This week felt like all of a sudden we really started gearing up for the holidays. With Thanksgiving being late this year, we decided to decorate for Christmas this weekend. We will be away next weekend, then it’s already December and we will be jumping right into prepping for Grayson’s birthday. I’ve also been working on some holiday guides for the blog and browsing for gifts. Running has definitely taken a backseat this week!
While I love this time of year, I also find it overwhelming. I like simple tasks that I can check off on a to do list. Right now I feel like the things I need to get done are more of a work in progress that will happen over time. I feel like I waste time looking around on the internet for gift ideas and may or may not make any progress over a long period of time.
Decorating and Babyproofing
On Saturday morning we started bringing up the Christmas decorations. Now that we have a play mat and gate taking up half of our family room, we had to figure out where to put the tree. We decided to take down an entire shelf in one corner of the room knowing it would have to go soon anyway once Grayson starts walking. (It is not anchored to the wall and had lots of pictures frames on it). It took us all morning but we got it all done. Now we just have a bunch of pictures with no where to put them!
Holiday/One Year Photos
On Friday we had our professional photographer (who did Grayson’s newborn shots) take pictures for his one year birthday. We are also hoping to use them for a holiday card. We were supposed to do them at an outdoor venue but when we got there it was pouring rain. We came back to our house, did some inside, and then it stopped raining. So we were able to get some outside of our house. It worked out well and I am excited to see how they came out!
For those of you who have kids I know this will probably sound obvious to you, but it is just amazing how much they change in such a short period of time. When I look back on pictures from just a few weeks ago he looks so different. Each month seems like a huge change. It was weird having the same photographer back who was here in January because it felt like just yesterday that he was a tiny newborn.
Weekly Run Down
You probably came to read about my workouts last week, so here they are. Nothing exciting, and like I said running was just not the priority this week. Usually I focus on running first thing in the day but instead I have been using that time to get other things done.
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Strength Training
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: 3 mile stroller run
Friday: Strength training
Saturday: Rest/Walk
Sunday: 4 treadmill miles
Who knows what will happen this week with my workouts. I took the whole week off from work and we are going to New York for Thanksgiving. I will probably try to get in my strength training workouts before we leave so I don’t need to worry about them while we are there. Then I can squeeze in some runs if there is time.
This year has taught me a lot about balancing life and running. There have been weeks/months where running just doesn’t happen or is minimal, and I’ve come to be 100% ok with that. It’s a big change from a couple of years ago when it was much harder to accept missed runs or a disrupted schedule.
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Happy Holidays!
The Final Round of Runfessions for 2016
A Look Back At January 2015
How were your workouts last week?
Are you gearing up for the holidays yet?
I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down!
hey you did what you could and sometimes you just have to priortise as the day is happening rather than try to plan everything out. It’s a busy time of year!
Your tree is lovely! we don’t do much at all for the holidays. it is what it is but it doesn’t help my mood a bit. I just try to be happy for everyone who is feeling festive.
I hope you’ll be sharing some of those 1 year shots of Grayson with us!
So true about just doing what you can this time of year!
Your tree looks lovely and I love Grayson’s sock over the fireplace! And that professional photo of you and him… INCREDIBLE! A baby certainly does change things completely, and yes, I don’t think anything teaches you as much about balance as a baby does. But seeing them grow and develop, is always such a joy. Plus Christmas gets a whole new meaning – it’s like reliving your own memories as a child, but through your own child’s eyes in real time.
Aw thank you! It really is such a joy. I am excited to see him experience Christmas this year since last year he was only 10 days old!
Indeed, family life does make for some adjusting…and that’s all good 😉 I knew a lady who was so into fitness and running and Ironman training, that she sent her kids to daycare EVERYDAY so she could train. She didn’t work outside the home, but made training her “job.” She was happy (and I assume the kids didn’t know any different), so it worked for her. Congrats on finding that balance…it’s not easy, and it is different for everyone.
Wow! My husband would never go for that lol. But as long as it worked for their family and made them happy then that’s great!
As hard as it was when the boys were young, I always tried to get some semblance of a workout in–even if it was a short run–because you know what they say: if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!
That picture of you and Grayson is just precious! I love how he’s looking at the camera.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Haha that’s so true and that is why I try to get something in even if I know there are other things I should do. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
That first year does fly by! Long days and short years. Also a very fun time enjoy it all . Love the photos! Have a happy Thanksgiving
Sometimes the days feel short too lol! But such a fun time for sure. Thanks and happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
I decorated for Christmas this weekend too! Normally we wait until after Thanksgiving but we realized Christmas Eve is less than 30 days away and broke our rule. A few days early isn’t too bad.
Totally agree! It will be nice to have it done after Thanksgiving so we can just focus on holiday shopping.
Awww the first birthday is such a wonderful milestone! Looks like the pics taken in the house are fabulous. Kids do change everything, but trust me they grow up SO freaky fast, so soak it in while you can. Every phase is a new kind of wonderful though. Have a wonderful week and a great Thanksgiving!
The pics came out great- we are really happy with them! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving too!
Totally agree with you about this time of the year. While it’s my favorite time of the year, it’s also super busy and can be a little stressful!
I’m glad that you were able to take some of the photos indoors and outdoors – i just love the one that you posted – so cute!
I try to enjoy this time of year but its hard to not get stressed out when there is so much to do! Thank you!
All about the simple check offs – and I don’t even have a kid to complicate things. He’s getting so big – and of course so cute. Love the wink pic with you.
Thank you! The simple tasks make me feel so much more accomplished. I hate when there is one big task that stays on my list for weeks!
I have a feeling I may end up putting up our Christmas tree when my husband is visiting his parents — maybe I should ask him to put the tree together before he leaves. It’s a chore to do, but so worth it when it’s done! Great plan for your workouts. I’m staying home and planning on a TG day run before I start cooking.
It really is such a chore! I enjoy having it up but then once Christmas is over I get antsy to take it down because I know thats alot of work too lol.
Our Christmas tree will be going up in the next few days. I usually wait until after Thanksgiving, but we’re doing it a little early. I just hope my cat will stay out of it!
I think alot of people are putting it up before Thanksgiving this year because its almost December already!
Aww, those photos are awesome!! A baby changes a lot of things. You move things around and do the best you can. I think you’re doing GREAT!! I have a Christmas tree but haven’t put it up in a few years because of the cat. Now I don’t have any room (the Peloton bike is also in the living room) and with two cats, the tree will only survive a few hours. I have a little and Lola managed to knocked that one down.
Oh no! Well I think the peloton is a great alternative to a tree:) Maybe you can put some decorations on there or something.
We’re Jewish. It makes the holidays a lot easier! My biggest struggle right now is motivation. I really struggle with the gray days (there’s been a lot of them), and the cold, but that’s nothing new & I always get through it.
My next half probably won’t be until June, so I’m probably going to just stick with the 3 runs that have been pretty much all I’ve managed lately — but running continues to go well.
Kids change everything, and mostly in a good way. Granted, I don’t have them, but they change your priorities & you never get back that time (although you do have to balance that with some time for you, too). So enjoy it as much as you can!
This time of year is so hard when its colder and dreary. Sounds like a good plan to stick with 3 runs for now! Might as well enjoy some down time.
I’ve definitely been keeping in mind that this time will go fast. I know I’ll be able to do more running as he starts getting older and a little more independent!
I’m really trying not to stress about workouts today and just get in as much family time as possible. I have to work 7-2 today and instead of staying after to workout, I’m going home to hangout with my family and I’ll just get up early for a run tomorrow morning.
Hope you and your family had a very Happy Thanksgiving!!
Cute photos. I can’t believe achristmas is almost year. Nice tree!
Thank you! I cant believe it either!