RUNNING

I am excited to say I was cleared to start running again. I ran three miles yesterday along with weights and the stairmaster. This baby just might come out wearing running shoes. I felt SO much better after running. I am officially starting the 2nd trimester. I am so grateful too. I am healthy and baby is healthy. SO happy about that. I have been walking and doing the elliptical but for me it is not the same. I have so missed running. Nothing gets your heart beating faster and stronger than running. It is so freeing for me and it is my me time. My time to zone out and have that time to myself not changing a diaper or folding laundry. I was running like 4 days a week and I have just really missed it. So thankful I can run now. Plus nothing blows through as many calories as running. With all the weight I will be putting on carrying a little person in me I want to be sure to keep the weight gain in the normal range. So far so good. I am in such a better place with this baby than when I got pregnant with Tanner. I was working and going to school and we were going through MONTHS of fertility treatments. All that combined I was really stressed. I ended the last semester with great grades but remember getting so depressed each month a baby did not come. Billy and I had decided to take December off and really just layed it all down at Gods feet. We did get pregnant in March of 2009. I was so happy but the stress had taken a toll on me. All I could do with Tanner was walk and swim. I am glad with new baby I can do more. I use to love to run with dad when i was little. My dad has always run. When I was in 5th and 6th grade I use to run with him. My parents were still married then. We would run to the store down on the corner and back. I loved it!! I was into dancing more then. My mom put me in tap, Jazz, and Ballet. I loved dance too. I think if I was not so into to dance I may have gone for track. Who knows!! I know there is nothing like crossing the finish line of a marathon knowing that you just ran 26.2 miles. I think as moms we all have to find that thing that gets us through. When I met Billy and got married it was a dream come true for me. When God blessed us with Tanner my cup litterally was running over. However as I think it is with a lot of women it was hard adjusting for me. I was home with an infant all day and the lack of sleep, breastfeeing, and isolation was taking a toll on me. I got back to the gym and my friend Suzanne was a BIG encouragement to me. We would do weights toether and she would encourage me as a new mommy. She was a huge help to me at that time. Then when I got back into running after Tanner was a few months old I fell in love again. It was a huge stress reliever for me. It gave me energy. It helped me cope. I also became close with my girls Aimee and Ashlee. Running with friends is awesome. Training for the marathon last year with Ashlee was something I can NOT wait to do again. We would do our long runs on Saturdays and start at 5 a.m. Laughing the whole way. We would crack each other up. I smile now as I think about these two loud sweaty girls running in Walgrens for a bathroom/gatorade break. It is so encouraging to have friends that have similar interests as you. But more importantly that build you up and encourage you!! God has blessed me with a few friends like that. Especially my running partners Ashlee and Aimee. Ashlee had us over for dinner last night and she is so quick to remind me that we will be running togther again soon. Billy thinks he is going to be able to get in a few races while I am pregnant and be able to beat me once I do my next half or full marathon. Good luck with that honey!! I love you but I doubt youll ever be able to beat me. :) I love that we are competetive and active in our house. Tanner already knows all about being active. We love doing races and going to the Y all as a family. It is who we are!! The Spive Tribe!! New baby will fit in well since he or she started on the treadmill with mommy yesterday! :) Grateful to go to Aimee's for dinner tonight and catch up with our friends. It has been awhile. I am looking forward to running as long as my body will let me before giving birth in the fall. God will help us and meet us right where we are. As a mommy of little ones he knows how precious our time is to ourself and our time with him. It is important. He has blessed me with so many women in my life. Some as mentors and some as dear friends. He has also blessed me with the ability to run and today for that I am grateful!! Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times.