Landon is 9 months...Well really 9 and a half!

Our little Landon is already 9 months. I thought I would do a quick update on how he is doing. He is still our little guy. At his last appointment he was about 5%tile for weight and as the doctor put it less than 5% for height. For being so little he sure does move around a lot. He is a super fast crawler, and sometimes will crawl on his fists which makes him look a little bit like a monkey. He also loves to eat and his favorite food right now is puffs. He loves them! We are trying to feed him more and more finger foods. He also loves the vacuum. Sometimes it is really hard for me to vacuum because he chases me around and I think I am going to run him over. Landon is also going through the separation anxiety phase. Anytime I leave the room, he cries. But it makes me feel like I am needed as a mommy which is nice. He is sleeping through the night like a champ and takes two solid 2 hour naps, morning and afternoon. He has 6 teeth! Ahh! He got his teeth so fast. I think some more are coming in too, but I always think that. He pulls up on everything and moves around the furniture. I am starting to think that walking is not to far in the future, which kinda scares me. One major difference between Landon and Liam is that Landon doesn't fall as much...yet. Landon is just a great baby. He loves to smile, laugh and hang out with his brother and mom and dad. We love you Landon babe!

Children's Aquarium

One Saturday at the beginning of February (yes I am behind on the blog) it was too cold to do something outside so we decided to take a little trip to the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park. I sometimes think that we are a little spoiled here in Dallas because there are so many fun things to do really close to where we live. I guess that is one plus to living in a big city. Anyway, it was fun and we hadn't been on a family outing in a while so it was nice to be together. Liam's favorite thing was the jellyfish that changed colors. Landon's favorite, um not really sure, but there was a really cool sea turtle like on Finding Nemo that I really liked. Roland loved the alligator snapping turtle. It was huge!

The Pumpkin Patch...

So I know it is a little weird to be talking about pumpkins in February, but on our one of our Sunday afternoon walks Liam found a pumpkin and affectionately called it his pumpkin patch. (I think that is what he calls pumpkins). Anyway he found the pumpkin and was having a lot of fun rolling it on the path until it rolled in the . . . lake. Then he was pretty much devestated as you can see from the pictures. Please ignore the bad picture of me, I just wanted to show that Liam had a pumpkin in the beginning.

Mommy where is my pumpkin patch? (Is it bad that his picture makes me laugh?)

He did get over it eventually. Poor Liam. He really loved his pumpkin patch.

Happy Valentines Day!

I feel extremely blessed this Valentines Day. I have an amazing family that I love and who love me. Being away from my family and living in Dallas is really hard sometimes, but I have amazing friends here who take care of me and my family. I have an amazing husband who despite his busy life made me breakfast this morning with chocolate dipped strawberries and left me cute notes and treats all around the apartment for me to find. I sure do love my man. I love my boys. They are my life. Liam is so full of energy and so sweet. He is so giving and friendly. Landon is my cutey. He loves to be included and loves his brother. I am so blessed.

My friend Jolyn is starting up a photography business and offered to take Valentine shots of the boys. I eagerly accepted. I love getting cute shots of the boys and I love how the photos turned out. Check out her blog: http://jolynlaneyphotography.blogspot.com/ . Thanks Jolyn!

Fun times before bed

Some of my favorite moments of the day are right before Liam takes a nap and right before bed. Even though I am tired and just want a break it is nice to sit down, let Liam play a little longer and then have story time. Tonight right after bath time Roland was getting ready for a Young Men's activity and he got his wigs out. Needless to say Roland and Liam had some fun and it was a great fun way to end the night. I love my family!

We're so glad when Grandma is here!

We just finished a fun filled week with Grandma Rosie. It was so nice to have her here. Although a lot of her time was spent in the dental chair(Roland did some of her dental work), we were also able to have some fun at the park and around the house. And she was such a great help to us. She did dishes, laundry, cleaned dirty bums and snuggled with Liam when he would wake up at 3 am. That woman knows how to work! It was a much needed break for some tired parents. We were really sad to see Grandma leave yesterday. It is even more sad because Liam asks "Where is Grandma?" all the time now. Thank you so much for coming Rosie! We love you so so so much.

We didn't take many pictures because we are L.A.M.E. but we did have to get at least shot with each child to show that they love their Grandma!

The Texas Half Recap

Today was the Texas Half! I thought I would blog about it while I had it fresh in my mind. Training for this race was not easy for me. I would feel great one week and then the next get a cold or slight injury. It was a struggle, until the last few long runs. I had some awesome running partner and the runs felt so good. The last run was 11.5 miles so I felt prepared for the race.

This morning was great weather, not too hot or cold, but a bit windy. I started out the run with Jenny who had been my running bud the last few long runs. We both had a goal of running under 2 hours and for the first 9.5 miles we were right on track. I felt pretty good except for the cramp in my calf and side. But after about 9 miles my energy evaporated. I blame it on my "special visitor" that decided to make an appearance this week. So I let Jenny run ahead and I kept going on my own. It was really all I could do to put on foot in front of the other. People were passing me left and right and more than once I really wanted to walk. It doesn't help that in the course you pass the end, but have to run a mile passed it and back before you finish and that you can see the finish line for the last long mile. Insecurities started creeping in the last few miles saying that I couldn't/didn't want to do this, but I knew I just had to keep on running. Once I started up the hill (not nice people) that is the finish line I gave it all the energy I had and finished. My official time was 2:06:46 a 9:36 pace. I little over my goal, but I am super happy with this time. I beat my time from 2 years ago and I only had one kid then!

At the end I was super tired, hungry and a little shaky, but I had done it. I had finished. I love that running is such a metaphor for life. This race and life are not easy, but you just have to keep on going! I am so glad I committed to this. I am grateful for my running buds that helped my with the long training runs and for Jenny for keeping me going for so long. I am grateful for my super special running buddies, Liam and Landon that were there for almost every run. And of course I am grateful for my husband who has supported my through it all. What a great experience! Next race: NH Marathon perhaps?

Timothy 4: 7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith

Most of my running buds!

Jenna's kiddos: Avarie really want her picture taken. All the kids did so well waiting for their mommies!

And I am done!

Spending some time with one of my favorite running partners!

I had to post a good calf picture! Check me out!

This was about mile 10.5. This is exactly how I felt!

Before I left this morning!

I had a super fun spaghetti dinner with all my running friends on Friday night. It was so fun and brought my back to my cross country days!