Working on my balance.

I went back to work a little over a week ago. I am slowly trying to figure out a way to balance my life so that I can spend time with Scout, run, cook, be a good wife to Hunter, and maybe do some reading (I'm working on the last book in "The Hunger Games" trilogy. How I love tween fiction.). I feel like most of my free time at this point is spent washing bottles and parts to my breast pump (TMI maybe? After childbirth, it feels like nothing is TMI. I actually used the words "breast pump" in a conversation with my grandpa last week. I never thought that would happen and it was as weird as one might expect).

Last week I ran only 12.5 miles. I was going to try to get out on Sunday for a long-ish run to make it a nice, clean, even 20, but it snowed and I found almost every excuse in the book to avoid running. Of course, like always happens, I regretted it by the end of the day. So for my first almost-full week of work, I didn't run until today--Thanksgiving. The Drumstick Dash was calling my name. I ran with some great friends and had some great conversation. Since all of my runs since Scout was born have been on my own, talking and running simultaneously proved challenging, but I made it. I, like always, was talking loudly and maybe about inappropriate things, but whatever, I had a great time.

This week I'm hoping to get in maybe around 20 miles (kind of like I've said the last 2 weeks). I'm also trying to get in some knitting for a Christmas present--most of my knitting is getting done when I am pumping (the hands-free pumping bra has changed my life!). I'm also hoping to finish the last book in "The Hunger Games" series because I've got book club in about a week and a half. We are working on a new way to get Scout to sleep at night which has proven challenging on some nights but she is, thus far, proving adaptable. She's so great. And big. With cheeks that rest on her shoulders. Perfect for kissing and smooshing up against my cheeks. I have felt lately like when I get home she looks at me like, "Where have you been all day, lady?" But I usually get to squeeze out a few giggles before I put her in the tub, put on her jammies, and then get to the business of putting her into bed. Hunter (who was number 4 on the list above, though he beat out reading!) has been ever-so-helpful in calming my fears that Scout won't remember me and think that someone else is her mommy.

Here is Scout on her 3-month birthday!

I'm sure EVERYBODY wants to read about my life...

So I decided to start a blog. About what, you ask? I'm not sure. A little bit of everything. I am a new mom (my little gal was born in August. She's fantastic.) and I want to keep doing what I love in addition to trying to fake it as a parent. Running is one of my passions and I am hoping to keep it a part of my life as I go back to work after 12 glorious weeks off with my babe. I also hope to keep in balance some parenting, running, yoga, working, reading, playing with my baby, cooking good vegetarian food, knitting, pancake eating (the first of what is likely many "Modern Family" references. I love that show), and trying new things. I know it's going to be difficult. But I also know it's not impossible.

I want the blog to be an online account of what I plan to do in terms of running & racing. If it's in writing, I can be held accountable for all the things I want to do. I plan to post what kind of training I'm doing, what I'm training for, etc. that way if I don't do a run I have to broadcast it to the world (or again, likely just me because I might be my only blog follower). I'll also probably post about random things such as any interesting recipes I've tried, places I've gone, books I've read, knitting projects or any other crafty things I might try (I have a dream of crafty but mostly I just make crap. Sometimes it's crafty, but mostly it's crap).

I also want this to be a journal for my daughter to look at some day. I want her to know that in order to be a mother and be fully devoted to your children, keeping a sense of self is important, too. I don't want her to think that in order to have children she has to give up what she loves and makes her happy. She's already taught me more about myself, my husband, life, boobs and poop than I ever thought I'd know and I am forever grateful. I can't even imagine what the rest of my parenting years have in store.

Enjoy!