Up, Down, All Around

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So on Monday, I fell down our stairs. Ever since we bought the house, falling down the stairs has been a big concern.  They are so steep.  And, of course, I fell down the stairs with Henry in my arms.  I slipped off the top step and slid halfway down before catching us with my left arm.  Henry was perfectly fine – he started to laugh! – but I jerked my arm up and behind me in the process.  Ouch.

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Then I had the bright idea to go swimming and running that afternoon. My arm didn’t hurt before but… man, it sure it afterwards.  It’s just now starting to feel somewhat normal again, but the injury definitely put a kink in my workout goals for the week.

 

My house looks like a Ramblin Rose triathlon bomb exploded in it. I’ve been organizing a lot of gear for giveaways and whatnot.

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On a brighter note, I have a million leftover swim caps.  You can never own too many swim caps.

 

In fact, there are so many leftovers that we’re giving away some of the goodies on the Ramblin’ Rose Facebook page.

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Our races are in North and South Carolina, but feel free to enter no matter where you are!  We’re also giving away a copy of the Swim Bike Mom book.

 

Speaking of triathlons, did you hear that Ironman has instituted a new policy for the swim starts?

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(Pic courtesy of the very awesome Swim Bike Mom!)

 

Many of the tris that I’ve done feature swim starts by gender/age group, but the Ironman normally has a mass start.  I’ve only done one mass start, and they are not fun.  But the company is trying out a new method called SwimSmart.  Just like in many running races, they ask athletes to ‘self-seed’ by anticipated finish time, and each athlete’s timer doesn’t start until they cross a timing mat.  The goal is to “improve athlete satisfaction and reduce athlete anxiety.”  I was curious to see how the SwimSmart program would go at Ironman Couer d’Alene this weekend, and reports suggest it was a huge success.  A lot of the race recaps that I’ve read say that SwimSmart reduced everyone’s nerves and prevented a bunch of jostling.  Neat, huh?

 

Guess who else is into swimming these days? Henry!  He completed his first set of swim lessons and ‘passed’ Toddler 1 with flying colors. He even got a little ribbon!  Now we’re in Toddler 2 classes, which are even more fun.  We do a lot of ‘safety drills’ like lifting the babies off the ledge, dunking them into the water, turning them around underwater, and then encouraging them to grab the edge of the pool when they pop out of the water.  Henry is the only baby in class who jumps off the ledge by himself!  It’s too funny.  I can’t even get my “One, two, three” count out before he’s jumping in with a big grin.

 

We’ve also been exploring Charlotte’s numerous splash playgrounds, too.  Henry likes all forms of water, I guess.

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#FutureTriathlete (a mom can dream)

 

Oh, and the babas!  Remember my post a few days ago, begging for advice on how to wean him from the bottle?  Your advice was so helpful.  So many of you suggested that I keep at it and just wean him cold turkey, but several of the comments made me really re-think my timing.  After a lot of thought, I decided that Henry just isn’t ready yet to stop drinking from bottles.  A few of you said that his readiness is more important than the calendar, and I completely agree.  We’re going to try again in a few weeks or months, but for now, I’ll keep offering sippy cups and not sweat it if he’s choosing the bottle more often than not.

 

A few people told me to get him a ‘lovey’ so that he has another object to comfort him.  I picked the softest baby blanket in his closet and have been gently rubbing his face and arms with it while I rock him.  Then I lay him down with it for naps and bedtime.  A few days ago, I went into his room and he was holding it and nuzzling on it as he waited for me to come get him!  He officially loves blankie. I hope this makes it easier to stop the bottles… one day.

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And last, but certainly not least, can we talk about Shellac nails?  BFF Nicole took me to get my nails done on Monday, and the polish is still perfect.  I have scrubbed numerous pots, cleaned the house, opened a can of paint, swam, ran, biked, and… no chips.  I am never getting normal polish again.

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Ahhhhh. It’s the little things, right?

 

So, what’s up with you?

{ 52 comments }

 

  • Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete June 27, 2013, 11:33 am

    I volunteered at IMCDA last year, and a gentleman actually had a heart attack during the swim and later died. That particular mass start is horrible. It is literally like a washing machine. A bunch of my teammates raced IMCDA this year, and they LOVE the new swim policies. I’m glad Ironman finally changed them!!

    When I raced IMLP last year, SEVERAL people were freaking out during the mass start. It was scary!

  • Chetney June 27, 2013, 11:48 am

    Getting rid of the mass wim start makes me almost want to train for an ironman..HA! Maybe one day 🙂 I love the Shellac nails, so pretty! I’m really glad you didn’t hurt yourself or Henry in the fall. I’ve fallen down a few flights in my life, it’s very scary.

  • Emily June 27, 2013, 11:52 am

    Ok, I liked those nails too, they last forever & look great….Until I had to have it taken off. Nasty caustic stuff…they have to put some intense solution on each finger, wrap them in cotton and let this gross stuff soak into your nail. Then it doesn’t remove it completely so they have to scrape on your nail to remove the rest. It felt like a really toxic process. Never again.

    • Carly June 27, 2013, 9:56 pm

      Same here! And it’s so damaging to your nails. Never again.

      • Kristi June 28, 2013, 10:20 am

        I took mine off myself. My nails were ruined for 2 months. Terrible!!!!

      • Reenielou June 28, 2013, 10:28 am

        I’ve had shellac nails for 2 years. The spa where I started getting them done, does not use Acetone to re-do the polish. Cut up pieces of foil, soak a cotton ball in regular polish remover, put on fingernail, then wrap the foil around it…..wait about 5 minutes and it scrapes right off. I bought my own kit, Couture, and have been doing them myself for a year and a half. There is absolutely no damage to my nails. I love them. 🙂

        • Katie June 29, 2013, 9:12 am

          My nails were ruined too, took almost a full year to get them back to being nice again after doing Shellac for 6 months. You are lucky you’re able to have nice nails still!

  • Joy June 27, 2013, 12:06 pm

    Sorry to hear about your fall, but how wonderful that Henry was completely fine! I’m clumsy by nature and always worry about climbing and descending steep stairs.

    I love that they’re rethinking the mass starts for Ironmans!

  • Elizabeth June 27, 2013, 12:07 pm

    Confession, I still have my baby blanket and when I am sick I make my husband take it out of the box in the closet so I can sleep with it. Yes, I am 25 and married. Nothing makes me feel better than cuddling up with that and the dogs when I am home sick!

    • Caitlin June 27, 2013, 12:09 pm

      awesome. i love this!

    • Rebecca June 27, 2013, 4:28 pm

      Cuuuute!
      I just graduated college and still have both the Grandma-made baby blanket and the Mommy-made teddy bear–who is sadly falling apart but I refuse to give him up. They live in my bedroom on a shelf with some other things. I don’t use them as much anymore–now I have a Squishable who lives on my bed, haha. 🙂 I’m hoping to keep the blanket and the bear forever, but we will have to see.

  • Rachel June 27, 2013, 12:13 pm

    Do you recommend swim lessons for such a young child? My son is 9 mos and I sort of thought they were a waste of money before age 2 or 3.

    • Caitlin June 27, 2013, 12:14 pm

      YES! We love it. Henry seems so much more comfortable in the water than the older toddlers who didn’t start swimming until they were 2 or 3. Plus, there are lots of brain development benefits – http://charlotteaquatics.com/resources/saferhealthiersmarter/

    • Sunny June 27, 2013, 12:41 pm

      Just my 2 cents: My cousin is a swim teacher and all of her kids have been swimming before they were 2 because of the lessons she gives them. I never realized but after seeing them, I’ll have my child in the earliest class possible!

    • Amanda June 27, 2013, 3:52 pm

      Agree. My little one was 11 months when he started and just jumps (well, walks off) the edge. He will also let me place him on his back very comfortably to float around. The “older” children who are nearly 2 are very afraid to be without their parent in the water and forget about turning them on their backs in the water!

    • Zulkey June 27, 2013, 5:00 pm

      We are about to start “swim” “classes” with our 10 mo old on Saturday. They’re just playing in the water with toys–but they’re to get him used to the water and know that it’s fun. I’m psyched–I hope he likes it! We took in him a hotel pool 2x last week–he seemed intrigued the first time around but the 2nd time, when there were some noisier kids at the other end (and he seemed chillier), he wasn’t so into it. When I jumped in the water, he cried, which is one of those “so pathetic it’s funny” moments (am I the only one who has those?)

  • Julie @ RDelicious Kitchen June 27, 2013, 12:35 pm

    ahhh the little things indeed.. A manicure/pedicure after a rough week is always nice.

  • Marissa C June 27, 2013, 12:36 pm

    Thumbs up on the bottle/blanky. Like a pro.

  • Ashley June 27, 2013, 12:42 pm

    I love shellac! I’m not the best about nail care- I’m a stress biter and I rarely do more than polish my own nails (I almost never even remove it, just let it chip away) but when I got a shellac manicure I always felt so put together. It lasted FOREVER and required no extra attention, just the way I like it.

  • Lekki June 27, 2013, 1:26 pm

    I still have my baby blanket and I am 32! I made my Mum knit a similar one for my son (7 months). Baby blankets rule. I am scared of putting ours in our son’s crib as he is under 1 – or did I make that rule up?!? I did give him a little soft toy which he loves. Can anyone advise when blankets are safe please? Thanks!

  • Katie June 27, 2013, 1:34 pm

    I still have my baby blanket, and I think you’re doing a great job!

  • Karen @ Runner Girl Eats June 27, 2013, 2:39 pm

    I loveeeee Shellac. I haven’t had a normal mani since I first tried it over a year ago. I need to find an at home kit though because it is def pricier than reg manis!

  • Kyla June 27, 2013, 2:48 pm

    I’m in the process of moving and I start my first big kid job on Monday!!!

  • Sally June 27, 2013, 2:57 pm

    Great looking nails. You just reminded me to make an appointment:)

  • Healthy Food Guide June 27, 2013, 3:23 pm

    Hi Caitlin!
    There Swimming photo is look like awesome. Thanks for Sharing. LoL

  • Amanda June 27, 2013, 3:33 pm

    Nails look great! That’s how I felt about shellac to, until I tried to take the polish off……I still love it, but it really messes up my nails 🙁

    • Amanda June 27, 2013, 3:33 pm

      Oops, I meant too

  • Dori June 27, 2013, 3:45 pm

    I love Shellac! I’ve been doing it on and off for awhile, and my day-before-Mother’s Day manicure lasted right until June 7 when I took it off for my wedding manicure. Anyway, I don’t do it every single time because so much UV light exposure can increase the risk of cancer. I saw a special about this on TV, so I usually take some breathers in between Shellac manicures.

  • Jennifer June 27, 2013, 3:58 pm

    My 1 year old and I just switched from an infant swim class that was just songs and bobbing up and down to an infant safety class with the same skills it sounds like you are working on. It is amazing what they can learn at this age. Glad to hear you are loving it too!

  • charity June 27, 2013, 4:15 pm

    Here’s a fun story that will hopefully give you a giggle.
    The other day at nap time I was naping with Alexander (I work til 130 am so I always take a nap through his first nap) He woke up but was just talking and playing in his crib so I just stayed in bed for “five more minutes” after him being quiet for 3-4 minutes I checked the video baby monitor and seen him playing with something. I thought he finally found his lovey (a puppy head and blankie bottom) and was playing with it. We keep it in his bed. So here is my thought process for the next 30 seconds after that:
    “ohh so sweet I’m so glad he’s finally playing with it.. Wait.. why does he look naked .. where is his diaper.. oh no.. please don’t let there be poop, please don’t let there be poop”

    Ps… there was poop..

    • Caitlin June 27, 2013, 4:16 pm

      Lol!!!!

  • Lisa in IL June 27, 2013, 4:21 pm

    My 17 year still has a piece of her baby blanket tucked underneath her pillow. It originally was her older brothers when he was a baby and the one he used to use when she snuggled in bed with him. Thanks for helping me remember that once upon a time my children were sweet babies.

  • mindy @ just a one girl revolution. June 27, 2013, 4:27 pm

    I had my first shellac manicure earlier this year and loved it – the only downfall was that to have it taken off did some damage on my nails.

  • Rebecca June 27, 2013, 4:34 pm

    I fell at work the other day and bruised myself in about three different spots. It was great. We were stripping wax off of a classroom floor and the stuff we use can make the floor slippery. I fell twice in the space of less than ten minutes and bruised/scraped my knee, my hip, and my right arm. So much fun. They’re getting better now, but they do still hurt a little if I put too much pressure on them.
    Glad you and Henry are all right, and he got a laugh out of it! Stairs can be tricky. I’ve slipped on ours a good number of times. Always scares me a little bit.

  • Nina June 27, 2013, 4:41 pm

    The SwimStart program sounds like excatly what I need for my first Ironman. However, that is still too far away to get excited about SwimStart. Glad they did it anyways.

  • Alexa June 27, 2013, 4:55 pm

    I fell down the stairs with my son when he was ten weeks old during the middle of night when I was bringing him to our living room, to try and sooth him with the swing during a bad sleep time. He fell out of my arms and somersaulted down the stairs. I was terrified! He seemed fine, besides a little shocked and some crying, but I still rushed him to the ER (in my pajamas) along with my husband and was besides myself. I cried every time I had to describe to a nurse or doctor what happened, feeling like an awful mother. Turns out, he was just fine, no concussion, no anything. They observed him for about 90 minutes and made sure he had no issues waking up after he fell asleep in my arms in the exam room, and we were on our way. Many nurses also came in, and assured me they had dropped their babies, or had them tumble down stairs when they were kids and all were fine. Made me feel like not as horrible of a parent. =)

    • Mia June 29, 2013, 2:01 am

      <3 <3 what a scary experience that must have been! Glad all were okay. And yea for awesome nurses who know how to comfort beyond the physical needs.

  • Jelena@FabLifePhD June 27, 2013, 5:14 pm

    I am realy glad that you did not hurth yourself. I am very clumsy by nature, and always have at least one bruise on my body. I guess it all started when my dad was taking my mom to give birth to me and fell down the manhole. They had to admit them both to the hospital!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat June 27, 2013, 6:29 pm

    Sorry to hear about your fall, Caitlin! I am also known to have very klutzy moments like that. Sometimes when I’m going upstairs, part of my brain wants to jump 2 stairs while the other wants to just climb up normally, and I end up tripping and collapsing somewhere in the middle. I guess all you can do is laugh at yourself and try not to swear too loudly! As for SwimStart, I think that’s a great idea! One of the things that intimidates me most about all races is a mass-start (this fear was instilled after nearly being kicked in the face and trampled over during a couple of 5k cross country races) so let’s hope it becomes a widely adopted standard!

  • Meghan June 27, 2013, 7:18 pm

    Glad to hear your ok after the fall. Love the nails!

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action June 27, 2013, 7:27 pm

    Ouch- falling down the stairs is the worst! Especially since I’m sure you were trying to sacrifice your own body to save Henry. Glad to hear you’re ok.

    Also- baby swimming classes are the best! I taught them for a very short time, and the kids who loved the water were so much fun! Children laughter is the cutest thing in the world.

    What’s up with me? I finished my final day at work before leaving for yoga teacher training and I am beyond excited!!

  • Whitney June 27, 2013, 9:24 pm

    Be careful with doing shellac all the time! The light used to put the shellac on is the same light as a tanning bed and can cause harmful effects just like the tb! I only get it done when I’m going away on long trips! 🙂

  • Rachael C June 27, 2013, 9:33 pm

    Oh my gosh! I’m sorry you fell down the stairs. I am glad to hear that your little one was ok though! Take it easy if you are still healing. As hard as it might be to go easy, it’ll be worth it if you can avoid further pain.

  • Laura @ The Bright Side June 27, 2013, 11:03 pm

    Once you shellac, you never go back!!!
    SERIOUSLY.

  • Cassie June 28, 2013, 1:05 am

    I checked out the link about Shellac Nails. It says they use a UV light to “cure” the nails. Are you concerned about exposure to UV lights? Do you wear extra sunscreen on your hands when getting this done?

    • Caitlin June 28, 2013, 7:20 am

      Not really because my hands were under there for just a few minutes. But you could wear sunscreen!

  • Meredith June 28, 2013, 8:04 am

    So I’m not the only one that falls down the stairs 🙂 That’s… comforting? I’ve fallen down the stairs 3 times in 3 years now. Never injured, thank goodness, just a little bruised.

    Thank goodness Henry was okay. So scary though. I feel like I always need about 20 minutes to calm myself down after it happens.

  • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health June 28, 2013, 8:08 am

    Aww did you have a panic attack falling with him in your hands? Must have been scary. Happy you guys are okay!! Hope your arm feels better fast!

  • Tracey June 28, 2013, 9:00 am

    I can’t say I’ve heard of anyone dying of fingertip skin cancer from getting too many Shellac manicures. You girls are silly.

  • Laura June 28, 2013, 9:25 am

    So glad to hear about the new swm starts! I want to sign up for Raleigh Ironman 70.3 next year and was dreading the mass swim start w/ my age group-would much rather do it by time-hope they do it for Raleigh!

  • Syd June 29, 2013, 12:23 am

    Love the nail polish…perfect colours just in time for Canada Day haha!

  • Liz July 1, 2013, 11:46 am

    When my husband and I were house-hunting, my father-in-law came to look at a lot of houses with us, and EVERY time we’d look at one that had a straight down staircase (i.e. no turns or intermediate landings) he would say, “I reeeeeeeaaalllyy wouldn’t buy a house with a staircase like that if I were you, what if you have kids and they fall down it?” It actually really annoyed me, like, as if we are going to make the decision about what HOUSE to buy based on the shape of the stair case. I guess he kind of had a point though…

    The staircase issue still didn’t factor into our final decision, though we did end up with a house that has a switch-back staircase, so that made him happy. Hope your arm is recovered!!

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