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!