6 Things -->

It's officially been 7 months since little Makenna came into our lives. I can't remember life before her, and yet it really hasn't been that long ago! I know I'm a completely new mom, but I'm already beginning to understand some of the advice I've received from the experienced one's. It got me thinking, what have I learned so far, and what would I tell a brand new Mom? While I've learned a lot, here's the six things I would highly suggest:

1. Let the small stuff GO.

Option one: Clean the dirty, dog hair infested floors, dust the furniture, and fold the looming pile of clean laundry in the basement (that you've had to start digging through and pulling wrinkled clothes from because your wardrobe is either dirty or in that pile). OR option two: Spend an evening driving an hour and a half round trip so Missy can see her Great Grandma. It's gotta be option two! So what if the house is a mess? Brush it off and move on. It will still be there tomorrow... and your clothes probably won't be any less wrinkled even if you had folded them. (Que the "wrinkle release" setting on the dryer!)

2. Get your tushy to the gym! 

Right now! (Well, feel free to finish reading this post first ;) ) I've said this once and I'll say it again: I. Need. My. Workouts. Bless my husband for giving me 45 minutes of sweaty, adrenaline pumping, Flo Rida rocking minutes to myself a few days a week! It's my best suggestion for any other mom out there.

3. Take your family to church.

Even when the baby's crabby and neither of you have had a good night of sleep. Cory and I grew up in different churches with different styles, but we both came out of it with the same values and understanding the importance of a relationship with God. I hope my children get the same chance.

4. Don't forget to unwind.

With a glass of wine and and good laugh at The Big Bang Theory. Uptight mom = crabby mom. And we all know that crabby mom = crabby house. True story.

5. Never underestimate the power of a child free "Girl's Night." 

Period. ;)

6. Just keep moooooving. 

Once I sit down, I'm toast. But if I can come home from work, change clothes, put on some music, and get a pair of good old running shoes on - I feel unstoppable. It's a perfect mood builder. Just remember: Objects in motion tend to stay in motion. And all of the dishes tend to get done, too. :)


Like I've said, there's plenty I've learned in such a short time frame! And I'm sure there's so much more on the road ahead! Besides, this is only Larson baby number one. ;) Ok, now we're finished so you have my permission to get your tushy to the gym. Have at it!

Weekend Update

I had a jam packed weekend, but I figured I would let my pictures do the talking this time:

{She's too sweet}

I had to take a snuggly nap Saturday afternoon with my babygirl. She slept more than I did on account of the pain in my arm from her laying on it. She is just getting so big!

In other news, I found this wonderful quote on my wrapper from a Dove Dark Chocolate over the weekend:

So simple, but still makes me smile. :) My favorite quote of all time!

And to top off the weekend, we had a super delicious and healthy dinner last night - Marinated and baked chicken breast, green beans with almonds, and fresh strawberries. Yum! P.S. It really takes extra thought into making a healthy meal when you are the only one home with a 4 month old. But I think I’m finally getting this down! I just have to make a conscious effort to think healthy. 

And, as a final note, I went for a three mile run today. I can’t believe how great running feels. Three miles is finally starting to become easy for me. A month ago I couldn't even make it 2 miles without having to stop! Tomorrow's schedule calls for 4 hilly miles. Hope I can tackle that at 5 am. Wish me luck!

A Few Notes

A few notes to pass along:

1. My relay schedule in my last post did NOT copy over well. I will be working on a better way to get that out.

2. I have NOT been eating well these past few days. I can tell because of how my body is reacting. I. Feel. Gross. But it makes sense - what you put in is what you get out. So, back to healthy eating this week. I think I will even be making a special trip for groceries. The produce in town is great, but there is very little selection. And you pay the small-town price!

3. Just wanted to drop a quick positive note and say that I feel completely blessed. I would be no where without the Lord, friends, and my precious family. Spending time with Cory and Makenna is the best way to lift my spirits. :)

Ok, that's all for now! I'm hoping for a long run tomorrow, but it's going to have to be early. Looks like the high tomorrow is pushing 93. Scorcher.

Relay Plan

Hello again! I can truthfully say that I am feeling back to my old self again today. There’s no doubt I was really struggling with motivation last week. There were many factors contributing to this, including dreary, damp weather and my struggle to get out of bed at 5. But the main reason for my lack in motivation last week comes down to the non-commitment issues I’ve been having with my running partner. I’m hoping her mood will change in future, but in the meantime I have been running by myself and I am actually really loving it!

I used to run by myself all the time about two years ago but haven't had a real running streak by myself since then. At first it was disappointing to learn that I would be loning it, but I believe that God has a reason for everything and it has shown me how much I absolutely need the first 30-45 minutes of the day to myself. With no one making requests and no people to answer to. It's exactly what running does for me and I have missed it! 

So, having said all of this, below is the training schedule I designed for myself to prepare for the Market to Market relay October 12th. I'm continuing on week 1 tomorrow with 3 easy miles! (And I say "easy" loosely.) :)

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Total
Week 1	Walk - 2 miles	3 easy	3 easy	Weights	4 Hilly	Off	5 to 6 easy	17 to 18
Week 2	Walk - 2 miles	3 evening	4 Hilly - Morning	Weights	3 easy	Off	6 to 7 easy	18 to 19
Week 3	Walk - 2 miles	2 morning / 3 evening	4 Hilly - Morning	Weights	3 easy	Off	6 to 8 easy	20 to 22
Week 4	Walk - 2 miles	2 morning / 3 evening	5 Hilly - Morning	Weights	3 easy	Off	7 to 9 easy	22 to 24
Week 5	Walk - 2 miles	3 morning / 3 evening	5 Hilly - Morning	Weights	3 easy	Off	7 to 9	23 to 25
Week 6	Walk - 2 miles	3 morning / 3 evening	5 Hilly - Morning	Weights	3 easy	Off	8 to 10	24 to 26
Week 7	Walk - 2 miles	3 easy	4 Hilly - Morning	Weights	Off	5 to 6	Off	14 to 15
Week 8	Walk - 2 miles	3 easy	3 easy	Weights	Off	RACE DAY!	Off, Eat, and Ice!	DONE