New Name?

First I need to figure out a new name for my blog, I can't keep Summer is the Season when it is obviously Autumn, haha, j/k - I mean since I am having another baby, not naming her Autumn, which is funny because Summer asked me today why I named her Summer, and after telling her because I love the summertime she said, we should name the new baby Autumn. I told her she wasn't the only one who thought that :o) but we liked the name Pepper instead. And (drumroll) we finally have a middle name too - Isabel. Pepper Isabel. How pretty is that :o) If you know me and my husband well enough you might see the joke in it too (not telling).

Anyway I am now 34 + weeks pregnant. How do I feel this week? Well actually almost all of my pregnancy symptoms seem to be gone but that is probably because I caught Kris's head cold. I have the typical itchy eyes, runny nose, stuffy nose (which seems odd but whatever) and clouded head. I still have energy, at least today, so I don't want to complain yet, if I follow Kris's cold history I will get a bit worse and then it will linger forever so, as long as I get better in 5+ weeks I guess it is better to be sick now verses later.

Here are some 34 week photos of me and some photos of Kris and Sumer we took when we went hiking on Monday. Yes, me hiking, at 34 weeks. More like walking slowly and taking photos but it was still nice to see the fall colors, ignore the snow in the shade, and enjoy the fresh air of the mountains.

I felt great today!

I felt so good today, where in the world did I get all this energy, and how did I possibly do everything I did today? I did dishes, laundry, put baby clothes away, took a few pictures, made dinner, ran some errands... and I didn't even need a nap! I made it to 34 weeks and hopefully things continue to be a bit easier, that would be really nice wouldn't it. I even started painting my Halloween costume today too!

My mom came down to visit earlier this week, of course I didn't take any pictures of her and I, or her and Summer, or her, or even me. I felt rather guilty about ignoring my camera so I got it out tonight and took a few pictures of Summer. She was not in the mood. She was not feeling "great" like I was apparently but I didn't care, I mean I cared, but I figured we always take happy smiling photos, let's see what kind of sad unhappy photos we can get - and let me tell you we got some good ones. She wasn't really upset, mostly just upset because she didn't want to be outside in the cold 65 degree weather, in a short sleeve shirt and skirt. That is until she wanted to show me tricks on the trampoline. Then magically the cold weather didn't seem to bother her anymore. Kids. At least we are warming back up into the 80's, while I did enjoy my bathrobe, slippers, and hot chocolate today, I am just not ready for that yet. This is October, in Las Vegas, I remember trick or treating in short sleeves last year for goodness sakes. Well I wasn't trick or treating, I was taking, well you know what I mean!

Oh and everything else is going as planned, still pregnant, less than 6 weeks (I hope) left, blood pressure was still low (117/70), Pepper is still kicking all the time, we still don't have a middle name, her clothes are washed and put away, I have most everything I need (except bibs), I start seeing the doctor every two weeks now, and I am finally having non painful contractions!

Anyway, enjoy the pictures I took of my cute little sad princess, and hopefully I take some belly pictures again soon.

Is it the prenatal pills?

For the last two days I have felt ill. My stomach is a little upset and I am trying not to move around much because I feel like I will throw up. I have heard that some women get sick at the end of their pregnancy, I do not want to be this person. I did take two prenatal vitamins over the course of the last 2 or 3 days and I really think they might be the reason I feel so ill. I feel guilty not taking them but I try to eat vegetables everyday :o)

I had two appointments this week, on Monday I had to go to the base to be monitored. They sit you in a chair and hook you up to monitors, one reads your contractions or your uterus while the other monitors your baby's heart beat. In a matter of a maybe 15 minutes (or 30?) your baby had to have an increase in heartbeat. The normal resting heartbeat for a baby is around 140-150, a waking moving baby has a heartbeat around 160-170. Let's just say that I had no problem passing this test, this little spicy baby moves all the time. That appointment was at 8:45 in the morning and by 2:00 pm she was still moving around, which doesn't help my ill feeling any.

Today I had another growth scan. Kris took off and went with me, I think he was impressed with all the stuff the tech explains while they are doing their exam. We saw the heart, the blood flow, the placenta, the brain, the stomach, arm and leg bones, amino fluid, and so much more. I am measuring correctly and this little Pepper is already about 4 1/2 pounds. The doctor said I didn't need him anymore and would probably have her in about 5 weeks. I was like, excuse me? I am only 32+ weeks. Now that I think about it that would only make me 2 weeks early which isn't even considered early. Let's hope this doctor is really good at making guesses like that because I would love to go 2 weeks early!

Oh and I forgot to mention my blood pressure, both days it was low, like 115/75 or something. I just might not end up with any blood pressure issues this time!

All this talk about having a baby in 5 weeks made Kris start thinking about planning, which is rather funny to me because I am the planner - not him, but he said I should just go ahead and schedule a c-section so we can all be ready. I really want to do a VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarian) this time for several reasons, the recovery time is so much easier, I want to experience contractions and labor, even if I do end up with an epidural, I just want to see how tough, or how wimpy I am, and it is safer. Kris is worried he may miss the birth if I go natural but for now I am just going to hope things work out for the best. Pepper isn't breach so there shouldn't be anything preventing me from having a natural birth, unless I don't go into labor on my own but I don't see that as a problem. While having the ultrasound exam the doctor asked if I felt that contraction and I said No. Well Yes I did feel it I just didn't realize it was a contraction. My stomach got tight but it didn't hurt. Apparently, since learning what having a contraction feels like, I have been having them randomly all day. Yay!

Oh and did you catch that, her name is going to be Pepper. Pepper ... well we don't have a middle name yet. She moves around so much I call her my little spicy baby so the name Pepper just sticks. Most people I tell really like it and think it is cute. I am sure some will not but it will grow on them. When we were discussing the name I asked my niece if it was ok to use the name because her daughters name is Pyper and they will be about a year apart, luckily she didn't mind.

I did get more ultrasound photos today but they are about the same, we did get a cute one of the hand open that looks like a wave. I also got my breast pump pieces yesterday and boiled them and washed them all today. I feel like I am almost ready, I have my baby shower this weekend and that should be a lot of fun. My mom will be here this weekend and I am going to have her help me get a few things ready. I feel like I can barely walk around without being uncomfortable so having my mom here will help. She is only staying a week but will be back before you know it!

I just love her

I just love her. Love Love Love. Love to pieces. I look at her and think - how in the world did I do that? I can't help looking into her eyes and wondering how I could have done that.

Her smile melts me. Her laughter makes me smile. Her innocent rejuvenates me. Her love for me astounds me.

Her imagination makes me laugh. Her silliness makes me love her even more. Her cleverness makes me worry a little :o) in a good way.

Her willingness makes me happy. Her little lips make me want to kiss her. Her soft hair makes me want to cuddle.

I just love her.

Pregnant Tummies

I am not the only one pregnant in my house, and I am not the only one with a baby in my tummy either!




If only it is as easy to get my baby out as it was for her. I made it to 31 weeks and if you want to compare me at 31 weeks with Summer you can do that here. That's why I am posing with Killer this week, of course last time he stood there on his own, this time he was forced, poor dog, getting so old. With Summer, at 31 weeks, I had gained 16 pounds. As of today I am up around 20 pounds. Really not bad considering. I have actually been feeling really good too, my energy is up, I am not as uncomfortable, I seem to be able to walk ok, the sleep number bed we just got is really helping my aching hips too.

Can you believe it - no complaints this week!

Hiking at Red Rock

We went hiking a few weeks ago, just the three of us, at Red Rock, the weather was perfect (maybe a little hot) and it was very nice. Summer loves hiking, or rock climbing, or climbing on the rocks ... she has a blast and we enjoyed the fresh air. We always see something interesting when we go hiking and this time we saw a lizard bathing on a rock in the warm sun. We used the opportunity to talk about camouflage. I always have school on my mind :o)






I love hiking but unfortunately I am getting to the point where I can't walk for long. It won't be much longer now I guess ...

Less than 10

I have less than 10 weeks, hopefully, until I deliver this little squiggly spicy baby inside my tummy. At my last appointment on Monday I was measuring right on track, my blood pressure was 118/66, my pulse was in the 80's and my temperature was 99. The little girl who has invaded my body had a heartbeat of 150. She, of course, was awake and moving during the measurement and heartbeat scan. Overall I have been feeling a bit better. My heartburn isn't that bad really, does that mean she is going to be bald? I had been having horrible toe, feet, and leg cramps but Kris massaged my legs two nights ago and wouldn't you know it worked for the last two nights? He said I had bad knots in my legs and I want to know 1) how in the world did I get knots in my legs and 2) how can he feel them? Of course I don't know much about muscles, being that I don't have very big ones I guess. I also have had a bit more energy and I can't believe it is due to the 1/2 cup of decaf coffee I have started drinking this past week. AND, the best part, the pressure I have felt between my legs when I walk - is gone. It's like something shifted and I am not so uncomfortable anymore. Maybe I will get lucky, finally, and have a good end of pregnancy. Boy wouldn't that be nice. All I need to go with it is the perfect delivery in two months.

Well wishful thinking can be fun sometimes. Here is a 30 week photo I took earlier today, looking good I say!