300 Days of Sunshine

Happy Birthday to me!  I sort of forgot that it was my birthday this week until my dear coworkers brought in a German Chocolate Cake and  a Carrot Cake to celebrate.  Yum!  I am so thankful for my department and for my amazing colleagues who bring joy, humor, fresh perspectives, and constant support to my workplace.  Last night I again forgot that it was almost my birthday until I went to the mailbox and was pleasantly surprised to find a handful of colorful envelopes addressed to me.  Being a mother, my own birthday seems less important.  It almost makes me feel frivolous or even selfish to celebrate my own day when my world revolves around our child now, but thankfully my wonderful family and friends have reminded me to spoil myself and celebrate my day.  I am spending the day with Ady and Kua, planning to go for a walk and read some books at the park (all my favorite things!), followed by dinner with the hubby tonight. Birthday Love This...

Despite staying active and fit for all 9 months of my pregnancy, the road to recovery has been long and has required patience and perseverance, but I am finally starting to get back in running shape.  I did a lot of walking the weeks after having the baby, and gradually progressed to slow, short-distance jogging.  I started doing a weekly TRX strengthening class this spring, and while I am always really sore for days after the class, I realize how important it has been for me to start incorporating planks, single-leg squats, hamstrings, and back extensors into my workup to prevent injury, build up my core strength, and support my pelvic floor.  In June I started training for my first post-baby Half Marathon, which I plan to run in mid-September!  As part of my training program, I ran a 5K trail run last weekend and placed second in my age group!  (You may ask, were there only two people in my age group?  No, there were at least three, ha!)  I am signed...

It was one of those cool, refreshing summer mornings, with a chill in the air after a rainstorm that cleared away yesterday's humidity.  These kind of mornings remind me of summers in northern Minnesota, when the air is damp and chilly, with drops of dew resting on the leaves.  I sat outside with coffee and a book, watching the dog explore the yard and listening to the mourning doves, enjoying a moment of stillness before the chaos of another day began.  I love the solitude and serenity that morning brings.   After the baby woke up, we headed up to the mountain for an early hike to celebrate Kua's birthday.  Our little pooch turned six yesterday!  The sky was overcast initially, with the clouds sliding rapidly across the sky over the mountaintops, but the mist and clouds were lifted as the warmth of the morning sun began to break through.  The trail was still damp from yesterday's rain storm, but it was a beautiful and refreshing day in the woods. ...