Surviving Summer Days

This is Izzy's second full summer. Thankfully I have the summer's off. Our school-year routine and summer routine are totally different. I have A LOT of time to fill. I definitely don't want to sit her in front of a tv all day and have her brain go to mush. (That would be hypocritical of me from what I preach at school. So something had to be done.) Here is kind of our weekly routine give or take some weeks with other things going on.

I kind of based my days off of some Pinterest inspiration of Kid's weekly summer schedules, but have tweaked them to fit Izzy's needs.

Move it Monday: Chores, Laundry, and Errand

After a fun and full weekend we spend a lot of our mornings cleaning up and doing laundry. Izzy is not a normal child and loves to clean. We do stop and play in between. This also may require a few errands to be ran. But Monday's are designated to get organized for the rest of the week and are typically more laid back.

Talking Tuesday: 

We have a regular play date scheduled with a friend of mine from work. It works out great that both of our kids nap in the afternoon so we have it scheduled from 9 am till about 12pm. The kids talk and we get to catch up. Win, win for everyone.

Wise Wednesday:

Toddler story time at the local library. We got signed up for our summer reading program and go there every Wednesday. Afterwards I allow Izzy to play in the children's area and have her time. Which gets her all tuckered out to get ready for lunch and a nap!

Take a Trip Thursday:

This is typically our church play group time or free swim. We have to travel to another town for our play group at church so we only go maybe twice a month. With other Thursday's we go to our city pool for the hour they have designated for "free swim" in the morning. It's really nice because it's in the morning and Izzy gets to explore the water without having it be too crowded.

Fun Friday:

My husband gets every other Friday off so we try to go do something fun as a family. This may include going to a water park or go to the Children's Museum. It may also mean we do something fun at the house by cooking a new recipe or even go to the pool.

I found that planning out my morning with Izzy really helps fill the time and makes me less crabby. I'm not as frustrated and have something to look forward too. I'm type A personality and with all this freedom with time I go a little stir crazy with thinking of all the "To-Do" list needing to get checked off. By having the mornings busy for Izzy she goes down for a nap easier and allows me to get some items off the "To-Do" list.

Do you do anything special in the summer?

What are your favorite summer activities?

Do you sign up your kids for any programs?

Movie Monday

We have been busy with play dates and other summer activities. We went to the play area the other week and baby hit a milestone. She can officially hang on the bar. It's been something she has been drawn to since the first time she has gone and now it's officially happened.

Happy Monday!

The beginning

During my whole pregnancy I counted calories and was working out with 100% commitment. After baby it was off and on. Running was so hard to do the first few months of breastfeeding. Now post baby I have ran a half marathon, but am in a workout funk. I'm feeling discouraged and am constantly trying to see the end before I enjoy the journey getting there.
This brings me back to April of this year at my church's General Conference. This quote has really stuck with me and now I'm constantly reminding myself this everyday when I'm trying to make a change and get back on the horse. 

I'm getting back on the horse and not turning back.
Step number 1: Buy some new workout gear. CHECK! This past weekend I went to the zoo in Omaha and got to do some shopping. Got myself some new workout tanks. (Inspiring me to workout in the heat in hopes of a nice tan.

Step number 2: Track my progress on Instagram @brothers_running27. I feel this holds me accountable along with getting motivation from others at the same time. I use Instagram to get motivation for others so I'm trying to pay it forward in hopes I motivate someone else.

Step number 3: Track my calories. This really kept me in checkthe last time I was on the horse. So I'm taking the advice my husband has been telling me about since January and commit. Today was day 1 and I'm pretty proud of myself..

Step number 4: Take before pictures. I kept reading or finding other weight loss journeys and see that it's a great reminder of how far they have come. CHECK!

Either way stick around or follow me on Instagram. I will post updates every 10 lbs lost. Ultimately the hopes of this will first improve my running time and secondly make me be healthier for my daughter.

Running 101

Tip #351:

Don't run with a piece of glass stuck in your shoe. Actually avoid it at all cost.

Hmm.. Never got the memo. I guess that just comes with the territory of running close to 200 miles just this year. I will try to look down at the ground a little more often.

P&G United 5k

I ran my favorite 5k. Not because I love this course for two reasons: the first one being it's the 5k I ran during my pregnancy and second it has no hills of any sort. We tried last year to have Izzy go in the stroller, but there was no way that was happening because of how windy it was. Then this year the time of the race happened to take place at noon. (Don't get me started on the time.) So my husband was kind enough to stay behind and take her to play at the park where we would be running instead of running. Plus there is no way Izzy would of been patient enough to sit in the stroller this 21 month old is little Miss Independent and would rather try to push the stroller than be inside.

This was the first year I didn't stop to walk on the path and I know that I'm definitely in better shape after running that half marathon earlier this month. Along with being easier to not run while being 7 months pregnant.

It was a hot race but so happy we finished strong.

Izzy stretching along with Mommy and Lita

The finish in 85 degree weather with humidity!!!

One last stretch of the little lady :)

Random crazy fact: I took a week off of running but still managed to get 40 miles counted this month. I have ran close to 190 miles

Hush little baby

For the whole 22 months of Izzy Mae's life bed time I could for the majority say is pretty pleasant. She went through a phase around 9 months where she really hated going to bed. I thought I was doing great with not expecting a child and getting her down to bed. We tried the whole "cry it out method", ha that was a joke! It makes me laugh, BUT I was really miserable during this time. I was in my bed crying for the most part and it only got worse when she learned to say "Momma" and I came running in. I know I never read one of the those books about schedules, but I always made sure we had a night time routine.

Our current bedtime routine:
1. Say good night to "Papa" and "Lita".
2. Climb up the steps as Daddy chases Izzy Mae up the steps.
3. Either Izzy or Mommy picks out a book to read.
4. Climb into bed and have Mommy read while Daddy listens along with the 10 Pooh characters who are listening to a story more than likely about themselves.
5. Izzy falls asleep once lights are off.

One thing I did learn that I was doing wrong was nap time needed to be at a reasonable time. No late naps right before bed. Sounds simple, but really watch nap times before bed.

Tip #1 No Ipods in bed.

Tip #2 Don't have naps be in high chairs.

Post-Baby Workouts

I set this goal when I was 18 that I would run a marathon by 26. This goal has been getting closer and closer. In the year of 2012, I was getting into training mode. Running was getting frustrating as I wasn't improving my time. As we all know Izzy Mae was born.

Now life after labor has been a change. When I finally got the clear to run after delivering, I never felt slower. Worst of all breastfeeding really makes it challenging with having the right support when your running. I think the first time I doubled my sports bras that could fit. Which really didn't help. So that plan was out.

Next my thoughts were run after feeding or at least pump. This worked out great as long as my husband was free or Izzy was cooperating to allow me to run. Along with life getting in the way it became a real struggle to fit in.

I honestly felt that I was never going to get back into running. It hurt first off to run with so much milk, but I always felt so drained. Now that Izzy is 19 months I finally feel that I am somewhat back to my pre-Izzy life.

The first difference was get back into running once my milk supply has been established. It definitely made it easier to finding that perfect bra with the right support. Next was get the right bra. I found that Nike and Underarmour had the best support. Lastly start slow when running. The miles will accumulate and you will eventually get back to the mileage you were use too. 

I'm currently training for my first half-marathon and will be participating in Iowa's Longest Marathon. You run 2 half marathon's to total one marathon. I definitely had some discouraging times when I got back into running, but patience is key.

Do you have any suggestions for any new time moms?