A little secret...

Want to hear a little secret?

I don't actually consider myself a runner.  There I admitted it.  Are you shocked?

I really don't, though.

I know I have this blog and I talk about running but hear me out on this...

In a typical week my only exercise is a run 3 days a week.  If I'm not quite feeling it, that number may drop down and I don't let myself feel that guility about it. 

I only do a race or two a year.

Up until about three years ago I would start training for the April half-marathon and after the race not run regularly again until the winter to start over again.

I don't really get into heartrate, PRs, hill trainings, cross training...

Sometimes I don't even like running very much.

I don't look at protein, eat special bars before a run or even subscribe to a running magazine.

When you blogger runners post stats and details and paces about your runs I gloss over until you write sentences again.

When I run a mile around 9 minutes I feel like I had a pretty good mile.  I was never the sporty one in my family or friends!

I don't follow a training plan for working up to a half-marathon.  (After doing lots of them I go with a gradual build up that just seems to work.)

What do you think?  What makes a person a runner to you?


Now my husband... he's a runner.

He doesn't run regularly at all-- as in I don't think he has run in months maybe even years now-- but he is a runner to me. When he does run, he runs fast! And he can even talk and run fast!  He coached cross country to high schoolers for years.  He knows about heartrates, proteins, carb loading and reads books by a guy named after a whiskey (Daniels' Running Formula - 2nd Edition)



But me... I run to keep my head straight and my stress down.  I run so I can eat the sweets and carbs I can't seem to stop eating! 

I buy gear when I need it and don't geak out on it when I do.  I own a few running shorts, a few running shirts, have a few pairs of running socks, a working pair of running shoes, got some blinky lights (as a Christmas gift) so I can run in the dark and a very nice jogging stroller (as a shower gift) to make sure I couldn't use a baby as an excuse not to run...

I read some great blogs about running and see how dedicated many of you are to making it an actual competative sport.

I love supporting others who think they can't run for whatever reason.  Maybe I have that passion because I don't feel like I am a pro at running myself?  I'd like to think that as long as a doctor gives you a decent bill of health-- anyone can run.  Anyone can do a 5k and I truly think anyone can even do a half or a full marathon too! 

Shoo... I feel better getting that off my chest. 

I'm just your average 30 year old (when did that happen?) running for fun and fitness and I want to take as many of you along on the ride too!

Weaning

While this blog started to cronicle running while pregnant I also desire to keep it real on life with a baby (ok-- 1 year old) too.  I know breastfeeding unto itself is sometimes a sensative subject... but I am going to kick it up a notch and talk about weaning.
Now that baby boy is a year old and I shared that I am ready for another kiddo (whenever the good Lord would bless us with another) and since Aunt Flo has yet to return onb her own-- we're going to start the weaning process.  (How else can I keep a blog called Running for Two?  Haha!!)  My plan now (sitting at day 1) is to drop a feeding and stay one less feeding for a week or so before dropping another.  Of course replacing the feeding with solids (which he already gets) and whole milk.  I may hang on to the morning and night feeding a bit longer.  The night will definately be the last one I drop because it's such a bonding time to snuggle and be the one to put him to bed.  I could cry thinking about dropping it right now.

Baby boy currently nurses 4 times a day-- when he wakes up in the morning, after his morning nap, after his second nap and before bed for the night... so the first feeding to go will be the one after his second nap. 

The pediatrician gave the okay to start organic whole milk.  I gave him some yesterday when he woke up from a nap and after about an ounce he was signing "please" to nurse instead.  So in today's replacement milk I warmed it up and mixed it with my milk and he did fine with it.  I should also mention that because he has nursed he hasn't really figured out a sippy cup.  And he is going through a stage of being soooo picky with solid foods-- but we're forging on. 

His 1 year stats:
20 lbs (exactly) -- only in the 10-25th percentile
30" tall (exactly) -- 50th percentile

I'll keep you posted on how things go, physically, emotionally, etc.

Happy 1st birthday to our sweet Little Man!

Happy 1st birthday to our sweet Little Man!

A year ago today I laid eyes on the most beautiful baby boy I had ever seen.  Around 9 last night I asked my husband to remember back with me and we talked about where we were this time last year.  In case you missed it... his birth story is here.

Here is a photo from the first moments we met our sweet boy...

To a photo taken just a few hours ago (on his first birthday)!  Oh how I love this little guy!  I did not know I was capable of being so full of love until I became his mama a year ago today...

Edit:  For the sake of his Mama... I wanted to add his last "weekly" photo here-- taken on his birthday.  His shirt was another one I made that says "I'm Uno".

Turning Uno-- The Birthday Party Edition

Watch out Blog Friends... The cat is coming out of the bag to talk about the birthday bash... we officially celebrated kiddo turning UNO!  I'm going to let pictures do the talking in this post.

He officially hides from the camera now so this is the best I could do getting his Uno shirt...  (oh and his dad had him wearing his tool belt!)

Weely photos from weeks 1-48...

 We asked guests to sign in with there favorite memory from the past year... hoping to do that at all birthdays!

I made up cards for the food and such.  This one for the party favors said that "he likes to sign 'please.' Kids-- please accept a little gift!"

I made an "UNO" fruit pizza as the cake for the big people.

My Father-in-law and baby boy share a birthday.  So I made him a cake that said 71 and a shirt also announcing his age.  ; )

Fruit bowl in "Uno" colors...

Kiddo's shirt...

The birthday boys!

 The food!!

With all of the food I made signs like the one below...  Around N's birth I craved Papa John's Pizzs with tomatoes and extra sauce!

Guests (and no this is not at my house-- it's a rented clubhouse.)

And this is pretty much how he wanted to be the entire time... in my arms or holding my hand.  He was a bit overwhelmed!

I ended up going with the vanilla (reduced sugar) cake that I posted the recipe for.  I surrounded it with bananas and put a dab of (melted) whip cream on top for a mess-factor.  He LOVED it and cheered up a little after eating.  I think that many people were a little too much for him.  But cake helped make it better!

So that's it... the Uno party is over and the guy officially turns Uno on Thursday.  Sniff.

Squatting Reminders

Nothing like squatting to pick something up and feeling a burn to remind you that those 25 minutes with Jillian Michaels the day before were really doing some good!  Or to remind you that an exercise-regimen of only running leaves certain muscle-groups untouched!  Note to self: Do more "ripped in 30" with Jillian on a regular basis.

Headed out of town for a quick girl's overnight tonight then back tomorrow to finalize birthday plans for the big day on Sunday!  Stay tuned!

Take Two

Just as I was going out for my morning run today it started thundering, lightning (that doesn't look right?) and raining.  I was running with the kiddo this morning so we went back and I let Jillian kick my butt for 25 minutes instead.

Sometimes you have to roll with the punches.


I don't think I've had a kiddo pic up in a while so here are a few...

Bath Time...

Wearing his new tool belt and "fixing" the baby rocker that used to be mine.  (He would not let me get a picture from the front...)



More good, bad and ICKY here...

I did not do any early runs this week.  But I only missed one of my run days.  Thankfully the cooler temps came so it helped make a later-morning run possible!  Why did I miss-- seems that I had Mastitis which I caught early but OWWW  with a triple "W"!  In talking to my lactation consultant and others who have had full blown mastitis... I guess I caught it early.  So miss-anti meds whenever I can help it is on antibiotics for this!

I can't help but wonder if it was brought on indirectly through these early morning runs.  You see-- I never upgraded to bigger bras and when I run at 5:30am I am not feeding the kiddo beforehand which equals a full chest which then equals tight bras... which may have equalled a blocked duct or mastitis.  Yowsa! 

For anyone curious for more info, it seems Mastitis is most common in the first 3 weeks after having the baby.  It's basically an infection on one side and in case, the lower half of one side was really engorged and as hard as a rock and really, really, really tender.  I tried hot showers, warm compresses and "massage" which wasn;t really possible because it hurt that bad, and even lifting my arm on that side hurt.  But I was told not to stop nursing because that could make the infection spread and feel even worse.

Speaking of-- kiddo is a week and a half away from his first birthday.  I think I am mentally preparing to wean him.  I will be so ready one day (like these days it KILLS) and other times when I put him to bed at night and he gets sooo sleepy or even falls asleep nursing I am ready to nurse him longer!  But we've made it a year and that was my hope.  I also am ready to ovulate again and hopefully try for round-two of these crazy baby adventures!  Hold on to your seats because running with two might be an even more interesting chapter.

As always-- the good, bad and ugly shared here.

Have a six mile run planned for tomorrow-- AFTER kiddo's feeding.  Not taking any chances for a while here. 

Party plans are coming along.  I made the weekly banner for the party.  Stay tuned.  I will post pictures after his party next Sunday!!!  The big UNO!

First "Cake" Update-- A Healthy Smash Cake Alternative

Verdict is in... the zuchinni bread "cake" was the clear winner for today.  I still may tweak it a bit but the kiddo ate an entire muffin of them-- it was just still pretty dense.  The recipe I created for it was as follows:

Baby's healthy zucchini bread/cake

3 cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s organic white whole-wheat flour)
1 tablespoon cinnamon (a must for flavor!)
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt     
3 organic eggs
¾ cup (no sugar added) applesauce
1/4c brown sugar 
1 teaspoon organic (homemade) vanilla
3 cups grated zucchini (this was 1 large zucchini in my case)
1 ripe banana  

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F for small loaf pans or 325 degrees F for large loaf pan or muffins.

For muffins bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. (This probably would make nearly 2 dozen muffins)

----

The banana bread cake was literally NOT edible.  My husband (who would seriously eat and enjoy even dog treats if he were ever given the opportunity) called then "unedible."  Baby boys non-verbal was pretty much the same.  Only because of a request (Running Like A Girl)... here is a recipe NOT to follow unless you want to feed this to your birds:

Whole-Wheat Banana Bread/Cake

2 ¼ cup white whole-wheat flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
3 ripe bananas, mashed
¼ cup plain yogurt
2 eggs
1/3 cup (no sugar added) applesauce 
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease pan. Bake large loaf for 40 – 50 minutes or until it comes clean with a toothpick.



I repeat-- do not make the recipe above!

If anyone has suggestions and better recipes... feel free to share!  I am also going to put on some kind of "icing" for fun-factor on the big day-- I am thinking a cream cheese version or I may even just do a small dollop of whip cream!


And finally--  here is one more I may try with minimal sugar and oil that sounds like more of a cake than the breads above.  Adapted by me from another I found online--

Vanilla Cake

1 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup organic milk

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 egg whites

350 for 30-35 min in muffin tins (or an 8x8 pan).

So what do you think??  Worth all the hassle or better to let a birthday kid have a sugar buzz??

Healthy Smash Cake Attempts

I am feeling very "America's-Test-Kitchen-ish" this morning.  The aroma of cake is wafting through the air as I type.  Also known as my attempt to bake a healthier alternative for the first birthday "smash cake."  The rules I setup for myself to try to follow without making a disgusting and ugly cake were:

1. Use whole wheat, not white flour
2. No oil
3. No sugar
4. Any veggies/fruit thrown in were an added bonus. 

**Please note-- this was my criteria.  I know many of you have different allergies or things you try to keep out of diets but these were the ones I chose.  Oh-- and the big people will get a fruit pizza I am going to do for a "birthday cake" so this version is just for the little guy.

I have been Internet prowling for recipes and even tried my own attempt at one which turned out so-so but wasn't really happy with the "healthy" options I was finding-- they still had lots of oil and sugar.

So try numero uno for today was a banana bread that met all the above "rules."  It sure smells good now but the batter was ick.  We'll see how it turns out.

Try numero dos is a zucchini/banana bread which I decided to slightly bend one rule on-- I added a 1/4c of brown sugar-- but it also made 12 muffins plus a small cake size!  Batter tasted good on this one.  Also smells yummy so far.

Both look very "healthy" and not very cute cake-like. but we'll see what the boy thinks later today when he gets to taste-test.

I will post a recipe if/when either get the thumbs up from the kiddo.  My family totally gives me a hard time over trying to keep his diet healthy but while I have control over what he eats I feel it's my responsibility to avoid the yuck for as long as possible!  Stay tuned.