Today is our little man's first birthday... I can say with certainty that I had NO IDEA what this year was going to bring us.  In all truthfulness to look at it on the surface it was one of the most difficult years physically and mentally for me.  I have battled weight gain, PF, sleeplessness, postpartum depression, and just lack of time.  However if I just look at the surface I would miss the overwhelming amount of blessings that this year and this little man has brought my life!  And because I choose to see the blessings this boy has brought me, I know the other things ..read more

If you are wondering where in the heck I have been, let's start with trying to keep up with these 3... Our little man has taken a deviation from the family in that he is not like his champion sleeping sisters.  He is still waking up at least once in the night!!!  You mamas that deal with this for all your children my heart goes out to you!!!  Sleep deprivation is a torture all in itself!!  I was missing my morning workouts something fierce!!!  He would wake up just as I was about to start or would be up at 2....and then sleep won out!  This past week or so thoug ..read more

It has been almost a year since little man was born...and it feels like it has been that long since I really posted on here.  Life has been like a runaway train these days and I will completely and fully admit that I let "me" get sucked in and taken away with that too.  I have been honest on here about my struggles with postpartum depression, and to say I am out of the woods would not be completely true.  However, each day I feel like I am getting closer and closer to feeling like me again...being about to laugh more freely...being able to be present and enjoy life.  Needl ..read more

With little man back to not sleeping and challenges to every day, I think it's safe to say that times around these parts have been tough....but that fire can't be turned off.  I CAN and I WILL push through each day...I CAN and I WILL stoke that flame each day until it is back to a roaring fire!!  We are tough...and we will get there!!!  I'm not where I want to be but I'll be damned if I choose to stay here ..read more

I will admit that I have been a little stuck in the in-between....between knowing I need to start training for the Newport 10 Miler and feeling exhausted.  Well yesterday I had had enough and I put my money down.  I registered and thus today am on my way training for this race for the 5th time!  It really is a race that is dear to my heart...it runs through my hometown...the views are amazing...and it brings out my grit every time!  I think that is what has me scared...I know that this race is no walk in the park.  I’m ready to get started...to commit to me...to commi ..read more

Holy moly it's Thursday!  There is something about a short week...it feels like it is dragging along until BAM it's almost over!!  Here's some randoms for your reading enjoyment! Across the miles...My BRF Jill and I have been running together for 9 years.  We started running together after I had our oldest lady.  We ran my first post-baby race together in a local 5k.  I didn't know Jill as well then but it was meant to be...even when she told me to push harder because I didn't feel like I was going to puke yet!!  We have run countless miles and races together sin ..read more

Monday was my birthday...my 39th birthday.  I went out for a run yesterday morning and started thinking about the last decade of my life and about how I wanted that decade to end.  I began my 30s feeling the same way I do today...I'm discouraged with how I look/feel...I'm in the worst shape I have been in since I was 30 (I had my oldest child just weeks before I turned 30)...I'm embarrassed.  I began this decade as a new mom.  I have spent this decade of life growing our family...literally in my body.  I have carried 4 babies, one of which we will meet one day in heave ..read more

I will fully admit that I am my own worst enemy.  If others around me talked to me like I talk to myself....well let's just say we would no longer be friends.  I am hard on myself in all aspects of my life (especially lately when all the wheels are falling off the Fancy bus almost daily) but especially hard on myself when it comes to fitness and weight loss.  It is almost as if I choose to accept myself the way that I am now, I almost fear the weight won't come off!  My goal for my girls, and my son too, is for them to love themselves.  I am always aware how I am ta ..read more

Ahhhh!  It's Thursday!  It's been so long since I have been able to dish randomness your way!!  I am working off very little sleep so really random is the name of the game today!  Foot funk...Our oldest daughter...our beautiful girl...has the stinkiest feet I have ever smelled!  Seriously she kills her shoes!  I have tried washing her sneakers and Uggs...using Lysol...shoe spray...nothing takes the smell away!  Part of the problem is that she is not a fan of socks...I feel her pain...but usually the socks can trap the smell!  Yesterday she had on a pa ..read more

Usually every year along with my goals I pick a word or phrase to focus on during the year...something to repeat to myself when things get hard to keep me pushing.  I remember back several years ago when I was at the Runner's World Half listening to Deena Kastor talk about mantras.  She talked about making sure they don't have any negative things in them because when you are dog tired and just trying to finish, your mantra may turn against you.  For example, Don't Quit when fatigue sets in could be reduced to just Quit.  I certainly don't need motivation to stop pushing my ..read more