Couchpotato to 20 minutes in 10 weeks

That there is my plan. And I put it into action yesterday.

My Mom took G for the day, so mid afternoon I headed to a local high end running shoe store, and purchased my "come back" sneakers. I purchased them from a guy who very evidently is NOT a runner (but that is beside the point). I also purchased a super duper running bra that should hold all jiggling bits in place (or so I thought).

Then the crazyness began at about 4 pm. I laced on the new sneakers, put on the fancy expensive non jiggling bit bra, and squeezed my four sizes bigger bottom into a pair of running spandex and hit the pavement. The plan I found is effectively to get a couchpotato off the couch, and running 20 consecutive minutes in a 10 week period. This sounded like a good plan to me.

So yesterday I ran 1 minute, walked 2 minutes, and did this 6 times. I get to do that three times a week before the plan progresses a bit more.

Care to join me? I know you all want to get off the couch, and who knows, you may even fall in love with running. Just maybe :)

Back at it

Last Friday I got the "official" go ahead at my 6 week check up that I could start doing more - lifting more and getting back into an exercise routine. I have to say I didn't really hesitate. So far, in one week, there has been a walk with the kids by the river, a walk around our zoo, and this morning, a 4K walk just A & I (don't worry, after 2K I bought a latte... have to keep up the motivation)! The end goal of all of this walking, is of course, to start pounding the pavement again. Running that means.

After G was born I started running again when she was about 4 months old. I'm giving myself that same time range this time, looking at commencing again in April. But, friends are a good motivational tool, or are good at both encouraging you, and pushing you. This morning, my group of "Mom" friends signed up to do a road race together. 10K.

Melissa's Road Race in Banff is so popular it sells out within the hour, and it is normal for the server to crash multiple times while you try to register. Myself, and two others registered for the 10K, with one of our friends and her husband challenging the 22K. Melissa's was the first race I ever ran, back in 2002 and I'm excited and daunted that it is my post baby run back as well. (There is a rather huge hill right at the start)...

So, this Friday I'm buying myself some new running shoes, and um, I'll need a new running bra too. This post baby body is going to tackle the pavement again.

Here. I. Go.

What we're up to...

We are making a batch of Krispie's a week. It seems like it anyways. G and I can't say no to the Marshmallow goodness (the key is adding 48 marshmallows to the 6 cups of Krispie's). The secret is now revealed.

Our Valentine's version complete with heart gummies :)

Watching the Olympics. Our TV is almost on all day. G has decided she doesn't like the Olympics, and wants to know why we can't watch movies. So far she has only cheered at the Luge and Hockey. What kind of girl are we raising?

Knitting. Knitting and Olympics go hand in hand. Nuff said.

Sleeping, Napping, and Eating. If you are Aidan. Oh, and sharing those precious first smiles. Can't get enough of those!

Dreaming about running. If you are me. The 'I can't believe those crazy people running' from being 8 months pregnant, have turned into 'gosh I want to get out there!'. And watching the Olympics puts a crazy drive in me to do another marathon. There is nothing quite like that start line and the challenge. Nate made me pinky swear I would start walking first, not running. He doesn't know about the marathon bit, but I know it wouldn't surprise him. My 6 week appt for the "all clear" (I hope) on my c-section is Friday. So looking forward to Friday.

Finding the balance. I'm starting to feel normal again and have started getting out with both kids for errands, figuring out housework with two little ones at my feet, and the balance of playing with a toddler while taking care of a newborn. Life is starting to feel even again.

And, for fun, here is a quote from Grace. I referred to A the other day as "a little fellow". She says to me "He's not a fellow, he's a poopin machine!". This girl doesn't miss a beat...

Tied up in Yarn - sort of...

Each day I have a precious few seconds of internet time. A few minutes here, perhaps a luxurious 5 minutes here, but never a set big chunk of time. It's a bit like a guilty pleasure now. The kids are busy, I plunk myself down to see what's happening out in this big world of the net.

But I've become distracted with yarn, and this blog has become a casualty. Recall the Yarn Ball Swap post below? It has taken on a life of it's own. I sent out a memo to a few people, had about eight responses, and set up a group on Ravelry. Um... it now has about 30 members. So those precious few moment of internet time have been going to moderating the Yarn Ball Swap. Questions? I answer those. New Sign Ups? I read those over. Here's a not so secret though - I'm loving it. And am pretty sure I should be destined to work with yarn. Too much fun. But, I do apologize to you my readers, and friends, because the yarn craziness is just beginning.

Tomorrow the Olympics start... and with it Ravelympics. Basically, with the start of the Opening Ceremonies, you cast on a project with the goal (ahem, attemt) to complete the project by the Closing Ceremonies. I have three projects to accomplish on my list.

1. A stuffed toy snail.

2. Complete Erin's Shawl (this is in the WIP's dancing category) :)

3. And, I thought a pair of fingerless gloves for myself. But, here's the fun part. I've been asked to do a test knit of a pattern for a fairly large yarn company, and I'm pumped. Not sure if I can talk about it yet, so will keep it quiet on here for now. But, this is now my main focus during Ravelympics once the yarn hits my doorstep.

So, those few precious moments of internet time might be even more sadly neglected here in Blogland.

I have missed reading all your posts though so will do my best to pop in every couple of days. Now, off to tend to a crying little lad sitting in a bouncy chair and make myself a latte. It's the little things (like lattes) that keep me going (we are still up every 2 hours at night.) I heard a rumour that the babe needs to be 13 pds before sleeping through the night. I'll let you know if this is true. Right now he's just shy of 10.

Mama wants a yarn ball!

Dangerous.

I saw this post.

And I desperately need a yarn ball.

Anyone else?

I'm happily trying to organize a swap and have sent out a call for other yarn ball participants on Ravelry.

I'm also now seeking them out here.

Interested?

Drop me a message here. Once I have a list, I'll figure out more details.

Right now, I just need to know who else out there drools at the idea of a ball of yarn that contains goodies within.

Where's the Button?

I have decided Blogger, Typepad, all those fancy blog sites, should have buttons.

On Facebook, you will find a 'like' button. On Ravelry, it goes a step farther and there is a 'love' button, an 'agree' button, and, I'm not sure of this one, but a 'disagree' button. (I think all places should be friendly, and disagree just rubs me the wrong way).

But there have been a couple posts this past week that I really wish I could hit an 'agree' button, or a 'love'.

Why don't blog engines have buttons?

If you could add a button what would it be?

Dear Canadian Government

I took leave from work in mid September. On sickness benefits. Illness benefits. Whatever you would like to call them. We had just heard about Aidan's two vessel cord, had taken Grace out of daycare for personal reasons, and I wasn't sleeping. The midwives sent in my form to the government.

I spoke to a nice woman on the phone (from the government) who told me to call in once Aidan was born and I would be switched over to maternity benefits.

I called shortly after he was born. I was told I had been switched to maternity benefits in November. November. I was told they would put in a request for a review and I would be notified of the decision in early February.

They called today. I was told that mat benefits start whenever I would have taken leave had I not been sick. Can I ask how I would have known that? In September? Yes, I did ask her that. She said most people take them from 34 weeks to 38 weeks. I told her I was completely baffled, as I had not been informed that mat benefits would start prior to the baby's birth. She said most people she talk to are confused by that.

And I know why. Nowhere on their website does it state that they can switch you to mat leave whenever they would like to. So I called back, said I wanted to start benefits the first week of January. The new gentleman told me they can start mat whenever they would like to (thank you, I have been told that), and that a new review has been put in to be reviewed by March.

So dear Government, why do you say I am entitled to 15 weeks of sick benefits, or up to, then mat, then parental leave? You gave me 7 weeks. What you have done by stating November, is causing me to return to work when my baby will be 10 months old. You are taking 2 months of time watching him grow from me. Time when he might say his first word, first learn to crawl, first pull up on furniture. How do you have that right? And why do you get to decide?

I'm a little pissed.