Saturday, April 15, 2006
Road Trip
We are getting ready to go on vacation. One of the many things on my list of things to do before leaving is to download some music to my ipod so that I'll have something to listen to on our 6 hour journey. So, I started listing to music online this morning, and I am still sitting here listening to music. I am so irritated. The iTunes music store lets you listen to 30 seconds of a song. OK, some songs this works for, but others...not so much. I wish someone could just make a nice road trip mix for me, and be done with it. The bands I like include Death Cab for Cutie, Postal Service, Guster, the Decemberists...you get the idea. I'd like to find other similar bands, so I go through iTunes, and there are like 800 bands to choose from in Indi rock. Well, I don't have time to listen to all these songs. I still have to clean the house and pack, do laundry, get things set for the house/dog sitter, grocery shop, etc. But here I am listening away. I think I'll call it done, and just end up listening to Martin's mixes...sigh.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Middle of the pack
I had a good running weekend. Saturday, I met with the marathon clinic for my weekly "long" run. I almost didn't go. It was cold and rainy. It was also my first chance to sleep in past 6:30a since Chloe was born. But if I am really going to run the marathon, I need to start building up some endurance. So, I forgoed the chance to sleep in, dragged my butt out of bed and headed to NW 23rd. At a distance of 5 miles, the run wasn't exactly long. But, it was the longest I've run since pre-Chloe, so I felt pretty good about that. The out and back route was up hill for the first 2.5 miles. It didn't feel as bad as I expected, and I had something left for the end.
Today, I ran the 5k event at Race for the Roses. It felt really good to be back out there, running in a race - my first running race in almost two years. I had forgotten how much fun it is to participate in race...all the people lining up, the countdown, announcing your name as you cross the finish, the medal (yes, medal for a 5k!)... These things can't be duplicated on training runs. Well, I could probably pay some neighborhood kid to countdown for me, and then to yell out my name as I finish my training runs, but I would look like an ass.
Anyway, I ran the 5k with my friend Mary. I was pretty happy with my time. The clock said 30:40 when I crossed the finish, but I am not sure what my actual time was, since I didn't wear a watch, and there was a delay in crossing the start. Anyway, it was somewhere around 30 minutes. So, about a 10 minute/mile pace. Count me as another mid-pack runner. Some things never change. Glad to see I haven't slowed down too much.
Today, I ran the 5k event at Race for the Roses. It felt really good to be back out there, running in a race - my first running race in almost two years. I had forgotten how much fun it is to participate in race...all the people lining up, the countdown, announcing your name as you cross the finish, the medal (yes, medal for a 5k!)... These things can't be duplicated on training runs. Well, I could probably pay some neighborhood kid to countdown for me, and then to yell out my name as I finish my training runs, but I would look like an ass.
Anyway, I ran the 5k with my friend Mary. I was pretty happy with my time. The clock said 30:40 when I crossed the finish, but I am not sure what my actual time was, since I didn't wear a watch, and there was a delay in crossing the start. Anyway, it was somewhere around 30 minutes. So, about a 10 minute/mile pace. Count me as another mid-pack runner. Some things never change. Glad to see I haven't slowed down too much.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Pizza and a milkshake
Chloe is weaned. She loves her new formula, and is doing great on it.
I had grand plans to stay on the Chloe's allergen free diet and pump for a couple of weeks to make sure she would be OK, but being sick last week put an end to that. It wasn't about the food -- it was about all the medicine I was taking, and sleeping through the times I was supposed to pump. By the time I felt better, there was nothing left for Chloe.
It is bittersweet really. I like the convenience of formula, the fact that anyone can feed her, and the fact that I don't have to spend 2 hours each day pumping and sterilizing so that she will have enough for Rose to feed her bottles (I am sure every woman who has ever had to pump will rejoice with me that I've put away the pump for the last time). Most of all, I feel that a huge weight is lifted now that I don't have to micro-analyze everything I am eating, and how it affects her eczema, poop and other allergic issues. But there is something sweet about nursing her that I will miss.
So, when she was weaned an there was no going back, I asked Rose if she would kindly watch Chloe while Martin and I went out for pizza. And a milkshake. So, off we went to my favorite pizza place. I had two very large pieces, piled high with feta cheese and extra parm. Then, we went to Moonstruck, and I got a milkshake. It was good. Really good.
Of course, after months of not consuming any dairy whatsoever (not even baked into things like crackers, bread, etc), I ate a huge amount of cheese and ice cream. Guess what I spent the rest of the day doing? Rolling on the floor groaning and holding my tummy.
It was good, very good, but the aftermath was bad. So, we are back to dairy free...or at least mostly so! Certainly we will always have a dairy free house, but it is nice not to have to worry about what I eat on the outside.
I had grand plans to stay on the Chloe's allergen free diet and pump for a couple of weeks to make sure she would be OK, but being sick last week put an end to that. It wasn't about the food -- it was about all the medicine I was taking, and sleeping through the times I was supposed to pump. By the time I felt better, there was nothing left for Chloe.
It is bittersweet really. I like the convenience of formula, the fact that anyone can feed her, and the fact that I don't have to spend 2 hours each day pumping and sterilizing so that she will have enough for Rose to feed her bottles (I am sure every woman who has ever had to pump will rejoice with me that I've put away the pump for the last time). Most of all, I feel that a huge weight is lifted now that I don't have to micro-analyze everything I am eating, and how it affects her eczema, poop and other allergic issues. But there is something sweet about nursing her that I will miss.
So, when she was weaned an there was no going back, I asked Rose if she would kindly watch Chloe while Martin and I went out for pizza. And a milkshake. So, off we went to my favorite pizza place. I had two very large pieces, piled high with feta cheese and extra parm. Then, we went to Moonstruck, and I got a milkshake. It was good. Really good.
Of course, after months of not consuming any dairy whatsoever (not even baked into things like crackers, bread, etc), I ate a huge amount of cheese and ice cream. Guess what I spent the rest of the day doing? Rolling on the floor groaning and holding my tummy.
It was good, very good, but the aftermath was bad. So, we are back to dairy free...or at least mostly so! Certainly we will always have a dairy free house, but it is nice not to have to worry about what I eat on the outside.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Just like Pavlov and Other Miscellaneous Things
Maverick would have done well as one of Pavlov's dogs. If he is laying there and you want him to do something he doesn't want to do, he will ignore you like he is deaf. But, I move the high chair in preparation to feed Chloe, Maverick comes running from the far corners of the house and skids to a stop, jaw hanging, panting, tongue sticking out with drool dripping on the floor. He sits there expectantly every single time.
We have been trying finger foods with Chloe. It's funny, because usually she puts everything in her mouth, especially things you don't want in her mouth like the fireplace poker, or the ties on her dad's shoes. But you give her freshly cooked organic veggies and they go straight off her high chair and into Maverick's mouth. It's now become a game. She will strain as far as she can toward the side to get a look at him and drop a piece of food. At first, I thought it was coincidence. Then, she did it again, and again. Each time she looked at me for acceptance. I finally said, "Are you feeding the dog on purpose?" She laughed, and promptly reached over the side and dropped another piece of food. She only does that when the dog is there. I thought it was funny at first. Now I am afraid I have sanctioned a very bad habit.
In other news...I started training for the marathon. Last week I did really well. I ran 12 .6 miles. If I double that and run it all at once, it will be a marathon. I have a long way to go, but really, I was pretty happy with the runs. I made it out to run 4 out of 7 days, and each run was easier then the last. Chloe even rode along quietly twice in her BOB. That's progress. I was looking forward to logging more miles this week (I need to work up to 40-50 mile weeks), but then I got sick.
I rarely get sick. Actually, the last time I remember getting this sick was about 4 or 5 years ago during a business trip to Ottawa. Usually Martin is the one who gets sick, and he is a generally very good patient and a fast healer. But like most women, true or not, I believe I handle illness better, and usually feel annoyed when he is sick. Actually, I usually wish that I would be sick instead of him, secretly believing that if I am sick, we'll still be operating as "normal" whereas when he is sick, he takes time out to rest (You figure out why he is a fast healer, and I am not). Anyway, that's not how it worked this time. I was sick, and I wished it were him instead of me. Until he caught it too, one day after me. We laid there with fevers holding hands while Rose watched Chloe and said, "This sucks."
Thankfully Chloe doesn't have it. At least, not yet.
Anyway...I am feeling better now, as is Martin. I may try a short run tomorrow. We'll see. I am bummed I had to take this training break just after I got into a good routine, but am thankful it wasn't right before the marathon!
We have been trying finger foods with Chloe. It's funny, because usually she puts everything in her mouth, especially things you don't want in her mouth like the fireplace poker, or the ties on her dad's shoes. But you give her freshly cooked organic veggies and they go straight off her high chair and into Maverick's mouth. It's now become a game. She will strain as far as she can toward the side to get a look at him and drop a piece of food. At first, I thought it was coincidence. Then, she did it again, and again. Each time she looked at me for acceptance. I finally said, "Are you feeding the dog on purpose?" She laughed, and promptly reached over the side and dropped another piece of food. She only does that when the dog is there. I thought it was funny at first. Now I am afraid I have sanctioned a very bad habit.
In other news...I started training for the marathon. Last week I did really well. I ran 12 .6 miles. If I double that and run it all at once, it will be a marathon. I have a long way to go, but really, I was pretty happy with the runs. I made it out to run 4 out of 7 days, and each run was easier then the last. Chloe even rode along quietly twice in her BOB. That's progress. I was looking forward to logging more miles this week (I need to work up to 40-50 mile weeks), but then I got sick.
I rarely get sick. Actually, the last time I remember getting this sick was about 4 or 5 years ago during a business trip to Ottawa. Usually Martin is the one who gets sick, and he is a generally very good patient and a fast healer. But like most women, true or not, I believe I handle illness better, and usually feel annoyed when he is sick. Actually, I usually wish that I would be sick instead of him, secretly believing that if I am sick, we'll still be operating as "normal" whereas when he is sick, he takes time out to rest (You figure out why he is a fast healer, and I am not). Anyway, that's not how it worked this time. I was sick, and I wished it were him instead of me. Until he caught it too, one day after me. We laid there with fevers holding hands while Rose watched Chloe and said, "This sucks."
Thankfully Chloe doesn't have it. At least, not yet.
Anyway...I am feeling better now, as is Martin. I may try a short run tomorrow. We'll see. I am bummed I had to take this training break just after I got into a good routine, but am thankful it wasn't right before the marathon!
