Can I really do this?

I have a goal of completing the St. Jude 1/2 marathon that takes place towards the end of the year. It is actually in December, which could be another problem considering how crazy cold it was last year during the race but, I still really want to run in it. There are a lot of girls from work that are doing it and we plan to try and run it together. I got the idea in my head last year around the time of the race but assumed that I would be further along in the mileage by this point. I know I'm not really behind, but I just don't want to have to work extra hard in the couple month's before the race since I put it off. At this point 6 miles is about my limit. One problem is that I am easily bored. I think if I was training with someone else, hint hint to anyone that lives here and wants to run with me :) Another problem, is that I ALWAYS run on the treadmill at the gym. It's really hot here in Memphis and in order to run that far it is taking me about an hour. Clay doesn't feel comfortable with me running too late at night and after Lilly goes to bed I only have about 1-2 hours of day light left. I know I need to be training outside since you really must get used to the elements along with the difference of pavement on your body.

Well, I posting this for 2 reasons. One is so that maybe this will be more motivation for me. Maybe since I have it 'written' down I will feel like I have to stick to my plan more than if it wasn't. All of you in the blog world will know if I don't complete my goal, and since at this time there really isn't a good excuse not to (baring any injuries) hopefully this will help move me along. The other reason I decided to post this is because I did get some great motivation today. I finally purchased a jogging stroller!! I am so excited. I didn't get an expensive one, just a Baby Trend brand one from Target but I figure at this point, since Lilliana is 18 month's and we do hope to have more than 1 child at some point, I didn't want to spend much for a single jogger. It got great reviews and we actually went on our first jog today, just around the block, after I put it together. Lilliana seems to love it and she kept asking to go for another "roll" or stroll. :) It has a cup holder for her and I noticed her just pick up her water cup while I was jogging and she didn't miss a beat. I love that it has the front wheel that you can either lock or allow to swivel and it has a cup holder for me too. I did notice my water bottle fly out a couple times when we went over some big bumps but our sidewalks aren't the best around here so I wasn't surprised. Maybe one day I will own one of those amazing Phil and Ted jogger's but for the mean time this is going to work just fine. Now I can train with my little love in tow. What more motivation do I need than that!!

Updates Galore

We have been busy around here, trying to stay cool in the hot and humid Memphis weather and still enjoying toddlerhood. :) I will try and do better to keep us up to date in a more timely manner! Enjoy!!

Open Gym

Father's Day

Father's Day Part 2

Happy Birthday Becca

CMOM

Trying to stay cool

Wedding pics

Open Gym

On Friday's, Lilliana and I have started venturing over to RiverCity gymnastics for their toddler open gym time. I have toiled with the idea of starting my little monkey in some sort of organized activity like this but kinda wanted to wait until she turned 2 in the Fall. I figured this was the next best thing until then. I knew she would love it, especially since I constantly have to tell her to stop 'hanging' from the oven door, cabinet's, and pretty much anything within her reach that she thinks she can possibly hang from! Of course, she didn't need an introduction to the gym and just went along without an fear.


attempting to get a smile out of a busy little girl


ready to work on her forward roll


contemplating an attempt at the balance beam


and there she goes :)

Just because I don't want to forget, she LOVES to say "ta-da" after every gymnastic move! She is such a little priss!!

Trying to stay cool!!

Here are just a couple of the things Lilliana and I have been doing to attempt and stay cool. It is a cool, 96 degrees today in Memphis, which sadly IS cool since it's been atleast 100 every other day this week. But, Lilliana is such an outside girl and just loves spending time playing with all her fun toys out there so I had to find a way for us to do so without having a heat stroke. Since Lilliana took swimming lessons, she has enjoyed the water more and more and I am so happy about that! She loves to show Mama how she can blow bubbles under water, lie on her back and float and kick her legs. She is such a little fish!!


playing on the splash pad


trying out her new Minnie chair, she just HAD to have when we were at Kohl's the other day!


now she's IN the bucket, and LOVING IT!!

The following pictures are from yesterday when I THOUGHT we would just get a little damp playing with her bucket, blowing bubbles and using her new sidewalk chalk. Boy was I WRONG!! Oh well, atleast we stayed cool and Lilly had a great time. :)


started out innocently just splashing in the bucket :)


investigating the bucket of water a little more


now she's SOAKED!! :)


time to get the sprinkler out and let her just go all at it!


playing with her chalk, wet booty and all :)

Oh yeah, the shirt she is wearing, we got when she was born form the hospital. It STILL fits!! My Labor and Delivery nurse Whitney gave it to us and we have worn it on multiple occasions :) Of course, it's just play clothes but I love that 18 month's later it still fits my little stink!

Wordless Wednesday!

A day at the CMOM

Since it's been so hot in Memphis, we have tried to stay busy with more indoor activities and have gotten a lot of use out of our Children's Museum pass lately. I am glad Lilliana is finally getting tall enough to be able to do most of the stuff on her own now and she just LOVES playing with all the fun stuff there.



I hope she never has to ride in the back of one of these!!


shopping in the mini Kroger


not really abiding by the 3 item rule!


my little chicken :)


playing on the stage

We continued our Father's Day festivities over at Clay's parents and Lilliana enjoyed running in the sprinkler and playing in her baby pool with Grandmother and Poppie.

Happy Father's Day!

We celebrated Father's Day yesterday since Mama had to work tonight. We decided that we would just head out to Clay's parents and enjoy the evening while the boys grilled for Leon. Since it was so hot, we decided to just order out bar-b-que and enjoy each other's company. Earlier in the day, before Becca's party, (yes we had a very busy day) Lilly gave Dada his gifts we had purchased for him.

Earlier in the week we had worked on a picture frame for his office and had chosen just the perfect picture for it. Then, Clay has been complaining about out coffee maker, well almost since we got it as a wedding gift. He says he can't get it to make coffee right, and sometimes I wonder if it's just operator error! He kept telling me he just wanted an old school glass, Mr. Coffee coffee maker. Well, that was easy enough so when on a trip to Target, Lilliana and I pick him one up. We also got him some new Polo shirts that Mom picked up while at the outlets in Destin and then he was in need of a new pair of khakis and khaki shorts. Wow, I think he really got off well this year!

Thanks for being a great husband and father. Lilliana and I love you so much and enjoy all our times we spend together.


working on our gift for Dada


the finished product!


so proud of her accomplishment


now with a picture in it


ready to give Dada his gifts


she was so excited about the card, it had Minnie on it!!


the 3 loves of my life :)


the coffee maker he wanted


she was so excited to show him what she had made!!

Bubbles!!

One of Lilliana's most favorite things to do these days is play with bubbles. She has such a great time and gets so messy but I love it because, it's really just soap, so go ahead and play all day :)


showing off her new shoes :)


big bubbles


having a blast


sweet lovin!

Happy Birthday Rebecca!!

Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday Dear Becca
Happy Birthday To You!

Today we celebrated with Becca and lots of friends and family for her 2nd Birthday. I can't believe this baby girl is already 2! The years just really fly by when you have kids. Becca is the daughter of one of my best friends, and old roomies from my college days. I would like to link to Rachel, but she doesn't have a blog :( (hint, hint Rachel)

The party included a petting zoo and was Mickey themed. I thought, what could be better, Lilliana LOVES to make animal noises and we talk about them all the time, she will be in Heaven. I couldn't be further from WRONG! She strutted out the door upon arrival, where all her little friends were enjoying the petting zoo and upon the donkey walking up to her to get a little sniff and she as scared. She let out a very loud, and somewhat humorous NOOOOOOOO, Mommmmmmie!! and ran to my arms in fear of her life. That was pretty much all she had to do with them. There were chickens and a llama, a horse, and even a little yorkie (which is the kind of dog Maggie is) but she didn't want anything to do with any of it. She did see the Mickey balls laying around and decided those were safe but, otherwise she wanted to be held. We go to the Zoo all the time but I guess this new scenario where the animals were so up close and personal was a little too much for Miss Priss. Becca thoroughly enjoyed herself, taking pony rides and feeding the llama, but being the birthday girl that's what matters most.

After the petting zoo we headed indoors to enjoy some Mickey crafts and eat delicious cake. Rachel did such a great job decorating and coming up with such fun stuff for the kids to do, I just may be stealing graciously borrowing some of her ideas when Lilliana turns 2! After the kids had enjoyed their cake, we decided we needed to leave since we still had a funfilled evening to celebrate Father's Day out at Grandmother and Poppies. Thanks for including us Rachel, you are such a great Mom and Becca is such a little lady already :)

Wordless Wednesday!

Sweet Lovin ....

Within the last few month's Lilliana has really begun to enjoy her bed. I mean, there are times when she would rather be in the bed attempting to fall asleep instead of me rocking her TO sleep. I am really ok with this because I enjoy her small bits of independence and she still loves to rock after naps and usually before, just not till she falls asleep like she used to. Anyways, I have started singing to her more and more at nap and bedtime and she likes to "sing along" with me and usually starts things off by saying "jesee" Jesus. The last song I always sing to her before putting her down is 'Jesus Loves Me' and she has started grabbing a hold of my face or reaching up till she can get to me to give me the most precious kisses. She will do it over and over and over again, until I am done singing. It is just the sweetest thing and just melts my heart every single time. Sometimes I am just in complete awe at how much I love her!! :)

In Minnie Heaven!

Today we took Lilliana to The Disney Store and she was in Minnie Heaven. She was so funny and I am so sad that I didn't have my camera with me because it was quite the experince and would have been so great to have captured it on video. It started from the minute we approached the doors, I had let Lilliana get out of her stroller on the way in as an attempt to wear her out since nap time was just around the corner, and there was a huge picture of Mickey on the ground as you walk up to the door and we had to stop right there and touch him. Of course I cringed at the thought of her touching the nasty ground but I overcame my fear and just rolled with it! :) We only got another couple steps until we ran into some Minnie cups and I thought Lilliana was going to pass out she was so excited over them. They were on sale so we let her she decided she wanted one and quickly placed the cup under her arm and went along her merry way. All the workers thought she was just the cutest thing going around yelling "Minnie" over and over and over again.

It took a while but we eventually made it towards the back of the store where there was Minnie stuff everywhere. She loved hugging the big plush Minnie's and found lot's of fun things she want's for her 2nd birthday! Clay had gone earlier in the week and picked her up a foam Mickey floor puzzle that she absolutely adores so we weren't there to pick up much, mostly just allow her to look around. We did find a fun Minnie plate and a Minnie beach towel that she continued to hug over and over again while we were in there so Daddy said he couldn't pass them up and bought them for Miss Priss.

It was such a fun experience and just gave us a little glimpse into what she will be like when we take her to Disney World one day!

18 month's young!

My Dearest Little Love,

I just can't believe you are already 1 1/2 years old! You are such a sweet little thing and I just love every minute we spend together. Today you started the day off running some errands with your Dadda while Momma caught up on some sleep since I had to work last night. Then, I got up so we could eat lunch together and we played some before your bath and nap time. We had family pictures scheduled at 4:00 with Liz and then we enjoyed dinner at The Germantown Commissary. We celebrated after dinner with a cookie cake from The American Cookie Company and I think you would have eaten the whole thing had I given you the opportunity! You have such a sweet tooth just like your Momma, but you are also such a good eater so I am ok with that. :)

I feel like you have really started to grow this past month. We will see tomorrow as it is your 18 month check-up with Dr. K. You are unable to walk around in the kitchen and just run under the table anymore without bumping your head. That tells me you have to have grown some! I was also able to buy you some new play shoes the other day from Children's Place and they are a size 3! That is quite an improvement so we will see what the scales tell us in the morning.

Like I said, you are such a great eater. Your favorite thing to eat is CHEEEEEESE. Everytime I ask you what you want to eat that is how you answer me. You love grilled cheese sandwiches, pimento cheese, and your newest favorite is rotel chicken AKA "cheesy noodles and chicken". You also love, white cheddar cheetos, and any kind of spaghetti or lasagna. You could eat an entire pint of strawberries if I would give them to you and I would say bananas is your second favorite fruit. When it comes to vegetables your favories are creamed spinach, corn and green peas. I am so glad you are so welcome to try new foods and hopefully you will rub off on your Daddy soon. :)

You continue to be such a chatty Cathy these days. You are talking all the time and Mommy is still trying to distinguish a lot of what comes out of your mouth! You love to call for Maggie, and see her come running when you do. Your new name for Grandmother is GiGi, and you enjoy spending time with her and Poppy. You attempt to repeat most everything we ask you to do and think you are such a big girl these days. There are so many new words in your vocabulary these days and I wish I could remember them all. You call Amanda, Mandy and Wilson is Wisson. You love practicing all you learned at swimming lessons everytime you take a "baaath". Which speaking of you LOVE bath time. You will play in there forever!

We have gotten quite the little schedule routine down these days and you adapt to change when we get off of it very easily. Usually we go to the gym in the mornings and you LOVE to see Miss Brenna in the nursery and play while Momma is working out. Then we either run errands and occasionally frequently we walk down to Panera Bread Co. for some yummy bagels and a smoothie to share. I guess we go a little too often as they know you and Mommy by name! Then upon arriving home we enjoy lunch together and play before it is time for nap which is usually around 1:00. Typically you nap anywhere from 1 1/2 - 3 hours and are such a joy upon waking.

You have become quite the little fan of Minnie these days and she goes everywhere with us. You call for her at nap and bedtime and although I typically find her on the floor in the morning you immediately call for her when I walk into the room and we pick her up along with your 2 blankets, 2 lovies and 'carrot' you also sleep with. I have no idea what I am going to send with you when you start Parent's Day Out in the fall.

On that note, we have started looking for schools for you in the past month. Yes, I am talking about where we will send you when you start Kindergarten. That will be in the year 2013! Anyways, we are looking into Christ Methodist Day School or Woodland Presbyterian School, and will probably start you in either 3 or 4 year old preschool when the time comes. Wow, such a big life changing decision to make and crazy if you ask me that we have to be thinking about this when you are only 18 months old!!

We have visited the Sprinkler Park in Collierville twice in the last month and you seem to enjoy it more and more each time. You aren't a hug fan of the water splashing unexpectantly in your face but overall you have a great time. We still go to story time at Davis Kidd on Thursday's with Wilson and Amelia and you have really started to join in on singing the songs and doing the motions. If you aren't singing along you are usually shaking your booty and making other's laugh. You are such a little hoot and just crack me up with your silliness.

You bring me and your Daddy more joy than we ever thought possible and I can't imagine a single minute without you. Thank you for showing me how to love someone so much it hurts.

Love you,
Mama

Fun at the Sprinkler Park

We have ventured out to Collierville twice in the last couple weeks to enjoy the Sprinkler Park. Lilly was a little shy at first on both occasions but seemed to warm up after we took a break for lunch. It is such a great park, and so refreshing with this humid Memphis weather. Below are some pics of my little love running and getting as close as possible to the water :)