mile 20, or should I say week 30

I am sure many of my readers out there think my life is one big running analogy! Maybe it is?  But for me, for sure no question, being pregnant, has felt very similar to training for and running a marathon.  Its been an incredible experience, but has taken a lot of time and mental and physical energy to prepare for.  Also there are WAY too many books on the topic!

However, I have found 3 worth recommending (if there are any others worth knowing about I am up for suggestions)

I eased into the book reading because I was in the middle of a school year, it was too much information tooo quickly, and it turned into information overload.  I began with the classic

1) What to Expect when you are Expecting.  Just enough information to get to started in the right direction, confirm to you that you in reality are not crazy, but it doesn't go in depth on any one topic or concern.  Then a month or so ago I eased into another book, (courtesy of Shelley Adams) entitled

2) Spiritual Midwifery a fantastic read published sometime in the 1970s, Aaron and I got lots of laughs while I shared bits and pieces of this book because of the old fashion language, but also lots of great take home stuff/ comfort/ etc.  However, my new favorite and the book I really want aaron to read (much to his chagrin) is

3) Hyponobirthing.  This book has been empowering to me and something I think I would like to give all my pregnant friends, though I am sure many of them wouldn't resonate with this book at all.  It talks about the history of labor through time and culturally.  It also talks about the "curse" of labor supposedly given to Eve, was not actually being a curse at all but a beautiful gift from God.  It encourages meditation and relaxation techniques to be used through the process of pregnancy to avoid the "pains" of labor. 

When I am not reading pregnancy books you can also find me reading a few others (hooray for summer!) the classic Lord of the Rings trilogy is currently being devoured as well as a daily devotional Whiter than Snow.  And because of a mix of being pregnant and this book the last few weeks I have really been hung up on the idea of enough.

And what a strange looking word!  This week I had enough of school (we graduated our seniors a week ago!) but not enough energy for anything else, just ask Aaron.  And I hope I feel that one semester off is enough time with baby, who is now 3 pounds and measures in the 60th percentile in size.  I hope I feel like I have enough of what it takes to be a rockin mom!  I hope that each day I have the right amount of enough and know what to do and how to handle what I don't. 

Here is a quote from a book I was reading that spurred on my mediation on enough:

"Enough is the persistent problem this side of eternity.  Enough is what we seldom seem to get right.  Enough is what trips us up, again and again.  Enough is one of our deepest sources of trouble.  Enough is what we find such difficulty in being satisfied with.  Although the definition is different for each of us, the struggle with our enough is that it tends to keep expanding.  And when it does, we never seem to have enough."

Okay that is enough!

And here is a picture of me at 29 weeks (not 30, but close enough!)  I'll try to remember to take another one today to document mile 20, oops I mean the 3 quarters of the way to babydom mark! :)

Just the 4 of us

Well the past few Sitka weekends have been AMAZING, spring has finally arrived, at least for now until it snows again.  Today it is 50 degrees and sunny.  To put that in perspective to our down south family and friends the equivalent is 75 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze, warm but not hot, and refreshing.  Both of the last 2 weekends Aaron has found himself in a place where he can take off his shirt and soak in the sun.  Maybe a little too soon for me, but I am hopeful.  Today it was a warm sunny beach off a small island northwest of town, where neither Aaron or I had ever been.  Last weekend it was on the tip top of Gaven hill (Mnt.) snowshoeing.

 Above: Puffin's first day at sea (in our kayak, she's been on the skiff), below: one soggy dog!

On both of these excursions we brought our growing family, in the past 6 months we have doubled in numbers!  (Not in weight however, Puffin is right at 26# and baby just a pound and a half!)  Today the four of us were particularly adorable in our double kayak.  We didn't know how Puffin would take it, not being much of a water dog and being placed in the the center console.  Right before we landed on our island she accidentally fell out.  She swam for a while before Aaron scooped her out by her collar.  It was really cute and she handled the whole situation better than we had expected.  And boy did she like scoping out the island.  Every 5 or 10 minutes she would come back to make sure we were still around and then she'd trot off to do more exploring.  We didn't know if we'd get her back in the boat, but she loves us too much to be left behind so she begrudgingly (Aaron had to pick her up and place her back in) joined us back in the boat for the paddle home.  

Aaron and Puff, Puff is a much happier dog in the snow than on the water!

And I'm pretty happy in the snow too, maybe more so than Puff

I love my husband

...and Puffin "butterscotch" Routon!

pregnancy = barefoot in the kitchen

Well,

We are officially 20 weeks into pregnancy #1..., only 4 more to go after this according to Aaron, enough for a basketball team!  I'm feeling great, the weather has been co-operating so the adventure factor has been high, therefor the need for nutrients has been growing.

My first trimester of pregnancy I tried to be the fruits and vegetables guru of the world.  I had menu planning down and Aaron and I were official health fanatics.  Then I realized that I was human, busy and menu planning turned back into grab and go, one week Aaron innocently said "he was sick of bread"

Meaning: we were failing in the food department again.

Recently we've been re-inspired, maybe it is our inspirational baking friend David who makes avocado chocolate cake, maybe it is my new favorite food blog, or my tirelessly cooking blogging friend Jeannie and her sister, or the recipes my Aunt Bird sends me snail mail.  Whatever it is Aaron's belly has been grateful for my new inspiration, and so has "baby bump" Routon, who according to the ultrasound from yesterday is 11 ounces, the length of a banana and in the 45th percentile for weight!

This is what we had this morning...

 Scrambled Egg Tartines with Spiced Rainbow Chard
We used Aaron's homemade garlic herb bread for the base.

  It reminded my of my favorite Brunch spot in Asheville, NC, Sunny Point, except for no line!  Isn't Aaron happy eating it!  Too bad for Puffin, she's only allowed dog food!

 Brunch has been a favorite these days... here you find rainbow potatoes and slow pan fried scrambled eggs... Delish!

I included my two new favorite veggies in this meal 1) cauliflower, which I just roasted in the oven 2) kale, in this case I pureed it and then sprinkled a little goat cheese on top for a yummy, super easy dinner!

More fun with cauliflower...and kale actually! :)

And what might one do with all of these ingredients?

Why, make raw brownies of coarse!

I have included my uncle Tom's recipe because this is too delicious just to look at.
 He introduced us to them this summer in their home in Madison, when my Aunt Bird was on a crazy fruit, nut and vegetable diet, though we reaped the benefits with this recipe find!

1c. of nuts (I used walnuts and almonds because that is what I had)

1c. dates

1/4c. raw cocoa powder

1 teas. of vanilla

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

sea salt

Put in food processor and eat!

***************

And now we present to you "baby" Routon...

  Who I think sure looks a lot like "dad!"

Here is the best of 12 photos we took on the official week 20 mark, I apparently am not able to take photos well these days!

belly, baby and the sweetest doggy!

Well, my winter running has continued despite my lack of posts.  However, they have slowed.  Today I reached a new record slow speed of 59 mins. for a 5.2 mile run.  I think I am going to quit starting my watch when I go outside.  I used to, back just a few months ago, be able to run 3 additional miles in that amount of time.  I told Aaron today after the run if I hit the 60 minute mark I might quit, therefor the watch needs to come off.  Dad told me today I needed to give myself some grace. 

A lot has happened since my last post, we got a dog and I got a belly.  This Thursday I officially meet the 18 week, 4 month pregnancy mark!  Yes, those who thought this day would never come, it is official, I am pregnant!  Here is a picture that Aaron snapped of me hanging out with Puffin, whom is the best puppster this side of the Mississippi, (Harry and Pepe are the best dogs east of the Mississippi).  It was taken Thursday.  Puffin has been a great motivator for my snowy, windy, rainy and cold February runs.  Aaron has also been helpful.  Today when I was feeling under motivated he told me I could either a) go garage saling with him (yes, this is one of Aaron's favorite past times and no I have never joined him) or b) go for a run.  I haven't been to a garage sale since desperation struck nearly 6 years ago when I moved here and didn't have a bed, mattress or anything for that matter and Emily and I were forced to join the intense Sitka garage sale circuit, on bicycle... wild stories there!  My favorite was the lamp shade we tied to the back of Em's backpack.  By the time we got home, we had to put the lamp in the corner and turn the lamp shade around so the holes that were punctured in the shade wouldn't show. 

So, needless to say, run it was.  At least I guess you could call it that? 

Other people haven't, here are some quotes I heard this week from people who have seen me out "running":

1) "Mrs. Routon, I saw you out running yesterday.  Your dog runs slow!"

2) "So you're still out running huh?  Your not quite as quick as you used to be (awkward silence), your huh, steady though."

So now I am steady.  But we all know how the phrase goes, SLOW and steady. 

I know that it is just a season, I think I am realizing that my running speed is just a minor sacrifice of many sacrifices ahead.  I am grateful that I am still out and still able to go running.  I am grateful that I have an adorable puppy dog and amazing husband that will still go out with me and push through the elements.  So bring on this new season! 

more on winter running!

Wow, these winter running stories just keep coming!  I just finished reading two of my friends blogs on being mole like and hiding inside for winter.  I too have been much less active than I have EVER been in any winter.  The days seem so much shorter now, especially working 8 to 4:30, through all the sunlight of the day and then walking or biking home in total darkness. Hooray for the upcoming solstice!

However, thanks to Aaron at least 1 day a week, I am pulled out of the house for an afternoon, pitch black dark, trail run.  This weeks run was more fun than ever however because Aaron and I found ourselves turning off our headlamps, at 5pm, and running in the light of the moon!  Since the trail was covered in snow and the moon and stars were out we weren't in need of our usually necessary headlamps.  At one point we were running hand in hand by the light of the moon, ahhhh how sweet!  I love that man!

Second crazy winter run experience was Sunday morning and much less romantic.  At my normal 8 am pop out of bed weekend wake up time, I laced up and hit the trail.  I was so excited because not only was it beautiful outside but the trail was still runnable, not too much snow pile up yet.  Everyone was out, shoveling their driveways because of the fresh 2 or 3 inch new dusting of snow.  Like the previous snowy runs of the winter I followed deer trails onto the trail and when the access trail hit the main trail I noticed another sort of tracks, much larger than the previous set of tracks, BEAR!  What?  No way, I couldn't believe it, but when I heard a rustling in the bushes, believe it I did.  I high tailed it out of the trail, right back to the road, where I decided to plug in a few more miles before heading home.  So much for a dreamy white trail run, that would have to wait for another day. 

let it snow!

In Sitka snow is not a guarantee.  The winter typically isn't cold enough for snow and the few days a year the temperature drops below freezing means the insulating clouds have lifted.  We get gobs of snow on the mountain peeks, but our coastal town rarely sees snow down low.  This week however the snow kept coming.  Each morning I'd jump up to check the weather: is the snow still on the ground? did we get any new snow? has it started raining yet?  And the answer was the same: yes, yes, no... Then I'd check the temperature to see what would happen if precipitation came and cross my fingers that by some miracle it would keep snowing.  Luckily enough today, a week after the had begun  to fall, we had accumulated quite a base of more than a foot of fluffy white powder!

So when I peeked out of the windows this morning and the snow was still there I was lulled out of bed by the thought of my x-country skiing dream actually becoming a reality.  Next, I rushed to our weather station, 29 degrees!  Hallelujah, that was absolutely perfect for a x-country ski!  I was the first person on the snowy trail this morning following deer tracks as I meandering up and down a white wonderland.  It might be my only x-country ski of the year, but it sure was delightful while it lasted!

winter running

I am so proud of my dad, formally known as a fair weather runner, he just recently called me to let me know that he would be running through the winter this year.  He was curious to know about any hot tips I had, in terms of gear he should accumulate.  At first I had a nice chuckle to myself wondering what winter weather he was talking about living in sunny South Carolina, then I shared. 

Today on my snowy trail run I was wondering how my dad is enjoying winter running.  I can find nothing more refreshing.  Plus it helps keep the sprirts high when the darkness is creeping in and everyone else is just bundled up under blankets by the fire waiting for summer. And while running you produce your own body heat and get to have a rewarding hot shower.  It is so rejuvenating, especially compared to stuffy gyms.  Also, the fresh air component is huge!  However, proper gear makes all the difference.  Here is my list of the best of winter running:

1.  A light weight beanie or toboggan.  Experts say 80% of your body heat is lost from your head, this is an essential, nothing more is needed.  And the good news is, it's easy to pack away if and when you get to warm. 

2. A base layer for your legs.  I don't ever break this out until it is below freezing, any warmer and I find I just get too overheated.  For less competitive runners, or people who feel like they're wearing underwear with the base layer, I advise light weight pants with a leg zips for easy on/off over shoe needs. 

3.  Mittens, mittens are better than gloves for multiple reasons, the main being you can ball up your hands for extra warmth.  Also, if your hands do get sweaty, you've got extra breathing space. 

4.  A light weight long sleeve with a thumb hole and a front zip.  I say light weight for economical reasons, you can always layer it with a short sleeve shirt under it if it is really cold.  So if you are going to buy just one long sleeve shirt, make sure it isn't too thick.  Also the thumb hole is essential to insure that you keep that cold air out of your hands.  The front zip is to help regulate your body temperature. 

5.  And fifth and finally socks!  Socks are often overlooked, but key to a happy winter run.  Make sure your socks are tall enough so that your base layer will cover them with no open skin. 

And this can't be a blog post about running without excert on running shoes, if you want to take care of yourself and body and you are planning on logging miles regularly, it is worth it to go to a running store and have them look at your feet and one or two shoes that will work for you.  Then buy that exact shoe for the rest of your life! Also don't bother with those hip cool looking trail shoes.  As a trail runner I've found they just aren't built to last like road shoes. 

Happy snowy trails!