Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Saturday night we headed to the Storm Chasers game to host customers from work. Originally the hubby was coming along with little man and I, but at the last minute he headed to Sioux Falls for a poker tournament, so we went it alone.

It was actually a bit cool that night, so fortunately we had tickets for the Club Lounge and were shielded from the wind. Little man was a hit - every day I'm asked about him from our customers, so it was great that many of them were finally able to meet him in person!

He is definitely going to be our little baseball player...and LOVES going to baseball games!

Jill was a GREAT babysitter, so mommy could mingle

Chillin' with the Beasleys

Mommy & Cruzer night out

No Turning Back...

It's official...there's no turning back now. I just signed up for the Omaha half marathon.

I've been wrestling with this idea for some time now. To be honest, I love distance running and running outside, but haven't ever ran 13.1 miles at one time...EVER. My runs consist of 4.5 to 5 miles around Lake Zorinsky or at the gym and I'm happy to be done after those distances. I didn't think I would be able to make it much further...I mean it's been a LONG time since I've ran over five miles.

On the flip side...it's only 13.1 miles. People run full marathons all.the.time. (not me, but many people do). My bestie participates in Ironmans...full marathon, full bike ride and full swim (she's crazy, yes, but oh so inspiring). It's not that big of a deal.

But it is to me. It will be the longest distance I've ever ran at one time. And I'm excited to check it off my bucket list (which is actually a list of things I want to do in my lifetime that are jotted down on a notepad I keep in my purse) and complete it within a year after having my first child.

Last week I put together a modified version of a training schedule and told myself if I follow it this week, I'm going to sign up. Well, I did five miles, eight miles and another five miles. There were a couple of days I didn't get to my runs in because it's been a hectic week with the hubby playing long days/nights at a local poker tournament. But I took the plunge and signed up today. There is no turning back now...and I'm really excited to actually do it. Wish me luck!

Sunday At The Park

On Sunday, Little Mango and I had the ENTIRE day free...with no plans...that has been virtually unheard of these days, so we made the most of it. We got up early and headed to the gym...I love going Sunday mornings because he's the only infant when we get there and has the undivided attention from two of the day care workers.

After the gym, we got ready for the day and then headed to Aksarben Village for the Farmer's Market. I had every intention to fill up the stroller with tons of veggies, but when it came down to it the first two things I bought were fresh Kettle Corn (how can you pass that up?) and cheese. Two types of cheese, actually. Garlic curds and an aged cheddar block. And they had samples of the cheese...as you can imagine I tried many different kinds before settling...just to be sure. Then we walked around for another half hour deciding which peppers and tomatoes to buy.

We headed over to Jones Brothers and had lunch on their patio (it was absolutely gorgeous out), checked out some of the shops and then took a walk in the park. Cruz even got out and played in the grass for a bit...though he definitely wasn't sure he liked it. Then we headed to the swingset where my boy could've swung for HOURS....he LOVED it. Giggling, laughing and smiling the entire time.

We ran a few errands to pass the time until daddy got home from a poker tournament in Sioux Falls and then got dinner, put little man down for the night and cuddled up to watch a movie. It was a perfect day.

Interested in this stuff he was sitting in...he kept running his hands
through it and making funny faces.

Not too sure

Having fun & clapping!

Loves swinging!

We're Moving!

We have been working with Little Mango for quite some time on crawling and he's been thisclose for the past week or so. It had gotten to the point where last Friday night the Lynch's and I were bribing him (yes, BRIBING my 9 month old) to crawl towards the banana puffs that he adores so much...and he almost did...

So after many failing attempts...last night little man and I were playing hard core with his light up/loud toys and he kept giving me the hand held toys (he LOVES when you acknowledge he is sharing & say Thank You). Of course, I decided to roll said toys away from him. He was SO excited and wanted to grab them, but they were out of reach. After much waiting, little man gave me FOUR "steps" (what do you call the crawling movement?) forward!! I think I scared him to pieces when I shrieked with excitement!

Of course, he hasn't done it again, but we will continue to work on it and we will get there soon.

(Am I seriously sitting here getting excited about when our little guy will no longer sit in one place?)

Table Food!

Last week at Little Mango's 9 month well check we were told we could start table food....what!?!? You mean little, solid pieces of food from food we can eat? I'm right on top of that, Rose! (for you young'uns out there that is a reference to one of the greatest movies of my time, "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead").

We immediately went to the grocery store - because if you know me, you know my kitchen is generally quite bare and the hubby & I prefer picking up our meals or dining out rather than making them - and picked up a ton of stuff that little man could nosh on.

The first night we had ham, cheese, green beans and a couple cheerios. Then we became a bit more adventurous and I pulled out the pots & pans and whipped up some spaghetti w/ a bit of marinara sauce. We've done pancakes and scrambled eggs. As well as mashed potatoes, corn and applesauce.

I'm telling you my kitchen has had more love the past week than it has in the past three months prior to this! I have dishes to wash, veggies to clean & chop and messes to clean up. And do I mean clean up. Babies + hands + food do not equal a clean kitchen. There is food smooshed in the chair in behind his thick little thighs, near & in his nose & ears, mashed in his hair, squeezed in his hands and all around his near vacinity. Bath time is a MUST each night.

All clean and ready to eat! I envision a knife in one hand & fork
in another and him pounding them on his tray. He was READY

He loves mushing it his hands before it makes it anywhere near his mouth

Hmmm....I've seen this face before from his daddy
(hence the reason I don't cook!)

Swirling the noodles all around his tray.

THE MESS

Messy face

Tossing noodles EVERYWHERE

In his hair...of course we need to run our hands through our hair during dinner.

My happy boy...loving his table food!

I'm excited to continue trying out new foods and seeing what he really enjoys and what foods we will need to get him to like. Another stage in his life I can't believe we're at, but excited for it nonetheless!

It's A Zoo

Best day ever....the hubby recommended a trip to the zoo yesterday during the gorgeous weather we've been having....and what a great idea it was. We got a family zoo membership at the beginning of the summer, but have only used it once prior to this. I loved checking out the zoo with our little family.

Jungle baby

He loved the aquarium....favorite part of the zoo

Penguins! Mama's fave

Look at the fishy

Galapagos turtle...whoa

Loved Skyfari & checking out the animals from above

Gorillas!

My Baby Boy: Forty Weeks Old

Happy 40 weeks, Little Mango!!