My Little Graduate

Kaiden with his graduation balloons

Today was Kaiden's last day of preschool and this evening we attended his Spring program, in which the kids received certificates for "graduating" from preschool.  It was so bittersweet.  Kaiden has grown a lot this year.  They had to squeeze him in at the last minute and I'm so happy they had room for him.  He was shy and very introverted when he first started school, but he finally opened up and his teachers told me that he's very active, participates during songs and reading and asks lots of questions.  I'm so proud of him.  Even though he's an ornery little guy with family, he's very polite and well behaved and inquisitive among his peers and other adults.

preschool graduation certificate

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I went to the gym today to speak with Lauren about some pointers on running.  We talked for about 20 minutes about my thoughts and what I want out of running.  I actually kind of got emotional.  I was never athletic in high school.  I didn't want to be.  I was very heavy and very shy and I wasn't looking for notoriety so I didn't participate in most extracurricular activites and certainly nothing involving running or sweating or...well, moving around a lot.  :/  But now, 12 years later, I'm the complete opposite.  I'm thinner and very outgoing and confident (although not in situations where I don't know anyone - that's why the introvert in me comes back) and I'm ready to be active!  I explained all of this to Lauren and she told me that she used to be the same way (minus the fat part) - she was very shy until she got into running and then it brought out a whole new person.

She encouraged me to sign up for races, which I plan on doing as soon as the Firecracker 5k entry sheets are ready.  She told me that my diet, hydration, the weather and the terrain are all going to effect how successful my runs are, which I already kind of knew.  She asked me to meet her sometime next week at the track so she can watch my form because she has a feeling I have a heel strike, which is natural for beginning runners, but not good form.

Other than that, she gave me lots of encouraging words and loaned me a book by Kara Goucher called Running for Women - From First Steps to Marathons.  As soon as I got home with it, I started reading it and couldn't put it down.  It reminds me of a lot of the blogs I read - very personal, like she's speaking to me.  I eventually set it down so I could go to Kaiden's program and now that I'm home, I'm typing out this post, but as soon as I publish it, I'm picking that book up again!  :)

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I took a rest day today since I had a couple of errands to do after work (getting balloons, talking to Lauren) but tomorrow I hope to do some free weights at home.  In the morning, Preston and I are going to get our drivers licenses renewed (I am finally updating mine since I've been married for nearly a year and still have my license with my maiden name).  I'm kind of excited about this because it'll be my first official document with my married name on it, plus I will finally get to be honest about my weight on my license!  I have never told the truth about my weight on my license.  I've always exaggerated quite a bit, but this time, even though I still don't like the number, I'm going to be 100% honest - so honest, in fact, that I'm going to weigh myself before we leave!  LOL

I didn't make the best food choices today.  I had a lot of sodium and I could really tell.  My ring felt tight on my finger most of the day.  Or maybe that was due to the heat.  I'm not sure.  I'm really trying to be more in tune with my body, but I'm having a hard time with it.  Tomorrow will be a good day, though.  :)  I feel good about my future in running and weight loss and eventually maintaining.