Workout log for last two weeks

Last week I ran Monday (30 min), Tues (32 min), Thurs (35 min ) and Fri (41 min). This week I ran Mon (45 min) and Wed (43 min). I biked Tuesday and today (46 min each time) and did upper-body weights. My run on Monday felt pretty good, but my run Wed. felt terrible, although the weather was much more pleasant than the usual thick humidity. I was just tired all day, so I took Thursday off (and subsequently ate too much--weird how exercise suppresses my appetite). Tomorrow a morning run is on the agenda.

Exercising Postpartum

I've been itchin' for a switchin' and now I'll probably be hurtin' for certain.

I tried running last Thursday. It didn't go so well. I went about 1.5 minutes on the treadmill and had to stop because my lower abs hurt so badly. I got on the bike and felt pretty good riding, though I sweated like a hog--even more like a hog than usual, if you can believe that. I went less than 20 minutes total. I've been sneaking in stomach crunches and push-ups, and though I'm weak, it feels SO good to work my muscles some. I've had to mentally coach myself into why resting after giving birth is so important. I worked out hard for my entire pregnancy, had less than 2 hours of labor, gave birth (ouch!), and after a day or two mentally felt like I should be right back out there hitting the pavement. But what I have had to come to grips with is the fact that I'm not just recovering from the day I gave birth; I'm recovering from 9 months of major change in my body. Everything has to get put back together, so to speak. And it doesn't happen over-night.

Today, I tried running again. I loaded up Eli, Asher, and Finley in the van (Brandt is at the farm with my parents) along with the jogging stroller and Asher and Eli's bikes and drove to a big parking lot in the sports complex. While the boys rode around, I pushed Finley in the stroller. She was perfectly content as long as I was moving. I ran 30 minutes total and felt very good. We'll see how I feel tomorrow...

Finley's Photo Shoot

Grethel Van Epps (http://www.gvephotography.com/) and Ashley Warren's (http://www.ashleywarrenstudios.com/) photo shoot yesterday with Finley was amazing. They were so patient and gentle working with such a fragile--and somewhat temperamental-- subject. And it was a MUGGY day. But they didn't rush things to get to the comforts of air-conditioning. And their work paid off with some incredible shots.

Pictures of Finley Coming

I haven't yet posted pics of our new little sweetness because I am waiting to post the ones taken by my friend, Grethel Van Epps. She kindly offered to photograph Finley as part of a photography workshop she is teaming up with another Birmingham photographer to do. Finley's first modelling job!! (and her dad says her last :)--already so protective))

I first met Grethel about 5 yrs ago. I came to swim at her pool with someone I had met who was a mutual friend. At the time, Grethel hadn't started her photography career. She also only had one child. Now she has 3 beautiful children who are probably the most photographed kids on earth--and every picture is a masterpiece! She is seriously an INCREDIBLE artist who is constantly improving.
And being a marketing consultant myself, I have been impressed at Grethel's marketing skills. She fully utilizes all the marketing media to advertise and promote her business in a way that draws her target audience in (Advertising 101: Babies sell.), and in ways that are, I'm sure, cost-effective (facebook, blogs, charities).
I had the opportunity to see some of her very first sessions a few years ago. They were impressive. I would have recommended her to a friend back then. However, she has improved 10-fold since then. Now I would insist that anyone looking for a lifestyle photographer for their family use Grethel--she is just THAT good. See for yourself :
Her website: www.gvephotography.com
Her blog: www.gvephotography.com/blog
Enjoy! And look for little Finley pics to come soon!!

What you get when you cross an Artist and an Engineer

Uncle Winston

We visited Uncle Winston and Aunt Dorothy a few weeks ago to surprise Uncle Winston on his 94th birthday. Eli and I were the only ones who came from our family (we came with my parents and Melyssa and her girls), and Eli and Uncle Winston really had a nice time chatting. Eli favors (for you Northerners and Westerners, that means he looks like) Uncle Winston, and it was fun to see the two of them spending time chatting. He told Eli stories about when he swam across the Mississippi River, about being a golden-gloves boxer, and about being in the war. Eli had heard that Uncle Winston was a welder, so he soldered a creation for him for his birthday present.

Preggo me

I know I'm late in posting a picture of me pregnant, but better late than never. This was a week or so before Finley's birth.