Fast Running Mommy

I got up on time, felt good and was excited to see my partner this morning after confirming it at church yesterday....but alas...she wasnt' there. I think I'll keep trying with her just because I think it's good for her to be thinking about exercising everyday and maybe eventually she'll be able to make it a habit to get up on time. She said at church that her baby was up alot last week and that makes it really tough to get up. 

William wakes up sometime between 3-5 and I nurse him in bed and we fall back asleep together.  So I think I'm getting enough sleep to wake up early.

I am just hoping to lose some weight pretty soon. I'm not used to being over 130 and I don't like it.  I'll be happy with 146 (just threw that number out) for awhile and slowly get back to my normal weight but I've got a few pounds to go just to get in the 140s...phew.... 

Got up and got a wonderful reward..my running partner was there!! She wants to get up early..it's just hard with three little kids who keep you up all night. For some reason her baby has started waking up alot...I'm guessing he's teething...that always ruins my best sleepers. 

We had a good time chatting for a bit..two miles goes by fast. I think when I'm with her we run around 11 min mile which feels fast to me after all my deliciously slow 12's.

Came home to find a fun running group for Sasha. I remember when we lived in our other house and he had trouble finding partners for some reason. I think for a whole winter we went to the Provo Canyon Trail in the mountains together everyday. He would run while the kids and I played in the snow or snacked in the car and then I would run while he loaded them up and drove them home. It worked okay and not that I don't enjoy the company of my family...it just felt like sometimes we were the only people on the face of the earth. We never saw anyone up there...where were they? Skiing? Shopping? Can't figure why anyone else didn't want to run in the freezing cold. Sasha is always happier when he has running friends and I'm happy for him.

My favorite partner for him was Ted..Army Runner...that man is the most punctual, most regular partner in the universe for sure. We knew that if he was more than 3 minutes late that that meant he was not coming. I was always grateful for Sasha to have a friend in the morning...he's happier..I'm happier...it's all good. :) 

My running partner's little girl should start training with me..she was up..but no mom. That's okay though because I'm going to try and run with Tarzan some today before or after the New Year's race. I practiced the organ this morning instead of running.  I wish I had more time to practice and could get really good. It is so embarrassing for me to get up there week after week and let everyone in my ward sing to the tail end of my practicing. Maybe I'll be really good in 20 years. I guess I have to focus on progress but I hate being embarrassed in the process. Sasha just laughs and thinks it's the best calling for me so I will stop worrying so much about what people think. 

My little boy Joseph is turning 4 tomorrow. 

I have enjoyed this child so much and am very grateful for the inspiration I received in regards to rearing him. I don't think I could have enjoyed him as much as I have been able to without it.

When he was 2 I bawled my eyes out at the thought of losing the sweet baby he had been. He is very attached to me but at the same time has a strong need to disobey and argue with me whenever I present a challenge to that closeness....such as..I don't know..asking him to put his shoes on when he's building a very cool spaceship race car or something interesting like that.

I felt impressed to go to a parenting class when he was around 2 but it wasn't for him....or so I thought. I thought I was going for my sister, who was having serious behavior problems.

Turns out as this baby grew up a bit he gave me a run for my money I hadn't yet experienced with my other kids. He was..well..horrible. I used to tease that I needed to call the child abuse hotline because my child was abusing me. He would (and still does although it's gotten better) yell at me and just get into fights about EVERYTHING.

The WONDERFUL thing about this parenting class is that it targeted this type of behavior...defiance...before I even knew this little guy would struggle with it.

The main idea that the doctor gave us was very simple and yet VERY effective ( I know because I've done it all these months).

Put the defiant child in the bathroom for a time out. 

Anywhere else can become either another battleground for them (the stairs or corner because it's too easy for them to get out) or it can be too fun....like their room.

I have consistently put Joseph in the bathroom and diffused the situations time and time again without more fights and more struggles between us.  It's really really worked.

That doesn't mean I've never lost my temper or patience with him but I really believe it's been a lot better. Now I'm determined to take the fight out of him and help him see I love him even though I have to set limits for him.  Happy Birthday Jo Jo! 

I'm sleep deprived. My baby is a great sleeper but he's been having trouble falling asleep at night and keeping me up a little bit too late for my early  rising. I need a nap today but it will have to wait until after the b-day party and all the preparations for it. 

I've got to get to bed earlier tonight...maybe Daddy is putting the baby to sleep for me tonight. :) 

I had a nightmare (among many) that homeless people were trying to get inside my house.   Hiliarious ....when I saw the group of runners congregated outside my house today I thought....it's come true. 

I always used to tease Sasha that he was like a homeless person...outside all the time.

In fact I have had SEVERAL experiences where I meet somebody at a park or the mall or something and start talking to them...complete strangers...and they end up knowing who Sasha is (at least by description of the redhead that runs all over the place!!) Just like we all get to recognize the same homeless people who are always walking the streets!!