Running Help

I need some help from my blogging friends. I've always loved to run, but have gotten away from it in the past four years. Between each child, I started running again, but then found out we were pregnant each time. Now that we are done expanding our family, I really want to get back into it and meet some new goals that I have for myself.

I would love recommendations for the following:
Sports Watch/Heart Rate Monitor
Your favorite running shoes
Shorts for Summer & Winter
Tops for Summer & Winter
Treadmills
Motivational books
Favorite Training plans for 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon

I currently subscribe to Runner's World and pull a lot of information and recommendations from there already, but I would love any additional input. Thanks!

Peyton - 6 Weeks

In the past couple of weeks, I've really noticed a change in Peyton. She is much more alert and spends more time awake. When she first wakes up, there is always a smile on her face. Unfortunately, she has lost almost all of her hair. She looks like George on Seinfeld, when looking at the back of her head. A strip of dark brown hair about an inch wide covers her hair line. It looks like her hair will come in a little bit lighter, possibly an ash blonde like Mason's.

Twice she has slept for 6 hours straight at night. It hasn't been in consecutive days just yet, but I'm hoping that will be soon. Usually she goes 4 to 5 hours during her first stretch of sleep at night and 3 hours during her next stretch. We still have her in our room at night and I'm transitioning her to sleeping in the crib in her bedroom during her naps. I'm not ready to put her in her room full time just yet. It makes my life easier to have her in our room and doesn't make the late night feedings as bad. When she starts to sleep 8 hour stretches, I plan to put her in her room full time.

I've been cleared to start working out again and plan to get back into running. While I'm still waking up at night, I feel like I'm getting a good amount of sleep or at least my body is used to it. Nursing has gone extremely well and she obviously loves to eat, just look at her cheeks or belly.

Thanksgiving Weekend in Pictures

 My sister holding Peyton for the first time. 

 Great Grandma Kaye loving on Peyton.

 Great Grandpa Kaye holding Peyton for the first time.

 Mason & Taylor eating Pumpkin Pie at Grandma's house.

 Peyton's 1st Thanksgiving.

 Daddy & Taylor at Grandma's. Taylor got a haircut the night before and was showing everyone her "special hair."

 Taylor playing with her little sister.

 Jill & Brad were in Katy as well this weekend and were able to come over to Adam's parents house to meet Peyton and visit for a bit.

 Adam with his Grandpa and Peyton.

 Friday, we drove back up to DFW and spent the evening at my Aunt's house with my side of the family.

 Mason & Taylor helping my Uncle Jim, cousin Taylor and my little brother Kris play cards.

 Gram holding her great granddaughter for the first time.

 My dad aka Granddad with Mason.

 Granddad & Taylor. She loves all the men in her life.

 My mom and Peyton.

 Mimi with Mason & Taylor.

 My cousin Taylor with Peyton.

 Uncle Jim with Peyton.

Taylor playing with Uncle Jim.

Happy Thanksgiving

This has been a very full year and God has given us so many things to be thankful for:

* Being able to spend Thanksgiving with our families for the first time in three years.

* Moving back to Texas so that we can be closer to our families.

* Providing for our needs when Adam lost his job earlier this summer.

* Blessings in disguise. Even though Adam lost his job this summer, it opened up new opportunities for our family that we never would have been able to explore. It also gave us time with Adam. The kids & I were able to spend almost the entire summer with him, which we loved since he had traveled so much in the last two years.

* Family - now that we are back in Texas, we are able to visit family more often.

* Blessing us with another beautiful daughter, Peyton.

* The kids Preschool. Both Mason & Taylor have learned so much in the past few months and it has also given me extra time to get things done.

* Our Soldiers. I am always reminded, especially on holidays, that we are able to celebrate freely due to the soldiers that have and are currently serving our nation. Some of them don't have the luxury of spending the holidays with their wives, husbands, kids and family.

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!

TexiCali Girls Weekend 2011

I've been blessed to have many amazing friends in my life. When we moved to Bakersfield, I made some wonderful friends that I know will forever be apart of my life. A few months ago, these lovely ladies asked if they could visit after Peyton was born. Marissa has made several trips to Texas, but it would be a first for the rest of the ladies. I've been counting down the days until they arrived a few weeks ago.

Since this was the first time for three of the girls to visit Texas, I wanted to make sure they left with a lasting impression. Besides, I've been bragging about the great state of Texas for a very long time, so their expectations were high.

The weather couldn't have been better. The sun was shining and fall has settled into North Texas. Is it bad that most of our weekend revolved around food and shopping?

 

 Marissa, Me with Peyton, Sarah, & Jayme after we devoured 12 cupcakes from my favorite cupcake spot. Don't worry, we shared all the different flavors, but I didn't get a chance to take a picture because we were hungry. I'm assuming Rachel was in a food coma and that is why she didn't make it in this picture.

 The California girls outside of Billy Bob's. I haven't been since college, but they wanted to go out and experience everything Texas. What is better than visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards.

 For lunch one day, we ate at Cooper's BBQ. The girls were able to experience Brisket at it's finest. We also had Pappasito's that weekend. BBQ and TexMex are a must when visiting Texas.

 Obviously I didn't get the memo to wear black. 

 One afternoon we all had spa pedicures. It relaxed Jayme so much that she fell asleep waiting for her nails to dry.

 Aunt Rissa holding Peyton for the first time.

Sarah working it. 

It was a much needed weekend and I'm so thankful that Adam didn't mind having all of this estrogen in the house. We had two babies that were 4 months old and younger, two toddlers, 5 women and Adam under one roof. I love these girls and can't wait to visit Bakersfield next.

Sharing

My little man isn't so little anymore. Just having conversations with him blow my mind. He is like a sponge and has absorbed so much information. It amazes me how much he knows about life, trains, construction, cars, and the solar system. I attribute this mostly to books. Once he hears something, he retains that information, asks questions and then explains it back to you.

The other day I was watching Quints by Surprise on TLC. The family lives in Central Texas and were evacuated late this summer due to the Texas Wildfires. Their neighborhood lost several homes. As a family, they drove around the neighborhood to show teach their kids about fires.

Mason started asking a lot of questions. I explained that one of the families had a little girl that no longer had a home to go to each day when she got home from school. That she lost all of her toys, clothes and food. Mason took it all in and was on the verge of tears when he said how sad it was. Then he proceeded to tell me that we should give them some food and share what we have with them. It warmed my heart to hear the compassion in his voice.

I've been trying to teach the kids about sharing and giving to others, especially those who don't have much. Our kids have been blessed with a ton of toys. I like to go through them regularly and clean out the toys that they no longer play with. During this process, I've tried to explain that there are boys and girls that don't have any toy and that maybe we should share with them some of their toys. He gave it some thought and said maybe we should keep the toys and invite the kids over to play with his toys because they probably needed a friend more than they needed new toys. Amazing how a child's mind works.

2 going on 16

 

I found this dress and knew immediately that it was perfect for Taylor. She's already a huge fan of football and has such an encouraging personality. Can we say future cheerleader?

I was a little worried that in the midst of bring Peyton home and the changes that having a new baby bring, that she might feel left out or just have problems adjusting. I'm so thrilled to say that I shouldn't have been concerned.

Taylor is such a wonderful big sister to Peyton. Her heart is so full of love for Peyton and she loves to help me. The other day I was feeding Peyton and Taylor crawled up on the couch next to me to cuddle as she held her baby doll. She is constantly introducing Peyton to everyone as her best friend and little sister. I pray that their relationship grows and flourishes into a wonderful friendship and admiration for each other.

Secretly, I've been watching Taylor in her classroom at Preschool, as I wait to pick her up. I'm usually about 5 minutes early and I enjoy watching her interact with the other kids and her teachers. She is such a little helper and has a vibrant personality. Before she leaves, she tells everyone hi and hugs her friends.

Taylor looks up to Mason and adores her older brother. Usually they play very well together, but if he even looks at her wrong, she will break down in tears. Should I be worried that she is already dramatic and emotional at the age of two? We are going to have our hands full during her teenage years.

Her favorite activities include anything to do with her brother, playing dress up or beauty shop, helping me cook, coloring, dancing, and talking. The other day Adam got home shortly after I tucked the kids into bed. He went into Taylor's room to give her kisses and tell her goodnight and all I could hear was high pitched chatter. She was telling Adam all about her day. He said he barely got a word in. I was the same way as a little girl. I love watching her grow and change before our very eyes. I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Peyton - 1 Month

Stats:
Birth Weight: 8lbs 6oz (down to 7lbs 9oz when we left the hospital)
1 Week: 8lbs 13oz
2 Weeks: 10lbs 5oz
1 Month: 11lbs 13oz

Obviously our little girl likes to eat. She isn't so little anymore. I joke that all of my babies only stay little for about a week, because each of them have gained about 3.5lbs in the first month of their lives. I'm very thankful that nursing is going so well and she is getting enough to eat. I love her chipmunk cheeks and her round belly. It makes me so proud.

Sleep:
She still sleeps a ton, but we are getting more awake time with her during the day. Usually is wide awake around 11am, 4pm and 7pm. She usually only lasts for about an hour to an hour and a half before she is back out again. At night, I usually cluster feed at 6pm, 8pm and then again at 10pm. This has definitely helped and she will sleep for 4 to 5 hours in the first stretch at night and then for 3 to 4 hours the next stretch. I usually only wake up twice at night to feed her. I still have her sleeping in our room next to my side of the bed. I don't plan to move her to her room until she is sleeping through the night.

She loves:
Taking a nap on her Daddy's chest while he watches the Texan's on Sunday. (I like this too, because I can take a nap on Sunday's)
Watching her brother and sister. Every time Mason & Taylor come over to talk to her, she smiles.
Riding in the car. She sleeps great and doesn't mind being in her carseat.
Cuddle time and rocking with Mommy in the glider. I treasure those moments, because all too soon she won't want to sit still and I will long for these days again.
Bath time - this wasn't a hit to start off with, but she really enjoys it now.

 Aunt Emily holding Peyton for the first time.

 Hanging out with Grandpa.

 Sleeping on Daddy.

 Already looking up to her Daddy.

 Zoolander.

Halloween Pictures - Better Late Than Never

I realize I'm almost two weeks behind in posting these, but it's better late than never. We let the kids pick out their costumes this year. Mason has wanted to be Spiderman since earlier this summer. Taylor originally wanted to be Tinker Bell, but switched when we went to buy the costumes. She decided to be Strawberry Shortcake and I picked out Peyton's. With not knowing how big she would be and realizing she would sleep all through trick-or-treating, I decided she would make the perfect Ladybug. It helped that I found a cute sleeper for her to wear.

Adam was able to get off of work early and I made an early dinner for Mason & Taylor. As soon as Adam arrived, we took pictures and then headed down the street. We decided to stick to only our street this year, and then let the kids hand out candy. They loved walking door to door and had so much fun showing off their costumes.

The highlight of the evening for everyone was handing out candy. Our neighborhood must be the place to go trick-or-treating because we had more kids walking the streets with their parents than I have ever seen in my life. Last year we made the smart choice to sit out on the driveway and hand out candy, so we did the same thing this year. It saves getting up constantly to answer the door. We let Mason & Taylor give the kids candy. Taylor was exceptionally kind and gave extra candy to the kids who had costumes that she liked.

By the end of the evening, they were wiped and so were we. It was a very fun evening and they are already talking about what costume they want to be next year.

 Sleeping Ladybug

 Before the wigs and mask.

 The only picture we were able to get of all three kids together.

 Taylor with her pink wig and hat.

 Going door to door.

 The kids eating their candy while waiting on the other trick-or-treaters.

By the end of the night, she was wiped.