What a year, what a week! I hope you’re doing well with all that has been going on in the world, especially in the United States. I know that it’s been a struggle for me, but I have tried to focus on the things that I can control and remember all that I have to be grateful for.
So on a lighter note, I’m so happy to be able to link up with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date! These are one of my favorite types of posts because it’s an opportunity to catch up on life! Grab a cup and let’s get it started!
Ultimate Coffee Date – November 2020
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that my little girl is turning 10 months in a few days! It is insane! Baby E is the sweetest little girl and so goofy! She loves to laugh and she squeals with delight whenever she sees our cats. And she loves dogs too! It’s been wonderful watching her learn and grow. I’m hoping that I finally get brave enough to run with her in the BOB stroller. Bret has been running with her for a few months and she loves it. I’ve been scared to take the plunge but I know I need to enjoy this time while I can, plus she won’t think I’m too slow, lol.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I am still worried about COVID-19. The number of cases is increasing, and I get so much anxiety when I see other people “out and about” without masks and social distancing. I just found out that my company is extending working from home until next April, so that is a big relief, even though I do miss regularly working in the office. I just hope that people continue to take precautions to keep COVID-19 at bay! As much as I’d love to have big holiday celebrations for Baby E’s first year, we will absolutely be keeping it low-key..
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I have honestly lost interest in following the results of the Presidential Election. There has been so much suspense on the road to 270 electoral votes, but the minute-by-minute updates have been a bit much as it’s turned into Election Week instead of Election Day. Since I did mail-in voting in Philadelphia, I was really excited about the prospect of Pennsylvania deciding the outcome, but once the count tipped in Biden’s favor, it actually became anticlimactic for me since we’re still waiting on all the other battleground states. Let’s count all the votes and wrap this thing up!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I do hope that the record-breaking voting turnout we’ve had is channeled into something positive. We need people to regularly participate in the voting process like during primaries, and learn about local officials and policies on the ballot before voting for them! I truly hope that we’ve moved past the point of apathy and people realize how much their vote truly makes a difference.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I am excited to have been selected to be part of the new BibRave Ambassador DEI Advisory Council! Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are very important to me and I am excited to be able to have a seat at the table to help drive conversations and make an impact in the running community. Representation matters! We’re having our first meeting soon and I’m really looking forward to it.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I’m looking forward to posting more frequently on the blog! I have a lot of posts on the backburner and so many more ideas that I want to share. I want to talk more about being a new mom who runs, plus I’ve really missed my Running 101 series. I love it here on the blog, so I truly hope that I’ll be consistently back in the swing of things in 2021, if not sooner!
What would you share with me over coffee?
Congrats on being on the DEI Council! You will be awesome.
I haven’t been glued to results, but was so happy to hear that PA finally swung Biden’s way.
I agree re: COVID. Still super cautious. Obviously not everyone feels the same way though. I will tell you this — first holidays are really about the parents, not the kids, Baby E won’t know that she’s missing anything as long as she’s loved, which I know she is.
And of course many first babies are good. Otherwise there’d never be a second baby, LOL!
Thank you Judy! It’ll be a challenge but I look forward to getting involved and seeing what good work we can do!
When I wrote my post we were ahead in PA but they hadn’t called it yet – I’m feeling pretty good now, lol!
Good point on the holiday, she is so little! I’ll look forward to her trying out all the food!
I love following you on all these new adventures with your sweet little princess. I was excited to see your name on the BibRave DEI roster! Huge congrats to you 😉
Thanks so much, Kim! It’s been so wonderful being the mom to my little girl 🙂
Congrats on your new bib rave position and have fun with it. Re the running stroller, I say, enjoy having a little alone time running. Who knows how long that will last? Thanks for linking up for coffee
Thank you, Deborah! You’re so right!
Happy ten months to Baby E. She’s such a cutie!
Thanks so much, Debbie!
Your baby girl is adorable! So precious!!! I am glad you got to run 3 miles pain-free, Janelle.
I didn’t know you lived in Philly. I live outside Lancaster and run some trail races near Philly. Maybe we will see each other at a race. And thank you, Philly, for tipping the race for Biden.
Thanks so much, Laurie! I’m thankful that my foot is feeling better. I’m still trying not to push it and stretching out my runs as much as possible! I would love to run up your way, that has been a goal of mine for a while! Hopefully when things settle, it would be great to meet at a race!
Philly always has a chip on its shoulder, I hope we enjoy this victory for a while!
Congrats on that advisory council. I think you will be great! If nothing else, the past 4 years have certainly opened up difficult conversations for many of us. I’m thankful to have friends of color who are willing to talk with me about these topics. I just want to be more sensitive to the issues! I’m so glad that Biden and Harris won. It gives me hope again that things will be better.
Thanks, Wendy! I’m really interested to see how things move forward. It has certainly been an eye-opening year when it comes to race, though for me, it’s certainly nothing new! Thank you for listening and being an ally <3. And yes to the election, what a relief!! I can't wait for that inauguration, I just need the drama to end!
I have to say, reading this on Sunday just goes to show how important it is to #counteveryvote. I had sort of given up on PA too, but I’m glad PA pulled through. Several of my election hotline shifts covered PA, so I like to think I did a small part in turning out the vote. (My work was non-partisan, but most people volunteered who they were voting for, LOL).
I must say, this would have been a good week to have a happy baby to focus on instead! I did not watch the blow-by-blow, but still got anxious over my morning and evening news checks.
You are so smart to NOT be planning a big party for E’s first. I know you must really want to celebrate, but they are saying family gatherings can be risky because people are NOT cautious around loved ones. She won’t miss it anyway. 😉
Thank YOU for your volunteer work!! So much drama in PA, it’s pretty cool to feel like a part of history! When they called it for Biden people were dancing in the streets in Philly, haha!
Baby E is definitely a good distraction, such a handful lately! I’m glad the pressure is off for her birthday, plus with it being in January it just seems like at tough time of year. As long as we give her some cake and we take some photos, I think we’ll be happy 🙂
Aww, happy 10 months to her! <3
I'm glad your company's extending WFH til next April! I really hope people continue to take precautions — cases have been going up a ton lately. :[ I really hope people continue to regularly vote as well! I don't think our country can handle more apathy/indifference (or outright hatred…).
Congrats on getting onto the DEI council!!
Thanks so much, Farrah! It definitely adds peace of mind as I still can’t imagine the office being “back to normal”, even though I still go in about once a week when I can.
And I’m excited about the DEI Council and really hope to make a positive impact!
Baby E is such a cutie! Her pics always make me smile! IMO politics is such a huge source of hatred, I’m over all of it. I had to turn away as well. The Covid resurgence is scaring me as well. We’ve always been careful but apparently many are not. Congrats on the Bib Rave gig!
Thanks so much, Marcia!! I hope we all stay safe!
How awesome to be chosen for the Advisory Council. What a great opportunity
Ten months, wow. Glad you’ve been able to spend more time with her even though a pandemic isn’t the ideal reason for it. Look forward to reading your 2021 writings
Thanks so much, Cari!