You Don't Have to Go Fast … You Just Have to Go

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I DID IT!!!

I am now a Couch-to-5K graduate!

Couch-to-5K Plan

Getting back in shape after baby number two has proven a lot more difficult for me. … Perhaps it has something to do with spending the greater part of three years being pregnant. Still, I seemed to bounce back last time with quick results once I started working out, so I have been somewhat disappointed. At the beginning of June, I decided to start running, even though I haven't run consistently since before I got pregnant with Kieran. And (let's be honest here) the longest I have ever stuck to a consistent running schedule is a couple of months. Oh, and did I mention that I had never run more than a mile and I detested the very thought of that?

I started with one-mile runs; my goal was to work on decreasing my mile times. My first run was June 6th, and a couple of days later, I posted this on facebook:

The other night, I ran for probably the first time in thee years (I've exercised, just no running). My time to run just one mile was awful. Tonight, I ran for the second time, and my mile decreased by 45 seconds. ...Maybe there's hope for me yet. 

My first mile was an impressive 12 minutes, people! At one point, I think I got down to 10:30, but a few weeks in a friend told me about the Couch-to-5K (C25K) plan; I looked into it and jumped in at week four. I was kind of glad I got to skip all of the really boring-looking intervals. Since I don't have a smartphone, I had to map out my runs ahead of time and keep track of my intervals myself. And since I am incredibly, incredibly slow (shout out to all my friends who have never reached five feet), I decided to train based on distance, rather than time.

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Some runs have been wonderful, but many have been hard. I am super stubborn, so that works in my favor, but I want to be so much faster than I actually am. And the more I run, the better I feel in some aspects, but old injuries and aches and pains seem to enjoy paying me a not-so-friendly visit. However, I do love the challenge and the feeling I get when I meet one of my goals.

Never in my life have I ran two miles. I did it for the first time today and was hoping I would come in at or under 20 minutes. I finished in 25:08--but by that time, I was just glad I finished at all!

And, of course, the final goal:

COUCH-TO-5K COMPLETE!!! Three miles in 36:22. #C25K #fitforlife #insertinspirationalfitnessmantrahere

I'm so glad I started this journey and proved to myself that I could do something I never thought I could or would do. I am not sure that I will ever classify myself as a runner (I know, I know, "You run. You're a runner."), and while I have lofty ideas of someday doing a 5K to 10K training, I am not sure my poor joints are built for long distances. Whatever challenge I take on next, I know that when I get discouraged I can look back on this one and say, "Remember what you did there?"

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Moving, Talking, and Pizza

We spent the end of July moving down the block to a three-bedroom apartment in our same complex. And, while staying in our area made things easier, not taking any time off of work, having a 16-month-old boy to chase after, and being six months pregnant certainly did not make things any easier. Still, we are very, very thankful for all the help my in-laws gave us, and we love having all of the extra room. I am excited to slowly transition into moving Kieran's things into the nursery as I collect new (well, probably used) things for his little boy's room. :)

Our little man is getting so big and is always on the move these days! This week he is cutting two canines, so he will have 10 teeth now. His vocabulary is expanding, although you may need Mom and Dad to interpret to be able to understand him. :) Besides "Mama" and "Dada", he also says "crack" for crackers, "book", "truck", and "cup". He also says silly things like "uh-oh!", "ta-da!", "ding!", and "um". I'm sure there are more I'm not thinking of, too.

This little boy has recently shown us his ability to exert his will! It has been interesting to see him evolve into a toddler as he clearly lets us know when he is not pleased. He is still a pretty happy-go-lucky boy, though, and not too much makes him happier than eating something he loves. Like pizza!

Kieran LOVES homemade pizza.

Love this sweet little messy face!

An Eventful Two Weeks

It seems like a lot has happened since my last post.

We had our last snowstorm of the season (in May), in which I totaled my car on the way to work. I am so thankful that Baby and I are okay, but now we are in the process of trying to find a new vehicle for our family. Fast forward about 10 days and we broke the state record today with a high temperature of 98 degrees. :)

Kieran was scheduled to have "surgery" last week on his tear duct to open it up, but they had a scheduling conflict in the OR, so he is scheduled for this Thursday at 6:00 a.m. We have also been looking for day care for him for the summer, and we had already confirmed a spot in a nice Christian day care in our area; however, we only need about three days a week, and we would have to pay for the whole week. Thankfully, some dear friends of ours in our church family have volunteered to open up their home and be another family for our son. We are so blessed.

We have been struggling with the decision of whether or not this little one inside me should be delivered naturally or via surgery as Kieran was. We are still not at the point where we have made a decision, but in the meantime, Baby has a new due date! We were originally given a due date of Friday, October 25th. My midwife wanted me to have a dating ultrasound, however, since my cycles are never regular, and we are now expecting Baby on or around Tuesday, November 5th. Now we have to wait five more weeks to really get a good peek at little brother or sister!

Curious little man loves to hear his own echo!

What a goober. :)

An Interesting Take on a Classic

Today, I stumbled upon a blog about a food item you would think one would never need guidance on:  the simple, yet delicious grilled cheese sandwich.

In this post at Grilled Cheese Social, the tragically poor college student can get creative with a clothes iron and aluminum foil to make a delicious and economical dinner.

In this post, the author puts a whole lot of craziness into one sandwich...

...resulting in what looks surprisingly YUM!

And why make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, when you can have this?

I think I shall go start dinner now. :)

It Feels Like...

...FALL!


Fifty-nine degrees.

Football games.

That undefinable smell in the air.

Hoodies.

Bonfires.

And barn raisings?

Spring Cleaning

So, here I am, doing a little spring cleaning--desperately trying to organize our second bedroom for once--when I come across one of the notes Jordan and I wrote to each other when we were dating. I'm glad that I held on to every little note and missive that passed between us because of my sappy sentimentality. I need to make them into a book for us...a crazy book that only he and I would ever understand. :)

Anywho, I discovered this little gem that I wrote to him when we were first dating:

My Top Ten List


Jordan,


Once upon a time, you made a list of reasons why I might be "the coolest kid ever", probably hoping that it would make me laugh and feel better (which it did), since I was having a rougher week. :) Well, I think it's my turn now--if you can make your small gestures, I can, too! So................


The Top 10 Reasons Why Jordan "Rocks My Face Off":

1. He bales hay...and enjoys it (what's up with that?).
2. He hangs out with Sabrina, even when she annoys herself [I really thought he would get sick of me at some point.].
3. He laughs at just about everything and has a great wicked cool sense of humor [Yes, I crossed out great and replaced it with "wicked cool". What can I say?].
4. He has a great smile that makes it so that you can't help but smile, too. :)
5. He has an amazing desire to serve the Lord and anyone else he can--and does it, too [He doesn't just talk about doing things, he actually sees them through.].
6. He is willing to take the chance of getting lost in the woods--IN THE DARK.
7. He has a heart that seeks after God and has compassion for those around him.
8. He works out like crazy sometimes but never lets it get to his head.
9. He is chivalrous and then some but lets others serve him, as well.
10. You are you--darkness, hilarity, and everything in between--and I wouldn't have it any other way [When I met him, he had a dark streak in his sense of humor which still pops up from time to time. I think he just likes to shock people. :)].

Cheesy? Perhaps. Funny? I hope so. True? Oh, sure. Thanks for just an amazing time of getting to know each other. God has been stretching me through you, and I praise him for every bit of it.

In His everlasting love,

Sabrina

I just had to laugh at myself during my walk down memory lane. I suppose it's good for you to look back on your own dorky-ness every now and then. And I am sure that I am the only one who ever feels that way....

Ah, Yes, the Random Catch-Up Post...

Busy, busy, busy!

And, at times, lazy, lazy, lazy!

It always seems like a lot is going on, and then, when I am home, I just want to catch up with Jordan or on housework. What's been happening? Well, lots of working and ministry stuff, then one weekend, lunch with some of my favorite ladies, then a girl's night out with my friend Jessy! Sunday, of course, was the Super Bowl. This past weekend, more working and getting together a travel care package for one of my friends that is moving across the country. This Thursday, I am having one of my best friends, Ruth, and her husband of five months, Matt, over for dinner. Hopefully, I can remember my camera and document some of my kitchen adventures. :)

With all of this busyness, the dieting aspect of the challenge has not gone so well! :(  My original thought was to have five to six meals a day for a total of 1200-1500 calories a day. At first, I thought, "This is easy!" But, as usual, life gets in the way, and it's hard to be social when everyone is eating and you're not; however, I did see something today that encouraged me. It said that, while eating less more often works for some people, it does not work for everyone. The key is making smart choices, cutting calories, and making sure that the calories you do eat are the kind of fuel your body needs.

On another note, there is a video I have wanted to share with you all for awhile. It has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but perhaps you will find it as funny as I did. It's good to make fun of ourselves every once in awhile, right?