chatter box

Guys...my child is seriously talking now and its not Chinese!  It is so exciting!  She adds new words to her vocabulary every day --yesterday she enjoyed saying "water" "whoa" "wow" and "work, dadDY" all afternoon and then threw in her own name periodically.    It has to be one of the cutest things in the world to watch a child learn to talk.  So SWEET!

She's also required a new bed time ritual as of late.  Layla has ditched some of her favorite books in favor of mommy telling her stories.  Keep in mind..I am NOT a very good story teller.  I guess the funniest part of the night night stories is that Layla has to cue me in when I leave out details and it is HILARIOUS!  Two nights ago, I was telling a story about her friends, Elliot and Lucy (which are two of her new favorite words) at the park.  She sat up in my lap, looked me in the eyes and corrected me that "yay ya" (Layla) should be at the park as well.  Last night, I left Papa out of the story...SHAME SHAME mommy!  

But the biggest story of the week is this...

Last night as I was finishing up our night night story, I leaned over to Layla and whispered that I love her...something I do so much that it probably drives her bonkers.  She looked up at me and did her best impression of a whisper and said, "aye yuv yuuuu".  Yep...that's I love you in toddler speak.  I can't put words on my feelings at that very moment.  So we sat in her rocking chair and exchanged back and forth "I love  yous" for 5 minutes.  I felt weightless for the rest of the night...my 5 minute conversation with Layla last night has to be in the top 5 biggest and most special times in my life so far.  

OKAY so on to running...this will be pretty short and sweet.

Dad and I have started speed work at the track on Wednesday evenings.  Yesterday we finished up our last interval with these splits...

1-1:53

2-3:50

3-5:43

4-7:34 MILE

For those of you doing the math...that last lap was FAST--for me at least, especially after already doing mile intervals.  Dad actually said that he things I can go faster and push harder.  The strange thing is that I believe him and am excited to feel that burning in my legs and my lungs.  Yesterday...on that last mile...I really knew I was alive.  I was focused on the rhythm of my breath and could feel my legs were doing some major work.  I am waiting on next Wednesday with so much excitement.  I love Wednesdays and Saturdays...I love the feeling of being pushed to the extreme.  I love giving myself a "gut check" and passing.

Okay and finally...dad and I have been tossing the idea around for awhile now, but I've been a afraid to commit...I finally did and...DA DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAA I am shooting my first wedding with dad on Saturday.  Whew...deep breath Lindsey.  DEEP BREATH.  I'm nervous and anxious...but am excited that dad invited me into another little part of his world with him.  It'll be fun.  Perhaps I should wear a scarf...talk in obscure terms...maybe throw in some random French phrases here and there and I'll look like a pro.