My Big Little Boy

Last night we converted Preston's bed to a toddler bed.  This was something we skipped for Bennett, as she went straight to a big bed with side rails.  However, we haven't purchased the new mattresses and boxsprings for Preston twin beds yet, so he is stuck in his nursery for now. 

Pres & Bennett trying it out last night.

For those that don't know much about Pres, he is the WORST sleeper!  I don't know what I did differently with him as a baby, but he has been a restless sleeper since the beginning.  Even as a toddler, he rarely sleeps through the night.  He wakes up screaming and crying and calls my name.  He usually doesn't want Steve, so that leaves me to tend to him every night.  I can calm him down pretty quickly and get back to sleep, but he interrupts my sleeping EVERY night.

Last night was his first night in his new bed, and we were worried that he wouldn't do well.  He slept until almost 5am, but he rolled out of the bed and it woke him up.  I went in and rocked him some and he slept until almost 8am!  He was so happy when he awoke.  He called for me and when I got in there he said "Mommy I slept in a big boy bed, and didn't fall out."  I think he was happy he stayed in the last several hours. 

Anyway, we're hoping he does well with the transition as we have several trips planned for this year where he will be in a bed of some sort.  We figured with spring break this week, it would be a perfect time to give it a try!  Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Perserverance




Bryan, me, Bennett, Kadie, Michael & Lauren

 This morning I ran my first 5K in forever....really, in over 8 years (since before I left Peoria).  Steve and I were both going to run it with some friends, but Bennett was diagnosed with strep yesterday, so our childcare plans fell through last minute.  Steve was nice enough to sit this one out so I could run it.  Since January I have been cross-training: doing a variety of bootcamp classes, as well as spin, kick-boxing, weights and running a little lately.

Earlier this week I ran 4.25 miles on the treadmill and I felt great...no knee or feet problems!  So I decided that running this 5K would be fun.


Why can't I play in the street?

However, last night when Steve and I were deciding who would run, I started to get nervous.  I worried I wouldn't be able to run the whole thing, or that I would embarrass myself with a crappy time.  He said that I should get a formal time for myself, so I was the chosen one.

Then today, everything started off great!  I woke up in time to enjoy some coffee before I left, as well as put together a new playlist on our iPod.  Then the kids got up and we got them dressed and out the door in time for us all to ride together.  I registered, stretched and got behind the line.  When the gun went off, I started off slowly, but tried to maneuver my way through the "slower than me" people.


Where are my sunglasses?


Then I tried to find someone who was running at a pace similar to mine (that is what I learned way back when).  That person was my friend Kadie.  I let her lead, and we stayed together until the last half mile.  I then decided I needed to start picking it up a little.  I had a goal to beat Steve's 5K time, so I had to finish strong.


I'm in the back going through the shoot.

At the 3 mile marker, I really picked it up and sprinted to the finish line.  When I went through the finish line at 27 minutes and change, I was so excited!  As pathetic as this is, I think that may be my best time for a 5K (I know, I really am NOT fast).

The beauty of the whole thing is how good I felt afterward.  Running is one of the most addictive things!  I wish my body could withstand long-distance running because I could be so skinny!

Oh well, for now I will stick to 5Ks, and maybe a 10K if I can work myself up to 6-7 miles.  You want to know something else funny?  Steve went to the gym this afternoon and ran on the treadmill.  He came home and said that he ran it in 26 min and 54 seconds (he had to be the fastest).  We are so competitive, so I guess I have new goal...26.5 minutes!

The "after" group shot



Bennett's First Field Trip

Yesterday morning I joined Bennett and the rest of her classmates and moms on a short "field trip" to Edgewood Creamery (a local ice cream shop near Bennett's school).  We walked to the location at 9:30 (Really? Do kids seriously need ice cream at 9:30 in the morning?), and socialized a bit while enjoying a cone. 

Bennett chose chocolate, and did a wonderful job keeping herself clean while eating it.  However, when she saw some of her friends making a mess and getting a laugh, she had to do the same!

Needless to say, she had a blast!



With some of her girlfriends!

Family Birthdays

It seems like all of the Mizerany birthdays fall in two months...March and October.  This of course is not exactly how it is, we just have three celebrations in each of those months.  Since Maria, John Michael and Uncle Dan all have March birthdays, and Sara was sick for her birthday in February.....we had one big lunch feast to ring in all four today.

Louis and Michelle hosted, so we all went over and gorged ourselves.  Bennett and Preston love to spend time with their cousins, and had a ball playing with all of their old toys and the playdough.  Since Maria was just in for the weekend, Bennett got her fill of "Ria" today.

In typical Bennett fashion, she was most anxious for the cake, and had to be there to assist Maria in blowing out the candles.

Uncle Dan with all of his beloved nieces and nephews!  We wish you a VERY happy birthday Uncle Dan!!

Chili Cook-Off

Attending the Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off has become an annual tradition for us.  It is so fun to walk a couple blocks to a huge fundraiser where they are serving over 100 different chilis, you can drink beer and listen to a fun band.  In the past, the weather has been perfect....warm and sunny.  However, today was a different story...it was a cold, rainy day.  But we weren't going to let a little rain (or a lot during some points) stop us.  So we bundled up with our raincoats and rainboots, packed our coolers full of cold beer, and walked up to the park with our umbrellas.

We had a blast, regardless of the weather, and sampled some very good chili!  After an hour of light rain, Bennett and Lily (a friend's little girl) were ready to go home, change clothes and play in the comfort of our house.  So Lily's mom, Kadie, walked the girls home while the rest of us hung out for another hour.  It continued to rain on and off, but we had so much fun!  Pres was a hoot, dancing to the band, stomping in any puddles he could find, and eating ALL candy that he was served.  Having us all to himself was an added bonus.

After our bellies were full, we walked home and put the kids down for naps.  Then more of our friends came over and we planned our dinner.  Fortunately we all love to cook, so we made grilled oysters, crab claws, steamed shrimp, baked potatoes and asparagus!  I must say that dinner was phenomenal, and I was STUFFED!  All of the kids had a ball playing together, and we had fun chit-chatting and hanging out.

Though the day didn't go just as we had planned, it turned out better than expected.  It is so much fun to live in a community where we can walk everywhere and have so many wonderful friends nearby.

Spring is Near!

Yesterday was a perfect spring day!  Sunny with a slight breeze, and roughly 70 degrees (if only it was like this EVERY day)!  Unfortunately we had to start our day with a visit to our pediatrician (I swear we are a major contributor to his retirement fund this year).  Pres came home from school Wednesday complaining of an ear ache, so I gave him some Tylenol and hoped it would go away.  Sadly, he awoke from his nap in worse pain, but I procrastinated and missed office hours.  So though he awoke up in a good mood Thursday, I knew he would not have complained so much the night before if he wasn't in pain.  As I expected, he has an ear infection.

Since he was feeling better (and I had promised him the day before), we went to the zoo after our doctor's visit.  The kids ran around and we checked out all of the animals.  We even visited the reptile building that I have been purposely avoiding for the past four years because I hate snakes.  Imagine my surprise when we walked in and saw two frisky tortoises!

Unfortunately the new African exhibit is not open until April, so we were unable to see many of those animals.  However, Preston was thrilled to ride the train (while eating a snack), and they were both so excited to see our new male elephant exploring his new digs.  We'll definitely be back next month to see him up close with his new friend (who was still getting acclimated in a cage today).

Following our trip to the zoo, we went to lunch at our favorite kid-friendly place.  We sat outside, took in the sunshine while we ate, then went home for naptime!  It was one of those days where I would have loved to work in the yard, but I had to sit behind a desk and pound out calls for my crummy little job.  Oh well, it provides me some "fun money" and a little independence, so I can't complain that much.  After a perfectly delish (and low-cal) dinner (grilled chicken on mixed greens with cranberries, pecans and a balsamic vinaigrette).....I chilled in front of the TV.  If only this weather would continue, and it wouldn't get cool again.....a girl can dream, right?