Twin Peaks Ultra

I have run two marathons in my life and as long as my health and knees hold up, I hope to run many more. However, my ultimate goal is to run at least one ultra race, a 50K. Since I was not in the shape necessary to run a 50K this year, I volunteered for the Twin Peaks Ultra 50K & 50M.
This was the first race I have ever volunteered for. It was so much fun. When I got to the race I was tasked to hand out the medals and pull the runners tags when they crossed the finish line. Watching each person cross the finish line made me yearn to run this race. I have never ran close to the mileage they completed and I was in awe at each person who crossed the finish line. To run a 50K or 50M you have to be so strong mentally and physically. I will defiantly volunteer for more ultras. I think the next time I volunteer I want to be stationed at an aid station to cheer on the runners while they are coming through.

GREAT JOB RUNNERS!!

Next Stop Mt. Everest

After a week of crawling Cole was bored with this new talent and set his sights on climbing our stairs. Our house has 2 steps that lead down into the living room from the entry way and kitchen area. I think because he watched everyone coming and going so much he wanted to do the same. At first I tired to contain him with a baby gate but after a day I decided he has to learn the stairs sooner than later so why not start now?!?!? We worked on going up the stairs together and after a week he mastered going up the stairs (6.5 months old). This new found freedom was so exciting for Cole. Going up the stairs was A LOT easier to teach than going down the stairs. I worked and worked with Cole going down the stairs but he just didn't seem to get it so I had to be diligent whenever he ventured near the stairs. About 2 months ago, Cole crawled to the edge of the steps, turned himself around and went down the stairs. I was so proud of him! My baby boy could go down the stairs :)

Since he was able to go up and down stairs he needed to extend this talent. So he chose climbing. And when I say climbing I mean this kid climbs everything! If it is armpit height or lower, it is fair game! The good news is with each item he climbs up he can climb down. I am so glad I took the time to teach him how to climb up and back down things. It was a lot of hard work, a few tears but all worth it in the long run. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I've been able to catch of things he has conquered.

The Stairs
The BIG Stairs

The Kitchen Cabinet

The Dishwasher

Under the Bathroom Sink & in the Drawers

The Chair in his Room

Climbing out of his Highchair.

Tonka Truck

This Kids Chair
I don't have any picture of him climbing the fireplace (see height of fireplace in picture); however, he has climbs it everyday!

Bookshelves

He can also climb onto the bed, coffee table and couches but I don't have pictures of those things (yet). I love my little climber and I'm positive he will conquer Mt. Everest one day!

Let the walking begin :)

Cole has been able to stand and cruise along furniture for at least 3 months. He has been able to stand unassisted and take a few steps for about a month. He never wanted to take more than 3 steps at a time and I was OK with that. The fact that he started crawling at 5 and 1/2 months and going up stairs at 6 months, I was in rush for a walker. We worked with Cole on walking but never pushed him. Well on 1/22, Cole started walking around the house. He'd fall on occasion but instead of crawling to his final destination he'd stand back up and walk some more. The first day of this was full of falls by day two we had less falls and by day three I hardly saw him fall. He isn't running yet but he can move pretty dang fast. Along with walking he has discovered he has soul. This boy LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to shack it! Any form of music gets his feet and hands moving.

I am having fun watching him explore his world from a new vantage point. I am very proud of my son and can't wait for the next phase in his growth, which I am assuming is talking. Let's just hope he takes after his father in talking rather his mother. I've been known to talk a little too much :)

I just want to gooble him up!

Weekly Writing Challenge

When I first was pregnant with Cole I freaked out. I did my fair share of babysitting as a young girl but I didn't know how to be pregnant, how to prepare for a baby and what changes were about to happen in my marriage. Needless to say, I was terrified! I started doing research on the Internet and I found a website that had a wealth of pregnancy knowledge, support groups and much more! I joined this website and found a group that seemed perfect, I joined the Dec 08 Moms Group. This group of women were from all over the world and they were facing the same joys, fears, questions that I had. We spent 9 months helping one another, giving advice, providing support and being non judgemental. We've had the heated vaccinations debate, the circumcision debate, the political debate and religious debate but through all these conversations we have kept it civil. They were there to support me and I was there to support them. After our children began to arrive I was worried we would loose contact. This fear was quickly squashed when I saw a core group of woman hung around. We no longer were giving pregnancy support but baby support and 1 year later we no longer have babies but toddlers. These women have become a huge part of my life. I may never meet most of them in person but I will always be forever grateful for their unconditional love, support and friendship.

How does this post relate to my title, well there is a mom in my group who has a blog I follow. She has put out a challenge to her blog followers to write 1 post a week for a month. I am always up for a challenge.

Happy 1st Birthday, Cole!

Cole has turned 1. WOW, where did the time go?!?! I have been so blessed to watch my son grow, learn, explore and be a boy! He is climbing all over the place. He has started to walk. He says mama, dada, more and nigh nigh (which I think means mine). Cole has brought so many laughs, smiles, joy and love into our home. I am so thankful for being blessed to be his mother!


On Cole's actual birthday Brian was out of town, so I packed him up and took him to great grandma's house for a mini celebration. I bought a small cake and we watched Cole have a sample of what was coming Saturday. As you can see below, he enjoyed his cake!

On the Saturday following his birthday we had a small birthday party. We had grandma's, grandpa and great grandma join the festivities! We ordered pizza and enjoyed each others company.

I think Cole enjoyed the balloons the most!

He would only wear the hat for a brief moment.

First chance at the cake...

Wow, look at all these colors on my hand :)

He needed a spoon to shovel in the cake.

YUMMY!!!

Great Grandma & Cole

Grandma & Cole

Grandma, Grandpa & Cole

Mommy, Daddy & Cole

Cole feeding mommy some cake....hhhmmmm

YAY! That was fun!

Cleanup time :)

All clean and ready for some presents

Daddy & Cole opening gifts

Family Day

Something that is very important to me is creating and having Family Days. To me, a Family Day is doing something out of the everyday hustle and bustle of life. For example, painting a room with dad, creating a garden, going sledding, going to the park, the zoo or the beach...anything as long as you're together with no phones and just each other! I know this sounds silly but I think is important to circle back and reconnect with our loved ones.

This past week we spent our Family Day at the beach. The weather was in the high 70's and we couldn't resist. We had a great lunch at the beach. Getting outside and spending the day with my family is so refreshing. It helps ground me. After our lunch we stripped Cole down put on his bathing suit and let him play in the sun, surf and sand. I am so blessed to have these two amazing men in my life.

First Christmas

I grew up in a house that each kid had at least 30 presents under the tree for them at Christmas! This is not including the items in the over flowing stocking :) Christmas was something I looked forward to each year, year round! I decided that I want my family to have a fun Christmas BUT I do not want to make Christmas about presents. Therefore, we decided a handful of gifts would more than enough. I bought Cole the items that Brian and I discussed and I was done before Thanksgiving. As Christmas drew near, I kept receiving large boxes of gifts from his many grandma's and grandpa's. I was overwhelmed by the love. By the time Christmas came around my simple Christmas was gone :) We are very blessed to have our extended family love our son so much!!

On Christmas Eve, we had a small family dinner at our house with my mother, MIL, FIL, Brian, and I. I grew up with a tradition of opening 1 present on Christmas Eve and I want to pass this tradition onto my kids. The present was always a pair pj's that we wore to bed and woke up on Christmas morning wearing.

On Christmas morning Cole and Brian slept in. Once Cole decided to wake up (close to 9am) he opened his presents. I had always heard children Cole's age want more to do with the wrapping paper and boxes then the gift...not my son, he wanted his toys and FAST! If daddy didn't open the packaging fast enough Cole made it known he was NOT impressed. We spent an hour opening our the many gifts. Some of the gifts received were a tonka tow truck, lots of Lego's, pull toys, a toy mailbox, puzzles, balls and lots of TRUCKS!

Our first Christmas as a family was amazing. We have so much to be thankful for.