Weekend recap Monday!

Well hidey!

Monday! Again!  Ugh!

It is amazing how fast a weekend can go.

Friday recap:

Work.

M.A.S.S.A.G.E! Oh yeah!  An hour long, deep tissue, hurts so good you have to moan and groan massage!  I loved every minute of it.  My friend Amanda has an amazing gift!  I let her use her gift on me any time she wants haha!  I am a selfless person, I tell ya!

On to Clint's Friday night softball games.  It was still in the 80's at 7pm!  Summer is round the corner!

Saturday recap:

Honestly, I was a cranky pants mcgee!  I wasn't really in the mood to gym it up, but we went.  I did 3 miles on the treadmill and called it a day.  My body just wasn't in to it like usual.  We headed up to Bowling Green to take the family in law a chair and an entertainment center we weren't using. Clint also had to go fix some electrical work at my MIL's house.  We spent most of the day up there with them and went to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings.  I'm trying to make the place grow on me.  I'm trying!

Sunday recap:

Not really in the mood to go to church!  This moodiness seems to be a trend!  We went to church anyway and my mood lifted some.  Next was lunch at my parent's house and we visited for a while!  

Time to go home!  

I have a new hobby!  Couponing!!  This stuff is a whole new world to me.  

Have you seen the Extreme Couponing on TLC?

OMG!!!  That is some craziness!  I am starting small to see if I can be any good at it!  But I am an "all or nothing" person, so I'm sure you can guess how this will turn out haha!  I researched for a few HOURS, yes hours.  Clint cut the yard.  Ava watched him through the glass front door and giggled every time he passed by.  So freakin cute!

Grilled pork chops and salads were had for supper

A little of some "woman's work."  

TO clarify: This is a joke!  Clint and I do not see cleaning the house as just a woman's place.  We both do equal amounts around the house.  But we do have preferences. Hence, him cutting the yard and me doing laundry.  It works!

Do you as a couple have chores that you kind of "just do"?

Today:

Work.

Errands.

Gym.

There might be some recycle bin diving tonight for coupons. You think I'm kidding?  We shall see!

Do you have any new hobbies??

I hope you had a great day!

Back trackin!

Hello, Hello!

Yesterday, was crazy busy so I apologize for lack of postage.

Let's do a little back tracking, shall we?!

Monday night we went to the gym. 

I had already lifted arms, heavy might I add, at work before I left, so all I had to do was get my run on.  I had no real destination that I wanted to go.  I decided I would run until Clint was finished working out.  5 miles later......I saw him walk down the hall.  Well, thank you husband!  

Tuesday, my work day off, involved house cleaning, the vet, new tags for our Murano, the grocery store, and to see my friend Mary at the hospital because Baby Kate Emerson arrived Monday afternoon.  She was so precious.  It made me want another baby.....but not for a WHILE!  The "stuff they don't tell you because you would never have a baby" is still to fresh in my mind!

Wednesday,yesterday was soopa busy at work, which I prefer!  I am not good at not being productive!!

After work and meeting Clint at home, we went to get Snook and headed to the gym.

Speed work day!  I knocked out 3.01 miles in 25:34 min!  I was pretty proud of my short leggies gettin' it on the treadmill!

Supper last night was huge salads with chicken and garlic/pepper toast(for me!)  Oh and for dessert, I had a smoothie in a bowl.  It was my first ever adding spinach and like every one in Blog land, I was sold.  Why not add in some  "vitamin A (and especially high in lutein), vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron, vitamin B₂, calcium,potassium, vitamin B₆, folic acid, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium andomega-3 fatty acids."??Source

Exactly....no reason not too, especially if you can't even taste it!

I plan on running outside around our house today after work. It is supposed to be in the upper 70's!  SCORE!

Are you working out today?

What are some of your fave concoctions for smoothies? 

Do you prefer in a glass or in a bowl?

Have a great day!!

M.I.A.

I have been M.I.A and I apologize.
I have gotten over my Strep Throat, thank goodness.

Our laptop decided that it needed a new hard drive! You can not prepare for these things!

On to a little recap of the weekend that flewwww by.

Friday night:

A little bit of this:

 Source

and a little bit of this:

Source

Saturday:

Gym

6.5 miles on the tready in 60 min! Oh yeah, my energy is back and I am back in the game!

Upper body lifting:

Combo: Bicep curls into shoulder press 2x12 12lb DBs

Front raises 2x12/arm 12lb DBs (owwwwch!)

Bent over rows 2x12 12lb DBs

Single arm overhead tricep press 2x12 12lb DBs

GOOD DAY at the gym-o!

Then we did a little bit of this:

Source

Little bit of this:

Source

We watched this:

Source

Sunday:

We went to my bestie, Eva's church to visit since they were celebrating their 50th Anniversary.  Bonus: it started and hour later than our church, it is half a mile down the road from our houses and we got free lunch!! Booo ya!  Winning!

Came home and Ava took a nap before we headed off to a wedding shower.  Tis the season for weddings and showers.

All in all a good weekend.  They always go so fast!  Ava has figured out how to wave and reach up for you when she wants you.  It is the CUTEST. THING.EVER. But in all honesty she could be cute to me with a burlap sack on and covered in mud, with an animal print bow on of course!!!

  My friend Mary is in labor right now!!  Yay!  Kate Emerson will be here any time!  

Do you go to the hospital to visit friends when they have babies or do you wait until they get home?

Have a great rest of the day!

Seriously?!

I.HAVE.STREP.THROAT!!

SERIOUSLY?!

Let's back up.  Sunday late afternoon my throat was a little scratchy.  I felt a headache creepin in on me.  By Sunday night, I couldn't swallow, my head was pounding, like an imaginary man using a jackhammer on it.  The back of my neck started hurting. I completely freaked with the neck symptom and Googled the heckers beckers out of Meningitis, sore throats, migraines, well every symptom I had.  After putting Ava down for the count, I tapped out too and went to bed.  I woke up when my alarm went off at 4am.  I turned it off!  Yep, there was no way I was going to be able to function at work.  I got up at 5am because my extremely (for me) endowed boobs needed pumping.  Clint kept insisting I go to the doc.  I.AM.STUBBORN!  I don't like to take meds because "this too shall pass."  After some bickering back and forth, (at 5:15am, haha) I told Clint he got mean when I get sick.  He looked at me and said, (I'm paraphrasing here) "I want you to get better.  You have been getting headaches and these symptoms hit you fast.  I've kind of gotten used to you being around and want to keep it that way." This got a hearty smile and a chuckle from me.  Boy, how I love this man.  So, I surrendered.  Sinve I don't go to the doc, except my OB/GYN, I had to find out a doc in our insurance plan and see if they accepted new patients.  Of course, its only 6am by now and doc's don't open until 8am.  At 8am on the nose I called.  I scored an appt for 2pm! Ugh!  But at least I can get in.  I started to feel a little better,  I cleaned house, folded laundry and spent time with Ava.  I took her to my parent's house around lunch so I could come back home to shower and get to my appt.

I did all of the new patient paperwork and insurance stuff and they called me back.  This adorably pregnant nurse took my vitals.  

Blood pressure=on low side of normal.

Temp.=98.6

Weight=back down from the few I gained in the last couple weeks of training eating tooooo much Peanut Butter.  

The doc came in and did the checkup.  The nurse did a throat swab, YUCK!

Diagnosis=very positive for Strep throat!!!

So, I started a Z-pak and they gave me gross-a@@-nasty throat soother.  I should be back to normal in a day or so.

Yesterday, was supposed to be my 1st day of 10k training and I was going to use my new Mama's day gift!
That didn't happen, nor will it today, although today is a REST day!! Score.

Have you just randomly gotten sick before??
This was out of left field!!!

h
have a great day. 

Mama's weekend recap

Hey there, Monday!  I did not order you and wish to send you back!  Worth a try, right?!

I hope everyone's weekend was great.  Mine was!

Saturday recap:

Gym time!  I treadmilled it.  I was a little leery about the treadmill and was hoping I could at least get 3 miles in.  I was about to stop at 3 because I just wasn't feeling it and Clint was finished working out.  He encouraged me to go ahead and keep going.  That's all I needed.  I finally got in my groove at knocked out 4.5miles!  Oh, runner's high I have missed you this week.

We had talked about going to the Farmer's market after the gym, but a storm was coming in.  Mall and Target?  Yes please.  We picked up some odds and ends and headed on home.

Sunday recap:

My 1st Mama's Day!!!!!

It was such an amazing day!  First up, I was surprised with this!!!

LOOKIE, my very own!!!!  I was so surprised and happy!!  I also got pearl earrings with little diamond studs! Love!  And a very sweet card that made my eyes leak!!

We headed to church and all of the mamas were asked to stand.  I stood up with my little Snook like a proud mama bear!!

Then we headed off to the farmers market!  Here is me and my sweet baby girl before we head to lunch.

Lunch for me was a Greek salad and tabouli with a pita from a cute little Greek restaurant and Clint got a BBQ plate from a fabulous smelling BBQ pit!  We were both happy with our choices.  We picked up some Strawberry Rhubard preserves (thought  it would be fun to try) and some random BBQ sauce.  Huge green onions, fat juicy tomatoes, zucchini, and squash were then combined to our loot.  

We headed home to relax.  I deemed yesterday "no housework day". Boy, was that hard to keep!  I decided that while Clint marinaded supper we would partake in this.

There is nothing cuter than a baby in just a diaper!!!

For supper, we grilled pork chops (for me) and steak (for Clint), corn and sliced up fat juicy tomatoes on the side!  Yummm-oooo

I will probably say this every year, but I don't know if this Mother's day can be topped.  I am so blessed to have a fan-freakin-tastic husband and a daughter that rocks my world!!  I couldn't ask for more.

Working out today?

Have a great day??

9 month check up

Hey y'all. Ava here!  I wanted to tell you about my 9 month check up yesterday.

Mama dropped me off at Gram and Pappy's house like usual.  We played, I ate, I napped, I pooped. You know, a normal day.  Well, that afternoon Gram started getting me ready.  Mama packs cute outfits when we go on "field trips".  We drove what seemed like FOR.EVER.  The big thing that gets us places stopped and Gram got me out of my seat thingy to change that thing that I pee and poop in.  She sat me up and there was MY MAMA! AND DADDY!  Yay!!!  "Are you guys coming on the field trip too?"  Mama grabbed me and gave me tons of kisses and "hi's" and then daddy loved on me.  We told Gram bye and headed to....on no!  Not the place that sticks me in the legs!!!!  Aww man!  Again?!  

I got really quiet and I think the word is nervous.  We waited for.ever.  (mama said it wasn't long really)  The nurse (the mean one that sticks me) called my name and we headed back to the room.  The stick lady asked mama a ton of questions while daddy got me undressed.  We then walked to that thing that tells me my weight and where mama holds my head still and the stick lady pulls my legs out straight.

Weight:16.3lbs(I'm little but Dr. Jay isn't worried at all!)

Height:26 in

We went back to the room and waited on Dr. Jay.  I played with Alvin.

and accidentally pulled off the tag.  I looked at Daddy to see if he could fix it but he could't.  

Dr. Jay finally got there and I sat in mama's lap while they talked about me and asked all kinds of questions.

I can really eat all veggies and meats now just mashed up. (still some things I have to stay away from i.e strawberries, honey, nuts, wheat, whole milk, cheese and eggs) Mama and daddy use that loud noisy thing to make my food. (Baby Bullet)

Dr. Jay put this thing on my chest and I didn't like it.  I kept pushing his hand away but he kept putting it back!

Then he put this bright light in my eyes and stuck this thing in my ears. Ugh!

I finally got to show him my stuff on the table.  He checked my hips and grip and then he let me sit up.  I did a little dance/sway for him and he said I was PERFECTLY HEALTHY!

And guess what?!  I didn't get any of those STICKS IN MY LEGS!!!  

Maybe this place isn't so bad.  I think I heard mama make another appt for around my 1st Birthday!

After that place, mama and me said bye-bye to daddy(he was going home to do some yardwork) and we went to the gym.  Miss Savannah is always glad to see me and we even got to watch mama on the funny thing that makes her legs go in circles.  (She says it is the Elliptical and she was on it for 45 min!) I have no concept of what 45 minutes is!

We then headed home.  The rest of the night was full of playing, crawling, eating, BATH TIME, and special time with mama!  

It was a good day!!

Mama says, "Have a great day!"

My 1st "postrace blues"

Thank you for all of the nice comments about my 1st Half Marathon.  It was such an amazing experience! I wish I could bottle all of those feelings and emotions.  Speaking of emotions, yesterday I was definitely down in the dumps aka "postrace blues".  You know...when there is so much focus on training and the countdown to "the day". It gets here, you run and feel amazing after and even the next day.  But then the high is gone and now you are left feeling lost and now what?!?  (this can be for any event, i.e. graduation, wedding, postbaby)

I took 2 much needed days off from working out and had planned to start back yesterday.  My thoughts (negative ones)were all over the place.  Tuesdays are my day off during the week and have become house cleaning, gym time alone, and errand days.  I dropped Ava off at my parent's house and went back home to clean and wallow in my pity party for one!  I had COMPLETELY talked myself out of going to the gym.
-It was raining.
-It was chilly outside.
-I was getting out just to go to the gym.
-I didn't feel like going.
-I'm not "training" this week.
-I "feel" puffy.
Plenty of reasons not to go. Right?!

Well, my pity party came to a screeching halt and I made myself get out of my sweats and head to the gym whether I wanted to or not.
Cardio:
Elliptical 15 min.
Treadmill: 1 SLOOOOOOOW A@@ Mile and walked 5 min.  (I felt like such a newbie.  I was kind of beating myself up because I struggled through that mile. )  I got off and went to lift weights.  I have been neglecting them just because running has been my priority.  Not anymore.  My plan is to start "training" again running on Monday and doing full body lifting with heavy weights 3 days a week.
Weights:
Squats 2x20 Barbell 5kg each side
Incline chest press 2x20 12lbs DBs
Deadlift/row combo 2x20 Barbell 5kg each side
Bicep curls 2x12 12lbs DBs
Stationary lunges 2x20/side Barbell 5kg each side
Tricep kickbacks 2x12 12lbs DB


I felt like a slacker.  I felt like I didn't/couldn't push myself.  I felt lost!
On my drive to my parents's house to pick up Ava, I had a chitty chat with myself.
"Courtney!  You just ran your 1st half marathon.  13.1 MILES!  Do you reallize what an amazing feat that is?!    Your body took a tole and is just getting back to normal.  You can start Monday training for your 10k in June.  Relax and ease back into working out this week.
So you gained a couple (a couple) of L.B.S's at the end of training!  You will lose those in NO TIME. Focus and get back on track!  You have 40 days until the BEACH!  Quit beating yourself up for NO REASON!  You are so blessed and your family is so proud of you! "

Yes ma'am!!!!

Have you ever experienced the "postrace blues?"
Do you have chats with yourself?


Have a great day!

1/2 marathon and a shower!

GOOD MORNING!!

I hope everyone's weekend was fabulous! 

Mine was!

First, here is Ava and her new trick! Such a big girl!

On to the weekend.  Saturday morning started at an early 3:30am!  I was so afraid I would miss my alarms that I set two! I never sleep through an alarm but for some reason I was terrified I would.  We were meeting friends at 5am to head to LP stadium(where the TN Titans play and the FINISH line for the COUNTRY MUSIC MARATHON and 1/2 MARATHON.  It was still dark and quite chilly when we got there.  We were able to get on the shuttle and head on over to Centennial Park where the race was to start.  Poor Ava and mama were SUPER cold!!! (Holy white legs!)

I just took my long sleeve tshirt off and am ready to get the show on the road!

Me, my running buddy Eva and her friend Tabitha.  Eva was doing all kinds of nervous laughing!  She was making me nervous!

Me, my best friend Leigh's husband(beside me) and his friend Kevin.

I had too!!  A rave isn't official without a baby onesie with zebra print....right?!?!

My sis loaned Ava her shades!

Ava and my mom at the finish line waiting on me. Doesn't it look like she is cheering? (sorry for the sideways pic)

Do you see me?

Finally found Clint and Ava!

Trusty Garmin!

1/2 marathons are exhausting!  (she wasn't eating the sunflower seed btw)

Quick recap!  

I was super nervous and anxious and had pterodactyls flying around in my belly.  When we started the START line, Kevin took off and Leigh's husband was up ahead but I could still keep him in sight. Me, Eva and Tabitha kept together until about 7.5 miles and then they waved me on.  Periodically, I was giving text updates to Clint to let him and everyone with him where we all were and what mile we were on.  I lost Leigh's husband at one of the curves and never saw him again. 

The hills weren't that bad actually since where we live is extreme hill mania.  What sucked was there were lots of hills but BARELY ANY DOWNHILLS!  Talk about a killjoy.  

I kept my pace and took a CHOMP around mile 8.  I was feeling good but new that 10.5miles was the farthest I had ran.  I was nervous I would hit my wall, so I took another CHOMP around mile 10.  My corral was 2:15, but secretly I wanted to get 2:00.  So what did I get???

OvrPl	SexPl	DivPl	Bib	First Name	Last Name	City	State	Chip Time
5878	2530	674	18580	Courtney

02:07:55!!!!!!

I am pretty dang proud of that!!  The only time I walked was at the water/Cytomax stations and it was my farthest run so far!  I crossed the finish line a bundle of emotions.  I got teary actually.  I can't explain the accomplishment you feel when you set out to do something as amazing as running a 1/2 marathon and doing it!  Especially having a baby 9 months ago! Having Clint, Ava, my mom and sis there meant the world to me!

Am I sore?  Yes!  My quads were yesterday and still today.  All of the uphills and no downs really pushed the quads.  

How long are you resting? I took yesterday off and will today too. I am going to do the elliptical and some slooooow couple mile runs this week and then next week it is game on.

Why is that? Because I signed up for Wilma Rudolph 6th Annual 10k Road Race on June 25th!

Will I run another 1/2 marathon?  HECK YEAH, I am running

The Women's Half Marathon & 5K - Nashville, TN Saturday, September 24, 2011   7:00 AM Walk of Fame Park Nashville , TN I have to get 2:00 now!!!!!  I am addicted!!