Pages

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

11 randoms

So Kristen tagged me with the 11 random things, so I will give it a go.  The problem is that I don't know 11 other bloggers who haven't been tagged.  Ooops.

Here are the rules:
1. Post these rules
2, You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 random things about me:

1.  I love shopping. I also shop best by myself. Now that I have another little person to shop for, I will really have to control my spending!
2.  Although I grew up skiing and snowboarding and loved it, the last few times I have gone, I didn't really enjoy myself, so I think I'm over it.  It makes me kind of sad to say that.
3.  I hate napping and am almost incapable of taking naps.
4.  I have "hippy ish" thoughts about a lot of things, but sometimes I'm too embarrassed to tell people because they are so strange.  (the thoughts, not the people).
5.  I don't get stressed out when Zoey cries.  Apparently that's not that normal.
6.  When I was a kid, I had an imaginary friend named Nances.
7. I am extremely vain when it comes to photos of myself.
8. Related to #7, I really wish I had a more pronounced chin.
9.  I have a hard time not correcting people's grammar.  I don't, but I always notice the mistakes.
10.  I don't like chocolate chip cookies.  I have only tasted one recipe that I've ever really liked.  They were not gluten free.
11.  I hate cleaning but get stressed out when my house isn't clean.

Kristen's Questions:
1- When you're in a job interview, what do you use as your "weakness"? (you know, the weakness that you can turn into a positive somehow)
I can be too outspoken (which leads to being able to take charge when necessary).
2- What is your favourite food?
This is a toughy... Carrot cake with cream cheese icing?  Rice cake with melted cheese on top?
3- Why did you start blogging?
Because my sister did it and I always want to be just like her.
4- If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go?
Europe with unlimited money.
5- If you're a runner, biker, triathlete, or any other sort of racer, what race is tops on your bucket list?
Oh gosh. I don't think I have a bucket list race. Something disney would be fun. Maybe another 70.3 with fewer hills on the bike?
6- What is your dream job? (pretending that it pays well)
TV broadcaster.
7- Who is your celebrity crush?
Ryan Gosling.
8- Did you or do you play an instrument?
Yes. Flute, piccolo, a couple of saxophones, percussion, marching cymbals (HA)... I think thats it. Oh, and I can dabble on the piano, get by on the clarinet, play one scale on the trombone, and make noise on a trumpet and french horn (which not a lot of people can do!)
9- What is your favourite "guilty pleasure" movie? (you know, the one that you like to pretend you didn't love)
There are too many. If it were a TV show, it would be VIP and the Kardashians.
10- If you had to pick a last meal, what would you pick?
Steak, lobster, risotto, roasted veggies and corn on the cob.
11- Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Dazs?
Ben and Jerry's!


Sorry to abruptly stop the random chain, but I honestly don't know any more people!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

To marathon, or not to marathon. That is the question.

If any of you follow me on twitter, you know I've been torn recently.  Last year, my sister and I entered the lottery for the New York City Marathon.  I just did it for fun, and of course, I got it.  I deferred my entry, since the marathon was a month after my due date, and just sort of forgot about it.

Fast forward to last week, where I get an email from the NYC marathon saying "don't forget, you have a guaranteed entry for this year's marathon!"  It got me thinking a little.

I have never imagined that I would run a marathon.  Yes, I ran a 70.3, but to me, doing three sports for an extended period of time is a lot easier than doing one sport for an extended period of time.  Running for over four hours has never been that appealing to me.

BUT, if there was any year to train for a marathon, this would be it.  I wouldn't have to juggle training with working.  I would just have to pop Zoey in the stroller and hit the path.  Yes, the weather could interfere with it (how cold can the temperature be and still be able to run with a baby?? anyone know??) and I may have to stop to feed her on some longer runs (if I couldn't leave her at home with Matt and a bottle), but those things aside, I really have nothing but time this year.  One big downside is the price.  $347 for international runners.  Ouch.  But I could probably save up and try to expedia the crap out of some hotels.  It would be a pricey trip, but it would be fun to be in the city we honeymooned two years later as a family.

So after looking up some training programs, I saw one that was doable that was 18 weeks.  That got me thinking, the Calgary Marathon is 19 weeks away.  And a shiny new route is in store for this year (with a big unveiling today!).  So, maybe I could run the Calgary marathon this May, and then run NYC in November.  Why not run two marathons in one year when I never thought I would ever do one.  Am I insane??

What are your thoughts? Can I train with a baby? Can my body handle it? How slow will I be? So many questions!

Sunday, January 01, 2012

A look at 2011

*On my computer, there are random hyperlinks that are linked to ads in my post... I didn't put those there and I have no idea how to get rid of them.  So don't click on them.*

2011 was a big year for me!  At the end of January I found out I was pregnant.  I stopped flying and got a placement in our corporate office working for an event planning team.  This also meant that I was home all the time, which was new for Matt and me.  We had a little adjustment period but we soon found that we enjoyed having each other around all the time.

I struggled to get in with a midwife but after a little coaxing I got a team of 5 midwives for my entire pregnancy care until 6 weeks post pardom.  I was thrilled.

I took a quick little trip to Vancouver with my sis. That was very fun since that marked the start of my second trimester and I got to be really excited about having a baby.

I ran a 10 km and a half marathon in slippery snowy weather.  They were my slowest races, but I will definitely remember them!

I had to stop running in May, which led to a severe lack of motivation to exercise.  I sort of found my mojo again, but I really just wished I could run.

I learned that I was carrying a little furnace and was perpetually hot from June onwards.  That wasn't too fun for me.

Matt and I travelled to Ontario in the summer and spent some time at a lake and watched a Blue Jays game.

As my third trimester began, I really felt the physical effects of pregnancy.  I suffered some terrible heartburn, and was pretty much uncomfortable all the time.  In the grand scheme of things, my pregnancy was pretty easy (no morning sickness), but it was hard to remember that during the last couple of months.

Matt and I celebrated our first anniversary on October 15th.  We had expected to have a baby by then, but the little one held off so that we got to have our day to ourselves.

I worked right up until my due date, which was good in the end since I ended up being 12 days overdue.  Those last 12 days were doozies, but in the end, I was granted a VERY fast labour and had baby Zoey at home and without any major complications on October 17th.

Life with Zoey has been an adventure.  She is really starting to have a personality and it's so fun to watch her interact with various people and things.  I didn't feel like an "instant" mother, since at first I felt more like a machine than a lovey dovey oogling pile of mush, but as the days and weeks progress, I find myself just staring at her in amazement.  I miss her when I am somewhere without her, and I eagerly wait my turn to give her hugs and kisses when other people are holding her.  I didn't know what to expect before I had her, but I am having fun every day and can't wait to see her every morning.  I can't wait for this year to see her learn more things and grow more and more into her own person.

This year I hope to get back into exercise with a vengeance, to keep my relationship strong with Matt, to teach Zoey new things and to appreciate every day I get to spend at home with her.

Bring on 2012!