My First Time

So this JUST happened, but I figure if I don't blog now, it won't get written down. I just completed my very first 5K race! I feel so good right now. Before the race started I was so nervous. I thought that I couldn't do it. I was sure that half way through the course I would just fall down and never finish, and really the only way I could fail is if I didn't finish. But a 5K is only just over 3 miles, so really what was I scared of? I go walking every morning. I walk my butt off (hopefully it will fall off soon...). And here I am thinking that I can't make it around campus? How silly.

So the race starts, and off I go. I get a really good pace right off. I know that I can make it more than a mile at that pace. Everyone else seems to fly past me. I felt slow. Then, once we were hidden from the crowd that saw us off, at least a third of the runners stopped running. They only wanted to look cool, then walk the rest of the race. LAME. They had me feeling slow and all they were doing was getting out of sight. I knew then that I really am awesome.

Then I made it to the first mile mark. Then I made it past the first mile mark. Then I made it down a hill and around a corner and up a hill. And then I was pretty dead and I needed to walk for a while. I looked at where I was, and I was all the way to the middle of Aggie Village. I rock! I didn't have to slow down til way after the first mile mark, and I was almost to the half way mark. Cool. The rest of the race I ran a little then walked a little, till I could see the end, then I ran all the way.

I didn't feel prepared before I went into this race, but finishing and not feeling like I was going to die made me realize that I was prepared and I didn't even know it. I made myself run this race because I said I would, and I can't even trust myself if I don't do the things that I say I'm going to do.

I really feel so empowered all of a sudden. I'm sorry that I keep rambling on and on. Let me put it simply. I did something that I didn't think I could do, and now I feel like I can do anything. I wish I could go back in time and tell this to my 12 year old self. I would say, "Karen, I know this is hard, and I know you are about to make a habit of always giving up, and never doing anything that doesn't come naturally to you, but if you just try, just for a little while, you will find that life is much more rewarding when you put in some effort than when you do nothing and just watch life pass you by." How different would my life have been if I had learned that lesson a long time ago? I am happy with where I'm at. I love my family and friends, and I know that I am who I am because of where I've been, but because I've learned this lesson, I can make sure my children learn it early on. They can be the kinds of people who always try their hardest and never give up. Just imagine that people that they will grow up to be all because I taught them how to try!

My Boy is 6 Months Today!

6 months ago today I gave birth. Weird.

So, Charlie did great at his 6 moth check-up. He is so tough, he only cried for like 10 seconds when they gave him his shots. Also, this boy is so big! Here are his 6 month stats:

Weight: 18 lbs 15.5 oz (75th percentile)

Height: 27 1/4 in. (80th percentile)

Head size: 16 1/2 in (10th percentile)

His head is still really small, but I think he looks proportionate. The doctor isn't too worried that he has a big body and a tiny head either.

Some other things you should know about my boy. He rolls around like mad. This kid can get wherever he wants super fast. I'm sure that its only a matter of weeks before he will be crawling. He is so independent. He wants to do everything for himself. He is still the quiet observer. He will just sit and watch people forever. But when he's home with us he is all talk. For real, he babbles on and on all day.

Well, there you have it. Happy 6 month birthday Charlie!

I'm just so Happy!

Okay, so let me list all the reason that there is sunshine in my soul today:

My ward is FANTASTIC! Today the spirit was so strong in all of our meetings. We had a great fast and testimony meeting where everyone bore their testimony of family, and I got to reflect on my sweet family that I've been blessed with. Then in sunday school, well I didn't really pay attention, but I got to watch my adorable baby play with his toys and fall asleep in his daddy's arms. Then in Relief Society we had the best lesson. Our Relief Society president bore her testimony on the importance of the organization and she read quotes from the new book "Daughters in My Kingdom." (I am so excited to get my copy from my visiting teachers) And she let us share our thoughts and personal experiences. I LOVE when I get to hear personal experiences from the sisters in my ward. I feel that we have all been blessed with different trials so that we can help each other through our experiences.

Another reason that I am filled with joy is that my wedding ring fits today! It stopped fitting in about November of last year, because I was pregnant, and it has fit off and on since about June. I try it on all the time and I am always so happy when it fits. I love that it reminds me of my husband, and that it acts as a sign to others that I am married. I love that when my husband sees that I'm wearing it he lights up. I love that making myself happy makes him happy.

Reason number three for my bliss would be my weight. I have now lost 12 pounds and am officially back down to my pre-pregnancy weight! Wahoo! I almost fit it to my favorite attractive pencil skirt too. I am so grateful to the wonderful women in my ward who help me exercise and keep me motivated. They are all so fantastic. I know exactly where I would be without them. 12 pounds heavier with no goal in mind and no motivation to even make a goal that I probably wouldn't try to achieve anyway. So here's to you, wonderful workout group! Also, just so everyone knows I am now 12 pound down, with only 60 to go. The more I lose the more I feel like my goal is very realistic, which also makes me happy.

And the final reason that I am happy today:

I get to play with Charlie all day every day! He is such a happy baby. I don't remember where we were, but I remember that Charlie was being pretty fussy. Someone looked over at me and said, "He is so happy and sweet. Is he this good all the time?" Wow! That was really the fussiest he ever gets, and this woman was telling me how sweet and happy he is. Thinking about it, he really is so happy all the time. He only whines when he's hungry or sleepy, but he is a baby after all. I'm an adult and I whine when I'm hungry and sleepy too. 

So that is my life for you. Happy and healthy with a baby who sleeps when we put him in his crib, and eats when we give him food, and smiles and plays all the rest of the time. I am grateful for my life. I know that we are where we need to be. We are in the perfect ward for us at the moment, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The Church is true and I love you!