13.1

I ran a half marathon! I am so proud of myself. I have never been a runner, and when I started about a year ago, I could hardly run for 5 minutes at a time. I only ran to get in shape and lose baby weight, but I consistently ran 3 days a week, and slowly increased the distance I could run. I remember being so happy when I ran 2 miles straight for the first time. Then 4. And when I first ran 6, I signed up for our 10k, and that was as far as I was going to go. Rob could do his half marathon, but I was content with having done my race and keeping my Monday long runs at 6 miles. Until one day I felt great and did 8. Then a few weeks later, 10. After running 12 miles a few weeks ago, I decided I was ready for the challenge and I signed up for the Tri-Cities Half Marathon.

The race went really well! We arrived in Tri-Cities the day before and checked out the course and it was extremely windy and freezing and I was so nervous! We had a carb-filled dinner with Amber and Steve at Olive Garden, and spent the night at Cory and Minnie's house. The morning of the race was still freezing, but the wind had fortunately died down. 

Trying to stay warm

Ready to go

We all lined up and when the race started, it was a little bit slow since I was behind so many people and we didn't have time chips. I warmed up very quickly and felt comfortable running at a faster pace than normal, probably because of the excitement. Usually the first 3 or 4 miles are hard for me to push through, but I really felt great from the start. Near the turn-around point between miles 6 and 7, Rob and Collin were there with Amber and Eli to cheer me on!

It started to get hard around mile 10, when I started thinking about the finish line. It seemed so close, but I still had 3 miles to go and those were hard to push through! Miles 10 to 12 were the hardest, but the last mile went by pretty quickly.

It was the best feeling to finally cross the finish line! I had seriously been looking forward to that moment ever since I decided to do a half marathon. Although, as soon as I stopped running, every part of my body hurt like crazy, which I hadn't considered in all my daydreams about how great it would feel. But still, I'd just run the farthest of my life, and I finished faster than my goal!

Last stretch!

Finished

My overall pace was 10:37 and my time was just under 2 hours and 20 minutes. I know it's not a competitive pace in the racing world, but still faster than I usually run my long runs, and I've never run for speed. Distance was the goal, and I did it! Completing the half marathon was a huge accomplishment for me, one that I never would have thought I could do. But I'm so happy I did!

Keeping Busy

School is back in session and we are back into our routines. We have been trying to enjoy these winter months by keeping our schedules filled with fun outings. We got a zoo membership, started going to story time at the library, and have had fun get-togethers with friends.  

Collin is growing up so fast. He is almost 17 months now, and has learned so much in the last couple of months! I understand why parents always think their kid is a genius. It's so amazing to watch him learn to do something he couldn't do the day before. He started out as a tiny newborn who couldn't do much, and has quickly turned into a little person who can run around and understand words and communicate. It blows my mind how he can learn to speak words or mimic things I do. It's because he is a genius. Here are some things he's learned lately:

• He can do the sign for "more." We had attempted to teach him this a long time ago, but didn't try that hard. Then after not trying for a few weeks, one day I asked if he wanted more of something and he did the sign on his own! Now he does the sign and says "me!"
• He can say the following words: ball ("ba!"), kitty ("deedee"), binky ("beebee"), more ("me"), ducky ("dagaa"), cheese ("szees"), uh-oh, shoes ("szoos"), fish ("ish"), panda ("babaa"), peas ("bee"), bus ("bu-ye"), peek-a-boo ("ga-gaa!"), and of course Daddy and Mama. He also mimics and says the first sound of words often.
• He is good at following directions when we ask him to bring us something, put it back, shut the door, throw it away, stand up/sit down, go down the slide, etc, or ask him where something is. He also knows when I ask him to bring me a diaper, but he ignores that one and tries to run away.
• He helps me with the laundry. I give him clothes and he throws them in the washer/dryer.
• He is still a good eater and his new favorite snack is frozen peas. He gets so excited to see them and clears his tray and asks for more over and over again. He doesn't care much about sweets yet (he must take after Rob). He also loves to climb on the chairs and help himself to any food that's left on the table. 
• He sometimes gives kisses, which is the sweetest thing ever.
• He thinks it's hilarious to tickle people. Also he thinks it's hilarious to knock over the block towers Rob builds. 
• He is a little bit obsessed with our friends' cat. I think he knows how to get to their apartment from ours. When we go inside, he rushes to find the "deedee!" He loves playing with the kitty, but I don't think the feeling is mutual. :)
• He's starting to love books and his very favorite is called "Hooray for Fish!" Several times a day, he picks that book from the shelf and hands it to one of us saying "ish!" and sits in our lap. 
• While he used to just pull all the DVDs off the shelf all day long, now he only goes for one: The Simpsons Movie. He's never seen it, but no matter where we put it on the shelf, he finds it and pulls it out.

Here's a video of him doing the sign to ask for more peas. With a surprise ending! haha.

He thought it was hilarious to throw my keys down the slide one day. He has the best laugh!

And now an overload of pictures from January and February.

Zoo day

We had a little gourmet grilled cheese night with some friends who were here during the break. Complete with a menu Rob came up with.

This boy learned early how to put olives on his fingers.

He loves this slide.

We had a little snow one day in January. Collin just walked around with his hands out, and cried when it was time to go inside.

Playing with the bubbles at the library story time.

Collin came down with Bronchiolitis and we had to give him breathing treatments. He got a hold of it one day and kept pulling my face towards him and sticking it on me.

Asian night! With our awesome friends who served Asian missions, and. . . us. The Ottos brought a Korean dish, the Wallaces brought Thai food, and we made the sushi.

We also made some dessert sushi cupcakes!

Collin and his friend Adam

Chiro dads! Rob, Nathan, and Reed with their boys.

Hooray for Fish!

After putting his sweatshirt on him one morning, he insisted on wearing his other jacket as well.

Cupcake!

We went on our Valentine's date the Saturday before, since Rob had midterms all week. We went out to dinner and went to our stake's sweetheart ball. It brought us back to our old stake dance days and I loved it!

Kari and I made cupcakes on V-day, with plans to surprise our husbands with them at school. That did not happen. But they were delicious anyway!

Enjoying his Valentine's treat from Daddy.

2011

I think 2011 was the best year I've had so far. It was full of fun, family, and happiness.

We had so many vacations and family gatherings that there was always something fun to look forward to!

• A move in March to our current home.
• Visits throughout the year: Rob's parents, my dad, Dan and Kim, Amber and Steve, and Reuben all came to our home this year.
• A Salt Lake trip in July (just Collin and me).
• Reuben and Dana's wedding in Ohio, where I was able to go, along with my parents and all my siblings.
• Our DC/PA/NY trip that we had been looking forward to for so long!
• Collin's first birthday
• Katie and Justin's wedding in Washington, where all my family was in the temple together.
• Our first Thanksgiving and Christmas on our own, in our home.

We have been so blessed this year! Rob loves being a student, and I love being a stay-at-home mom. We love each other, and we love our boy. We love our home; we feel peace here. And we love the Gospel, and everything that comes with it.

We have made lots of new friends this year. We're so lucky to be surrounded by so many good, fun people.

We didn't make any New Year's Resolutions at the beginning of 2011, but I feel like we have accomplished or improved on any goal we would have made. We have worked hard, and improved on many aspects of our lives, and this has brought us so much happiness. Here are a few resolutions that we didn't set, but that we are proud to have accomplished this year:

• Running. Rob trained hard for and ran a half marathon. I reached my goal of running 10 miles straight a few weeks ago, and did it again today. We have loved getting in shape this year and have accomplished things we never would have thought we could do.
• I gained a lot of confidence in the kitchen. Before we had Collin, I always worked into the evenings and never had time to really learn how to cook a variety of meals. I tried tons of new recipes this year, including a whole month of only vegetarian recipes, and got into good habits of planning ahead to have dinner ready at a normal time each day. 
• Scripture study. Both of us have improved in our efforts to have personal scripture study in our daily routine. 
• School. Rob has done a great job of balancing school, church, workouts, and donating plasma for extra money. He is always busy, yet he takes on lots of responsibilities when he is at home as well. He is the best husband, and dad to Collin.
• Collin has learned a lot this year too. . . I think if there was one resolution I would have made for him at the beginning of 2011, it would have been for him to become a good sleeper. And he has! :)

I hope that in the future, I can remember that I am the happiest when I am putting forth effort to improve and progress, and when I spend my time doing things that are worthwhile. This year has been nothing but happy! So thankful for everything we have received this year. Excited to see what 2012 will bring!

December fun and Holidays!

 Lots of fun festivities in December! 

The month started with the UWS Holiday Gala, which was an evening cruise along the river. It was so much fun! 

With the Kings and the Andersons

Collin continued to be as cute as always and started to love playing in boxes. His hair is still crazy and fluffy most of the time.

We went to see the Zoo Lights!

Collin loved the lights and kept pointing at them.

I made us some family stockings! And when I say "made," I mean that I bought plain ones and hot glued felt designs on them. Some day I'll learn how to sew nice ones :)

 

On Christmas Eve, we walked along Peacock Lane, a cute neighborhood that's famous for every house having lots of Christmas lights. 

Collin pointed at all the lights here, too.

Collin looked cute in his funny Christmas pajamas.

Christmas morning! Collin got a slide, which he spent most of the morning playing on, and didn't care much about opening other presents. We loved spending Christmas at home together this year! We had a quiet morning listening to Christmas music and opening presents and watching Collin play with his toys.

We made the most delicious muffins of my life- pumpkin cream cheese, recipe found from Kim's pinterest :) 

Collin took a break from sliding to pose for a picture with his bedroom art Lindsey made for him.

Cuddling with his new pillow pet

He also loves dumping out his mega blocks!

Christmas dinner. So maybe we like taking pictures of our most delicious meals, okay?

Christmas aftermath

A green Christmas bath

We celebrated our 3 year anniversary on the 27th. We went out to a nice dinner to celebrate. 

 We headed to Sunnyside for New Year's weekend. I only got a few random pictures, but we had a lot of fun visiting with Rob's family. Cory and Minnie threw a great New Year's Eve party at their house.

Collin loved Tiffanie and Jeff's dog. He even tasted some of her food when no one was looking.

He also loved his cousin Janai!

Cute picture of Collin and his Grandma Grimmer

Our family with Rob's parents