I'm a runner

It's only been about 2 years since I chose running as my exercise of choice.  And honestly, I didn't really even like running then, it just happened that with triathlons you can't skip the third event, running.  I much more preferred swimming and biking.  In 2009 I completed two triathlons, and a couple other small running races, just for fun, with my mom. 
All the time I spent running for my training always felt like a chore, I ran because I had to. 
After I gained way too much weight during my pregnancy and realized that it wasn't coming off, I signed up for a half marathon.  I needed something that would force me get healthy.  I totally stalled my training.  I wasn't looking forward to hitting the pavement (or in most cases, the treadmill).  Grudgingly, but dutifully, I did eventually follow a training schedule.
Then, after 5 months of chore training, I finally realized that I looked forward to my runs. 
I started running just for fun on days when I had already done my scheduled training. 
I itched for Skylar to come home so I could take off without the jogging stroller.
And I look forward to Saturdays when I do my long runs. 
Today, I ran 11 miles, and it felt great.
My race is in two weeks, and I fully intend to continue a similar schedule after the race is over. 

I love running, and I've never felt better.

Baby Led Weaning (BLW)

This is Gracie at 7 months eating real food:

On that tray is sliced tomato, cucumber and strawberries.

I read about BLW on one of my natural parenting forums and it just sounded like the right thing to do.  So here's a little summary of what I've learned.

History of baby food: Feeding children pureed foods didn't start until around the 1950s when mother's started getting busy and less interested in breastfeeding and there was a boom in making processed foods, which people were super excited about.  Formula was created and the folks believed that man-made food was better than nature made food.  The thing is, while our modern formula still doesn't hold a candle to breastmilk, it wasn't even remotely as good then as it is now, so babies that were fed formula were extremely malnourished and had to get food from somewhere else.  So some parents had to start spoon feeding their 6 week old little ones pureed vegetables and fruits, because obviously they can't munch on a carrot stick as a newborn.  Of course a nourishment need became a marketable commodity, and viola, the invention of bottled baby food. 

What I've learned and experienced with BWL: When Gracie got old enough to be able to start trying foods other than milk, we got pretty excited.  I don't think anyone will argue with me that it's just fun to see your child grow up and experience life.  I found that spoon feeding Gracie seemed like more of a chore than it was enjoyable for either of us.
At this age, she gets all of her nutrients from milk anyway, so solid foods are really just for fun and practice; so why not have fun and practice eating real foods?  We started out really cautious, just letting her lick a piece of fruit or vegetable we were eating, but she started getting more aggressive and wanted it for herself.  So we started giving her her own pieces of food, and she loved it. 
At first the baby will just lick and suck on the food, they really don't get much from it, but it's fun for them to explore different textures and tastes.  When Gracie figured out that she can actually bite a piece of pear off, I got a little nervous, but, it turns out babies are still really smart and she'd just spit out the pieces.  Babies have a sensitive gag reflex, so normally their bodies won't let them swallow something that won't go down properly.  After a while, they get better and better at eating.  Gracie can now eat a whole strawberry, almost a whole piece of a pear, and most of anything I give her, depending on the texture.  She likes tomato slices because they are soft and she can gum them down and swallow much of it.  I've given her every fruit or vegetable that I have on my own plate and she does what she can with it.

Meal times are messy, but they're tons of fun.  I love that I know exactly what she's eating and don't have to wonder if it's really just mashed green beans in that glass bottle.  

After we eat, Gracie gets a bath in the sink, and she takes washing down her meal into her own hands.

Babies are more resilient than we give them credit for.  Unless there are known allergies in the family, or if the baby has health problems then you don't need to worry about giving one food at a time with a week in between introducing a new food like the doctors recommend.
The big no-nos for babies are salt (their kidneys can't handle it yet)  honey (there's risk of botulism) and sugar (obvious reasons). Cows milk shouldn't be given until the child is 1 year old, at which point it should be whole milk.  If you give your child juice it should be 1 part juice to 10 parts water. 

And that's just about all I know. 
One other bonus that we've enjoyed is Gracie's poops have become super regular which really helps with EC, so she hasn't had a poopy diaper in a long time.  I think we're both pretty happy about that.

The Big Three Oh

No it is not my birthday, and no I was not born in 1981.  I have lost 30 pounds. 
Thirty pounds.
That's a lot of weight. 
It's more than two Gracie's.
I fit into my skinny girl shorts today, of course I've got to slim down a little more for them to look good, but nevertheless, they fit.  I was shocked.
In addition, I ran the furthest distance of my life today.  8.5 miles.  It was a little slow, but I didn't stop or walk. 
I'd call that some serious progress.