Workin for the Money

^^ has nothing to do with this post but is too cute not to share :)

I have officially survived 8 days as a working mom.  As most of you know, I was on a two year vacation.  That is what I considered my childcare leave!    I can't tell you how many times we missed being somewhere at 10:30 AM because that was TOO EARLY! ;)   I did a lot of sleeping in, a lot of cuddling with my babe, a lot lot lot lot lot of NOT following schedules, and a LOT of appreciating my time at home because I knew it was short lived.

I'll be honest.  I always wanted to be a stay at home mom, and I still do deep down. I struggled with my decision to go back to work daily for almost 2 years and I know I'll struggle with guilt in the future.  Ultimately it was two things that made me go back: I have my "dream job" sitting in my lap that I would regret quitting plus we want to be able to afford to "keep the family farm" when the time comes, whenever that may be.  

So after 8 days at work, I know it is a bit early to say this but, BEING AT WORK IS A HECK OF A LOT EASIER THAN BEING AT HOME!   The transition has gone great and when I'm in my classroom it feels like I have only been gone over the summer.  Getting Blaine up early is the worst; he is so sad and pathetic about the way he says "noooooooooooooo" and "beddddddddddddddd", not to mention the uncontrollable crying from awakening at 6:15 AM, but other than that the days have been going well!  He's with family 2 days a week and with a sitter for 3.

Can't forget to mention our babysitter is some sort of miracle worker:  I've been potty training Blaine for 2 years plus and still struggling with some things.  However, after only 3 days there, he is what I consider 95% trained.  He can even walk to the potty without being told to then pull down his pants AND undies now!  [you may remember we were having issues with that].   My fears about him becoming "untrained" there were totally irrational!

Naps could be going better but ya can't have everything! ;)

Hopefully week three at work goes just as well!

'Kins, Splitsville USA

 
As you can see from the first pic, my pumpkin split.  Boo!   Always a feeling of sadness, dreams lost, not to mention thinking about all those wasted hours, but this year I actually felt relief.  One less thing to do in the next 2 months!   It weighed 1197 lbs!!  Can't even imagine how big that would have been come October.

'Lil Sickie

I start work tomorrow and should not be surprised that Blaine is on DAY EIGHT of having a fever.   No other symptoms.  All he wants is to lay in bed and have a boobie.  He is going to be very sad come tomorrow.   I'm going to be very sad come tomorrow.  This poor little pathetic face makes starting back to work that much harder.  :(

Racing the Clock: Black Squirrel Adventure Triathlon

I'll be honest, I didn't really want to do this race!  It was held on the same day as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Parade and I'm a TOTAL parade junkie.    I even got up at 4 AM last year to carry a balloon in the parade so I could relive my high school days of when I was in the parade. Ha!   Going to the parade is probably in my list of top 3 favorite local summer traditions.

So when Nick said he would rather do the race than go to the parade, I wasn't exactly in agreement.  The race was short: 2 mile kayak, 5 mile bike, 2 mile run, which I used as a reason that it wouldn't really be "worth it".  Someone I changed my mind and am glad I did.

This race is part of a series called:

.

There are normally three races in the series but this year they had to cancel the third race.  The overall series winner after they add times from the races wins a $100 gift certificate.  

What made this race unique was that you had to race the clock.  They staggered the starts by launching 4 boats every minute as to not clog the river.  So while you race you have no idea who you are up against [again they had relays and teams in the mix] or what time they started.   Some people even started a full hour + behind where we did since they had to hold a 2nd heat for the rental kayaks.

After the kayak section I was already tired but the bike was on flat terrain so that was fine.  However, I have never run on "jelly legs" quite like I had to on Saturday!  Crazy feeling and I felt like I was going sooooooooo slow.  However,  I ended up winning overall female by 5 minutes with a time of 1 hour and 37 seconds!   It was very strange finishing and having no idea how you did compared with the others until the awards several hours later.   Nick beat me by a smidge at 1 hour and 10 seconds, and we both won the Crooked River Series so we have $200 to spend at an outdoors store! Hopefully they have kayaks on sale! ;)

I'm glad we did the race but I really missed the parade!  We'll see who gets their way next year! :)

Olympics! My Favs!

I've seen lots of posts about people being sucked into the Olympics and I'm no different.  I LIVE FOR THE OLYMPICS.  All year my excitement mounts over the upcoming events [summer or winter games, no different].   I stay up way too late and get way too into it.

 Let's touch upon some favorite athletes so far.

1) This year I have the added awesomeness of watching Bridget Franek, someone whom I have seen run several times in real life back when she was in high school [and I recently met her mom!].  Bridget runs in the steeplechase.  We got up early Saturday to stream her race live through the internet and SHE MADE FINALS!  How awesome!

2) It isn't the Olympics if you don't find someone super good looking on the men's gymnastics team. This year's fav has got to be Jake Dalton.  Those eyes are killer!

3) Kristin Armstrong [cycling] gets a mention because she is AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.  Anyone who can have a baby the summer I had one and still be an elite athlete is just WOW.   THEN, She broke her collarbone in a crash in May [THIS MAY!!] and still made the Olympics.   When I saw her holding her son with her medal I about cried.  Then I shouted, "HE'S GOT THE SAME HAIRCUT AS BLAINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  ;)  I'm in love.

What are you loving about the Olympics?

World Breastfeeding Week

Just found out about WBW!  It starts today!!   Yes we are still breastfeeding, yes most think he's too old, yes we will continue and yes my mom has stopped making her comments about the "bad habit". :)

HAPPY WBW!