At work, it is sometimes referred to as "newbie syndrome." I think I might have a permanent case of it...
Newbie syndrome is when you are constantly volunteering to do things in order to prove yourself. I think the only person I'm trying to prove things to is myself, and I'm trying to prove - I CAN do it!
Confession - I like to get involved in things. I like to learn new things. I like to mark things on my calendar. (Yes, I still have an old-fashioned paper and pencil calendar!) I like to be busy.
I like to think I like free time and relaxing, but truth be told, I am not very good at dealing with either one.
I like to think I like free time and relaxing, but truth be told, I am not very good at dealing with either one.
So, I apologize for not updating you all in so long, but my plate is FULL. Actually, it is looking like your Thanksgiving plate after you have loaded it up and realized you should have made two instead of trying to cram it onto one.
Here are all the wonderful things I have been up to:
Running
I completed the RRCA course, took my First Aid/CPR/AED course, and passed my exam. You may forevermore refer to me as Coach Erin! I'm still determining my next steps in how to apply my certification and new knowledge, so stay tuned!
I have set two PRs in a week.
I swear ever since Phinn was born I have been a running machine. I do not know if it was the months and months I spent during my pregnancy just salivating at the thought of running or if it is just that running races by myself seems like a breeze after completing most training runs pushing BOB and Phinn. My cousin says that training runs with BOB = running races like Kara Goucher! I don't think that's an exaggeration!
I swear ever since Phinn was born I have been a running machine. I do not know if it was the months and months I spent during my pregnancy just salivating at the thought of running or if it is just that running races by myself seems like a breeze after completing most training runs pushing BOB and Phinn. My cousin says that training runs with BOB = running races like Kara Goucher! I don't think that's an exaggeration!
I ran the Chocolate Chase 5K in Charlottesville on October 15th and finished in 24:44. I was shocked to learn that I placed third in my age group (20-29) and won a free pair of running gloves! This was also my first race with other Baby Boot Camp Mamas. We are some tough mommies!!
On October 22nd, I ran the Fall Classic 10K in Charlottesville and finished in 51:09. I ran this with two of my friends from St. Louis. Mandy has run mostly half-marathons and Lauren is a newbie runner. Lauren gave us these awesome running shirts that matched our personalities. Mine says "Running is My Happy Hour!"
I can't wait to run with both of them again. We are trying to plan a girls/race weekend. If you have any races to suggest, let me know.
I can't wait to run with both of them again. We are trying to plan a girls/race weekend. If you have any races to suggest, let me know.
Morning of the race in our witty running shirts and me with my good luck charm!
Running has not but all wins though. I will not be running the Richmond Marathon.
I decided this shortly after my RRCA training. I learned a lot about the importance of proper training during my RRCA certification, and how it plays a huge role in injury prevention.
I decided if I am going to train other runners, I need to set the example. I mean I can't lecture other runners on the value of basebuilding, speed work, tapering, and running at the proper pace if I am not willing to do that myself. I still plan to do a marathon one day, but it will have to wait until I can make more time in my life for training. So instead of the full marathon, I will be running the half.
Sewing
I wanted something really cool and unique for Phinn's first birthday party favors. So after some brainstorming, I came up with Halloween loot bags/pillow cases. I picked out some cool Halloween fabric and tried to make them pretty ageless so the kids could get many years of use out of them.
That was about as far as I got for awhile. The fabric sat on our kitchen table for weeks (along with everything else that is waiting for my attention - countless magazines, fitness study materials, etc.) staring me down, but I thought "Hey I am making pillow cases, really how hard could it be?!"
Well, the answer is a lot harder than I anticipated. Luckily I have a mother-in-law who is an amazing seamstress/quilter/crafter extraordinaire who eagerly gave me a helping hand when I called a week before the party and said I don't know that I can do this. We spent a whole Sunday afternoon sewing. And our final products turned out great! I was so excited!! I couldn't wait to give them to our little birthday guests. Now on to my next project for my mommy sewing swap group...
First Birthday Party
We had Phinn's first birthday party last Saturday. (Yes, the day of the 10K and yes, I am probably crazy!) It was a few days before his actual birthday, but I couldn't resist since Lauren and Mandy would be in town.
It was fun to decorate the house for his big party. I had ordered a birthday banner off of Etsy (My black hole for time and money!) that matched his Curious George theme. I also got some great cupcake toppers too. Lauren volunteered herself to draw Curious George on our chalkboard wall and I added a collage of pictures of the birthday boy.
It was so much fun to go through all of our pictures (I have TONS!! Guess that's what happens for the first child!) and see how much he has grown. Then we just added a couple balloons, and viola!
For dessert, we had a monkey cake and some AMAZING cupcakes (made by Lauren, Mandy, and me). The cupcakes definitely upstaged the cake. I'll post the chocolate cupcake recipe that Lauren gave me. They were some of the lightest, fluffiest cupcakes I ever had! Unfortunately, Phinn did not seem that impressed with the baked goods. He was not quite sure what to do with his cake - after a little guidance he took a few bites, but seemed more content to just mash it in his high-chair and clap his hands! We managed to get cake everywhere!!
He received some awesome gifts - lots of books, toys, and some clothes. I would have to say that the funniest gifts were his pillow pets and a certain jersey from my parents.
Phinn had received a Hokie pillow pet from our friends Dan and Lauren a couple days before his party. He was a little scared of it. I don't know if it was the Hokie or the fierce gobbling noises Hunter made but he would not go near it and if you showed it to him, he would push it away.
At his birthday party he got a Fredbird (the STL Cardinals' mascot) pillow pet from Mandy (who was kind of nervous seeing how Phinn reacted to the Hokie). Well, he absolutely LOVED Fredbird. He gave him hugs and was dragging him around the living room with him!
The other funny gift was from my parents, who gave Phinn a West Virginia University football jersey. There has always been a little in-family college football rivalry between Hunter and my Dad and brother. Phinn already has a Virgina Tech jersey, so I guess my parents thought it would only be fair for him to have a WVU one too. Well, Phinn went straight for the WVU jersey, see Hunter's priceless reaction below...
Phinn had a great party surrounded by family and friends. We feel so blessed to have many wonderful people in our lives.
P.S. Dan and Lauren - Phinn is warming up to the Hokie. He is giving him hugs now!!
And More...
Now that the RRCA certification is done, the bags have been sewn, and the party has been thrown, you would think it would be back to business as usual with this mama, but it continues:
I am starting to study for my AFAA Group Exercise and Baby Boot Camp certifications with the AFAA exam scheduled just a week after the Richmond Half-Marathon. Also, I'm at the height of my training for the half, so I've been running just about every free minute I get. Not to mention work has thrown me a couple busy weeks. I also need to get started on my tote project for my sewing swap. A mother's work is never done! I made Hunter promise not to let me commit to anything else until after Thanksgiving!!
I decided if I am going to train other runners, I need to set the example. I mean I can't lecture other runners on the value of basebuilding, speed work, tapering, and running at the proper pace if I am not willing to do that myself. I still plan to do a marathon one day, but it will have to wait until I can make more time in my life for training. So instead of the full marathon, I will be running the half.
Sewing
I wanted something really cool and unique for Phinn's first birthday party favors. So after some brainstorming, I came up with Halloween loot bags/pillow cases. I picked out some cool Halloween fabric and tried to make them pretty ageless so the kids could get many years of use out of them.
That was about as far as I got for awhile. The fabric sat on our kitchen table for weeks (along with everything else that is waiting for my attention - countless magazines, fitness study materials, etc.) staring me down, but I thought "Hey I am making pillow cases, really how hard could it be?!"
Well, the answer is a lot harder than I anticipated. Luckily I have a mother-in-law who is an amazing seamstress/quilter/crafter extraordinaire who eagerly gave me a helping hand when I called a week before the party and said I don't know that I can do this. We spent a whole Sunday afternoon sewing. And our final products turned out great! I was so excited!! I couldn't wait to give them to our little birthday guests. Now on to my next project for my mommy sewing swap group...
So cute! Definitely glad there were only a few kids coming though!
Henry we have one for you! I just need to mail it...
First Birthday Party
We had Phinn's first birthday party last Saturday. (Yes, the day of the 10K and yes, I am probably crazy!) It was a few days before his actual birthday, but I couldn't resist since Lauren and Mandy would be in town.
It was fun to decorate the house for his big party. I had ordered a birthday banner off of Etsy (My black hole for time and money!) that matched his Curious George theme. I also got some great cupcake toppers too. Lauren volunteered herself to draw Curious George on our chalkboard wall and I added a collage of pictures of the birthday boy.
It was so much fun to go through all of our pictures (I have TONS!! Guess that's what happens for the first child!) and see how much he has grown. Then we just added a couple balloons, and viola!
For dessert, we had a monkey cake and some AMAZING cupcakes (made by Lauren, Mandy, and me). The cupcakes definitely upstaged the cake. I'll post the chocolate cupcake recipe that Lauren gave me. They were some of the lightest, fluffiest cupcakes I ever had! Unfortunately, Phinn did not seem that impressed with the baked goods. He was not quite sure what to do with his cake - after a little guidance he took a few bites, but seemed more content to just mash it in his high-chair and clap his hands! We managed to get cake everywhere!!
Phinn had received a Hokie pillow pet from our friends Dan and Lauren a couple days before his party. He was a little scared of it. I don't know if it was the Hokie or the fierce gobbling noises Hunter made but he would not go near it and if you showed it to him, he would push it away.
At his birthday party he got a Fredbird (the STL Cardinals' mascot) pillow pet from Mandy (who was kind of nervous seeing how Phinn reacted to the Hokie). Well, he absolutely LOVED Fredbird. He gave him hugs and was dragging him around the living room with him!
The other funny gift was from my parents, who gave Phinn a West Virginia University football jersey. There has always been a little in-family college football rivalry between Hunter and my Dad and brother. Phinn already has a Virgina Tech jersey, so I guess my parents thought it would only be fair for him to have a WVU one too. Well, Phinn went straight for the WVU jersey, see Hunter's priceless reaction below...
Phinn had a great party surrounded by family and friends. We feel so blessed to have many wonderful people in our lives.
P.S. Dan and Lauren - Phinn is warming up to the Hokie. He is giving him hugs now!!
And More...
Now that the RRCA certification is done, the bags have been sewn, and the party has been thrown, you would think it would be back to business as usual with this mama, but it continues:
I am starting to study for my AFAA Group Exercise and Baby Boot Camp certifications with the AFAA exam scheduled just a week after the Richmond Half-Marathon. Also, I'm at the height of my training for the half, so I've been running just about every free minute I get. Not to mention work has thrown me a couple busy weeks. I also need to get started on my tote project for my sewing swap. A mother's work is never done! I made Hunter promise not to let me commit to anything else until after Thanksgiving!!
