Surf City Week is Here!

It's finally here. I was just out running with Laila and they are setting up for the big day! Back in July I posted about making it a goal to run the Huntington Beach 1/2 Marathon. In September I posted that there was no turning back and I signed up to run, even convincing Collin to run with me! Unfortunately due to some chronic knee issues, Collin ultimately hasn't been able to run as much as he would have liked and made the decision last week to drop out of the race (boo), so technically I'm going it alone, although Collin's brother Kyle has signed up to run as well as a bunch of my fellow Stroller Strides Mamas so I'm sure I'll see them there!

We started officially training about 3 months before the race and I have to give myself a little pat on the back for how committed I have been to the pretty intense 6 day a week training schedule we found online and had been adhering to.  I wasn't sure I could do it with an infant, but thanks to Laila's cooperation, a very supportive husband, family in town at random times, and Stroller Strides I have been able to get in the majority of the workouts on the schedule. I have run 10 miles so far which is what the schedule called for pre-race and my pace has stayed under 9 min/mile which I was really glad about. I originally signed us up in a heat saying we would finish in approximately 2:30, but my goal now is to finish in just under 2:00, and I'm pretty sure I can do it!

It is crazy to think that the race is this weekend. My Mom flies in tomorrow to watch and support me (yay!) and then I have a "reward myself" massage scheduled first thing Monday morning followed by a much needed pedicure! I'm looking forward to a light/taper down week of workouts leading up to Marathon day and then I can RELAX. Oh wait, I have a 5 1/2 month old...well, at least I don't have to run 13.1 miles again for a while...or ever, we'll see!

laila's new tricks. she...

sits in bed with us & loves to play the piano

project: completed

I completed my project and love how it turned out! It was sooo easy to do.

today's project

I am going to take on this project today. Or at least buy the supplies today, and then maybe make it this weekend. Now that Laila's hair can do a "ponytail" the new bows have been piling up in my bathroom and I need a cute way to store them/see them easily rather than digging through an old Bath and Body Works bag! Sadly, I am soooo over the headband thing. So much for all of those ones I made. Oh well, it was a fun pregnancy project to keep me busy while I waited for Laila to arrive.

I searched around online and like this one the best and think it will be quick and easy to do! If anyone has any advice or better ideas than this let me know!

I look forward to posting the final results!

a new arrival.

A big CONGRATS to my brother-in-law's sister and her husband.

Kristina and Dan

just welcomed 

Cameron John
into the world this morning at 2:10am EST!

8lbs, 8oz and 21.25 inches. 

Long awaited pregnancy and birth, but mommy and baby are happy and healthy! 

Praise the Lord!

a few faves from this past week.

yep, she sits now. she also has leftover prunes up her nose.

First Foods

Laila had her first foods this week! We started with prunes because the little miss has been...well, let's say backed up...for a while, so we thought they might help. They didn't, but she sure enjoyed them! The next day we did some more prunes and tried some brown rice cereal. She made some faces when trying this, but continued opening her mouth for more and finished 2 tablespoons. She took very quickly to eating and we were really impressed. Many babies at her age will push the food out with their tongue, but she opened right up and did pretty well keeping the food in! One really funny thing though, after every bite of food she sticks her thumb in her mouth...maybe it helps her swallow? She also really wanted to grab the spoon and feed herself, so we had to hold down her hands as we fed her. We tried letting her use the spoon but she kind of jammed it down her throat so I think we'll handle the spoon for a while!

 gotta love the "morning hair"

 
prunes

 rice cereal

guest blogging on some food.

Guest blogging "What's Been Cooking" over at Living With Mr. Johnson. Check it out.

things that make me happy.

 

silly bugaboos in their bumbo seats 

 

sunshine and warm weather forecasted for the week

my sweet precious family all snuggled up in bed

finding good friends with adorable babies for laila to grow up with

babies who think their doggies are really funny

LIFE IS GOOD.

HAPPY FIVE MONTHS TO OUR LAILA BUG!

Two Teeth

I finally got a picture of those shy bottom teeth for those of you who care...

...which I just realized today that I need to start brushing!

Ahead of the Game?

I promise, I totally don't mean for this to be in any way a "bragging mom" type post...I am actually very curious...Is it in any way normal for a not-even-five-month-old to be intentional about lifting her knees and taking steps as she is in the below video? Or is she really ahead of the game?

Seriously really curious.

I'm a Big Girl Now

All of a sudden my little baby girl is growing up...and I really don't like it!! No, I do like it (it's just sad sometimes to think about how quickly she is growing and changing). She has now cut her two bottom teeth (of which I have yet to get a good picture, she's kinda stubborn...), has hair long enough to put in a little "pebbles-esque" ponytail with a bow (which is one of my favorite things to do now!), is squawking and babbling the day away, can touch the floor in her jumperoo and entertainer, and most recently we switched her to sitting "like a big girl" in the jogging stroller, so she is no longer facing us in her infant seat. It's sad for me because I can't look at her anymore, but I think she likes the independence of sitting more upright, facing outward and seeing a new view of the world! She is starting to reach out for me when in her crib or when other people are holding her (which I LOVE), and sometimes digs her head into my shoulder shyly when others talk to her. She is consistently going to bed by 6:45-7 at night and sleeping until anywhere between 7-8 in the morning. She may wake once or twice at night but soothes herself back to sleep rather quickly. That has been a very nice milestone!

She really is just growing up so quickly. I can't believe she is almost 5 months old. She is so much fun to be around and brings so much joy to every day. Her smile and her laugh just brighten the room on a daily basis and we can't imagine our life without her in it.

Family Reunion in Park City

Warning: This may be a very picture-filled post because I have about 500 pictures from this trip and it's going to be tough to narrow them down. I'll do my best to summarize and put the rest in a Facebook album.

Last year my mom and I decided that we needed to make a "Johnson" family reunion happen this Christmas. We all went on a cruise 6 years ago and it was so much fun but it's been that long since we have all been in the same place at the same time and so much has happened since then! Thankfully, everyone was able to work out their busy schedules and make their way to snowy Park City, UT for a fantastic, fun-filled, five days. The crew came from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida and California to be together. Our grandmother treated us to this fabulous vacation and we are so thankful to her for it!

Here is the whole crew:

For most, the days were spent exploring the slopes on ski or snowboard. Since I am not super fond of skiing, I was able to make it to the spa for a hot stone massage one day. The rest of the time was spent with Laila, my mom and Mimi and anyone else who wasn't skiing at the time.

One day my mom, Mimi, Laila and I all went up in the gondola to meet everyone for lunch and take some photos. We got some really great shots and had a really fun time!

My cousin Jenee' has a 20 month old named Lucy who I had yet to meet before this trip. We had so much fun meeting each other's little girls and having them "play" with each other! We dressed them up in their snowsuits and threw them in the snow for a few photos. They were not very cooperative but we gave them a break since it was about 4 degrees outside :)

There are so many more photos but I'll leave it to the Facebook album to show the rest! Needless to say we had an amazing time and hope we can all be together again sometime very soon! We love you all!