Scarlet Takes on the Birds

This past Saturday I had intended to hole up and focus entirely and exclusively on my schoolwork. But it didn't rain as it has the previous three Saturdays and I didn't want to waste this golden opportunity, so Josh and I took Scarlet to the Tracy Aviary instead. I've been meaning to go for a while but since an aviary is like an extremely limited zoo, I just didn't see the point. Holy cow, this aviary is incredible, though! Not only do they have absolutely fascinating birds and beautiful exhibits, but the grounds are fun to play on and there are play places for the children and the foliage and landscaping it beautiful to walk through. They offer a really interesting wetlands tour and you can feed the parrots or the pelicans and the South American exhibit is indoors and really steamy and possibly too hot for overly pregnant women. It's all just a ton of fun and I regretted getting there later than we had planned because we had to rush out of there to put Scarlet down for her nap. Overall it was well worth the trouble and I'm glad schoolwork got postponed until Monday.

The hornbill was almost as big as Scarlet.

The trick is to lob the fish gently into their mouths.

You can see him widening his lower bill to catch the fish.

The pretty parrots all in a row.

Scarlet was justifiably frightened of the peacock after he spread out his tail feathers.

5K 2015

I ran a 5K for the first time in 2012 and it was so liberating and enjoyable that I vowed to run at least one 5K every year for the rest of my life (or until I don't like doing it anymore). This year I actually got to run the same 5K that I ran in 2012. Also, my sister Rebecca signed up for the insane half marathon.

This is her at mile ten, totally crushing it.

 I had a lot of fun because I got to run with my mom and we went at a fairly moderate pace. I've run just before getting pregnant and I've certainly run after being pregnant, but I've never run a 5K during pregnancy.

Finish line!

At 31 weeks, the oddest things happen to your body. Apparently without my knowing it, my center of balance shifted, my hips widened, and I had more trouble running than I should have had. I also, for the first time in my life, had muscle cramps in my thighs. Becca helped show me some leg stretches to do after the run but I couldn't understand why I needed them considering I've never needed to stretch or had muscle cramps after such a short run. Whatever I did while running, I was off from my regular stride because after we all stretched I tried to stand up. And I couldn't move my legs. While the brave Becca wearily rose from her stretching after her daunting and impressive 13 miles, I cried out and slowly rolled onto my hands and knees. I needed Josh's arm to walk to the car, and I have been hobbling and whimpering ever since.

I also got a lot of comments from people passing me at the finish line and at the restaurant we ate at afterwards. People, I got the okay from my obstetrician before doing this. He said it was totally fine for me to run a 5K. He's had pregnant women run marathons. He clearly hates me very much. Also, I clearly hate myself very much because this was way harder than any of the other races I've run. I think I'll wait to give birth before doing another one of these bad boys.

So the moral of the story? If you're going to be a baby about running, don't run the same race with a mighty half marathoner. You're going to come out looking like a huge wuss. :)