Catching Up With a Virtual Coffee Date

Let’s catch up. The dust has settled (kind of) on my transition from the corporate world to full-time mom with a part-time job. Marathon training is in full swing. Summer is over (wahh!) and the days are much shorter than our last coffee date.

Right now I’m sipping a pretty sad cup of coffee flavored with just a bit of unsweetened almond milk. I just started my one-week sugar detox group my beloved coffee creamer is not allowed (honey, in moderation is, but I don’t have any right now – grocery shopping happening later!). I normally like to live on the principle of “everything in moderation” but it’s always interesting and fun to challenge myself to short bouts of extreme to reset and create awareness of the habits I’ve built. Since I’ve been home, I’ve been generously pouring myself more coffee than normal and using more sweetened coffee creamer than usual as well. I’ve also developed a habit of looking for my favorite gelato on sale at Target and justifying buying two pints every time it is.

I’ve been home with Siena over a month now. Where does time go!? We’re starting to settle into a routine and a groove, but each day is different. The first week or so I was a bit overwhelmed with everything I had on my to-do list and was pretty scatter brained, but things have gotten better. Like any new job, it takes some time to get into a routine and figure it all out. It has been nice to be in pretty much complete control of when I work (actually, Siena has control over a lot of that as well so I can’t say it’s all me!). I work pretty much every day, including the weekends, and most evenings as well. I work just a few hours during the day and the amount of time varies depending on whether or not I decide to get up early to get in my workout or if I do it during her nap. I try not to work at all while Siena is awake besides quickly checking in with my challenge groups or posting to social media. Siena’s two naps in total tend to add up to anywhere from 3-4.5 hours so the range of time I have to get things done varies. Mike’s mom comes once a week on Tuesdays to watch Siena between her two naps so that gives me nearly a full day to get things done, though I always get less done than I think I will. Overall, I’m really loving the new role(s) and every day I’m thankful to have this opportunity to spend so much time with Siena.

Every day Siena and I get out of the house at a least once. We are fortunate to have many libraries near us with free activities for infants and toddlers, so there is something to do every day. I’m also lucky to have several friends who either work part time or stay home, so Siena has a lot of friends to meet up with. While it’s still warm, I try to take Siena to the beach at least once a week. She really loves the ocean! We also head to local playgrounds, including one we can easily walk to, Target, Trader Joe’s and go for runs or walks along the coast using the BOB. I just signed her up for gymnastics class on Wednesdays with her friend Emi – she loves to climb so this is the perfect place for her (the membership also includes free open gym four days a week!).

As for my life outside of Siena, I’m working on it! I was invited to a moms night out by a new friend and really enjoyed the time away. When I worked full time I was hesitant to do much without Siena on nights and weekends but now I welcome the break! Mike and I got away this past weekend to attend a wedding which was held in Mission Bay, the same area that our wedding was held three years ago. We decided to make it a little mini-anniversary getaway and stayed at the waterfront hotel and spent some additional time together before and after the wedding. Nana and Boo watched Siena for her second ever night way from both of us.

Another fun development is that I am currently planning a trip to see Asia during her travels! Her parents have booked their trip to see her in Costa Rica over Christmas, so I am going to try to meet her there in early January. Mike and I are still working on logistics, but I’d probably only go for about five days. Of course Zika is in the back of my mind a little (the affordable flight price definitely reflects the fears of others!) but we are probably going to head to the mountains where mosquitos are less prevalent. And of course we will be taking the recommended time away from baby making after I return. Number two will have to wait a bit. I can’t wait to see my best friend and catch up on life! She is doing so well (read her blog to catch up with her!) and I’m so happy that she made this leap.

As for marathoning, the desire to BQ is back. I know I’m not in shape to do it at New York but I have my sights set on next Spring for another attempt. I’ve wanted to run the Mountains to Beach marathon for a few years now and I’m thinking 2017 will be the perfect opportunity to do it (even though if I wait until Fall of 2017 I will get 5 more minutes since I will be 35 on race day of 2019). I’ve been considering seeking coaching but more on that later.  

I’m also having a major itch to race lately! There just really isn’t a good opportunity for me to do so before New York, so there will be no tune up race for me. I had considered running the Long Beach Half next weekend but honestly the logistics are too much. I need my sleep too much. And I also don’t want to spend any time tapering and recovering. I tried searching for a convenient 5k but even that didn’t work out. I usually race every 1-2 months and the itch is real!

In other news, I have not had as much time to listen to podcasts lately but I was really sad to hear that Running on Om had it’s last show! Julia has other interests that she is going to pursue. I was sad to hear it but totally understand. Podcasts are a lot of work without a lot of reward.

For my Big Brother fans (spoiler alert), I was pretty shocked but the winner this year (I thought Paul deserved to win) but thrilled that it was a woman. It was the first time EVER in Big Brother history (18 seasons) that a female has won over a male in the final 2. I hope that the same precedent can be set by Hilary in November (anyone else think that the debate was just hard to watch!?).

Enough politics. That’s what is happening with me.

What’s new with you? Have you ever run Mountains to Beach? Have you been to Arenal in Costa Rica and do you have any recommendations for me? Would you to go Central/South America despite Zika?