Rocky- I had a lot of low back/hip pain and I bought one of those granny lumbar pillows and made sure my feet were elevated at my desk, which helped a lot. I hope MIL stays with BIL for a while, you are truly a saint for dealing with her shenanigans that long and often. R's babysitter calls those snotty kisses "kisses only a mother could love."  My stepbrother is getting really into home brewing and has a pretty awesome setup in his basement with 3 giant kettles on a gas burner- he hopes some day to open a microbrewery. Do you do a yoga video? My roku player has a bunch of free exercize channels on it that I need to take advantage of.

spike - That game sounds like fun!  And we used a backpack.  The incline is unfortunately not stroller friendly as it is made of old railroad ties and very steep.

ernie - Luckily not too sore!  I love the story about the block of cheese...too funny.  And yay for a 10am wakeup. What a treat!

Zorbs – soup sounds yum. You can have some bermy snails to put in that if you want. When is the half you are pacing?

Rg – thanks for the encouragement for my running. I do have a hard time seeing how the little runs fit together – I miss the overview/perspective. I am good at getting out and running though so I shall just keep doing that! I really appreciate your words and wisdom on how it all works! I had one AF 31 days ago and nothing since. Still waiting and I know I am not pg as I tested on weds. Well done for sticking it out on the TM. I would rather run on the spot than run on a TM. I abhor it.

Cx2 – you are right to trust LO and her appetite. You trusted her at the breast and it’s no different. She will tell you (loud and clear) when she has had enough. DS goes through cycles – sometimes he eats enough for 4 kids and then the next day I think he lives on air. At 15mo DS is ust about interested in stacking blocks (and not sitting on them throwing them etc.) Enjoy US shopping. I am so so jealous.

Mrszm – very funny t-shirt. I love the way you talk about logistics with such ease and simplicity and you have 3 kids. I have a ton of respect for you.

Mer – nice on the sleep in! yeah! What did you do differently? Hope you can get a decent run in but be safe if snowy. I think I was too relaxed to feel badass. After 6m the world’s stresses are a distant memory.

Simon – look after yourself with your injury stuff. You mentioned about 5 body parts that I probably couldn’t point out. Sounds like you are in good hands (pun intended). My DS was born on 20^thsept – your DDs is close to that, yes?

Jen – WTG on your TM run. Nice! I kept running in the rain for the 6m and finished out strong. And wet. Hope your cough goes. I want to make those pea ravioli soon. Yummy.

Shelby – I looked up that 15/55 plan and all I could find was a 18/70 and it was freakin brutal. Like the weekday stuff was ok except the weds LR was 15m or so. Wow. That’s a lot of time I don’t really have on a Wednesday. HHmmm. Do you do all the VO2 max measurements? Enjoy your date night. And really stupid question – is it possible to run with a baby backpack carrier? I have never seen or heard of it and presumed it was unsafe. I might be wrong.

Spike – hope R’s butt heals. I would totally save money for lulu. You will look smoking hot in whatever you choose to wear. I make a spinach salad. Pretty boring and plain. But oh so good.

Rocky – nice to see you doing so much yoga? Which was it this time? Hope you are feeling a bit better.

Ernie – at least you got out there even if your run was a let down. Nice lie in! Bob was covered in mud like an offroad army vehicle which had been through a swamp. I had to clean it when I got home. I need wider sand wheels…

bermy - DH heard that pomegranate juice makes boners harder, but I told him the juice would not be necessary.

rg - I prefer the butt rockets because as an infant B would spit up half the dose of liquid Tylenol we gave him.  With the butt rockets, you're sure you get the proper dose.  Plus the sugar, dye, etc in the liquid Tylenol is gross..

cx2 - my family speaks Chinglish so DH actually gets what people are saying.

mrszm - The one that broke is called Case Mate.  I would stay away from the hard cases, unless they are a name brand like Otterbox.

mer - what dessert did you have?

simon - butt rocket = acetominaphen suppository.  It wasn't my phone that broke (thank gawd!) just the case.

jen - B has always been good for long periods in the stroller but being in there for 2 hours + sitting in the restaurant for lunch made him pretty cranky by the end.

shelby - I think I got the phrase from some mom message board.

spike - yes, save your money for lulu!

rocky - how is cornish hen different from chicken, besides the size?

Zorbs - i don't think it's any different really.  It taste the same to me, well BIL over brined it so it tastes like horribly over salted chicken.  Just size & price.  I'm sure foodies have a different explanation.

Bermy - still doing the 45 min vinyasa one.  I think it's the best actual workout, which is what I'm going for.  I'm not really doing the partner ones or the lamaze ones and one of the other's was too much sitting and stretching - maybe later in the 3rd tri that'll be more appealing.  I need to preview the post-natal ones.  I haven't yet.

bermy - Oops I meant 18/55.  It is slightly less brutal than the 18/70.  I am hoping it doesn't kill me.  And no, I wouldn't think you could run with the pack on.  It would be tough and very bouncy for the baby.  We hiked down a pretty steep trail and he was already bouncing quite a bit.  Any chance you just didn't test positive yet?  Maybe you should retest..

Back from the well check.  Pretty uneventful.  M lost a few ounces but nothing to be concerned over.  She did grow 1" since her 12 month check.  I took her to McDonalds afterwards - mostly because it was close to the doctor's office and she was signing "eat".  Didn't want her to scream for the 30 minute drive home!

cx2.  We usually only eat out once or twice per month.  Part of the reason is that we only have a couple of restaurants in town and the others are a 60 mile round trip drive for us.  So yeah, eating in gets a little monotonous after a while.

spike.  I think saving money for lulu is a better idea than a dress.  You'll get much more use out of the running gear!    Hope R's butt heals up - diaper rash is the worst!

erniegirl.  PF started developing while I was preggo (2 years ago!) and never really went away.  It's tolerable and manageable but not something I want to deal with.  I always run a Spring 1/2 to keep myself accountable through the winter but it's always a PITA to train in bad weather!

bermy.  Unfortunately I now those body parts well since they've always been niggling pains and injuries.  I'm hoping to increase some strength training and yoga to see if that might help.  And yes!  M was born on 9/11 - due date was 9/22 so she was a few days early.  I think you've mentioned before but are you thinking of having more children?  I'm always so up in the air about that.

zorbs.  I've never heard of an acetaminophen suppository!  Glad it was just the case!  I just got a new iPhone last Saturday and haven't found a new case for it yet.  I'm worried that I'm going to break it before I find one!

spike.  Most offices do a 12 month and an 18 month, however, our doctor splits up the 12 month vaccinations so we have a 15 month check up.  M is in the 50% percentile for both height and weight but 75% for head.  Holding stead on the chart so that's aok with me.    M isn't a huge eater and her last check up was before she started walking so I'm not surprised she "lost" a little.  It does appear that her baby belly is slimming down now.  Kind of miss her pudginess.    She's turning in to too much of a little girl now, not just my little baby.  DH and I were already talking about a "big girl bed" last night.  She's still fine in her crib, no climbing out and she still fits, so I'm in no hurry but I know the day will come eventually.  I also want to keep the crib in the mix a bit longer in case DH comes around to my way of thinking of a possible baby 2.  I know that once the crib goes away he won't ever want it back - he'll try to sell it ASAP.