Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It has been a couple of months of no posts.  All I can say is that blog reading and posts were overwhelming me.  I was getting behind on reading other blogs that I keep up with and felt like I couldn't keep up.  Also, I kind of lost my blog "focus".

I still don't know where I want this blog to go, but I do know that I want to chronicle this year of my life.

Today in my life....

Ava is 17 months old and 1 day old. 

She actually said "all done" as well as the "all done" motion in sign language.  She can also do "more", "drink", "come", "please", "thank you", "sleepy". 

She can say "mama", "daddy", "daisy", "more", "all done", "let's see", "ki-ki"(my sister Caitlin).

She is an amazing kid!

We went to church this morning and then went to Sunday school class after.  Good stimulating class with godly people our age.  Great way to start the year!

After church, we had 3 couples over to our house for lunch.  Pork chops/steak, salads, mac n cheese, rolls, and strawberry bundt cake.

Ava has some bowel issues today(yesterday too).  Her poor booty is outrageously raw!  We are trying all of the poop thickening things we can think of...bananas, cheese.  We are also giving her Pedialyte to prevent dehydration.  If she doesn't get any better by tomorrow I will make a call to the pediatrician.

I don't like making New Year's Resolutions, because I feel such guilt if I don't complete them.  Instead this year I have made prospective goals.  Here are mine for the year.

Run 700 miles in 2012.

Pray with Ava. 

Sing church songs to her.

Start trying to get pregnant(mid summer)

Run a Tough Mudder.

Get our house sold and by our "forever" house. 

I am sure I will come up with more being that I am a goal oriented person.  I also know that I want to blog every day.  I want to do this for me and not worry about how many followers I have or how many comments I get.  I want this to be MY outlet and a way to get my thoughts, feelings, milestones for Ava, my exercise endeavors, and any and all randomness that I can come up with.

So, if you read my posts, thank you.  If you comment, thank you.  I will try and read blogs when I can and not think i "have" to read those blogs or become competitive with others.  

Have a great 2012.   

Speed raiser!

Hey there!

According to the calendar it is Thursday.  These days I never seem to know what day it is.  Work was busy yesterday, which I really do like!  I was able to get in a quick weights sesh in between patients.

2x10 combos using 2-15lbDBs

Squats into Shoulder press

Plie squats into upright rows

Stationary lunges with hammer curls

20 pushups.  

Did the usual after work, pick up Ava, pick up Clint, go straight to the gym.  We did take a small detour to TJ Maxx to get some new ear buds so I could listen to my Pandora on my cellular device.  At the gym, Clint said he would only be about 30 min.  Okie doke, I can do 4 miles in 35. That will push me.  I increased the speed the entire 4 miles until I finished up at 9mph!  That is super fast for this 5'2 sister!  I finished the 4 miles in 34:51! Oh yea.  Take that 35 minutes!

OHHHH, I forgot to tell you.  My boss is going to pay for me to get my yoga instructor certification!  At first I was a wee bit questionable about it, BUT the longer I thought, prayed, and considered it, WHY NOT?!  It is something new, it will be challenging, another certication, PLUS it takes care of my Personal Trainer CEUs.  I say WINNING all around! What do y'all think??

The past 2 Thursdays my boss has been ok with  me coming in at 8am so I could run in the mornings.  I drop Ava off at my parent's house and run their hilly road.  Why run in the morning?  

1. It is my FAVORITE time to run.  When the day is waking up and everything is calm and peaceful.

2. Before it gets too hot.  It was already 80 degrees at 6am!

3. Babysitter and I don't have to drive anywhere.

4. Place to shower after my extremely sweaty run!

I did 5 miles in 43:10!  WHO AM I???  haha who cares, right?!  I'll take the speedy improvements. 

All that is left is my 50 pushups for the day.

What is your workout going to be today?

Have a great day!!

HI!!!!

I am alive!!

Our work has been moving buildings and setting up into a brand new building for the last few weeks and I JUST got my internet in my brand new office with WINDOWS!!  Can I tell you how wonderful it is to have windows?!?!  My day is so much more enjoyable at work since I can actually SEE what is going on outside.  I didn't realize how unhappy I was in my closet  office until I got the new one!

So I am back to blogging! YAY!!!  I wasn't even able to check my Google Reader.  I do that at work, because let's face it I just DO NOT have time when I am not at work!  I think at one point I have over 2000 unread posts!!  How overwhelming, so I did the only thing I knew I could do and feel ok with it and that was MARK AS READ!!!  I am sorry I did not read all of your posts, but I would have to read blogs constantly for DAYS just to catch up.  

In other news, Ava took her 1st steps(2) at the GYM!!  I was thrilled!  SHE IS MY DAUGHTER!  Not that   I was questioning it!  I was there after all!  Clint didn't see it, he missed it by a minute, but she took 2 more for him the next day! Although, she has taken those steps, she still hasn't figured out she can do it. Oh well, I am in NO HURRY for her to start prancing around. 

Prancing=mama  and daddy chasing!

My running has been pretty good with an arm workout scattered here and there.  Well this week, I decided to get back into a solid running AND weights routine.  I have been spot on all week so far and I am sore.  I have MISSED BEING SORE!

I also decided to challenge myself to do 2 things each day.

1)Pray! I have been super slacking in conversing with God.

2)50 pushups a day.  Either all at once or scattered, but 50 total.

So far so good!

How have you been?

I will get back to reading blogs and commenting today!

Have a great day!

Back to business

HI! I took some time off from bloggy land.

I had over 500 posts in my Google Reader.  

I "marked all as read".

I needed a clean slate and that number was too overwhelming.

I've been running.

Ava is amazing.

Got some great time in with family!

Back to business and blogging!

In the words of Pauly D, "oh yeaaaaaaaaa!"

Full day and I loved it!

Thank you for the sweet comments on our 3 year anniversary.

What did we do, you might ask?
Well, the night we got engaged (we were counselors at church camp) on the menu was tacos and banana pudding!  (my favorite meal! It was planned apparently!)  At our wedding rehearsal we had a taco bar and banana pudding!  So, every year we make tacos(well taco salad in my case).  It might be a cheesy thing to some people, but I love that it is our tradition.  It is special to me.

Yesterday, I took the day off. I thought it would be fun to lay out my day yesterday. Being a stay at home mama "ain't no joke!"  Here is a day in the life of Mama and Ava's day together.(and then when Clint got home.
5am: I wake up.
5:45am-ish Clint goes and wakes sleeping beauty up to say bye.  (This is her normal wake up time and we like to keep it as consistent as possible.)
6-7:30ish I nurse Ava and we play.
7:45-8:30 Ava snoozes on the couch while I get everything ready for our outing.
8:45 Leave for the gym and get gas on the way.
9:15-10:15 I ran a little over 4.5 miles in 43 min while Ava schmoozed the old men that come to the gym in the mornings.
10:30 We head to the mall.
10:45 Inside the mall.  I need an iced coffee STAT!.  Ava is hungry.  Alright!  Good thing there is comfortable seating.  I brought a bottle that I had pumped before we left.  I fed her that, sweetpotato cereal, and apples.  It took a little longer to feed her, being that she is a "nosy Nancy" and has to look at every passer by until they smile at her which she in turn flashes her grin. (what a ham!)
10:45-12pm Shopping (well looking for an Easter dress and khaki pants) Trying on clothes, well one dress is difficult with a baby who needs a nap and a jogging stroller.  Thank goodness for "handicap" dressing rooms and bathrooms.
12pm-12:30 Getting everything back in the car.  That stroller is heavy and awkard to lift into an SUV.
12:15-12:45 Ava naps.
12:45-1:15 Mama eats lunch while Ava wants to be held.
1:30-1:45pm Our new dishwasher and dryer are delivered. (hence the reason I took off of work)
2pm Take Daisy (our Jack Russell) to the vet for her allergy shot.  She is allergic to flea saliva, gross I know!!  Apparently, she decided to be moody today.  I have Ava on my hip while we go in to vet room.  The vet tech, which I'm guessing he's 23ish, tries to pick Daisy up.  She SNAPS at him.  OH FOR THE LOVE, REALLY??  She never does that.  The vet asked if I could pick her up?  Um. With what hands?  I looked at the tech and said, "Here! I'll trade you."  I handed Ava to him.  He was so awkward it was hysterical, but what did they expect me to do, grow another arm?
Crisis availed!  She got her shot and we were on our way to our next destination.
2:20 Go get Clint's tags for his truck.  No problems there.
2:30-3pm  It was a beautiful day.  I stopped at this little"village" that is great for walking and me, Daisy and Ava took a nice 1.5 mile stroll to enjoy the sunshine.
3pm-3:45pm Ava falls asleep on the way home.  I fold a load of laundry.
3:45pm-Nurse Ava
4pm Clint gets home and we chat and he plays with Ava for a bit.
4:30-6pm I clean out the laundry room while Clint installs the dishwasher.  I move the grill out of the garage so we can use it for supper.  I take boxes and boxes and more boxes that were lying around back to our "burn pile."  We move the dishwasher and dryer out into the back yard and move the new ones into place.
6pm  I start grilling supper while Clint finishes up the installing. (He is amazing.  There is nothing he can't do!)
6:30-7ish Supper. Well, most of it until Clint finished feeding Ava hers and then she wanted mama(aka milk).
7-8pm Clint plays with Ava while I shower(ahhhhh) and clean up the kitchen.
8pm Ava's bedtime routine.  Clint changed her while I was in the shower. Nurse(well comfort nurse), put her in her bed.  SILENCE.  She is so good at this!!!
8-9pm Clean out the coffee maker for this morning.  Fold another load of laundry. Put it away.
9:15pm sit down for the night.  Clint is about to watch the Predator's playoff game.  I start to get a little reading done.  Next thing I know it is 11pm.  ooops! Must have dozed off sometime.  Off to bed I went while Clint finishes watching the hockey game.

No wonder I crashed as soon as I sat down! Holy toledo.   I had a full day!!!  I think working at a job 40 hours a week is CAKE. Which we did have.  My mom made us a strawberry and almond layer cake for our anniversary.  It was the flavors we had at our wedding.  It is already GONE! Eeeek.

Would you rather be a stay at home mama or a working mama.
I loved loved loved being able to spend the ENTIRE day with Ava.  Clint usually gets to do this.  I love Ava with all of my heart, but selfishly I need that structure that a job gives me.  I don't feel bad about this either.  I know that I am helping financially to support our family and appreciate the moments with her and Clint so much more.


Have a great day!!!  Are you working out today?  It is my rest day today! 

Tornados, cleaning, running, oh my

Happy Middle of the week!

I took a much needed day off yesterday!  But I did get some VERY needed cleaning done at the house!

Monday, I got in a quick workout at work before I left and good thing I did! Before I get into that, here is what I did.
Weights:
Front squats 3x10 2-15lb DBs
Deadlifts 3x10 2-15lb DBs
10-10-10 calf raises
Bent over rows 3x10 2-15lb DBs
Incline Chest press 3x10 2-15lb DBs
Front/Lateral raise combo 3x10 2-5lb KBs
Dips 3x10 BW
Zottman bicep curls 3x10 2-10lb DBs
V-ups 3way 3x30

Monday was supposed to be stormy weather in the afternoon.  That is was!  Right before I lifted weights the Tornado sirens went off!  EEEK!  There were tornado watches all over Tennessee. Three actually touched down.  I called my mom to see if everything was ok.  They were in the hall and my precious daughter was ASLEEP!  Ha!  Of all times to decide to nap, right?!  Winds were ~70mph!  Thankfully, everyone is safe and there was minimal damage.  We were without power from about 3 that afternoon until about 1am.  Our gym was without power as well, so running was not to be had that day!  Ava really liked all the candles!!  I found a bag of tea lights and scattered about 103 around the house.  Good times!

Tuesday, like I said about I took the day off.  I have been working about 45ish hours a week for the past few weeks and since my day was not busy at work, I asked the boss for the day.  I scrub the kitchen, did some laundry (boy, I can not wait for our new dryer and dishwasher to be delivered next week.  I took that day off too!!), swept under the couch.  It is amazing what has been hiding under there!  I cleaned out my closet to donate to somewhere.  If I hadn't wore it in a couple of seasons, it went to the donate pile.  I actually found my closet floor!!

About 1pm, I met Eva at the end of my road.  We actually live about .5 mile from each other so she is a very convenient running partner/friend!  I had planned to run 2.5miles out and back on the highway, but our dog, Daisy, had other plans.  She got out of our fence and started following me.  Since, I knew she would follow me out onto the highway we decided to run my neighborhood.  We live on a circle road and there are 2 ginormous hills that our house is on top of.  We rotated every other way around the circle.  It was brutal!  We had a slower pace for the 6.15miles that we went, but it was OK with me, since the hills required a bit of walking.  Daisy actually went the entire time with us.  For a Jack Russell who is 8 years old, 6ish miles is a booger.  Needless to say, she laid down as soon as we got into the door!!hhaha What is the saying, "if you are going to run with the big dogs......."

I showered and went to pick up Snook(btw, I call her Snook b/c I dress her in animal print and she is short for her age) and then we met Clint to run a couple of errands.  He starts his church league softball season on Friday night, so we went to Hobby Lobby to get some materials for Ava's "uniform".  I will post pics when we get it done!

Well, that is the recap for the past two days.  Today, I am back to work and we will go to the gym after.  I am planning on ~5 miles tonight on the treadmill.
What are you doing for a workout today??


Have a great day!!!

200!

Hello!  It is a beautiful sunny morning here in Nashville.  So nice to see the sun after some hellacious storms the past few days!

It is my 200th post!  NIIIIICE!

On to Monday night's gym time!
Cardio:
Treadmill-3.84ish miles 
*I don't know about anyone else, but I hate running that 1st mile!  Once I get past it, it is smooth sailing and increasing my speed.  But until then, I have to be the "Little Engine That Could"!  It is rough.  While I was running, I was wondering what I was going to do for weights.  Well, somehow by chance, Clint and his buddies were Wally-ballin it and I finished just as "Pump it up" class was starting.  I jumped off the treadmill, cleaned it off and ran to see how much longer Clint would be playing.  He told me to go ahead and take the class.  Win Win for both of us!
I haven't been able to take the class in 2 weeks and boy, let me tell ya, I felt it.  Holy Squat track!  Burnin baby burnin. I am so glad I didn't decide to continue the "heavy" lifting that I did 2 weeks ago and scaled it back a smidge.  At the end of class my muscles were all saying, "are we done yet?"


SOooooooooo, Weights:
45 min Pump it up class


Tuesdays, I can get in a run before it gets busy at work and today was no exception.
Cardio:
Slow and easy 3.5mile run.  Same thing....mile 1 sucked, but I got my legs going and could've kept going, but didn't want to overdue it.
Weights:
None today.


Have you or are you working out today?


Have you had a curveball thrown your way lately?
My boss just told me that the girl who takes over part of my job in the afternoons/evenings is quitting.  Ironically, I just sent him an email about vacation!  Um......have to find a new employee S.T.A.T!!!

Have a great Tuesday!

Smorgasborg and Bedtime Routine

Happy Weekend y'all!  I hope you are having a great Saturday so far!  I am at work (its the 3rd Saturday in my work rotation). 

My past few days recap.
Thursday was rest day.

Friday(yesterday)  I was so busy at work that I wasn't sure I was going to get in my alotted 3miles.  Well, lo and behold, my 7am patient cancelled, so I jumped (literally) on the "dreadmill" at work and knocked out 3.05miles before my 8am patient arrived!  Done!  But now I know why I don't run in the mornings, I was again STARVING all day.  I have GOT to get this new balance right with my calories.  I have been ravenous the past few days and I REALLY don't like it! 

My mom is a huge Valentine fan.  We have had a gift/money and treats every year for as long as I can remember.  As well as a Valentine Dinner.  My mom goes ALL OUT!  Last night was the super d duper supper.  I nibbled on some good eats.  Everything included:
Chips and avocado dip for an app
Steak (salmon for me)
Cajun rice
Salad
Baked potatoes
Crab meat
Shrimp
Rolls
Pecan Pie
Brownies with ice cream!

My plate consisted of lots of salad, salmon, a wee bit of rice, a roll, few pieces of shrimp and a piece of crab meat.  I did get a brownie with a small scoop of ice cream!
The funny thing is an hour after we got home I was STILL hungry.  I have the metabolism of a HUMMINGBIRD these days!! 

Ava News:  We have been incorporating a routine with her at night.  We let her do her own thing and fall asleep at night whenever she felt like it.    About 2 weeks ago, we decided to start 8pm bedtime.  We have stuck with this and she is doing great.  We start getting her ready about 7-7:15 and between 7:30 and 8pm I take her to her room and rock her.  I typically give her a bedtime "snack" and she is usually asleep in 15min.  I then take her to her crib and let her be.  A couple of nights she has "woken" up and after 10 minutes or so of making whiny noises she falls back to sleep.  Last night she slept 6 straight hours!  I didn't know what to do with that kind of sleep.  Albeit we have been up since 5am on a Saturday, but hey I will take an extra 2 hours of sleep when I can get it!


What are you doing today?

I am hopefully going to run my 5 miles for the day here shortly!

Have a great day!

Revved up and run down

Hellooooo.  Wow, what is this, 4 days in a row I have posted?!?  This 1/2 marathon training is keeping my blog updated for sure!

How are y'all this morning?  I'm pretty good!  The sun is out already and it is supposed to be 74 degrees today here in Nashville!  I LOVE  IT!  Mother Nature, please don't stop the warmer weather!

Last night, we went to the gym and I was NOT feeling it.  I grudgingly did this...

Cardio:
20 min on Mr. Ellip.
Ok, so this was somewhat fun.  I put Pandora on my phone and set the station to Black Eyed Peas.  For every song for the next 20 min, I set my pace.  So it was kinda like a HITT experience based on music.  I was surprisingly "glistening" after this 20 min!

Weights:
Leg extension machine-
SS-3x10 both legs 70#
     3x10 single leg 30#
(whew weee)
SS-Incline Chest press turns 3x10 20#DBs
     Hip Thrusts-3x10,20#DB
(yowwww)
SS-P90x Congdon Locomotive exercise 3x15 2-20#DBs
     Overhead Tricep press-3x10 20#DB

I struggled through this!  I think it is the added running, but yesterday I felt like my metabolism was that of a HUMMINGBIRD'S!!!  Everything I ate, some how didn't register.  I ate my lunch by 10am and all of my food I had brought by NOON!  It was crazy!  Definitely need to bring an emergency snack and leave it in my office!

Get this!!!  After the gym, we decided on Subway for supper.  Quick and easy!  We get there and the girl behind the glass says, "we are about to close." HUH, WHAT?  Its 6pm.  Girl: "We are out of everything."  I look and right as rain there are no veggies, limited breads, and goodness knows what else they are out of!  I mean REALLY!  What Subway runs out of FOOD?!  Needless to say we left and had to back up and punt on what to have for supper and of course I was really hungry by then!  We fended for ourselves, but I do not like it when my head is wrapped around something I am going to eat and then changed at the last minute.  I like to be prepared!! 

Have you ever been to a restaurant/fast food place that ran out of food?

Have a fabulous day!

Get in, get out

Good Tuesday morning folks! 

Last night's workout was as follows.

Cardio:
**I was supposed to run 3 miles last night, but I switched today's run for last night.  It is great weather to run outside and will be running the 3 miles with a friend outside!)

Speed work: 5x400s
I did the 400s at 8mph, then backed off to 6mph.

Weights:
(we didn't want to stay too long, so I got my act together and hit it hard and quick.....get your mind out of the gutter!)
Barbell-8.5k on each side
Combo exercises:
Front squat with bicep curls 2x15
Deadlift with a row 2x15
Clean and press 2x15
Stationary lunges 2x15/leg
Planks-1 min switching up with regular, then lifting each leg, then rocking up on my toes. 
           -1 min 20sec the second time around.

We had leftover Chicken pot pie for supper and I was sad to see it go!

What did you have for supper last night?

Funny story....

I have linked Daily Mile to my Facebook account and I was updating it last night.  I had put that I did 2 miles of speed work for 20 HOURS instead of minutes.  I couldn't figure out how to correct it, so I had to comment that it was indeed minutes and not HOURS!  Let's just say I got some interesting comments!  OOPS! 

If you can't laugh at yourself right?!?!?!

Have a great day!

Hodge Podge.

Good Morning Sunshines.  Although, it is gloomy here in Nashville and supposed to snow later this afternoon, I am going to create my own sunshine!

Let's get right to business.
Tuesday night workout was B.R.U.T.A.L.  Funny thing is I did it to myself!
Cardio:
Ellip. 30 min
Weights:(using 2-5.5kg plates plus bar)
Single leg step ups-2x10/leg
Giant set-3 way chest press (wide grip, middle grip, close grip) 2x10 each
Deep Squats 2x10
Palm up bent over rows 2x10
Bulgarian split lunges 2x10/leg
Reverse grip bicep curls 2x10
Wide Squats 2x10
MMMMM GOOD!!!!!

Last night Spin class.  It has been 2 weeks since I was able to make a spin class.  Although, honestly I was VERY close to opting out and working out by myself.  I am so glad I didn't because my fave instructor was teaching!  Even though she is ALWAYS late getting started, she makes up for it in kicking tail and taking names.  Plus she has great music that you can get into and hit the right tempo with the pedal stroke.  I was sucking down some water through the entire thing!

RECIPE TIME.......
I put this in the crockpot yesterday morning and turned it on high while we went to the gym.  It is so easy, fairly healthy, and super tasty.  I kind of threw this together and was not disappointed.
Turkey Chili
~lb of ground turkey meat (browned and drained of excess fat)
2 cans chili beans (hot) undrained....can do mild if want to
1 can black beans undrained
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (chili ready)
1 package chili seasoning
-Pour all ingredients into crockpot.  6 hours on low or 2-3 on high.  Can top with sour cream, cheese, etc)
Nutrition-(this is an approx.) (Toppings not included)
4 servings 
Cal. 406
Fat 18g
Fiber 10
Carbs 28g
Protein 34

This is definitely a hodge podge of things, but hey I am always thinking about 16 different things at once!
Our pre-marital counselor said "men's brains are like boxes.  They can only keep one open at a time. Women's brains are like spaghetti noodles. Each noodle is intertwined and is a is never ending!"  Isn't that the BEST analogy.  I am definitley full of noodles!!

I will leave you with a video of Ava.  She is a MESS.  My heart overflows!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh4Nc6NrDB4

Birth-weekend

Yesterday was my


 

BIRTHDAY!!

I thoroughly enjoyed my birth-weekend.

Friday night sushi was GREAT!! 
Saturday, we went to the gym, came home and cleaned house and played with Ava, and then Clint and I went out to dinner at Fleming's.  It is an upscale steakhouse and wine bar.  This is what we got to eat.
Baguette with sun-dried tomato butter and feta butter.
Appetizer: Lump Crab Louis Wraps
My entree: Salmon Nicoise Salad-salmon, salad, green beans, potato wedges, bread with an olive tapenade, fancy deviled eggs(didn't like these)
Clint's entree: filet mignon and Chipotle mac and cheese( we are going to recreate this at home.)
Passed on dessert, but they sent us home with 4 truffles for my birthday.

After dinner, we went to Borders bookstore to let our food digest before we went to Maggie Moo's ice cream.  I got a kid cup of Better Batter Cake Carninval(cake batter ice cream, with twix, cookie dough and fudge mixed in.) Clint made his own creation of cappucino and mint ice cream with reeses cups mixed in! 
PERFECT DATE NIGHT/BIRTHDAY DINNER!!

Sunday, we went to church and then to my parent's house for lunch and extended family birthday gathering.
We had tacos (they were ok) and what I was really looking forward to....BANANA PUDDING! 
So good.  I can't even describe.  If I was stranded on an island with Clint and Ava, I would want 3 things.....banana pudding, chips/salsa, and peanut butter.  I had 2 out of 3 on Sunday and it was glorious.  I did splurge on my birth-weekend in the food department for sure!  Let's put it this way, I brought home a big bowl of pudding and ate it for a snack and supper as well as 3/4, yes 3/4's of a bag of tortilla chips and salsa and avocado dip!!  You  know what? I do not regret it! 

Yesterday, was my actual birthday, but it was a normal Monday.  Work and Clint's basketball game.  No workout, but I immediately got back to "my healthy way of eating."  I am an advocate of splurging every now and again, but wasting NO TIME getting back to healthy eating.  It is the only way to not get on a downward spiral of weight gain!

Today, I will feel a little post birthday blues though. 
Does anyone feel like that? I get that way after Christmas too.  Its all of the anticipation and then "what now?" feeling.  Although, I will feel blue, I realize that I am beyond blessed and loved!  I got more "Happy Birthday's" than I can count, I got more presents than I need or deserve and the love is just so overwhelming!

Was this birthday a success? 
YOU BETCHA!!!

Working out tonight, so I will post about my workout tomorrow. 
Are you working out today??

Let the weekend begin!

Another work week is coming to a close!  It is Friday and with that starts off my birthday WEEKEND!  I have to be honest and milk it for all its worth!  The weekend's festivities includes:
Tonight: Sushi with a couple that we are good friends with.
Saturday night:Clint is taking me out to supper and maybe something else.  My brother and his girlfriend are Ava-sitting.
Sunday: Birthday lunch at my parent's house with the extended family.  I requested tacos/salads and banana pudding! ( I can eat my weight in banana pudding!)
Monday: Actual Birthday.  I will be 29 years young! It will be a normal day.  Work, Clint's church league basketball game, but it is STILL MY BIRTHDAY!
 Let the festivities begin!!!!!  Wonder if it would be to hard to get a parade in my honor?  I kid, I kid!! 

Last night was GTL, (gym, tan, laundry.....Jersey Shore reference) ok minus the tan and laundry.
off subject....Do you watch Jersey Shores?  It is like a train wreck. We love it.  I can't help myself.  Although, if you think about it, its ri.di.cu.lous that people get paid boo-coodles to drink, go to clubs, GTL, and "smush" on a REGULAR basis.  Crazy what entertainment is these days!
OK, back to the gym.  I opted out of taking a class and decided to do my own thing!
Cardio:
Ellip: 25 min. 

Weights:
Chest press turns-
1x10, 2-15lbs DBs
2x10, 2-20lbs DBs
Hammer curls-
1x10, 15lbs DBs
1x10, 20lb DBs
1x8, 20lbs DBs, 1x2, 15lbs DBs (couldn't finish the set of 10 with the 20's, so finished with 15's)
Single leg leg extension-machine
3x10/leg 40lbs
Single arm rows
1x10, 15lb DB
2x10, 20lb DB
Squats(butt to the bench)
1x20, 2-15DBs
2x20, 2-20lb DBs
Single arm tricep overhead extension
2x10, 15lb DB
Both arm tricep overhead extension
1x10, 15lb DB
Plie squats
1x20, 2-15lb DBs
2x20, 2-20lb DBs

I felt strong and tired.  I was starving too.  I got my haircut after work yesterday and just met Ava and Clint at the gym and my last snack was at 1:30.  I was running, well lifting on fumes!!!  My body is a little tired this morning=successful gym trip.

What are your plans for the weekend??
Do you have a guilty pleasure of a tv show??

Random, but has anyone ever watched the series Prison Break???
Source

 We started watching it on Netflix last weekend and we are HOOKED!!  We haven't watched an episode in like 3 DAYS and I am phening to watch it.  Where have I been???

Have a great FRIDAY!!!

Back to it.

Glory be.  It has been a few days since I have posted.  I wish I could say that there is a great reason for it, but honestly, I just haven't had the gusto to posto!  Every time I sit down to type one out, I get distracted. 

Random fact.....did you know it snowed in 49 states yesterday???  The only state that did NOT have snow was...Florida.  That means it snowed in even Hawaii!  Crazy!!

The snow and now ice have affected Nashville.  Monday we had a family snow day.  ANY day that I have with Clint and Ava are perfect, no matter what we do. 

Ava news:  When we stand her up she can hold on and balance.  She LOVES looking outside and just laughs and has her mouth open wide like she is surprised.

She is also sitting up all by herself too! She is looking at Clint in this picture.  I am going to have to have a chatty chat with her.  She needs to SLOW DOWN with this developmental thing!  I don't want her growing up too fast!!  Sheesh.

Mama news:  I went to my OB/GYN yesterday for my yearly checkup.  Boyo that was a BLAST!  I don't mind that checkup, especially now that I have given birth and feel NO SHAME about ANYTHING, but I mean come on, I don't look FORWARD to it!  All is good with me.  Blood pressure is excellent.  Weight is pre-pregnancy.  Everything checks out.  So far that is.  I will get the results of my pap smear in a few days.

I worked out yesterday.  I went to the gym, not really knowing what I wanted to do.  I started out on the ellip for 30 min with me Sony Ereader.  I got a good sweat on!  I decided I would do my own creative Les Mills' BodyPump.

2 minutes of squats.  Alt between 2 counts, 3 to 1 counts and lower half squats ~40lbs barbell

2 minutes deadlifts/rows.  Alt between deadlifts, then a set of 3 consecutive rows. ~20lbs barbell

2 minutes of chest press/skull crushers. ~20 barbell

2 minutes of Lunges.  Alt. between 2 counts and pulses. ~20 barbell

1 minute of bicep curls.  Alt. between full range of motion and lower half curls to upper half curls. ~20lb barbell

1 minute front shoulder press.  Alt. between 2 counts and explosive bursts. ~20lb barbell

1 minute of weighted crunches and weighted leg lifts. ~10lb plate

All in all, I was pretty shaky, shaky like in the ALLSTATE commercial.

Tonight, is spin class and I am crossing my fingers for my fave instructor.  Even if Snooty McSnooterson is teaching, I will take the class and try to come out sweating buckets.

To catch you up, Clint and I have been doing really good getting out of the supper rut and having a good compromise with "my" food and "his".
Friday night we made some "healthier" kick-a@@ turkey lasagna.
Saturday night we made Kelly's Chicken Bruschetta Bake. It was really good.  The only change we will make next time is to drain the tomatoes.  Too much mushy consistency for us.
Both dishes made GREAT leftovers!
Last night was turkey bacon, eggs and Grands biscuits.

I will keep you posted on the "new" or "healthier" versions of our mission of getting out of our upper rut.

Anything fun and exciting been going on with you??
My birthday is Monday!!! I am a HUGE birthday person.  I can usually always stretch the celebrating into a couple few days! 
 Are you big on birthdays?
Clint isn't and never has been.  We will balance each other out when Ava's birthday's start to happen.

Have a great hump day!!!

Xmas in review and making plans

Hi there!  I took a much needed break from Blog world.  When I came back, I was overwhelmed by all of the posts in my Google Reader.  So instead of stressing out to get them all read, I "Mark all as read."  (GASP!!) I know.  I am awful, but it is something I felt like I had to do for my sanity.  Do you know how stressful it is to try to get through about 200!!!  posts?!?!  Valium worthy, I tell ya!

How was everyone's Xmas??
Ours was great.  We are too blessed, let me tell ya.  We are going to need an extra room for all of the things we accummulated over the 3 days.  I did get some zebra print stuff( I am a Jersey girl to the bone), workout gear(i needed this), and we got some new kitchen appliances (George Forman, Grinder/brewer coffee maker, Deep Fryer(Clint has wanted one for a while) and we got the KINECT.  It is the XBOX 360 version of the Wii. There are no controllers, but it picks up your body.  It is pretty neat, if I do say so myself.  Let's just say we got more than we needed.
It was good to spend time with family.  It did go super fast though.  Those 3 days flee by.  Ava did so good!!  We were so proud of her.  She was up and awake at every event and woo'ed the crowd.  (the ham that she is!)  She caught up on her sleep Sunday night and yesterday. 
Clint's family had colds, and she is starting to get a little stuffy/snotty. Clint stopped and bought a humidifier yesterday, so hopeful we can cut the cold off at the pass. 

I was sooooo ready to get back to eating "my comfort food" and working out yesterday! It was like a breathe of fresh air.  I had a really good workout!

Cardio:
20 min on ellip.

Weights:
Circuit 1:
Chest press on ball-2x10, 2-20DBs
DB Pullover into crunch on ball-2x10, 1-20DB
Squats w/ alt. knee lifts-2x10/leg, 2-20DBs
Squats into alt. front lunge-2x10/leg, 2-20DBs

Circuit 2:
Plank-2x1 min (15 sec regular, 15 sec forward back motion, 15 sec right leg lift, 15 sec left leg lift)
Up and over pushups-2x15
Side Planks-2x1min
Mt. Climbers-2x50

My arms were WORE out!  I am in a workout rut though.  Because I personal train during the day, I need a little extra push.  I am where I want be in the looks dept., but I feel like I am just wading in water.  I can't decide on my next goal.  I have been wanting to take the classes at our gym, but either the times don't work out for me or they get started late and with Clint at the gym doing his thing and Ava in kidcare, I don't like to spend more than an hour working out. I really need a workout partner, but that isn't going to happen, I'm afraid.  I am VERY picky about workout partners and I don't know anyone that I am willing to share my time with OR that would push me harder than I push myself. (If only we lived closer, right Melissa?!?!)
I need to figure something out though.  I am going to decide on a new goal by January 1st.(that's a goal, right?!?!)

Do you do New Year's Resolutions?
I used to, but I stressed myself out "having to get them done."  Now, I make mini goals throughout the year.  That works better for me. 

Well, one of my patient's is set to arrive shortly!  Have a great Tuesday!!

Friends forever..cheesy but true

Tuesday or Thursday?  In this short work week, today really is my Thursday!  Oh yeaaaaaa (in my best Pauly D voice). 

Last night at the gym was ok. I have had better gym-time and I have had worse.

Cardio:
Dreadmill-1.5miles
Ellip.-15min

Weights: (all with 2-12lb DBs)
SS-Front lunges 2x10/leg
      Reverse lunges 2x10/leg
SS-Hammer curls 2x10/arm
      Bicep Curls 2x10/arm
SS-Deadlifts 2x20
      Fire hydrants into donkey kicks 2x15/leg
Mountain climbers 2x50

Cardio:
Ellip. 10 min, then 10 min in regular and reverse mode.
(That reverse mode is so awkward for me.  I feel like a complete idiot doing it.  Plus I feel  like I am going to fall.  But hey, I need to use the hammies every now and then right!?!)
*I typically do not do this extra cardio after weights, but Clint wasn't finished with his workout/wallyball so I jumped on the ellip and took advantage of some extra burnage. 

Tonight, we are having supper with 3 of my best friends and their husbands, well 2 of them have husbands.  We usually get each other gifts, but this year we decided to all get together and go to a nice restaurant and just spend time together.  We always have a great time when we get together!!


                                            Here is a picture of us 4 at Clint and my wedding.

Here is the 4 of us at M's wedding.

And us 4 at L's wedding shower.

Me, M, and L, and literally grown up together.  My parents and M's parents went to high school together.  Me, M, and L all met when we were about 7.  We all met R in high school.  So needless to say, we have been friends for a long time.  I consider myself lucky.  Most people don't have friends for as long as we have been friends.  M is now pregnant and just found out she and her hubs are having a little girl!!  I am so excited!

Do you have friends from childhood that you keep in touch with?

Have a great Tuesday!!

  

Garth and crying

Happy Friday everyone!!  I hope everyone's week has been great and you are looking forward to your weekend.

Clint and I had a date night last night.  It was our first official date night since Ava Quinn arrived.  What did we do might you ask?!?!?!
Source

This was Clint's first concert.  I know, that is crazy.  It was an early Xmas present for us him.  Garth put on an amazing concert.  He played all of his best hits.  His wife Trisha Yearwood came out to sing with him and OMG her voice is AMAZING!  She sings live just like she would on the radio.  That is the sign of a beautiful voice!

My sister and her fiance Ava-sat last night and I checked in to see how things were going.  Ava has been having a rough time the past few nights.  She is the happiest baby I have ever seen.  She gets a little fussy when she is hungry, needs changing, or is tired, but the past few nights around 6:30ish until 8:30ish she just cries.  Well, last night was no different.  That is why I checked in and my sister said she was a little fussy.  Ok!  Good deal.  I can relax a little and continue to enjoy the concert.  Well, when we got home we found out the truth.  She was crying so bad my sister thought something was wrong with her and my parents came over to help.  The tried everything from changing her to playing to trying to feed her a little.  Finally, she got to sleep.  I felt so AWFUL.  I hated they had to see the "Jekyll" side of Ava that she has been portraying the past few days.  I felt guilty for going off and having fun while she was home crying.  Clint helped me relax and remind me that my parents didn't mind coming over to help.  This is some phase she is going through.  We waited 4.5 months to have a date night.  Plus, it was great birth control for my sister and her fiance!

We researched and there are a number of things that could be going on with her. 
-Teething
-Overtired
-Gassy
-4 month transition is big for babies
So, no definite answer.  We are going to take each day and thank God she is only like this for a couple hours a day.  I can't/don't want to imagine what parents go through with babies with Colic who cry ALL OF THE TIME.  No wonder mamas go through post partum depression and need drugs to get through.  It is awful listening/watching your child cry and you can't for the life of you figure out how to "fix it."  Being the fixer I am, it is horrible.  The whole notion of "crying it out" that all of the books teach in my opinion are crazy.  We will  let her fus, BUT when she starts really crying, uh-uh no way.  We will go get her.  It is torture to "let" her cry to me.  I know this is a big debateable issue, but that is my opinion on the situation.  My heart can't cope with the "cry it out" method.
Thoughts?
Advice?

No workouts the last couple of days.  Wednesday, was a chance of freezing rain, so we stayed home to play it safe.  Last night was the concert and tonight is my great uncle's surprise birthday party.  But come hell or hight water, we will be at the gym tomorrow morning!  I think I might try the Body Pump class. 
Any advice on the body pump class?
Is it worth it to try?

Snow and Pringles

Happy middle of the work week.  That "supposed" snow we were to get on Sunday turned into a family SNOW day on Monday.  We had about 2-4in of snow with ice underneath which makes driving on our hilly road very dangerous.  Although we were cooped up in the house and 15 degree weather, we had a great day.  Clint and I did mayja cleaning.  He went through papers that "we need to keep in case we MIGHT need them" so I can take them to work to shred.  We cleaned our closets.  We dusted of ceiling fans, vacuumed, went through Ava's clothes that she can't wear anymore.  Then we got out to the grocery way later in the day.
Funny story for you!  Clint typically pushes the buggy (or shopping cart, if that is what you call it) with Ava in it when we go somewhere.  I decided I want to push.  I was toodling along, chatting with Ava and (in slow motion) rammed the buggy into the Pringles display.  Pringles containers scattered all over the floor.  I couldn't stop laughing.  I am doubled over about to pee my pants while Clint is stacking them back up.  I finally contained myself to help him.  This woman and her kids start to go by and she picks up a container and I thought, that is nice of her to help.  Um, no she put it in her buggy.  Well, that is one less we have to stack.  Needless, to say it was one of my best moments and I am no longer allowed to push the buggy!!

Last night, we went to the gym.  The dreadmills I like and all of the ellips were taken so grudgingly I went to lift weights first.  This is not my favorite way to do things, but hey my body was confused in a good way.
Weights:
Combo-Palms facing in chest press into Butterflys (on the ball)-1x10, 10lb DBs, 1x10, 12lb DBs
Squats-2x20, 2-20lb DBs (weights on shoulders)
Chest Press(on ball) 2x10, 2-20lb DBs
Front Squats-2x20, 2-20lb DBs

Prone lying(on the ball) bent arm rows-2x10, 2-10lb DBs
Surrenders-2x10/leg, 2-8lb DBs (Holding your arms up that long is exhausting)
Ball exchanges-2x10 (love these)

Cardio:
The machines were STILL taken, so I got on the "other" dreadmills and made it work.
2.25miles
Ellip-15 min.

Tonight is my favorite spin class/instructor, BUT we are forecasted to get freezing sleet/rain this afternoon.  We will see what the weather does.

I will leave you with a youtube video of our athlete.  Too funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPUp0cDZYWA

Had any great workouts?
What is the weather like where you are?

Maintenance already?

Happy Sunday.  We are "supposed" to get some snow today.  We shall see.  I am not going to hold my breath!

Yesterday, although I had to work a couple of hours, I was able to get to the gym before I went.  I had a time limit so I got in got with it.

Cardio:
Dreadmill: Easy paced-1 mile
Ellip:15 min

Weights:
(sidenote: I DO NOT like machines. I know they can get the job done, but i rearely do them.  I hadn't planned out a workout, so decided I would change it up (and suck it up) and do some machines. I didn't write down the actual weight that I did, but it was enough to tire me.)
SL-leg extension 3x15
Bicep curls 3x15
Prone Lying hamstring curls 3x15
Rows 3x15
Shoulder press 3x15

I did have a revelation at the gym.  I was looking at the mirror(who doesn't) and thought, "I am done."  I am exactly where I want to be.  I don't want to lose anymore weight, I love all of my muscle definition, all of my pre-pregnancy clothes fit( and fit well.  No saggy booty britches from too much weight lost.) and I am happy.  I am at maintenance.  Of course, I wouldn't be human if I didn't want to tweak some things, but overall I can eat and workout to maintain where I am.  Unfortunatley, I am without a goal.  I do not have any right now.
* I am not(nor will I)competing. (I thoroughly respect anyone who does, but it just isn't for me.)
* It is too dang cold to run any races. 
*My abs are back, but I can't wear a bathing suit(hence the too cold) to "show off" my progress.
*Clint is happy with how I look. (this is quite important to me.)
*I AM HAPPY WITH HOW I LOOK.
So, where does that leave me.  I have NO IDEA.  So, give me your ideas.
What should my next goal(s) be?
What are your goals right now or at the 1st of the year?
Maybe I can borrow some of yours. 

We have church and then I have a wedding shower that I am helping with today.
What are your Sunday plans?

Spin, cereal, Eclipse(in that order)

Oh Friday, you couldn't come soon enough.  This week was soooo busy.  Tomorrow is my Saturday to work.  I only have a couple of patient's so it won't be too bad. 

Last night we went to the gym and I decided to try the Thursday night spin class.  I was kind of leery/nervous about taking a new teacher/class.  I have been comfortable with the Wednesday night class/teacher. 

It is amazing how different teachers can be.  This lady is all of 87lbs(ok exaggeration).  I have seen her around the gym, but had no idea she was the teacher.  Her class was hard but in  a different way.  We took a lot more breaks than in any other class I have taken and I didn't sweat buckets.  We "hovered" until her heart was content and my legs were spent.  My legs sure were tired by the end of the class, but weirdly enough I was sad I didn't sweat that much.  We finished the class with some abs and that was a love/hate situation, let me tell ya.  My abs aren't sore(yet), but we they were worked for sure.  This is where I got uncomfortable.  We started stretching to finish off the class.  Now, I am all for stretching, but the area where spin class is is surrounded by mirrors and the mirrors can be seen from many angles.  These angles are where "testosterone island" is.  So, they can clearly see the class.  We started stretching and the stretches I thought were a little um, how do I put it.....seductive?!  I do not like to draw that type of attention, well from Clint, but not other men.  I kind of "attempted" the stretches and counted down the seconds until I could get the heck out of dodge.  That part just wasn't my thing. 

I was telling Clint about it after and he said, "yeah the guys were all watching y'all!"  (Great!)  I liked the teacher and if need be will take her class again, BUT I prefer the Wednesday night class/teacher.  She is more my style and she makes me work hard.  You live and learn huh.

We decided to try and give Ava cereal for the 1st time last night.  We gave her

with breastmilk.  Our doctor said to feed her breastmilk(one boob), then halfway through her feeding to give her the cereal.  Then finish up(the other boob) with breastmilk.
She really enjoyed it.  I mean as far as we could tell.  She even grabbed the spoon from Clint at one point and stuck it in her mouth, haha.  She is growing up so fast.  All in all it was a great 1st time experience for her and Clint and I.

So, how do I feel about it?  Honestly, I was happy and sad at the same time.  We will continue to add to her diet from now on(steadily and one new food/texture at a time), but I am not her sole food provider any more.  I have taken such a serious stance to keeping my self nourished and healthy so I could provide the best for Ava through breastmilk.  Yes, the majority of her nutrition will be breastmilk, but this is the start of something new.  A new stage.  She is growing up and changing.  (for the better)  I am happy for her and how healthy and happy she is, but a small piece of my heart is sad.  This is how life goes and Lord knows there will be hard things we have to deal with, but for yesterday these were my feelings about feeding her cereal.
*Today, I am ok with everything. Not so sad.

Moving on.  Clint picked up

from the Redbox.  My review.  It was better than the 1st movie by far.  As mush as other people enjoy the movies, I am not a fan.  I prefer the books and my imagination in this case.  I honestly do not think Robert Patterson or Kristen Stewart are good actors.  If it was up to me, I would have pick better.  All in all, it was a pretty good movie and kept my attention. 
Have you seen it or any of the Twilight saga?  What did you think?

Have a great FRIDAY!!!