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Through Heather's Looking Glass

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2014, Year in Review

December 19, 2014 | baby, blogging, Disney, family, fitness, holidays, running, Travel

2014 was quite the eventful year, starting from the very beginning. At the beginning of January, Bobby and I set out on a crazy adventure to run the Dopey Challenge in WDW. For those who don’t know what it is, here is the short version: 5k Thursday, 10k Friday, half marathon Saturday, full marathon Sunday. For full versions, scroll down towards the bottom of my runDisney page for full recaps! I’ll spoil it for you…it was super tough, but we survived!

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I even felt ok (well, crazy) enough to fly to California a couple days later and run the Tinkerbell 5k and half marathon.

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The day after I got home from all of my travels, I (at the prompting of a friend), took a pregnancy test, thinking it was pretty impossible, and apparently I was very wrong, because I was definitely pregnant! Turns out I had run Dopey and Tinkerbell pregnant and didn’t know. Little baby had already run some runDisney races! I announced in March….

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BUT, prior to that, I traveled back to Disney with my family to run the inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge in WDW, plus the 5k (5k Friday, 10k Saturday, half marathon Sunday). Sadly, I didn’t really get to enjoy this trip because I was having some serious morning sickness and suffering from the worst exhaustion I have ever experienced that I can’t even put into words. I ran the 5k with Bobby and my parents, the 10k with my mom, and stuck out the half marathon all by myself, with a very very upset stomach. I tried to make the best of it because 1.) I knew I wouldn’t be doing any runDisney races for awhile (a year it turns out!) and this was the first time doing a runDisney race by myself.

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After the secret was out, I was SO relieved, it was so hard to keep to ourselves!

In April Bobby and I ran the Crescent City Classic, a super fun 10k in New Orleans. Due to terrible round ligament pain, this would be my last race during my pregnancy.

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In May, we had a gender reveal party, and found out baby M was a baby girl! It was a really fun celebration with lots of friends and family.

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Bobby had sadly lost his job back in February (it’s terrifying to be pregnant and have this happen, trust me! So we took a HUGE leap of faith after many disappointing job interviews, and moved back up to where we used to live in Madison, Mississippi so we would hopefully have a better shot at Bobby finding a job since we were not locals. It was a HUGE blessing when we asked some friends if we could rent their weekend home while we waited for our home in Biloxi to sell (it had been on the market over two years) and while Bobby looked for a job. We ended up having a really relaxing and fun summer together on the lake. It was great to spend some quality time together before the baby arrived.

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In June, we headed to Destin, Florida for an attorney’s yearly conference to be recertified to practice law/take some classes. My parents tagged along so I wouldn’t be alone while Bobby was in classes.

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July was my birthday AND baby shower all in the same weekend. Jam packed fun, friends, and family.

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Also in July (it was a jam packed month!) Bobby got a job, AND we sold our house, AND bought another house, all within the span of about a week. I was stressed to the max, but also so thankful our prayers were answered and things were moving in the right direction.

In August we moved into our new home and tried to get everything unpacked before baby arrived. Apparently I did too much, because we had a pre term labor scare and I was told to sslloowww down. We still managed to get most of the house unpacked before the end of September.

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On September 24th, I was induced and we met our little baby girl, Emma Kate Montgomery at 4:22 in the afternoon, weighing 8 pounds 7 ounces.

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Everything since then has kind of been a blur, HA! Lots of sleeping, rocking, bouncing, and feeding has taken up my time since then. At the end of October Emma turned one month old. How can a month go by so fast but yet SO SLOW at the same time?

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November brought Thanksgiving, cooler weather, and a calmer baby.

EK 2 months

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December came quickly, and it was Christmas decorating, smiles from Emma Kate, and making Christmas plans.

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We also said goodbye to my first baby girl Sassy this month. She had a happy 13 years, but I still miss her every day.

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Looking back, I can’t believe all of those happened in the short span of a year. At the same time, Running Dopey back in January seems so long ago. We had some of the best times of our lives in 2014, but also some of the most difficult times. It’s fun to look back over a year, let out a huge deep breathe, and say “we made it, whew!” But…now we start all over again. It’s refreshing, but at the same time scary. I’m still working on how I want to “handle” 2015, so more on that after Christmas as I’m still trying to process 2014. I do have some big things I want to accomplish, and not that I have a child it does change the way I look at and approach the year.

Thank you for spending 2014 with me, one of my goals is to get back to blogging more times per week. Smile I hope you take some time to reflect on 2014, the good and the bad. Looking at the not so fun things can be difficult, but if we use them as an opportunity for growth, then we can make those tough times worth something.

QOTD: What is your favorite thing you did in 2014?

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Comments

  1. Mindy @ Road Runner Girl says

    December 19, 2014 at 7:10 am

    What an amazing year Heather! And you got one of the best blessings ever…that little bundle of joy!

    • Heather says

      December 21, 2014 at 8:40 am

      yes mam!

  2. Frank@TheFatRunner says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:20 am

    Childbirth is enough to fill up anyone’s year but you certainly managed a lot more than that. May 2015 be even better and more exciting.

    • Heather says

      December 21, 2014 at 8:40 am

      I hope so!

  3. Betsy says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:35 am

    Awww what a year! Congrats!

    • Heather says

      December 21, 2014 at 8:40 am

      thanks 🙂

  4. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    December 19, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    Whoa. What an incredible year. So much excitement, so much anxiety, but you know what it proves? that you have an amazing life and amazing people in you life to love you and to love back!

    • Heather says

      December 21, 2014 at 8:40 am

      Yes!

  5. Heather says

    December 20, 2014 at 12:34 am

    Congrats to you and your family! I started reading your blog in 2013 while training for the WDW 2014 full… I love hearing all about Disney and runDisney. But I have to admit I love seeing pictures and reading about your mommy stories just as much! What a blessed year!!!

    • Heather says

      December 21, 2014 at 8:40 am

      Ah thank you for reading!

  6. Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says

    December 20, 2014 at 5:03 am

    What a year, Heather! I can’t believe you ran all those races while pregnant!

    • Heather says

      December 21, 2014 at 8:39 am

      haha me either!

Trackbacks

  1. runningwithsass says:
    December 19, 2014 at 1:45 am

    2014, Year in Review

    2014 was quite the eventful year, starting from the very beginning. At the beginning of January, Bobby

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I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
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A huge thank you to @disneystyle for gifting me an A huge thank you to @disneystyle for gifting me and Emma Kate this fun box of goodies to get in a Halloween spooky vibe !! 🎃 ✨

I love that Disney sells such a wide array of holiday merchandise, for all holidays. There truly is something for everyone in your family or on your shopping list! I listed all the brands in partnership with Disney in our box below. Which is your favorite? 

@oldnavy 
@bathandbodyworks 
@loungefly 
@wetnwildbeauty 
@zakdesigns 
@makeuperaser 
@disneybooks 

#disneystyle
I’m not suggesting you go into debt to go on vac I’m not suggesting you go into debt to go on vacation. But I am suggesting you remember that time is something you can’t get back, and memories are something that will stay with you longer than things. 🚢 

As we enter the holiday season, maybe it’s time to consider that long overdue vacation instead of quite so many things under the tree? Maybe a few less items for some time away to rest and recharge with loved ones?

@disneycruiseline is great for just that because they truly have something for everyone, from babies, kids, to adults. The cruise we just went on included beach time, pool time, an obstacle course, lots of eating, basketball, foosball, ping-pong, movie, watching, scavenger hunt finding, pirates (the nice kind!), ice cream, and so much more. ✨🫶🏻 

Always happy to answer questions about the most magical cruise line around! 

#disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneywish #disneyvacation
🚢 A vacation should actually feel like a vacati 🚢 A vacation should actually feel like a vacation right? I hear too many people coming home from vacations with their kids that say they are exhausted and now need another vacation from their vacation. 

This is why I love @disneycruiseline. 💖

They have kids clubs included in the price of your cruise fare* that are open for a lot of the day and late into the night. This allows for adults only time at the adults only pool, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Not to mention, the kids absolutely have a blast. Mine never wanted to leave! 🫶🏻

it’s a win-win situation in my book. They get to go have some fun with other kids, and I get to relax and recharge on my vacation, and then we can also spend quality family time together as well! ✨

Send this to someone you are trying to convince to go on a DCL cruise with you! 😏

*included in cruise fare for kids clubs, not the nursery which is an extra charge. 

#disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneywish #disneycruisekids #disneycruisevacation #cruisevacation
We absolutely love Orange Beach, it’s one of our We absolutely love Orange Beach, it’s one of our favorite places to visit and feels like home. 🫶🏻

There are so many great businesses with employees that make you feel like family. Here are a few we visited over fall break. Be sure to save this for your next visit to the beach! Have you been to any of these places? 🍊 

@coastalorangebeach: Not only a beautiful restaurant right on the gulf with amazing food, drinks, and servers, but also a really great store with amazing merch! We found some great stuff. If you go to the restaurant, ask for J-Mac to be your server and make sure to get a bushwhacker with a peanut butter floater! 😋 

@florabama_olerivergrill : Right on the bama/Florida line, this fun restaurant boasts beautiful sunsets, a fun cocktail menu (the key lime colada was amazing!) and you can even rent pontoon boats and jet skis from the marina, or take a dolphin cruise! 🐬 

@theorangebeachstore : I’ve passed this store 100 times but this was my first time inside and now I’m mad that I have been missing out all this time. They have a beautiful selection of really nice souvenirs from great brand names you already know and love. Great quality clothing and other things like blankets, cup, hats, and candles. I shopped forever! 

@fbyachtclub_ : The Flora Bama Yacht club is also right on the state line on the bay side and has fun live music, a really nice menu including crab claws, hummus, chicken pasta, and key lime pie. Service was great and we loved the live music. 

Thank y’all for having us! ✨
#florabama #coastalal #orangebeach #orangebeachalabama #orangebeachrestaurants #orangebeachdining #albeachblogger
But why are they like this? I even tell him “I d But why are they like this? I even tell him “I don’t want a Bobby-sized bite” and it’s still fit for a polar bear. 🍰 

#loveandmarriage #husbandsandwives #menbelike #orangebeachalabama #coastalal #marriedlifebelike
Big batch, big flavor, zero stress! 😍 #sponsore Big batch, big flavor, zero stress! 😍 #sponsored 

I picked up the NEW Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage at @Foodlion and added it to my favorite red beans and rice — lean, smoky, and less sodium! 🍽️ 

The best part? This recipe makes plenty of leftovers, so no cooking tomorrow 🙌. 
Quick, easy, and totally elevated — your weeknight dinners just got a major upgrade! 

Comment “BUTTERBALL” to receive a link to shop these products at your local Food Lion. *Check your message request folder if you don’t follow my account in order to receive the link.

Bobby’s Red Beans and Rice: 

INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 - 1 cup celery, about 3-4 ribs
• 1 Sweet Onion
• 1 Green Bell Pepper
• 2-4 cloves Garlic
• Seasoning, Tony’s, chili powder, pepper, bay leaf
• 1 tsp paprika
• 45 oz kidney beans
• 28 oz beef sausage, 2 packs
• 2 packs of Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage
• 2 cup Beef broth
• Buttered Rice

PREPARATION STEPS
1. Chop/mince veggies (suggest food processor)

2. Warm butter on medium heat in pot then add veggies (about 10 minutes)

3. Add beans (slightly drain) and sausage (about 7 minutes)

4. Add garlic and seasoning and simmer about 10 minutes. 

5.) Serve over warm buttered rice

 #Butterball #SmokedTurkeySausage #FoodLionFinds #RedBeansAndRice #WeeknightDinner #EasyRecipes #MealPrepWin #FlavorfulAndHealthy @butterballturkey
Holiday shopping days with my mini me are some of Holiday shopping days with my mini me are some of my favorite traditions. ✨☕ 
From grabbing coffee to wandering through the decorated stores, there’s just something magical about this season. We laughed, made memories, and even managed to cross a few names off our list. 🎄 (ad) 

One of our favorite stops was Reeds at West Town Mall, where I spotted the new Victorinox Air Pro — a watch that’s Swiss-made with incredible craftsmanship, a stainless steel case, shock + water resistance, and even the ability to track 3 time zones at once. 🙌 It’s modern, timeless, and such a meaningful find for the men in my life.

The best part? Ending the day with full shopping bags, full hearts, and a gift I know will be worn and treasured for years. 💫 @victorinoxnorthamerica 

#HolidayShopping #Victorinox #AirProWatch #MyVictorinox

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