I can’t believe how long it has been since my last post. Things have been so crazy. Minnow is now completely mobile. He is crawling and crusing and of course falling and crying. He no longer has a fondness for baby food. He will tolerate a little, but wants cherrios, cheese, bread, pizza, ice cream, etc. He is pretty good at feeding himself with a spoon, but can’t seem to get his fingers to work the way he wants them too yet. It is amazing how fast he is changing and how opinionated he is becoming. I am so going to have my hands full–well I already have my hands full.

As you can see, he can pull himself up to standing at the coffee table, and then he can knock everything off and he can cruise around the house as long as he has something to lean on. He is every where.

This past Saturday he got to meet Santa and one of his reindeer. He really like the reindeer–I’m pretty certain he just thought it was a funny looking dog.

On a more positive note, the weather here has been relatively mild and I was able to ride outside this weekend–of course I still had to be decked out in full winter bike wear. Long underwear/under armor/cycling jersery/windbreaker/shorts/leg warmers/full gloves/hat/booties/wool socks/and of course helmet. It took a long time to get dressed, but 40 degree is still cold when you are biking. Also, for those of you who think that the midwest is flat should try biking here in my city where everything is up hill from my house in all directions and never really seems to be down hill. I don’t know how ready I will be for the Tour de Palm Springs, but I will finish the ride. I certainly won’t be breaking any records that is for sure. I will get to ride this weekend too as it will be in the high 50’s.

I will try to post with a little more regularity, but this whole motherhood thing is exhausting and no longer can I plop minnow down with a toy and he is happy. I turn and he is pulling over my bike or eating the dogs paws.

I have been at a loss lately for post content. I have been in a life rut. Parenting is awesome and I love every moment with my son, but that has been the extent of my existence lately. He is getting mobile so he takes up a great deal more of my time. I am still struggling to find time for me and to figure out what I want to do with that time.

I have begun my training for my century ride in February. It has been too cold to ride outside so I am using my rollers… for those of you who have never used them–holy shit they are hard. Not only do you have to have impecable balance, but you have to pedal a lot harder as there is absolutely no forward momentum. I had no idea how hard it would be, but hey the rollers will definitely help me get ready for the century ride. The weather is suppose to be somewhere near 50 this weekend–so I am hoping to get in a few couple hour of rides this weekend. We bought our plane tickets and I am so excited to be going to Palm Springs in the middle of winter.

I was in my first wedding this past weekend. I know–I am 35 and this is my first wedding aside from my own. It was interesting. I must take a moment and toss out a plug for Spanx. I love Spanx. I gained about 12lbs since my dress fitting way back in June and the dress was fitted and therefore, it wasn’t going to zip up–Spanx to the rescue. I love Spanx and I am thankful to them for helping me fit into my dress. I am so happy for my good friend Kimmie who is now finally married. I am sad for her that her wedding had to happen the same weekend as a huge ice and snow storm. Because of the weather she had to cancel the rehearsal so it was all very fly by the seat of your pants. Kimmie did must of the wedding stuff herself and I applaud her taking all of that on. I could never had done my own flowers, etc. But this was also a sad moment for me, as I have realized that I have changed. I no longer have a lot in common with my dear friend. We are very different and that made me question whether we ever really had a lot in common besides soccer and guys. But she is a good friend and I know I can count on her. Oh, how I digress.

Christmas is coming fast and I am very excited. I know Minnow will really have no idea what is going on, but for me it is a moment I waited what seems like a lifetime for. He is going to get his picture taken with Santa and his reindeer on Saturday. I can’t wait. Oh the moments that will come.

It is hard to believe that we have been home with Minnow for 3 months now. It is so hard to believe and yet I can hardly remember what life was like before he was part of our family. He is moving so fast developmentally. He is crawling–he’s not great at it yet, but he can move forward and get what he wants. He is also starting to teeth, as I can’t really think of anything else to contribute his new found fussiness too. He is growing rapidly and amazes me everyday. I know I have been absent lately, but have been super busy with baby and matter of life. I did want to post a few new pictures and hope to be able to post more tomorrow if the little one decides he wants to nap.

Things are going good with MIL so far. It is nice to have someone to help out for a few days. But, I miss my time alone with Minnow and my time alone. But it will all be over soon-and she loves him so much. I’m trying to share him as much as I can as she does only get to see him once or twice a year.

This year Thanksgiving means more to me than in years past as I don’t really know that I paid much attention to the things I should be thankful for.

I’m thankful for…
having an absolutely amazing and wonderful husband
having close friends who I can count on for support and words of wisdom
my health
the health of my brothers
the health of my parents
still having both my grandmothers
the love of family
great in-laws
our dogs who picked us as their parents
ovaries that don’t work well–otherwise we wouldn’t have Minnow
MINNOW
a community of people who care about us
Minnow
the ability to be Minnows mom
being able to stay home with Minnow
being able to live near my family
being able to have Minnow know my family
and for all of you who have touched me with your cyber friendship.

I hope you all have a great day. Give Thanks

I missed two posts this weekend. So, much for being able to post everyday. Well, the sad thing is I could have posted, I just didn’t feel like it. I really needed an internet break. I didn’t touch my computer all weekend. Not even to check email or to write on my novel for nanowrimo. I have a problem. I am a go all or go not at all kind of girl. Of course, I take on 14 things at one time and wonder why it feels as though my head is spinning and that I can’t get a grip on my life. So, today I say STOP. I am not going to take on 14 things at one time. I am going to focus on one goal at a time. Right now, I am training for a century. One of the things involved in this training is dropping at least 20lbs by the ride Feb 10th. I am not throwing in the towel on my novel, but I am not going to beat myself up for not completing and winning nanowrimo. I am going to relax and focus. Keep my eye on the prize. I can’t keep my eye on all the prizes. Besides, Minnow is becoming more mobile. He almost has the crawling thing and he can not pull up to standing if he gets in the right position. I can’t miss that.