They sure keep me busy...

Jack:
He's 3 years & 6 months old. He's a crazy kid who surprises me and challenges me at every turn. Some examples:

• The other day we were in the car. He said, "I'm a biiiiiiig brother!" I said, "yes, you are." He said, "And Caroline is a little sister! And Daddy is a BIIIIG Daddy! And you? You are a big, fat Mommy!" I said, "Hey! Why do I have to be fat??" He said, "My teacher said we don't say 'hey.' It's rude." Well, so is calling someone fat! And, way to avoid the question!
• He always asks me what certain words mean. Today he gets in the car after school and says, "what's amputate mean?" I said, "well, it means to cut something off. Like if your leg gets really hurt, the doctor may have to amputate it." He freaked out and said, "I was just kidding!! My leg is fine!!!!"
• He's still a horrible sleeper. Well, he sleeps good, when he's actually sleeping. He always starts out in his own bed, and ends up in bed with one of us, or on the floor of our room. He has nightmares and he's scared of everything. Tonight I am trying something new - I taught him how to use the remote to his TV in his room. I told him he could turn it on (to Sprout) whenever he's scared or if it's too early to get up (i.e., wake us up.) We will see. I don't have high hopes. 
• He's doing great at school and getting ready to move up to the next class next month. He loves his teachers and his friends, and we are seriously considering sending him for more time a week. He's so social and needs so much stimulation, it's hard for me at home! But he's a truly smart and crazy awesome little boy. We adore (most) every minute with him.

Caroline:

She's 9 months and 2 weeks old. She's on the move - constantly getting into things she's not supposed to. She's a huge fan of eating cords and chargers, and playing in the bathroom in/around Jack's toddler potty. (Ugh.) She still sleeps swaddled. I spend a lot of nights in the big bed in her room, for various reasons (see above) and she knows now how to turn on her seahorse music light. I wake up at 3am to the ridiculously loud music that thing produces, and a big, toothy smile looking at me through the crib rails. She babbles, but I imagine she's saying, "hey you! FEED MEEEEEEEE!" 

She's very LOUD. She only knows one syllable, "BA BA BA," and she screeches it at all different decibels, testing out her voice. I keep trying to get her to say MAMA to no avail. I swear she's said DADA a few times though. Isn't that how it always goes?? In the backseat of the car, her and Jack have an adorable language together. He babbles back to her, and she screeches at him. It's really cute...most of the time :) 

She's an awesome solids eater! She eats pretty much whatever we have now, just cut up. She loves chicken, green peppers, yogurt, noodles, and puffy things like baby cheetoes. She does NOT like cheese anymore. I don't know why. Weirdo! 

She's growing like a weed and wearing 12-18 month clothes. She is messy and drools a LOT, so I do a lot of wash. She's an amazing, sweet, calm little girl who is sprouting the best personality. She loves shopping with me, getting out and about, going to the daycare at the gym while I work out (they adore her there!), and just being a super chill baby in general. She's awesome!!!

Exploring with the kiddos.

Sorry, unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to write now (*grumble grumble* Justin's working late and I have two kids to bathe and put in bed *grumble grumble*) ... but here are pictures from our visit to Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz. It was another gorgeous California day... this weather is kind of growing on me. ;) 

The following are off Jack's camera. He took them all. I think he did a great job for a 3-year-old!! 

another weekend, another hike

Yesterday, we found another trail for hiking and decided to try it out. It seemed a little easier on the legs than our last one. (Well, we were mistaken, but only because we decided to go the looooooong way back to the car. Up the incline. Through the mud. With a stroller!) It was a beautiful California day - the kind you read about in books or see on TV. We had a wonderful morning and we all woke up very sore today but proud of ourselves. Look at us go!

Jack took this. Isn't it awesome?

Even she loved the scenery. 

At the top of Hunter's Point. Phew. 

My little hiker. He's so into it. 

Jack took this one too. I love it!

Our muddy shoes on the front step. All vey well worn-in! (And yes, Jack
went through two pairs. He stepped in a big BIG mud puddle and fell.) 

I did this TWICE last week on the treadmill. Go me!

I also entered one more race...I needed something sooner than late March to start getting ready for my long run in April. So I'm hitting up this one. Should be fun!

Bathing beauty.

The chessmaster. We were watching King of the Nerds (TBS) and
he saw this game and made me go to Target and get a set. He's had
a blast learning, even if he is a little aggressive when he takes an opponent's piece. 

Hi there.

His wish? "Another baby sister!" HA. HAHAHA. HAHAHAHA.
Yea right, kid.

More giggles. 

Her favorite toy. EW.

my personal goal.

I wrote a lot last year about my post-baby body and how bothered I am by it. I try to be accepting, give myself time, be gentle, etc...and I still hate what I see in the mirror every day. (Don't tell him I said this but...) I have a sweet, supportive husband who tells me that I look beautiful no matter what. And I know that he means it - to him, I look fine. To me, I look like a train wreck. At the turn of the new year, I found myself dreading summer and the pool and the beach, and being in shorts and bathing suits all the time with the kids. Caroline will be walking / learning to swim, and Jack will be his usual little fishy self, and me? I was not looking forward to it one bit.

So I decided to do something about it. I was trying to be more active and watch what I eat, but that wasn't doing much. I lost about 8lbs and then the scale stopped moving. I needed a goal. I scoured the internet. I looked to my friends for inspiration. Finally, I bit the bullet and started signing up for something that I never thought I'd ever do ... running.

Jack has been my little trooper. He's super into it and loves running with me. I've built my schedule around getting to the gym and getting on the treadmill. I've done 3+ mile runs twice this week, and I feel great! Fantastic! Amazing! All those things I used to feel after swimming but forgot about. :)

So here are my races (so far.) I may be crazy, but I hope not. I hope I'm on the right path to getting my body back!

Bunny Run 5K

Big Sur 9 Miler (Part of the Big Sur International Marathon...a big deal in these parts!)

These faces make my day.

Family Exercise

For many reasons, I've been trying to get us up and moving as a family lately. This includes simple things like more walks to our neighborhood park, around the mall, etc. It also includes my ideas for some things that are a little bit more challenging.

Yesterday (Friday), Jack, Caroline, and I loaded up and hit a running trail just over the Saratoga town line. It is gravel, wide, and runs along a railroad track. It is about 1.2 miles long, and I made a big deal to Jack about going running. He was excited, so I put C in the jogging stroller and off we went. It was a beautifully sunny day, and he took off like a jet.

I figured he'd get tired quickly. Nope! He was a running champ. We did the whole trail, stopping only a few times to talk to dogs (and their owners) or take a water break. He ran better, faster, and more steadily than I did...and he couldn't wait to do it again!

As we were headed home I saw a sign for Stevens Creek County Park. I told Justin about it and we were going to try a family "run" today.

Of course we got lost, and ended up in the Saratoga / Santa Cruz mountains. It was a beautiful drive, and no more than five miles from our house, we found a little RV park. We stopped there to ask the lady who ran it if we could walk around. (Jack was getting antsy.) She said, "well, you are welcome to....but I highly recommend driving up to Sandborn Park - it's just about a half-mile away."

We went, and wow! It was beautiful. Redwood trees as far as the eye could see. Groomed mountain trails. Creeks, running water, the smell of evergreens. Totally peaceful - only a few other hikers out. We grabbed a map and planned to take the San Andreas trail (easier and shorter) and make a circle and head back to the car.

Somewhere we took a wrong turn, and ended up on Petersen trail. Here's the map (if you can read it.)
Also - THIS would have been useful information before we set out.

Petersen trail is basically a super intense vertical hike up the side of a mountain. The trails were groomed, but it was HARD, especially pushing a jogging stroller. Jack had a blast and was way ahead of us (and in better shape!) the whole time. Caroline loved being outside and looking at all the trees and wildlife. Justin and I huffed and puffed our way up and down, sharing the stroller but having a blast.

We had such a good time! We can't wait to go back and explore more ... but much better prepared this time, with a back carrier for baby girl, no stroller, and definitely my good camera!!! It was amazingly beautiful, and such a fun and peaceful way to spend the day together.

My phone was dying, and it was the only phone we had (like I said, we were ill prepared for the wilderness!) But we did manage to snap a few pictures. We will definitely be doing more of this soon.

Look at those beautiful trees! 

Jack wanted to feel how cold the mountain spring water was.
....verdict: REALLY COLD.