Happy 20 months, Xia Bliss!

This is the real deal! She loves talking with her head and her hands!

Happy 20 months, XBG (10-3-11)! 

Xia talks up a storm these days. I'll say "let's put your shoes on" and she'll say "suzzz". I'll say "you want a pear" and she'll say "par". I'll say "you need a diaper change" and she'll say "poo-poo"!!! She's learning new words everyday. She "says" her alphabet, although non if it's right!!  She'll count, but I can't understand the numbers. Her first 2 word sentence: "No-maw". It's so sweet, cute, endearing, and precious!

She's always pushing the limits, so we have plenty of time outs and a few love pats. We have to stand our ground and be firm. She is a smart girl and knows how to work us and push our buttons!! She's also a very loving child and is always giving us hugs, kisses, and smiles:)

Her teachers love her and get a kick out of her singing and dancing in chapel. She knows all the hand and body movements to several of the songs. She is very musical.

She LOVES story time before bed. She LOVES her PBS shows. She LOVES to eat. She LOVES her "papa". We are so in love with you, princess!

Yup - what you see is what you get!!

TX MedClinic Half Marathon

Oscar and I competed in our last race before the Rock N Roll marathon. Wow - this has been a long, but worth it, journey!

Ready to run! Pre-race photo

It was very successful. I ran the half in 1:53:03. I didn't place, but I met/succeeded my goals. Oscar did great and placed 2nd in his age category in the 10k. To read the whole story, go to my training blog: http://eighteenweeks.blogspot.com/2011/10/tx-medclinic-half-marathon.html

About to cross that finish line - victory!

posing with my finishers medal

I finished with an 8:37 pace and in 1:53:03, I was the 9th women to finish overall, and finished 5th in my age group (my age group seemed to be competitive! 5 out of  the top 9 women were in my age category, 25-29).

This marked #2 competitive half marathon. While I've run long distances lately, they have all been on my own. Last half marathon I competed in was the SA Rock 'N' Roll last November (2010). I finished in 2:05:? In one year I knocked off 12 minutes off my time. AWESOME!!

Spicewood & Marble Falls + Trek Tri 2011 = Fun, Fun Wkend!

Saturday, mid morning we made our way to Pace Bend Park in Spicewood, TX. Off to my last Tri of the year!
On our way we stopped over at Beefy's Backyard in Spring Branch. Xia LOVED playing in the game room area!

She could have driven this "car" all day long!

After packet pick up and checking into the little Inn, we headed over to Marble Falls to the Murphy's lake house. We hung out at the lake, bbq-ed, and enjoyed visiting with them. Sadly enough, I didn't take any pictures:(. Xia had a blast playing with the kiddos, swimming, and lots of out door play.

Sunday morning started out well. I got a good night's sleep (as good as one can get away from home and with a 20m old) and a good breakfast. The weather was perfect and cool, the sky blue and beautiful. I was ready to compete!
 

All marked up and ready to go!

My cheer squad!

pre-race posing pretty with XBG

I had a great swim. My personal goal was around 18 minutes (I completed Danskin in 20:5?). I was right on. The water felt great. I found room to swim, and I felt strong. I finished just under 19 minutes. Off to a great start, I was pleased. I slipped on my running shoes and jogged up the 2+ hills that made up the .23 miles to transition area. Not too bad. I jogged versus ran so I wouldn't pass out on the hills before mounting my bike. It was a good move!

Got to my bike and was heading out when I realized I put on my running visor instead of my bike helmet!! Good thing I was only two racks from where I racked my bike, so I didn't lose too much time over it. Jumped on my bike and away I went. The weather could not have been any prettier. Clear blue skies in the hill country. Dreamy! I biked my two laps and it was then I knew that I wasn't going to beat or even match my overall Danskin time of 1:34:??. I had a great, strong ride. It was a beautiful day. Only something to be happy/proud about.

Finishing strong on my bike

Second transition was just as always - quick. One thing I have down good!! Put on my visor and grabbed a drink of water and hit the trails. I passed everyone on my path. No one passed me. I felt strong & proud!! I ran down the hill and sprinted to the finish line. That was amazing! The crowd was cheering, I was sprinting, I heard Oscar cheering, saw him snap a picture, and I FINISHED! No greater feeling! I remember why I do these things when I cross the finish line - pure fulfillment.

Sprinting to the finish line! lookin' good!

Here are my awesome stats that I am PROUD OF!!

1:42:21 total time
Overall   46 / 344
Division  7/33
Swim     18:57 / 74th
Trans1   7:17
Bike       52:05 /146th / 13.8 mph
Trans2    1:15
Run         22:43 / 10th / 8:25 pace

Received my medal! Finished!!

Callie and I before cheering on Colleen!

Callie, KT and Colleen, me and Xia

FOR THE FULL STORY OF MY EXPERIENCE, VISIT MY TRAINING BLOG:

http://eighteenweeks.blogspot.com/2011/10/trek-tri-last-tri-of-year.html

Don't Stop Believing!

Oscar surprised me back in May with tickets to see Night Ranger, Foreigner, and Journey in September. Oh my, did we have fun! We started out with sushi dinner with friends, then to the concert.

Oscar and I have a blast - mid concert:)

 Night Ranger was first. They were GREAT! This was the second time we saw them in San Antonio. The first time was at Oyster Bake in 2009.

Foreigner was AMAZING. I love them! We saw them last year at the White Water Amphitheater in New Braunfels. It was a great time then and again this time.

Neither Oscar nor I had ever seen Journey in concert. Oh my - they were AWESOME!  We enjoyed them tremendously!

Journey, post encore

We had such a fun night out. All three bands were awesome! Can't wait to see them again!

Happy 3 Year Anniversary, Oscar!

We're married! 9-13-2008

September 13, 2011 marked our 3 year wedding anniversary. Wow! It's hard to believe that we've been married for 3 years. It's hard to believe that we're 3 years married with a 19.5m old! Time files when your having fun:)

I have been in love with Oscar since the day I met him in 2005. He was (and still is!) sweet, sensitive, kind hearted, a man's man, thoughtful, and all kinds of wonderful. We knew we were meant for each other since we went on our first date. I am so grateful for such a loving husband, father, and friend.

Here's to a lifetime of celebrating our love together! I Love You, babe!

Remembering 9/11 - 10 years later...

This post is nearly a month late, but I've had these thoughts in my head since 9/11/11 & wanted to share them.

This year, being the 10 year anniversary, hit me differently and even harder than the years before. Was it because I am older now? Maybe. Or was it because I saw these 10 year old children reading their parent's name at the memorial, whom they have never met? Or maybe it was because this year, 10 years post, there is finally some closure to those who died when the twin towers fell. There is finally a memorial for family and friends to come and see their loved ones name etched in stone. There is a place where the world can come and see and pay tribute to those who lost their lives that dreadful day.

There were survivors, present at the memorial, who hadn't visited that site since being rescued. There were families there who were remembering their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, etc who were finally feeling that their loved ones were just being laid to rest now that they had a memorial site. The world was present this year.

My heart was heavy this year, but also grateful. Grateful for some clousure, grateful for my family of 3, grateful for the U.S.A.