My Bestie is a 20 Under 30!!!

I am so proud of Megan, she has been chosen as one of 417 Magazine's 20 Under 30. She works so hard and does so many cool things as 417's Marketing Director & Corporate Art Director. I can't say I'm surprised she got the award but I am glad she is being honored for her talents and hard work. Congratulations Megan, can't wait to help you celebrate April 25 at the party!

To See Megan's Blog Post & Article, visit her Blog here:
http://johnsonblurb.blogspot.com/2013/03/im-417-magazine-20-under-30.html?showComment=1364572121857#c8725403687116570677

SUC Training: Week 10

2 Weeks left!!! I am getting so excited for the race! This weekend I ran my first 10K (6.2 mile) race, I have run 10K a hundred times on the trail and treadmill but never in a race. It was the Junior League Pitter Pat Race and my best friend Megan (http://johnsonblurb.blogspot.com/) organized it. Although there was snow on the ground, it was great weather for a run. No wind and about 40 degrees, I didn't really get hot. And I got to check off a Bucket List item because surprisingly, I got 1st Place in my age bracket (30-34). I have never won a race and have always wished I could, so my inner child is very happy right now.  My time was 50:26. This is the fastest I have run it yet (it is about an 8 minute mile). This was a test for me to see how my running was going to prepare for the SUC and I feel much more confident now.

Week 10 Plan:
I am only planning on doing one more long run of 7 miles before the race, so yesterday I sprinted 2 miles and did uphill run for 1 mile. Then I also did stairs for 1 mile on the stair master at the gym, which it said equaled 50 floors (is that the same as flights?). I am going to run and do stairs again Wednesday and then do some sort of class friday. Saturday is our final SUC training class at Cox North with our whole team. I am pretty excited about it actually!

My little cheerleader

Megan and I after the race, she looked adorable and put on one heck of a race!

Awards 

I won!!

March Party Finalist on Project Nursery

Yay!!! Sawyer's 1st Birthday Party is up for March Party Finalist on Project Nursery! His party was so much fun to plan and even more fun to host. Thanks for everyone who helped with all the little details.

You can help by voting for his party as your favorite, just click the button "Sawyer the Destroyer" party and the bottom of the poster here:   http://projectnursery.com/2013/03/vote-march-party-finalists-2/

His party details are here: http://projectnursery.com/projects/sawyer-the-destroy-superhero-1st-birthday-party/

As you may remember we won Project of the Week last year for Sawyer's Nursery!!! You can see the post here: http://johnkarihamra.blogspot.com/2012/04/we-won.html

SUC training: Week 9

I got a small taste of what the actually Springfield Urban Adventure Race is going to taste like this past Saturday when I joined two of my fellow teammates for the Cox SUC training class. I loved it! It was almost two hours and a good mix of running, sprints, plyometrics, weights and a whole lot of STAIRS! 33 flights to be exact. My calves were and are sore from the training but I felt like it was a good measure of what we need to work on before race day. I stayed a little after class with my teammate Lauren and practiced the 90 lb. rope lift because that was definitely my weak area. When I first started it was picking me up off the ground (it is like 80% of my body weight) but the teacher helped me use better technique with my legs to pick it up. Here are a few pictures (sorry they are blurry).

I actually have it lifted in the far right picture even thought it is hard to see.

Week 9 Plan:
From the advice of Mark, the teacher Saturday I took Sunday off to rest. Tonight I plan to run 6 miles, do Body Pump Tuesday, Run 5 miles Wednesday, light exercise thursday, rest Friday because I have the Pitter Pat 10K Saturday. This will be my first 10K since being pregnant and having Sawyer so I am super excited.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Sawyer was just a month old last St. Patrick's Day so we didn't get to go to the parade, this year I made plans with Trina to make a day of it. We grabbed lunch at Grad School and then walked over to meet up with Krissy, Reece, Pierce, Paisley, Melanie, Sam, Jackson and Avery. The parade was really entertaining (way better than the Christmas Parade) and the weather was perfect. Sawyer actually got a little sun on his cheeks. Since John had to work all day, when we got home we decided to get dinner at Maria's downtown as our little family celebration.

Sawyer Last St. Patrick's Day (March 17, 2012)

Lunch with Trina

As we waiting for a table, Sawyer walked me around

Loves to walk around

The Girls with Jackson & Sawyer

Who is this guy?

Great view

Dinner & green margaritas with Dad

Sawyer: 13 Months

This boy loves his food

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Sawyer is not only growing so fast, he is so smart. He has gotten so good at communicating with us and definitely knows what he wants. He is so much better at running & walking and we are having a lot less accident reports at school! We go back this week for his blood work to see if he is still anemic, fingers crossed he isn't!

Weight: 24, he is getting very heavy!

Length: 31

Eating: He is now strictly on food & whole milk, I stopped nursing about 1 week ago and the transition was easier than expected. He is great at feeding himself and has started using a fork & spoon.

We asked him "Where's your head?"

Peek-a-boo

Sleeping: Now instead of nursing before bed, he just gets a bath and his blanket and he is out! He is sleeping way longer than a few weeks ago. Friday he went to be about 7 p.m. and didn't wake up until 8 a.m. He even took 2-two hour naps on saturday. We think he must be growing because he has been sleeping 10-11 hours ever night and falling asleep before lunch at school.

Clothing: Wearing 12-18 months clothes his belly has grown a lot so those 9-12 month pants can be a little snug. Still in size 5 shoes.

Diapers: size 4

Likes to help clean

Playing: Books are his new favorite thing. He will grab a book, come sit in my lap and let me read to him for 5-6 books. When one is done he will point to another and keep doing that until we are through all of them. His favorite books are The Foot Book and The Little Blue Truck.  He really loves to kiss and has gotten in a little trouble at school because he likes to run over and kiss Paisley (his girlfriend) but that usually involves pulling her hair and biting her, yikes!

Talking: Sawyer has turned into quite the little talker. He says and understands a lot. Some new words are dog, clap, coat, car, more and what sounds like grandpa. He uses sign language to sign "more" when he is eating. He also knows where is "head" , "belly" and "feet" are and points to them. 

Teething: He has 8 teeth now, 4 top and 4 bottom. I think another one is working its way out on the bottom left because he is is chewing on his finger a lot.

Other developments: He still loves bathtime and is obsessed with playing with the running water from the faucet. John and I have noticed over the past few month that he favors his left hand. One of his teachers at school brought it up to us the other day and said she also thinks there is a good chance he might be left-handed. He does everything with his left, like when you hand him something he switches to his left. He is better at throwing and eating with his left too. I am interested to see if this stays or if he switches over.

SUC training: Week 8

We are down to 4 weeks left and has really flown by. I feel much more prepared physically and mentally than I was when I accepted this challenge.
Running is going good besides some of the normal aches and pains. I did my first trail run Saturday and the 5 miles seemed easier than I expected. It was beautiful weather and I felt like I could have kept running. I woke up sunday with terrible calf cramps but I think that is just from the change in terrain. I ran again last night and they worked themselves out about mile 2.

Week 8 Plan:
This week I do interval runs for 3 days: run 17 minutes, walk 1 minute (repeat 3 times). I did this last night and the distance was just under 6 miles.
I plan to do pump thursday and then Saturday I am meeting with my group for the Cox SUC training class from 9 am - 11 am. I am excited to get to practice with our team!!

Trivial Tidbits from my First Year of Parenthood

Becoming a new parent usually involves a crash course in some of the obvious mom/dad duties like changing diapers, feeding, bathing, etc. I’ve also learned some other things these past 13 months as Sawyer’s mother that are the unexpected, can't prepare for things. That being said, I thought I would still share. It probably still won’t help prepare you but depending on your current situation you might experience the following….

1. For those who are parents, you might get a good laugh because you too have experienced them.

2. For those who are not parents but plan to be someday, you might also get a good laugh at what you have to look forward too OR you just might revisit your choice to become parents.

3. For those who are not parents and don’t plan to be, you might also get a good laugh at us who get to experience them and see what you’re missing out on.

**note: these are just opinions, none have been proven to be parenting law**

Sh*@ Happens

Wearing something nice? Expect any or all bodily fluids to show up on it by the end of the day

Is there actual gold in those golden potatoes?

Kids Menu’s are a rip off. Maybe it is because our son really just wants to eat whatever we are eating but paying $5 for some Kraft macaroni and cheese that you can get at the store for 54 cents is just not worth it. Just order an extra side and share your food with them. Portions are usually way too large anyway.

Bragging Rights

Try not talking about your kid when you are away from your kid…it is impossible. Every story somehow now relates back to your child, no matter how hard you try; they come up in almost every conversation.

Children have the “sleep-sense”

As soon as your tired head hits the pillow, you will hear a cry, yell or laughter….they just know!

Sweatin’ it out

No more “let’s save money, no heat/air this week” – we’ve all done it, froze our butt off or sweated profusely getting ready just to save a few dollars on the utility bill. With a baby in the house, no questions asked, you have to have the air and heat on. So keep that in mind new parents and put that in the ‘hadn’t thought of that’ Baby Budget.

Value Diapers are cheaper for a reason

We’ll do anything to save money because babies are expensive! So of course we have tried off-brand diapers BUT they are like cardboards taped around your babies bum. Save your child’s rear and pay the extra couple dollars for name brand.

Home is where the “mess” is

I’ll admit I sometimes have minor panic attacks when I come home. Chaos has taken over where décor used to be and no matter how many times you clean, children prefer toys scattered versus put in their place. This is a good thing, it means they are having fun. So, I am learning to let my inner child rule and let my home be a place to play and not a “no touch” zone.

Milkin’ it

Weaning is harder on the mom (well me) then it is on the child. Children are adaptable; mothers are emotional.

Doo doo dialogue

A Normal conversation with your significant other is most likely going to involve poop & spit up (and various other body functions) and you aren’t afraid to have these said conversations in front of other people.

 I’m not doing that!

All the things you said you would never do as a parent, you will now consider and possibly even do. You’ll talk like a baby, let them sleep in your bed, give them a pacifier…really anything that will make them happy.

 Parents know best

It is true that you develop a new respect for your parents and the job they did raising you when you become a parent. I can’t even count how many times I have called my mom for advice over this past year. I trust her advice/suggestions over a Google search any day. As a parent, knowing they raised 3 girls seems like they should have at some point gotten a MAJOR AWARD!

We’ve got a crier

I was never much of a crier until I become a mom. Now I can see a commercial about a baby and the tears start falling like the family pet just died. It is even for happy moments; the first time sawyer kissed me I broke down like a weeping child. Be prepared!

We’ve got a blowout!

Get used to being late. Right when you are about to walk out of the door, no fail either your

baby will have a blowout or meltdown, maybe both. Build in about 15-20 minutes of extra

time for the unexpected. If you have planned something in advance, it will change. I’m

learning how to fly by the seat of my pants.

SUC Training: Week 7

I truly believe motherhood has made me more dedicated and given me a better ability to juggle dozens of things at once. I have always been good at multitasking but being a mother takes it to a whole new level. This is particularly helpful while training for the Springfield Urban Adventure Race. Unlike the days before Sawyer, getting my training in isn't just going for a run.  I have to plan in advance who's watching Sawyer. I think is a huge benefit because it is much harder to back out when you involve other people (i.e. babysitter, grandma, father). That being said, my motto for this week taken from my the previously mentioned "Gandi’s 10 fundamentals for changing the world" , is to Persist.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” With only about 4 weeks left, I feel stronger and less afraid of completely this race!

Week 7 Plan:

Last night I ran 5 miles and I plan to do that 3 times this week. I am doing Body Pump tonight and plan to work in either Yoga or another weight training before the week is over. 

Sawyer's 1 Year Photos

The day before Sawyer's First Birthday we had a photo session with Jared with J Designs. It was one of our first times (besides his new born photos) trying an indoor shoot and Sawyer was running around all over his studio. Unfortunately, Sawyer didn't much care for the blue icing on his smash cake but I have to admit the ones of him screaming with it are still super cute! We even got some good outtakes of us trying to get the Superhero mask on him, he also wasn't a fan! You can tell he had just learned to clap because after every pose he would start clapping.

For all our photos, check out our share site HERE