Getting out again...

The day was bright, the sun was out, the air, crisp. The phone rang, it was Jill, inviting me to join her and Karen, another friend from Kopachuck, (where I did my student-teaching,) to go for a walk. Evie was already up from her nap, and I thought what better way to spend an afternoon? So we loaded up and headed to downtown Gig Harbor to get a little fresh air and some vitamin D.

After figuring out where to park, (which required moving my vehicle thrice,) we were off. I immediately realized I was ill-prepared for this walk. Jill and Karen have been walking for a while now, this was my first walk in, well, let’s say at least a year. So, I had the extra 30 pounds or so. Then, there was the stroller. I didn’t get the memo; Jill and Karen had new matching jogging strollers. I do have an old jogging stroller (that belonged to my neighbor 10 years ago,) but it doesn’t really fold easily and I didn’t want to fuss with it, so I just brought my little lightweight, collapsing stroller. I quickly regretted my decision. My stroller has four little wheels that turn independently from one another. It is lightweight and collapses easily with one hand, which is awesome when you’re going to Target. It is not great however, for walking around the Harbor.

Also, I was just wearing jeans and a polo (my daily uniform.) My undergarments were, ummm, not made for a long walk. I am still wearing nursing bras, even though I haven’t been nursing now for about three months. The issue is that the “girls” have yet to deflate, and because they are so ginormous, I already have to go to a specialty boutique that is only open 4 days a week, from 10-4 and, let’s not discuss the price of these babies. As such, the “girls” were flipping and flopping all over the place, and the elastic was chafing me in ways I find offensive. The entire time I felt the need to reach down and pull them back up into their proper position, but I needed my hands to push the stroller, and propriety didn't allow for self -adjustment, so I had to soldier on.

The walk was about two hours long, and I have to tell you, I am very proud of myself. These ladies are very fit, and have been walking for a while now. This was my first time, and to go from a sedentary life of sickness to a two-hour walk of fitness, without a decent bra and the tiny-wheeled stroller, is I think, well-executed.

At the end of our walk, we stopped in the local baby store, which requires one to leave one’s wallet in the car to prevent unwanted spending on all the cuteness. I fear I was annoying however, walking around looking at the super-cute homemade boutique bibs, blankets and toys, all the while continually saying, “I could totally make that at home, I should make this stuff, I could help supplement the income.”
I could hear myself talking, and inside my head, I said "shut up, shut up, shut up," and yet, my mouth wouldn’t shut.

All in all, I think it was a great day. I had a wonderful time with the ladies. It was great to have some adult conversation with intelligent women who also have babies and can relate. I feel really proud of myself for the big long walk, and proud of myself for keeping up with the other two, very fit mommies with their super cool, very speedy jogging strollers (that I completely covet.)

What does it say about me that now that I'm home and I did some really good walking, all I want to do is bake some really big, peanut butter/ chocolate chip cookies? I've been craving cookies all week, and now that I walked today, I feel that they are justified. This, my friends, is why I look the way I do.