We're All Smiles

Breckin is 6 weeks old now and has been smiling and cooing sooooo much! I love smiling at him and having him actually smile back! There's no better gratification as a mommy than having your child smile at you. He is also starting to interact with his toys! Here are some pics:

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Workout Partners

There's nothing better than having someone to work out with. It can be the extra boost of motivation you need - knowing that someone is in it with you and also, you're less likely to back out of a workout when you know someone is going to be waiting for you. :)

My workout partners lately are either a) my dog, Dakotah or b) Breckin in his stroller...neither are much good for conversation, but hey, it still makes for a nice workout.

What I've started doing lately though is calling around to my friends and asking them to meet me for a walk - be it the Cooper River Bridge, Daniel Island leisure trails...whatever. Especially with having been pregnant and feeling out of the loop with my girlfriends for 9 months - I am eager to invest more time into my friendships because life changes can interrupt those relationships from time to time. Last night I met up with my good friend Corey to walk the bridge...I had Breckin in tow as well. It was nice to be able to pass the time and catch up with her. She has been such a wonderful friend over the past few years and I've missed hanging out with her. It's also nice to be able to call your friends once in a while to hang out without drinking or spending money! Not that I don't mind that from time to time, but with kids, it's not always feasible to go out drinking, or appropriate. I love having friends that are into a healthy lifestyle as well...to have that in common is motivating...and you know you have someone who is supportive of your health and fitness goals.

As soon as I rejoin the gym - I will definitely be calling some girls up to meet me for Spinning, yoga or even just a strength training session...it's kind of like knocking out two birds with one stone: getting your workout in and catching up with a good friend. To my girlfriends: Don't be surprised if I contact you soon to meet me for a walk on the Cooper River Bridge! :)

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Mommy On The Go

One of the hardest things about living a healthy lifestyle these days is our actual diet choices. We are a society that is constantly hustling and bustling...constantly on the go. And this is especially true of mommies...whether you stay at home or have a job. Running to and from daycare, soccer practices, piano lessons, games, picking up or dropping off your children at friend's houses, grocery shopping, doctor appointments...you name it - and not to mention the running around you have to do for yourself, i.e. gym, hair salon, etc (after all, we must still be fabulous even with all this running around). I feel like I'm in my car 80% of my day...or at least out of the house. So what does a fit and fab mommy do for food? We can't possibly always have time to sit down for every meal we have and we most certainly can't starve ourselves...often times it's grab and go...or worse, if you forget to grab something, it's to the drive-thru you go...the ultimate no-no. I wanted to share some of my favorite on-the-go health foods - the best part about all of these: they fit nicely in your purse, or diaper bag.

1. String Cheese
2. Almonds
3. Granola Bars
4. Protein Bars
5. Pretzels
6. Carrot Sticks
7. Craisins
8. Celery w/PB (you can buy single-serving Jif PB, or a really small tupperware container works nicely)

Tip: Keep small Ziploc baggies in the house...after grocery shopping, divide up your healthy snacks into single servings and place in Ziplocs so you always have something ready when you're headed out the door.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

If the Shoe Fits...

...or rather, gets you fit...

then definitely WEAR it!

I personally never bought into the whole Fit Flops thing, but I'm intrigued by these shoes Reebok has recently put on the market. I mean, I figure, they don't look ridiculous (unlike the aforementioned Fit Flops), so it's just like sporting any other running shoe, but supposedly they work your leg muscles up to 28% more than just running in your run-of-the-mill running shoes using stability ball technology. You're literally standing on little stability balls. I've got to wear running shoes anyway, so why not wear these and have the added benefit of working my muscles even more without any added effort of my own? I think I'll buy a pair...need some new ones for 5K season anyway! They are called Reebok RunTone. They also have walking shoes called EasyTone and they have others for cross training. Check them out for yourself!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Barre Classes!!!

YESSSSSSS! I'm so excited...I just picked up the latest issue of Skirt! Magazine and noticed an advertisement for a new barre studio in Charleston called Barre Evolution. I am in love with Physique 57 (www.physique57.com) and Bar Method (www.barmethod.com). These workouts are AWESOME and really work muscles you never knew you had. Kelly Ripa is a student at Physique 57 in New York - I first learned about this workout while watching Regis & Kelly. I introduced many of the moves to those that took my cardio dance and sculpt classes at Mount Pleasant Aerobics and Fitness last summer...I would have some of them coming back the following week after taking class and saying how they're muscles burned for days after the class (in a good way). Anyway, it appears that this studio is opening Fall 2010, so I have already signed up for the mailing list so I can be first in line to take the classes when their doors open! I highly recommend this workout to everyone...hopefully this studio is great!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Fell Off the Wagon

That's right. Nine months with no energy drinks and the minute I give birth I'm sucking them down again...they are my weakness! My favorite is Diet Rockstar. Guess there are worse things to be addicted to...but hey, when you're a mother of a 4 year old and a 1 month old, you need all the help in the energy department you can get! I actually love them right before a good workout...caffeine actually helps you burn more calories. (Leave it to me to make excuses, right?)

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

One Month...

One month ago I was holding my baby boy Breckin for the first time. I can't believe he's already a month old. Before I know it we'll be planning his 1st birthday party...and then he'll be going off to college...

OK, that may be a little bit of an exaggeration.

But it's so crazy to think about how fast the time does fly when you're watching your children grow up. Tanner will be five years old this November. FIVE. It's so surreal to me. I look back on old pictures of Tanner and it still feels like yesterday. His first summer at the beach, his first day of daycare, our daily strolls, potty-training (maybe that's because he only fully accomplished that one a year ago! Boys.) It makes me a little sad to feel that those years came and went so quickly...but I am also excited for what's to come - his first day of Kindergarten, team sports, report cards, new friends, new hobbies, becoming more independent...

And now I have another little one to experience those same firsts with...I imagine I'll really try to be more conscious about cherishing the moments more since now I'm aware of how quickly they come and go.

I do get some new experiences now - watching Tanner be a big brother and teach Breckin all sorts of things. Now I get to have a baby that has an older sibling to look up to...it will be so fun to see them laugh and play (and I'm sure they will have some bouts of sibling rivalry as well). But I know Breckin will look up to Tanner and they will love each other so much.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Ready to Run

It starts tomorrow...I feel like my hips are finally feeling ready to take it on again. I'm getting up to do a morning run before Jake heads off to work. I hate that I have to do it at the crack of dawn, but it's just not feasible any other time when I have both Tanner and Breckin. I know the first few times will take a lot of convincing myself to get out of bed, but once I push past that hurdle, I know it will feel good and I will want to get up and run each morning. I can't keep this postpartum body forever and I know it's not going to get back in shape on its own...so it's time to get serious. I've got my first 5K in less than a month and I want to feel good doing it.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

5K Season is Here!

Most people call the time frame of September to December Fall or Autumn...I call it 5K Season! This is the time of year when I run most of the 5Ks I do all year. This particular season is one of the most anticipated for me because I am newly postpartum and it will definitely be a fitness test and challenge for me. I've been looking forward to this so I would have something to help take the pregnancy weight off. My first 5K is the Isle of Palms Connector Run & Walk for the Child on October 2nd. On October 16th, it's the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Daniel Island. I loved this race last year (I mean, any excuse to get all decked out in pink!). I even ran into a friend before the race started and we ended up running it together. She had planned on walking it, but I helped to push her along and she ended up running most of it with me! She was so proud of herself after she was done and it made me feel so good to have helped push her further than she thought she could go. Next will be the Turkey Day Run on Thanksgiving, and following that, the Reindeer Run on December 4th. I usually sign up my whole family to do this one...I suppose we can squeeze Tanner into the jogging stroller one last year (he definitely can't walk the whole thing)...this way Jake and I will both be pushing a stroller. Dakotah may have to sit out this year, we'll see.

But I'm going to start training for 5K Season this month...I am going to work my walking with Breckin into running...my goal with each 5K is to beat my time from the last 5K...I'll be posting my results over the next few months!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

4 Weeks Old - UPDATE

Breckin is 4 weeks old today! I can't believe how fast the time seems to be flying. I can already tell he's gotten bigger. He's much more alert now - he has the cutest little smile (even if it is only caused by gas)...and I think he'll start interacting with toys very soon. He's been looking at the toys on his play mat more and more...Tanner was about 6 weeks when he first started batting at his.





Last weekend, Uncle Jesse, Aunt Alli & Cousin Chase came down from Charlotte to meet Breckin! We had a great time visiting with them...I can't believe Jake's parents have three grandsons and no granddaughters! We took a picture of the Smith boys (it was hard to get everyone to cooperate at the same time!):



Now that I'm 4 weeks postpartum...I've been very eager to get back on the health and fitness track. I've started another blog at www.thegymbunny.com and would love for you to check it out! It's basically going to be a workout journal...but with little anecdotes about balancing fitness and motherhood.

Tonight Jake and I get our first night out together since having the baby. Nana and Papa have offered to take Tanner and Breckin for a few hours. I'm thinking we'll go out for some Morga-ritas! It's been so long since I've had one and I craved them all throughout pregnancy! I was sucking down Edy's Real Fruit Lime popsicles just to have that lime taste!

Anyway, that's the update on us for now! Stay tuned...

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.