Spring Break 2012

For spring break this year, we knew we wanted to take a trip, but didn't have anywhere in particular we wanted to go. I started looking before Christmas to see if I could find somewhere to go that I could also do a half-marathon. The only one close to us that I could find on the right date was the Gupton Jeep Tom King Half Marathon in Nashville. Bo and I had talked about visiting Nashville before, so I registered for the race and started planning the trip.

The race was Saturday morning. The weather was perfect running weather for me. It was cold, I think in the 40s to start, and sunny. The course was completely flat, which was a huge relief to me, since I always run on flat ground.

Before the race - our hotel was less than a quarter mile from the start line, so I walked, and Bo and the girls arrived 2 hours after the race began

The finish line was the 50 yard line of LP field - home of the Tennessee Titans

After the race - finished in 2:17 - 15 minutes faster than my first half marathon!

We had several things in mind to do in Nashville, but i wasn't sure how i'd feel after the race. My legs were sore, but not too bad, so we decided to go to the Nashville zoo. We rented a double stroller, and it was Claire's first time to ride in a stroller, and she did great. She didn't stay in it the whole time, but she did much better than we thought she would.

The girls had a good time, and again, it wasn't too hot, so Bo and I enjoyed it as well.

On Sunday, I was really feeling the 13.1 miles. But we went ahead and went to the Adventure Science Center. It was really cool. They had an area about the solar system, the human body, dinosaurs, and several other exhibits.

On Monday, we went to tour the Grand Ole Opry and then went to see The Lorax. We don't have a movie theater in Cleveland, so it's a treat to get to go to a movie.

We came home on Tuesday. It was a short trip, but long enough for us with having a 1 year old and 6 year old. It was really cute to see how the girls bonded on the trip. It was the first time I've ever heard Morgan say that she didn't want Claire to grow up, because she is so fun. 

Overall, we loved Nashville and we plan to go back! We want to go to a Titans game, go to a concert at the Grand Ole Opry, and I'd love to run the same race next year. 

Easter pictures

Easter Morning 2012

Hunting Eggs

Easter Bunny Came!

Sisters

Checking out their treats

since my last post....

a lot has happened!!
we moved into our new house in august! we love it!

morgan was selected to be a flower girl by one of the homecoming maids at her school

i completed my first half marathon (2:32) in october!

Claire turned 1 and Morgan turned 6

We took a vacation to Nashville and I completed my 2nd half marathon (2:17) in March, then 3 weeks later completed my 3rd half marathon (2:26) - but no pics from that one.

Claire is growing up fast and is a wild child! She is doing everything she is supposed to be doing at her age. She is very different than Morgan was as a toddler. She will eat just about anything, whereas Morgan was very picky. Claire is also a daredevil. She doesn't seem to be scared of anything. I don't remember Morgan being quite so adventurous.

Morgan is just as smart as she can be. She can read most words and she knows all the books of the Bible. She is very good at math as well. This past fall she learned to ride her bike. She pretty much taught herself. We helped of course, but she just stayed outside and worked on it every day until she got it. She has also figured out how to hoola hoop and how to do cartwheels.

That's all I can think of for now - Oh, and today (april 12th) is mine and Bo's 4th anniversary!!

2012

2008

updates!

a lot has happened since i last posted. i went back to work in march, claire started daycare (which she seems to enjoy), morgan finished 4k and - we are building a house!! this is a dream come true for bo and i and it has been so fun (and a little stressful) so far.

Claire looking cute!

 matching easter dresses

 Morgan's dance recital

 Morgan trying to teach Claire how to roll over

We also took our first family vacation as a family of four. we went to hot springs, arkansas and just spent a few days sleeping in, eating out and taking naps! it was great! we also went to the big water park/amusement park and morgan loved it. she went down one slide (the smallest one) well over 100 times. that's all she wanted to do :)

hopefully i will find time to post again to show our house progress. currently, the bricks were just finished, the roof is finished, and they are starting sheetrock tomorrow! we usually go out there at lunch and after work to check the progress. it's been so fun!

january 2011

january is almost over, and claire is now 6 weeks old. she's still doing really well and morgan loves being a big sister. claire is getting bigger. as of today she is just over 10 lbs, is wearing 0 to 3 month clothes and size 1 diapers. she is still exclusively breastfed and she sleeps pretty well. and she LOVES bathtime!

morgan turned 5 this month. it's hard to believe she is 5 years old! 

 we also had a "big" snow - at least big for cleveland. morgan got to make her first snowgirl thanks to mae mae. it was too cold to get claire out and bo was at work.

maternity leave has been wonderful and i still have over a month left. i am not looking forward to going back though. i'm just gonna enjoy the rest of my time at home and not think about it for now.

claire is here!!!

Claire was born on dec 15th at 12:05 pm - she was 7 lbs, 2 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.
She has plenty of dark hair (just like morgan did at birth) and her eyes are still blue.
She is 3 weeks old today and she has been a really good baby so far. She only cries if she's hungry, tired or getting her diaper changed. She sleeps most of the day and sleeps well at night too. Breastfeeding has been going extremely well this time around and I'm proud to say she has not had an ounce of formula! In fact, I've already frozen 19 oz of breastmilk for when I return to work. I still have 9 more weeks to build up my freezer stash.

And I have to brag on Bo. He has been the best dad ever. He just adores claire and loves to hold her and look at her. He changes diapers and helps with baths.
He also was so helpful to me while I was recovering from my c-section. I am very blessed!

Morgan is enjoying being a big sister. She has been a little jealous, but she really loves her baby sister!

I will post some pics soon!

Also, starting back on ww soon. I've lost 20 of the 40 I gained, so I have to get back on track!

maternity photo session!!!

we had pictures taken this weekend by rachael boyer. http://www.rachaelhboyer.smugmug.com/  here are a couple she posted on facebook.

 

isn't she talented!! i love them!