Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020!

Gosh, it's hard for me to believe that the year 2000 was literally 20 years ago. There's a tweet floating around out there that says something along the lines of 20 years ago being 1980 and YES, that's exactly how I feel! I graduated high school in 2000 - our 20 year reunion is this year! All I can say is HOW? Mind. Blown, literally.

Well, since we are saying goodbye to 2019 and we are already two days into the new year (I'm a slacker, sorry), I figured it was time for a recap of all the fun/interesting/crazy moments of the previous year.

Side note: I had every intention of putting up this blog post yesterday, but I spent the majority of my day taking down the Christmas decor. Oh yes, and eating black eyed peas with cabbage at my mom's house and you know what? I didn't hate it as much as I did as a kid! I'm not a bean or pea person at all, but this was a delicious one!

Ok, now on with the year...

I know I say this all the time, but I'm so very grateful (and it's true). There may have been a few rough patches in 2019, but it overall turned out to be a great year!

 

Health

Most recently, I am grateful for the status of clear lungs. I shared in one of my vlogidays videos this year about having a possible diagnosis of asthma. Thankfully, after a full PFT and Methacholine testing (along with blood work), it was determined that I do not have asthma! Yay! I have had issues with breathing for several years now, so we just have to figure out the culprit. (Getting my heart checked again is next.)

In the same category comes my hamstring. Y'all, this thing is a doozy. It feels fine one day then doesn't the next. I'm so nervous about overdoing it or tweaking it in the wrong way. I know for certain that dead lifts right now are absolutely out of the question as are running on inclines at Orangetheory. It's a funny feeling when you're halfway between an injury and an improvement. You notice every little stitch and movement. I spent several months this year with physical therapy and have had VAST improvements since July. Hopefully things will just keep looking up from here.

I'm also insanely grateful for a healthy child. Twenty nineteen brought so many new experiences, words, knowledge, and growth for Brayden. I also realized that I never posted a three and a half year update so I'll do that very soon. (I know, I'm a slacker!) Also, how is my child already three and a half?!

Travel

This year, we were so blessed to be able to take several trips and we loved each and every one of the experiences we shared!

In February, we visited Disney World with my parents and had our very first Vacation Club stay! We checked into Boulder Ridge and loved it! This trip also doubled as the Princess Half Marathon Weekend where I ran both the 10K and the Half and Jason completed the 10K. We all had a great time!

In June, we traveled to Alaska with Jason's family for a 7 night cruise out of Vancouver. This was Brayden's first cruise and I'm not kidding when I tell you that he's just as hooked as we are on cruising. For this trip, we decided to take different experiences than ones we'd taken on a previous cruise, so we went whale watching and dog sledding. By far, dog sledding was my favorite excursion of them all! Brayden loved it, too! At the end of our trip, we even had a chance to visit the Alaska Zoo which was super neat to see as the animals there aren't your typical "lower 48 zoo animals". Also, a lot of the animals they've come to take care of were either abandoned or in a hazardous situation and were rescued. I thought it was a very neat experience.

In August, my little family took a super quick 3 day trip to Walt Disney World. We already had AP's, extra DVC points, and we found super cheap flights! (Score!) We stayed at Old Key West and had a blast! I also ran the Beignet Dash and although I was in the middle of my hamstring injury, I still enjoyed the fun run!

Last but not least, in November we visited Walt Disney World again but this time with our friends. We ran the Wine & Dine Half Marathon/Two Course Challenge, rode the Skyliner a billion times per Brayden's request, took a cruise on the Disney Dream (a first for most in our party), and we took part in the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party of the year! It was a fabulous trip and one I didn't want to see come to an end.

Racing

This year was a interesting one as far as running goes - with several highs and several lows. After the Princess Half Marathon Weekend, I knew I wanted a better shot at higher corrals for Wine & Dine. So, I trained hard in the spring and somehow managed to PR in both the 5K and the 10K distances in the same weekend!

After all that hard work though, came an injury. Sad times. Thankfully as I mentioned before, things are now looking up!

Something good that came out of it, though? I managed to land in corral A for the Wine & Dine 10K and corral B for the Wine & Dine Half! Woohooo!

Getting Good

There's a new single by Lauren Alaina that really hits home for me every time I hear it and it brings me to tears. It's called "Getting Good" and if you haven't heard it, you need to go listen to it. Trust me on this one.

This song is an excellent reminder for me that even though things may not be just as I want them to be, my life is as it SHOULD be right now. I'm learning to live in the moment and enjoy it instead of worrying about what the future holds or even the inevitable.

This is one of the reasons that my blog has sadly fallen to the side a little this year. I love love love to blog and share with you guys, but I only have Brayden as a three year old once and I don't want to miss out on time with him. Although I love my job, working as a full time mom takes a lot of that time away from him. I also love spending time with my family, so I'm doing that as much as possible, too. Working as an oncology nurse has taught me a lot of things, but one of the most important is that time is precious and oh so short. Enjoy your loved ones as much as you can while you can.

So, my goals for this year are just a few and can be taken from the lyrics of this song:

• Learn to grow where I'm planted
• Soak up every moment 

Last but not least, although it's not a part of this song, I'm also looking forward to spiritual growth through the Fire Bible initiative that our church is participating in right now.

I hope that 2020 is a year of fresh starts, new adventures, health, and amazing opportunities for all of you!  Happy New Year!

 "Once I learn to soak up every moment, I'll realize my life's already good."

Vlogidays Weekend Edition #7

New Years Eve weekend is the final weekend in my 2017 vlogidays series. Thank you all so much to everyone who followed along with our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and now New Year's traditions! I hope this holiday season was just as great for you as it was for us! I pray many blessings your way in the upcoming year!
 

 
Be sure to stay tuned to my social media channels above for all the latest of our Dopey Challenge and WDW trip weekend! 

If you missed previous vlogidays episodes, check them out below!

• Weekend #1 - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
• Weekend #2 - Thanksgiving Weekend (& Black Friday Shopping)
• Weekend #3 - Houmas House & Santa
• Weekend #4 - Snow In The South, Long Run, & The Grinch
• Weekend #5 - Christmas Parties & A Santa 5K
• Weekend #6 - It's Christmas!  
• Weekend #7 - New Years Weekend 

Holiday Weekend #6

Throughout the holiday season, I captured video of our fun adventures, time with friends and family, and most importantly, Brayden's first holidays! We had so much fun sharing with you and I appreciate those who stuck around for it all!

Here's the 6th and final video from New Year's Eve/Day Weekend!

I do plan on bringing my camera with me to Disney in February to capture moments from Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend! Stay tuned for upcoming vlogs to follow in March! Have a great day!! :)

Goodbye, 2016!

I do realize we are a few days into 2017, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity reflect on 2016!

For starters, 2016 was an incredible year for my family as it was the year we became parents for the first time.

This past year has pushed me in ways I never thought possible. Although motherhood took a lot of adjusting to at first, I am head over heels in love with my sweet little boy and I wouldn't change a thing!

I honestly never knew I could love something or someone as much as I love my son. His arrival to this world changed my life and I have cherished every precious moment (even the 2 a.m. feedings as I remind myself that this will not always be so...and one day I'll miss holding him)! They truly don't stay little long...in just 8 short months, he's changed and grown SO fast!

 

Twenty sixteen taught me that I could push my body and my mind to limits I never thought possible. I thought running a marathon was the toughest thing I'd ever done in my life until I experienced an epidural free childbirth with pitocin.  I'm still shocked I made it through but I'm so grateful for the support team I had in my husband and nurses that day. They truly made all the difference in the world!

Brayden's birth was truly the highlight of my year. We've had a lot of fun moments between here and there with watching him grow and develop into his own little person, but April 5th takes the top of my "best day ever" list! 

Making the decision to become a mother was truly one of the best decisions I've ever made. Even through our journey through infertility and everything we experienced along the way, I can honestly say I would not change a thing! 

 Thanks, 2016! You truly were an awesome year!!

New Year's Weekend 2016

Happy 2016! I know I say it every year, but it's hard to believe that 2015 flew by so fast! I AM excited to say this, though - we are officially in 2016 which is the year we get to meet our little Baby Seal! Yay!

Over the New Years Eve weekend, I spent a lot of time sitting around (per Doctor's orders) and a lot of time hanging out with friends! 

New Years Eve itself wasn't a big hoopla this year. My husband was working nights, so my friend Kim and I decided to do a late Christmas catch-up. We ate dinner at McAlisters, exchanged gifts (she got me a Minnie Mouse onesie!), and we caught a movie. I was home by 10:30 p.m., watched the ball drop in NYC at 11 p.m., then went to sleep. Jason called a few minutes before midnight so we could at least talk to each other while the new year transitioned.

On New Year's Day, I had another late Christmas shindig with a few more friends. It's kind of our tradition now to host our "party" on NYD, so I guess that's what we're going with from now on!

One problem - practically EVERY restaurant in our hometown was closed. Our husbands had the same problem and...well...we ended up at the same restaurant while sitting at different tables. It was quite comical!

Walk-Ons is a newer restaurant here in town. I've eaten there many times in NOLA and Baton Rouge but was excited to finally try our hometown location! I ordered my favorite - Cajundillas (quesadillas stuffed with lots of Cajun favorites) and it was delicious as always!

After dinner, I might have splurged on a McD's strawberry shake. I can't tell you the last time I had one of these!!

We exchanged gifts, then took a few pictures!

After it was all said and done, we ended the night watching many hours worth of videos from a trip we all took together a little over 10 years ago. Oh my gosh...I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!

The remainder of the weekend was spent shopping for baby furniture with Jason (more on that later), sleeping, taking down the Christmas décor, and sitting as much as possible.

Oh yes, and apparently our hot water heater decided to leak, but we caught it before any damage was done (whew)! We are now the official proud new owners of a brand spankin new hot water heater! Ah, the life of a homeowner! :)

How was your New Years Eve/Weekend? Did you do anything special to celebrate?

2015 - Looking Back

What a year 2015 has been...with ups and downs and everything in between! I think it's fun to look back over the year and remember the events that took place over the course of 365 days, so here they are!

In January, I completed the Louisiana Half Marathon in Baton Rouge. Here, I officially reached my goal of breaking the 2 hour time frame for a half marathon! It wasn't easy but it was oh so worth it!

"One"derland - 1:58:56

In February, Jason and I traveled to Orlando for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend!

My friend and I dressed like Elsa and Anna and had a blast running the 10K!

After completing the Glass Slipper Challenge, we jumped on board the Disney Dream for a few days at sea! There, we completed the Castaway Challenge on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. I loved completing this challenge with Jason - we had so much fun!

In May, Jason had a corrective surgery which was the missing link in our infertility journey. There were many moments of heartache and pain for both us and our family members during this time. You take the highs with the lows and learn to cherish each high - that's something I've learned about life.

In June, my family and I marked an item off our "lifetime experiences list" and travelled to Cooperstown, NY for the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction! We were there to see one of our baseball favorites, Craig Biggio (first Astro to be inducted into the Hall of Fame). This truly was an experience like no other!!

I would travel here again in a heartbeat if given the opportunity!

After returning from Cooperstown, Jason and I discovered a little secret....we were expecting!!

Our FIRST Ultrasound! It's hard for me to believe that I was pregnant in the Cooperstown pictures and didn't even know it!!

We revealed the news to our families in a video and had so much fun in the process!

We loved experiencing everyone's reactions and enjoying the surprise right along with them!

At the end of August, we were both honored with the opportunity of serving in our friend's wedding. No one except our families knew our little secret yet, though! Shhhh!

In October, my little mini-me and I completed the Gulf Coast Half Marathon in Mandeville, LA. I was 16 weeks pregnant at the time!

I am thankful for my friend Heather who graciously agreed to stay with me the entire time! :)

In November, we embarked on a Disney Cruise for our "Baby Moon". It had been planned since the spring and the timing worked out perfectly!

We had a great time and enjoyed spending the week together!

After we returned home, we hosted a Gender Reveal party and discovered that Baby Seal is a BOY!

Last but not least, we traveled to Disney World one final time as a couple in December for a little visit with our friends!

We also had this trip planned since the spring, but added on a few days at the end to enjoy the Disney Christmas festivities.

Looking back, 2015 was a fun year for us and I can't wait to see what 2016 has to hold!! Here's to many MANY new adventures ahead!

Happy New Year, friends! :) I hope you have a blessed one!

What was the best surprise 2015 brought to you?

Happy New Year 2014

As we say goodbye to 2013 and hello to a brand new 2014, I wish you all happiness, peace, prosperity, and many many miles out on the track/road/trails – where ever your running journey may take you!





Last night, Jason and I celebrated the beginning of the New Year at a friend’s house. We had gumbo, potato salad, and lots of dessert!



These delicious oreo truffles were a huge hit! I found this recipe on pinterest yesterday and they were SO easy to make!

Speaking of dessert, now that the holidays are over, I’m making it a goal to tone down on my sugar consumption. I have most everything stored away and out of sight. Having things out of sight and out of mind really helps with the temptation!



Also, the Capturing December photo challenge is over! If you missed out, you can see all of the pictures on my Instagram. January begins a new photo a day challenge with Team runDisney friends. If you’re interested in participating, leave a comment and I’ll get the link to you!

I want to take a moment to thank you guys for all you’ve put into my life this past year. Your unending support and encouragement has meant the world to me and I cannot thank you enough. I am so thankful for all of the new friendships I’ve made, those I’ve met in person through various expos/races, and those I will meet real soon! Y’all are the best, I truly mean that!  Thanks for being a part of my life this past year and thanks for allowing me to be a part of yours!

Here’s to 2014 - a year filled with new adventures, excitement, and lots of happy trails!

How did you spend your New Years Eve? Have you made any goals for this upcoming year?