She Runs By Faith

We're nearing the end of the second trimester and this Tuesday is a very special day for the big brother-to-be: Mr. E is turning 2 years old!!! We went on a family mini-vacation to a neighboring town and visited the local science center.  What a blast! Before we had taken our coats off, E was staring at everything there and telling me "Play, play!". From petting snakes and watching tropical fish to blowing massive bubbles and flying an indoor hot-air balloon, there was so much exploring for us to do... Baby #2: 26 Weeks Baby's Size:  A head of lettuce, average fetus size: 13.6 to 14.8 in, 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. Cravings:  The usual. Plus, steamed broccoli (with ranch, of course)?! Aversions:  Lately, going out to eat. Unless it's Erbert's and Gerbert's sub shop! I'm Feeling: Baby is very active these days! Poor E has been fighting a cold all week and, while we were cuddling, Baby was actually "kicking" E. The sibling fig...

Well, I made the leap. Today I'm linking up with the #fitfam at the Fit Dish link-up and I've got some news to share! After much prayer and contemplation, I signed up for a September half marathon which will be my first long-distance race after having our Baby #2. I like to sign up early because the race fee is significantly cheaper, it gives me motivation to make healthy choices while pregnant/postpartum and I have time to make babysitter arrangements (Thanks, Grandma!). The week that I found out I was pregnant again, I had just ran the Wild Hog Half Marathon and I'm excited to return again this year! The race was awesome, the course is flat and it's super close to home for us. Since I am now committed to a fall 13.1, that means it's time to think of a plan. When choosing a full or half marathon training plan, I usually use a free training plan and modify it to fit me personally. For this race, I plan to use a modified version of Hal Higdon's  Adv...

Since the day word spread that I was going to stay home full-time to raise our son, the word "socialization" was thrown around like the name of some mythical creature. I was clueless - would my son be socially deprived because we would be forced to stay in the house forever? Do moms not count as social beings anyways? Anyone who stays at home or homeschools has probably heard comments like this, too. If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, I highly recommend you watch this short video by Tim Hawkins. It's short, sweet and Hawkins has a great way of describing "s-s-s-socialization"! What if teaching our children the skills of socialization isn't about whether we stay-at-home or send them to daycare? Or if our kids are homeschooled or public schooled? What does it even mean to have a socialized child?! "Having a social child means your son or daughter will be able to talk to people and like people. He'll be able to relate to others ...

Today I'm pushing myself out of the comfort zone. I have been meaning to write a blog mission statement for some time now but kept putting it off... until now. #dishthefit This week's Fit Dish [optional] Topic: Write a Manifesto A mani-what?! Thankfully, Jill included the definition on her blog and it sounded very similar to a mission statement: "A manifesto is a declaration of your core values and beliefs, what you stand for, and how you intend to live your life. It becomes a source of inspiration to live your life with purpose, fulfillment and a sense of self." My First-Ever Manifesto The brainstorming process left me with a lot of scribbling and random tangents in my journal. Writing a manifesto felt like such a daunting and intimidating task. Then I realized that my manifesto is already quite clear, as it was written by the ultimate Author! Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your s...

♥ Happy Valentine's Weekend to you all ♥ This week has been extra special because  my Valentine is back home. So nice to have the family together again! Today I'm sharing my Friday 5 (+ a pregnancy update) with  Fitness Friday  and Mommy Moments link-ups. Be sure to stop by! 5 Things Friday ♥ Valentine's Edition Here are five things I have loved this Valentine's week: 1. Be Spiritually Strong . My book just came in the mail today! After listening to an interview with the author, Kristen Feola, I knew Spiritually Strong was a book I had to check this out. This study covers the importance of having a spiritually strong core as well as a physically strong core. Both are essential to being healthy, but our spiritual training is even more important to strengthen (1 Timothy 4:8)! I'm excited to read through Spiritually Strong  to learn about training myself in godliness by focusing on the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy livin...

How do conversations go with people who have different passions than you? Do they get your passion or does it totally baffle them? Running has grown to be my passion over the past 5 years. It doesn't define me as a person, but it is a regular part of my day (like brushing my teeth) and God has used it to change my life in ways I never expected. I feel right at home with fitness-minded people but some of the conversations I have had with non-fitness enthusiasts are interesting... and awkward at times. I can see where they are coming from. Actually enjoying exercise is a strange concept for some people. For me, exercise is something I feel passionate about because it has been a lifelong habit but habits do take time to form. Each person has their own "thing" and that's what makes life fun. Wouldn't life be boring if we were all carbon copies of each other? Sometimes I have wondered why I'm such a running weirdo and why God made me with this specific person...

After we moved into our house, one of the first projects on my mind was creating a home gym in our basement. Building a home gym sounds intimidating but it is possible to make one on a budget! Here are just a few reasons why a home gym is worth it for us: No babysitter needed. Exercise time is flexible. $$$ is being put towards assets rather than a monthly membership fee.  Adding items to the home gym can be a gradual process. I do miss the community of working out in a local gym but being able to workout at home is a lifesaver when caring for a little one full-time! What's In Our Home Gym Here are the main pieces of equipment that make up our home gym. Some I have collected over the years, some were bought secondhand and some were bought new. I have included a price estimate based on Amazon.com that may be helpful if you are planning out your first home gym or adding to a current one! Cardio Equipment Proform Treadmill: $500 to $2,000+ -  The treadmi...

For the third interview in the Professional Fit Mom series, I am excited to introduce you to Jess Allen. Jess is a mom, a NSCA-CSCS trainer, former Stanford athlete and she also writes awesome fitness content on her blog, Blonde Ponytail . Jess (and her sweet little girl) from Blonde Ponytail Coaching &Training Who or what inspired you to be a coach/trainer? I was an athlete my entire life, so it was a very natural transition. After playing softball at Stanford University, I coached college softball while obtaining my master's degree. Then, after several years of academic advising in higher ed, I knew I needed to get back to the fitness arena. With the birth of my daughter 19 months ago, it was the perfect professional and personal balance. How long have you been a coach/trainer? +10 years What type of coaching/training do you do? Personal training with an emphasis on CrossFit and HIIT workouts. What certification did it require to coach/train? I chose to ge...