1 year Anniversary!

A year ago we had our Civil Wedding at Town Lake!!! We woke up to freezing (26 degrees) weather.... so we got to hang out by our fire place and eat yummy pancakes ---with blueberries, pecans, a little sugar and a little cinnamon.

In the afternoon we watched some football. During the terrible UF vs FSU game, Peter took care of Nico and Nico's friend, Jackson, while Julia (JAckson's mom) and I went to Viva Day Spa for a little, where I got my nails done!

Ashish and Kelly babysat for us so that we could go out. We went to the Melting Pot for Dinner. It was so delicious,special, and STUFFING. We almost had to get rolled out of there last night.

Cheese Fondue to Start, accompanied by 3 different kinds of bread, veggies, and green apples.!!!!

The main course: Salmon, fillet Mignon, shrimp, chicken

Dessert was SCRUMPTIOUS, especially the strawberries with the white chocolate!!

What an awesome day. Today starts year 2!!

Nico's First Thanksgiving!!!!

Our First Family Turkey day!

Dear God, Thank you for everything! You have blessed us with a healthy family that I love with all my heart. You have guided Peter and I in our first year of marriage, you've helped me get back to running, and you have helped us become better parents everyday! YOU ROCK!!

It was a SUCCESS...even though Nico's stroller had a flat right before the race, I had re-do the stuffing cause I burned it the first-time around, and I put the turkey in the oven but it didn't start it...when Peter checked on in 2 hours later we realized the turkey was still room temp!!! Beginner Mistakes I guess...but fortunately everything turned out DELICIOUS!

FYI-we didn't even plan on MATCHING, we just did...lol, we are so IN-SYNC!

We started Thanksgiving off by running the 5 mile TURKEY TROT in Downtown Austin where 17,000 other runners were waiting to kick their Thanksgiving off to a GREAT start!!!

Daddy fed Nico breakfast RIGHT BEFORE the race started...so that he would be ready for the run.

Nico did great on the run...He laughed when we passed people, he cheered for me when we were going up hill and said ah ah ah ah when we were going down hill. Peter met up with us for the last mile and we finished together--34:15...course was about a 1/2 mile short though. It was still a great run for us.

Yes, I am wearing a skirt...it was my first time running in one. I kinda liked it...however i did feel super NORMIE, but then again, I was running with a stroller, a baby, the diaper bag, my phone, the camera....so I didn't look too hard core. Actually, now that I think about it, I looked like I mistakenly stubbled upon a mass of people running in the same direction and just hopped on in, instead of going to Whole Foods for a coffee.

On our way home Nico was practicing his semi-new trick= TOUCHDOWN!!!

When we got home, the preparing began.

Nico and Daddy organized the apartment while mommy got to work in the kitchen!

Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving Menu

(click for details)

Spinach Articoke dip--made in the crock pot.....yummmmmmy!

Fruit Salad Feta/Strawberry/Almond/Lettuce Salad

Grilled Veggies and sweet Potato stuffing

Sweet Potatoe Casserole- most delicious part of the meal and Cranberry Sauce:

Cooking turkey

Warm Apple Pie with Ice Cream for Dessert!

While I was cooking Peter and Nico were on skype with his family. Later in the afternoon I was on skype with my family. For a while I felt like I was right at home, in the living room with them all. I got to see all the guests at my house in Miami, and hang out with them all. I'm really THANKFUL we have skype!!

Our guests at our first FLORES THANKSGIVING were: Ashish, his sister, and his parents (From Kenya via UK then Maryland....cool huh). They were so nice and made it feel like a real family holiday! Rosa was also here with us for dinner, but had left by the time we started taking pictures.

Nico's Thanksgiving cards!

Next BIG Race has been decided!

Next Big race has been picked! Even if we have to run rogue...lol

In 8 weeks is the Los Angeles 13.1!

January 16th 2011

Obviously the training for this race will be shady/inconsistent--due to packing in Austin, Travels around Colombia, Birthday in Miami, Apartment Hunting upon arriving in LA---but i'm excited to have a goal picked out!!!

The race will be the day after NICO's ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Anybody want to come to LA for Nico's B-day celebration?!?!?!

Early Christmas Gift for Nico!!

So I went to Costco today...cause I needed 2 things (right), and I left with INSUFFICIENT FUNDS..jk, but almost. One of the things I got was a gift for Nico--- a CHRISTMAS GIFT!!

I got these foam building blocks that looked pretty cool. When I got home, of course I opened them so that he (meaning I) could play with a couple of the 200 pieces...lol. As I started to build things, Nico would just attack my structures. I barely got to stack 3 of the blocks when he would slap them down. Then I looked over at the foam block bag and it says 3+....Could this be why he looks like a crazy man throwing these things all around the living room....The toy is too complicated for his little 10 month mind? He definitely isn't going to build anything yet but he kinda looks like he is having fun with them...in his own way! The blocks are great tickle tools too!

MORE BABY FRIENDS for NICO!!!

My cousin, Betty Walker Gomez is PREGGERS!!! She lives in Cartagena with her husband Ricardo! Felicidades Prima!!!

The world around us is filling up will AWESOME LITTLE PEOPLE!! It's so exciting. Yes its a lot of work but it is amazing to see them grow, laugh, interact with us and with other little guys, and develop into living proof of how miraculous LIFE is!

Para los que hablan espanol....

Mi prima que vive en Cartagena, Colombia

y una amiga que vive aqui en Austin

estan embarazadas.

THE RUNNING EVENT

There were a lot of people around Austin with jeans, sneakers, and a plethera of sports jackets cause there was a huge Conference/Expo this week, Nov. 15-18, called, The Running Event (TRE). I got in with a PRESS PASS(examiner.com)---which was really cool!

From 1110 The Running Event

Everyone who’s anyone in the running retail world was here. Just kidding, but there were 200 difference retail attendees, as well as a wide range of exhibitors that include the latest fashions in racing flats, joggers, running skirts, compression socks, snacks, refueling drinks, running accessories, sports watches, and so much more.

From 1110 The Running Event

The biggest buzz I must say was the whole barefoot running thing-Either really light running shoes or NO SHOES at all...the main focus is being turned from the shoes to YOUR FORM. There was a lot of talk of heel striking and "loud" running. Everyone had their own "RIGHT WAY" to be a minimalist runner. Personally-I still think that barefoot running is a little crazy...but I like the idea of moving toward lighter running/training shoes. Building foot strength before doing so is CRUCIAL! All those wanna-be minimalist who are throwing their pegasus and other trainers away NEED TO start booking their appointments with Physical Therapists...cause they are all INJURIES WAITING TO HAPPEN!

Well anyway... That's my 5 cents on the topic...take it for what it's worth (what do I know, I've only been running for 18 years-lol).

Here are some highlights from TRE!

1. We met: Meb Keflezighi who won the 2009 NYC Marathon!!(He's the one between Lindsay and Kelly, i'm standing next to his brother.)

From 1110 The Running Event

2. Got to hang out with college friends. Lindsay, won the Indie 5k...in 16:42. Julia went to see her teammate Jessica (FSU).

From 1110 The Running Event

From 1110 The Running Event

3. Met lots of really innovative start up companies: check them out!!

HBTune

From 1110 The Running Event

PEET Shoe Dryer

From 1110 The Running Event Road ID From 1110 The Running Event

4. Did some networking for possible jobs in LA with New Balance.

5. Got a bunch of COOL STUFF: Nike LunarEclipse+ for Peter, compression socks( different styles), got a pair of orthotics, running socks, IPHONE hand-holder for running, a running skirt (which i really like but haven't used for running yet), arm warmers, Runner's World Magazine, goggles(2 pairs-thanks Ashish), discount cards to purchase items at wholesale price, and a BOOK, signed by the author: Natural Running, by Danny Abshire.

From 1110 The Running Event

6. Interviewed a lot of people for articles...they will be up soon so check them out: examiner.com

It was a really cool week! And my assistant, Nico, did great...awesome ICE BREAKER and made everyone feel more comfortable...and happy, cause he made everyone laugh!

10 months old!!!

Nico turned 10 months old yesterday!!!!

Eating habits: He is eating chunks of fruit now, along with all the other foods he was eating before. He has gotten really good at putting the chunks in his mouth (whether bananas or cherrios). Has 8 HUGE TEETH!! And he keeps biting everything-- my shoulder,my fingers, my arms, blankets, toys, his clothes....EVERYTHING. I hope it's because he's teething...or at least that's what i'm telling myself!

Motor Skills: he is standing, walking along furniture, carefully plopping to the ground, reaching for things(especially things that are higher up). He is very curious and inquisitive. He puts his toys into over toys, he puts his toy train together--and apart, he uses the new tools he has to do just about everything!

Emotional changes: Mom-itis is at an all time high...but I don't mind...lol.

Sleeping habits:He's consistently sleeping through the night with the ocasional "hungry" awakening. His sleep-time schedule and whole schedule has been off for the past month, so I don't blame him for being out-of-wack...but he's doing great.

Speech: There are a world of new compound sounds coming out of his little mouth. He also has an extremely high pitched screech!

Other: He's wearing shoes!!! he's a big boy! I'm so in-love.

Happy 10 month birthday Nicolon!!!! MUAHHHHHHH!!

Manuela's Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Mena!!!!

I hope you had a great day!!! And all your wishes came true!

We thought about you ALL day!

San Antonio 1/2 Marathon!

The day dreaded(lol) day finally arrived. The day that I had selected to motivate myself to get back in shape after Nico's arrival.Training for this race was everything but consistent.Some days the motivation to get out and run was lacking but knowing that race day wasn't getting any further usually helped me strap Nico into the stroller and get out there for a run or get out of bed when I just wanted to sleep in to catch a long run with some runner friends.

Race Results:

Ashish ran 1:12:54...which won him 13th place in his age-group, 14th overall.

I ran 1:32:28...which was 5th place in my age-group, 37 female finisher, 236th place overall. January 09 I ran the Miami ING 1/2 Marathon in 1:30:32---Before NICO!

Liz ran 1:33:55...which got her 12th place in her age-group, 42 female finisher, 276th place overall.

Peter ran 1:36. He ran 12 minutes faster than he did LAST YEAR at this same race!! A 1/2 Marathon PR!!! 35th in his age-group, 360th overall.

I've never used these plastic cloaks before...but they were SUPER WARM!!!!

1/2 Marathoners Our Cheering/babysitting crew!

After the race we slowly walked to the car, and then drove home...we did stop at an awesome restaurant for some scrumptious, mouth watering, well-earned burgers!!

I am really happy with how I ran today. Mainly because I did something I set out to do. As a new mom, finishing tasks is an accomplishment in itself most days. I often start things and finish them either during one of Nico's naps, or in the evening, or even a week later...lol. TODAY I didn't take a break, I finished ONE task from beginning to end!!!!

As a runner I was happy because it was one of those few days that everything lined up: good weather, my legs , in-race motivation, no crippling cramps, and no mental blocks....all which have a huge impact on your performance.

Obviously this isn't the end, but the beginning of a new stage of running. I'm excited and looking forward to the next challenge, my next race, my next goal time.

However, I would be lieing if I said that A: I did it alone, and B: that it was easy. So many people who helped me get back here.

First off Peter, who understands how important running is to me and in the midst of all the chaos, encourages me to keep running, helps take care of Nico so that I can run early in the mornings, and challenges me to keep working hard.

Nico-who is my NEW inspiration and who has learned to love the stroller...and take LONG naps in it so that mommy can run.

Ashish- who has never stopped believing in me, always asking about my runs, how I'm feeling, what my next goal time is.

AnneMarie, Kelly, Sarah, Liz- the girls who I ran with on all my longer runs with. They are a FAST, SELF-MOTIVATED, INCREDIBLE group of girls that I've been lucky to become friends with here. They motivated me just by making me accountable...setting meeting times, sending reminders, waiting for me when I was late, and encouraging me not to give up during runs. (And today: AnneMarie, Sarah, and Gerardo watched Nico while Peter and I went on our running date)

Laurel- who started running with Miles(Nico's friend) in the stroller and who's been an inspiring baby momma running friend, even now that she's living in Malaysia.

Julia- another baby momma friend who called me to sign up with her...who made me officially commit to racing this half marathon!

Thank You ALL!

P.S.

This is what Nico was doing while I was writing about our day...