momstuff

Goodbye, Downtown Running

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

This week marked a bittersweet week of running. Why is that? Because it was my last week of running as a downtown Clevelander.

We are moving to the BURBS! We’ll have a house and new running paths and trails and more areas to explore, but I’m going to miss a few things about my downtown running life:

  • Being so close to the running of the bridges – it’s so nice to “run the bridges” either by myself (it’s a 4-5 mi loop depending on what route I take) or with the organized group
  • Being able to run to the flats, the river, the lake, etc.
  • Having a gym in my apartment building for those days when I can’t/don’t wanna get outside – this means a treadmill AND elliptical for the non-running days
  • Being walking distance to SO MANY races (including the Cleveland Marathon!)

So, how did this week hold up? I got in 20+ miles finally – I’m still feeling slow and a little off, but my mileage was back up!

This week’s total: ~27 miles. 

Here’s a scene from my last run across the bridges on Saturday:

And my last picture with FW in the apartment after a run:

Some questions for you:

  • Do you have a gym in your building or a treadmill or elliptical you use?
  • Those of you who live in the suburbs – what do you like about running around your neighborhoods?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Tuesdays on the Run: Slowly and Surely

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

You guys – I am getting my mileage back up again! For the first time in more than a month, I hit double digits on my weekly mileage. No, that’s not one long run of double digits (not quite there yet!) but my total mileage for the week was 16.49 miles.

I’m not going to lie – getting back into running has not been as easy as I would have liked. It has been HARD! I’ve been trying to be good about doing my piriformis stretching and take it somewhat easy, but I am longing for the day when I can  just go out and go for a pain-free run and feel strong enough to go longer than 3-4 miles.

This week’s running highlight:

I ran with my beautiful pregnant bestie when I was in California earlier last week. It was a slow run, but was so much fun! We ran to the store to get cragels – croissant/bagels! – and ran back.

I’m going to hopefully continue to heal and get back to longer runs. I have to remind myself that it should get easier as I get back into running shape and not get down on myself for being so much slower than I was a few months ago!

Some questions for you:

  • What music are you listening to you now while you run? I got new headphones!
  • What are you looking forward to most this week?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

My Weekend – One Sentence Per Photo Style

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Friday night breakfast for dinner.

Saturday morning run; first outdoor run in more than 2 weeks.

Saturdays in the ‘burbs while Daddy works on the house. 

Saturday night dinners with friends.

Friends who know how to cook amazing meals = bonus.

Sweet potatoes for snack on a Sunday (say that 10x fast).

Couldn’t fit the stroller in the car so we didn’t leave downtown.

Selfies in the park!

Ending the weekend with a summery dinner.

An evening walk with the sick kid.

It was a beautiful evening!

Some questions for you:

  • Did you spend some time outside this weekend?
  • What’s your favorite summery meal?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!

Tuesdays on the Run: Fourth of July Week

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

Is anyone else still wishing it were last Tuesday and we had the day off from work and could be just spending time outside enjoying the Fourth of July? I definitely am! Last week I had off Monday and Tuesday off, and we enjoyed spending time outside with a hike on Monday and a run as a family on Tuesday.  The week included 5 runs, including 2 outdoor runs and one with a stroller:

My favorite run of the week was on Tuesday – B, FW and I got out to the park and got in a stroller run. I pushed FW for about 3 miles and B took him for the last mile or so:

It wasn’t a bad week, but my mileage was much lower than it has been. My legs just felt heavy and tired most of the week – it probably didn’t help that a few nights in a row I got barely 5 hours of sleep. And then yesterday, I pulled a muscle or something in my lower back/butt. TMI? I’m not sure what’s up, but I can barely walk straight, so this week may not include much running sadly 😦

Some questions for you:

  • How many hours of sleep do you get in a typical night?
  • What are you looking forward to most this week?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Weekends with a Four Month Old

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 9 Comments

Okay technically I guess this post should be called 4 1/2 month old. But I can barely believe that FW is four months old. He’s rolling, babbling, giggling and pretty fun. This weekend was a fun one – but B was out of town at a wedding so I played single mom for a little bit. Luckily my parents came into town for a little so I had some help along the way.

This weekend included:

Friday night pizza and beer. The tradition never gets old. Especially when my parents are here and I get to have eggplant on my pizza!

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Wine and chocolates. Because – it was THAT kind of week. And well, do you really need a reason?

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Some cold temps, which meant fall fashion. I have a thing for guys in cardigans – and while B isn’t a fan of wearing them, at least FW can!

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A walk downtown and to the Flats.

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And another walk – because it was finally fall weather!

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Lots of snuggling.

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Sunday I was pretty much on my own, which meant after I went for a run, FW and I took a walk around downtown and enjoyed some warmer temps. We did some meal prep for the week and ended the day with dinner at B’s family. And then finally B came home!

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Some questions for you:

  • Did you spend time outside this weekend? Saturday was cold but Sunday was warm again!
  • When was the last time you flew anywhere?

I’m linking up with Erin, Katie and the weekly wraps.

 

3:30 a.m.

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 1 Comment

[[inspired by this blog post from my dear IRL mommy blogger friend Reanna]]

It’s 3:30 a.m. and I’m up again. Up again feeding the little guy. FW still doesn’t sleep through the night (who are all these parents who say their kids slept through the night starting at 2 months?!) and I’m in his room again for a feeding.

It’s 3:32 a.m. and I’m half asleep. I’m still holding onto FW so tight as he eats, afraid that if I hold him too loosely he may just disappear into the darkness and I may wake up and this whole motherhood thing will have all been a crazy, amazing dream.

It’s 3:35 a.m. and I’m tired. So tired that I’m not sure how I’m going to survive the week ahead. I’m not sure how I’ll be able to turn on “work Melissa” and off “mom Melissa.”  I worry that if this keeps up, I’ll fail at both. Part of me worries that I already am.

It’s 3:39 a.m. and my eyes are bleary. It’s often at this time of night (or is it morning?) that I find myself tearing up, partially from exhaustion, but mostly because of how much I find myself loving FW. I wonder if it’s normal to love a 13 pound human so so so much?

It’s 3:42 a.m. and FW is asleep on my lap. His breathing is heavy and his eyes are closed, yet I haven’t gotten up to put him down. I know I should go to sleep (for another 1.25 hours until my alarm goes off for my workout … or another hour until he wants to eat again – whichever comes first) but can’t bring myself to carry him back to his crib. As much as these feedings tire me out, there’s a part of me that doesn’t want them to end. I’m savoring the moment, his breathing and his smell, knowing that in a few weeks months years, this will all be a memory.

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Weekends with a Three Month Old

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

FW is officially three months old. He’s no longer a newborn and I’m back to semi-routined lifestyle. It’s strange, new and yet I love every single minute of it. Especially the weekends, when FW, B and I can spend time together do what we love doing best – going for walks and runs, cooking, eating, and hanging out on patios. And that’s exactly what we did this weekend!

This weekend included ALL of the above. Including:

Friday night pizza and beer. The tradition never gets old. Especially with pumking – one of my favorite fall beers!

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It’s finally feeling like fall which means it’s sweater and sweatshirt weather here. FW likes the chilly weather and finally being able to wear this zip up!20161001_164506

We started Saturday with a semi-picnic breakfast outside at Public Square. I love Bloom Bakery’s treats and their bagels are the best. img_20161001_090102

We also took a nice walk around downtown and the Flats. The family that wears grey sweatshirts together …

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And because it was Saturday, we hit up the market for some groceries. I planned out all our dinners for this week and am excited to try some new easy recipes!20161001_143010

And when the weather cleared up, we hit up Parnell’s for a patio drink.20161001_180739

We kept it simple for Saturday’s dinner – some bread, cheese and soup. 20161001_183442

There was also brunch. Which for me, means sweet (French toast) AND savory (runny eggs!).

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And a lovely fall family stroller run.

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And I was even productive. Got some work done (yup, now that I’m back at work there are some things to get done on weekends) AND some meal prep for the week. Lots of roasted veggies and some boobie/energy bites and bars for snacks.

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All in all it was a great weekend here – I’m not ready for reality to kick back in today!

Some questions for you:

  • Did you spend time outside this weekend? It felt like fall here!
  • Do you meal prep? What are some easy meals/snacks you can make in advance?

I’m linking up with Erin, Katie and the weekly wraps.

 

FW’s First Trip To NY

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 2 Comments

This weekend,  B and I took FW on his first road trip- we went to visit my parents, brother,  extended family and friends in NY.

It was the baby’s first road trip!

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First,  I’ll admit that a normally 8 hour car ride is not my idea of fun. Add in a semi cranky 2-month-old baby? Not the greatest way to spend your Friday night. But once we got into town,  it was great! I loved being able to introduce everyone to the baby and also get some time to myself as he was passed around.

semi-cranky baby hehe

semi-cranky baby hehe

Some weekend highlights included:

Playing “pass the baby.” Not really- but FW got passed around from my mom, to my aunt to my uncles, etc.

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Going for a run around my old neighborhood while FW was watched by my parents. It’s a nice change of scenery from my usual downtown runs and much hillier than I’m used to!

seen on my run

seen on my run

Seeing my brother.  I hadn’t seen him in a few months and I was so glad that he and FW got to meet! This picture makes me so so so happy.

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Hanging out with Jane and Alisa,  two of my bffs from forever.  They were also excited to meet FW.

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And we snuck in some FaceTime with our bff Melgar of course.

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Taking FW on a run at a local park. B and I took turns with the jogging stroller, which is getting a little easier to use.

post-run pic at the park

post-run pic at the park

Getting through our first road trip with FW. I was lucky to get some advice from some mom friends ahead of time (including Reanna) and it went pretty smoothly. I spent about half the time in the front of the car, half in the back and brought a few toys, some pumped bottles and a car adapter for my pump.

Watching the first BC game of the season. FW hung out with B and cheered on the Eagles, who sadly lost their lead at the end of the 4th Quarter.

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We had to leave early Monday but still managed to make it home for our usual “Sunday” dinner – where FW continued to get showered with attention,  this time by his cousins.

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My heart is so full from showing FW my home and introducing him to so many of the most important people in my life. I know he won’t remember these days later in life, but I’m cherishing every one of these moments as he gets bigger and bigger each day!

Beer Is Good For You

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 11 Comments

It was another truly beautiful weekend in CLE. It was SO good to have B around – his first week back at work went smoothly for all of us, but it is so so much easier and more enjoyable for all of us with him around.

So what did we do? Well, in no order … (seriously, no order. This is not a summary of Friday through Sunday- trying something new here)

We took a walk and enjoyed great views like this one:

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I wore FW around – I’m liking this baby wearing thing!

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We hung out with this little guy. I’m sorry in advance to all of you who follow me on Snapchat or Insta (@koskim on both) – for the abundance of baby snaps, videos, etc. I can’t get enough of him.20160716_180553

And this one. He is just too cute after his bath!

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B and I enjoyed some delicious food and drink. It only took me 3 days to finish this iced decaf 🙂20160715_082908

And I drank a whole half of this grapefruit beer. Baby steps. And speaking of babies – did you know beer is GOOD FOR YOU when you’re breastfeeding? Yes, it’s obviously in moderation (as in, I drank half of it …) but I read it on the internet. It’s GOOD FOR YOU. 20160716_203044

We tried out a new pizza place Friday night – it was pretty good!20160715_195551

I made French toast Sunday morning while B and FW hung out. Fact: Monk’s apple cinnamon bread makes amazing French toast.

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Saturday night called for Buffalo chicken salads.20160716_210407

Patio drinks are the best. Don’t they just taste better when they’re outside on a summer day? And it’s a lot easier to take a baby with you to a bar if you sit outside.

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We got in cute photos with the little guy like this one.

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And a family photo.20160716_193058

We checked out what downtown looked like now that the RNC is in town. Check out the layer of barricades going down the street? The republicans AND media have invaded – you see CNN grill in the background? As of a few days ago that said “Hairy Buffalo.”

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Twitter, Bloomberg, MSNBC and Washington Post have all taken over our former neighborhood.20160717_124257

And as usual we enjoyed a great family meal Sunday night at B’s parents. No photos – but imagine a RARE steak (#postpartumeats) and peach cobbler. YUM!

Well, here’s to a good week! Wish me good luck without B here during the days. I hope FW is getting used to life with just me during the days and will be a little less fussy this week.

Some questions for you:

  • What’s something you’re looking forward to this week?
  • Meat eaters-  how do you like your meat? Rare? Well done?

Per usual, I’m linking up today with Erin, Katie and the weekly wraps.