A Weekend of Firsts

This weekend was such a blast!  My parents and younger brother, Thomas, came to visit.  We had been planning on running a 5k, but we found out strollers weren’t allowed on the course so we decided not to do it.  It had been my goal to get back up to 3 miles by this weekend so I could run the Sweetheart 5k with my sweetie.  I did get up to 3 miles, so I still reached my goal.  I was just a bit disappointed we didn’t get to run.  It makes sense since it’s a certified course and strollers can get in the way.  I just hadn’t thought about that since I’ve never run a race with a stroller before!

Getting a bottle from Uncie Tommy.

On Sunday some family friends came to visit and meet Carter.  All through high school and college I babysat 2 boys (B & B) over breaks (Christmas Break, Spring Break, Summer Break).  I’ve known them since Big B was maybe 6 months old and now he’s 12!!!  They definitely prepared me for the adventures of having a boy!  The disasters of potty training.  The difficulty of hitting the target when standing.  The endless fart jokes.

One time when I was babysitting and Big B was maybe 5 he said to me, Bit (that’s what they called me because they couldn’t say Elizabeth) you better get married and have babies soon so I can babysit your kids like you babysit me.  It was just so precious!  I couldn’t wait for him to meet Carter.  He was so sweet with him and even put him to sleep!

We have an amazing aquarium here and they wanted to go to the aquarium during their visit.  We decided to go to lunch at a restaurant near the aquarium and then head over.  We had never had Carter out for longer than a couple hours so I wasn’t sure how it would go, but he did awesome.  He really is such a sweet, easy going baby.  Totally gets it from his sweet, easy going daddy!

Carter "riding" an alligator statue at the aquarium entrance.

Carter fell asleep right when we got to the aquarium and slept most the time.  When he woke up I wanted to get him out of the stroller and hold him up by the tanks.  I thought he might look at the bigger fish or even just stare at the lights.  It was so much fun watching him look into the tank.  Who knows what he was really looking at, but I like to think he noticed the animals.  

Checking out the animals with grammy and grampy.  He seemed to like the jelly fish!

Watching Carter at the aquarium made me so happy.  I could picture him a bit older hands pressed against the glass staring in at the fish with wonder and amazement.  That’s what I love most about young children, their wonder.  Everything in the world is so new and fascinating.  They look at things completely differently than adults.   I know the why, why, why stage can be so frustrating, Little B and I once went for over an hour with him continuously asking why and me answering him the best I could.  That being said, I am really looking forward to Carter at that stage.  The best moments in my classroom are when my first and second graders ask really thoughtful questions and we get the chance to research and investigate them.  And, yes, I pictured all of that as my 2 month old son stared into a tank filled with marine animals with what I felt was the slightest furrow of his brow in curiosity.  

I was joking that this was Carter's "I just saw a shark" face!

Every moment and every first is so amazing and I know there are so many more to come.  Now that he’s smiling more, I’m really looking forward to his first laugh.  As much as I love him right now I know that it will only get better.  Children are always growing, always surprising, always throwing curve balls and I’m loving these moments and also looking forward to what is to come.  All of these precious firsts aren’t just firsts for Carter, they are firsts for us.    

Family photo at the aquarium!

 

The Road Back to Running

Before we were discharged from the hospital Dr. N came to talk to us.  Knowing I was a runner, he talked to me about getting back into running.  He suggested once I felt really good walking to add a little bit of running into my walks.  Up until that point I’m not really sure what I had been thinking as far as running goes.  I knew I would have to wait awhile, probably 4-6 weeks, but I hadn’t really thought of where to start when I was ready.  Looking back on it now, I probably would have started off with 2 miles (normally the mileage I start off with after extended time off) and go from there.  All I can say is thank goodness for his advice because that would have been a disaster!  

Four days after Carter was born, our 2^nd full day home, we went on our first walk.  My mom and I put Carter in the stroller and off we went.  I was stiff and sore, but it felt so good to get out in the fresh air and move around.  We walked one mile which became my standard distance and then I started adding a quarter mile at a time to my walks. 

My mom ready to take Carter on a walk with me.  It was 70 degrees (for those of you who noticed Carter isn't bundled up!) but we did cover him with a blanket.

I know not everyone can start with walking as early as I did.  I was very lucky that I felt so good so soon after delivery.  It definitely helped that my mom stayed with us and the first day back home she told me to really take it easy. Like don’t even make the bed, that kind of easy.  So I mainly just sat around, enjoyed Carter, and recovered.  She cleaned house and helped me out in any way possible.  Ty was also home and helping, it was glorious!

I worked up to a 3 mile walk (which took me 3 weeks) and decided I was ready to add in some running.  It wasn’t premeditated.  I wasn’t even wearing a sports bra.  I just started to walk and then decided I wanted to do some running that day.  I walked a half-mile warm up and then started segments where I ran for one minute, walked for 2 and repeated for 2 miles and then did a half mile cool down walk.  I was pleasantly surprised by how good I felt.  My hips and pelvis were still sore, but I didn’t have any pain.  I had figured I’d do a couple run segments and have to stop. 

I was surprised that I was still running the same pace I had been at 36 weeks pregnant.  I guess I was thinking Carter would be born and voila I’d be faster, not necessarily back to my regular pace, but like 9 minute miles.  So not the case, I was still running 10:30 pace!  I also had a hint of that out of control marionette puppet feeling.  I kept thinking, hey look at me, I’m RUNNING (in a Forrest Gump voice).  As I ran by other people on the trail I wondered if they could tell what a momentous occasion this was for me.  No belly, no waddle, just me, a stroller, and good old fashioned running! 

After that I started run/walking one day and then just walking the next, run/walking every other day for a total of 2 run/walks the first week and then 3 the next, slowly phasing out my just walks all together.   

At 4 weeks postpartum I had worked up to running quarter mile segments.  I did 5 quarter mile run/quarter mile walk segments.  Then I added in a half-mile jog for one of my running segments.  I continued to increase my running segments by a quarter mile and decrease my walk length until I was running an entire mile without any walk breaks.  I reached that point at 6 weeks postpartum.  I added a quarter mile to my run each day until I worked up to 3 miles.  I started off running about 10-10:30 minute pace and slowly worked back down to 9:30.  I really listened to my body and backed off if I was feeling too sore or achy.  I didn’t add to my run every day.  Some days I would drop back down to rest my body.

I’m now 8 weeks postpartum and up to 3 miles.  My daily runs tend to be 2 or 2.5 miles with 3 miles being a long run for me right now.  My pace is about 9:15 with a really good day under 9 minute pace.  I’m pretty happy with that since my pre-pregnancy pace was 8-8:30, I’m not far off!!!  Granted I’d run 8 miles at that pace and now it’s just 2 or 3 miles, but I’ll take what I can get!  I have a feeling it’s going to take quite a while to get back there and I may not even get back down to that pace since I’m running with a stroller now, we’ll see.

My adorable running buddy!

I know having a baby will forever change my running and I’m okay with that.  I still consider running an important part of my life.  Not just for the physical health benefits, but the mental health benefits.  The first few weeks home Carter was eating every hour day and night, which meant I wasn’t getting much sleep at all!  Getting out and exercising kept me from losing my mind.  I felt refreshed and energized afterward and I seemed to sleep better in the small segments that I was sleeping.

You may not be able to start getting back into running as quickly as I did. You may be able to get back into it sooner.  Everyone is different and everyone’s body reacts differently.  Things may be totally different for me next time around, who knows!  I probably could have started off running quarter miles at a time and increased mileage quicker, but I wanted to play it safe and I’m so glad I did.  I think the most important thing about running after having a baby is to really play it safe and listen to your body.  There is no sense in rushing it and ending up having to take more time off to recover.

My biggest fear when I started running again was tearing or my stitches ripping out.  I was also worried that I would leak milk while running.  I’m happy to report that neither of these things happened!

What did/do you worry about when getting back into your workout routine?

A Letter to Carter at 2 Months

I’m finally up-to-date and current with what is going on in our home and with Carter, woo hoo!  Today is Carter’s 2 month birthday and it also happens to be Valentine’s Day, so much love in this momma’s heart today!  We did a Valentine's Day shoot and a 2 month shoot, so many photos to share!  I’m also excited to share our letter to Carter.

 These days you are all about sitting up.  When you are awake you want to be propped up either with a pillow so you can sit up, in my lap up against my stomach, or in a chair.  Every once in a while you will lie down and just look around, but those times are few and far between!  When you are lying down you prefer to be in your crib either watching your mobile or staring at the high contrast cards (found here) I taped to the sides of the crib for you.  You also have one taped to the wall by your changing table which you love!  You aren’t much of a fan of tummy time anymore.  I think it mostly has to do with your interest in sitting up.

Sitting up like a big boy!

You still love looking into mirrors.  You also like looking at faces.  When I have you in my lap and propped up against my stomach to sit you like to twist your head around to look at me.  I love it!  Now you will look right into my eyes and boy does it melt my heart!  

You also love staring at lights.  I thought you would like to be outside in the sun since you like lights so much, but I was wrong.  It was 65 degrees one day, so I took you outside and you did not like it.  You squinted and squirmed.  The sun was just too bright so I took you in the front yard where there is more shade and you loved that!  

You just couldn't keep your eyes open.  We need baby sunglasses!  You have sensitive eyes just like mommy!

Grabbing things is also something you enjoy doing.  I like to place things in your hand and have you grab onto them.  Sometimes you will even move your arm, swinging around what I put in your hand.  This morning when I put your car seat in the car I looked down and you were holding onto the blanket I had put over you.  While we were driving you reached up and batted your toy hanging from the car seat handle.  I can’t believe how much you have grown!

You have a firm grip on your blanket!

In the mornings after daddy gets up to get ready for work and I have fed you, we go back to bed.  I let you sleep in bed with me and it’s one of my favorite parts of the day.  You cuddle up to me and rest your hands on my chest to keep them warm.  I sleep close enough to you so I can rest my lips on the top of your head and kiss you over and over.

You love it when I read to you!

I took you on your first shopping trip this past week.  We went to Michael’s and Dollar Tree because I needed to get materials for Valentine’s Day presents.  When we got home we made some Valentine’s Day cards and projects together using your footprints.  You didn’t like it too much because your feet got cold, but you were a good sport.  You really are an agreeable baby!  We have also made a trip to Wal-Mart.

Looking at one of your high contrast cards in your crib.  They can be found here.

We visited daddy at work after you got your shots.  You loved the large fluorescent lights and stared at them most of the time.  You also made a trip to mommy’s work to visit some of her friends.  You were a big hit at both places.  Everyone comments on how much you look like your daddy!  They all say you are like a miniature Ty!

You are daddy's mini me.

You smiled at me twice in one day.  The kind of smile where you looked right at me and even smiled with your eyes.  I was so excited for daddy to see.  When he got home I told him to talk to you and I turned you so that you could see him.  You looked right at him and gave him a big frown.  You are such a silly boy!  You haven’t smiled or frowned since, but I know you will soon!

You were awake for the first time on a run with me and daddy.  You had your eyes open and looking around the whole time.  You were so cute; I just couldn’t stop looking at you!  It was really windy and I felt bad for you because the wind was blowing tears out of your eyes.  You didn’t seem to mind and just looked around curiously.

You are getting to be very vocal and like to “talk” to us.  You will coo and make noises.  You will also make this sound that is similar to a cry when you want something or when you want to get our attention.  And boy do you want attention!  You love to be held and you really love to snuggle.  If you are awake you want to be held most of the time.

Sitting with grandpa.

You actually seem to like your baths now.  You will sit and look around.  You also like to get your feet on the edge of your tub and push.  We’ve even started doing baths just me and you.  Now we do baths every night as part of our bedtime routine.  We use soap twice a week and the other days we just use a washcloth and water to clean off. 

We are working on getting onto a schedule.  You are really consolidating your sleeping into naps.  It’s amazing how quickly everything is changing.  You normally wake up for the day around 9 or 10 am and you stay awake anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours.  Then you take a morning nap that lasts 1-1.5 hours.  When you wake up you stay up anywhere from 2-3.5 hours and then take a 1-2 hour nap.  When you wake up from that nap you are normally awake for 3 hours before we start our bedtime routine, we try to start it around 8:30 or 9:00, and go to bed.   

Bedtime has become a lot more pleasant for us.  You tend to go to sleep around 10 or 11 and wake up to eat at midnight.  Then you sleep for 3-4 hours and wake up to eat, sleep another 2-3 hours, wake up to eat, then sleep for another 2 hours or so (that’s when we sleep in bed together).

We have moved from newborn diapers to size 1 diapers.  You can still wear newborn clothes, but the 0-3 month and 3 month clothes fit a little better.  You have short legs and I put your pants below your belly, so newborn pants fit much better than 3 month pants.  Your newborn onesies are pretty   snug and are sometimes difficult to get over your head.  I prefer for you to wear 0-3 month onesies with newborn pants.  When you wear 3 month pants we roll the waistband a couple times to help them fit.  My favorite outfit for you this month is your tie onesie that you got for Christmas from a student in my class and your navy blue newborn pants.  You look so handsome!

My favorite outfit this month.

You were such a good boy at your doctor’s appointment again.  You even rolled over from your tummy to your back and the doctor saw you.  He was very impressed!  You are now 22.8 inches long, up from 22.3 inches at your one month appointment.  That puts you at the 48^th percentile.  You are now 11 pounds 15 ounces, up from 8 pounds 10 ounces at your one month appointment.  That puts you at the 60^th percentile!  Your head circumference is 37.5 cm, up from 35.5 cm at your one month appointment.  That puts you at the 9^th percentile. 

Look at all those band aids from your shots.  I felt so bad for you!

You got your shots and you were a very brave boy.  You cried when you got the shots and for a while after, but by the time I had you packed up and we walked out of the room you were done and then you fell asleep in the car on the ride home.  When we got home you woke up and cried.  I tried giving you a pacifier and you took it for the first time ever.  You were holding onto it with one hand and when it fell out, you pushed it back in.  It was pretty cute!  I always forget you can't rotate videos on my phone, so sorry about the view!

I am so thankful that I still have 3 weeks at home with you.  I know it’s going to be hard to go back to work, but it is the best thing for our family.  You will love your daycare and I’m sure you will enjoy making new friends.  I know I’ll miss you like crazy all day, but we will love our evenings and weekends together.  Not to mention summer break!

Dad here, every time that I come home from work it seems that you have grown so much and learned so much from the day before. Your mom has done such a wonderful job with you during the day helping you develop your brain and all of your new skills.

Every day that I get home and walk through the front door, Harper and Halle greet me with wagging tails and happy barks, so happy to see me. Now I can’t wait until you can run to the door to greet me when I get home from work.

Mom mentioned that you got to come see me at work. I can’t wait until you are old enough to get excited to watch the presses and other machinery run. That is one of my favorite memories of my childhood.

A Letter to Carter at One Month

January 14, 2013

4 Weeks Old/1 Month

What a wonderful month it has been!  We have had so much fun and you have changed so much!  I love you more every day.  This Wednesday was your due date.  It was hard to imagine what it would have been like if you had been born this week.  We have already gotten to enjoy an entire month with you!

You had another first this week.  We took our first trip out into public.  You went with mommy, daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Hurford, and Uncle Jeremy to Panera on Saturday, January 5^th.  You were such a good boy and slept in your car seat the entire time we ate.  Since you did so well daddy and I decided to go on a date Friday night just the 3 of us.  We went to Arizona (daddy and my favorite Mexican restaurant) and had dinner.  You were a very good boy again! 

You are still wearing newborn diapers and clothes.  You are getting so long!  I think you will be on to 0-3 month clothes very soon!  You can wear 0-3 month onesies; they are just a bit large.  My favorite outfit on you this month has been your brown and blue striped long sleeved onesie.  You look so long and handsome in it!

You continue to love your blue elephant stuffed animal and mirrors.  You have also been enjoying your mobile and your “Hello Baby” book.  I will lay you down on a blanket on the floor and prop the book up next to you.  You love to just stare at the book and take in the pictures.  We have also been listening to your Classical Baby cd which you seem to enjoy.  You also love to put your hands and fingers in your mouth.  Sometimes you put your whole fist and sometimes you just put a finger or a few fingers in your mouth.  You also love to use your feet to push off of things.  I can’t lay you in my lap as easily anymore because you will put your feet up against my stomach and push.  It worries me that you will push yourself off my lap.

You rolled over for the first time on your one month birthday.  You were lying on your activity gym propped up on a pillow and rolled from your stomach to your back.  Then the next day we were finishing up some of your one month photos and you did it again, but this time without a pillow propping you up.  You are such a strong boy!

You were such a good boy at your one month check-up.  You laid on the table just kicking your legs and waving your arms and talking to everyone.  You didn’t cry until the very end of the appointment when I was re-dressing you.  You have grown so much!  You are now 22.3 inches long, up from 19.5 inches when you were born.  That puts you at the 79^th percentile.  You are so long!  You are now 8 pounds 10 ounces, up from 6 pounds 3 ounces when you were born.  That puts you at the 24^th percentile!  Your head circumference is 35.5 cm, up from 32.5 cm at birth.  That puts you at the 9^th percentile.  Dr. R prescribed you some medicine for your baby acne.  You have it on your face, neck, back, and chest.  It is the worst on your chest.

I just love that whenever you are crying when I pick you up and hold you, you stop crying.  You cuddle into me and just snuggle in!  If I have my hair down, you reach up and grab onto a handful of my hair.  You don’t pull my hair, but you like to hold onto it.  You are just such a sweet baby and I love you so much!  These past few days you’ve been going 3 hours in between feedings at night instead of the hour, hour and a half, or two hours you had been going.  We love the extra sleep time!

 Dad here, I must apologize that twice in a 12 hour span, you peed on your face while I was changing you. I feel like it is mostly my fault as I am not the fastest at diaper changes. Not to worry though, you forgive and forget that easily and we greatly appreciate your patience as we are all working our way through this new chapter in our lives. I also must say that I am impressed by your will to move, learn and grow. It seems almost as if it’s an impulse for you to push off of whatever your little feet land on. I am sure you will be walking in no time!

Our first family photo at home!

Running During the 2nd and 3rd Trimesters

As the 1^st trimester came to a close and the 2^nd trimester began I slowly regained my energy.  Running became easier and I no longer dealt with a burning sensation in my thighs as I ran.  The exhaustion was also beginning to subside.  I was no longer consumed with worry about miscarriage and began to slowly increase my mileage.  My pace remained at 9:30-10:00 miles for most of the 2^nd trimester and then began to slow to 10:00-10:30 pace in the 3^rd trimester with a few rough days at 11:00 pace.

My new struggle was my hips.  I began to have hip pain as I ran.  Well, not necessarily pain, more like pressure.  It was a very uncomfortable pressure.  I also began having Braxton Hicks contractions during runs.  I found that if I continued to run they went away pretty quickly, so I would just run through them.  

As time went on it took longer for my body to “warm up”.  The entire first mile was an awkward struggle between me and my body.  In my head I looked like Phoebe in Friends running in a strange and crazy way flailing my arms.  My legs didn’t seem to move the way I wanted them to and my upper body could move faster than my lower body.  I felt like I was a marionette puppet and the child holding the strings, controlling my movements, had a very strange sense of humor.

When I ran past other people on the trail I always seemed to catch their eye.  Was it the bulging belly or the wild out of control form?  I felt like the way I was running initially caught their attention and then they spied the reason for the strange and out of rhythm movements.

How was running/exercising during the end of your pregnancy?