Guess what?

Are you sure?Yeah, I think so.

Gulp. Pregnant. Me. It's been a very long, emotional, exhausting road to get here, and yet, 12 week in and it's still so weird to know what's going on inside me. Weird. And exciting. So very very exciting.

My first sign was actually running related. A few days before I tested, I went out for a normal run at normal pace along my normal route. I was dying. Air-sucking, heart-pounding, WTF-ing dying. I cut it short and pouted home. First words out of my mouth to The Husband as I chucked my shoes were "I better be pregnant or my running mojo is GONE."

We tested a few days later on a Saturday morning I'll never forget. Plenty of jumping, hugging, laughing, and tears. It was the first weekend in December, and we knew we wanted to wait to tell our parents on Christmas. Meaning, we had to sit on a news for three whole weeks.

I told some random strangers because I was bursting, but one of the few early tells was a running buddy. I wasn't planning on it, but we had a run scheduled when I was about five weeks. Couldn't not tell since a.) my pace had become pathetic, and b.) I was a threat to puke on someone's shoes. And honestly, I was way more self-conscious about the pace.

I have a whole other post coming about my workout/running plans for this pregnancy, but I've been thinking about it quite a bit. (Thankfully all my doctors fully support it.) Especially since I'm out of the first trimester and feeling much much better. Pretty heavy, puffy, and slow, but more like my old self than the last few months.

Deep breath.

Due in August.

Holy shit, I can't believe this is really me. :o)

January blahs

Maybe it's just me, but January can't be over fast enough. It's always my least favorite month. Dirty, cold, boring, blah. The holiday high is over, there's no treats in the breakroom at work, and apparently we're never ever meant to see the sun around these parts again. February at least has Valentine's Day which, around these parts, means one thing: CAKE! It can't get here fast enough.

In the mean time, here's my boring life in bullets:

• I've been running, but not as much as I'd like. Can I get a little sunshine and more daylight, please?


• Lifting? Yeah, I don't even feel bad about not doing that anymore. I knew the urge would pass if I waited it out.


• We decided during dinner tonight that we make some amazing sandwiches in this house. If we opened a restaurant with just his cheese steaks, my chicken paninis, and his Cubans, we'd be filthy rich. Until we open, you'll just have to try to become my friend and beg an invite to dinner.


• I finally got the swine flu shot this week. Damn, my arm hurts. Terrible idea. I'm not sure the point since swine flu is like Cholera with its oldness anymore, but whatever, it was free and it'll get my mother off my back about it.


• The Husband had his gallbladder removed yesterday, and he's yet to yak anyplace. We're keeping our fingers crossed, but I'm considering that deductible very well spent so far.

That's it. Overall, I've been a very crappy blogger, and I'm blaming it on January. Next week I will be much more interesting, I promise. Please come back then.

I'm sorry lifting. It's not you, it's me.

I was doing so well. Really I was. There was a routine with the lifting in December and early January. There was Shredding, there was Power Sculpting, there was definition building. We had a relationship. A promising one. I looked forward to our time together and always walked away with a smile. We both knew running was my true love, but no one cared at the time. The weather had forced running and me to take a break, and I'd found a big ol' bouncy rebound in the steely embrace of free weights. And we promised to stay together forever. To always make time for each other. No matter what.

Then the temperature got above 0 degrees, and I could finally leave my house.

Then some of the snow melted, and I could see hints of the concrete.

Screw lifting, I can run again! The little Shuffle took me back with no questions asked. Garmie wrapped itself comfortably around my wrist just like it had never been abandoned on the entryway table. That's love right there. Four runs outside this week and the weights never even crossed my mind.

Running and I had made up and poor lifting was all but forgotten. Maybe there's room in my life for both. I could make it work with enough effort, and I'm quite confident running would understand. But, but, it's just so hard. Nothing makes me feel as happy and productive as a run. Especially a make-up run. And let me tell you, this week has been some great make-up runs.

I'm sorry, lifting, who?

Sweaty. Finally.

I went for a run after work today, and I actually got sweaty. Unbelievable since we've been living in Antarctica for weeks. Couldn't tell you the last time that happened. Wind stung tears streaming down my cheeks? For sure. Snot dripping out my nose without even realizing it? Totally. Legitimate beads of sweat rolling down my face. No way that happens when it's as cold as it's been. But today was 41! Heat wave! It was partially the "heat" and partially my clothes.

I organize my cold weather outfit by temperature/windchill:

10-20 degrees: Hat, mittens, UA shirt, and fleece top
20-30 degrees: Headband, thick gloves, UA shirt, and fleece vest
30-40 degrees: Handband, thin gloves, UA shirt only

Per the chart, I should have been in the 30-40 range, but out of habit, I went with the 20-30 outfit. By the time I made it home, my poor hands were sweating like Lloyd Christmas on a motorcycle, and I was pitting out like a whore in church. Sex-ay.

But it felt good. It felt productive. And for the first time in awhile, that post-run shower served a purpose. Used soap and everything! Usually it's just standing there under the hot water trying to get warm. (I do take a real, full-on shower at another time. I'm not that dirrty.)

As far as I'm concerned, it's spring from here on out. Only sweaty runs. I will not hear of it getting cold again. LALALALALA.

She runs

I did it! I finally ran outside for the first time in far, far, far too long. Yesterday's weather forecast called for highs in the low 20s. Who knew I'd ever get so excited about 22 degrees? But I was. Oooooh I was. I tried to go shopping at our outdoor mall on Saturday when it was 7 degrees and froze my face off. (Although there was some fantastic deals going on. Gap was practically giving clothes away!)

But I woke up Sunday ready. My winter running hat and gloves looked so sad and abandoned when I finally got dressed and scooped them off the end table where they live. The new Road ID from Christmas was more than ready to take its maiden voyage. I've felt pretty silly wearing it on my shoes doing the elliptical in the basement of my own house.

I was buzzing with anticipation. I even knew it was going to be a good runs since:

• I was wearing all my A+, matching, favorite running gear- guess that's what happens when everything is washed.
• My Shuffle picked up in the middle of one of my most favorite songs- sing it Britney!

Gear on, vest zipped, burst through the door and ruuuuuun! Weeeee! Fresh, cool, winter air! Granted it wasn't pretty at times as I slid over snow-packed roads, dodged messy cars, and attempted to traverse mountains of snow piles, but I ran for 5 miles and it felt amazing.

Oddly enough, I'm quite sore this morning. Partially from lifting on Saturday night, but I'm thinking yesterday's run was probably pretty similar to a trail run. Lots of climbing, sliding, unnaturally little steps and forced big leaps. It's a busted ankle just waiting to happen for this one right here. You trail runners are pretty hardcore. While I plan to run a bunch this week, I'm counting down the days until my beloved flat concrete returns from under the snow to see me once again.

How I saved dinner (and not running)

I was going to post this big thing about how Nebraska is apparently Antarctica, children have stopped going to school, and haven't I run or felt concrete in a long time since it's simply not safe. But that would have been annoying and no fun. The short story is I'm dying to get outside and run. Dying. I'm trying to make the best of it with the elliptical in my basement and plenty of lifting and yoga videos, but it's not nearly the same. Sunday is supposed to be 22, and I'm going out one way or another.

So in lue of a complaining post about the inconvenience of windchill, I thought I'd give you all a peek into my marriage, why I'm the best wife ever, and how the snow almost ruined dinner:

The Husband's car doesn't drive in the snow, so we usually ride together to work on days like yesterday. (Snowing, windy, very cold.) I want to be at work by 8:30A and we leave accordingly. As I pull into the parking lot, he realizes he has no office key since he didn't drive and the office key lives with the car key.

This has happened before.

N: (Glare)
The Husband: Don't worry. Brad's coming at 8:30. We just have to sit here for a few minutes.
N: Uh huh.

20 minutes later and well past 8:30, I decide I have to go to work and throw him out the door to sit in the coffee shop across the street.

He thinks I'm mad, which I really wasn't, and calls midday to offer to make dinner. Good thinkin', hon. Our plan is for me to pick him up at 4 to go home.

I get busy and don't leave until 4:30 but no big deal... until I drive into his office parking lot and he tells me to pull into the space instead of just jumping in and us driving off. This can't be good.

TH: Don't be mad.
N: Whhhhy?
TH: Well, I forgot that I don't have my keys when everyone left, so I can't lock up, and now we have to wait for Brad to come back.
N: Let me guess, we should only have to sit here for a few minutes.
TH: Yes, please don't be mad.

As I'm sitting there contemplating the pros and cons of being single again while trying to wrap my head around doing the exact same damn thing we did 8 hours prior, he's trying to babble about this awesome pizza he's going to make to lighten the mood.

TH: ...and the sauce...
N: Wait, I made spaghetti and turkey meatballs two nights ago.
TH: Yes, and it was very very good.
(kissass)
N: I only bought one jar of sauce for this week.
TH: Oh. That IS a problem. What do you want to do?
N: We can have leftovers tonight and go to the store tomorrow OR just go now.
TH: Hmmm, I don't really want to do either. It's very cold and snowy.
N: I don't want to be sitting in this goddamn car AGAIN, but we all can't get what we want.
TH: Good point. How about I drop you off at home and then go?
N: That's dumb. We'll see what I'm in the mood to do when Brad finally gets here.

Time passes, gas gets wasted, and I hate Brad's slow driving ass. (Although probably not as much as Brad hates The Husband's dumbass ass.)

I look around and wish the liquor store across the street sold food... I wish the Weight Watchers next to that sold food... I wish the sandwich place next to that sold sauce... I wish the Valentino's italian buffet next to that sold-- WAIT A MINUTE!

N: I bet you $100k that Valentino's sells their jars of spaghetti sauce at the restaurant!
TH: I bet you're right!
N: And if they don't, you are getting a cup, taking some sauce from the buffet, and paying whatever they charge. You will not be leaving sauce-less.
TH: Check.

Brad finally comes and we drive across the parking lot to Valentino's. A minute later, he comes bounding out smiling and proudly holding a $4 jar of Val's spaghetti sauce.

Much celebrating was done in the car because I'm an absolute genius (me) and my mood had improved greatly (him). Dinner was amazing, worth every penny, and The Husband was thanking his lucky stars he's married to a someone so stinkin' brilliant. (Maybe I made that last part up, but he SHOULD HAVE BEEN!)

Good bye 2009, hello 2010

Happy New Year blog world!

Hopefully everyone had a fantastic Christmas, NYE, and overall holiday season. I most certainly did. One to remember for sure. Santa and all my family and friends were very very good to me.

Also, I discovered shamelessly posting your greedy Christmas list online for your family to read totally pays off. (Waves hi to my awesome cousin [and his sisters who probably told him] who drew my name this year and hooked me up with the arm sleeves I wanted! Hi, Zac! Hi, Elissa! Hi, Kelly!)

And the best part? I still have 2/5 of my Christmases to go. Yay, more presents! The blizzardopocolyps last weekend kept us from heading to central NE for the in-law celebration until tomorrow. See, I told you I accepted gifts until the first of the year. Good thing I'm accommodating like that.

Since all the cool kids are doing it, I figured I should do a 2009 recap and plan 2010 too.

2009

Last year had some ups and downs, but it was definitely an overall success:

• I started racing triathlons (rr1, rr2, rr3) and discovered I love it. Maybe all the shopping I got to do helped a little teeny bit.


• Purchased Sumi my road bike and decided that's pretty fun too.


• Got AG hardware at a few races and tri's- 1st, 1st, 2nd


• Continued my streak of PR'ing every race I've done. (Which is mostly a product of not racing the same distance very often.)


• Started eating a ton better with natural, organic, and homemade food much more often.

2010

This year is going to be awesome. Trust me. Brace yourselves for the awesome, people. Some of my goals include:

• Get much better on my bike. I took Sumi out a bunch last year, but that was mostly long, slow miles to get comfortable riding a bike again. Now that Santa hooked me up with all the fixin's for legit pedals and a trainer, it's time to get serious about this bike business. No more excuses.


• Same with swimming. Aside from one open water swim to make sure I wouldn't drown, the only swimming I ever did was race day. Probably not a recipe for long-term success. 2010 is the year of the swim.


• Grow a garden. Last year I started with an herb garden as training wheels, and since I managed to grow enough oregano to support Olive Garden for a few weeks, it's actual food this year.


• Racing. I've always been super fluid with specific races depending on what works in my schedule and sounds like fun. I know I'll sign up for things along the way in 2010, I'm just not sure what right now. The race bug bit a couple years ago, and there's no turning back any time soon.

Thanks to everyone for reading here last year and entertaing, inspiring, and motivating me with blogs of your own. I look forward to another great year of reading, writing, and laughing. Happy 2010!