End of Summer Randomness

37 weeks and counting!

Just waiting to meet Raegan! I wonder if she'll have red hair???

Pyper likes to play in the corn like the chickens do.

Here is a bucket of apples from our apple tree. Well, the truth is, the tree is our neighbor's, but he has let us adopt it...as we collect apples every night for the horses, chickens and us! I wonder what this bucket will make. Cobbler, pie, fried apples, apple sauce...Yes please!

Bubble Time with Daddy and Pyper

Whoa! Pyper tickles us with her facial expressions.

That's a good one, Daddy!

The 3 red heads. L-R Myrtle, StewPot, and Mable

Really enjoying free ranging...

Blanche striking a pose.

This is the cradle my dad made for Pyper and now Raegan. I love how beautiful it is, and how it looks like a piece of furniture. It was such a wonderful gift from Pop Pop to the girls. Hopefully, Raegan will sleep in our room for a few months.

This is the blanket a friend, Allison, had made for Raegan. What a wonderful shower gift! It's in her cradle, waiting for her! Can't wait to use it, and swaddle her up in it!
Thanks, Allison for such a thoughtful gift!

I've Missed You!

It's been a long while since I blogged, because our MacBook died. We got a new computer, so we're cooking with gas now. Here are some things that have been happening here around the farm the last few weeks.

The horses have eaten down the grass. I'm thinking we will have to start feeding hay soon. Luckily, we had a great hay harvest this year. 190 + bales from 5.5 acres. Not too shabby!

Every evening during the week, and in the mornings on the weekends, we let the girls--and guy-out to free range. They love it. They scratch, and peck and do fun little dances. On the far left, is StewPot. He is definitely a HE! I was able to catch him crowing the other morning. It was a sad sounding crow...but I know he was trying. Practice makes perfect. He was standing down in the coop as his harem of ladies watched from the bleachers (roosts). He performs every morning for his lady friends. And they adoringly worship him. So far, it seems that it's working out.

Last Friday, we watched my friend Jenn's two boys. Steven is 4 and Hunter is 21 months. He's only 2 weeks older than Pyper. I was so nervous to have 2 additional kids in the house, being 9 months preggo, and having Pyper, who is going through this lovely stage affectionately known as the Terrible Twos! Luckily, Shannon had off as well, and we were able to handle the 3 kids. The boys are such BOYS, and much to Pyper's delight, wanted to ride on Shannon's new John Deere lawn mower. They had a great time!

Today we finished off the pot of ham and bean soup. It's my grandpa Troy's recipe, and I think he would have gotten a kick out of seeing how much we enjoyed it. A pan of corn bread accompanied it, and Pyper practically licked the bowl. It's a big hit in our house!

The other morning Pyper woke at 6 AM, so I brought her back to our bed to finish sleeping with me. Needless to say, I ran out of room, because when Pyper sleeps with you, she hogs the bed. She's everywhere on the bed. Oh, well. I ended up having to wake her up at 8:30, so we could start our day.

Baby Bumps

I said throughout my pregnancy with Pyper how much I loved it. I wasn't working, I could take naps whenever I wanted, I didn't have one day of morning sickness, I didn't have a toddler to chase around, and was able to schedule my Dr appointments around Shannon's work schedule. I think he only missed one.

This pregnancy has been very different. I'm working full time, commuting 140 miles a day, chasing around a toddler, had morning, afternoon and evening sickness, have to schedule naps whenever and wherever I can, and I think Shannon has been able to make only 2 of my Dr's appointments. It's not that he doesn't want to, but I have to schedule them around my work schedule, Pyper's schedule, and of course, the Dr's schedule. It just so happens that Shannon is working on the days that is universally available.

I must admit this pregnancy has flown by. I think it's a combination of working and taking care of Pyper. I no longer have the luxury of reading every book published on pregnancy, pondering and contemplating every move, hic-cup, and muscle strain caused by the baby. I am just too busy!

I'm not too busy to enjoy this pregnancy though. Although it has been significantly different, I still love feeling Raegan move inside me, a feeling that I don't think I'll ever get sick of. It's truly a remarkable sensation. There are times that I wish Shannon could share this sensation, but I also really like the exclusivity of being in this club. Her hic-cups tickle me, both figuratively and literally. I love pushing down on her booty, and feeling her push back. I love watching her make my tummy roll like a sequence of waves when I'm relaxing at night watching TV. I'm not a fan of the heartburn, or the fact that I can no longer bend over from the waist. I don't like how my lower back aches 24/7, regardless of exertion. I don't like the interrupted sleep every night, because rolling over seems to be more of an Olympic sport instead of an unconscious maneuver. I've only gained 10 pounds at almost 35 weeks, and love that the Dr gave me a green light to eat whatever I want. Most of all, I'm really looking forward to meeting this little bundle that we've made from scratch. I wonder if she'll look like Pyper, with a black mohawk and crooked little butt crack. The ultrasound tech said she saw lots of hair, so now, it's just wondering what color that hair will be.

Please keep us in your prayers as we've already been to the hospital to stop contractions once. I'm already 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, which doesn't seem to concern the Dr's much at all. They said it's pretty normal with me having already had a baby. What they are concerned about is doing too much, too much stress, and picking Pyper up all the time. The Dr on Friday suggested bed rest. I personally have made my mind up against this, as I would be more stressed staying at home watching Pyper and taking care of the house than working at my desk at work. So, I've been actively making it a point to relax, and unwind, letting Shannon pick up the slack as much as he can around the house. Yesterday, I went to my friend, Jenn's house, and the kids played, I ate a delicious dinner I didn't have to make, and I was actually able to put my feet up and relax. It's friends like Jenn that make relaxing feasible. Instead of picking Pyper up so much, I let her run into my arms, or savor her little arms around my legs hugging as tight as she can, snuggling up to me as we nap, or me just bending over and smothering her little round face with kisses. I'll never run out of those for her.