On April 11, 2010, we had the extreme joy of hearing our baby’s heartbeat for the very first time. I was 13 ½ weeks at the time and George had the pleasure of looking for it, using the very effective Doppler Fetal Monitor.
It was the most AWESOME experience, hearing that rapid heartbeat and knowing that there is a life growing inside of you. We will remember it forever…
Dear embryo,
This is my first entry to you. I realize that I have so much to say to you and you’re not even a fetus yet. I am currently 6 weeks and 5 days pregnant. I already understand the meaning of being a mother. I feel incredibly responsible for your well-being. I try to eat as healthy and as much as possible, even though I am so very nauseous. I take my vitamins, I read my pregnancy books, I stress about miscarriage risks, and I wonder what it’s like for you in there. You are currently the size of half a dime. That is SMALL! I am so protective of you because you must be fragile in there! When your father leans on me, I make sure he doesn’t put too much pressure on my belly. When I feel a cramp, I try to adjust my position because I think it must be you telling me you’re not comfortable. When I feel tired, I tell myself that is great, because you are taking all my energy.
I really look forward to meeting you, loving you, teaching you, holding you and admiring you. I am making a promise to you on this very day – February 22, 2010. I promise you that I will NEVER stifle you or hold you back from your dreams. It is easy for parents to give their children guilt trips, to have expectations of them and conditions. I will have none of these things. I will do my very best to set you free as early as possible and let you live your life’s purpose.
Your father and I are responsible for creating you. Our love for one another has created this brand new soul – a piece of God. You are the product of our love and I look forward to seeing you. I already know that you will hold all the inner and outer beauty of this world and I am already very proud of you. You are strong and I am certain that you will be a rebellious, free spirit.
I love you little embryo. May this be the beginning of a very beautiful relationship.
Today was a very special day for George & I. We took up one of our friends’ request to run our first race! Argi has been an avid runner these days (months/years) and she recently completed her first marathon (42.2km)!! We have been very impressed with her dedication and love towards running, and decided to take her up on her challenge and see what running a race would mean for us.
As a challenge, I decided to try a 5km run and George challenged himself with 10km. The event was on the beautiful Iles de Boucherville and seeing as how we’re both nature lovers, it was simply MAGICAL!!! The energy at the race was something I have never experienced before. I made 4 new friends the moment I got there. Some were experienced runners and others were trying this out for the first time like George and me. Everyone was incredibly encouraging and there was this camaraderie amongst all runners. They would cheer runners on as they ran by us, but most importantly, they were all filled with so much positive energy – it was unbelievable. Admittedly, I was pretty anxious (as George will vouch), since I have always struggled with running.
That was not the case today. The moment we took off, the adrenaline was pretty overwhelming! We were running on bridges, through forested areas, by the water, through fields… It was simply breathtaking (no pun intended). I can truly say that my first 4km were fairly smooth. The last 1km proved to be a challenge though, as my breakfast suddenly wasn’t sitting too well! Just when I thought I couldn’t make it, I saw my George waiting for me at the next stop, with a glass of water and a big smile! I ran quickly to him, realizing how in love I am with this man. His smile helped me get through the end of the race, and I completed it in 32 minutes and 40 seconds (see results) – not bad for a first timer!!
As for George, I cannot comment on how he felt about the race today, but one thing I can say is that he is a natural athlete! He finished his 10km in 47 minutes and 36 seconds (see results) and came in 25th place out of over 250 entrants!! I am incredibly proud of him. Imagine how much he can achieve in just one year!
So overall, I must say that this was a fun & challenging experience! I am now incredibly excited about trying to accomplish the 5km distance in 30 minutes, which I think is achievable. I am not quite ready for another race just yet, as I struggled with my ego at times. It was pretty hard to see runners pass me and I continuously tried to run faster than my pace allowed me. Further, I found it a little unmotivating coming in 115th place. My pride got the best of me today, as I (like most of humanity) like to succeed in all I do. But I won’t let all these minor obstacles stop me from this new adventure! I can’t wait to head out there for my next jog! There is no better feeling than hearing your heart beat a little faster, feeling the wind on your face, hearing your breath, and knowing that your body is capable of significant accomplishments.
The people I met today and the energy I felt are things I will hold dear to me and great motivators for my future races! George, what do you think? 🙂
We instantly accepted this exciting prospect. An active volcano!! We imagined a drive up to the peak, with stands selling cute little souvenirs and a volcano in the distance. Little did we know that Pacaya is at an altitude of 2,552 meters. It erupted in 1965 and hasn’t stopped ever since. Literally within 10 minutes of our hike, we were short of breath and aware of the reality of how our day would unfold…
Needless to say, our hike continued for approximately 2 or 3 hours (God only knows how long it truly was, I was just trying to figure out how to say “break” in Spanish). Our local tour guide was a truly exceptional man. He was small, calm, and patient. How ironic … here is this little old man, calmy walking along, while us young & fit individuals are literally gasping for air! He informed us that he climbed this volcano usually twice a day!! Wow…
We finally reach the base of the volcano… Yippee!!! Pictures galore were taken with the volcano in the background. We had some unhealthy snacks and felt that our day was great! We were ready to head back…
Obviously you know where this is headed. It turns out that our day was just beginning! We were to climb up the volcano, crossing a fairly narrow path towards Pacaya, with large cliffs reflecting possible death. Signs were warning of danger past this point. But we made it thus far and we were far from disappointed. The view was astonishing and the thought of coming face to face with a volcano was just too tempting. Obviously we were determined to continue.
The last climb was only 150 meters, however it was steep and complex. Due to the nature of the climb (volcanic rock and ashes), it was difficult to take large steps forward. With one step up, you would fall a little behind. The altitude also led to shortness of breath and the fog had thickened quite a bit. There was no path and it became increasingly important to follow the person ahead. We suffered several ordeals throughout (two friends simply couldn’t do it and I was trying to catch up with our guide to get help, I lost track of the person ahead of me and could not figure out whether I was going the right way, and I required a break due to shortness of breath literally every 2 minutes). However, I made it to the top and I believe it was one of my biggest life-changing experiences. To be so close to a miracle of nature cannot be described in words. Pictures cannot do it justice. That memory will forever remain in my heart and has deepened my understanding of the vastness of the universe. I will forever remember my first hike – Pacaya – and I look forward to doing it again one day, with my one love – George 🙂
We officially completed our first hike at Sutton Park and it was wonderful! Much more challenging than expected, but the view at the peak was tremendous. Final altitude 968 meters (we climbed a 448 meter ascent – 4.6km in total). Not too bad for our first hike in our backyard… It was invigorating and *literally* breathtaking.
Go team GeorgeJackie.com!!
* Pictures was taken from the Parc Sutton website.