February Mom of the Month!

Each month we will be highlighting a different mom who is having incredible success at Stroller Strides.

This month we are pleased to announce MEGAN B (Nicholas' mom) as our very special mom. Megan has been coming to Stroller Strides since Nick was 6 weeks old. She pushes herself harder and harder at each class and has seen incredible changes in her body (see number 21 below). She is on our Run Like a Mother 10k training team and will cross that finish line in March. Finally, she has also found new friends at Stroller Strides which helps her get through the tough times of motherhood! CONGRATS MEGAN!

Here are Megan's 25 things:

1. I was born in Kansas but have also lived in Wisconsin, Virginia, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
2. I have a younger sister who is in a PhD program for child psychology and a younger brother who is an undergraduate in political science and pre-law.
3. I was president of the student council and captain of the academic teams in high school.
4. I married the first guy I ever kissed.
5. We were married on a beach in Jamaica.
6. We started dating when I was a freshman in high school.
7. I was an intern for my Congressman for two years in high school.
8. I got my undergraduate degree in political science from Bryn Mawr College and my teaching license from the University of Richmond.
9. I taught preschool for 4 ½ years at the JCC but I’m not Jewish.
10. One infant is harder to take care of than the sixteen 3 year olds that I taught.
11. Nicholas has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.
12. I slept with my hand in Nick’s bassinet for a week because I couldn’t believe he was real.
13. A friend offered to give me an ultrasound on her personal machine to find out what we were having because I couldn’t wait until the 20th week appointment. She is a vet. We did the ultrasound at her clinic.
14. She told us we were having a girl. She was wrong.
15. My husband is William Bradley V. I didn’t want to continue the family name and have William the sixth.
16. I liked the name Nicholas and my husband liked Max. So we picked Nicholas Maxwell Bradley.
17. I craved carrots, celery, and grapefruit when I was pregnant. I have not eaten them since.
18. Raising my son without family nearby is incredibly hard. They live in Minnesota and Florida.
19. I know what 50 degrees below zero feels like.
20. My husband thinks I don’t know how to change the lining of the diaper pail.
21. I am down 3 dress sizes from what I was wearing before I got pregnant.
22. I going to run the Monument Ave 10k because I’ve spent too many years thinking I can’t.
23. I am obsessed with the tv show LOST.
24. I am learning how to cook but hate to use measuring cups.
25. I’m so thankfully for all of the amazing friends I’ve made through Stroller Strides!

Meet Your Instructors - Alex

1. I was born on December 24th, 1980 in Upper Montclair, NJ. I grew up going to NYC all the time and still think it's the most amazing place on earth. I love it.

2. I moved to Midlothian, VA when I was 10.

3. My husband, Eddie, and I dated for NINE months in elementary school. We didn't date again until college.

4. I have an undergraduate degree in Public Relations and a Masters in Teaching. I've never used either, but plan on teaching someday ...

5. I have two sons ... Jack Alexander, who just turned three and Finn Edward, who turned one in August.

6. I think I'd like to have one more child ... a little girl, of course. :-)

7. We live in the City. In a white ranch house. With a lime green door. I love my lime green door and I love living in the City. But we need more room!

8. Pink and green are still my favorite colors.

9. I love to plan. I plan to plan to plan. Usually, I plan so much that I never do all the things that I planned.

10. Some may say that I'm a teensy weensy bit obsessive compulsive. I like things to be right. And pretty. And organized. And perfect. You get the picture.

11. I loved being a cheerleader. I got to travel to the cool competitions you see on ESPN and will still argue with anyone that, yes, cheering is a sport. I wish I could still cheer.

12. My dad died of cancer when I was six-years-old. I'm an only child and my mom never remarried. So, I grew up with just her and me. We have an amazingly unique relationship.

13. I am constantly late. Ugh.

14. I have always been active, but NEVER ran until last year. Not in high school. Not in college. Not ever. I honestly thought I was unable. I trained with Rachel for the 10K and have loved it ever since. I am so proud of this accomplishment.

15. I have no tattoos or crazy piercings. I am very indecisive and could never make that big of a commitment.

16. I love to cook, entertain and plan parties. (See #'s 9 and 10)

17. I think rules are made to be broken.

18. I really love and have always loved my life. No major complaints. Although sometimes I know I appear to be a complainer. I don't know why I do that.

19. I often bite off more than I can chew ... food and commitments.

20. I never ate meat until I moved in with Eddie. I still prefer seafood and rarely eat red meat. Except for burgers.

21. My grandfather helped invent the cathode ray tube. That is what makes the picture come through on a television set. He owned the fourth major network before it was sold to Fox (it was called the DuMont Network). He died long before I was born, but I've always been fascinated with his life and accomplishments.

22. I love waking up to my boys. Every morning I get just as excited to see them as I did the first time we met. They are such amazing little creatures.

23. I had a scheduled induction with both boys (plan, plan, plan). I loved the whole experience. I might be sad if I never went through it again ... maybe.

24. I don't think I'd move away from Richmond unless it was to a beach.

25. I joined Stroller Strides when Jack was 5 months old, at Rachel's "Second Anniversary Celebration." I think it is an awesome program of which I am very proud to be a part.

Five Years of Memories!

Yesterday, January 12th, was Stroller Strides Richmond 5th Anniversary. Wow, five years of successful business...I don't like to toot my own horn often, but I am beyond proud of this accomplishment. Our classes continue to grow in size and quality. Our reach into the community continues to extend. If you ask a pregnant women if she has heard of Stroller Strides, more than likely, she has. So has her OB, her pediatrician, and her friends.

So let's keep spreading the word! I posted on Facebook yesterday asking people to post their Stroller Strides memories and here are a few of the replies:

• My favorite memory has to be my first day. I was scared to death that I would never keep up with all the other moms. But I did and signed up that day. I so enjoyed all the time spent meeting new people. I have to say that you are one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. You give more of yourself than anyone I know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
• I became a Strider four years ago tomorrow, at Rachel's one-year anniversary. I wanted to "get through flu season" without taking my then-6-month old to the gym kid care place. I have made lifelong friends, as has my daughter; encouraged a new franchisee; and become involved in changing other women's lives for the better. Stroller Strides is WAY more than just a fitness class.
• going to MNO and hanging with Lisa Druxman was a memory I'll never forget, and the way my quads felt after her class at Meadow Farm too..... you know im so grateful for SS, and the friendships I have from there! thank you!
• You taught me to run!!! I am now training myself again for the 10k and I know I can do it because you inspire me.
• Happy Anniversary and thank you. Because of you and SS I got back in shape, ran my first ever 5K and met many wonderful, beautiful and motivating moms who became incredible friends. Thank you!!
• From a HOSS (husband of a stroller strider), my favorite memory is doing sprints at the JCC with a Rudolph nose on my face at a holiday '08 family workout (or something silly to that effect). seriously though, congrats to you and many more years of continued success. The stroller strides network has meant so much to our family
• my fav memory...when i started SS (5yrs ago) i made some wonderful friends
• Thank you for helping me get in shape while spending time with my children. It is becuase and you that I started running and ran my 1st 8k last year. I am very thankful for the camaraderie with other mom in Stroller Strides.
• You have inspired many woman over the last 5 years. I enjoyed going to SS, teaching SS, making new friends, and my children making new friends. Keep up the great work!
• Your five year anniversary marks my three year anniversary... I signed up for Stroller Strides at your second "birthday bash" held at Regency in 2007! Wow! Thanks for all you've done and continue to do!
• I'm addicted- I'm away this week and miss my SS classes!

Feel free to post your favorite memories here! But if you haven't been to Stroller Strides yet...WHAT'S KEEPING YOU?!? Join us! Your first class is free, and we are offering a fantastic special in January...$20.10 registration fee. Save $54.90 which is like getting one month free!

I hope to see you at class soon!

(btw, i will post a pic from that first class on here soon!)

Meet Your Instructors - Kate

1. My name is Kathryn Veazey Crone.

2. I have always gone by Kate, so if you called me Kathryn I would probably not even know who you were talking to.

3. My birthday is December 3rd, 1980. I am 29 years old ... this year is a BIG year ... 30!

4. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter, Emma, and an 8 month old son, Trip.

5. They are my life and I cannot imagine life without them.

6. Emma has a head full of red hair and is constantly on the go. She is extremely outgoing and my parents say I was the exact same way.

7. My nickname as a child was non-stop, because I never stopped. Seriously, I never stopped.

8. I stopped napping at 18 months and I don't know how my mom did it. Emma is starting to get rid of her nap and it's driving me bonkers!

9. Trip is the sweetest baby. He loves to smile and laugh at his sister. I love watching him watch her.

10. I hope they are best friends.

11. My husband, Ty, is 8 1/2 years older than me and I love it. I give him a hard time about being older all the time.

12. We met at the Westwood Club, where I was a tennis pro and events coordinator.

13. He was a member and my mixed doubles partner.

14. The first time he asked me out, for breakfast, I told him I was going shoe shopping.

15. I really was. And was going to get new running shoes.

16. I think I may be addicted to shopping. I love it!

17. We obviously did end up going out to dinner and the rest is history.

18. We have been married for 3 1/2 years.

19. Emma was born three days before our first anniversary and Trip was born two years later, nine days before our third anniversary.

20. May is a busy month for us.

21. I love that my husband and I have an activity, tennis, in common. It is something we can do together.

22. Although, now that we have two kids we do not get to play tennis together much anymore.

23. I have played tennis since I was in elementary school.

24. I have always been involved in sports ... tennis, soccer, swimming, running.

25. In high school, I had to make a decision to either keep playing tennis or soccer competitively.

26. I chose tennis.

27. I played in college at East Carolina University.

28. I tore my rotator cuff during my junior year, had surgery and decided not to play my senior year.

29. Even though it was hard to turn down my scholarship and leave my teammates, it was a great decision.

30. I had the best senior year, as a "regular" college student. And fit four years of going to bars into one year. It was crazy ... and so much fun.

31. I have been an only child since I was 12 years old.

32. My older brother passed away from cancer when he was 16 years old.

33. It was a very tough time in my family's life. But has made stronger and made us appreciate every day we have together.

34. I was born and raised in Richmond, VA. My parents and my husband's parents are also from Richmond.

35. I never thought I would live here after college, but cannot imagine raising my family anywhere else.

36. I love being a Stroller Strides instructor and being able to work with my kids and my friends.

37. It is a very rewarding job.

38. I have always enjoyed running and working out.

39. My favorite distance is a 10K.

40. My best finishes are 9th in my age group in the Monument Ave 10K, with a time of 44:34 in 2004; and 13th in my age group in the Cooper River Bridge Run, with a time of 43:34 in Charleston, SC in 2004.

41. I hope to get back up to that pace again this year.

42. I wish I had more time to run, but sometime it is hared to fit it all in.

43. I keep telling myself that my time will come. And I know it will.

Meet Your Instructors - Emily

1. Most importantly, I love being a mom to Drew and Chase. I knew it would be fun to be a mom, but I never imagined it could be this much fun. Drew is so imaginative, sweet, obsessive, cuddly, and creative - I love the way preschoolers think. Chase is my belly-laughing, laid-back, into everything sweetheart who reminds me everyday, as he gets bigger and bigger, that time just goes by too fast.

2. I married my best friend. My husband and I dated in high school after meeting through a mutual friend (we went to different schools). We broke up all through college, to do our own thing. This turned out to be the best thing for us. We both grew up a bit and got back together after graduating. We were married 2.5 years later. It was one of those, "if you lose something you loved and it comes back to you, it's yours to keep" situations.

3. I LOVE the beach. I could spend everyday playing/reading/running on the beach. Someday, hopefully, we will live close enough to make it happen.

4. I have two spoiled, loving dogs. Toby, a yellow lab, and Ty, a golden retriever. They are both about 100 pounds and a bit crazy! They will be 5 and 7 this year, but we always joke that we need to start saying 1 and 2 because it is getting embarrassing that they are so old and act so young ...

5. I went to the University of Richmond for my undergraduate degree in Education and got my Masters as a reading specialist through UVA. I taught third grade for three years, first grade for a year and was a reading specialist in an elementary school for three years before staying home with my kids.

6. When I was little, I always wanted to be a clown nurse - a nurse who would come in and take care of kids but would be dressed like a clown so the kids could laugh while getting medicine or their blood pressure taken. I still would like to be a nurse someday, but am really enjoying being a fitness instructor, so I may do more with that someday. Or who knows, maybe I will teach reading again!

7. I strongly believe that smiles are contagious.

8. I love chocolate and ice cream. They are my major downfalls in any hopes of ever dieting. My favorites are mint chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream.

9. I love to read, but never really get the chance/make the time.

10. I have three older siblings. My sister, Annissa, is 41 and lives in Florida. My brother, Charlie, is 39 and also lives in Florida. And my sister, Abby, is 33 and lives in Richmond. Some of my favorite memories are of when we were all home together.

11. I grew up in Syracuse, NY and never, ever will live north of Richmond again, if I can help it!

12. I love 95+ degree days and would be very happy in a climate that is always like that.

13. I played field hockey and lacrosse in high school and still miss playing them. I played lacrosse a semester in college, but was turned off because it was such a big commitment (with study hall, lifting, etc. each day ...). After college, I coached a recreational league in Richmond. I hope to convince my children to play.

14. Once of my least favorite things to do is fold laundry. I often leave clean clothes in a basket for a week. Hence, my clothes are usually a wrinkled mess. But, since my husband doesn't like how I do laundry (I throw in all colors at once), he cleans, folds and irons his own. Really works out well for me!

15. I get a thrill out of cleaning out closets and throwing things out. I am a little anal about it. I try to fill up at least two trash bags to give away every time we get one of those Vietnam vet bags in the mail.

16. I like to explore other countries. When I was 12, we lived in England for a semester (my dad was a professor). I went to school there and adjusted to London life. In college, I spent a semester in Madrid, Spain. I lived with a family there and tried my best to communicate. Both were such wonderful, fun experiences I will never forget. Unfortunately, I am now in the system as being "never allowed to donate blood" because I spent too much time abroad during the mad cow disease scare ... kind of sad if you ask me, as I would love to donate.

17. I love reality TV. Especially, High School Reunion, 16 and Pregnant and The Hills.

18. I am pretty laid back about most things and try to look on the bright side of things. Pessimists drive me crazy. You can't change what is in the past, so why not be optimistic about the future?

19. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I am one of those people who would love to start playing Christmas songs in October.

20. I love to start out my day with a workout. It gives me energy to get through the day. And honestly, when I say I am going to wait and workout later in the day or during nap time, it rarely happens.

21. Henry Diamond once said, "You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love." And that is what I see when I look at my life.

22. I want to have lots of kids if I can convince my husband. Or at least one more.

23. I loved the whole pregnancy/birth experience. I was fortunate enough to have pretty easy pregnancies and labors. After my first child, I became passionate about the birthing experience and my nursing aspiration switched from being a clown to working with pregnant women.

24. I love being able to stay home with my kids and feel so fortunate that I am able to do so. I thank my husband often for this opportunity.

25. I try to always be a good friend and a good listener. I would do anything for a friend.