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2.5 years old today. Inching, every day now, clos

2.5 years old today. Inching, every day now, closer to three. And she knows it: She reminds us, almost daily, that “my birthday’s comin’ up! I’ll be three!” Running, always. Singing, dancing, doing 180s and 360s, and jumping off things and over them. No longer baby-faced, and some days looks more to me like a teenager than a TWOnager. Loves yogurt pouches, fruit, @boldceo’s PB&J sandwiches, and announcing, “I’m awake!!!” as soon as she’s up. Can open doors by herself now. Hates bedtime. Obsessed with animals, music, reading, counting, coloring, the trampoline park, and the playground. Loves, more than anything, to be outside, all day. Would live in a sandbox if we’d let her. (We won’t.) Loves school, her teachers, attention, making people laugh, and wearing “twirly dresses.” Endlessly curious, always asking, “Who’s that?!” or “What’s she doing?!” People love to warn you about the Terrible Twos. But at the halfway mark, I say terrible is not the word I’m looking for. Happy 2.5, Annie. You’re the best girl I know.

Annie had to get her fourth Covid test yesterday.

Annie had to get her fourth Covid test yesterday. Sent home from school with a runny nose. “We need a negative test, or she needs to quarantine for 10 days before she can come back.” Her test, for the fourth time, was negative. We have never actually been concerned. She licks walls and does all kinds of silly toddler stuff. We expect colds and runny noses! (This time, it’s a cute combination of cutting a molar and allergies. A perfect storm, often around 1 AM.) And in a “normal year,” it would be NBD. But this year isn’t normal. “Normal” doesn’t mean much anymore. And yesterday felt like the first time it really hit me, on Annie’s behalf. On how this might all be affecting her, more than a year in. At an age where we are so lucky we don’t have to navigate remote learning (love and power to all the kids, caregivers, and educators out there doing this, still — you are amazing), but an age, still, where she’s very aware of the world around her. For so long, it felt like all of this *wouldn’t* really affect her. She was only 18 months old when we all first uttered the word “Covid” — still counting her age in months! Now, it feels like we’ve lived a decade since then. And I can see it — the world she lives in now, and how *she* might see it. What “normal” has become to her. Yesterday, I thought about how Annie has spent nearly half her life now in a mask-wearing world. She’s had a swab shoved and swirled up her nose four times. (And she HATES it. Poor kid.) She still doesn’t see many people very often, and we’re doing our best to show her the world within a certain radius, but it’s not quite the globe-trotting, culture-exposing young life I had hoped for for her. She’s tough. Stronger than I’ll ever be, and so resilient. And I know that whenever this is over, she’ll still have her silly sense of humor and her heart of gold. I’m not worried about that. Moral: Kids are the best, and I just want this damn pandemic to be over already.

I thought I’d be a city girl forever. But I’v

I thought I’d be a city girl forever. But I’ve gotta say... I spent the entire weekend outside. At a farm in Candia, where Annie fed goats and alpacas. On the run in Hopkinton, on my favorite trails. In the backyard in Contoocook, while @boldceo grilled steaks, Ellie laid in the grass, and Annie sat and colored in her little purple Adirondack chair. Walking to the lake, just a mile from home, where Ellie swam and Annie drew in the sand with sticks. And at the races in Derry, where I had the privilege of calling out the names of every single runner who ran the @millenniumrunning Cheap Marathon & Half Marathon. (More than 100 runners ran @bostonmarathon qualifying times today! A fast, inspiring field!) I grew up as a country kid with her eyes and heart set on the big city. And now, unexpectedly, I’m raising a happy little country kid of my own. And I think it suits us. I still miss New York City and New Jersey — almost every day. The people, places, and things that we called home for so long. (And definitely the pizza, bagels, sushi, and prosciutto.) New Hampshire has welcomed me back — along with my family — with open arms and so much kindness. Nothing has replaced our life “back home,” but we’ve found new people, places, and things. (Still on the hunt for the perfect slice, though!) And tonight, on our walk to the lake, I was just thinking... I sure do like this fresh 603 air.

The team at @lululemon has done so much to support

The team at @lululemon has done so much to support me and all of my big dreams over the past two years. I have loved being a #lululemonambassador for the @gsplaza store — and I am so so so excited to get to do this for another year! I was feeling sad knowing my two-year contract was coming to an end, and I was surprised and delighted (and honored) to get the call last week that I’d get another year. Another year of big dreams — like hosting a sold-out-in-20-minutes @orangetheory class to raise $4000+ for the @bravelikegabe Foundation, or a virtual live show with @des_linden, @shalaneflanagan, @aishapraughtleer, and 500 of YOU. Every idea, every thought, goal, and dream I’ve shared with the lululemon Garden State Plaza team has been met with enthusiasm and unwavering support. It’s always, “How can we help?” “What do you need?” “How can we support you in this?” This role has boosted my confidence and forced me to act on my ideas instead of just writing them on lists, hanging them up, and staring at them. So. What should we dream up together this year? I’m thinking... A retreat, when it’s safe to do so. A fun and swag-filled 5K, somewhere. Finally, eventually, having that sweatpant party I had such grand plans for, though after a year+ in sweatpants, maybe it’s a runner prom instead? And definitely another holiday party live show — virtual or in person, however this all shakes out. An essay, as always, to say THANK YOU to the #lululemon team for continuously believing in me, and for never asking me to be anything but myself.

Happy Easter from the cutest chick I know!

Happy Easter from the cutest chick I know!

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