A Typical Day

Ty is getting so big! He is already almost 14 months and acts much like a 2 year old. He LOVES his animals. The picture above is of his morning routine. Watching Handy Manny and making sure to share his breakfast with both animals.

Ty loves M&M's infact to make sure he was good when taking his picture with Santa (that's a whole different post) I bribed him with them. His favorite things include, Basketball (Slam dunk or Bask-shit), Blacky (followed by his other favorite dog Lucy (looshee) and to body slam Daisy or Simon. His two favorite kitties. He is walking really well and has not even played with the Christmas tree.

And we can't forget about Blacky. Who most the time is requested by Ty to be his Horsee (Horse) so he can ride him around the house. Wow, it is a good thing we have a mellow dog. Don't feel too bad for him. In the above picture he is right below Ty's High Chair and believe me he is fed well.

Las Vegas I

 Joe, Tymon and I went to Veags last week with Joe's sister and her husband and their little girl. It was such a blast! We had so much fun and were so appreciative they let us stay in their condo :). Picture above is of Abi and Ty playing they have so much fun together.

 I am pretty sure these are two of the cutest babies I have every seen.

 He is smiling so big because the Jazz game is in no joke!

 The barracade so they would not go into the kitchen.

 Ty's favorite hiding place he loved crawling in the bathroom cupboard and he fit so well.

 Right before the race started.  I am pretty excited it started right in front of Mandalay Bay.

 I told Joe to take a picture of ALL the people there were so many over 40,000 it was insane!

 My supportive husband who paid for me to run the race and got up early to come take pictures :)

 Above the Las Vegas sign is a stage that the blues brothers were singing at it was pretty fun!

 This is the stage that Brett Micheals performed on.  At the after race party.

 Coming into the finish.  Look at the guy on the very left side of the picture he has a cigar and beer in each hand.  Only in vegas.  They served beer along the way too. Must help you run someway I suppose?

 I love the medal we got it was really cool!

 Man little fan club I love them!  Thanks for coming! :)

I run...

It's merely a hobby or as Joe likes to call it, my expensive obsession these days. Running. I started for one simple reason, to loose that dang baby weight. It's been over a year since Ty was born and months since those pounds disappeared (yeah!), but I'm still at it. In high school as a soccer player running without a ball was simply called, torture. Today, it's called solace. I have always been intrigued with it. I would watch countless running events on T.V., read running magazines and search out the newest running gear (of which I would never purchase because it is far too expensive).

I had done a few 5k's here and there and then I signed up for my first 10k. Accomplished distance runners might laugh at how nervous I was to finish 6.2 miles. I was frightened. I trained so hard and even started crying as I crossed that finish line because for me that was a HUGE accomplishment. Now 6 or 7 miles is a training run and I laugh at those days that I used to fear it.

The picture above is from my first (and only up to this point) half marathon. It's not the most attractive or the most flattering but it is worth over a thousand steps to me. I completed it. Not only that- I completed it alone start to finish with my own two feet and for that I'm proud. (minus the 3 minutes shy of hitting my 2 hour goal, oh well pretty good for not knowing what to expect)!

Running is so many things for me. Running can get expensive. Races add up, shoes add up and gear add up. But to me its so worth it. Because its my new hobby (restricted to my husband's excel budget sheets - blah). Its my escape from the daily grind of the wonderful responsibility to be a mom. Its programing your mind to exercise your body and take risks in ways you never have before. Its a selfish way to get into those size 3 jeans that have been sitting in your closet since you started working at a clothing store. But more than that is my newest greatest hobby.

I really don't care what place I come in, what mile split I run, what place I am in my age group. Its not about that for me. Its about finishing what I started. Its about taking my mind and my body to places its never been before. Some of my favorite memories of running come without music. Its hearing my feet hit the pavement, for once not being tired, running along the parkway on a foggy beautiful morning, running with a friend and just talking, pondering and questioning.

Next week I hit the road to Vegas to complete my second half marathon and then its onto the treadmill for a month or so (not really a fan of freezing out my lungs or the treadmill but I can't decide what is worse). I guess I would rather just sit and watch as the snow falls outside my window and I'm cozy and warm on my treadmill. Then I'm not postive where my next adventure will be? A full marathon? I'm not really sure, and I'm not really in a hurry to find out, I kind of like taking life one running stride at a time.

Ty's One Year Pictures

All photos by Andrea Danise
Check out her website anderajdansiephotography.com :)

Excited to be 1

Its Someone's Birthday!

I Remember...

I Remember when you were born you were but a tiny baby in my belly. We could not wait for you to be born. You were 5 days late a meager 5 pounds and worth the wait. I Remember when they put you on the scale and you were so little we had to buy premie clothes for you and had to wrap you in blankets and blankets to keep your little body nice and warm.

I Remember the first time I held you it felt like we had known each other all along and that our lives were waiting for you. I Remember how you recongized our voices and were a very mellow content baby.

I Remember holding you and thanking God for this unforgettable gift. I remember watching your Daddy hold you, his calm, patient demeanor telling you everything would always be ok and how glad he was that you had arrived.

I Remember dressing you up like a little doll and taking millions of pictures (which at the time you would hold still for).

I Remember the things you experienced for the first time whether you were aware of it or not. Your first car show where we convinced Daddy we could have no other car than a Subaru.

Or your first Christmas where the box was just so much better than the $8 dollar toy.

I Remember telling  Daddy that we didn't need much else  for Christmas because we had you. He agreed and it was our best Christmas ever - because of you.

I Remember your first time swimming not to sure of the giant bath tub. But happy to be hanging out with Daddy.

 I Remember your first time going to Lake Powell. How nervous I was to take a new baby in a car that long and how much fun we had. You loved the Lake and the boat.

I Remember how happy I was when your belly button FINALLY fell off and I could give you a real bath. This has been a tradition everyday and you love the tub!

I Remember the little moments, when you held up your head, ate cereal for the first time , said your first word (Da Da, of course)!

I Remember how happy you were when we adopted Blacky and how on the way home you began to scream, "Mama, Mama!" You were so excited and we were too...

I Remember how you would light up my mornings just to see those HUGE brown eyes and magic smile. How I would cry everyday I had to go to work because that meant less time with you.

I Remember your first plane ride and how good you were sitting on my lap, looking out the window and flirting with the little girl behind you.

I Remember your first merry-go-round ride and how I thought you were much to small to sit on a horse. But Daddy took you and you loved it.

You loved the beach but were not too sure about the ocean.

You loved the boat but were not to sure about your life jacket.

I Remember when I did something I never thought I'd do and I quit my job. I quit my job of 3 years for many reasons but the main reason was you. After I quit we shared moments I could never replace or recreate and for that I'm thankful. I have not looked back since.

I Remember a Sunday afternoon when you were two months old we walked around the park and a Sunday afternoon almost ten months later when you almost walked up to the park and sat in the swing.

I Remember the time that you discovered you and Blacky could be the two troublemakers TOGETHER and began developing schemes such as shutting mommy out of rooms and sharing all your food.

Ty, there are so many things I Remember about you. As I write this I am very teary eyed that my little baby is 1! But I want you to always Remember how much I loved each and every month we have put behind us. I will always remember those minutes, months and memories.  We love you Mister Tymon, Happy 1st Birthday Tomorrow!