Sadly I did not meet my goal of 72 minutes on the 10K course. It was closer to 77 minutes. =/
And while that isn’t as terrible as the first time I ran the race 2 years ago, it is not nearly as good as I’d hoped. But, I can say it was a terrible run. We went to eat after church and I did not realize it was 12:30 when we left- I had to run at 1:30! So I had an immensely full stomach, I was sore from the run Thursday (or maybe Tuesday’s mountain run?) and I was dehydrated … so overall I was not prepared for the run Sunday afternoon. I also experienced theses stupid side-stitches in the first 2.5 miles. I don’t know what’s going on there, but for the last 2 weeks in the first half of my run, the cramps are so bad they takes my breath away. And what sucks, is if it weren’t for the cramps, I’d have no problem running! The cramps are caused by not exhailing enough of the CO2 out, so you’re supposed to breathe into the cramp and exhale as much out as you can. And I do that. Or I try to do it, and yet the cramps are so terrible. But after I get over the first incline on the mountain and get to go down hill for a few minutes, they usually go away and stay gone until the end. I wish I could just avoid them all together, since I have the hardest time in the beginning anyways.
I do think this year I will warm up before the race, just a jog around the parking lot or something, so my muscles aren’t dying that first mile; the first mile is always the worst. After that my body feels pretty good and I can keep going okay. I am hoping that since I had a hard time and walked a TON on the practice run Sunday, that on my real run I can shave off a few minutes, maybe even 4 minutes. We will see…
So there is that update. On to what you really want to see and read about ….
———-
Yes. Yes. This is a video of Lou. It was a video of Lou, but it says it is too long. So, there is no video today. Sorry. =( I know, she’s cute. And luckily, about two days after her daddy was home from his trip, the tantrum stopped and she became my sweet girl again! YAY
Let’s see … updates on Lexie. Oh yes! She ate her first grilled cheese sandwich today. Of course she loved it! Which surprised me a bit, since she doesn’t like maccaroni and cheese? But anyhow, she liked it. She also said “Thank you” without me saying it first! AND, she drank out of a straw (finally!). So, when we went to Walmart, I got her a sippie cup w a straw to drink her milk from-she loves it! Now we need more, because only one will not get us through the day. Oh, and she pointed in her book and said “frog,” and when I asked what a bird says, she said “tweet tweet!” haha So dang cute.
For my newest sewing projects I am making her a bib, and sleep sacks. I still need to get her a new sleep sack w a zipper, but I found a tutorial to make them from men’s shirts! So, like I used one of my brother’s dress shirts, cut out the sleep sack shape and sewed it together- tada! Instant sleep sack. Only problem is it’s not quite big enough for her now .. it would probably have fit about 3-4 months ago. So I am going to save it for the next baby. And I’m not sure that JTom has any bigger shirts that are old/worn enough for me to cut up into a sleep sack. We gave most of them away when we cleaned out the house for Lexie’s arrival, and then again when we were going to move …
Oh, that reminds me. We aren’t moving! YAY- I mean, one day, yes we will build on our lot. Or at least a lot. But right now, we are staying put. And this makes me happy, because I LOVE our location, our home, and our yard. I mean, it is an older home and we do have a lot of work to put into it, but I am looking forward to it. JTom has already put new shelves in my pantry- WOO HOO (I will post pics later)- and the fireplace is ready for its first fire.
Oh yea … the fireplace. Well, that is another story. It’s old (duh) and needed some fixin’. It needed a new chimney cap on the roof, and it just so happens that our chimney, of course, is an odd shape. So you can’t find a chimney cap for it just anywhere … for a decent price. So JTom rigged one. We hope it doesn’t blow off during a storm. =) Then, we needed glass doors to A) keep it warm in the house when the fire goes out, and B) protect babies from fires. So, those are ordered and on their way. We also had to get a rack for the wood inside the fireplace. Whew- yes, it all added up to a whopping $500+ dollars (thank you cleaning business) and I just really, really hope it pays for itself in utilities over the next five years .. because it was my bright idea.
And since it was my bright idea, I get to man the fire. FYI: I know nothing about building and keeping fires burning in chimneys. I still need fireplace tools, like that poker thing and a shovel, I guess? And we need a big bucket to keep the wood in, I suppose. I know they have those at TJ, my favorite store of all time. Guess those will top our Christmas list. I’m not sure what else you need for a fireplace, but any tips or ideas are welcome. I really know nothing about fires in chimneys. I know lots about bonfires. =) Fuel, matches, and pallets … pick up trucks and beer. Wala, you’re done! But I don’t think chimneys work like that …
After our doors get here and this project is complete, I will start saving for the bigger project. That would be the kitchen wall. We are taking out the wall between the kitchen and living room/dining area. I cannot wait! The biggest part about that is we will have to redo all of the kitchen walls when we open that section up. This wouldn’t be a problem except there is old wall paper that’s been painted over. Actually, I think it’s just been primed over; I don’t think the problem will be taking the paper off … I believe the problem will lie in taking the sheet rock off with the paper. =/ And if that happens, we will either texture the walls, or just put up new sheet rock. We will see.
The good thing about redoing the walls is that I can finally make the kitchen OURS. It’s the only room in the house that has never been touched. After we complete the walls, I will start saving for the floors, we desperately need new floors in there and the entry way. But I am thinking there is original hardwoods under the linoleum, and I would LOVE to refinish them, even if they don’t match the rest of the house perfectly; I think it would be neat and add character. =) I don’t want to redo the counters- I mean, I do … but I don’t want granite. I clean granite in houses and condos every week. The glare and speckles drive. me. nuts. I have a hard time seeing with glares anyway because I have a stigmatism in both eyes … and I know that seems silly, but when you can’t see to clean your own counters, it will drive you bat shit crazy. So not granite for this girl. EVER. But I wouldn’t mind eventually having some new counter tops. But I really don’t mind the blue too much, even if it is dated.
Actually, before we do the floors, I will probably tackle the cabinets. I’m going to start small in my bathroom so if I mess up it’s not a huge deal. but I want to paint them an antique white and then distress them. I have been looking up how to do it, but I’m really confused. It’s one of those things I need to see someone else do in front of me step by step before I can do it myself. But I think that would TOTALLY change our kitchen and make our house the chic little cottage I am going for … bit by bit I will get there.
And this brings me to the other topic, last one i promise. BABIES. Some of you know we were going to start trying for a new baby in September and… we’re going to wait. =) Not what you were hoping to read (family), I know. But since we aren’t moving any time soon, we want to get the house remodeled/updated a bit more before we have a new baby. We can work during those 9 months, but I don’t want all that pressure and then have a house that isn’t complete. Plus, if we get it done now, when we decide to move, it’s DONE and we don’t have to deal with it ANY MORE! So … that’s that. A month worth of updates in 6 paragraphs or so.
Now, here’s your favorite part: a few pics of the baby from this week. Some are pretty hilarious.
 |
| yes, that’s her leg. She finally passed out for her morning nap. |
 |
| sweet girly face |
 |
| those curls … |
 |
| “duck” |
 |
| “hi!” |
 |
| silly face |
 |
| pretty face- I promise I did not do this to her hair. |
 |
| “help, please, mama” |
 |
| playing with her farm |
