5 states

What do you get when you have a 6 month old and one parent on a plane? Eleanor and Brandi!

Eleanor and I took our first plane ride alone last weekend. We flew to Mississippi to visit some old friends. It was a great trip, so good to see my friend Julie, Paul and baby Annie Grace. I had never been to Jackson, and was really impressed with how it was laided out. Now, I am not smarter than a 5th grader though.
As we were landing, I was engaged in conversation with a lady sitting next to me who was flying home, Jackson, that is. I asked, "what is the capital of Mississippi." She looked at me crazyly as if I didn't know how to even read. She replied "Jackson, sweetheart, where have you been (please re-read with a Southern accent). There was nothing I could do but laugh at myself.

Eleanor is 6 months old as of October 15th. She has been on two plane rides and 5 states. Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Texas. I will say that she is a lot of fun. She loves to smile and drool, talk, and roll over. She will get up on her back legs and rock, as if ready to start crawling. It's only a matter of time I know. We are starting to baby proof the house now.

On top of taking our first trip solo, she also started eating rice. I will say this rice thing new for us, and so is putting the spoon in her mouth. The first feeding was comical, but everyday it gets better and she is getting use to it, but still loves her bottle.

As you can see from the video, she was very sleepy, it was like Thanksgiving for Eleanor. 



why ask why

This might be my most random blog to date. I failed to update last week, but let me bring it to you in a nut shell.

Some might not know, but I coach a running group in El Dorado. I have done this group training for the last three years, the group has grown every year by leaps and bounds. I am so proud of my group. It is such an awesome feeling to take people from "I can't do _ miles" to " Oh, it's only _ miles." I am lucky that the group trust me to get them across the finish line.

These same participants all completed their race! Most with smiles, all with friends/family waiting for them as they crossed the finish line. It was dynamic to witness the transformations over the last 12 weeks.

Which leads me to....why ask why.

I was running 16 miles last Friday morning, which left me with a lot of time on my hands, I had a thought cross my mind during the long 2 and half hours. Why do people ask the healthy people, "why are you eating that tofu, or just have one bite, it won't kill you." Well it just might. I rarely see the healthy people asking, " why are you eating that deep fried item or why don't you park farther away from the door and walk." I was one of those, "why are you running."

I was 193 pounds at one point of my adult life. I had many excuses to why I was OVERWEIGHT, none which were my fault of course. The clothing is made different in Minnesota. It must be muscle. I "really" don't eat that bad. etc.

All the reasons still lead to me be 5'2 and 193 pounds. Walking to the mailbox was a struggle. I so understand what a majority of the population suffers from. EXCUSES, I was once there too.

My friend Megan Murphy, was training for the Twin Cities Marathon. She invited me to come and watch. Really, how do you watch a Marathon? I told her, I would drive her the 26.2 miles so she didn't have to do that foolish running. She convinced me to come out and watch. I saw her along two point during the race, one of which was about the 24 mile marker. This moment was life changing for me. I witnessed people larger than me, some smaller than me, and some with physical limitations, regardless they were all running, run walking and even just shuffling. Megan finished, we laughed, hugged and cried as she completed her first marathon. What a great way to spend a Sunday, watching and cheering for your friend complete a race, that most people won't even try.

It was life changing because I decided to change my life for the better. I joined Weight Watchers and lost 65 pounds over a matter of a year and 5 months. Then I moved to Dallas, I decided to go big!!! and train for my first marathon. I have been running ever since. So now I challenge all my blog readers, why ask why.

Why ask those around you who are trying to eat healthy, why, join them. Why ask those around you, why do you exercise, join them. Why ask why, just do the right thing and stop the excuses. Instead of telling people what you can't do, tell them what you can do. I know lifestyles can be improved, one step at a time.

I run because I never thought I would be able to, I run for my patients of St. Jude who lost their battle with cancer, I run because I can.....why do you run? I run because I know I have a cheerleader in heaven, wanting me to give life my best and my all.  I run for my brother Greg who will never be able to run the streets as we see them. I do believe my big brother is in heaven being the captain of the football team, and looking down on me saying, "um, that's my little sister, go." 

Oh what a week

Hello, my name is Brandi and yes I am a first time mother. I say this because this last week, Eleanor rolled over in her sleep. GREAT, news....oh but yet how nerve racking for me. I don't think I slept much the first two nights because I was, yes that first time mom, and afraid she would get stuck in a corner. YIKES!!! Little did I know, our little girl would embrace sleeping on her stomach. She loves it, oh my how quickly she is growing up, yes growing up and she's only 5 1/2 months old.

Last week also provided for some pure comedy for mom. I am a runner, regardless of how I might huff and puff. I am a morning running no matter how I might look like a coal miner with my head light on my head. One morning running down the sidewalk, I don't have my headlight on my head, it's still dark out, I do the embarrassing deed of the day. FALL, TRIP, EAT ASPHALT, all those good words which describe my landing on my knee and hand. Not to be worried about, I quickly get up and keep running. OF COURSE I am fine. If you call my bleeding knee cap and scraped hand fine, I was not going to admit I was hurt, why, my PRIDE. So I just kept running and yes everything was fine.

facts of life

this past week was crazy busy, but so fun. as you know Eleanor was baptized in the Catholic church. we are also getting her blessed in the baptist church soon. we are doing this because she is going to be "bicatholic," a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
i am baptist and robby is catholic. we are letting her decide which one she likes when she is of age.
i took her to the baptist church this last sunday and just to watch her face as the music and choir started singing, was priceless. i think the babe loves music!

Eleanor is getting so strong and fun to play with these days. we went to cousin goldie's soccer game and it was pure comedy with 4 year olds entertainment. we are looking forward to the day that Eleanor is playing soccer.

so, this blog entry was boring, because really there wasn't much action this week, but i did say i would update weekly. so in the words of the facts of life. " you take the good, you take the bad." hopefully this upcoming week, will yield more excitement.

We are back

Ok, so it looks like i took a 5 month break from blogging, but i am ready to come back now.
what is going on in the world of the new parents and papoose....aka eleanor!

we are so happy with our family of three, eleanor is fun and keeps us on our toes. she laughs, smiles, and drools alot. this makes mommy and daddy smile watching her smile.

the papoose is only waking up once throughout the night for a feeding then back to sleep. we have moved her into her own crib, yes, i am mommy who let her child sleep in the bassinet til she was four months. it was a big night for us, but she loves the crib!!!! so much space to move, roll, and stretch out. we peep in on her throughtout the night and just watch her sleep. we are total saps for the papoose.

we are enjoying the parenthood thing, however it really put a change in your lifestyle. bedtime at 9pm and getting up 30 minutes to an hour before babe so you can get stuff done. planning your day around naps, childcare, and feedings. love it!

i will blog weekly, i promise.

1st road trip

we did it. we took the first official road trip to arkansas over memorial day weekend. it was not bad at all, just two additional stops to feed the babe. both great grandmothers were thrilled to meet her for the first time. she meet lots of aunts and uncles as well.
we were home for four days, but it really felt like one. we traveled and visited with so many people, it is nice to know people care enough about us to want to visit us.
robby, my dad, my uncle ottis, and my uncle donnie all played in a golf tournament, you can say it is an annual event.

eleanor is 8 weeks old and we are loving her more and more. we all are adjusting to life together. she is starting to smile and develop a personality. we are still working on her sleep schedule.

we have another road trip planned for july to go to arkansas again. this time we will be there for a week so we won't have to rush around.

1 month old

today has been a great day. it was 4 weeks ago when we saw our little girls face. it has been a great time in our life. exciting yet nervous all at the same time. everyday still brings new adventures.
for her 1 month coming out party, she got to meet her great-great uncle june, her great uncle jake, great aunt sherry, great uncle phil and cousin sara. Everyone was so excited to meet and hold her. she loved all the family time might i add.
my parents came up from arkansas and got to spend some special time with her too.

robby and i are adjusting to life as parents, it is a lot of work, but so worth it. we think she is pretty cute and are blessed to have great family and lots of friends to visit us.

our first month "funnies:"
1. eleanor has peed on my leg
2. my mom was changing her diaper and she pooped on the changing table, i took her so my mom could change the table. she pooped on me too.
3. she has rolled over...twice. my dad is a witness

overall, parenthood is good and robby and i are learning a lot. thanks to all of those who have checked in on us