We Rocked 'n Raced

The 2009 Merrimack County Savings Bank Rock 'N Race was a tremendous success! Thank you to those of you who sponsored Gabriel and me. The official tallies are not yet available, but there were at least 6,100 people who walked and ran the 5K in support of Concord Hospital's Payson Center for Cancer care. Gabriel enjoyed looking at all of the people and flirting with my co-workers. He slept for most of the actual walking. I got a work out pushing Gabriel up and down the hills of Concord. We crossed the finish line at 1 hour and 16 minutes. I think that's very respectable considering I was in the hospital on oxygen 4 months ago. Maybe Gabriel and I can make it a goal to finish in a better time next year. Thank you Sue N. for taking this photo of us on the state house steps.

Excited for the Rock 'n Race

Tomorrow night, Gabriel and I are joining some of my co-workers for the seventh annual Rock 'N Race fun run/walk in downtown Concord! This year's race benefits Concord Hospital's Payson Center for Cancer Care and begins on the Statehouse Lawn at 6 p.m. Gabriel and I will get there early so I can find close by parking. The 5K is going to be draining enough on me, so no need to add more distance by parking far away from the start/finish line. I am still trying to regain lung capacity from the damage of the pulmonary embolism I had on January 19th.

It's not too late to donate if you would like to support Gabriel and I in our endeavor. Click on the Rock 'n Race badge in the side bar and it will direct you to our on-line donation page. We know this is a hard time financially for some of our friends and family members, so if you can't donate- still send us a ton of positive energy! That will be just as much appreciated.

Afternoon in Portsmouth

We took a drive out to Portsmouth on Sunday and spent the late afternoon shopping and grabbing dinner.

Both Michael and I were in need of sneakers. I suspect that my Asics were at least 3 years old. So we went to Runner's Alley to get fitted for new athletic shoes. I ended up with a pair of pink & gray Mizuno sneakers that feel great on my feet. They are very, very comfy- but the store didn't have any other color combinations to pick from. The new sneakers will come in handy for the Rock 'n Race coming up this week. I am wearing a size ten now that my feet have spread from pregnancy. Michael got a pair of Brooks. Gabriel slept through the whole fitting business.

Gabriel and I shopped at Life Is Good while Michael looked at books in the shop next door. I have liked LIG products for a while, but have a new appreciation for the "Good Vibes" of the company since Bert Jacobs (Chief Executive Optimist) was the keynote speaker at a Human Resources conference I attended recently. I picked out an optimistic T-shirt for myself, a Rocket dog toy for Gabriel, and bought some birthday presents for some lucky little people. Gabriel slept through LIG, even while I squeezed his stroller between racks of T-shirts.

And then we went toy shopping at G. Willikers and found some more birthday presents, and little ball toys for Gabriel. Gabriel slept through this store as well.

Michael and I went to Muddy River Smokehouse and had some things to eat that would never be worthy of a low cholesterol diet. Michael had the snakebite chicken burrito while I had a combo plate of Texas Beef Ribs and smoked sausage. I have plenty of leftovers and plan to have ribs again Monday night for dinner, and then have the smoked sausage with pasta for dinner another night with Michael. The Muddy River Smokehouse definitely has generous portions! Gabriel woke up while we were at Muddy River and seemed surprised to see his new Rocket dog toy.

It never did clear up brightly on Sunday, but I was glad we left the house and got some exercise strolling around the streets of Portsmouth. I thought the temperature was just right for a jacket and a leisurely walk.

Mother's Day

Gabriel and I went to Vermont all by ourselves on Mother's Day to see Nana Doaner. Gabriel slept on the ride over so he was wide awake to visit with the family when we arrived. Mother's Day weekend just wouldn't be Mother's Day without flower shopping. Nana, Gabriel and I went to Pinewood Gardens to pick out some of our first flowers of the season. Nana spent some of her Mother's Day gift certificate. Gabriel bought me a Rosemary plant. I got myself a pink Million Bell hanging plant for the deck. It was a little brisk as we shopped, but Gabriel held out well while we shopped around. Nana and I can get a little carried away in our flower shopping frenzy. I'm posting a photo of Gabriel and Nana, though I know Nana is going to hate the photo of herself, but it really is a good picture. I also found an old photo of Grammy Johnson and Nana shopping for flowers in the same exact spot on Mother's Day 2004. I suspect Grammy Johnson was shopping with us in spirit this Mother's Day as well.

Gabriel's 4 Month Well Baby Appointment

On Wednesday afternoon, Michael and I took Gabriel to his pediatrician office for his 4 month well baby appointment and immunizations. Gabriel was 16 weeks and 2 days old. He weighed 13 lbs and 14 ounces, which is still the 50th percentile for his age. And he was in the 75th percentile for his head circumference and height. The nurse practitioner reports he is growing consistently and right on schedule. Gabriel has had a cough for a week now, which came either from Daddy or the little 12 month old girl in day care. And he seems to be developing a cold on top of the cough since his nose and eyes are runny and goopy now too. I've been told that this is par for starting day care and being exposed to all of the new bugs. The good news is that his double ear infections seem to have resolved. Gabriel again took his shots like a trooper. He calmed down quickly. He goes for his 6 month appointment and shots at the end of June.

After the appointment, Gabriel and Mommy hung out at the hospital for a while. We filled a prescription at the pharmacy, visited the Human Resources staff, and checked out the lactation room. We stayed on the campus because there was a reunion for babies recently born at The Family Place. It was nice to see other babies and their Mommies and Daddies. We saw some babies from the Baby Steps classes we use to be able to attend before Mommy's return to work. And most exciting was we finally got to meet Jaxson and his mom, Alison. Alison and I took prenatal pool exercise classes together before we had the boys. We plan to set some play dates for the future.

Karen's Green Message on Earth Day

My friend Karen Rix had a lovely letter to the Concord Monitor published on Earth Day all about the original green group- The Girl Scouts. Check out the article here.

Happy Easter!!

Gabriel makes one cute, fuzzy bunny! The dogs are quite happy that Mommy has taken to dressing up the boy rather than them these days.

The Easter Bunny brought a huge pile of loot for the whole family. I think the Easter Bunny forgot that Gabriel doesn't eat anything but breast milk right now. So Mommy is working hard at eating the supply of sugar and chocolate that The Bunny left off. Hope the Easter Bunny came to your house too!

Mommy, Daddy and Gabriel went to the Egg Shell Restaurant in Loudon to have Easter breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Abberton, and Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Norm. And then we went and hung out at Grandma and Grandpa Abberton's house for a leisurely visit to allow our breakfasts to digest. It was Gabriel's first visit to Grandma and Grampa Abberton's house.

And if that wasn't enough Easter excitement, we went to Lowe's where Mommy and Daddy bought a new fridge while Gabriel napped in his car seat in the shopping carriage. We will get delivery of the new fridge as early as next Sunday.

Over The Mountain And Through The Woods...

... to Grandmother's house we go! Gabriel made his first trek to Nana and Papa's house on Saturday. Gabriel slept the whole way to Vermont. When we got to Nana and Papa's, he stayed up for 3 and a half hours. He spent the time smiling at Nana and Papa, playing with his Easter balloon, sucking on the ears of his new bunny, and learning how to run the remote. He tried not to, but he did eventually pass out. And Mommy and Daddy loaded him back in the car at that point and drove home. The round trip makes for a long day, but we hadn't been to Vermont since November.

Gabriel's First Fundraiser

Gabriel will be joining me for this year's Rock 'n Race in Concord on May 20th. We will walk 5 kilometers with thousands of other people in order to raise money for The Payson Center for Cancer Care at Concord Hospital. I have participated in this 5K for many years- as a volunteer, a runner and a walker. Well, minus the one year is was raining and I chickened out. Human Resources puts a team together and I plan to push Gabriel in his stroller. It's my favorite 5K ever since there is music and food along the pathway. If you'd like to sponsor Gabriel and I for the Rock 'n Race, please visit our fundraising web page. This year, donations can be made directly on-line. Or, we will be happy to accept donations the old-fashioned way too. Gabriel and I are happy that it's getting warm enough to start our walking training program.