SHE'S HERE!

Chloe Ellen Phillips

4/5/09

Hey Sis... :)

I love you so much!
Eat a piece of cake for me!

Hey YOU...thanks. :)

Sometimes things happen that make us realize how very lucky we are to have the people in our lives that we do. For me, it isn't that I don't appreciate them on a daily basis, because I do, but sometimes life just happens so quickly that it can be hard to find time to reflect and appreciate all of the little things that the ones we love do for us. A kind word, a helping hand, a hug at the end of the day, soup when you're sick....people have this amazing ability to connect on so many levels, and I just want to acknowledge that I would not be where I am, or who I am without the people that have helped me along the way,sometimes in ways that they may have thought to be insignificant.
Recently, Brian has been having some medical issues that are probably concerning me more than necessary, but it's times like this that you realize how much family pulls together, how much people love you, and that no matter what could ever possibly happen to you there will be the same smiling faces there loving you the entire time. Brian and I are both lucky enough to have amazing families that convey that to us when we need it the most. We are lucky enough to have each other and to know every day that there isn't going to come a time when we have to deal with the hard things alone.

Sorry I'm such a sappy mess today! :/

On a different note, I recently went through the application process for Big Brothers/Big Sisters here in Rockford. I have an interview set up on the 13th, and I'm really excited to meet with the director, and learn more about the program. If all goes well, after that I can start the training that they require, and be assigned to a "little". Very exciting!

Aside from that, nothing new to report. Still waiting on my niece...

Baseball & Babies

Good Morning! It's the beginning of another week as we move into Spring, and the days are flying by. The Regents had their first home game on Saturday. It was a double header, and they won both games. I had to work until noon, but I made it for the second game...so much fun! As you can see in the picture, it was a beautiful day. Sunday was pretty nice too, and I actually got Brian to come out on the bikepath and run a few miles with me. :) Wish I could say the same for today, but....it's been raining all day..ick. I don't think the JV game that was scheduled for today is going to happen.
I finally made a doctors appt. to get the shots I need for our trip to Punta Cana. That should be a fun way to spend my Monday. Oh, and I get to go to the DMV next Monday as well...I should be in a GREAT mood by the time I get home! haha
I talked to David this weekend, and he said that Danielle is having Braxton-Hicks contractions (at least I think that's what he called them...). Apparently it's perfectly normal, but I am expecting a call any day now that my little niece is on her way. I let my boss know that I'll be taking the day off to drive to IA when that happens. I'm sure I'll have about 1,000 pictures to post when I get back so you can all see her.
And that pretty much brings us to Easter. I think the plan for that is St. Charles at Brian's Aunt & Uncles.
That's about all I have this time around. Hope everyone is having a great week so far! :)

Marathon....186 days and counting

Good Morning! Just a quick update here. I'm trying to motivate myself, so I thought I'd post. :) I am up to a 5 mile long run in my training plan, and doing about 13 miles a week. I should be doing 6 miles for the long run this week, but I got sidelined last week with shin splints, and am waiting for my new, more supportive, shoes to be delivered. They should be there when I get home, unless the UPS website is wrong. I actually custom designed these shoes on nike.com...so cool!
I just have to say that 5 miles right now takes me a little less than an hour to run. I AM SLOW! But the issue is that running for an hour on a treadmill staring at the wall is boring. Really boring! I can't wait until it warms up a bit and I can run outside. That's going to be so nice!
I talked to Brian on Sunday, and he's having a blast in AZ. he said the first game he pitched in, he struck out the side. He explained that that means he threw 3 strikes in one inning, which is awesome! I'm anxious to see him play when he gets back and starts the season here.
OK, that's it for now. More soon. :)

March Sadness..

Brian left this morning and I miss him already!

March MADNESS!

March is shaping up to be a crazy month for us, but in a good way. I think. I'm dropping Brian off at 1:30am on Friday to catch a flight to Phoenix for his baseball tournament. He is so excited, but running around like a crazy person trying to get ready between school and practices. He'll be away for over a week. While he's gone, I will be in Iowa for a baby shower. After he returns, I'll be housesitting for my parents for 10 days. He'll have games every other day, most of them out of town. And it seems like EVERYONE I know was born in March, so lots of birthdays. We did apply for our passports last weekend, so that's out of the way. I am so excited to get away for a little while....I just have to make it until May! Work is going well. The economy is starting to take a toll on us, but who HASN'T it affected?
Skunk is doing well...fat and happy, and constantly into something.
It seems like it's starting to warm up just a little bit here, and I can feel that Spring is on the way. I am ready for it! I have been training for my race on a treadmill, and that gets really boring. It'll be nice to run outside for a change. As of this Sunday, I'll be up to 6 miles. That's almost half way! It's been a challenge so far, but I haven't missed a run yet, and I really do enjoy it.
So, there's my update. I'm sure I'll be writing more soon. :)