Christmas Miracle

Lately we have been trying a new sleeping schedule for Carter, hoping to get him sleeping through the night. For the past 8 months he has slept through the night 3 times, while all other times waking up every 2 to 3 hours. Enough is enough! We began by reading a great book called Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, (thanks to Val for letting me borrow it) and putting it's practices to work right away. Carter was put on a strict sleeping schedule as we discovered that he was so overly exhausted that he just couldn't sleep well. 

First we began comforting him whenever he woke up crying at night until he went back to sleep, but then the more I read in the book, the more Scott and I decided that we needed to stop going to him when he cries and just let him cry it out. It would be doing him a favor by letting him figure out how to put himself back to sleep on his own instead of relying on us. We had tried this before, but was never consistent and would end up arguing and going in sane lying in bed listening to him. So we thought that it would be a better idea to just get up and watch tv or a movie until he put himself back to sleep. Two nights ago he woke up at 3:20am (which was actually pretty good for him) and we drug ourselves into the living room and watched Conan O'Brien and the news for 40 minutes until he went to sleep. It was great as instead of getting angry and snapping at each other, we were laughing and actually having a good time. 

Last night, we were expecting the same thing, but lo and behold, it was a miracle. He went to bed at 7pm and didn't wake up until 5am! I did wake up around 3am expecting him to cry at any minute, but, silence. If he keeps this up, it will be a true Christmas miracle (besides the TRUE Christmas miracle of Jesus). Way to go Carter!

Now, some cute pictures of my son.

Cute pics Daddy took

One of my faves

Evan wrapped him in newspaper and he was thrilled

He likes to play with our shoes

Future Marathoner? No.

With Scott training for the Redding marathon, I have lately felt that my squats, sit-ups, and pushups are just not cutting it. I mean he's out there running 18 miles at a time while I'm at home doing three reps of 15. Big whoop! So yesterday Scott was going for another run and we decided that I would give running a mile a try. I know your probably thinking, "A mile? That's all?" But to a woman who can't even remember the last time she's gone for a jog/run, a mile is a HUGE deal. We headed to the trails and I first walked the loop with Carter while Scott finished his tempo run and then we headed out. 

I felt pretty good in the beginning, then the little hills appeared (which if you really know me, you know I hate hills). I was able to continue running up them both without stopping, but then I mentally let them ruin the rest of the mile. Over and over in my head I kept hearing, "I can't do this, I have to stop and walk". Scott was trying hard to get me to keep going, but my stubborn self gave in and stopped to walk. The rest of the mile (oh, did I mention it actually wasn't even a full mile) consisted of running/walking but at the end I sped it up to get it over with and finished. I only walked for maybe 10 to 15 seconds total, but nonetheless felt very defeated and quite out of shape. Now, I love my sweet husband very deeply, but I thought he would have been a better coach to his little wife than he was. I tell myself that I maybe could have run the whole thing if Scott wasn't saying over and over that, "We are almost there, but that's the worst part because that's when it starts to really hurt." Is that something you really want to be hearing, that's going to keep you running while your body is in pain??? And then be told on the drive home that you threw the towel in too early??? My fellow women and wives....would that make you want to go back out there and give it another shot? I know he thought he was being encouraging, so I had to gently tell him otherwise and he apologized. I still hate running and don't think I will ever really make it a routine, as I enjoy speed walking much better. Maybe I'll give it another shot and try it on a track where there are no hills next time. 

Yes, I felt out of shape and defeated, but I gained that back last night. Before we went to bed, Scott and I decided to have a little competition to see who could do the chair sitting/squatting against the wall (if you know what those are called I would like to know). Scott could only make it for 1 minute 40 seconds while I on the other hand was feeling great and could stay there much longer. I won!! I think it's the competition that gives me strength. I don't know if anyone remembers me doing 90 some pushups at a time for a young married's competition coming in second out of the women while I can only do about 15 at a time any other given day. It's a mystery how my mind tricks me at times into tackling those physical things. Too bad it doesn't work with running (or hiking as my Tyler family knows too well). :) 

Joined the Club

So I finally decided that it was time to begin my own blogging journey along with my husband, mother-in-law, aunt, and multiple friends. The past few weeks I would find great entertainment in reading others blogs and then find that I was not able to share my thoughts along with everyone else. Although it is quite frightening to think that everyone can begin reading into my mind, I think that it will give me the rejuvenation that a new mother's soul needs. Being at home all day with my adorable, almost 8 month old son, can become difficult without adult conversation (I know other mom's can agree), so I believe that this will provide an illusion of adult interaction on those days I feel confined to the 800 square footage of apartment living. I'm excited to learn and share with others through this journey of blogging.