Run, Aud, Run!: 2012 Recap: Best. Year. Ever.

2012 was a really good year. Like, really good. Mostly (ok, all) because of this guy:

Because this post has the potential for getting too long, completely rambling, and overloaded with baby pictures, I'll do my best to keep it under control. But no promises . . .

JANUARY

I started 2012 hitting the ground running. Literally. I signed up for the LA Marathon, joined the LA Roadrunners, ran 3 half marathons, and got a crap ton of running bling (the best kind).

FEBRUARY

I thoroughly embraced (translation: became somewhat obsessed with) every bit of my LA Marathon training, as evidenced by this, this, this and this. Then, three weeks before the race, this happened:

MARCH

Despite my big piece of news, I ran the LA Marathon anyway (obviously) and didn't adjust my expectations at all (naturally). Fortunately, I managed to run it under 4 hours in a PR (finally!). I'm pretty sure that was the first indication that Nathan would be the best thing to happen to us. Ever.

APRIL

I was Eugene bound for my fourth half marathon of the year, running it just over 14 weeks pregnant. I ran a relaxed race over the gorgeous course, and had a blast watching two of my friends qualify for Boston. Track Town USA rocks!

MAY

I turned 32 (yikes) and found out that we were having a boy (yay!) Not to let a little thing like getting pregnant get in the way, I kept on running and made my return to Sonki Fitness boot camp.

JUNE

I started the month by watching Marissa qualify for Boston (woohoo!) at the Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon and ended it with a mini babymoon to Radiator Springs. Oh, and I kept running.

JULY

LA was overtaken by a never ending heat wave and our lives were overtaken by everything baby. Goodbye, guest room. Oh yeah, and I kept running . . .

AUGUST

I watched a lot of Olympics. A lot. I even watched race walking, which I found completely fascinating. Also, since I was pretty huge by this point, I had a new found appreciation for the couch. At the end of the month, I had my first baby shower. Baby and I were both growing nice and healthy, which meant - yep - I kept on running.

SEPTEMBER

I had my second baby shower, thrown by my lovely BFF Kim. My awesome runner friends were in attendance, and brought Nathan some running related gifts. He adores them. Aimee was training for the Nike Womens Marathon in October, and was kind enough to let two extra (and extra slow - sorry, Nathan, we were slow) people join her for part of her long runs.

OCTOBER

This is when I became a mama to this precious little man. My last run of my pregnancy was the day I was admitted to the hospital.

NOVEMBER

Three weeks after having Nathan, I was back running, and completely over the moon about it. But that was nothing compared to how in love I was with watching our little guy grow, and celebrating all of his "firsts" - his first smile, his first month, and first Thanksgiving. (He dressed up as Mickey Mouse, naturally)

DECEMBER

December was filled with lots of smiles, coos, and cuddles, a comeback race, lots of running, a two-month birthday, visits from family and friends, and Nathan's first Christmas. A wonderful way to close out an amazing year. So long, 2012!