Pregnancy Update

Sunday will mark my 37th week of pregnancy. While this past week I told multiple family members that no, I really don't need it to be over soon. I kinda do want it to be over soon.

I want to sleep on my back. I want to have him here and healthy because these last few days I have just been worrying that he is sitting funny and will be misshapen. I want to have a baby to hold and look at. I don't want to work anymore.

Can you tell I am writing this after a decent day's work where I have been yawning most of the day?

But really, my pregnancy has not been a hard one. I really can't think of anything that went differently than I really had wanted or expected. I am still able to move around and be active and really, for me, if I couldn't do that THEN I would be miserable but I am still good.

I do have to say though that it is really these last few weeks that seem the hardest so far. I feel lazy and unhealthy. After not having many food cravings (besides the first couple of months when I could actually burn them away), I now want ice cream, chips, and french fries. I mean, of course, I always really want those things but it seems like I have not been making the best food choices. If I can be honest, I am ready for my belly to stop growing. It really doesn't seem that big to me, I mean there is a full grown baby in there but then when I see the pictures of myself, I realize that yes, I guess I do look like a real live baby is in there almost ready to come out. So, my goal is to focus on feeding him the nutritious things these last few weeks. There is no need for Doritos or ice cream everyday, even if it is only 6 chips or 1/4 cup of the creamy goodness. Feed the kid protein and vitamins. That is my daily mantra.

On another note, we still don't have the Baby's room 100% complete. There are still some Ikea things to put together and some random things to put away. While it will be the best looking room in the house, we really won't be spending too much time in there because Baby is co-sleeping with us for awhile. I would like to get it done though soon so I can sit in there and look at it since it will be pretty nice.  That will be the project these next few weeks.

June 9 Equals Pool Day

That's right, on June 9th we put up our awesome "swimming" pool. I think that is a record date. I can't really confirm that though because I don't think I have kept track of the set up times but I am almost positive this year is the earliest. Oh yes, and I set 80% of it up by myself, thankyouverymuch. It required a lot of squatting and back muscles which actually felt pretty good.

Our weather has been mostly sunny here and semi-warm, which means time to pool party here in the good ole Northwest. Anything over 80 degrees is quite suitable for pool time!

The Mr and I get giddy when the pool is set up because we picture our evenings floating in the pool with a drank (post pregnancy, of course) and it is always just so nice. One day our plan is to get a bigger 4 whole foot pool and build a deck around it perhaps.

Now, I hope the weather doesn't turn to shit. Hopefully it will stay around the 70s most of the week and the pool will be warm enough to get in by the end of the month! I really would like to go in it once while pregnant. I keep hearing how nice it is to float around with a large belly but I haven't experienced it yet.

The goal for 2013 is to not let the water turn green before August 15. Having non-puke green water until mid-September would be AWESOME but if we go on vacation, it is pretty hard to regulate and it turns to green liquid with water bugs by the time we return. Since I'll be home though for the summer, I plan to stay on top of it.

In conclusion, let the summer begin. And, yes, I understand that it is June 9th in Ferndale, WA which means I am totally overdoing it but goddammit, I am being optimistic this year. It is time for a good summer!

Update: Mr Pepperworth just put a shit ton of chlorine in the pool since we won't be going in for awhile. The pool instantly turned green. Sonofabitch! Looks like we will have a green water pool this summer. Luckily, it is only light green. Not puke-green.

It Isn't All Fun and Games

I know you were waiting for me to complain about my pregnancy.

I have to admit, I have had it pretty easy. Not much to report really. I still pretty much do everything I used to do just a bit slower and maybe not quite as much. I mean, my weeding attention span still only lasts about one hour before I hate my life. But, nowadays, I don't get quite get as much weeded in that hour.

However, today was a doozy for me. I was extremely tired when I woke up and for what reason, I do not really know. I guess only 6 hours of sleep isn't enough for a pregnant woman but I did not anticipate it would be that big of a deal. It was. I couldn't go to sleep last night because the baby was moving around and couldn't get comfortable. It made me not tired, at all and instead I wanted to move around. After walking around a bit, I finally decided I had to go to sleep. Well, I was in a funk all day.

Luckily, yoga somewhat brought me out of the cloud I was in but I can tell you that I will be going to bed quite soon and it is 8:30pm.

It may be the shitty weather that has me not feeling so morning friendly too but whatever it is, I hope it goes away soon. I always feel better when I can wake up and get some stuff done.

In other news, I had three baby showers this past weekend and they were all great. We got some important baby things and Baby is super happy with all his gifts. He said he can't wait to be diapered and swaddled. I can't wait to try all his new diapers on him too! We will have a fashion show as soon as he arrives.

Early Morning Hikes

A couple of weekends ago some friends asked Mr and I if we wanted to do a hike. I have been wanting to get out and do one so I let them know we were definitely up to it but it couldn't be more than 4 miles and it had to be early in the morning. So, we found a 4 miles hike and met at 8am. The weather was so great and the hike very nice. The doughnuts and coffee afterward didn't hurt much either.

I felt so great after doing the hike/walk that I decided I wanted to keep it up. Usually I don't do much on the weekends, besides chores, so getting out and being active felt really good. This past weekend, I took Buk and we went on a short 2.5 mile hike. We had a great time listening to the birds and running (yes, I ran maybe one mile...downhill mostly) along the trails. The weather again was perfect. I even really enjoyed just going with the dog. Not that I don't enjoy going with people but going by myself let me do what I want and stop or run when I felt like it.

Hopefully I can keep doing it if the weather continues to be good on the weekends. I also went on hikes that we have never been on before so it is nice to explore areas that we thought we knew.

For those that are curious, we went to Stimpson Nature Reserve and I went to Chuckanut Falls with Buk. Both easy hikes.

My Meal Plan

This post is mostly just for me to remember what I am planning to do. A "to-do list" of sorts.

After Baby arrives, I am planning on not doing too much in the first few weeks. I would like to just worry about breast feeding and cuddling Baby. I also want to take it easy so my recovery is smooth. That probably means lots of naps and quick little walks. Therefore, I don't imagine myself cooking or cleaning much. (Oh, the joys of motherhood!) I am hoping either the Mr will cook or that I will have frozen enough meals to last awhile. (I also have some chores that I have already gave to other people, including, but not limited to, taking the dog to the dog park. I know family will cook for me too.)

Anywho, I have a list of food I want to freeze. So far, I have made exactly one of those. I think one of these weekends will be me cooking and freezing. That actually sounds pretty fun to me anyway. I do plan on eating foods that Whole Food Nutrition talks about in their blog in order to "nourish the new mom".

I also plan on registering at mealtrain.com so if people ask about bringing something to eat, I can give them the information on the website. I know some other women who did that and it worked pretty well for them when people wanted to bring food.

Can you tell food is important to me? Me likey.

Here is where my to-do list comes in because I need to make and freeze:

- Nettle Soup (done)
- Potato Gnocchi
- Chicken Soup
- Lentil and Rice Casserole
- Halibut and Potato Chowder
- Corn Veggie Enchiladas
- Some Version of Veggie GF Shepard Pie 
- Apple Cinnamon Teff Pancake batter
- Blackberry Crumble (a lady need some damn desserts!)
- Apple Crisp

I need to stock up on:
- Raspberry Tea
- Raw Nuts
- Almond Butter
- Fish

Can you tell I'm a planner? Yessir!

Third Trimester Update

I am currently at 31 weeks. I am now able to say that I am 7 months along. Holla! The time has gone by quite fast, which I know every woman says, but I think I realize now that it isn't a bad thing. It is nice to know you get to meet your baby soon!

I am still feeling quite well and exercising regularly. I still do my weights three times a week and walk/jog 2-3 times a week. I know I said I stopped running, which I kind of did since it is more jogging now, but I purchased a maternity belt (that is super cool) and my back pain is very minimal now. I wear the belt when I exercise, go on hikes, or walk/jog. I should have worn it last weekend when I was working in the garden from 8:30a-4p but I didn't really think about it, plus it would have ruined the tan I was working on with my bikini. I was looking real fine.

The weather has been so excellent here the past week or so that it is nice to get outside and be active. I think that if it was winter, I wouldn't be so apt to do my exercises so regularly. A warm bed is always better than the gym and I don't know if my pregnant will power would allow me to get my ass out of bed on cold mornings. So, I am thankful for that!
 

This picture is a bit scandalous but it is too funny not to share

I am, however, getting large. Like, Baby is getting large. Which is a good thing, I know. Multiple people have told me I look like I am going to pop. This may be true (according to that awesome picture) but when a woman has two more months to go, it isn't the sweetest thing she likes to hear. I don't know what my face looks like when those people say something to me and I don't know how fast my smile fades but hopefully they feel a bit awkward after having said it.

Another question I get asked, obviously, all the time is "what is his name". The answer is, we have not chosen one. We are fond of a couple but we won't actually choose one until after he is born. Gotta make sure he fits the name. What if he ends up just looking like a Bob or Gerald? Or, what if in the ultrasounds it was really a baby girl putting her finger between her legs to look like a penis just to fool her parents. That would be something a Pepperworth may do.

Well, it's off to my midwife appointment on a sunny Friday. TGIF (without the Hanging with Mr Cooper part - shout out to the 1990s)!

Nettle Hummus

I picked my last nettle harvest this past weekend. I plan on making some soup to eat and some to freeze for post-baby times. Nettle soup will definitely be good for a breastfeeding mom and her wee babe.

During this nettle season I made pesto, soup, quiche, and hummus. Everything I have made is so delicious. I haven't had one recipe failure. My hummus was especially good and I am still working on it. It is such an easy recipe that I would love to share it with you. In fact, you should get some nettles for yourself. Go into the woods somewhere and find some nettles. Just picked off the tender tops (with some gloves and long clothing, mind you) but make sure the plants aren't more than a foot or so tall, otherwise, the plant will have developed some sort of something that is indigestible.

Anywho, here is the recipe.

Nettle Hummus
makes 3 cups

INGREDIENTS
2 c cooked chickpeas (I soaked 1 1/2c dried chickpeas and cooked those up since I prefer dried beans)
2 1/2c fresh nettles
3 cloves garlic
1/2c olive oil
Juice of one lemon
3/4t salt
Pepper to taste

METHOD
1. First let's deal with those nettles. Get a pot of boiling water going and stick in the nettles for about 2 minutes. Then, dump them in an ice bath and leave out to drain on a towel for a few minutes.
2. Put your cooked chickpeas in a food processor with the garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Process until smoothish.
3. Roughly chop up the nettles and throw into the processor.
4. Start processiong all the ingredients and while it is going, add the olive oil.
5. Process until smooth adding more oil and salt, if needed.

Enjoy this wonderful spring hummus with crackers, veggies, or anything that could use a good spread!