RELENTLESS FORWARD COMMOTION
RELENTLESS FORWARD COMMOTION

mommy musings

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Last Updated on January 22, 2022 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS

Thursday, my baby Kain turned one. Except I’m in complete denial about it, so I’m sparing you the long sappy picture post. Because I don’t want him to be one. How did that happen so fast?

It’s almost surreal to think that my sweet baby boy will soon be talking back with the best of them, telling me “no” and getting a huge kick out of begging mommy and daddy to put together the Thomas wooden train tracks, only to hop on the train table like Godzilla and destroy the whole thing.

And I won’t be able to help but laugh when they do it, because I know exactly who they got that crazy energy from.

I’m having a bit of mommy guilt because we didn’t throw a huge “Happy first Birthday” bash like we did for Rowen. You would have thought Ro just graduated from Law School with the party I threw that first year. Probably somewhere around 30 people, and all their kids. In my tiny backyard. Chaos ensued, no doubt. I think I was celebrating “I survived my (our, but I planned the whole thing like only a crazy mom would) first year of parenthood” just as much as we were celebrating our baby’s first birthday.

But this year, for Kain’s first birthday, we wanted to keep it low key, due to our hectic schedule. And to add insult to injury, mommy came down with some sort of virus that’s been plaguing me since Thursday afternoon. Good stuff. So the few that were invited to the mini party were uninvited by my germs. My little sister brought over some cupcakes, and it turns out, Kain wanted NOTHING to do with his. He didn’t want to open presents and started crying when he got frosting on his fingers. His discontent with the whole birthday ordeal made me feel MUCH better about that no-party thing.

Rowen, however, fully enjoyed the cupcakes. So much so that this morning, while I still had sleepy eyes, he helped himself to a giant chocolate one for breakfast. Sweet (he followed it with a cup of milk and a banana, so they morning wasn’t completely ruined by high fructose corn syrup).

And Kain’s new birthday toys are the hit of the house. Note to parents with small children: the Playskool Busy Ball popper = greatest toy EVER (well, if they could figure out a way to NOT lose all of the balls in less than 5 minutes!) Thanks Aunt Cathy!! The boys are simply fascinated. More so Rowen, age 3, than baby Kain, whom the gift was intended for. But no fret, this simply gives Baby Kain the opportunity to completely destroy Rowen’s Island of Sodor, uninterrupted by screams of “MOM GET THE BABY HE’S TAKING MY TRAINS!!!”

(please note Rowen’s arms waving in the air in pre-temper tantrum meltdown)

Anyway. I had been going back and forth, back and forth, on how to plan my long runs for the next three weeks until Beach 2 Battleship. Do I take this weekend to recover (even though my legs feel great)? Do I hop right back on the train? (running, not Thomas). Everyone i asked seemed to have a different idea. But my body, and this wonderful virus, had the final decision.

Sitting on the couch and regulating the chaos on the Island of Sodor it is 🙂

Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS
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Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UESCA certified Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA certified Running Coach, co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of this site, Relentless Forward Commotion.   She is a mom of two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over a decade.  Heather has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009.

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Comments

  1. What cuties!

    My little guy turned one in August. I can’t believe how time flies after you have kids.

    Enjoy your break…I’m off for my long run…

    Reply

  2. I can relate to the sleepy eyes, had little sleep…no kids to blame. Ran with friends in Cuyahoga Valley National Park to familiarize self for trail “fun run” marathon next Sunday Now I need that giant chocolate cupcake. i.e. hypoglycemia or something to go with a cup of Jo.

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  4. Happy birthday to Kain!

    He won’t miss the 1 year old party at all! Have a big 3 year old bash when he’s old enough to enjoy HIS day and understand the whole party thing. 🙂 As for year 2? Uh, age 2? Terrible twos??? Need I say more?

    Oh, yum, cupcakes. I’m making a batch tomorrow for my daughter who had a birthday on Friday, but she went out instead.

    Have fun with getting back on “track.”

    Reply

  5. Hope you feel better soon! It’s likely your body will appreciate the rest! And what better island to enjoy with your kiddos than that of Sodor? I’ve got frikkin’ Gordon and his tender right beside me. 🙂

    Reply

  6. Congrats on finishing that marathon. I am fighting my tummy constantly while running. This was my 1st race without tummy probs. Did your GU have caffiene? I found all GU’s but especiallyt he caffiene kind to give you runner’s tummy. I was drinking Nuun and was fine with it. I was glad I had it because they were serving Ultima on the race and that gave my heartburn. Congrats on finishing no matter what!

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  8. Happy Belated Birthday to Kain, he’s so adorable and precious!

    Congrats on your Baltimore Marathon finish! Kudos to you in managing to balance between being a mom, training for marathons and running to raise funds for a great charity.

    Feel better soon.

    Reply

  10. Happy birthday to your boys AND you! Hitting the 1 year milestone is huge. You’re right about the 1 year party being like a survivor party for the parents. My son turns 3 in December and I can’t believe time has gone so fast. If you haven’t already, try pom poms in the ball popper — it’s a blast.

    Reply

  13. Happy birthday to your little man.

    I think Natalie’s 1st birthday was harder for me this year than Izzy’s was for me 2 years ago.

    And, I’m pretty sure he’ll never know you didn’t do anything for a big bash…and if you feel guilty, it can always be later!

    Reply

  14. don’t feel bad! especially since you came down with a bug – all that extra organizing would have been for naught. it sounds like he still enjoyed himself, eventually 🙂 hope you are feeling better!

    Reply

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