So. Almost half way through my marathon training. And I can't believe how much a little bit of running has taught me.
- Long distance running is 30% physical, 70% mental. Sure, in order to run a long time I need to increase my lung capacity etc, but mostly I've found that it's my mind that needs the work out. No matter how far I run, I get to the point where my head is screaming at me to stop, but then I look down and see that my legs are still moving so I tell myself, just to the end of this street, just one more power pole, just one more song, and if I can distract my head long enough I find I've run another km. And then I get to the point where my legs are so tired and my mind has to take back over and tell my body, I might be sore or tired or hot or thirsty, but I'm not going to die, and after about 10 minutes I'll feel fine again, so I can run a little more. It has been this huge mental battle of learning self control and self discipline, something I seriously lacked, but now I'm getting better at.
- Running kinda takes over your life. You have to be 110% commited, because training requires commitment. To run 4 or 5 times a week, I have to schedual my day around the runs, especially as they're getting longer and requiring more time. Life really gets in the way and I almost have to put running first, as weird as that sounds. And I'm thinking about running all the time - where I'll run, when I'll run, what new running sounds can I download, I wonder if the shoes I want are on sale, how many more sports bras should I buy, I've just got running on the brain. And my running has changed my eating and sleeping too. If I stay up late and eat icecream, I don't feel like running in the morning and I miss a day and get behind in my training. I quickly learnt that you can't run and eat whatever you want and expect to be skinny - you just end up being a fatty that runs alot.
- I am so much stronger and more capable then I ever thought I was. I think at first I just liked the idea of running a marathon. But I had my list of very respectable excuses as to why I wouldn't end up running it. But I've realised that I can do it. I can set goals, and I can accomplish them. And it feels so good. The first time I had to run 4km, I felt sick in my stomach all day leading up to it, like I physically felt sick just thinking about running that far, and it was really, really far for me. And now my short run is a 7km. Amazing what can be done in 9 weeks.
- It's so important to celebrate the small achievements, coz they're what lead to the big ones. The first time I ran a full 3km without stopping, I celebrated by buying a new top. Coz it's all those 3kms that will make up the 21kms.
- But the biggest thing I've learnt is this - If I can do this, ANYONE CAN!! 10 weeks ago, I would have rather done turbo jam 6 times in a row then run even 1 km outside - I really really hated running. After about 20 seconds I was out of breath and tired and so I'd stop. And yesterday I ran my first 10km, and I felt pretty good after it, I could have run more except that it was raining so hard I couldn't see in front of my face and it was dark already. But it is totally doable. I was the last person to ever consider running. You just have to decide to do it, and do it.
I'm so glad I decided to do this. I'm glad I have my sister in law doing it with me so I can check in with her and we can push each other along. Running 21kms doesn't sound so insane to me now, doesn't seem so distant and unachievable. Instead it feels doable, totally doable.
T minus 11 weeks.....
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Vili's turning 1
My original plan was to have a piggy party, coz he loves pigs and snorts like one ALL-THE-TIME. But then my mum suggested that when he's 10 and realises that I made him have a pink birthday party, he might hate me. And so instead, the barnyard. I still get to make a pig cake, but save me some child drama later in life.
NOTE TO SELF - no more babies born in June, OK? 2 parties to plan in one month is plenty.
NOTE TO SELF - no more babies born in June, OK? 2 parties to plan in one month is plenty.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
First day of Kindy
This week Malachi started kindy (kindergartin, preschool, etc). In New Zealand, when a kid is 3 they start afternoon kindy, 2 hours 3 days a week, then when they're 4 they go to morning kindy, 4 hours 3 days a week, all free, until they're 5 and then they start school. I made the choice to not send Malachi to the traditional kindy and instead enrolled him in a Montessori preschool. He goes 6hrs a day, 3 times a week. I made that choice because while I think that kindy is great, playing in the sandpit, painting, singing, making crafts, I can do all that stuff at home with my son, and I do. If he's going to be away from me for that long, I want him to be getting something that I can't give him. At Montessori, all of his "playing" is learning, all the games and toys are teaching tools, and not just numbers and letters, but sizes and shapes and volume and life skills. It's all about independant learning through play. Ok i have to stop before I get carried away. But from the first time I learnt about the Montessori way of learning, I knew it was what Malachi needed to thrive.
So this week, now that he's 3, he started going to school.
He was super excited to have a lunchbox and a bag, and to have teachers and friends and a school.
Ready to go with his little bag.
About to go in.
Hanging up his stuff.
He had a great time. I was a mess. The whole time he was gone I was watching the clock, twiddling my thumbs, counting down until I could go pick him up. I missed him so bad. Other then the time I was in the hospital giving birth, it's the longest I've ever been away from him. The house was so quiet and lonley and sad without him. And ok so I went and picked him up an hour early. And the look on his face when he saw me was undescribable. (I wish i got it on camera, I had my camera, but I got all emotional and was just too excited to hug him that I forgot to take a picture). He did really well, they said he was settled and happy and just went about his business. I really hope he enjoys it and loves to learn. That's the whole point, to help him love learning on his own. But my days will be so different without him there.
When I asked him what he liked about going to school, he said,
"Um I like to eat my lunch (typical tongan), my teacher says i need to go to sleep but i just play (refuses to nap while there). And I pour the water and see the rabbits and we do the scooping with the spoon and put the things in the other container."
So this week, now that he's 3, he started going to school.
He was super excited to have a lunchbox and a bag, and to have teachers and friends and a school.
Ready to go with his little bag.
About to go in.
Hanging up his stuff.
He had a great time. I was a mess. The whole time he was gone I was watching the clock, twiddling my thumbs, counting down until I could go pick him up. I missed him so bad. Other then the time I was in the hospital giving birth, it's the longest I've ever been away from him. The house was so quiet and lonley and sad without him. And ok so I went and picked him up an hour early. And the look on his face when he saw me was undescribable. (I wish i got it on camera, I had my camera, but I got all emotional and was just too excited to hug him that I forgot to take a picture). He did really well, they said he was settled and happy and just went about his business. I really hope he enjoys it and loves to learn. That's the whole point, to help him love learning on his own. But my days will be so different without him there.
When I asked him what he liked about going to school, he said,
"Um I like to eat my lunch (typical tongan), my teacher says i need to go to sleep but i just play (refuses to nap while there). And I pour the water and see the rabbits and we do the scooping with the spoon and put the things in the other container."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
3 year old boy
Today is Malachi's birthday.
Today my baby is three.
Don't ask me how that happened.
I look at these pictures and think how it just seems like yesterday, but at the same time, I don't really remember that baby at all, that's not Malachi to me. Malachi is this big, able thing that amazes me everyday.
We started his real birthday off with the traditional pancakes. They're meant to be chocolate chip but I was out, so chocolate ice-cream instead.
Then we went to his last Chartwell Playgroup at the library. These have been an awesome part of our week, singing songs, reading books, doing crafts. He loves it. But he'll start school next week so won't be able to go any more. We had to leave early to go for a school visit so he missed the craft, but loved it none the less.
And to finish off the day we went to the movies. Every time we go to the mall he asks to go to the movies, and every time I tell him, no, I'll take you on your birthday. (Note to self: Malachi is an elephant and remembers EVERYTHING you tell him.). So we went and watched Hook Winked Too. We had the whole theatre to ourselves, which meant Vili was able to screech and sqwark to his hearts content.
And to finish it all of, Mc D's. (For him, not me. I'm doing Weightwatchers at the moment and there are waaaaaaaaaay too many points in those little delites. It was subway for me.)
I'm so proud to be Malachi's mummy. He tests me and pushes me and makes me be better, because he expects and deserves so much. I have never met a child so helpful. As part of his daily duties (that he willingly volunteers for) he opens and closes all the curtains in the house, morning and night, cleans the toilet and basin, puts his clothes in his draws, gets himself dressed, helps daddy wash the dishes, puts his dishes away in the cupboard, tidies up all the toys, the list is endless, fetches vili's nappies and takes the dirty ones to the nappy bucket. He is willing to do anything and everything. I don't know what I'd do without him.
He's so inquisitive, always wanting to know about why things do what they do, why people feel the way they do. He remembers EVERYTHING (for example, we're driving along past the place where Uncle John's graduation ceremony was (where malachi had been in the car when Tui dropped me off), and malachi points out, "Mummy that's where Uncle John goes coz he's finished his school and we say good job to him." Tui didn't even remember what that place was.) I don't mean to sound braggy, I hate parents that over rate their kids and you read it and think, ah, i know your kid, and that's NOT how they are. But seriously, this kid is sm%*!t. I just hope that I can be the kind of mother he needs, that will push and encourage and love him enough to help him be the best he can be.
Malachi, we love you more then you know. You have changed me in ways I never knew you could, realigned my life, made things clearer and brighter. I love every day I have with you. You're amazing.
Happy Birthday Son. oxo
Today my baby is three.
Don't ask me how that happened.
I look at these pictures and think how it just seems like yesterday, but at the same time, I don't really remember that baby at all, that's not Malachi to me. Malachi is this big, able thing that amazes me everyday.
We started his real birthday off with the traditional pancakes. They're meant to be chocolate chip but I was out, so chocolate ice-cream instead.
Then we went to his last Chartwell Playgroup at the library. These have been an awesome part of our week, singing songs, reading books, doing crafts. He loves it. But he'll start school next week so won't be able to go any more. We had to leave early to go for a school visit so he missed the craft, but loved it none the less.
And to finish off the day we went to the movies. Every time we go to the mall he asks to go to the movies, and every time I tell him, no, I'll take you on your birthday. (Note to self: Malachi is an elephant and remembers EVERYTHING you tell him.). So we went and watched Hook Winked Too. We had the whole theatre to ourselves, which meant Vili was able to screech and sqwark to his hearts content.
And to finish it all of, Mc D's. (For him, not me. I'm doing Weightwatchers at the moment and there are waaaaaaaaaay too many points in those little delites. It was subway for me.)
I'm so proud to be Malachi's mummy. He tests me and pushes me and makes me be better, because he expects and deserves so much. I have never met a child so helpful. As part of his daily duties (that he willingly volunteers for) he opens and closes all the curtains in the house, morning and night, cleans the toilet and basin, puts his clothes in his draws, gets himself dressed, helps daddy wash the dishes, puts his dishes away in the cupboard, tidies up all the toys, the list is endless, fetches vili's nappies and takes the dirty ones to the nappy bucket. He is willing to do anything and everything. I don't know what I'd do without him.
He's so inquisitive, always wanting to know about why things do what they do, why people feel the way they do. He remembers EVERYTHING (for example, we're driving along past the place where Uncle John's graduation ceremony was (where malachi had been in the car when Tui dropped me off), and malachi points out, "Mummy that's where Uncle John goes coz he's finished his school and we say good job to him." Tui didn't even remember what that place was.) I don't mean to sound braggy, I hate parents that over rate their kids and you read it and think, ah, i know your kid, and that's NOT how they are. But seriously, this kid is sm%*!t. I just hope that I can be the kind of mother he needs, that will push and encourage and love him enough to help him be the best he can be.
Malachi, we love you more then you know. You have changed me in ways I never knew you could, realigned my life, made things clearer and brighter. I love every day I have with you. You're amazing.
Happy Birthday Son. oxo
The Bus Ride
Here in hamilton they have a bus called 'The Orbitor' - it does a big loop, a big orbit, of the city. So this week we went for a spin. and man, best $3 i ever spent! the boys had an absolute blast. Lucky there were hardly any people on the bus at that time, coz they were screaming and squeeling the whole ride, at every house and car and tree. It was awesome. The whole ride took about an hour and a half. It's totally a ride we'll be taking again!
Waiting at the bus stop.
Super excited.
Whole back row to himself.
Peek a boo.
It was such a huge novelty for Malachi. Let's hope the novelty lasts well into the future so when I tell him "no you can't take the car, take the bus" he'll still scream and squeel and say "yey! i love the bus" ;)
Waiting at the bus stop.
Super excited.
Whole back row to himself.
Peek a boo.
It was such a huge novelty for Malachi. Let's hope the novelty lasts well into the future so when I tell him "no you can't take the car, take the bus" he'll still scream and squeel and say "yey! i love the bus" ;)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Random May Stuff
Here is some of the stuff we got up to in May.
The kids painted the house, with water and paint brushes. They loved it! Kept them busy for a good hour.
Vili discovered the bucket of water.
We played in the leaves at the park. I keep meaning to go out and take some pictures of the beautiful autum leaves on the trees, all those amazing reds and yellows, but every time I think to do it, a storm comes and blows them all off. so the kids had fun playing in them instead.
Can you believe it, they're only 8 months apart.
We do lots of chalk drawing. Thank goodness for our carport and deck, so even if its rainy they can be outside doing something.
Vili mostly eats the chalk, although he is starting to get the hang of drawing with it.
This time I showed them how to draw around their bodies. They thought it was the coolest thing, and after I did their bodies, they did each others again and again.
We try to go to the lake or the playground every fine day, because they're becoming fewer and fewer.
Eating our picnic lunch at the Lake.
The boys on the slide at the lake.
Little Vili taking a stroll on the boardwalk.
Feeding the duckies. We save all the crusts from our bread and about once a month we have a bag full to take to feed the ducks.
Vili eating the bark at the playground.
Brothers, going for a walk at the park behind our house.
One day we took some hot chocolate to the park with us. It was so yummy! (In the process of making it I spilt boiling water on my hand and got some serious burns. I had to rotate cold packs on it every hour, even through the night, for the next 36 hours. Good times!)
On the seasaw.
That poor slide......
No hands!
I love our little adventures. And it's been so nice having Tui home during the days some days (sucks that he then works at night), so that he can be part of all these memories. I know that next month when Malachi starts Pre-school that it'll be the beginning of the end of our long days together. Before I know it it'll be school then highschool, then mission and gone. So I'm tryna make the most of them while they still last.
The kids painted the house, with water and paint brushes. They loved it! Kept them busy for a good hour.
Vili discovered the bucket of water.
We played in the leaves at the park. I keep meaning to go out and take some pictures of the beautiful autum leaves on the trees, all those amazing reds and yellows, but every time I think to do it, a storm comes and blows them all off. so the kids had fun playing in them instead.
Can you believe it, they're only 8 months apart.
We do lots of chalk drawing. Thank goodness for our carport and deck, so even if its rainy they can be outside doing something.
Vili mostly eats the chalk, although he is starting to get the hang of drawing with it.
This time I showed them how to draw around their bodies. They thought it was the coolest thing, and after I did their bodies, they did each others again and again.
We try to go to the lake or the playground every fine day, because they're becoming fewer and fewer.
Eating our picnic lunch at the Lake.
The boys on the slide at the lake.
Little Vili taking a stroll on the boardwalk.
Feeding the duckies. We save all the crusts from our bread and about once a month we have a bag full to take to feed the ducks.
Vili eating the bark at the playground.
Brothers, going for a walk at the park behind our house.
One day we took some hot chocolate to the park with us. It was so yummy! (In the process of making it I spilt boiling water on my hand and got some serious burns. I had to rotate cold packs on it every hour, even through the night, for the next 36 hours. Good times!)
On the seasaw.
That poor slide......
No hands!
I love our little adventures. And it's been so nice having Tui home during the days some days (sucks that he then works at night), so that he can be part of all these memories. I know that next month when Malachi starts Pre-school that it'll be the beginning of the end of our long days together. Before I know it it'll be school then highschool, then mission and gone. So I'm tryna make the most of them while they still last.
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