Run, Jodi, Run!

Many of you know that I recently started running. Somedays I'm not really sure why, but none-the-less, I still pound my poor knees and hyperventilate in the process. I started training with the popular Couch to 5K program, which is a gradual approach to running. Exactly what I needed, seeing as thought I have never run in my life. I thought I would die the first week. However, my running partner, whom I've mentioned before, quickly grew tired of this slow paced training schedule and we stepped it up a bit a several weeks in to it. To tell you the truth, I was scared, but excited that we had accomplished our new goals. Then...Race day!

I was a NERVOUS WRECK! Those of you who know me well know that I am not a good center of attention, competitor, "look at me" kind of girl. I was literally sick. We had gone the weekend before and gotten cute race gear (purple polka dot shorts for me and pink shorts for M). When we showed up, I got so body conscience, I wished I was running in a jogging suit!!! ANYWHOOOO...our race was on the coast at 8am. That meant we had to leave our house at 5am. To add to the sick feeling that I already had, you must realize this was the first time that I had EVER left Anna for the night! My mom and sister came to stay with her so Douglas and I could stay and enjoy the night on the coast after our race. (Oh, yeah...my sweetheart, Douglas ran the race with me!)

So, I finally got out of the car, got my number, (118), and did some people watching for a little while. I don't know if that made me more nervous or what, but what else was I to do?!?!

I took some before pictures ...

7:58-Line up time...can i just say that my belly is flipping now as I type this! Whoa!

I was so nervous!!! There were HUNDREDS of people. It was so crowded. I was so sure that i would get trampled at the starting line. (Picture a "running of the bulls" kind of moment.)

8:00-The horn blows and off we go.

8:02- I pray a prayer of thanks that I did not become road kill at the starting line! (Could you imagine the humiliation!!!)

8:10-I start wondering what I was thinking doing this! I'm no runner!

8:11-A smiling little man on the side of the road handed us water. Being a newbie, I thought I was supposed to chug it like the others. NEVER again!!! This was my worse mistake! I felt like I was going to puke for the rest of the race! UGH!!!! Not to mention you have to throw your cup down on the side of the road when your done. Boo :(

8:15-Douglas starts coming up behind me.

8:15and30sec-I step it up!!!

8:17-LEGS.ON.FIRE!!!

8:18-I see the finish line but it seems miles away! I serious want to cry and vow to NEVER do this again!!! (Although we have already signed up for our next race!!!)

8:20 and 30 sec- I CROSSED THE FINISH LINE!!!!!

My legs felt like jelly and my hands were shaking. But I was finished...AND i wasn't the last one! I was soooo sure I would be the last one! In fact, I came in first in my division! So did Meagan! (Did I mention she is nearly 10 years younger that me. So we aren't in the same age group.)

All in all it was a great race and I really enjoyed it. Douglas and I had a great day after the race too. We did some shopping and ate crawfish at Hucks Cove. We woke up earlier than we EVER did before we were parents because we couldn't wait to get home to our baby! We were home by 11am. Anna had a great time with her sweet Granny and Charley. Thank goodness for sweet family to take good care of her in our absence!

I've been chastised :) by a dedicated follower (who shall remain nameless) of my pitiful little blog who says I should post more and put more pics of AnnaBelle here. I know, I know. I am a terrible blogger and a terrible facebooker, but here are a few things I do manage to do well...




Splashing in puddles with Anna...







Teaching Anna how to drive...:) Start 'em early is Daddy's motto!




Teaching Anna how to dance...(she is a seriously good dancer!) Hollie, you would appreciate her dance moves! She starts dance in June and I can hardly wait!!!

Teaching Anna how to accessorize...

And if I were patient enough I would upload a video of Anna saying the blessing! Beautiful! But hey...I wouldn't want you to think I had crossed over to being a serious blogger or something! Maybe next time.

And to my nameless follower, and the only person who reads this poor blog anyway,


I...CAN'T....WAIT....TO....SEE....YOU....NEXT.....WEEK!!!!!! :)

Spring Break

My spring break...

1. Took Anna to the aquarium/french market. She LOVED the music and street entertainers.
2. Slept in. (meaning 7:30 ha)
3. Anna tee-teed in the potty!!! Big Day!
4. ran, and ran, and ran
5. Enjoyed EVERY second of being home with my sweet Annabelle!

In through your nose. Out through your mouth.

So, running with your mouth wide open under lights while bugs are flying 'round (do you see where this is going???) is not the best idea!!! Yep! Two and a half miles in to my run tonight, I begin choking on a bug!!! NICE.

So I can hardly call myself a runner, maybe a trotter, but i am VERY proud to call myself a "sticking to it and not giving upper"!!! I am in my 3rd week now and I have to say, I am LOVING it! (well, except for this one day when I thought I would die!!!)

Let me just tell you about my running partner...she is a former cheerleader from Southern and the epitome of what I will NEVER look like, even if I had gastric bybass!!! She is an exercise junkie! The entire time we are running, she is carrying on a full conversation all about her day, while I on the other hand am gasping for breath! She is just who I needed to be my partner! She pushes me and motivates me!

Aside from running, things have been exciting around here. Anna is a little parrot! She loves to say everything we do. Right now the funniest thing she says is "Boobie". No! Not because that is a word we toss around! It is her word for "movie"! It is sooo cute! She puckers her lips up soooo cute when she makes the "oo" sound.

She is also counting to 3 and singing her fabulous version of the alphabet song. Her version is so much cuter than the original, however, the words seem to change quite often!

I never realized how fast time would fly! She is going to be 2 in just a few months!!! REALLY!!

yeah...it's been a while!

so, i'm not even going to try to catch up, because to be honest, that daunting task is what has kept me from posting for so long anyway...

so here's what's happening now.

I am FINALLY doing something i have always wanted to do. I am running!!!! and can i just tell you how proud i am! now, those first step were not easy! but I have a beast for a running partner (and she is also 10 years younger than me) and i am DETERMINED to follow through! Our goal is the 5k at day in the park! I'll keep you informed!

Otherwise...life is great! anna is growing way to fast! she is amazing and beautiful and just a joy to have in our lives! I promise I'll post pics next time!

Anna's Birthday Bash!

So...Anna turned one last week!!! *big sigh* It was a very big day for us. Her actual birthday was on wednesday and we just kinda chilled and took it easy as we got things ready for her birthday party. Her friend Rylee came over to play. They had a big time! These two are gonna be trouble one day! :)
My amazing Mom came over Thursday to help get ready. Bless her! I dragged her sweet self all over the world for two days. We were almost too exhausted to enjoy the party.
Saturday rolled around and it was BLISTERING HOT!!! our poor guest were melting! Thank goodness for the pink lemonade! Other than the heat, it was a beautiful day. Anna was surrounded by so many special people! It seems like just yesterday most of the people here were stopping by to see Anna when we came home from California! I can't believe it has been a year already!
We were very excited to see my best friend! She and her precious family flew in from houston! It was an extra special treat!
Here are some pics from the party. I chose a pink and green theme (OBVIOUSLY) and just went to town!