy the endorphins from running! Get well soon my little Monkey, we have to run on Monday!

 

Love,

Mom & Dad Xxo