Of course, a competition wouldn’t be complete without prizes and Under Armour isn’t holding back with plenty of prizes to giveaway including a grand prize trip to Costa Rica!  Um, YES, PLEASE!

My mind went wild with ideas of goals, both physical and mental, that I could set out to complete.  The beauty of this competition?  It doesn’t have to be just one!  You can sign up HERE and set as many goals (or as few) as you’d like.  Not only that, you can join teams and achieve goals as a group.

My personal goal is going to be keeping a fitness journal that I want to ultimately share with my children and hopefully future grandchildren.  My idea came about while out for a killer 4 mile run the other day.

Getting faster and stronger everyday.

I was thinking about how role models have changed over the years.  Growing up, my idols were MEN, like basketball superstar Michael Jordan.  The only female I really looked up to athletically was my older sister, Daune, who was a multi-sport phenom that ended up playing volleyball professionally.

I thought forward to present day and it made me so happy to think about how young girls (and boys) have professional female athletes to look up to these days.  Studs like Venus and Serena Williams, Kara Goucher, Danica Patrick and, my friend, Danielle Lawrie.

Riley with professional softball pitcher, Danielle Lawrie, of the USSSA Pride.

It also made me wonder what the future of sport idols will be like and the hope that maybe, as my son grows up, he could see a female athlete as an idol and not be distracted by the fact that she is a woman.

I’m getting off on a little tangent, but the whole idea here is that I can keep a journal in which I write about my accomplishments and daily dedication to health and fitness which my kids (and possible future grandchildren) can look back on and hopefully see me as an idol.

You don’t need to be a top-level professional to be an idol to young children.  It’s about setting a good example and not relying on those in the spotlight to do it, especially as we see more and more athletes in the news for deviant behavior(s).

So, join me, won’t you?  Let’s redefine the female athlete by showing future generations how to be a positive role model.  You don’t have to keep a journal- there are a million ways to be a positive role model.  So, join me on TEAM POSITIVE ROLE MODELS and get started sharing what you’ll do to set an example.  I can’t wait to hear how you plan to make a difference!

The campaign will be using the hashtags #whatsbeautiful and #IWILL as an easy way to stay involved and motivated through the 8 weeks of the competition and beyond.  I’ll be using these on my social media sites here: KoesterRuns on Twitter, KoesterRuns on instagram and KoesterRuns facebook page, so follow along and interact- let’s motivate each other!

I’m going to do the only things I can.

1. PRAY

For the city, the runners, friends, family, the entire running community, even whoever may be responsible for this, as they obviously need some help from above.

2. JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Fairly quickly yesterday I started reading about a movement to bring awareness and show support for Boston: Wear a race shirt in honor.  I can certainly do this and, thanks to Emery, have already worn 3 this morning (it’s been spit up central over here).

3. RUN! 

Because this is what we do.  Runners run.  Through all the elements, emotions, whatever life may throw our way, we just keep running.

So today, I RUN.  I will run for Boston.  I’ll cherish every step and think of all those affected along the way.  Join me?

A Kona Kase is a way to fuel your active lifestyle with a monthly box of awesome nutritional products.  It’s simple.  You sign-up (keep reading for a 50% off code- Yes, FIFTY PERCENT), receive your Kase, then live your life… fueled by the products you receive.

As a FitFluential Ambassador I was offered the opportunity to sample a box for free.  I got my box last week and quickly tweeted a pic from my door step.

I mean, who doesn’t love getting mail?  Side note: Riley absolutely FREAKS out when the UPS/FedEx guys pull up.  Her birthday and Christmas were way too close together, so ever since, every package delivered she thinks is a present for her.  So precious.

Anyway, as I opened my first Kase I was greeted by one of my favorite quotes:

Under the card were some awesome goodies. See…

In detail:

I love that Kona Kase provides you with details on each item, including where the company is from and sometimes added discount codes as well!

Want to see some past months Kases?  Go here.

We recently realized that Emery seems to have gotten past most of his food sensitivities, thank God, cause there were certainly lots of nut products and chocolate included in the March box.  I am still taking it easy on the dairy, but peanut butter and chocolate both seem okay now- trust me, I tested them out, then double and triple checked.  Hey, I have some making up to do in the chocolate consumption category!

One thing I found really cool was that the company soon plans to have an available feature on their site where you can order more, regular size versions of the products found in your Kase.  So, if you like something, no need to go on a wild goose chase through your local shops trying to find them.  Simply go to the Kona Kase site and order.

Speaking of ordering, the Kases run $15 per month.  When you sign up you agree to be billed monthly, but can cancel anytime sans penalty.  You can also sign right back up the next month if you want, and the sign up is super simple (think enter an email address and password and you’re in).

Need some added incentive?  Sign-up through the following link and use code ‘Rogowski‘ to get 50% off your first Kase!  That is a box of premium endurance samples for just $7.50!  Plus, it gets delivered at no extra cost right to your door step.  For this busy Mom, it doesn’t get better.  I am a snacker too, so having a box on the counter that I can go to for a quick, healthy snack is much better than dealing with the temptation of candy or other sugar-packed alternatives.

So, what are you waiting for?  Go sign-up!  While the March box was provided to me free of charge, i’ve already signed up to be a regular monthly customer.  Join me!

Please do let me know if you sign-up and what you think of your first Kase.

We had Emery’s 2 month check up today and learned that he’s growing well.  The stats:

at birth: 6 lbs, 10 oz, 18 inches

1 month: 9 lbs, 5 oz, 20 1/2 inches

2 months: 10 lbs, 3 1/2 oz, 22 inches

He falls into the 25 percentile in all stats, including head circumference.

To be honest, month 2 was rough.  We’ve found that Emery has a few food sensitivities, which took a toll on all of us (think lots of screaming that couldn’t be comforted).  I think that, after weeks of toying with my diet, we’ve finally got it figured out.  No dairy, no nuts, no soy and… NO CHOCOLATE.  Can you even imagine?  No chocolate?!?!  I kid.  I honestly can handle no chocolate, it’s the no nuts (alas, no peanut butter) that bums me out, but whatever is best for baby.  Our pediatrician mentioned that we could transition to a specialty formula if breastfeeding is too hard on me, but I think I can handle a restricted diet for the time being, especially if it is what is still best for Emery.

after one rough afternoon in particular, we both we’re spent.

As mentioned, I think we’ve got it figured out.  The past few days Emery has been much better and seems to be a normal happy baby, THANK GOD.  Seeing him crying out in pain and not being able to make it stop was so hard to handle.  The only thing that seemed to work was putting him into our sling and pacing around the house with him.  I didn’t mind doing this, but it certainly took a toll on my neck and shoulders, which would get quite sore by the end of the day.  Luckily he’s been sleeping well, perhaps from wearing himself out.  Man, did that ever break my heart and make me question my parenting skills.  I know it wasn’t really my fault, but I had a hard time not blaming myself.

finally… a happy boy!

Speaking of sleep, he tends to be out by 8pm or so and sleeps until mid-morning, waking up once for a diaper change and to feed in the middle of the night.  I don’t want to jinx us, but last night he pulled a full 12 hour stretch without waking up, much like his sister did as an infant!  Please Dear Lord, let that stick!

Speaking of Riley, she has been a great big sister.  She is very loving and always wants to look at her brother.  The hard part is that she always wants to hug and kiss him too, but had a cold recently, so we’ve been in OCD overdrive with our “don’t touch him, please” talk.  I feel bad, but no one wants to deal with a sick infant on top of what we’ve already been dealing with.

I truly feel like we’ve come to a turn in the road this week and pray that this is so.  Emery seems to be doing more things, like discovering his surroundings, cooing and definitely smiling more.  He’s not the only one doing more, with the added sleep both Mommy and Daddy have found time to workout again, which brings sanity to all!

So that’s where we are now.  Emery is 2 months and 4 days old today.  He’s in between newborn and size 1 diapers and the same goes for clothing.  He’s too tall for most newborn outfits and too small overall for 3 month gear.  He eats 7-8 times a day and doesn’t have set nap times just yet, but with me working from home it’s not a problem.

We’ll be back April 9th with our 3 month update.  I can’t wait to share with you how Emery continues to grow!

While I consider myself a runner, I have a lot of work to do before I am back into racing shape.  My first step before jumping into that first workout was to replace my shoes.

I am a creature of habit, as most runners tend to be, so didn’t think twice about ordering my beloved Asics Gel Nimbus shoes.  I went with the 13′s (the latest version, 14, is awesomely colorful but pricey), as these are what i’ve been in most recently, loved and could get at a great price.

(from left to right) My Asics Gel Nimbus 12′s, old 13′s and new 13′s

While some shoe replacement recommendations are based on date (replace every 3 months) or mileage (300-600 miles), I typically go off of 2 factors: how I feel and the tread wear.  Figuring that I wore the same 2 pairs of shoes through my entire pregnancy (CRINGE),  you can bet they were worn into the ground.  I have a bad habit of doing this when not actively training for a race.  Consider this my inner-Monica Gellar coming out, trying to save money by not buying so many new pairs of shoes per year.  Dumb, I know.

I’ve worn my new Asics for 2 weeks now and, while they’ve been my favorites for years, there might be a problem.  My first runs in new shoes usually feel fantastic on my legs/feet, as though i’m running on clouds, but they haven’t felt this way thus far.  I’ve had some pain in my big toe (right foot), ball of my foot (right foot), and numbness (in both).

There are a number of possible reasons for this, like the fact that my body is still adjusting from pregnancy, so perhaps I am running differently.  Another possibility is that my feet just aren’t used to everything I am doing, let alone the foreignness (sure, it’s a word) of new shoes.  It could also be a foot issue.  I had surgery on my left foot back in 2003 & 2005 (2nd surgery was to fix an error from the 1st) to correct a hereditary problem and after a bad experienced, decided not to do my right.  I’ve had minor pain in my right in the past, but it’s usually only been when my running mileage is up during training.

One other major possibility… my beloved Asics might no longer be the best fit for me. GASP!  I’d hate for this to be the case, because, well, I love them, but maybe it’s time to divert from my norm and try something new.

What to do?

There are a lot of recommendations out there for finding the right shoe for you, such as trying out different styles and seeing what feels best (this can get expensive and you could end up in a shoe that could eventually cause an injury), the wet test, or my favorite- head to your local running specialty store to get fitted!  This is my go to because the professional you work with will usually watch you run, both in your shoes and let you try potential new ones.  So, this is where I plan to start.  Perhaps I am no longer a neutral-type runner that just needs lots of cushion… we shall see.

to be continued….

1. What is your go to running shoe?
2. What foot type do you have (neutral, pronator, over-pronator, under-pronator)?
3. How do you pick out new shoes?

IT IS HARD! 

It’s hard to do something that can be painful day after day, only to be assured by the “regulars” that the pain will eventually subside and most days your workouts are what will make you feel “normal”, or better.

I don’t recall my workouts being so hard after having Riley (and I took 8 weeks off) but this time around (it was only 4 weeks until I was given the okay to resume workouts) it has been VERY humbling.  Okay, maybe humbling isn’t the word.  Let’s go with brutal.  What other words can I write that explain that every workouts i’ve done (abs, pilates, weight training, running) have all left my body very sore and crying for me to never do it again. I am sure the lack of sleep doesn’t help.

Don’t worry, I will keep at it, because that is just me.  I know what is to come.  I know, eventually, i’ll get back to a place where “easy” workouts (for me) truly are not that hard and don’t leave me wincing in pain.  I know i’ll get back to a running pace under 8 minutes that I consider comfortable.  So, to all you newbies out there, perhaps barely hanging on to your fitness new year’s resolution, stick with it…

IT WILL COME!

It’s not easy, but like the old saying goes…

TIME TO HEAD TO THE GYM…

While I probably would’ve been late posting this, I was purposely waiting for Friday, since we had Emery’s one month check-up and I wanted to share his stats.

At birth he weighed 6lbs, 10oz.  Now he’s 9lbs 5oz, which puts him in the 50th percentile.

At birth he was 18 inches, now he is 20 1/2. This puts my shorty in the 25th percentile.

Clearly he is eating well, which is typically every 3 hours.  While he is eating, he has had some trouble.  Much like his sister, he is quite the gassy baby.  We’ve remedied this with lots of gas drops and “gassing him”.  By “gassing him” I mean using the “knee move”.  Still not with me?  A little trick to help infants get rid of gas is to push their knees into their upper tummy area which, as the name gives away, makes them pass the gas.  Also, what I thought might have been a food allergy or sensitivity, our pediatrician thinks is some acid reflux.  Emery eats well, but will sometimes pull off to cry out, show signs of pain and occasionally spit up.  She gave us a prescription to try out that will hopefully help.  Now if I can just get him to keep the meds down (It can’t possibly taste good, it smells nasty).

Speaking of prescriptions, Emery also had to be prescribed an antibiotic.  Somehow we already have our first ear infection.  Ugh.  Poor guy.  This explains his fussiness lately, which explains many other things (his parents lack of sleep, my lack of posts and my desire for a caffeine iv).

Let’s talk about other baby stuff.  This pic above, it’s my favorite.  Notice all that hair?  Well, it is long gone!  As babies tend to do, he has lost a lot of it.  Oddly though, the first hair to go has been that on top of his head.  Let’s hope that’s not a sign of what may come as early as his 20′s… Daddy is already worried- HA!

Other small milestones include that of a typical one month old: lifting his head during tummy time, tracking things (such as our hands and voices), vocalizing some oohs and ahhs, as well as letting us know his dislikes.  Okay, so he can’t tell us his dislikes, but he clearly HATES diaper changes!

All-in-all the first month has gone pretty well.  I’m really hoping these prescriptions kick in soon and bring our little man some relief, which would certainly bring Mommy and Daddy some, too.  Not being able to soothe a crying newborn is heartbreaking.

Riley is now 2 years old, 26 months to be exact. I can’t believe she is no longer a baby.  She mine as well be 16 and getting her license. I’m not being dramatic at all, nope.

She certainly has acted like a teenager lately, including getting awfully demanding of her parents. I can usually waive it off, but Daddy is certainly the pushover for his sweet little girl. With that, I try to make sure she is getting some healthy foods to balance out the M&M’s.

The highlight of yesterday’s breakfast was Mommy’s famous egg sandwich.  Okay, so it’s not famous, but my husband seems to think it’s the greatest thing ever, so of course, Riley does too. It’s just eggs, a splash of milk, oregano, a dash of salt (only in Daddy’s, not Riley’s) and pepper with a little cheese melted on top sandwiched between 2 slices of whole wheat toast. The part Riley really gets a kick out of is the shape.

“It’s a circle sandwich” (as she calls it)!  I have a Pampered Chef device that not only cuts things into cute little circles, but it seals as well.  This makes for slightly less messy sandwiches (I almost always use it for PB & J’s). The cute added step is so worth it to me if it makes her smile. =)

In addition to the sandwich, she also had a clementine and blueberries.  To drink she had water, milk and watered down orange juice… yes, she requested all three.

And I wonder why she acts spoiled sometimes. She always drinks her milk first thing in the morning and rarely has juice- this was a special treat I gave her since Daddy was having some, too. Such a Daddy’s girl.

Late-morning we shared an un-pictured blueberry muffin (leftover from a recent Panera visit).  Riley LOVES muffins, but who doesn’t?! I prefer the Apple Crunch myself.

While I may emblazon Ryan with the pushover logo, I may have been one myself today.

Hey, at least it’s an organic sucker, right?

The last item I have to share was a serving of peanut butter banana sushi.

This is really simple, and a fun, easy to make (and eat) snack for Riley.  I just spread some peanut butter over a whole wheat tortilla, add a drizzle of honey, then (in this case) half a banana, then roll it up and cut into small sushi-like pieces.  Grab and go style foods are best at this age, as it can be difficult to get her to sit through an entire meal.  She also had another cup of milk and another handful of blueberries.

Another reason grab and go style meals work best right now, that whole, ‘I just had a baby’ thing.  Being a stay at home Mom of a newborn (1 month tomorrow!) and a 2 year old is something I am still getting adjusted to, so easy meals have been our go to.

The plan for dinner is a simple veggie stir fry, which Riley will probably just pick the carrots out of. I could wait and try to share a pic, but Ryan had to go out of town overnight and I am sure it won’t be easy to make dinner and juggle the 2 kiddos (Emery’s longest awake stretch of the day is always in the evening).

So that was the majority of our day. I look forward to reading others linked up posts and finding more quick ideas to fuel my hyper, ever-growing teenager toddler.

]]> http://rollerkoesterrun.com/2013/02/07/munchkin-meals-link-up-2-years-26-months-1-month/feed/ 8 rollerkoesterrun munchkin-meals-logo_thumb IMG_0065 IMG_0064 IMG_0093 IMG_0082 IMG_0091 http://rollerkoesterrun.com/2013/02/02/guess-what-i-did-today/ http://rollerkoesterrun.com/2013/02/02/guess-what-i-did-today/#comments Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:45:00 +0000 rollerkoesterrun http://rollerkoesterrun.com/?p=3223 Continue reading →]]> Need a few hints?

1. My last tweet:

2. I got all bundled up:

3. Notice what’s on my wrist?

Yea, that’s my Garmin!

4. I had to leave this sweet girl, but not for long.

Is it just me or does she look like an 80′s rocker with that bed head?!

So, if you hadn’t figured it out, I ventured out for my first post-baby run!

I thought I had to wait 8 weeks, as I did after having Riley, but at my recent OBGYN visit my Dr gave me the okay to start easing back into everything, including working out!  It has only be 3+ weeks since Emery was born, so you can imagine my shock and excitement to be given the go ahead.

How did it go, not so exciting.  I planned to do the same 5K route near my home that I did for my first run post-Riley, but that didn’t happen.  It was so windy and cold (34 degrees- I am a baby!) that my lungs and chest were on fire.  I got in 2 miles and thought I was going to die.  Seriously though.  I came home and laid on my living room floor for 10 minutes as though I had never run before in my life.  Shortly after, I got the worst headache of my life.  So dramatic, I am.

Despite today’s brutal run, it won’t delay my return.  I plan to give it another go tomorrow, but will be a little smarter and take it to the treadmill, INDOORS in the WARMTH of my local gym!  Hopefully I don’t die again, seriously.  No funeral arrangements have been made, say prayers for me

It’s hard not to when you have a 2 year old that keeps you laughing day after day.  Let’s take Friday for example.  I got out a banana and some Dark Chocolate Dreams (DCD) for Riley and I to share as a little afternoon snack.

Before I opened each, the dryer buzzed, letting me know the laundry was done.  My inner-Monica Gellar requires that I put laundry away immediately, so figured i’d take it upstairs before snack time.

Riley followed me upstairs with a sock I had dropped, then played in her room while I sorted laundry… or so I thought.

Once done with laundry I called for Riley to come downstairs with me, only to hear nothing.  I called for her again, then looked in her room- nothing.  I realized she must have gone downstairs, so went down to find her.  This is what I found…

I wish I had video to show how high she jumped when she heard me coming down the stairs.  She literally had her hands fully in the BRAND NEW jar of DCD!

I couldn’t help but laugh and grab my camera. That and quickly run away when she wanted ‘up on Mommy’.

I should really be writing all of these things down, but why do that when I can just blog about it! Enjoy the weekend!