Los Porchs

There is so much going on in my life right now that I feel like I'm holding onto things... afraid to let go.  Prime example, there's an empty bedroom upstairs that would/could become the nursery if/when we have another baby.  It pains me to move office furniture in there to make an office that I am super excited to have because it means there's no baby in our immediate plans.  We have so much space in this house that it feels like a constant reminder that someone is missing.  Our family is not complete but I have no idea how much struggle it will take to rectify that feeling. On the same note, I used to run.  I know.  Let that wash over you.  Long, long ago (2013) in a far away place called Chicago, Porch and I started running at Chase Park after work.  I was using a Couch to 5K program and just kind of chugged along while he did his workout.  I loved it.  I craved it.  And then, just as I was thisclose to finishing the last week,...

To everyone who told me I would come to love running and crave it, I'm kinda sorry I laughed in your faces.  On my way home from work, I was feeling anxious and fidgety and like I had some extra (seriously, how?) energy that needed to be dealt with pronto.  I came home and putzed around, avoided homework, the usual... and then decided to lace up the old (they're new, it's an expression, work with me) running shoes and hit the track even though it's my night "off" from running.  Porch's only request?  Make sure I'm ready to run with him tomorrow.  This running business is growing on me, even if I move slowly, because I've come to associate it with good sleep, less anxiety, and most importantly, time with Porch.  When the snow gets here, we're going to have to think of ways to stay in shape (let's call it maintaining at best) since the track will be covered with snow and is typically a mud hole until late spring. All my Chicago friends, te...

I saw this online the other day and at first, thought how appropriate it is for what Porch & I have been attempting lately (lots of running) but after some deeper thought and revisiting, I've come to think of this as being more fitting for our story on the road to making a tiny human. I think it's appropriate, meaningful, and inspirational all at once.  A great reminder that no matter how slow we move, how many baby steps (no pun intended) we take, as long as we keep moving forward, it's better than giving up in frustration.  I once had a colleague tell me that it was only important that we "keep moving forward, no matter what."  That mantra has stuck with me for years and I've come to apply it personally and professionally.  It's okay that this is taking time.  It's our story and it will never be the same as anyone else's story. Likewise, I am not a runner.  I honestly don't even know why I started running, but damn it.  It feels so ...