Thru the shute

Ben and I like to take stroller runs to Electric Park.  There are usually a lot of people there that Ben likes to watch, they have lots of playground equipment and it’s a perfect 4 mile round trip run.

They have a plastic shute thing that Ben was eyeing, it was pretty cool to see him go through it.

Checking it out:

Halfway through:

Made it!

 

What there is not a picture of is me sprinting from one side of the of jungle gym to the other to make sure he didn’t go tumbling out the other end :)

Babies falling down – always funny

I was curious if babies falling down would still be funny if it was my kid that was doing the falling.  Turns out, it’s still funny :)

Good week so far

I’ve been getting in some good miles this week.

Monday, Ben and I went on a stroller run to Sar Ko Par Park.  He really likes the stroller runs.  Babble, babble, babble the whole time.  It’s awesome.  We got in 4.1 miles in 36:25 (8:53 pace – walked the first .75 miles)

Stroller walk/jog/run with Ben to the park to go on the swings. Walked first 3/4 mile, gradually picked up the pace.

Bath time and bedtime have turned into my job around here and I love it.  It’s our special time and we have a blast.  And Chels likes getting the time off!

After I put Ben down for the night, I headed out for a four miler by myself.  I did the Pflumm, 103rd, Quivira, 95th loop, which I will never do again because there isn’t any sidewalks on Quivira between 99th and 95th.  I’m not about to run though parking lots, so I ran upstream on the road and only got honked at once :)  Finished up with 4.26 miles in 28:20 for a 6:38 pace.

Felt strong the whole way. I've been getting these moments of self doubt about 2/3rd the way into my runs the last couple of weeks. It's been an awful mental roadblock, but I'm happy to report that didn't happen today. I didn't really do anything differently. Here's to hoping the demons stay away. Oh, and negative splits :) Splits were: 7:00 6:45 6:42 6:22 1:30 (.26 miles at 5:41 pace)

Yesterday, I woke up late and didn’t get a morning run in, but I did get another night run in.  Wove my way around several parks with bike paths.  5.15 miles in 34.35, a 6:43 pace.

Had to hurdle an off-leash maltese that was trying to make a late night snack out of my mizunos :) Found myself holding back a little bit, conserving for the unknown. Anything under 5 miles, I know I can just go out and not give too much thought to pacing myself. Above that, I worry if I go too fast, then I'm going to run out of energy and not finish at goal pace. I need to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Mix up my distances, paces, etc. Negative splits all under 7:00...double bonus!! :) Splits were: 6:56 6:52 6:46 6:44 6:29 0:45 (.15 miles at 5:15 pace)

This morning I woke up on my own at 5:30 and decided to try to get 6 miles in before the storm hit.  I just made it by 10 minutes.  I also think I left my alarm on set for 6:00, sorry bout that hun :)  I did an out and back on 95th street which has a really nice bike path past Renner.  Final tally was 6.32 miles in 43:58 – a 6:57 pace.

Start the morning off right with a nice 10K. Just beat the storm by about 10 minutes. When I talked last night about getting outside of my comfort zone, this is it. I missed negative splits by 12 seconds on my 4th mile! There was a nasty hill, but still 12 seconds is way off, especially when the goal is a progressive. My other goal was sub 7, and I got there, so not all is lost :) Splits were: 7:14 7:05 7:00 7:11 6:51 6:39 1:55 (.32 miles at 6:01 pace)

Monday I was running too late to ride my bike into the office, but I did Tuesday and took a longer route to make up some miles.  Not sure what I’m going to do this morning yet, it’s pretty wet out there and I’m not such a fan of programming in soggy shorts.

I’m thinking I can get 100 miles running this month.  I haven’t had a 100 mile month since July 2008 which was the first full month I started running.  I’m up to 65 miles this month, so barring injury or a spousal ban, I think I’m in good shape!

I could also get close to 250 total miles this month, I’m sitting at 127, but it’s within reach.

Stroller run at Shawnee Mission park

Ben and I had a great stroller run at the park. It's not easy pushing him up some of those hills, and it's just as tough going down them. I was very happy that we ended up with a sub 8:00 pace.

4.15 miles in 31:55 – 7:42 pace.

Splits were:
7:56
8:15
7:40
7:08
0:55 (.15 miles at 6:17 pace)

Ben’s trip to EnGraph

I took Ben to the office tonight for a field trip.

He helped me diagnose some broken switches:

And determined that the cables were bad:

The last couple months of our life via twitter

Pre-approval letter in hand, let the house shopping begin!10:10 AM Apr 28th

Apparently it's impossible to look at a house without the realtor begging to be your buyer's agent. Back off people!1:36 PM Apr 30th

Finally going live with software that I've been working on for 2+ years!3:59 PM Apr 30th

First install and we run into a proxy brick wall...smooth4:43 PM Apr 30th

Done with an exhausting day of house hunting. Found a lot that we liked. One that we LOVED, in shawnee of all places.6:40 PM May 2nd

We still aren't sure if we could actually leave lawrence though. So much coolness in this town.6:41 PM May 2nd

Found another very cool house in shawnee. Love this area, didn't even really knew it existed before this weekend.3:01 PM May 3rd

My fav website these days: http://land.jocogov.org/ - amazing how some people are asking 2-3% above appraised value. Crack smokers8:59 AM May 6th

We just had a realtor tell us she wouldn't accept our pre-approval letter from BofA. Umm, seriously?5:47 PM May 6th

Officially submitted an offer on the shawnee house. Many knots in stomach.1:31 PM May 9th

Ugh...their counter offer sucks and they probably aren't going to like our counter offer...preparing ourselves to walk away from this one9:12 PM May 9th

Counter counter offer submitted. This is starting to get fun. Bring it on!12:13 AM May 10th

Still in negotiations, only battling over closing and possession dates now. Everything else is ironed out.4:32 PM May 10th

Our counter offer was rejected over...get this...$172 of rent we asked for because they wanted to live in the home for 4 days past closing7:55 AM May 12th

@ericjgruber That's how we feel. If this was such a big deal, what else would they have been stupid about during the rest of the process8:09 AM May 12th

Couldn't have said it better myself - @chibb's take on our offer being rejected - http://bit.ly/6m1Wt8:12 AM May 12th

http://twitpic.com/51v8d - The camry is rocking the gowagon.com sticker. Thanks guys. Unrelated: Sorry @chibb :)2:49 PM May 12th

Ben and @chibb landed safely in Chicago and Ben was a champ during the flight!10:09 AM May 14th

I don't know if "trained" is the word I'm looking for, but my wife is out of town and I still put the toilet seat down10:12 PM May 14th

Ugh...I've been up all night with the Buffalo Wild Wings Flu. No trail run for me this morning.6:58 AM May 16th

I slept 13 hours and feel a lot better. Still a little light headed and queasy and down about 8 lbs from avg weight. Never eating BWW again.7:27 AM May 17th

Excited that @chibb and Ben come home today. Trying to get the house cleaned up before I go pick them up from the airport8:08 AM May 17th

Choking down oatmeal with no milk. Apparently I have the bug where you feel fine on Sunday, but kicks you in the junk on monday.2:57 PM May 18th

Great bday dinner with @chibb, Ben, @kylejarcher, Allie and Sophs - http://bkite.com/07W4y7:20 PM May 28th

Ben is growing up. Got rid of the infant car seat today and installed the @Britax1:46 PM May 30th

Just placed an offer on a great place in Lenexa8:21 PM May 30th

Our offer was accepted!!10:42 AM May 31st

My favorite part of our new house - Pic: http://bkite.com/084g211:41 AM Jun 1st

Buying a warranty actually paid off for me. Got a new TomTom 930 today cause 910 that I bought 3 years ago has been crapping out.2:31 PM Jun 6th

We hit a few snags today during the inspection and getting insurance. Hopefully all will be resolved quickly.8:37 PM Jun 8th

Heading to a WPF conference in Chicago via Pella, IA and Madison. Ben's first really big road trip. #fb7:12 AM Jun 11th

Round 2 of negotiations (post-inspection) are done!8:14 AM Jun 11th

Getting ready to check in for my classes. Gonna be a great day of WPF learning. - http://bkite.com/08qvX7:58 AM Jun 12th

Awesome trail run tonight with the crew from TrailHawks - they were gentle popping my trail cherry :) - http://bit.ly/6ifZo10:25 PM Jun 17th

Heading to KC with @chibb to P&L to spend a night boozin' celebrating my 30th, father's day, buying a house and getting a babysitter :)2:10 PM Jun 19th

Video of Ben crawling around and standing himself up for the first time - http://bit.ly/t9eiU9:59 PM Jun 21st

@fxdgear we have too much crap!9:40 PM Jun 24th

Closing on Lenexa house in 12 hours! #fb11:19 PM Jun 25th

Homeowners!11:09 AM Jun 26th

Thanks everybody. @chibb and I are thrilled. And also a bit exposed, didn't realize that there wasn't any blinds :)12:23 PM Jun 26th

Everything is off the truck and into the house. Many thanks to my dad for helping and Chels mom for watching Ben #fb10:43 PM Jun 28th

First ever #bike commute. 2.91 miles in 11 minutes and 2 seconds. Pretty easy ride. A few hills, but nothing major.2:01 PM Jun 29th

@mintchaos The place is an absolute disaster of boxes. I couldn't find any clothes so I came work in gym clothes :)3:40 PM Jun 29th

Backed up pipes! Poop in the basement! Yay for home ownership!! - http://bkite.com/097G01:18 PM Jul 1st

We are moved in enough that we can park one car in the garage! - http://bkite.com/09c4i12:08 PM Jul 3rd

Enjoying a beautiful night with @chibb on our new deck. -http://bkite.com/09fMg9:16 PM Jul 4th

I ran a 5:46 mile this morning. My fastest ever since high school -http://bit.ly/16tKNT9:02 AM Jul 10th

I promise to be a better blogger :)

Bwainzzz!

Earlier today, @robdew’s unborn child posted this on the babyblog:

With apologies to ICanHasCheezBurger, here is Ben and our reluctant Yorkie, Joey.

Ben is rockin the KU hat

 

My Fav:

Pics from Easter

I know I’m way behind on this blog, here is a few catch up pics from Easter:

Day out with Daddy

Ben and I had such a fun day this past Saturday.

We woke up around 7:00 and let mama sleep in for a bit.  A bit being about 4 hours – which is barely a drop in her sleep deprivation bucket.

I needed some new running shorts for my race on Sunday because I got a new black shirt that I wanted to wear and I’m just fruity enough to not want to wear it with navy shorts.

So we went to Kohls and Penneys and Walmart (ugh) and finally found a pair at Target that worked.

Ben was a champ the whole time.  He was wide awake most of the time, “chatting" away and sucking on his hands.  I’m sure I look like a goon “chatting” back at him as we walk though stores.  Yup, I’m *that* dad.

We got home just in time so that mama could get a little Ben time before she headed out for a girl’s night out.

That is when I made a bad decision.  I thought going for a walk would be a good idea.  Outside air for Ben, exercise for our puggle, and a little activity for me before my big race.

Wrong answer Chuck.

I should have known after the first couple of blocks when Ben fussed after after a little bump in the sidewalk.  He does that sometimes if he’s really tired and he gets woken up.  No biggie I thought, he’ll fall asleep here shortly and we’ll be good. 

Nope.

With each bump, the cries got louder and the pacification time got longer.  At about a mile out (yeah, I’m not such a fast learner), I decided to turn around.  By this point, I was carrying him over my shoulder, pushing an empty stroller that had an over-energized, under-exercised puggle attached to it.

And I thought I looked like a goon in the store baby talking.

Ben finally calms down and I’m able to put him back in his stroller after carrying him for about 1/2 a mile.  So we are about 1/2 mile from home, when in a display of my learning disability, I decide that since he’s asleep now, that we can probably continue our walk so I head out for the loop that we normally take.

Bad idea.

About 3/4 of a mile from home, he get’s woken up and it all starts over again.  So I carried him the rest of the way home, feeling even dumberer than the first time, because I should have known better and gone straight home.

We get home and start getting ready for bed.  I’m really hoping that he will fall asleep quickly so that I can get things organized and get to sleep early.  After fighting it for 30 minutes or so, he crashed out.

It was a great day.  Not only did we get to spend so much time together, I also have even more respect for my wife.  It is so much work, and there are so many things to be aware of taking care of a baby, and she does it all day, every day.  What a champ!

Get it!

Oh, I love this pic!

Chillin in the bjorn

This is how we roll!

A quick study

We think that Ben has learned to cry when he wants to be picked up.

For the time being, it’s adorable…

Self portrait

We’ve been getting tired of taking pictures of Ben all the time, so we’ve been training him to take his own picture.  He’s off to a pretty good start.

A new blog!

Q: Why do I need another blog?

A: Lots of cute pictures of Ben need to be posted and my twitter stream is getting a bit crowded.

Our son was born 12-20-08 and my wife maintains a fantastic blog with lots of Ben pictures and I’m jealous!  I have a geek blog where I talk about .NET and GPS and programming, and the people that read that blog probably don’t want to hear about Chels and I laughing during church when Ben farts (which we do).

After Chels got pregnant last year, we both quit smoking and soon after, I started running.  I’ve since really discovered a love and slight obsession with chasing the perfect mile.  I just ran my first race (a 5K) a couple weeks ago, and I’m training for a half marathon in the end of April.

So that’s my story.  If you wanna hear a geek post way too many pictures and videos of our son and all the TMI from being a runner, stick around…we’ll have pounds of fun.