A Day in the Life Winter 2017

0104 Woken by the downpour of rain.
0107 Husband gets up; he turns the light on in the bathroom to take the world's longest pee.
0110 This wakes up Tyler, who has been sleeping by my side.
0145 Woken up by the sound of Tyler batting is paws on the shutters in the living room. [we have plantation shutters throughout our house] Tyler has always been a nocturnal cat with annoying behaviors. It used to be banging our bathroom cabinets (we baby proofed them before we were pregnant) or trying to get into the linen closet (he does like to sleep on the towels), now it's banging on shutters all hours during the night. These annoying night time behaviors usually wane over time, but he's been doing this for over a month.
0155 He's still banging on the shutters. Pick him up and take him back to bed.
0313 More batting on the shutters. Pick him up and take him to bed again.
0440 That fucking cat!
0520 My alarm goes off to go to swimming. I didn't fall back asleep after the last time my sleep was disturbed by Tyler. I consider bailing since it's been a shitty night of sleep, but as I'm not working today, I can function on less sleep, so it's not an excuse.
0540 Turn off the alarm (which is unfortunately right outside the door to Kate's room). Wait one minute to make sure she doesn't wake up before sneaking out the door.
0541 Drive to swim. Contemplate that I need to contact the vet about Tyler. Watch the temperature drop from 56 degrees (my garage) to 43 (the parking lot at the pool)
0603 The moment I've been dreading. Taking off my parka and stripping of my clothes. Fuck! It's cold!
0604 Dive into the pool. Surprisingly, the water isn't too bad. Although the pool is covered at night, rain still gathers in the pool creating pockets of cold water. It usually takes a few laps to mix up the water.
0630 It's a butterfly set. I really don't have the energy for this.
0645 Get out of the pool. Practice goes until 7. I usually stay till the end on Tuesday (I leave 15 minutes early on the days I go to work) but Husband has a call at 8 AM and needs to eat and be showered before it starts, so I have to be back in a timely manner. It has nothing to do with the fact that the set is kicking my ass.
0647 Turn on the shower on the pool deck. The water is freezing cold
0650 The water is now tolerable, so I can start washing my hair. I'm feeling a bit guilty as I watch my teammates finish the set. After three rounds of 50 Fly x 4 and 100 Free, I can't believe our coach is having them get out to dive.
0653 Hot water is now coming out of the shower. It feels amazing. The water pressure is awesome. It's the best shower in the whole world. Especially when you're greeted with a beautiful sunrise.      

                                
0702 In my car and getting ready to drive home. I'm not sure how much extra I paid for heated seats, but it was worth every penny. Turn heat on full blast
0720 Arrive home, our attached garage opens into the laundry room. Throw wet clothes and towels into the dryer.
0721 Walk past Kate's room; to my surpise, she's still asleep!
0722 Tip toe into my room and strip out of my swimsuit and put on my robe. I can't resist this opportunity and crawl back into bed. I pick up my iPad to email our vet about Tyler's behaviour. Is it too inappropriate to write 'Help! My cat is an asshole?"
0735 Finish email to vet. Read some late Microblog Monday posts. Check Facebook. Yup, the world is still going to hell in a handbasket
0740 Start to wish that I had made myself a cup of coffee to drink while lounging in bed. Especially as Kate should be up soon.
0742 Kate is awake
0743 Greet Kate and change her diaper. Her PJs smell a bit funky. The fleese ones are so absorbant it's hard to tell when she's wet through. Better add doing laundry to the to-do list for today
0745 Set Kate in her high chair and offer some milk, yoghurt and Cheerios while I cut up some blueberries.
0750 Perpare my weekly breakfast of sausage scramble.
0800 Sit down to eat                        
0820 Finish breakfast. Place remaining scramble into containers for my lunches and Kate's. Clean up breakfast dishes.
0830 Place Kate in the learning tower to work on some meal prep. Making butternut squash in the crock pot. I use pre-cut squash and I cut up carrot and onion last night. I also prepared the dry ingredients. I have to peel and cut apples, this isn't too easy with Kate trying to climb on the counter. I decide to use minced garlic in a jar in lieu of peeling fresh garlic.
0845 Soup is on. Next task is to make some packets for Kate. Steam broccoli, boil zucchini and cut pears. Throw everything into my Ninja chopper. It works much better than the Baby Bullet. Assemble filling station and label packets. Kate enjoys watching me fill the packets. She reaches for the first one I finish.
0930 Packets are done; head to the garage to put them in the chest freezer and to move some older ones into the house freezer. Both Kate and Tyler follow me into the garage. Kate wants to ride in her trike. I push her around a few laps before deciding that I'm getting cold. I use the trike to 'chase' Tyler into the house.
0945 I realise that I forgot to get some chicken and pork to thaw for this week's meals. Head back into the garage to be followed by Kate and Tyler
0950 Round everyone back into the house. I'm getting pressed for time. We have to clean the kitchen before heading to Baby Music.
0951 Give Kate a sippee cup of milk. It keeps her occupied while I clean up from making packets
1000 Change Kate and get her dressed. Put on her shoes and coat. Grab her diaper bag and snack bag, which I packed last night
1010 Realise that I need to get dressed myself. Sweetly ask Husband to put Kate in the car, while I get dressed.
1035 Arrive at Baby Music a little late, but the class hasn't started yet.
1140 Baby Music concludes. While I'm getting Kate's shoes and coat on, the instructor calls me over to her desk. She distributed the companion CD last week as it was the start of a new session and she saved us a copy as we missed the class due to Kate's 18 month check-up. I feel really guilty about the fact that I have never even unwapped any of the companion CDs from these classes; let alone listen to them with Kate. I acknowledge that I really should play them in my car.
1205 Arrive at the gym. Kate has fallen asleep. I decided to wait a little bit more before transfering her to the stroller. Check the news on my iPhone. Cringe at how Trump is destroying the country so quickly
1215 Feel totally depressed. Successfully transfer Kate to the stroller and push her into the gym.
1220 Set up the start my 'Baby Work Out'. Row 5K, 75 Wall Balls 10 Pullups.
1243 Kate wakes up. I've only rowed about 2500 meters
1245 I put her on my lap and row another 500 to finish at 3K
1250 Kate seems intrigued watching the class complete the WOD. I take advantage of this and join in. It's a Tabata (20 seconds of work/10 seconds of rest) doing planks, goblet squats and single leg dead lifts. I use Kate as my Kettle bell.
1305 Kate is actually trying to climb back in her stroller. I offer her a bottle while I complete my wall balls and pull ups. I mention to Kate that Mummy can do pull ups but Daddy can't.
1315 I change Kate in the gym bathroom. There is only a small amount of counter space to use. I unwap a tampon and let her play with it to keep her occupied while I change her. I figure she needs to become familiar with them sooner rather than later.
1320 Load Kate into the car and give her a vegtable packet. Head to Costco
1330 Find a parking space within walking distance of the store! This is the time to go!
1415 I can't find the canned coconut milk. They moved it to be a part of a display for Chinese New Year and I must have walked passed it three times.
1420 Take another spin around the store to hit the best spots of sampling. Kate has had some tomato soup, pork rolls and chicken tortitas.
1435 Secure Kate in her car seat and offer her a recently purchased Aussie Bite. Look at it longingly as I can't eat it due to Whole 30 this month.
1440 Eat my Epic bar and drink some coconut water.
1510 We arrive at the park. I feel a litte skittish as I'm pretty sure this is the site where she contracted Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
1520 Only ten minutes in and she poops. There are no changing facilities at this park. It rained last night, so the ground is still really wet. I would change her in the boot of my car, but it's loaded up with Costco groceries. I'm running out of options, so this is going to cut our park time short.
1530 Kate wants to go on the swings. As I'm pushing her, I glance at my phone to check the time and notice I have a work related text message. Answer the message as it involves scheduling an important meeting. I also received a reply from the vet. Apparently her cat likes to scratch underneath her bedroom door and she tried stuffing a towel underneath the door and squirting the cat with a water pistol. Cats are inherently noctural animals. She lists a website that sells 'quiet toys for nighttime kitties'. I figure I could spend money on such toys and Tyler either wouldn't play with them; or would play with them and then continue to bat the shutters. She says we can try Kitty Prozac. I reply that I want to give it a go.
1545 Oh crap, I forgot we were supposed to leave early as I need to change her.
1600 Arrive at a nearby sporting shop as they have changing facilities and they sell Lara bars in bulk. After changing her diaper, Kate wanders into the swim department. I take note that rash guards are on sale. I've been wondering if one might keep me warmer in the morning. At 40% off, I can find out. I also spot a kids TYR bathing suit is size 2T which is only $13. They have my favourite flavour of Lara bars so I buy three boxes as they don't always have this flavour in stock.
1630 Head home and prepare to face traffic
1705 Arrive home. Kate plays in the garage while I unload the items from Costco
1720 I wash a few dishes that I left in the sink this morning. Kate is in her learning tower watching me/biting my arm. I tell her not to bite. She does it again. I threaten that I will spray her with water if she does it again. She bites me again. I check the temperature of the water and quickly splash her with the sprayer. She has a dazed look on her face. To this day, she has not biten me or anyone else again
1730 Take Kate into her room to change her wet top and diaper again. We play with some puzzles and look at some books
1750 Head back to the kitchen to get dinner ready. Heat up some meatballs for Kate while I work on prepping our dinner. She is getting really cranky. I offer her some Annie's cheddar bunny crackers
1755 Not in the mood for crackers and she throws the container on the floor and really starts crying. I try to engage her in her little play kitchen, but she's not having it
1815 Place Kate in her highchair and offer her some yoghurt snacks while I wait for the meatballs to finish. She goobles them up and calms down
1820 She is devouring her meatballs. I made eight, figuring she's eat four tonight and have four to take to school tomorrow. She's already eaten five and is signing 'more'. Now I know why she was so cranky; she was hungry. Not to self: you can't feed your kid lunch by sampling at Costco
1840 Offer her some watermelon for dessert. The 'use by' date passed a few days ago, but it still looks and tastes okay.
1850 Draw Kate her bath. She received some waterprood books to use in the bath. We go through one with animals and she demonstrates the signs for each animal.
1900 Wrap her up in the Hello Kitty robe, while I drain the tub.
1905 Brush Kate's hair and get her changed into her bed clothes
1910 Husband brings in Kate's milk and says good night to her
1915 Read a few books as Kate drinks her milk. Turn on her sound machine. Turn out her light and allow Kate to turn on her sleep sheep.
1920 Take Kate to the bathroom to brush her teeth
1922 Return to Kate's room to cuddle for a few minutes before putting her to bed. I tell her "night, night" and she echos 'night, night'. My heart swells.
1930 Set Kate down in her crib, pat her back and leave the room
1935 Enter the kitchen. The salmon is baking and Husband is cooking zoodles
1945 Sit down for dinner. Realise I forgot to feed the cats
2010 Husband helps clear the dinner dishes while I start the task of packing lunches of myself and Kate.
2030 Lunches are done; now on to meal prep for tomorrow. I cut up veggies and prepare dry ingredients.
2105 Head to bedroom. Layout swimgear for tomorrow
2115 Climb into bed. Tyler joins me a few minutes later and settles on my lap. I google Whole 30 menu ideas from some of my favourite sites.
2200 Husband has drifted off to sleep. I load up Gilmore Girls from Netflicks. I'm planning to pay for only one more month and I'm trying to watch the whole series again. So far, I'm only on season two and I'm discovering that Rory was a really shitty friend to Lane. The friendship seems really one sided at a times Rory is even snide to her.
2330 Apparently I fell asleep as I was woken up by Tyler banging his paws on the stupid shutters. I take him back to bed with me and he snuggles next to me for about 5 minutes.
0115 THE FUCKING CAT IS AT IT AGAIN!
0116 I pick him up and give him a quick but firm slap on his hindquarters. He runs underneath my bed
0118 I feel really quilty and want to pick him up to cuddle him, but I know it will defeat the purpose.
0520 Alarm rings to wake me for swimming. Tyler is asleep on the foot of my bed, so apparently I'm forgiven. He didn't bang on the shutters for the rest of the night. This might have worked as well as the Prozac.

                                                                                                                                             

2016 Reflections

I saw this survey on Non Sequitur Chica's blog and decided to give it a go:

1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?

I submitted an abstract to speak at a major conference. I was inspired by my Australian friend, who came state side to present at a conference. She described that she decided to submit on a whim, didn't think she'd get picked and then once she did, realised 'oh shit! now I need to come up with some data'. I was hoping to duplicate her success and sumbitted a propsal somewhat at the last minute. It didn't get selected.

I'm not too disappointed, but it really would have been nice. When I was in college, I befriended a guy from Spain. He was a classic over-achiever. The kind you would hate, if he wasn't also such a genuinely nice guy. He had a perfect grade point average while carrying a full academic load that consisted of some upper level classes. He was on Student Sentate, wrote for the paper and did many other extracurricular activies. Feeling that he wasn't being challenged enough, he decided to transfer to Harvard during his junior year and was offered a full academic scholarship. He wrote a letter to the Student Senate (pausing to remember when we wrote letters) to detail his experience at an Ivy League school. He submitted a few articles for their paper and they all got rejected. He was so excited about this. "I'm going to have to write stuff that is even better!". I'm going to channel Alfonso's spirit and embrace this as an opportunity to improve my proposal for next year's conference. Or submit multiple topics to try to improve my odds.

2. Did you keep any new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I don't remember making any new year's resolutions, so I guess I didn't keep any. Following the advice of Body Shop Girl, I'm going to try to make very practical, realistic resolutions. One is to use my beauty products. I know this isn't really change the world, but I was cleaning through my bathroom and linen closet and was going to throw out all the unused products that had been sitting in my drawers for years. I felt bad about throwing stuff out, so I decided I would use them. It's been kind of a fun challenge.

My more serious resolution is to read more books. Actual books. Reading articles accessed from Face.book does not count as reading. My imposed caveat is that books must be purchased from local book stores. No ordering from Amazon.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth

No, but a close friend is pregnant (she conceived on her first attempt) My cousin who is a recovering heroin addict and his recovering heroin addict girlfriend are expecting their second boy in March. My other cousin who got married in June on 2016 are expecting their first baby in June 2017. Everyone in my family seems to be fertile, except me.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What countries did you visit?

No international travel, but we went to Hawaii and to the east coast

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

Answering in reverse order:
2016 Bernine Sanders as the Democratic Nominee
2017 Trump Impeachment hearings

7. What moments from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory and why

We were in Boston in the middle of September, and while walking down the street some older white man shouted out "Only 6 more weeks until Donald Trump becomes President. It's going to be a great day for our country" The polls were tight at that time. I started to prepare myself for the possibility of a Trump presidency that night.

A few months earlier I was a first responder who started CPR on a man who collapsed during a run. I saw his face turn purple as his heart stopped beating. The next time I saw his face, he was handing out medals at the finish of the New Year's Day race.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year

I did Whole 30 back to back in August and September and not only lost 15 pounds, but got rid of a lot of bad food habits. I gave up soda and adding Splen.da to coffee and tea, which were huge Non-Scale Victories for me. I feel that I'm closer to walking the walk and as talk the talk about healthy eating with Kate. I've been maintaining a weight below pre-pregnancy, which is something I never thought would happen.

I swam in a long course metres meet after a nine month hiatus from swimming, although my times were very slow, I chuckle to myself just for having the courage to enter and it was the catalyst to get me back into the pool. I was hoping to set some PBs at the short course metres (as I did last year only 3 months postpartum) but I achieved my second best time in the 50 Fly. I also tied my best time in the 400 yard kick for time trials. I feel like I'm making gains to get back to where I was.

I did achieve a PR at Cross-Fit. Once the weight came off, my pull-ups came back. We had a WOD that required 50 pull-ups. My initial plan was to do 25 on my own, and then 25 with a band, but figured realistically it would probably be 20 on my own, 30 with a band. I managed to do 20 and felt inspired that I was the only girl doing real pull-ups. I banged out another 5. Still felt good, so did 5 more and hit 30 on my own. Let's do another 5. Can we make it to 40? Well, I had to break into 3 and 2, but reached 40. Everyone else had moved on to the next activity, but I was determined to reach 50 if it took the entire time of the class. I was struggling at the end and probably counted some no reps, but I managed 50 pull ups. It was a huge PR for me.

9. What was your biggest failure

Taking nine months off from swimming. I recognise that I wasn't able to go back to morning sessions until I had finished breastfeeding, but I wished I had started going to noon class once I started having Tuesdays off. I made the excuse that I didn't think I could get back in form by swimming just once a week.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury

I was diagnosed with pneumonia in June. Fortunately, antibiotics kicked in quickly, but I spent a miserable night with a 103 degree fever.

11. Best thing you bought

We hired a cleaning service to clean our house every other week. Husband is loathe to spend money on anything we can do ourselves, but as he got a pay raise, he decided it was worth our time to be free of cleaning chores on the weekend.

12. Whose behavour merited celebration?

Kate's. I'm so proud of her for achieving her developmental milestones and I'm fascinated by watching her process things.

13. Whose behaviour make you appalled and depressed

Ryan Lotche. In 2012 I thought it was just your average dumb guy (frankly, I'm surprised he knows IM order, let alone command such an impressive race strategy) but they way he fabricated a robbery to cover up his actions revealed just how much of a low life scum he truly is. Then the IOC condones him 'He's a great swimmer, so boys will be boys.'

The judge in the Brock Turner case. It is often very difficult to get a conviction in a rape case and it often involves hoping there is enough physicial evidence to support a he said - she said arguement. This case had two eye witnesses and physical evidence. There was no need to be lenient for benefit of the doubt. The judge felt more sympathy for Brock and didn't want the fact that he committed a heinous crime to ruin his life.

Donald Trump. I won't list all the offensive things he's said or done, because we all know what's out there. It just sickens me that such a honour is bestowed on such an undeserving man.

2016 was a celebration of wealthy while male privlidge. It is so clear they're living in a different world that is above laws, social norms, and decency.

14. Where did most of your money go

Day Care. Food. Stuff for Kate. Rarely spend money on myself.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The possibility of Hillary as President. Although she wasn't my first choice I was excited about seeing a woman President in my life time and wish I could have watched Kate grow up with a female President

16. Compared to this time last year, are you;

A. Happier or sadder
Sadder because of the election results
B. Thinner or Fatter
Thinner!
C. Richer or Poorer
Richer -both Husband and I got pay raises. Mine was a "we're increasing salaries to stay competetive" (translation, we don't want you to know you could have been making a lot more money working for Kai.ser) Husband learned that recent hires with less experience were earning almost as much as him and he seized the opportunity to ask for an increase when some other senior scientists had left.

17. What is something you wish you'd done more of?

Spent more time getting together with friends. I need to make more of an effort, we often talk about getting together and then never make any plans.

18. What is somethig you wish you'd done less of?

Waste time looking at crap on the internet

19. How did you spend Christmas?

At home with my parents visiting.

20. Did you fall in love in 2016

Yes, with Kate

21. What was your favorite TV program

Life in Pieces. Such a brilliant comedy, but they blew me away when they included a storyline where a character has a miscarriage. Knowing how common miscarriages are and living through the experience twice, it was so amazing to see it 'normalized' on TV.

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

I hate Donald Trump even more

23. What did you want and get?

A day off! In order to make it work financially, I could only cut my hours down to 36, so I pitched that I would work a late shift on Monday and early shift on Friday to improve options for patient access. To my surprise, upper management approved my request!

24. What did you want and not get?

Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Nominee and President Elect.

25. What was your favorite film of the year?

Rouge One, because it was the only new film I saw in it's entirety. We went to see Jason Borne, but feel asleep though it.

26. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

This was the year of the big 4-0 and we spent it in Maui

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016

My 'Mom outfit' of yoga pants and a nursing tank. I was happy once I stopped breastfeeding and could wear normal clothes again, but I pretty much kept in my work out clothes. Yes, I've been guilty of wearing active wear when I've not been active. I donated a bunch of clothes that I had been hanging on to for years with the hope that I'd lose weight. That was before I finally did lose weight, but as some of them were over 12 years old, I decided they needed to go merely from a fashion standpoint and not a size issue. I really need to buy some new clothes, but I'm waiting to see if I can lose a little more weight.

28. What kept you sane

Having a day off. With swimming in the mornings, working and going to the gym in the evenings, I feel that I don't spend that much time with Kate during the week. The cleaning service has often been a great relief.

29. Which celebrity/public  figure did you fancy the most

Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders

30. What political issue stirred you the most

Trying to understand how blue collar and middle class workers could support a millionaire who has never showed any concern for the poor and working class

Trying to understand how any one with a sound mind and rational judgement could support a candidate who has never held a public office, displays a narcisstic personality and fragile ego as well as an unstable temperment.

31. Who did you miss

I still miss my old cat Angus

32. How many miles did you run this year?

OMG, I think it was only 25! Maybe 30, if I include running during Cross-Fit. So pathetic!

Eighteen Months

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season. Despite my attempt to keep things simple (see my last post) the past few weeks were busier than I anticipated. My parents arrived on Christmas Eve and left a week later. It was such a short visit that it barely feels as if they were here. Although she is still too young to understand much about Christmas, it was fun to share experiences with Kate. We decorated the tree while watching Love Actually (I figure this is a good age as she isn't aware that it is totally inappropriate for her) I'm not sure if it's motherhood or turning 40 that affected me so, but I think I cried during almost every scene in that movie (with the exception of the couple who work in porn -my favourite storyline). We also watched another classic, Home Alone and for the first time I started to wonder if the old man was bullshitting about being estranged from his son for over 15 years just to get Kevin to admit his own feelings about his family. Phew! My cynical side is still intact. I cheered during my favourtie seen in the Sound of Music "Reverend Mother, I have sinned" as the badass nuns reveal they removed the sparkplugs. Then I decided not to think about the fact that the Nazis probably killed them. 

Husband decided to take care of Christmas dinner all on his own. I think it's his way of representing some his memories from Christmases in England. He planned the menu and did all the shopping. I wonder if in someway he thinks it excuses him from the other 364 days fo the year when he offers no help to meal planning, shopping or food prep. He was insisting that he could do it all himself, and so when my parents and I were sitting by the tree waiting for Kate to open her presents... he was in the kitchen peeling potatoes, oblivious to what we were trying to do. Initially I was annoyed, but the frequent interruptions to work on meal prep actually worked in our favour as I could see Kate was easily becoming overstimulated with her presents and new toys. I think in the next few years, I'll build in breaks with the present opening or drag it out for a few days (she finally finished opening everything a few days later). After we finished dinner, we had to work on preparing our dessert to take to a friend's party. It seemed that we spent most of the day working in the kitchen. My mother suggested that maybe next year we could just throw something in the crock pot to eat on Christmas Day and have a more formal dinner on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day. We laughed initially, but it may not be such a bad idea. 

Stats: [will update after her well baby check on Tuesday] 

Teeth: Nothing new to report

Eating: I don't know if it's just because she's learned the word, but she's really into eating apples. Whole apples; not slices I cut up for her. The only trouble is that she'll take a bite out of a few apples and then try to move on to another apple. I've had to take to hiding our fruit bowl. She's really doing well with a spoon and fork, and I think may prefer to eat this way. We went to one of our favourite restaurants and for the first time ordered something for her off the kids' menu (I'm making this seem like it's monumental as the truth is that I just didn't pack food for her). She seemend only interested in the french fries and not the chicken strips, which I cut into small pieces. As I had also forgotten her spork, I asked the waitress for a plastic fork and boom! She started eating her chicken once she had a fork in her hands (we also hid the fries). I was planning to do a cold turkey approach of the bottle to sippee cup transition over Thanksgiving weekend, but as she was recovering from Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, it gave me an excuse to bail. I decided to do a more gradual approach, replacing one bottle at a time. It seems to be working, and just in time as Day Care wants her to be on sippee cups once she starts in the toddler classroom.

 At press time, we've gone almost a week with NO BOTTLES!

Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!

Sleep: She still does really well at night. I brought back reading some stories while she drinks her milk, as she is really showing an interest in her books. She might fuss for 5-10 minutes once we put her down, but then sleeps soundly through the night. She's even been sleeping later on weekends! On Chrismas Eve, she slept until 8:30. It was the best present from her ever. I'm glad she's been sleeping later in the morning, but it does annoy me a little that on my swimming mornings, I'll come home at 7:15 and she'll still be sleeping (thus letting Husband sleep and or play with his phone for an extended period of time) while she seems to wake up at 6:00 on the days when Husband has to leave early. She's totally a Daddy's Girl. Not that I'm bitter. 

While she's a rockstar during the night, naps are another story. As I was confronting my reluctantance to switch our infant seat to a convertable car seat, I acknowledged that I used her ability to fall asleep in the car as a crutch to get her to nap [and to get errands done]. I feared that it could backfire on me. It has. I'll darken her room as much as I can, given her milk and a cuddle, she'll fall asleep in my arms, but wake as soon as I set her in her crib. On a few occasions, I've let her nap while sitting in the glider. Sometimes, I can get a litle shut eye, or do some reading. If I let her cry it out, it can take up to 20-25 minutes before she falls asleep and I once caught her sleeping sitting up. Even if she falls asleep in her crib, she doesn't seem to nap for very long.

This does not look comfortable. 

On Tuesdays, she'll fall asleep on the drive from Baby Music and I'll transfer her to the jogging stroller and she'll nap on the pool deck while I swim. So on the weekends if she's fallen asleep on the way home from the Market or doing other errands, I'll put her in the stoller and wheel her into the house. While my parents were taking care of her during the Christmas break, they would take her for a walk in her stroller to get her to nap. She'll sleep a good 60-90 minutes while reclining in the jogging stroller, sometimes even longer. I know that ever parenting manual would tell me this is wrong, but for now I'm accepting there are worse things I could be doing. Life is easier since she's been taking only one nap per day, as I feel there is less pressure to make sure this nap happens. Plus we only have to do this nap thing for a few more years, right? 

Diapering: Is hating diaper changes a sign of being ready for potty training? If so, Kate is so there. It used to be that she just wouldn't sit still, now there's crying involved every time. She's also started trying to dismount off the changing table. As I write this, I think I need to read up on how to start potty training. We moved into the next size of disposable diapers as her size 4 diapers were seeming tight on the sides. I thought it was interesting that she was in size 3 for almost 9 months, but only lasted in size 4 for 4 months, so I looked and size 5 is supposed to start at 27 pounds, so technically we're a little early. I think I need to face the reality that Kate will inherit my large sized ass and thighs. The inserts for her cloth diapers have been working really well and we're using them with her disposable diapers at night. 

Likes: So much to include! I joined a Face.book group where parents can buy and sell used baby goods. One of the hottest items has been the learning tower. Most people post a used one for sale at $100 and comment that it retails for $200. I thought it looked like something I could make for a fraction of the cost, so I searched Pintrest and found instructions to make a tower from an IKEA stool. I sent the link to my Dad, and suggested that maybe we could make it while he was out for Christmas and have a litte daddy-daughter projejct. I received a response about 5 minutes later: Call me right away. As I knew he was watching the Patriots game, this had to be pretty serious. He didn't feel the improvised IKEA tower would be safe as it wouldn't equally distribute her weight and could easily tip. He checked out the official Learning Tower and thought that given the sturdiness and the fact that it's adjustable, it was worth the price and offered to give it to Kate as a Christmas present. As my Dad is all about Ama.zon Prime and their free two day shipping, he sent it out and left it to us as to whether or not we wanted her to wait for Christimas to start using it. I decided that it would be a bitch to wrap, and would take up too much space in the living room, so we assembled it right away. She loves it. I was worried that I should have selected the model that had solid sides, as she quickly learned how to get in and out of it herself, but she'll actually push it up to the counter herself. [Also if I start working on a different counter surface, she'll move it to follow me] I picked up her own pots and pan set, so she can 'cook' while I meal prep. 

Her other Christmas gifts were a huge hit. As she loves to push things, I got her a 'You and Me' doll (who babbles) and her own pram. It is so sweet to see her cuddling her baby. I think she likes her 'Dress Me Kitty' but she mostly just takes her shoes off and hasn't worked on any of the other snaps or zippers. Myrtle sent her a small little kitchen, which also teaches Spanish. It's very cute, but very repetative. We also found a 3-in-1 trike, which transitions from a push ride to an early learning trike to an actual tricycle. It's supposed to go from ages 10 months to 3.5 years. I love transitional toys                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I also purchased a wooden IKEA kitchen (as it was one sale) but I'm saving it for when she is potty trained and we can get rid of the changing table (the kitchen can go in that space). I also picked up the Little Ty.kes classic red and yellow car, as it was on sale and I've always wanted one to give to my kid, but I'm saving that for her birthday as I didn't want to go overboard.

I am a little concerned as 'Dress Me Kitty' isn't wearing any underwear...

I have been buying her a lot of books and I suggested books when asked about presents for Kate. Her end table with the built in storage unit is overflowing with books and it's sent me on a search for a hanging book shelf, I've discovered why they're really called board books, it's because parents become bored reading the same stories over and over again. The two exceptions are Olivia and Splat the Cat. These are my favourites and I was so excited to discover there is an entire series with these characters! I think illustrations really make or break a kid's book, as the storylines can be so random. Olivia's drawings follow a pretty basic format, but they capture so much expression. Splat's are more detailed and I feel that I'm often discovering a new feature. It makes me appreciate what writing and illustrating children's books is harder than it might seem.

Seriously. I can't get enough of Olivia.

Oh, she loves her Daddy. There are days when she just wants to be around him and wants nothing to do with me. At first I didn't mind, I actually enjoyed having a bit of a break. Now, I'm starting to get a little jealous. Actually, while Husband is holding her, she'll extend one of her arms toward me and invite me in for a group hug. It melts my heart over and over again. She's also started expression affection with kisses. 

She is still pretty fascinated with the vacuum. It's not like the newborn days when I'd clean the floors multiple times a day just to make her calm, but it keeps her engaged as an activity. Recently she started pushing her air popper while I'm vacuuming, which is great as I can't hear the annoying noise.

Finally, she loves the Hamster Birthday card. Back in September, Myrtle sent Husband a musical birthday card that features a spinning hamster. She wrote something to the effect of 'I hope this card isn't too annoying..' Annoying? Kate absolutely loves it. It can break her out of a meltdown and it can keep her occupied during a diaper change. We fucking love it. I went to Hal.mark to get a back up.

Milestones: The language explosion has started! Her most frequent words are 'bubble' and 'apple' but every now and then she'll throw something random such as 'meatball'. She's also calling Tyler 'ai-la'. The other day I was getting her out of her car seat while dropping her off at Day Care and she spotted her friend and called "Lilly". I was so excited, I had to text Husband to share it with him. When does this get old? I mean, I learn a new word everyday thanks to push notifications from my dictionary app and my parents don't give a shit. I'm fascinated by the simplist actions or behaviors she demonstrates. She opened her travel food mat and tried to press the suction cups to make it stick and I was so impressed. While we were baking scones and watching The Sound of Music, I gave her a piece of a scone. She opened the container drawer, picked our a small plastic blue bowl, placed her scone in it and walked over to her chair, where she sat down and started eating while watching the movie. I was in awe. She's becoming such a little person!

Her other accomplishements include blowing her nose. The only trouble with this, is that she doesn't know how to reuse a piece of tissue and she tore through an entire box of Kleenex on her own. She's mastered climbing into her high chair on her own and she can now fasten and unfasten the snaps herself. I know where this is heading, all attempts at safety and security are going to be rendered useless. Although when I buckle her in the shopping cart, I often reflect that we never had safety straps on carts when I was young enough to ride in the cart and I lived to tell about it. I'm waiting for the day when I become the mom who is late to everything because my kid insisted on fastening herself in her car seat. Not really a milestone, but I'm just including as it's impressive, she's mastered the Maggie Simpson walk. As it became warmer, we stopped putting her in the sleep sacks, so I was curious to see what she would do as she's learned to walk in that time. No problem, she can motor along in her sleep sack. It's really cute.  

Not too impressed after her first Little Turkeys Dash

Clothes; While they have the most adorable baby clothes, I'm finding that I'm not too impressed with the toddler selection at Car.ter's. Gap has been a great source for stylish and high quality clothes. While I was Christmas shopping they were having a mystery box sale, where you could select a coupon offering 20-50% your total purchases. I got a 40% coupon, so I had to take advantage of that. My parents got us a Car.ter's gift card, but I'm tempted to take it to the store where you can turn gift cards into cast and hit the Gap outlet. I was finally able to get her a bath robe. I noticed that bathrobe sizes go from newborn to 9 months, then nothing until 2T. Gahh! I can't believe we're in 2T already, but what a way to break into a new size with something as adorable as this:

Health Issues: She recovered from HFMD uite quickly, but just after Christmas she picked up a cough and runny nose. Although the cold only lasted two days, Husband and I knew what was coming next. She becomes cranky and fussy and then doesn't want to eat. She develops a fever and a trip to Urgent Care confirms her ear infection. She cut her finger this weekend, it was on my watch, I was letting her play with some plastic containers from the recylcing bin and I forgot I stuck and empty cat food can in one of them. Of course, she cuts her pinkie finger on the can. Lessons learned; recycling is not a safe playing space and liquid bandaids are a must for a toddler!

Looking Forward to: Kate is transitioning to the toddler class! Gah! My baby is truly growing up. We're hoping she does well with the change. Fortunately, her "baby friends" Lily and Alex are going with her. Every morning when Kate is fussing about leaving for Day Care, we remind her that she's going to see Lily and Alex. I learned from Alex's mother that she does the same thing when they leave their house. Kate is also going to get to see her boyfriend Greyson again (he moved up in September). She'll be doing more art projects, music lessons and can sign up for soccer in the summer. As a bonus, they'll provide milk, so we don't have to prepare bottles (now sippee cups) each night. Another perk -monthly tuition drops $115 per month

We finally secured getting Kate a passport (at the last minute and had to pay extra for expidited service) as we booked a trip in England in February. Husband and I were discussing how to use our vacation time in 2017 and I mentioned that it would be too much to do a week of our Hawaii time share as we were going to England for two weeks."Two weeks?" he replied "I thought we were only going for one week" [facepalm] We do need to go for two weeks. My in-laws haven't seen Kate since she was four months old, and I feel a bit guilty as my parents see her for extended periods of time a few times per year. We also want to make the rounds and visit with friends, so we really need to spend two weeks, if just to recover from jet lag, adjust to the time change and delay getting back on a plane with a toddler. As Husband has an annual work meeting in New York during late January/early February each year, he's often scheduled his trip across the Atlantic to follow, so it's a cheaper and shorter flight (his company pays his rount trip to New York). A few times, I flew out with him, enjoyed a few days in the City, visited East Coast friends and family. I was considering doing that again, but then I realised I'd be getting off a plane and would be navigating the subway with a stoller and my suitcase. I could Uber, but then I'd have to take the super heavy and awkard car seat (which Husband is going to take). Oh, the fancy-free kid free days. I ditched those plans, but I did coodinate my flight so we'll land in New York and will meet up with Husband at the airport to board for London as there was no way I was going to do a long haul flight on my own.

I've also scheduled my first trip away from Kate. As the UCONN women's basketball team is handily  crushing their opposition in what is supposed to be a rebuilding year, my Dad and I started talking about going to Dallas for the Final Four tournament. I thought we would re-create our Father-Daughter trip from 2014, but at the last minute my mother decided that she wanted to join as she's never been to Dallas. So, my first opportunity for freedom and independence... is a trip with my parents... Actually, I have a few other incentives for visiting Dallas.  Last year, a couple from our gym moved to Dallas. She's pregnant with their first child and is due toward the end of March (conceived on their first attempt). I'm hoping I can visit and meet the baby, but she could be in labour at that time. A good friend of Myrtle's also lives in Dallas (we got to know each other pretty well while planning her shower and we recently reconnected over politics and have been emailing each other. Quite often.) I'm hoping to be able to visit with her, but she has a job interview in Chicago and if she gets the position, she has to move right away. So I may be able to catch up with some old friends, but I may end up with my parents for the whole weekend.

Speaking of Myrtle, I needed to plan some time to see her since I wouldn't be doing my New York stop over. Myrtle is an event planner and runs a major event in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekened each year. I happen to have a medical education conference in Vegas at the same time, so Myrtle offered that I can stay with her. (She needs to be there for almost two weeks, so her company is putting her in a pretty posh suite). Not exactly a rocking Vegas weekend, but I'm hoping to enjoy some good food, a drink or two and spend some time lounging by the pool.  Finally, because it will be here in no time, I've started brainstorming some ideas for Kate's second birthday party. Don't worry, I'm not planning to do any baking. That lession, I learned.

When Will I learn?

Last year, Kate had only been in Day Care for a few weeks before the Holiday season began. I was new on the parenting circuit and I wasn't sure what the protocol for giving gifts to Day Care staff. I sent a basket of goodies from Wine Country Gift Baskets. I didn't receive any response, so I asked the director to confirm if it was delivered. "Oh yes. Thank you." was her simple response. In the December newsletter, she mentioned that she had received requests for the names of all the providers and I noticed there were stockings hung with the names of each provider. I had the impression that we were supposed to do something for each attendant. Gift cards are always the easiest and most practical gift. Which one? Starb.ucks feels too generic. Plus there is not a store near the Day Care Centre and I know not everyone likes their coffee. Tar.get would likely to be used, but it's not really a gift to buy toiletries and laundry soap. Same applies to Ama.zon. Maybe Barnes and Noble? A book is always the right size, but I could see some of the cards going unused. I decided to crowd source a parenting group on Face.book.

Cash!
$$$
Cash Money!
Cash
Cash. $50-$150
Booze! but for reals cash.
Cash and maybe a small gift

Okay. I get the message. Cash is King. Yet, I didn't want to just give cash. (Kathy Griffin did a very funny bit about how her foul mouth mother Maggie only wants cash for her Christmas gift and Kathy describes that it feels like a drug deal as she hands her an envelope full of bills) I wanted to do something creative with the small gift. I am pausing to reflect that while I resent being told that I'm becoming my mother, I seem to be working very hard to be like her. My mother is very creative. She was Etsy before there was Etsy. She can knit, crochet and sew. She had a small side business selling baskets that she made and she used to teach classes on basket making. She used to stencil and do bead work, I learned that nursing wasn't her first career choice, it was the only option that was available to her. She really wanted to be an art teacher, and she would have been really good at it.

Myrtle tried to talk me out of it. She confirmed that giving cash is what is expected. She tried doing cute ideas -giving personalised travel mugs and a gift card to a local coffee store- barely got a response from Little Myrtle's teachers. Last year she just gave cash and received many thanks. "It's just not worth it to make a big effort" she warned my deaf ears. I was determined that I could put together a few small tokens for Kate's attendants without much effort.

I had a $50 gift card to Ba.th and Body Works (BBW) that I received last year and never used, so I hit the travel sized bins to pick up hand cream, hand sanitizer, a candle and a lip gloss. I wanted to put these items in a small mesh bag. I looked in Mich.aels, and two party stores, but didn't find the right sized bag for my needs. I searched on Ama.zon and found the size and colours I was looking for. I had to ask my Dad to be my Ama.zon Prime bitch and order it with two day shipping. I hope he wasn't thinking that I was hinting at an Amazon Prime membership for a Christmas gift, although that would be a great idea. I figured that since Kate likes to put things into bags, she could help with this project. Sort of. She only wanted to put certain items in the bags and wasn't aware that the items really had to be placed in a certain manner. I had to fix some of her work, but quickly assembled the gift bags.

I also wanted to do some baking, so I decided to make some scones to include with the gift bags. I went to Cost.Plus World Market (CPWM) to pick up scone mix and small jars of clotted cream and strawberry jam. I had to bargain to get some Kate-free shopping time, as she would have been the proverbial bull in the china shop. Our local CPWM was out of strawberry jam -they only had apricot, which really wouldn't cut it. I tried looking on line for small jam jars, but couldn't find any. I considered going out to breakfast and stealing a bunch of small jars... I looked on line and found another CPWM about 15 miles away that has strawberry jam in stock. The store is next to a Costco, so I decided I could justify travel for such a small item if I combined a Costco run. I would later learn that the far away Costco doesn't have the same items as my local Costco, so I still didn't complete my shopping needs.

I picked up some money holder cards at Tar.get. The next task was getting some clean new, dollar bills with razor sharp edges. I think this detail separates gift giving from a drug deal. I tried to find some time to go to the back without Kate, but it wasn't happening. Fortunately I found a time when it was not too busy and she could be occupied with her milk. I asked the teller for some new bills. "We're all out." she informed me. "I've been giving them out all morning. You may want to try the branch on XYZ street" I asked her to pick out the best looking bills as I was not about to try another bank.

I placed Kate in her learning tower to watch as I made the scones. The mix is rather fool proof -just add water.  After the scones cooled (and Kate and I tested one) I assembled them along with the clotted cream and strawberry jam into some cute bakery bags I picked up at CPWM (before I found these, I was just going to put them in plain sandwich baggies). Finally, it was time to put the money in the envelopes, place the BBW items and the baked goods into the gift bags. I included some goat soap. There is a man empowered by a wheelchair who travels up and down the Farmer's Market selling home made goat soap. I pick some up every year to give as gifts.

I had Kate do some colouring, so she could contribute to signing the cards. I addressed them to all the attendants whose names I knew off the top of my head. Then I brought up the email with the complete list of names. Somehow I was short by one. I counted the names again on the email. Six. I had six BBW bags, six bag of scones, six goat soaps and six money holder cards. I looked through the names again. The director (who works in the infant room) didn't include herself on the list. F-u-u-u-c-k! I was one bag short. I had already addressed a card and labeled a bag for the director, so I couldn't make an executive decision to give her some thing different. I would have to gather supplies for another bag.

The finished product -only one short!

I loaded Kate into the car and made my first stop to CPWM in a dodgier part of town while it was still light out. Other people had this idea, as I had to circle the car park twice before a spot became available. Kate had fallen asleep, which I knew would screw her up for going to bed, but it also made an easier trip to CPWM. Fortunately, the had the clotted cream and strawberry jam in stock. I checked in with Face.book while I was standing in the queue and saw a news story that a woman was robbed at gunpoint right near the restaurant where we had our department party the previous night. They suggested not shopping at night and not going alone. I began to question why I was doing this. I made it back to my car safely and to my surprise Kate slept through transitioning from her stroller to the car seat. It's only 8 miles to BBW in a straight shot right down the freeway, but my GPS was suggesting it would take 37 minutes due to rush hour traffic. Even with the metering lights no one was getting on the freeway. It was total gridlock. I decided to take a longer route that passed my house as I knew the traffic, although thick, would at least be moving. As I got closer to my exit, I really considered bailing on this whole project and going home; but then the traffic cleared. I pressed on.

I arrived at BBW and fortunately found a close parking spot and as a bonus I found ten dollars on the ground! Things were looking up for me. It was now after 6 PM. Kate woke up after I moved her into her stroller. She quickly ate through her snack as we were in the long line at BBW. She started to cry and fuss and I'm sure people were looking at me and wondering what I was doing out with a young baby at this time of night. Unfortunately there were no stores near BBW to purchase a money holder card. We stopped at a C.V.S on the way home. Poor Kate had soaked through her cloth diaper. I was so focused on running these errands that I forgot about needing to change her. I've become a shit mom in terms of taking care of my daughter while trying to prove what an awesome crafty mom I think I am. Cue feelings of quilt. They didn't have the same card as I had previously purchased, but they had ones with the same red envelope. It would have to do.

I gave Kate a turkey packet so she could start on dinner while I drove home. I fully expected her to spill the packet everywhere, and I would have deserved it. Yet she ate it completely and even screwed the cap back on when she was done. She barely made any mess. She made me so proud and I felt even more guilt. Three hours had passed since we left the house. It was bath night too. I finally put her to bed around 8:15, despite taking an almost hour long nap between 5-6 PM, she was tired and fell asleep quite easily while I finished assembling the gift bags. I used the cash back option while paying for the extra items, so I had more bills to select the best looking ones. I ran them under the iron and found they looked almost knew. I wished I had ironed all the other bills, then I started wondering if I've gone insane. I had to do some left handed scribbling to fake Kate's drawings.

All Seven bags -Completed! 

For those of you who know me in real life, please remind me of this episode next year, if I decided to get creative with my Day Care gifts next year. Cash in an envelope will be just fine.

16.5 Months

How can we be merely weeks from the end of the year?  It's a weird facet of toddler life, the days can seem long, but weeks and months fly by. Once Kate and I returned from the east coast trip, we survived a week of solo parenting and settled into our familiar routine. Baby swim on Saturday morning, sign class in the afternoon. Sunday morning, we hit the Farmer's Market and go grocery shopping before returning home to do meal prep. We have baby music on Tuesday mornings, swim practise and errands in the afternoon. We did some family activities such as touring a pumpkin patch and watching Daddy umpire at the America East Championships.

While I love our routine, it dawned on me that we're a bit isolated. As an only child, I'm quite comfortable in my own company and I often prefer to do errands such as shopping by myself. As my parents were the only one of their friends to have a kid, I didn't have much contact with kids my age while I was growing up. I actually found it easier to interact with adults than my peers. I don't necessarily want that for Kate, so I need to work on setting up playdates for her. Enter Operation Make Some Mom Friends. I was hoping to meet some fellow moms at some baby activities, but at baby music most kids are accompanied by a nanny or grandparent. Our Day Care has a social event for kids and parents once a month. It's usually at 4 PM on a Friday afternoon, so Husband attends while I'm at work. I was able to attend the Halloween party in October, as I was out of the office attending a medical education conference that day. However, it really wasn't conducive to mingling with other parents. They combined all the classes (infants through pre-K) and involved both locations, so it was a big gathering. Many parents were in costumes, which made it hard to identify anyone from Kate's class. I ran into one of my swim teammates who was there with his 4 year old daughter. It turns out that we don't have much in common other than swimming. I recently reconnected with my friend Amy, who has a son just two weeks younger than Kate. I've exchanged numbers and I've been texting with some moms from  music and sign classes, but it's hard as they'll often suggest activities on a Wednesday or Thursday. I have to explain that I'm not a real SAMH. I only play one on Tuesdays.

Stats: 31 inches 24 lbs 14 oz

Teeth: The Molars are erupting! It seems that she cut all four molars (right and left, top and bottom) at once. She is finally cutting the lower right front tooth

Hair: Her hair is getting thicker in the back and she has a little whispy curl. It's starting to remind me a little bit of my mother-in-law. My MIL has very thin hair (she's practically bald) and she does a bit of a comb over from the back. I know I'm very fortunate to have naturally thick hair, but if I didn't. I'd invest in a good wig.

Sleep: So in my last update, I was fretting about switching from her infant seat to her car seat as I enjoyed taking advantage of all those times she fell asleep in her infant seat. I returned from my east coast trip during the last week in September and I was planning to do the car seat trade in before October 1st. It was unseasonably warm during the week I returned, and when I went to the pool on my first day off after my return (with Kate sleeping in the infant seat) It was one of the most glorious days I can remember. The warm sun was shining so bright, the water sparkled. The main set wasn't too painful! Must-hold-on-to-this! So, I bailed on swapping the car seat that weekend, I was determined to utilize the infant seat for as long as possible. However the next week when I took her to the pool, she wouldn't fall asleep. I placed her in the stroller and gave her some toys, a bottle and some snacks. My coach would check on her every now and then, but she was content in her stroller watching my team practice. I got to complete the entire work out! I relented and went to get the new car seat the following weekend. So far we're 5 for 5 transferring her sleeping in the car seat to stroller, but we're 0 for 2 transferring her from the car seat to her crib.

Overall sleep is still going well, but changing the clocks back from Daylight Savings Time totally kicked our ass. It took over a week to get her to sleep past 6 AM. Seriously, let's not do that again. Gain an extra hour of sleep? Not if you have kids. Actually, I couldn't get her to go down for a nap on Sunday as she was overtired from being awake at 4:45. I would put her down in her crib and she would scream and if I picked her up she'll fall asleep within seconds. I was so tired that I decided to break my rules and I saw in our rocker and let her fall asleep in my arms. I dozed off and enjoyed a delightful afternoon nap. I think it was the first in 16 months that I napped when she did.

Eating: I need to be a bit more adventurous as she really surprises me with what she can eat. She loves eating orange slices (and will sometimes try to eat the rind). One day when I was holding her close to our fruit bowl, she reached out and grabbed an apple. At first she just seemed to play with it, but then started biting into it and ate about half of it. Going to the Farmer's Market is much more fun as she can sample the produce. Eating at Chipolte has became a regular stop while doing our weekend errands, as it has to be one of the best menus for a toddler. She's getting better at using a fork. She'll hold the fork in one hand and load her food on to it with the other, until she gets frustrated and throws the fork on the floor and starts shoveling with her hands. Still, it entertains her for a while while I'm trying to cook dinner while she's eating. We're gearing up for the sippee cup transition. I think I finally have the cups in place. Somedays if she's in a good mood, she'll drink her milk in a cup; if she's cranky, it has to be in a bottle. ...This is going to be fun...

Milestones: She's picked up a few more words and signs. One of those words is 'dirty'. When we go to the park, if her hand gets some sand on it, she'll hold it out for me to brush off and will say 'dirty'. I'm still a little concerned about her having OCD. Husband actually has a mild expression of OCD. One of his issues is leaving doors open. It drives him nuts to see a door ajar. Even if you may be cooking, and you open up a cabinet and leave it open as you're going to put the olive oil right back... nope. Door must be closed, even if you're going to open it again ten seconds later. I've threatened that if I die before him, I'll haunt him by opening all the cabinet doors. I've twice caught Kate pushing closed a door that was barely cracked open. She's really mimicking our behaviour. As Husband has been working a lot of umpire assignments and I haven't been able to go to the gym, I decided to do some push-ups one morning while she was playing in her room. I looked over to see her doing baby mini push-ups. One day, she spilled milk all over the floor (my bad for not tightening the lid) and as I was wiping up the milk, I looked over to see that she had also grabbed a tea towel and was rubbing it on the floor. Finally, I can put her to work! She is starting to help with laundry. If I hand her items, she'll load the washer and she'll empty the dryer for me. She also likes to collect my bed clothes from the bathroom and bring them into my room to put in our hamper. Yeah, my kid totally has OCD.

Likes: We're lucky that there are a few different baby gyms and play cafes in our area, but it always seems that when we have a free day and try to go; they're closed for a private event, or closed Sundays. I saw this play tunnel at Ikea and thought it would be a way to bring a play structure home. It has been the best $25 I have ever spent at Ikea.

She also likes her Magnet doodle. I thought it was time for her to work on holding a pen and scribbling and this is the cleanest toy to achieve that objective. I've been recognising that I've had to upgrade some of her toys to match her new developmental levels (she's probably going to learn how to play that card when she gets a bit older).

Another good Ikea value

I'm sure this is meant to be a smock for art projects;

Right now it works for us in lieu of a bib

Dislikes: She does not like being in the stroller for an extended period of time. You can only keep her pacified with a bottle or some snacks for so long, before she absolutely looses her shit and wants out. She'll kick and she's figured out how to free her arms from the straps. I've been working on letting her walk out in public a bit more, but it can't be in a store (she'll pull items off the shelf) or near cars (she's been turning away when I try to hold her hand and twice I had to run after her). I may have to get one of those backpacks that has a l-e-a-s-h....

Clothing: She still has a few 9 month onesies that still fit. Yes, I am totally clinging to those as a way to keep her as a baby. Some of her clothes are 18-24 months. 18-24 months. I just got used to her clothing sizes being in double digits. I picked up some adorable shoes from Carter's, only to discover that while Carter's makes good clothes; their shoes are of the same quality standards. They fall apart quickly, they seem to be full of sand. I decided I needed to get shoes from a proper shoe company, so I bought two pairs made by Stride.Rite. One cost $29.99, the other $19.99. This is more than I would spend on shoes for myself. So far it's been money well spent as these shoes are high quality and just as adorable. (see the boots in the top picture)

Diapering: I've been joking that between her drooling and peeing, Kate can solve California's drought problem. She's been wetting through her cloth diapers almost hourly and often will soak through her clothes. At least two or three nights per week, she'll soak through her super absorbent disposable night time diaper. I just recently picked some some absorbency boosters to use with her cloth diapers as well as over night, so hopefully they will help. Speaking of help, in the early newborn days, Husband was great about being on diapering duty. As she got older, it was seemingly less so. While we were on vacation in Hawaii, I took note that he wouldn't do any diaper changes on his own. He would help me at times. He would identify if she was poopy and needed a change (which he would insist required both of us), but never did he change a wet diaper on his own. While my parents were visiting, he observed "Your Dad seems to get out of diaper duty -that's supposed to be my trick!". He will change her, but he needs prompting. Unless there is an obvious odor, it just doesn't register to him 'oh it's been a few hours since she was last changed, I bet she'd like a fresh, dry diaper.' Anyway. Our Day Care was closed on Columbus Day, so he took the day off to look after her. She pooped five times that day. Really messy ones too. He had to change her all on his own. I've never been so proud of her. Twice, she has actively shat on the changing table while he's been changing her -something she's never done for me.

Health Issues: After months of really good health (last ear infection was in early August) the streak was broken by Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. On Thrusday, we got the call from Day Care reporting that she had a fever. She had received her flu shot on Tuesday, so I thought it could have been a delayed vaccine reaction, but when I got home, she really looked poorly. She didn't want her night time bottle and instead just cuddled in my arms. Friday morning, she was afebrile and back to her usual self, so we sent her off to Day Care. As he was getting her dressed, Husband noted a blotchy patch on her thigh, which he thought may have been a reaction to the band-aid from her flu jab. I thought it was possible, but I was pretty sure the nurse injected her in the other leg. Plus she has had multiple band-aids applied from her vaccines and never had any reaction. A few hours later, Day Care called Husband to report that she likely has HFMD. We're on day 2 and so far she seems to be handling it okay. We had a rough night sleeping, but she seems to be eating and drinking okay. We're just waiting to see when she can go back to Day Care.

Looking Forward to: Well, I was looking forward to having a day to myself. Once a month, our Day Care provides baby sitting service. It's usually in the evening, but there are a few times a year when they offer child care during the day. I was planning to use that time to finish some of the renovation projects we started in August. We had to do dry wall repair in the master bath room and for the past four months I've been staring that the primed spots on the wall. The roll of toilet paper is on the floor as we're waiting to finish the painting and re-install the holder. I need to caulk and touch up the trim in the guest room and Kate's room. I need her out of the house to get these things done. Thanks to HFMD, nothing is getting crossed off my to-do list, as I had to keep her home. Focus Jane, your kid is sick, this isn't about you anymore... Still, Damn You HFMD! 

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, we'll be going to my aunt's house. We're going to try to run a 5K on Thanksgiving Day and on the following Saturday (thus so we can earn the Thanksgiving Weekend MEGA medal, as that's what it's really all about) We'll see how she does in the stroller, I'm thinking I'm going to have to try to run faster as she does enjoy people watching while strolling. She's going to be able to participate in the kids Turkey Trot (a 100 yard dash, which features the race's mascot -a Big Bird Sized Turkey who finishes last every year). It will be a bit emotional for me, as for three years (2012-2014) I was newly pregnant watching the kids race and was wipinng away tears as I wondered if I'd ever have my own little turkey to watch in the race. We're also excited about the return of the Gilmore Girls! Oh yes, we will be breaking the no TV rule that weekend!

I'm also getting excited for Christmas and I've already started shopping for her presents. As she likes to push things, I got her a doll who has her own umbrella stroller (and some other accessories). I also discovered that Fisher Price is remaking some of their 'classic' toys, so I picked up the record player, which is probably more for my own nostalgia as I had one. Plus as kids today aren't even going to know what CDs are (let alone cassette tapes or an 8-track!) I figure I need to introduce her to the antique that is a record player. Wow. I just realised how old I am. We also got a starter tricycle that she can use up to 3 years old. As she's been trying to work the zippers on her shoes, I purchased a doll with loads of snaps, zippers and buttons to practice, because you know she needs to work on her dexterity! I really have to reel it in before I go overboard.

"what is this stuff called rain?"

A Year Later, Still Recovering

It was actually one of my patients who told me that it would take a full year to recover from a pregnancy and a C/section. I wrote an update at 6 months, and I had planned to write another when I hit the year mark. Not that it takes much to distract me from writing (I have one in draft that I started in March) but I delayed because I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be and I wanted to give myself a little more time.

Physical Recovery
While it's much better than where I was in January, I still have some pain around my incision. I'm sure my insides turned to cement when they healed after my surgery, which helps confirm our decision to have only one baby. I have the feeling the scar tissue would make a second C/section difficult. My scar is finally starting to fade in spots. My hair stopped shedding, as I noticed that it was taking longer to blow dry in the morning. For the longest time, I still had a bit of a high diastasis. Kate spent much time at the top of my uterus, which may have been following the old wives tale that girls are positioned high, or my low lying placenta prevented her from engaging in my pelvis, but it really separated by upper abdominals. It finally seems to be resolving.

While, I'm so relieved that a year of breastfeeding didn't leave my breasts with the deflated balloon effect, once I started losing weight, they were the first to go. It's actually been a bit distressing. I'm happy to have my flat-ish stomach back and I have a defined waist again, I look at myself in a swimsuit or certain dresses, and I notice that there is something missing. It's brought me back to my 13 year old self conscious state. I'm reliving my teen angst. We're talking this is an Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret "I must, I must, I must increase my bust!" situation. It took years to get over those feelings of insecurity and finally embrace my A cup status. My friends in England even formed a group called the Small Breast Club. The SBC. We figured that if we stuck together, we might actually draw some male attention. Now that I'm married and over 40, I shouldn't care about my chest size anymore. Except now, I've been to the other side. I had voluptuous curves! I had cleavage! I haven't started googling breast augmentation yet, but I am planning to do some Wonderbra shopping.

Weight
As a brief recall, I weighed 135 pounds when I got married 10 years ago. Like many new brides, I gained 10 pounds in our first year of marriage. When I took a new job that increased my commute and decreased gym time, I gained another stubborn 5 pounds. Then we bought our current house and for six months we devoted every measure of free time to renovation projects and ate a lot of take out and crappy microwave meals. My weight went up to 157 lbs. I found my way back to the gym, started swimming and distance running, but could only manage to get the scale down to 150 on a good day. I was happy with that, but as the years passed it was harder to maintain. Once we started fertility treatments, my weight ranged between 152-154. I decided to round up and used 155 as my pre-pregnancy weight. I gained 23 pounds during pregnancy and lost most of it within the first two weeks postpartum. Then the breastfeeding hunger took hold and I became a human eating machine. I found that in order to be a cow, I needed to be a pig. I went though a box of oatmeal raisin cookies per week. I kept them in my car to hide my secret from Husband and to keep him from eating any of my cookies.

I would go throught cycles of feeling guilt and shame over my cookie habit, so I would reduce my caloric intake. Then I'd have a low pumping session and would experience a different form of guilt and shame, so I'd chow down on the cookies again. I had decided not to weigh myself until I was in a position to do something about it. Then around the end of January, curiosity got the better of me. I stepped on the scale and felt a bit of relief that it was 'only' 165. (I was fully expecting to be in the 170s). I knew that the number and my reaction to it were not good in any way. While I knew I wasn't in a position to start losing weight, I figured I could plan my strategery and set my start day after I finished breastfeeding. Then I remembered Amanda at Beloved Burnt Toast (now Burnt Toast Life) wrote about her success with Whole 30. I emailed her and she quickly sold me on Whole 30, as she described, it's not a diet, but a method that teaches you to eat better.  I was hooked.

I'll write a separate post about my Whole 30 experience, but when I started my first attempt in June (which was a miserable failure) I weighed 161 lbs. I did back to back Whole 30s in August and September and finished weighing 151 lbs. (I feel compelled to mention that the focus of Whole 30 is on improving your eating habits and fixing bad relationships with food; not merely weight loss, but this is a section on weight) I can't believe I'm actually below pre-pregnancy weight! Just for fun, I'll step on the scale in the middle of the day, fully clothed and find myself still under pre-pregnancy weight. (At press time, I'm actually at 149. First time under 150 in years) During my heavier days, I had a 'Who Are You Kidding?' purge of my closet. I had been hanging on to a lot of clothes on the promise of "if I lose some weight, I'l fit into them again!" Some were from my days when I weighed in the 130s. That was over 10 years ago. I decided they needed to go, purely from a fashion standpoint. I also got rid of my going out clothes. It was time to face reality. I'm married, over 40 and I've had a baby via C/section. I figured that if I ever did lose the weight, I could treat myself to some new clothes. I'm not sure if it was accidentally or subconsciously intentional, but I recently discovered an old pair of jeans that didn't get tossed. (They didn't fit me pre-pregnancy, but my regular pre-pregnancy jeans are now too big) I decided to try them on, but prepared myself to be disappointed. They fit. It felt so satisfying,

Yet these numbers and clothes sizes only tell one aspect of the story. I recently did a body fat test. Every four months, our gym offers body fat testing in a water dunk tank (considered to be the best and most accurate form of testing). My prior test was in February of 2014, which was the month I ran two half marathons. My weight was 155 and my body fat percentage was 24.5. This time around (after a stim cycle and retrieval, 4 FETs, 39 weeks of pregnancy and 1 year of breastfeeding) my weight was down to 152, but my body fat percentage was 26.9% (which the guy administering the test graciously rounded up to 27%). I've lost 6 pounds of muscle and gained 3 pounds of fat. So, this news burst my bubble about old clothes fitting again and getting into sub 150 territory. Yet, I feel optimistic that I may actually reach my best body state after the age of 40 and after a baby. I have set some goals for my next body fat test in February.

Cross-Fit
Much like my pre-Kate life, I'll go in cycles with Cross-Fit. I'll go regularly for a while and work on a new skill or reach a PB. Then life gets in the way, I can't make it into the gym for a while, and when I go back, I feel like I'm starting over. I sustained a weird back injury in January and had to rest for a few weeks. When I ready to work out again, I started bringing Kate to the gym. Our box offers the option of 'open gym' where you can do a self directed work-out. I had felt intimidated by the people who do open gym, as most of them are elite athletes, for whom the Work Out of the Day (WOD) is too easy. Then one of the strongest female lifters explained, "No, it's just about getting in and getting your stuff done." I came up with 'The Baby WOD', I would give Kate a bottle or a pouch while I would row a 5K, then do 50-75 wall balls and 10 pull ups. I get in some cardio and strength and work every major muscle group. Sometimes Husband would join us and we'd trade off working out and watching Kate, although this was only feasible in her pre-walking days. Around the end of April, our WOD was an AMRAP (As Many Rounds as Possible) of pull ups, push ups and double unders. I was determined to Rx it (do the work out 'as prescribed' -no modifications) even if I did only one round. I actually managed 4 rounds (others in the class did anywhere from 5 to 7), but they clapped and cheered for me when I announced that my score was Rx'd. It was a good moment.

You can imagine how the rest of the story goes. We went to Hawaii in May, which meant I didn't make it in to the gym in the preceding week as I was running too many errands to prepare for our trip and I didn't go the following week as I was catching up on errands after being away for a week. Then I was diagnosed with pneumonia and like my back injury, it took a few weeks to recover; and then my return was delayed due to Kate's birthday party. When my parents came to visit in August, I was able to get into the gym more regularly. We've worked into a routine where I go on Thursday evenings and Sunday morning. After a few weeks, I was able to do a strict pull up again. (Our gym teaches kipping techniques to make pull ups faster and more efficient, but they require that you can do strict before you kip) A week or so later, I attended a class that involved doing 50 pull ups. I figured I would try to do 25 on my own, and the other 25 with bands, but thought to myself that 20/30 was probably more realistic. Working in sets of five, I was able to easily bust out four rounds to complete 20 pull ups. I felt pretty good, so I decided to keep going. I also noticed I was the only woman doing real pull ups.  I did two more sets of five to reach 30. I had to start breaking into three and two, but I brought my total to 40. At this point I was the last person still on the rig, but I didn't care. I was so excited about what I had achieved. It was a huge PR for me. I used the bands for the final 10 just so I would finish the entire WOD on time.

As the story goes, Husband left for the east coast for two and a half weeks (Kate and I joined him for one week), so once again my gym time has been limited. Yet to my surprise, on my first day back, I found that I hadn't lost my pull-ups! I've come to accept that I have to make my work outs more efficient and effective, since I don't always know if I'll be able to fit them in. There are areas where I'm still struggling. My stamina is lacking (and I can't blame it on breastfeeding) and there have been many classes where I've been the last person to finish. I'm trying to convince myself that I can only improve and I'll focus on one thing each class to use as a benchmark. I'm trying to lift heavier, even if it's just one kilogram at a time.

Swimming
One of the things I knew I was going to miss most about maternity leave was being able to swim at noon almost every day. I coordinated Kate's nap to occur during practice time, so I could leave her sleeping poolside while I swam under the warm California sun. I was so determined to go back to swimming at 6 AM when my leave ended that I paid my monthly fee for November. It never happened. There just wasn't enough time in the morning to either pump or nurse. It just wasn't going to work out. When I started taking Tuesdays off, I considered going back to the noon class, but swimming just once a week seemed inadequate. Thus, I took a nine month hiatus from swimming while I was breastfeeding. Just as I was contemplating returning to the 6 AM class in August while my parents were visiting, my coach somehow convinced me to swim on a few relays in a meet. To my surprise, I actually swam faster than two other women who had been practicing regularly. Although, to be fair, I am a faster swimmer when I'm fit. Still, I know I would have resented someone who showed up out of the blue and was faster than me; so I acknowledge I had become what I hate.

So I started swimming in the morning, with the exception of Monday and Friday, as I start work earlier those days. Tuesdays I can stay for the entire class. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I'll get out at 6:45 and shower on the pool deck. I turn on the heat in my car to start to dry my hair as I drive home. I get home at 7:15 to find Husband giving Kate her breakfast (hopefully she's slept to 6:30 or later or else Husband may be grumpy. Oh well, too bad) Kate will play in the bathroom while I dry my hair, then I get dressed while Husband dresses Kate and then we're ready to go. On time. Sometimes actually early. Our morning routine is smoother and more efficient on swimming days. It makes me wish that I had gone back sooner. It's also easier than pre-Kate life, where I'd have to toss my wet towel and suit in the dryer when I got home at the end of the day. Then I'd have to pack my swim bag including my work clothes and make up as I'd leave for work from the pool. It was very time consuming. Now, when I get back from the pool, I can hang my towel and suit to dry in the garage and then I just grab it on my way out the next morning. On Tuesdays, I'll bring Kate to the pool at noon, and if I get a second swim session done, it's a bonus. We go to baby music from 10:30 -11:30, and she'll usually fall asleep on the drive to the pool. So far there's only be one day that she had a meltdown and I had to leave early. I'm not sure what we'll done once the colder and rainy months hit, but for now, this is working.

I soon found that while I was able to produce a decent sprint time in a relay, swimming for 45 minutes or an hour as a structured practice was a different story. It was humbling and reminded me of my early days where I could barely make it through a session or even needed a scaled workout. I've also discovered that my swimming is much better at noon than in the morning. I've struggled or hated a morning workout, but breezed through it at noon. I recently competed in a meet and overall felt satisfied with how I did. I had to accept that I was probably right where I was last year (I resumed swimming around August, I was three months postpartum, but I had been swimming during most of my pregnancy.) Last year, I had somehow managed to score a PR in my 50 Free, so I was hoping to set a new PR this year. I fell short of that goal, but I got my second best 50 Fly time ever (and event I haven't swam in two and a half years) so I was pleased with that. I'm determined that my times can only improve. However I'm now in a new age group with some fast 40+ year old women.

Running
When my parents arrived for their month long stay in August, I announced my intention to start swimming in the mornings. Completely out of the blue, my mother said to me, "So there's no field hockey. There is no tennis." What the fuck? I haven't played field hockey in over three years. I was stimming/early pregnant and postpartum for the past few seasons and the league gained a lot of younger more skillful players and I was feeling out of depth. Additionally, I haven't played tennis in over two and a half years since I haven't really found a local place to play. I could have replied with a rational answer to simply acknowledge that no, I haven't played field hockey or tennis in years, even pre-Kate. However there was something about hearing my mother say 'no' to an activity that set off a trigger. I felt like a little girl who was being chastized. So, I replied with a nasty response that I was 40 years old and [my mother] couldn't tell me what to do anymore.

My Dad quickly jumped to my mother's defense, proclaiming that it wasn't her intention to tell me what I could or couldn't do. (Really? because it sounded a lot like that). My mother should have left it there, but she felt the need to hammer home her point. "You can't do it all Jane. There's just not enough time for everything." NO SHIT. That's why I'm not trying to do it all. I gave up those other two sports years ago. For some reason, Husband decided to support my mother's position by adding "Unless you want to be one of those women who never sees her kid." I DON'T. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT TRYING TO PLAY THESE OTHER SPORTS. WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU BRINGING THIS UP? Husband did feel the need to explain why I stopped playing hockey, by telling my parents that I'm not very good as the league standard has improved. Thanks honey, I am well aware of my lack of skill.

My mother started crying crocodile tears, as she thought my reaction was so harsh and unfair to her. As it seemed that Husband and my father were supporting her while I felt that I was the one being persecuted. I felt the need to establish that I was the victim. I threw back that I was hurt over the fact that she was pointing out what I couldn't do and not acknowledging what I AM doing. This was something typical for my mother. When I was growing up, she could give me a list of 10 chores to do while she was away. If I only completed nine by the time she came home, she would immediately pick out the one task that I didn't do before she would comment on the ones I finished. In turn, my mother informed me that I should be focusing on swimming as there are many health benefits to swimming, as well as Cross-fit as lifting is good for strength. (She proceeded to lift an imaginary barbell). Once again, I should have left it alone, but I felt compelled to remind her that she can't tell me what to do; and furthermore I felt it was completely insulting and patronizing to have a non-swimmer and non-lifter explain the benefits of these activities. I know their benefits. That's why I figured out on my own that I can work swimming and Cross-fit into my life as a working mother and I'm not trying to do anything else. I then abruptly left the table and excused myself to my room (because that's mature). If Kate hadn't been sleeping, I would have slammed my door. Yes, immature, but very satisfying.

Anyway, I'm recounting this story as I'm still pissed off (just in case that wasn't clear) and to emphasize that I've largely had to drop running. (Fortunately, my mother didn't bring that up, otherwise we probably wouldn't be speaking to each other today). I stopped running while pregnant as I had developed plantar fascitis and with my placenta issues, I feared bleeding on a long run. Without any training, I completed a 10K last Thanksgiving and I planned to do my traditional New Year's Day 10 K run, but freezing cold tempertures encouraged me to ring in the New Year from my nice warm bed. As my parents gave us a jogging stroller for a Christmas gift, Kate and I ran our first 5 K around Valentine's Day. We were also scheduled to run another 5K on St Patrick's Day, but there was an extraordinary rain storm that kept us home. A week later, I participated in a marathon as part of a relay team and truly struggled. At one point, I couldn't keep up with the 13 min/mile pacer who was running a half marathon. (I'm omitting the fact that he was probably in his late 60s). I used to be a faster runner than one of my teammates, but I have no doubt that she beat my time (on a harder part of the course too). I could no longer run a 10 K on a whim.

It prompted me to start training on a regular basis. After baby sign, Kate and I would take a 3 mile stroll around Lake Merritt. There aren't too many races scheduled in April, so our next race was over Memorial Day weekend. It was another struggle. Kate was completely fussy in the pram, so I had to stop often to offer her food or a bottle. I can apply some blame to Kate, but I felt relived to be walking in bits. A few days later I was diagnosed with pneumonia and felt relieved to have another explanation for my performance.

After recovering from pneumonia, I decided to resume training (with Kate and the jogging stroller) by starting from the begining. Going out to run just one mile, next week two miles. That didn't last long as Kate's birthday party fell upon us. I signed up for a 10 K in early August and talked my parents into pushing Kate along for the 5 K distance. I actually felt really good for the first four miles, but then began to slow down and wished I had signed up for the 5K. Then I saw an elderly runner fall in front of me. I was the first responder on the scene. He wasn't responsive, but I could hear he was breathing, it actually sounded like he was snoring. As I was trying to feel for a pulse, I saw his face turn purple. I was struck by the fear that this man was dying in front of my eyes. I've participated in code situations, but it's always been in a hospital setting or on my ambulance ride along. I had other professionals, medications a defibrillator, access to a cath lab, cardiothorasic surgeons...This time I was all alone as I started chest compressions. Fortunately I was soon joined by two other runners who helped perform CPR and summon emergency services. The man started breathing again and we were able to regain a pulse. He was alert by the time the EMS crew arrived.

As this race took place on my usual training course, I recently questioned if I had been avoiding doing any training as I don't want to pass by that spot and evoke the memories of witnessing someone's near death. Then I questioned if that wasn't the case at all and I had just invented a convenient excuse as it was easier than facing two other fears. My mother is right. I can't do it all. [Please note, I didn't share the story to seem heroic, I was actually told by one of the other responders that my chest compressions were too slow. She did provide a good tip if you're in the situation. Follow the beat to the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive. "Staying Alive. Staying Alive. Ah, ha, ha, ha Staying Alive, Staying Alive."] Then I remembered the words of one of my swim teammates, "there's no such thing as 'I can't do something'. You find modifications." So my modification is that Kate and I will stick to 5K distances for now. It will be a while before I can think about doing a half. I signed us up to run two 5K races over Thanksgiving weekend. We'll try to fit in a training session.