Jansen girls FIRSTS

Today was a day of firsts for me and Elizabeth...

First off-Today was my baby's first day at mother's morning out. She was super excited and was adorable with her backpack in tow. She didn't shed one single tear, and actually, I had to get her to just tell me bye. She was running between all the toys in her room. I guess she'll be my independent one.

Elizabeth and Trace all ready to go

(sorry picture is hazy - it was crazy humid today and my camera fogged up)

I mean really - isn't she adorable?!?

(She is also crashed as I type and was in bed at 7PM - play hard-sleep hard.)

Second - Mommy here ran the full TWO laps around our neighborhood this morning which is right over 3 miles. Yup, that was me, jogging (I don't think it would officially count as running, but I am patting myself on the back none the less). I was and still am pretty proud of myself, just still a little scared since I am only in week 2 of a 12 week training program. I'll keep you posted.

8 Questions

I was going to update my blog, but I always start by checking out Allena's. Today I found that I was tagged to answer 8 questions, so I guess I will do that instead:

Questions:1. If you could go on a trip right now, where would you go? Canada - JP and I have always wanted to go there. As long as there is a hot tub, I'd be in heaven.

2. What is your favorite baby name? (and you can't name your own children) No idea - I try to avoid the thought of new borns. I love mine now, but I am the kind that wishes they just came out about 6 months old.

3. What is your favorite website? Don't know, the only ones I regularly visit are my email and my bank, but neither seems to have much for me.

4. What is one thing you're embarrassed that you bought? Not really embarrassed of anything I have bought lately.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? With a 10 and 7 1/2 year old wondering how in the world time flew by so fast.

6. Are you a wine or beer drinker? Neither really, I do like my homemade Sangria though so I guess that is considered wine.

7. If you didn't have to work, what would you do? Go to the movies or read. (My answer should probably be stay at home with the kids, but I'll assume they are in school.)

8. What is your favorite blog? Allena's or mine.

Yes, that was me, walking

Today is day two of our half marathon training program and it's our first run. Sonja (neighbor/running partner) and I met at 6AM to do our first 3 mile run. I had my music, my new running shoes, and was ready to go. We made it through the first mile in really good time. But that was about as far as this little girl's running feet were going to go. Sonja has crazy long legs, has run a half marathon before and seemed to have decided to sprint her way through the neighborhood. I was keeping up but we were booking it as far as I was concerned and I had to give in and walk most of the second lap around our neighborhood. I finished the entire distance just not in a run.

Since I had some time by myself it actually turned into a little one on one with God, which was nice. The sermon this last week was about margin and making room in your life for what really matters and not always pushing ourselves to the limits of time, money, energy, etc.. It seemed to fit perfectly. I realized that I wasn't at all embarrassed by walking, I was pretty darn proud to have gotten up at 5:30AM to exercise. I realized that this training is a great way for me to try and remain fit and I'll just do my best. I won't beat myself up or kill myself in attempts to keep up with my friend because for me, it is all about finishing.

So, tomorrow is 2 miles. I will pray that my body cooperates and I get my head in it and just finish, in my own time, and for no one other than me.

Daddy's new toy

All is well here at Jansen Family Farms...everyone was all smiles when the new tractor made it to Momsie and Pop's house Saturday. The kids were excited, but not quite as much as JP and Jimmy (at least I don't think). The tractor is coming just days before they start harvesting their cotton.

Thanks very much to God and some very timely and beneficial rains, the guys have some of the best cotton they've ever had. JP is always quick to add that, "It isn't out of the field yet..." BUT as I type this, they have the whole team in their first field and things are going well. I'll update you as the harvest progresses.

Pops enjoying showing off his new ride with Trace and Elizabeth.
OH YEAH - there is a buddy seat, so Trace was in and buckled up before JP even turned it on.

Tears on move in day

Today is the beginning of move in day at Baylor University. I am here auditing them and drove into town and saw all the hustle and bustle of kids (sorry that that term might seem rude, but since I had my own, most people younger than me are considered "kids" to me) and their parents. Well, I happened to see this one dad running around their car going to grab boxes and I LOST IT. Tears welled up and I just couldn't help but be heartbroken for this man leaving his baby behind. I instantly thought of Trace and Elizabeth and the thought of leaving them made my heart break. Luckily they are 5 and 2 and I have a few years to prepare.

The moral of the story though is that I again had a moment where I realized what my parents must have gone through. I called my mom to tell her about the tears and tell her that I can only try and appreciate what they must have gone through on that 6 hour drive home after leaving me at Texas Tech. There is no way I could have known or appreciated the feelings they must have had until I had my own children. Of course, my mother, in her infinite motherly wisdom, just said that all you can do is raise them to make good decisions and then pray for the rest.

SO, here's to all the parents leaving their "babies" at college, to my parents who prepared me pretty darn well for life, and to me and JP who can only pray that we are raising our babies to grow into the adults we hope they will become.

13.1

That is the number of miles I am going to train to run! I must be crazy. I just registered for my first half marathon, the San Antonio Rock 'N Roll half-marathon. Sonja, my favorite neighbor, has already run in one and has now talked me into this one. Needless to say I have lots of work to do since I the longest I've ever run is 4 miles. JP doesn't understand paying to put yourself through hell, but I can remember growing up and always just saying, "I hate to run...I can't run..." and finally after my two years at VRT Bootcamp, I realized I could run and dang it, I guess I am going to try and run 13.1 miles.

This will by far be the biggest physical challenge I have ever committed myself to, so I ask that you pray for me to stay committed to training and find the confidence I think this race will take to finish. I say "race" with a smile, because this will all be about finishing, not winning, because I will have totally won if I can just cross the finish line.

To keep me accountable, I will post my weekly progress...and just in case you are wondering, I am totally nervous just writing about this, so pray for me to have some peace about this too...

Happy birthday to ME

Today I am 31. It has been a fabulous day, and I thank all my family and friends that called, texted or emailed to wish me a great day. It was pretty much a perfect day. I took off the day and talked JP into doing that too. My mom is keeping the kiddos overnight so JP and I went to Schlitterbahn for the day without the kids. We got in a full day in the sun and then enjoyed dinner at the San Marcos River Pub (one of our pre-kids favorites which is no longer our first choice since it doesn't have the fastest service on the block) and came home to find it all clean (thanks Mom). To top it off there was a birtday cake that apparantely my kids helped make. So, all in all, good day to turn 31.

I will post later this week with a run down of my birthday week events...it has been a good one so far.

Birthday week!

It is here...my birthday week. The real deal is on Wednesday, and I will be a very boring 31 years old. I am excited though to enjoy my newly adopted tradition of the "birthday week" where I get to celebrate for at least a week for myself. I started a couple nights ago celebrating Allena's bday (aka A Gurley Gurl) at the Hyatt downtown. We had a great time with some other couples and then went out again on Sunday night with Sonja and Blaine (greatest neighbors ever) to the winery in Driftwood, Trattoria Lisina . It was amazing...we ate just about everything they had. If you haven't been, I absoloutely recommend it.

The rest of the week still holds a mani/pedi, a day at Schlitterbahn with JP (with no kids), probably a chai from Starbucks every day and a girly movie with Mandy too...let the good times roll!

So, here's to me and my wonderful life...thanks for being a part of it!

Best of Times...Worst of Times

So, I love the local radio show the Bobby Bones Show. On Monday's they normally do a best of times and worst of times where they go around the room and add their times from the weekend. Well, I thought I'd start that little tradition here, but I am starting with a more global topic...motherhood. I can pin point my best and worst and will share them below.
Trace and Elizabeth are almost 5 and 2 1/2 and here are my best and worst times since I brought them into this world...

Best of times: Hands down it was when Trace scored his first goal in soccer this past spring. It was late in the season and he'd really worked his way from standing center field and waving while the game went on around him (week 1) to really getting in there and trying to play. So, when he scored his first goal - I lost it and was the screaming mom with arms up in the air. We also had our usual group of about 10 others (grandparents and aunts and uncles) who got to share in the moment. Trace just turned and had the most precious, proud smile. I think he was shocked, but then he started to wipe at his eyes and I lost it. I mean come on. He was very lucky to have Coach Tucker who celebrated with him too. It was my most proud moment as a mom...not because of the goal...but because he was just so proud of himself and I never knew how great it would feel to see him succeed at something.

Worst of times: Hands down, it was this last week. I had taken both kids to the pool to kill some time before daddy got home. It had been a great trip, but as it got to be time to go, Trace and I were going round and round over a toy that had been left at the pool. While I was focused on Trace and the toy in the pool (something that I beat myself up later for was an absolute waste of mothering), Elizabeth decided to join us, but didn't tell me. For whatever reason, I happened to turn and see her flailing about in the pool. It was horrifying. Luckily, she was close to me and I got to her quickly. She was ok, but screamed loud enough for the neighborhood to hear. Obviously she could breathe, but poor thing was scared much like her mother. Trace then though decided to throw his own fit since I told him that we were going home and leaving the toy. I can count how many he has thrown in his lifetime (three in total) which I thank God for every day, but man, he let me have it. I had two screaming children, I was shell shocked from seeing Elizabeth in the water (and the absolute horror of what "could have" happened) and made it home in time for my own tears to fall.

The kids were fine after a few minutes, but when JP got home I was a mess. He just kept telling me that everything was okay and luckily we just have to live and learn. So, I had my pity party for my mothering abilities, and now I have experienced first hand the dangers of the pool (AND I WAS RIGHT THERE). So, learn from me, pick your battles, watch your babies or keep the floaties on until you get home and have a wonderful husband who just says, "The kids need to go to bed and you just need a little drink".

I just pray that I don't have many "worsts" that involve the safety of my children. Even now as I type and look at Elizabeth's picture, I tear up with the thought of something ever happening to them. They are God's gift in my life and can't imagine my life without them.