I Am A Runner

This is a pretty cool place to be.  I never thought I would "be" a runner.  I thought I might be a person who runs but never a runner.

Since I started training for my half marathon back in January I've improved the length of time I can run by 19 minutes and I've improved my per mile time by two minutes.  And, while these accomplishments feel good, what I like best is that I can hop on the treadmill, run for 30 minutes and not feel like I'm going to die after the first five minutes.  And that's how I know.  I am a runner.

I won't go so far as to say I like running but I can definitely say I don't hate it.

I want to own this necklace someday.  Just to remind me.

Finley's funny faces

I took these pictures one afternoon right before Finley got sick. I thought that she was just being cute but looking back, perhaps she was trying to tell me something.

3 year stats

At two Conor was 33 pounds, 38 inches tall and in the 95%+ for both height and weight.

At three Conor is 39 pounds, 42.5 inches tall and still in the 95%+ for both.

According to this website he is the height of an average SIX year old and the weight of an average 4 year old.

He'll probably be taller than me before his fourth birthday.  

Wyatt

Today is my friend, Wyatt's birthday.  Have you ever met a kid who just steals your heart from the moment you meet them?  I felt that way about Wyatt when I first met him.  There was just something special about him.  I couldn't quite put my finger on it but I felt drawn to him.  Maybe its because he's cute as a freaking button.

Wyatt is one of those kids who is so sweet that even when he steals a drink from someone, you can't help but smile and then take a picture of him.

Wyatt loves shirts with buttons, Farmer and Picket, equally distributing toys around the room, dogs, cats and being referred to as Wolfie.

Oh yes, he also loves cake.  But, really, who doesn't?

This is his beautiful mom, Michelle.  She is one of the Monday Girls.

Wyatt is a happy boy, full of silly sayings.  He enjoys playing outside to almost any activity inside.

Wyatt was one of the first people to meet Finley and he was so gentle and sweet with her.  He'll make a great big brother someday.

Thanks for being such a great friend, Wyatt.  All us Walshes love you a real whole lot and hope you have a fabulous third birthday!

The Sickness - Now with added Phlegm!

My poor little peanut. So she had the flu. Then pink eye. Then pink eye, AGAIN. Then two ear infections and finally, bronchiolitis. 

The flu was sad, the pink eye was gross and a little pitiful.  The ear infections and the bronchiolitis?  Horrible.  The poor baby has been coughing so much that she has lost her voice and when she screams no sound comes out.  Her breathing is so raspy you can hear it across the room.  And that's when she's not moaning in pain.

Her whole little face has been swollen and her blue eyes are red rimmed with cold-sickness.  She's got dry scaly patches on her face from all the snot.

She's finally feeling better and is able to eat and drink again.  In fact, after her 6 ounces this morning she devoured a whole graham cracker.  Thank goodness. 

She and Conor both got flu shots yesterday.  It seems the flu that is going around this year is pretty terrible and I'm not taking any chances.

Love and Sunshine from the House O the Virus,

You're THREE! (Now, please stop growing)

First, you were born.  And you were perfect and so beautiful and you looked at me and I looked at you and it was like we both thought "Oh!  It's you!  I've been waiting for you."  And you were tiny and loud and strong willed even on that very first morning.

And then you were one.  And you kind of rocked my world.  You seemed so big to me then, but now, looking back, I can see you were so little.  Still independent, still loud, but with a tiny (actually a very big) personality to go with it.  I remember you careening around the house like a teeny drunken sailor and every day it seemed like you had a new bump or bruise. 

And last year you were two.  And, despite my protests, you had officially left babyhood behind.  You loved Monster Trucks and shaving with Daddy and Lightning McQueen and big trucks.  Always, always, ALWAYS with the big trucks.  That second year was a bit of a challenge as you were testing out toddlerhood and yes, even more independence and still strong willed and (have I mentioned this?) LOUD!

And now, all of a sudden and almost without me noticing it, you're three!

And oh!  You have the attitude to prove it.  You're busy and a blur of energy and you're still LOUD and even more strong willed and there are days when we fight and fight and fight and I think to myself, who is the grown up here?  But also, there are other days when you crawl into my bed early in the morning for a snuggle, or you climb up onto the couch with me after your nap before you're fully awake and you let me rub your back and smell your head and you'll give me as many kisses and hugs as I ask for.

You have an enthusiasm and a zest for life that I hope you always carry with you.  The fun you will have if you allow all the amazing little things to continue amazing you.  You're so excited by birds and flowers and friends and, of course, BIIIIIIIIIIIIG TRUUUUUUUUUUUCKS! 

And you're freaking funny!  Just the other day Ellen was on and Jennifer Aniston came on and first you said "Hey Mommy, she's from your special show."  And then you said, "Ohhhhh, she's cute."  And Daddy was happy.

And then, a few weeks ago, you were having a hard time going to sleep and you asked where Mommy and Daddy where we were going, and I said that we were going out to the living room and you said, "ohhhhhh, so you can kiiiiiiisssssss."  Where do you come up with these things?

But, on top of being funny and strong willed and LOUD, you can be so sweet.  You love to see your friends and are (most of the time) happy to share your toys with them.  You are worried when someone else cries and you love to give hugs and kisses when it's time for your friends to leave.  You've got an excellent memory so even if we haven't seen a certain friend for quite a while, you can pick back up with them right where you left off.

You aren't potty trained yet, a fact which leaves me both frustrated and resigned.  I know it will come in time but, like you, I'm not very patient.  I'm trying to lay off - you'll do it when you do it, right?

This year has been a big year in so many ways not the least of which is you becoming a big brother.

Last year, when I was pregnant with Finley, I wrote that I was worried about how you would react to your new baby sister.  And, frankly, I'd be lying if I said there weren't any hiccups.  We definitely had a few rough weeks but what's interesting to me is that you've never taken your feelings of jealousy out on your sister.  Daddy and I have taken the brunt of that.  But it's been so wonderful to see how sweet you are to Finley.  You are a great big brother and she is so lucky to have you.  You give her the gentlest kisses and when she wakes up from her naps you rush into her bedroom with me and say, "Hi, Beauty Girl" and it's so innocent and loving and I just want to squeeze you both forever.

Conor, I couldn't have asked for a better boy.  If I had made a list when I was pregnant with you I couldn't have listed all the ways you amaze me every day.  We have a book and the last line reads:

And if I had a million days
And time enough for all the praise
I couldn't tell you all the ways
I love you.

You're quite simply perfect.

I love you to the moon, and around the stars, and under the ocean, and on the tram and right back to your bed.

Forever and always,

Mommy

Birthdays and Bathtime

Birthdays are always fun.  Even when you get older (like almost 32, for example) it's hard to not enjoy a time when you get presents and cake.  I don't care how birthday cynical you are, presents and cake are always good.

On a completely unrelated note, it is important to keep your children away from your lipstick.  Because even though the color looks adorable on them, sometimes the natural look is better.  (Just kidding, it's beets)

Which leads us too....

The first tandem bath!  Oh, the cute just doesn't stop around here!

 Look how happy she is!

 Eek!  They are so cute together!

OMG.  How about I just nomnomnomnom your little face right off!

The sickness

I had this post all half typed out about how we're all so sick, so, so, SO sick but it was really just a litany of complaints - and who wants to read about that? - so I deleted it.  Suffice to day, we've been sick.  First a cold, then the flu (which spread like wildfire to literally EVERYONE we came into contact with), then pink eye and finally another cold.  Ugh.

I've had some various appointments and things going on and the kids have been in day care at church, at the hosoital and at the gym and basically, I do not look forward to going back to work and dealing with this stuff as an ongoing problem.

I guess the good news is that their little immune systems are growing stronger but considering the amount of vomitous laundry I've done over the last two weeks, I'll take weak immune systems and just never let them leave the house.

Conor has a birthday coming up (THREE!) and we celebrated with a party with his friends last weekend.  Conor's favorite part was the cake. Smart boy.  We'll be going out to dinner with Opa and Grandma on FRiday to Red Robin (because it is THE BEST place to take kids.  It's so NOISY!), then we'll celebrate a bit with Nana and Papa on Super Bowl Sunday.

While I won't have any candles of my own toblow out, I'll certainly be wishing for healthy kids when Conor blows out his.