Duly Noted

I haven't done a three things thursday post in a while.  What's a three things thursday?  Exactly what's implied- three things on a thursday. Here's three of my all time favorite things: 1. Summer beverage: Iced coffee!  I had my first ice coffee of the season on Monday. 2. Food: Soft pretzels.  My personal favorite is the pretzel stand at the Minnesota State Fair.  This is actually the only known reason that I attend the fair every summer. 3. Dessert: Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting.  I am a novice carrot cake connoisseur.  My absolute favorite is offered at Shish (and formerly at Coffee News, now closed).  Please let me know if there is a carrot cake that I should try. That's it.  Three things thursday concluded.  P.S. I had to double check that it was indeed Thursday before I posted this.  It was.  Duly noted.

Since receiving my midwife's blessing to run again, I am taking a balanced approach to regaining fitness.  I am pretty sure that I could sweat out a five miler, but I've decided to ease back into the kind of training that I did pre-pregnancy to prevent injury and potential frustration at not meeting unrealistic expectations. With that in mind, I am combining walking and running- slowly increasing the running segments and warming up and cooling down with lots of walking.  I've been doing this about every other day.  On my non-run days, I have been following a post-natal strength plan that Olympic runner (and mom!) Carrie Tollefson put together for runner's world.   So far, I feel energized and strong.  I am proud of myself for adding strength exercises into my routine since, historically, I am bad at weight lifting consistently.  But, Carrie Tollefson told me that I should strengthen my running muscles before I actually start running so I am listening to her.  As for Mi

Since receiving my midwife's blessing to run again, I am taking a balanced approach to regaining fitness.  I am pretty sure that I could sweat out a five miler, but I've decided to ease back into the kind of training that I did pre-pregnancy to prevent injury and potential frustration at not meeting unrealistic expectations. With that in mind, I am combining walking and running- slowly increasing the running segments and warming up and cooling down with lots of walking.  I've been doing this about every other day.  On my non-run days, I have been following a post-natal strength plan that Olympic runner (and mom!) Carrie Tollefson put together for runner's world.   So far, I feel energized and strong.  I am proud of myself for adding strength exercises into my routine since, historically, I am bad at weight lifting consistently.  But, Carrie Tollefson told me that I should strengthen my running muscles before I actually start running so I am listening to her. 

This is not exactly a Misha Man update.  This is more of a Molly update.  I know; you worried "Duly Noted" suddenly became a full fledged baby blog.  Don't fret.  I am still here.  But, I am experiencing momification. As I move from stroller to rocking chair to cozy leather chair, I get my first tastes of motherhood. What's motherhood made of?  Milk and music, blankets and books, tea, baths, and meandering walks. The day is broken into fragments.  Go for a walk (or run!)...go home.  Go to the market...go home.  Sit at the coffee shop...go home.  It is much too risky to pair two outings together- however brief- if the faintest possibility of hunger (mine or Misha's) lingers. With Mike working, I surround myself with music, blankets, and books.  Blankets hang over armchairs and books pile on end tables.  With Misha curled in my arms, I wrap a blanket around the two of us and pick up whichever book I left there.  Prone to reading a few books at a time, I enjoy the sc

This is not exactly a Misha Man update.  This is more of a Molly update.  I know; you worried "Duly Noted" suddenly became a full fledged baby blog.  Don't fret.  I am still here.  But, I am experiencing momification. As I move from stroller to rocking chair to cozy leather chair, I get my first tastes of motherhood. What's motherhood made of?  Milk and music, blankets and books, tea, baths, and meandering walks. The day is broken into fragments.  Go for a walk (or run!)...go home.  Go to the market...go home.  Sit at the coffee shop...go home.  It is much too risky to pair two outings together- however brief- if the faintest possibility of hunger (mine or Misha's) lingers. With Mike working, I surround myself with music, blankets, and books.  Blankets hang over armchairs and books pile on end tables.  With Misha curled in my arms, I wrap a blanket around the two of us and pick up whichever book I left there.  Prone to reading a few books at a time, I en

This just in- Molly gets her midwife's stamp of approval and can resume running (officially)!!!!  I am SO happy!  Misha doesn't even know the miles ahead of him.  Big shout out to the Milwaukee moms for the BOB stroller.  As you can see in this photo, Misha's infant carseat snaps right into the stroller frame.  He is as cozy as can be.

This just in- Molly gets her midwife's stamp of approval and can resume running (officially)!!!!  I am SO happy!  Misha doesn't even know the miles ahead of him.  Big shout out to the Milwaukee moms for the BOB stroller.  As you can see in this photo, Misha's infant carseat snaps right into the stroller frame.  He is as cozy as can be.

This post marks the last weekly update of the Misha Man series.  From here on out, we are rolling at a month to month basis. Yet again, Misha's fourth week of life was an eventful one!  The family train continued as Mike's parents arrived on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.  They were ecstatic as they missed an earlier opportunity to drive northwards due to a bad cold.  Misha took to his grandparents instantly. Before the grandparents arrived, I had a couple days alone with Misha while Mike was working.  We went on several long walks to local coffee shops and parks.  I am absolutely in love with my BOB stroller- as is Misha.  It is heaven on wheels.  As Mother's Day weekend approached, a rumor spread that another Vasich might make his way up to the Twin Cities.  All were doubtful that Mike's youngest brother and his girlfriend would actually make the 12 hour drive from Bloomington, Indiana...all except Mike who knows the effect of a hardy challenge on a Va

Over the last two weeks, we had some great meals thanks to a solid menu plan and an eager cook (my mother!). Here's the rundown: Monday: Pasta with shrimp and Trader Joe's pesto Tuesday: Leftovers...or, as my parents say, "Schmorgusboard!"  After Misha's arrival, we received an onslaught of delicious dishes from our wonderful friends.  We needed to clean out the fridge to make room for a new batch of groceries! Wednesday: Joan's famous Black Bean Soup with a tasty salad and an incredible loaf of bread from whole foods.  I forgot how much I love whole food's bread.  I must also comment on Joan's soup- she made up the recipe herself and it was seriously the best black bean soup I have ever tasted.  Apparently, it had beer and cocoa powder in the mix. Thursday: Coconut Curry Chicken Soup with grapes and orange slices and a loaf of bread. Friday: Punch Pizza Take Out Saturday: Gathering at friend's Sunday: Trader Joe's pork tenderloin (cooked w

Over the last two weeks, we had some great meals thanks to a solid menu plan and an eager cook (my mother!). Here's the rundown: Monday: Pasta with shrimp and Trader Joe's pesto Tuesday: Leftovers...or, as my parents say, "Schmorgusboard!"  After Misha's arrival, we received an onslaught of delicious dishes from our wonderful friends.  We needed to clean out the fridge to make room for a new batch of groceries! Wednesday: Joan's famous Black Bean Soup with a tasty salad and an incredible loaf of bread from whole foods.  I forgot how much I love whole food's bread.  I must also comment on Joan's soup- she made up the recipe herself and it was seriously the best black bean soup I have ever tasted.  Apparently, it had beer and cocoa powder in the mix. Thursday: Coconut Curry Chicken Soup with grapes and orange slices and a loaf of bread. Friday: Punch Pizza Take Out Saturday: Gathering at friend's Sunday: Trader Joe's pork tenderloin

As of 9:01am today, Misha is three weeks old.   Misha's third week of life was a rather eventful one as Granmary's in town!  Granmary is known for her penchant for adventure...especially shopping adventures.  She believes in starting a kid early.   Misha and I have already had a conversation about avoiding consumerism and materialism as we examined the "target" icon in his pattern book .  Unfortunately, his mother cannot live up to this standard and her actions do not reflect her words.  Oh dear.  I am already setting a bad example.  This was confirmed when the clerk at Forever 21 oogled at Misha and said, "Wow!  What an adorable kid!  My parents took me to the mall when I was his age.  That's why I am so comfortable here!"  Cringe! In  spite of my reservations regarding mall culture, I have to admit- Granmary, Misha, and I had a blast.  It turns out that the mall is really one of the best things a new mom and grandmother can do on a ra