Our Monkey Update: 1 & 2 Months Old

February 25, 2013February 24, 2013 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 9 Comments

It’s hard to believe that our little one is 12 weeks old today. It’s been a busy few months and I’m just getting around to finishing this post that has been drafted for a while now!

Hilary @ Day 1

7 lbs 14 oz and 19 1/4 inch long

Hilary Elise

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Hilary @ 1 month Weight: 9 lbs 11 oz Weight – unknown

Hilary 1 month old

Feeding: Nursing every 2-3 hours during the day. We’ve had a hard time nursing but nothing compared to our challenges with Lilly who was born 4 weeks early. We’ve been seeing the lactation consultant at the hospital who’s been nothing but amazing along with seeing an Osteopath. It took a while but we figured out I have Reynaud Syndrome (I’ll let you read more about that) but basically nursing has been extremely painful. I’ve tried all the ~~tricks~~ treatments and am slowly getting better. Let’s just say I can’t wait until warmer weather.

Sleeping really well; seems to be awake more in the afternoon.

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Hilary @ 2 months Weight: 11 lbs 7.5 0z Height: 22 inches long

Hilary 2 months old

Sleeping: Really well at night (I can’t even bring myself to tell you how long but we are VERY lucky). She is napping throughout the day: 2-3 times.

Feeding: Nursing every 2-4 hours during the day and has taken 4/5 bottles from Daddy 🙂 She seems to be getting into a good routine with her feedings and I have managed to figure out her “signs”.

Diapers: Mainly disposables but using newborn Bum Genius cloth diapers when we can.

Developments:

We’ve introduced a dummy (soother) at 5 weeks. She doesn’t love it like her sister but will take it here and there.
Started smiling around 5-6 weeks and now smiles all the time.
Started saying “ah-goo” and what sounds like “hi” around 6-7 weeks.
Looking around at different objects in the room and turning towards people (Mommy, Daddy, Lilly and even Grammy).
She’s working on lifting her head when on her tummy.
Trying to hit objects that are in her way (toys or my face!).
Moves her eyebrows if she finds something interesting (I think).

Clothing: She is starting to not fit into 0-3 month clothing. I’ve had to take out 3-6 month pj’s and onesie’s!!!!

Hates:

Getting in her car seat.
Burping when extremely hungry (Mom, how rude of you to stop me to burp).
Too much tummy time.

Loves:

Colours and Contrasts.
Smiling.
To sleep on her back when wanting to sleep.
Bath time with Mommy, cries when Daddy baths her.

Laying on Daddy’s chest.
Looking at her sister.

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That’s my girl(s)

Lilly and Hilary February 2013 – so much love, xo.

The poor Monkey still doesn’t have a name and that’s okay. I think we’ll wait and let her name it when she’s old enough to do so. We’ll see.

See you at 3 months (next week)!

Running and a Milkshake #sweatpink

February 24, 2013February 24, 2013 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 6 Comments

Running doesn’t happen all that often these days. Why? Well, I have many excuses: it’s too cold, I have an almost 3 month old, it’s too cold, there is snow/ice on the road, I don’t have a treadmill or gym membership, it’s too cold, timing isn’t right. Blah blah blah.

I managed to go for a run today! It was great. I need to plan my runs as I can’t leave my children home alone and I can’t take them with me as we don’t have a double jogging stroller (yet).

I nursed Hilary and she fell asleep, so I handed her off to my husband and they cuddled. I was kinda thinking about going for a run but did a little cleaning first (mistake number one). After checking with Sai, I got my gear together and was ready to leave and hit the road. Wouaaa wouuaaa wu wu wu wouuuaaaa I heard coming from the basement. Frig! I zipped up my jacket and went down to get my runners on. Wouaaa wu wu wouaaaaa again. I looked in and asked if Sai was okay. Yup! He said. I felt guilty … so I took Maclean with me (mistake number two).

Testing out my Pro Compression socks – review coming soon!

Running with a retired sled dog can be fun or just down right dangerous! I kept her close while running and then would walk so she could do her business and check the pee-mail at a few corners. She wanted to run and her running is my sprinting so I had to slow her down a bit. She kept me going when I wanted to stop and it was just the push I needed. However, it’s not fun running with a bag full of dog poo but it had to be done.

Maclean read to go!

It was a perfect day for a run; sun was out, cool air and the roads were clear for once! We ran, we walked a little and I felt pretty good. The fat on my ass and inner thigh’s were asking me “why?, why are you doing this again”. (Yeah I have fat). It was as if I had been on vacation and my muscles were non-existent but the fat was just hanging out.

Recently, I’ve been struggling to get outside and run. Actually, I’ve been struggling just to be active again. Yeah, yeah, just because I blog about working out and running doesn’t mean I don’t struggle with it from time to time. Apparently, now’s my time. Once you stop it’s SO hard to get back into it. I am now on my way … I’ve decided to do the 30 day Shred again. I loved it the first time and I need to lose some weight and inches from my waist as I have to fit into a bridesmaid dress in June. June is not that far away folks.

Back to my run. I got home and Maclean was tired – success! I walked in the door to hear Wooouaaaa woouaaa wu wu woouaaaa again! She’d been crying almost the whole time I was out (25 minutes). The guilt came back and I sat down to nurse her again …. a milkshake for Hilary.

Are you watching the Oscars today?

Today is the day Sai proposed to me 6 years ago!

We got engaged in the afternoon and went to an Oscar party that night at work.

I worked at an Outdoor Centre, so we all got dress up in costumes and I had the bling bling that night to show off 🙂

Anyone run this weekend?

How do you plan your runs with little ones in the family?

How to Workout When You Have No $Money$

February 18, 2013November 18, 2013 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 8 Comments

We are now well into February and I’m confident that those New Year Resolutions are still going strong with everyone who made them! Right? You haven’t given up yet, have you?

I feel like I’ve had a slow start but am working towards my resolutions, not easy with a 2 month old and toddler these days. Being on maternity leave has its perks: napping when baby naps, family dinners (I’m slightly failing at this one), time to work out. Time to work out ?!?!?! Not so much around here – I’ve got laundry to do, dishes to clean, a wood stove to keep going, not to mention nurse Hilary and pick Lilly up at the end of the day (plus a few other things).

For me, working out is about running outside (or walking with a stroller) and DVD workouts at home (when I get a free moment). For people who don’t have a lot of money (like me on maternity leave) it can be hard to find money for a gym membership or to wear the latest workout clothing. So here are few ways you can work out without any money or for very little.

1 – Walking: It’s one of the best activities you can do for your body. Walking – simply get moving a little more. Walk to the grocery store, walk for 10 minutes 3 times a day around your store if you work in retail. You can walk inside the mall or indoor track and outside when the weather is good. Heart & Stroke has a great program called Walkabout with great tips and tools to help you get moving.

2 – DVD’s from your Library. Get online or go to your local library and see what DVD workouts they have on hand. This is a good way to see what type of workout you want to try and then invest in the DVD later on if you really liked it.

Piper’s Run – collection of DVD workouts!!!

Plus it’s FREE!

A few at our local library: The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michael’s (various), Yoga, Dancing with the Stars!

3 – Magazine’s. Okay, so you need to spend a little money here – maybe $5. There are numerous magazine’s out there that provide workouts such as Fitness Magazine , Prevention and Self. You may need weights (cans of soup work too) or sometimes your own body to work against you.

4 – Body Rock TV. If your reading this then you have access to the internet therefore you have access to numerous workouts online. I came across Body Rock TV on Facebook one day and was rather impressed (I really suck at their workouts but they are really good).

5 – Pinterest. This has become my go to place not only for workouts but for new recipes, stuff to do with kids, holidays etc. You can check out my “Workout” Board on Pinterest for a variety of workouts you can print and keep on hand to do on those days when you need a new workout.

Get Started Workout

6 – You Tube. I feel like you can find everything on You Tube. Just type in “workouts” or get more specific (for women, yoga, prenatal, HITT workouts). One of my favourites is Tone It Up.

Did I mention walking? Seriously, get moving a little more. And not just a stroll around the grocery store. Get outside or to a walking track/mall and pound the pavement.

7. Running. As I’ve said before, running is one of my favourite workouts. You don’t need fancy or expensive sneakers but you do need a good pair of sneakers that won’t give you any problems (knee, back) or get injured. You don’t need fancy clothing but you do need to wear appropriate clothing; layers in the winter and preferably not cotton. If you only have a cotton shirt, wear it but make sure to change out of it ASAP as it will stay wet and you’ll get cold.

There are many ways to workout if you don’t have a lot of money. The important thing is that you just get off the couch and get moving.

Piper’s Run

How do you workout when you can’t afford a Gym membership?

What’s your “free” way to workout?

Have you ever gone to the library for a DVD workout?

What’s your GO-To workout?

More importantly – how are your New Year Resolutions going?

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2013February 13, 2013 / Anna @ Piper's Run / 4 Comments

I have a confession to make.

I’m not really into Valentine’s Day. Really, it’s just another day. My husband and I don’t “celebrate” Valentine’s Day and I’m fine with that. However, with two daughters now, I have a feeling that Valentine’s Day is about to change. So today, I will share my blog post from last year about how my husband and I met. (When I wrote this he was away at school).

Love

After finishing my Recreation Management Degree at Acadia University in December of 2002, I moved to Ontario to work at an Outdoor Centre for the winter season; teaching cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, building and sleeping in a Quinzee, Campfires etc. I then went back for the Fall 2003 and Winter 2004 seasons. Then back to Nova Scotia for what I thought was the rest of my life.

In December of 2005 I took a big leap and accepted a full-time job at the Outdoor Centre in Ontario. I moved away from my whole family and friends for something I was passionate about. Working in the outdoors, year round. BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE!

The following March (2006) Sai came up from Carbondale, Illinois to volunteer at our Outdoor Centre where he was a previous employee – before my time from 2000 – 2002 (we actually just missed each other by a few months). He was supposed to be with us for about a week ….. he ended up staying two weeks!

My boss told me Sai had arrived at the camp and for me to connect with him over lunch. I was running late for lunch and there was one seat left in the dinning hall. Right next to Sai. I sat down and said hello, then blurted out “what’s your story”? Seriously, that’s what I said – not even “hi, how are you?” or “how was your drive?” “What’s Your Story” is what I said – not knowing a single thing about this man.

I was responsible for making sure he was assigned to a group and supporting him with any program related needs. No problem.

Thursday: Another staff member, Sai and I had a meeting in the afternoon about the group they were working. As we wrapped up the meeting and headed back downstairs to our offices he asked if he could come over to my place and watch CSI later that evening. Now, my little duplex cottage was a 20 second walk from the staff housing he was staying in – where there was a TV. I said “yeah sure, come on over, it’s on at 10 pm. See you later”.

And he did! At this point I thought he was just wanting to watch CSI without any other staff members talking, drinking etc and could actually enjoy the show. I’m not quite sure that was the case now.

We watched CSI, chatted all night and a few shows later we realised it was 2 am. I booted him out and said I needed some sleep.

Next day (Friday): We had an Aboriginal Health Group on site and that evening the staff participated in a Pow Wow (amazing and fun experience). There was an opportunity for us to get up and participate … dance around the circle. Sai was sitting next to me so I grab his hand and said “let’s go”. We had a fun evening and then hung out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

March 2006

Needless to say, we hit if off and he ended up staying a little longer then expected. But back he went to Illinois as that’s where he lived and worked….with plans to return a few weeks later. Did I mention it was a 17 hour drive for him – ONE WAY! Yeah! We dated long distance for 11 months and then got engaged.

Our Engagement:

Somehow Sai convinced me to buy him snowshoes for Christmas but little did I know he was doing the same for me. In February he moved up to Canada. The day after he arrived we went for an amazing snow shoe on the lake we lived on. It was a perfect sunny cold winter day in Ontario, one that you wouldn’t waste inside.

Koshlong Lake, Haliburton, Ontario.

February 2007

I thought it would be a perfect day to take some photo’s … little did I know, he was going to propose.

My husband, Sai.

Me!

What a beautiful day.

In the middle of the lake he got down on one knee and proposed to me! My response was “For Real?” He struggled to take the ring box from his jacket pocket and then I knew he was serious. And of course, I said Yes.

When he convinced me to buy him snow shoes for Christmas he had the whole proposal planned.