Nursery

The nursery is 99% done. We bought some pics at the Reno rodeo that we have to frame and hang. Other than that we're good to go. The lil cowboy will be brought home to quite the decked out room.

Not Here!

We were hoping that if Preston was going to come early today would be the day. It would've been the ultimate birthday present for his Grandpa Bobby. But, he decided not to celebrate his birthday with his grandpa. I'm okay with him not being born yet, but I think it's funny that everyone else is so anxious for him to be born. Every day we get at least 3-4 phone calls or emails asking if he's been born yet. I'm not due for another 3 1/2 weeks, but the doctor says there's no way I'll make it that long. We are even on edge. I second guess every internal movement or cramp. Every time I call Rob or my mom they automatically ask if they need to go to the hospital. It's fun to guess when we think he will make his debut. What's your prediction for his arrival? ( Rob and I are now hoping for the 4th of July) I promise that the whole world will know when Robert Preston Herrington V is welcomed into this world!! Until then stay tuned......

What a Good Guy

I know I am blessed to be married to Rob, but sometimes he just goes above and beyond, making me realize how good I have it being married to him. Yesterday was one of those days. I couldn't ask for a better, more caring, more protective, more supporting husband. He was so good about leaving work immediately to be by my side at the hospital. He held my hand during painful procedures, letting me squeeze his hand as hard as I needed to. He had me laughing when I wanted to cry. He wouldn't leave the hospital to get lunch, even though he hadn't eaten all day. Then, once we got home, he got overprotective of me. He kept the dogs out of the room and the TV volume down so I could take a nap. He kept asking if I was ok and/or needed anything once I woke up. He even gave up his plans with his friend in case I went into labor. Instead we went and watched "The Proposal", a funny movie that took my mind off everything for awhile. When we got ready for bed, he reminded me to wake him up if I even questioned whether everything was ok. The first thing he asked this morning was how I was feeling and if I needed anything. He is such a good guy, taking great care of me. I am so incredibly blessed to be married to my best friend, one who goes above and beyond when it counts the most!

False Alarm

This morning I got sick to my stomach because my back contractions were really hurting. I also had a couple other symptoms, making me wonder if I was going into labor. So, I called the on call doctor and she advised me to come in. Rob was at work so I met him at the bottom of the hill so he could drive me the rest of the way to the hospital. When we got there, the nurse hooked me up to monitors and did some uncomfortable procedures. She thought I was going into labor immediately, but after the doctor came in and did the same procedures she said I wasn't as far along as the nurse thought. Since I am a little over 36 weeks the doctor didn't want to do anything to help aide the process. She really wants Preston to hold out until Thursday, when I'm 37 weeks, if at all possible. They watched me for awhile then wanted to take some blood because my blood pressure was high. I tried to inform them that it was due to Rob's crazy driving on the way to the hospital but they wanted to take every precaution. Sure enough, after a couple hours my blood pressure went back to normal but my contractions were not decreasing. They were about 5 minutes apart so they did another procedure. Once all the tests came back, the doctor told me everything was normal except for the contractions. So, she did an ultrasound to make sure my fluid levels were keeping Preston safe. Everything was good in that area as well so they continued to "observe" me. Four hours after arriving at the hospital my contractions subsided and they released me. As the nurse was going over information with me, she said that there was a chance we'd be back tonight. The whole experience just wore me out so I can only imagine how it will be when I actually go into labor. I came home and slept for a couple hours. Since waking up I haven't had any contractions that I'm aware of. I feel bad, though, because Rob was supposed to go to the rodeo with his buddy and I was supposed to have a Girls' Night with some of my friends. Instead we're going to have a mellow night together, getting out of our hot house and going to the movies.

Quiet Start

Rob's alarm has gone off but he has yet to get up to start his day. I, on the other hand, had no problem getting up because I am so hungry. Don't know why as I haven't been overly hungry lately. It could be the nerves, wondering if today is the day Preston will be making his entrance into the world. Last night we went to the rodeo and Rob was so cute. When I went to grab some nachos he wanted me to make sure I knew who to call if I went into labor as he had left his phone at home. Then when we went to bed we laid there and talked about when we thought I would go into labor. The doctor said she'd be surprised if I made it to my next appt., which is on Wednesday. I think it would be cool if he was born on Monday so there could be two Robert Prestons born on that day (His Grandpa Bobby's b-day). Or, I would really like the 4th of July since that's my favorite holiday (about the only one that is not too commercialized anymore). Until he decides to make his debut, I will continue to get projects taken care of and rest when I can since I know that won't be happening again any time soon.

Puppy Love

Now that Duke is getting bigger and able to hold his own, Holly and he are becoming fast friends. We have a pretty good routine down these days. When I wake up I put both dogs outside to do their business. Then they come in and eat. That usually turns into a 3 ring circus because Duke finishes his food first, tries to get Holly's and she puts him in his place (rightfully so). Duke sees it more as a game, whereas Holly seems to take it as an annoyance. After breakfast, they run around for awhile outside until they have said their good-byes to the neighbors that leave for work. When they come back inside they wrestle for quite awhile, even including sibling rivalry with their bones. Holly finally gets frustrated enough with Duke trying to take her bone that she gives in and let's him have it. Around 8:30am both dogs settle down for a morning nap and it's pure bliss for me! While I run errands they either stay on the back deck or the kennel so by the time I get home they've regained their energy. They follow me around the yard while I water or pull weeds or go visit the horses. Once Rob gets home from work the three of them wrestle. Duke has started this new thing that I have to get a picture of. He likes to sit on Rob's head and watch TV when Rob is laying on the ground. Rob and I bust up laughing every time he does it because he is so adorable! By 9pm both dogs are pretty much wiped out, Holly laying on her bed and Duke crashed out behind the toilet in the upstairs bathroom. At that point we know it concludes another great day of puppy love for us.

How Sad

Two icons died today- Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. The sad thing, though, is that Farrah fought for her life for the past three years, but Michael Jackson's death is getting more press coverage. For those that have dealt with cancer, either personally or through a family member, knows how devasting the disease is. It drains the person and the family emotionally and physically for an extended period of time. Losing someone to cancer, especially after a long battle against it, is crushing. I'm speaking personally because I dealt with this with my Nana a few years ago. Every year my mom, aunt and I walk the Komen's walk in her memory. There's still times, like when I got married or when I found out I was pregnant, that I would give anything to have her here to experience the milestone and joy with me. That's why it is frustrating that, even though death is sad no matter how it comes, Michael Jackson died within an hour of going into cardiac arrest but he's the talk of the media. Someone who lost a battle to cancer deserves so much more!!!

Dog Days of Summer

The cool weather was really nice as was the rain. The only problem is now that the rain is gone the flowers and grass have grown, fueling fires. Rob called me today from work to say there was a brush fire caused by the wind. He ended up having to work late because of it. Even while we were talking one of the transmission poles went down. So, we are officially into Summer. Although it's only in the upper 80's even the dogs and horses are feeling the heat. All of the animals have been really lethargic the past couple days. The dogs, however, are not too hot to eat. They both lay by their bowls and devour their food. I think they have a contest to see who finishes first. The first dog done gets dibs on the other dog's food. It amazes me that Duke eats SOOOOOOO much food. If I didn't regulate how much he ate, he'd probably eat the entire tub! He's a growin' boy I guess. Now that it's evening, we'll open the doors and windows, turn on the ceiling fans and PRAY that the house cools off enough to sleep! Gotta love hot Summer nights!!!

What Comes Up.....

We are blessed to live in a beautiful area. I've never been one to think Reno is a pretty place but after moving to the Highlands I realized how beautiful it can be. Lately I've been noticing more and more beauty even in the valley.
Waking up early can have its perks. I get to sit here, enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to the many types of birds chirp in the trees right outside the window. Although I have learned that one type of bird has a really annoying song/chirp, the rest of the them blend together to create a beautiful morning song.
On the flip side, once the sun comes up it has to go down. I don't know which one I enjoy more: sunrise or sunset. The sunrises are filled with lots of yellow and orange while the sunsets glow in purples and pinks. You look at the pictures and decide which one you like best.

Hodge Podge News

This will be a random entry because it's about all of us. First...the BIG NEWS: If Duke makes it for one more hour until it's bedtime then he will have had his first day without an accident in the house. I can't tell you how happy that makes me! Potty training has been fairly easy with him, but it's still a pain to clean up every time. Second big news: I was awake most of the night last night due to contractions. They weren't consistent enough to wake Rob up but man did they hurt!!! I counted down minutes until his alarm went off. The SECOND it did I asked him to rub my lower back as hard as he could. Since I have not slept much in the past two nights due to cramping and contractions, sleep consumes my thoughts during the day. I force myself to make appointments and meet with friends so I don't stay in bed sleeping all day. I hope that the more I stay busy during the day the better I will sleep at night. As of the past couple days that theory has not proven true. Third big news: Rob has a messed up knee. He's been living with a torn meniscus and has fluid built up around the knee. The doctor drained the fluid today and gave him a cortisone shot. He also told him he'd need surgery so Rob is hoping to have it done in the Fall as his crew is starting a big job in Truckee next week. So, that is the big day of news in the Herrington household. It was so hot in the house tonight that Rob treated me to dinner out. Now we're having a relaxing night.....Rob watching "Flicka", me reading, Duke chasing a moth and Holly crashed out on her bed. I'm sure the horses are fine as well but that would take too much effort to get up and walk to the balcony to check. So, just take my word for it.

Destructo Doc

When we first got Doc I absolutely loved him. He was gentle with me and kids and doesn't have a mean bone in his body. The problem is that he's not too smart either. Or maybe he's too smart for his own good. Either way, he has been quite the destructive horse lately. It started when he knocked a board out in the corral fence. Luckily Rob had put hot wire around the corral so both horses stayed in, despite having easy access out. After that Doc went to kicking the "barn" slats. Last night I didn't sleep well due to cramping/contractions so I laid there listening to him kick one of the few remaining boards for quite awhile. It's loud to me so I'm waiting for a knock on the door or a phone call from the neighbors one of these nights. As of yet we haven't heard any complaints so maybe they all sleep like rocks or have good earplugs. This morning was the ultimate destruction. I heard Doc making noise around the shed then heard Rob go to feed him before work. I could tell Rob wasn't happy by the tone of his voice. When he called mid morning he told me that Doc had kicked one of the hay shed doors and did quite a bit of damage to it. Rob was able to bang it back enough to close the door to the shed. Unfortunately, after Rob called, Doc went back to kicking the shed. So, I went out there and covered up the doors to the best of my ability with a couple wood slats that Doc had managed to kick off the barn stall. It's too bad that he's starting to be destructive because I think he has the potential to be a great horse. He just doesn't get the time that is required due to Rob working 7 days a week (and me not really being a horse person). So, if you know of someone that wants a project horse let us know. He is a sweet spirited horse that just needs way more attention than we have to give him right now.

Almost There

On Thursday I will officially be 9 months pregnant. Whoever started the lie that you are pregnant for 9 months is a mean person. In reality, a woman is pregnant for 10 months. Either way I'm getting close. I have a few contractions a day, usually back ones (ouch!). I packed the hospital bag today and charged the batteries of the camera and video camera. Next I need to get the car seat installed then we'll be ready to go. I've washed all of Preston's adorable clothes, sheets and towels. The nursery is 98% done and we are ready to welcome this lil guy into the world!

*** This picture is one of the pictures that I had professionally taken for Rob's Father's Day gift. I am 8 months preggo here.***

Funny Guy

Duke has had me laughing all day. He is always bringing us dead mice as a present (getting us ready for having a son I guess!). So, this morning, right after I let him out he came running into the house with something brown hanging out of his mouth. I thought, "Oh no. I am not ready to deal with this so early." Wagging his tail, he happily dropped his gift at my feet. Much to my delight, it was a piece of debris that he had found while exploring. After his afternoon nap, I let him out. Holly came back, but then I heard what sounded like someone in boots walking across the deck. Just as I got up to go see who it was, Duke walked in. As he walked across the kitchen floor, I realized it was him. Apparently he had discovered sap, which was all over his leg. The sap got stuck to his paw, which got stuck to a rock. It took him forever to get the rock off his paw and I had to cut some of the sap out of his fur because I couldn't get it out. Tonight Duke and Holly were wrestling. They were having fun until Duke did something that Holly didn't like. She snapped at him and he came running over to me for protection. He has me laughing all the time! I've got his routine figured out and he's learning the rules of the Herrington household. It truly is a delight having him as part of the family!

Father's Day

I love almost all holidays, especially when it's one where the ordinary man is recognized. Well, my dad nor Rob are ordinary men in my book, but I am glad that there's a day to celebrate them none-the-less. After waking up early this morning, my mom and I got to visit while we let my dad sleep in. Once he woke up, I made my parents a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs and biscuits. During breakfast, Holly started barking on the balcony and Duke came running into the house with his tail between his legs. He made a beeline for the bathroom (He likes to hide behind the toilet for some reason) and then came over and hid behind me. I went out to see what was going on and the mustangs were still in the yard. My dad was really happy to see the mustangs since he hadn't seen them at 6am. So, after breakfast, I went to feed our horses and my dad came to help. While feeding the horses, the mustangs came over to where I was. Holly got protective and Duke hid behind my dad (I am starting to worry about how much of a watchdog he'll be!). I pulled some grass to feed the mustangs and my dad was impressed with how close they get to humans. After getting cleaned up we went to church. I missed hearing our regular pastor give the message but I thought it was funny that Rob won a tie during the service and wasn't even there. My parents took me to lunch afterwards then took off to head back to Sacto. I took advantage of having a quiet house and enjoyed a nice, long nap. Rob is coming home in a couple hours and I can't wait!! We are going to try a new restaurant in town once I pick him up from the airport. Then we will finish off the day by watching one of our favorite shows, "Army Wives". What a great day! I'm so thankful to have my dad as such a great example, always guiding me and supporting me. I'm also thankful to have such a wonderful husband, one that will be a great dad to our kids!

Early Wake Up Call

I had a hard time sleeping last night. Couldn't get comfortable, the wind was blowing, yada, yada, yada. So, I was hoping to sleep in this morning. But, unfortunately, that was not in the cards for me. Duke started barking from his crate in the garage at 5:45. He doesn't have the quietest bark. In fact, it's rather obnoxious so I got up to get him out of his crate and hopefully quiet him down. When I opened the garage for the dogs to go out, there were 2 mustangs standing by the house. They were grazing on the weeds I hadn't pulled (Thank you mustangs!). The dogs just sat there and watched as the mustangs went over to the corral to check out Doc and Dixie. I called my mom over to the window to see the mustangs and she was surprised at how close they get. I walked out to take pictures of them and got within 2 feet of both of them. Now they're gone and I'm wide awake. I think I will get a great nap in this afternoon before going to the aiport to get Rob.

Fun Few Days

Although Rob is gone until tomorrow, it's been a fun few days. Thursday night, before he left, we went to the Reno Rodeo with a guy Rob works with and his family. The bull rides were not all that exciting, in my opinion, but I still enjoyed my time there. Friday, after I took Rob to the airport, I met up with the old ladies at water aerobics. This group of ladies was very "unique" but it was my favorite instructor so I enjoyed the class. Once my parents got to town we met up at Cabela's, went to my doctor appt and BBQ'd shish-kabobs. This morning we lounged around, playing with the dogs. Once we went down the hill, we met up with one of my good friends for lunch then went to Scheel's. The only thing that would've made this weekend absolutely perfect was if Rob was here. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, celebrating Father's Day and Rob coming home!

Baby Update

I had my last bi-monthly doctor appt today. My parents came into town for it so they could be part of the appt and hear the heartbeat. Much to our surprise, my doctor suggested that we do an ultrasound so my parents could see their grandchild. So, after listening to the heartbeat, she did an ultrasound. She also did an exam, where she informed me that I am progressing quite well. Although she cannot tell me a definate date, she informed me that if she were to make a bet she would say that Preston will be coming well before his due date. In fact, I am at the same point where one of my friends is that is due on Sunday (Does that make sense?). So, I am pretty far along. I am enjoying pregnancy again so my theory is he'll come when he comes and I'll enjoy the rest of my pregnancy until then.

Beautiful Night

Tonight has been a beautiful night. While dinner was cooking, I heard the horses running around the corral. I went out on the balcony to see 2 mustangs running behind the corral. I sat there, with the dogs, watching them for a few minutes. After dinner, we watched yet another Rocky movie while Rob wrestled/bonded with the dogs. (That was not part of the beauty because I am sick of Rocky movies!). Rob had said he was going to clean out the corral after Rocky, but then it started pouring down rain. I am tired of the rain, but it's nice on days like this. It's warm during the day then it cools off and rains at night. That I'm okay with. I'm also okay with the beautiful rainbow that the storm created. Between that and the beautiful flowers that have come in bloom due to the late rain, I can enjoy the rain...especially if it happens at the end of a warm day.

Duke's Day of Firsts

Duke had a day of firsts today. He started out the day going to the donut shop with me. While I ate my donut outside, he sat there watching everyone come and go. He would wag his tail, hoping someone would give him attention but no one did (probably because they were going in/out of a restaurant, not because he isn't cute!). After the donut stop I went to the carwash. Duke was not a big fan of that errand but he endured it. He only whined once, but then I turned up the country music and he mellowed out. He's definitely his dadddy's dog because country music always calms him down! After that we went to the lake for his first walk on a leash. I was REALLY impressed with how well he did, considering it was his first time. He did want to chase the ducks and licked every kid that walked within 2 feet of him, but he walked on his leash as if he'd been doing it forever. We had to keep stopping so he could check out the smells or watch people pass us so we didn't end up going for a very long walk. That's probably for the best because I am waddling so much today, people probably thought I was trying to imitate the ducks around the lake. Now that we're home, Duke is crashed out under our bed (a place Roxy always slept). Knowing him, he'll probably be there until his daddy gets home from work. Since the dogs are sleeping and the household chores are caught up for the most part, I think I will take a nap myself. With the contractions I've been having the past day or so, I get worn out pretty fast. So a nice nap is in store for me this afternoon. G'Night y'all!!

Nothing

Can you believe I have nothing to blog about today? I was thinking about what to write. HHHHHMMMMMM- the dogs?? Nope, been there done that. Preston kicking and moving like an alien?? Already told ya a lot about that. Me keeping busy? That gets old. The weather?? I'm so over that one. SO, there ya have it. Nothing!! That's my blog for today unless something earth-shattering happens.

WAHOO!!

I slept better last night than I had in at least a week. I didn't think I'd sleep well because my sciatic nerve has hurting so bad last night that I was in tears. It hurt to sit, stand, walk or lie down so I thought I was in for a night of pain. As I also blogged, I have a fear of sleeping now because of being so congested and not breathing well. But, thank the Lord, both problems were not issues last night. In fact I didn't even have to get up to go to the bathroom! I pretty much slept 8 hours straight. I vaguely remember Rob's alarm going off but then I fell right back to sleep and didn't wake until I heard Duke at 6:30. I was so excited to have had a decent night's sleep! I feel like a new person today. WAHOO!!!

Fear

I have a fear that started a few weeks ago and continues to get worse. I have a fear of going to bed each night. This fear started because I get so congested during the night. It's to the point where it wakes me up, me trying to catch my breath. I have tried taking allergy medicine before bed, using a humidifier, vaccuming constantly, sleeping with 2 pillows. I thought that I would sleep better last night because of not having the dogs around, but I was wrong. I woke up just as congested this morning. I don't have this fear when I take naps because I don't sleep long enough to get too congested. It just happens at night and it's to the point where I dread going to sleep at night. I usually sleep for 3 or 4 hours then wake up for a couple hours. I blow my nose several times then lay awake for awhile before going back to sleep. I never quite feel rested, but I know it's part of pregnancy that will go away once Preston is born. So, I can live with it for another month or so. I'm very glad it's not a long term problem, though! I like my sleep way too much!!

1 Year Anniversary

Today is our one year anniversary! Rob went all out for a weekend getaway to celebrate. He got us a hotel room that had a view of Lake Tahoe. He also reserved us a dinner cruise, something I've always wanted to do. It was SOOOO much fun! It started out with a band playing so we danced to "It's a Wonderful World". It's kinda hard to slow dance when my belly's so big I can't really get close to him. During the dance he brought up the fact that it was Preston's first dance with us. (How sweet!). After the band played, we went downstairs at sunset and had a really nice dinner. We sat with a nice couple that we had a lot in common with. So, it was nice chatting with them. After dinner (and a fabulous dessert) we went back upstairs to listen to the band and watch people dance. There was a little boy that stole the show by dancing to every fast dance. There was also an older lady that stole the show but it's because she had a skirt on that kept showing more than everyone wanted to see when her husband twirled her. We had such a nice evening. In my opinion, it was a perfect first anniversary getaway!
On our scenic drive home today I was thinking about all the memories we've already created in one year: our East Coast honeymoon, rodeos, nights in Truckee, get togethers at our house, bull riding school, telling Rob (and everyone) that I'm pregnant, pregnancy in general (the ultrasounds, hearing the heartbeat, choosing a name, hormones), date nights, adopting our "4 legged kids", BBQs with friends, our drive to/from MS, horseback riding at Alpine Meadows, inside jokes, my little dirtbike accident, trips to Sacto., baseball games... I can't believe it's been a year already! We've gotten used to living together, figuring out finances, learning how to communicate better. Marriage is hard work, but oh so worth it when you're with the right person! We are looking forward to many more years of memories together!!

Rain?? Really????

OK, so I know I wrote a couple weeks ago that I'm loving the rain, but now I'm over it. It's the middle of June for crying out loud. You know....flip flops, shorts, tank tops. Instead I had to go buy a bigger long sleeved maternity top yesterday because we were going to a baseball game and I knew it'd be a little on the cold side. Somewhere around the 6th or 7th inning of the game it began to rain....again! It didn't rain hard and it didn't rain long but it's still the point that it rained- a cold rain- in June! This morning I woke up to more rain (and Duke yelping because he wanted out). It's been steady for the past half hour, which really bums me out because today Rob and I are going to Tahoe for our anniversary. He has something fun planned and I don't know if it's an outdoor or indoor thing. I pray that the rain stops and the sun miraciously starts shining so we can enjoy whatever he has planned for us. Either way, I am really excited to get away for one last time before lil Preston makes his debut!

The Ole' Girl

It's been a week since we had to put Roxy down. I'm sure it's almost as hard for Holly as it's been for us. She and Roxy had a good friendship, one where they could play together but knew when to keep their distance as well. Having a puppy around has made me realize how cranky this ole' girl, Holly, can get. She will lay across the entryway then growl at Duke if he tries to walk by. If she gets to the water bowl first after playing and, heaven forbid, he tries to get a drink of water she lets him know he needs to wait. If he's getting attention and she isn't, she'll nose her way in until she is getting the same, or more, attention. She reminds us of "Walter" on Gran Tarino, always growling to get the point across. Don't get me wrong, there are times I want to growl at Duke myself. He's into the exploring phase so when he goes outside he's brought me back anything from dead mice to HUGE clumps of horse manure (don't know how it fits in his mouth). It seems every time I clean up the toy box, he dumps it out again. I get that he's just being a puppy, but she gets easily annoyed with having "a kid" around. Some days are easier than others. Holly does just fine with him when they're outside. They wrestle, he nips at her ears, they explore together, she plows him over to get the ball. It's just when they're inside that she takes issue with him. But, I guess she's lived 8 times as long as him so she deserves to have her say in how things go as well. Just like elderly people-You reach an age where anything goes because you deserve it and by golly, you've earned it!! So, the ole' girl can keeping growling away because deep down I think she likes having another dog around, making it not so lonely.

Taking for Granted

Hi all- There may be several posts or not so many after this because it's a busy weekend. It's our anniversary weekend and Rob actually has it off. So, tonight we're going to a ball game on a double date and tomorrow we're going to Tahoe for the night.
I have been so focused on the dogs lately that I thought I'd bring the focus back around to Preston and pregnancy. Disclaimer: This entry is supposed to be cute/funny, not meant as a complaint. I have had a real easy pregnancy but here are some things I've experienced throughout the past 8 1/2 months. Ladies, you will be able to relate better than the men but here ya go.

Things you take for granted if you are NOT pregnant:
* Being able to breathe without feeling like an elephant is sitting on your chest
* Waking up without a bloody nose EVERY morning
* Being so hungry in the middle of the night you don't know if you'll get food into your system fast enough
* Being able to fit into your clothes
* Being able to bend over to take care of shoes and socks or pick something up without taking forever or having to stop for a breather!
* Walking up stairs without getting winded
* Getting weighed at the doctor's office without feeling like you're at a Weight Watchers meeting or getting "the look"
* Exercising at your discretion
* Picking up objects no matter how much they weigh or strain your back
* Having a normal looking belly that doesn't look like an alien lives inside
* Being able to get out of bed (or re-positioning yourself) without having to start with the rocking-n-rolling method every time
* Being able to sleep through the night without having to pee 5 times
* Sleeping without propping 4-5 pillows under/against your body
* Sleeping exclusively on your left side because "it's better for the baby".
* Sleeping on your stomach....oh, how I miss those days!
* Drinking or eating whatever you want
* Having your ankles swell to look like elephant's any time it's over 80 degrees
* Taking any medication you deam necessary for whatever aches and pains you have
* Sitting in a jacuzzi or super hot bath for hours
* Last but not least- pushing a watermelon through the size of a quarter (Still not understanding how this is possible!!!)


There are a few more, but since this a "Rated G" blog I will refrain from posting those. I have loved pregnancy and do not wish to rush through the last few weeks, as I did a month ago when it was so warm. I just thought you might get a kick out of this and realize how good y'all have it!

Just Plain Obnoxious

98% of the time I love having a puppy. This is currently the 2% I don't enjoy. I, unsuccessfully, tried to bring Duke back to bed with me this morning so I could get a few more ZZZZZZs. He had got in trouble last night with Rob so he went to bed early (his choice). Well, since he got so much sleep he is wound higher than a kite this morning! I finally gave up cuddling with him and brought him out to play, hoping I'd be able to sleep on the couch. I was really fooling myself with that one! I put down a bowl of food for him and Holly, but he only wanted Holly's food. Today was not a day she was willing to give it to him either. Then he had an accident on the carpet, despite the fact that he had just pee'd a river outside. After that he turned over his toybox and drug toys all over the living room. So, I just put both dogs out, hoping that he'll follow Holly around and get some of his energy out. He has started doing this the past couple days, where he is super hyper in the morning when I want to sleep and then crashes a couple hours later when I am ready to get things done. Is this a sign of what it's like to have a baby????? If so, fun times ahead!

He Idolizes Her

Duke and Holly are starting to bond. Well, let's say Duke is trying his best to bond with the ole' girl! Every morning when Rob gets up for work one of us will take Duke out to do his business. Afterwards he comes into bed with me so I can go back to sleep for an hour or so. I've noticed, however, that he will not calm down and go back to sleep unless Holly is in the room, laying by the bed (She's too big and too old to get up on it). This morning, when I brought him back to bed, he was not settling down for anything. So, finally, I called Holly into the room. As soon as she laid down he calmed down and went back to sleep. If I have him outside to "potty" and he won't go, all I have to do is call Holly out. He follows her everywhere until she does her business, then he happily goes himself. Holly loves to play fetch and Duke loves to watch her. He sits there, mesmerized, as she brings the ball back over and over. (I think it reminds him of his mom since she is a champion dock diver!). When they're inside, he follows her around, often choosing to lay by her for "nap time". If she's laying in the kitchen while I cook, he's often laying close by (He hasn't learned about people food yet so he has different motives than her for being in the kitchen). I think Holly has come to realize that she is a role model to this lil guy! She has become much more tolerant of him in the past day or so, even letting him do things that I scold him for (like biting her tail). Don't get me wrong, she lets him know if she's not happy with him but for the most part they get along. She is even letting him do things that she never let Roxy do like eat from her food bowl and play with her tennis ball. I think this is a sign that we have a good match, two dogs that will become good friends.

Out of It

I usually have one of these days within the first week of school being out. A day where I have very little energy and would be content to sleep all day. I think it's a culmination of the stress letdown, not having a set schedule and not taking time to myself very often. I woke up with great expectations, but had a hard time with the follow through. I took the dogs outside and worked in the yard for about an hour, building a rock barricade for our water run-off. Then I unloaded the rest of the teaching stuff from my car and got that somewhat organized. Then I.....crashed! Duke was worn out, as was Holly, so I crawled into bed with the heating pad on my back and fell asleep for awhile. Duke woke me up and it was all I could do to put him outside while he did his business. Once I got him back inside, I laid down on the couch to read. Before long I was out of it again and slept for an hour. I woke up to eat lunch but only because I knew I should for Preston. If I had it my way I'd go back to sleep some more but I have to meet someone down the hill at 2. I know I shouldn't feel guilty on the rare occasion I'm like this, but I like being productive and I have been anything but today. Hopefully I'll get it out of my system today because I have a lot I'd like to get done in the next few days.

No, Toys and Hiccups

Lucky for you I am now done with teaching. That means I'll probably blog several times a day...at least for the next month! Duke has found the toy box and is having a hayday. The only toy that bothers me that he plays with is the squirrel. It reminds me too much of Roxy so I think I'll be replacing that toy today. It hurts too much to see him play with her favorite toy. He sure is having fun with the rest of them though. In all his playing, he has definately learned what "no" means. When he gets a bop on the nose along with a forceful "no" he pouts and hides in his crate for awhile. When he's just given a "no" then he's good about stopping whatever he is doing at the time, which is usually chewing on my wedding ring or the computer keyboard.....2 things that don't need puppy teeth. Holly is a good teacher and shows him the ropes- at least for what she can tolerate of him.
Both boys have a lot of hiccups. At a BBQ last weekend, my friend asked if Preston has had hiccups yet. I told her that if he had I didn't know about it. Well, that has changed. He has had them 3 times in the last week! At first it's cute, but after about 5 minutes I want to help stop it. Last night, however, I was laughing because Duke was curled up next to me, hiccuping. Then, Preston had hiccups as well. Both of my boys stopped about the same time, which I thought was funny.

My Boys

This used to be a estrogen packed place between me, the dogs and Dixie. Now it's even between Rob, Duke, Doc and me, Holly and Dixie. Soon, in the next month, the boys will outnumber the girls. I have to say I love my boys, especially Rob, Preston and Duke. As I write this, Rob just left for work unfortunately, but Preston, Duke and I are having a party. Duke is rolling all over the bed (a morning routine that probably won't last too much longer) and Preston is moving all over in my belly. Between my two lil guys I don't see any more sleep in my future. I have to be on mommy mode later, taking care of the boys. I am meeting with our pediatrician for a consultation in regards to Preston. I also have to call the vet to schedule a time for Duke to go in and get his vaccinations. I love taking care of my boys!

Meet Duke

Some people get out of relationships and need to start dating immediately. Some people lose a pet and feel the need to get another one right away. I fall in the second category. It was hard saying good-bye to Roxy, harder than I thought it would be. I cried myself to sleep and woke up crying for over a week and probably will cry more in the future because of it. But, I felt the need to fill the void with a puppy. Several people have given me their opinions on having a puppy right before a baby but it was a challenge we decided to take. So far, so good. We got Duke, who is half black lab- half pyranese. His breed is called a Pyrador or a Labanese. Both of his parents were on the smaller side of their breeds so I am guessing he'll be about 80-85 lbs when he's full grown. Both breeds are good family dogs and Pyranese are coyote hunters, which is great for where we live. Although I am not by any means replacing Roxy, he does some things that remind me of her. He loves plastic water bottles, eating logs and licking the bathtub. He also crosses his front paws sometimes like she used to. Holly is tolerating him but they bonded when she let him take a nap propped up against her. He is full of energy, makes us laugh and loves to explore. I know it will be challenging but it's nice to have 2 dogs in the family.

Good-bye Roxy Girl!

My beloved Roxy was put out of her misery this morning after being a constant companion to me for the past 8+ years. It was a hard decision but her quality of life was not good so it was our only option. My heart is broken as she was like my baby but, instead of dwelling on her being gone, I want to think about the many memories with her. Like when I first got her and didn't know you had to regulate how much puppies ate. I overfed her and she turned into a rolly polly. She could barely walk because of her bulging belly that hung on the ground. I remember how excited she was when I moved to the house on Winding Wy. She LOVED chasing the squirrels and chickens. She actually caught a couple squirrels....and a chicken (oops!). I remember how she was afraid of the water for the first year of her life. Then I took her up by Foresthill on Easter. We went for a hike and because it was so hot, she tested the water. Before long I couldn't get her out of it! I would take her to Tahoe and she would be shivering because she was so cold but wouldn't get out of the water until I forced her to. If I was drinking bottled water she would patiently wait until I was done then would play with the empty bottle for hours, sometimes preferring it over her toys. Another thing she liked doing for hours was playing fetch. She would bring you the ball over and over again, even if your arm was tired. Her favorite was her glow ball that was kept at "grandma and grandpa's". When it snowed at the house she would go out and eat the snow or hop through it like a rabbit. She would also eat logs, which would also keep her entertained for hours (even after her gums were bloody!). When we brought Holly back with us, they became quick friends. The only thing they didn't agree on was food. Even up til the end, each would stand guard of her own food bowl. Everything else they shared and they truly were best friends. She was my best friend as well, a dog who would sit with me while I cried, who could make me laugh easily, who would listen attentively without getting up and leaving the room. What more could you ask for? She was my travel partner, preferring SUVs to the backseat of a car. She was also my running partner, helping me train for runs by pacing me. I will miss her tremendously-her sweet disposition, her silly antics, her obsession over her favorite toys, her curiosity, her loving ways. I will miss almost everything about her, but it gives me peace knowing she is no longer suffering. Good-bye my Roxy girl!!

Rain, Rain, DON'T go Away....

We have been blessed with a lot of rain the past few days. Now to those of you that live in the South, that may not be a big deal. But, in the high desert, where fire danger is always a concern, we get excited about even the smallest amount of rain. It provides more moisture than snow if we get enough (Last year at this time it was snowing...weird!) It started raining Saturday, complete with lots of thunder and lightning. The storm will let up for a few hours, then start again, which has been the pattern for a few days now. Hopefully it'll continue for a few more days as predicted because then the fire danger goes down. When it's wet, Rob is okay with BBQing, which I get excited about. (I am hoping to BBQ shish-kabobs tonight). The only bummer part is that Rob got called out last night because of the storm. He worked 23 hours straight and is just now on his way home to sleep for the day. He makes REALLY good money when this happens but I'm sure it's not fun for him. So, the rain has it's pros and cons. It's nice to see everything so green and fresh right now, but not everyone gets to enjoy it the way I do!

Crazy Dreams!

The pregnancy dreams have set in and for the last 3 nights I've woken up laughing at the weird dreams I've had. The first one was when my mom kept poking my stomach, trying to get Preston to move. In my dream, he would move for everyone except her. So, she kept poking my stomach to the point where it began to hurt. I asked her to stop but she didn't. Finally she was poking me so hard I had to call my dad to pull her off of me because she was really hurting me. Then, the second dream I had was that I went into labor. Wherever Rob and I were in my dream, we were not prepared to go to the hospital. So, once he got me there I told him he needed to go home to get the diaper bag and car seat. He said he wanted to be there for the birth of his son but I told him that wasn't important compared to the diaper bag and car seat. I woke up before the dream ended so I don't know what was decided on that one. Then, to top it off, last night I dreamt that I had Preston but that he did not look like a newborn. I kept telling the nurses that it wasn't my baby because his head didn't flop around the way newborns did. Everyone insisted that he was mine and that he was just more developed than most. Finally 2 nurses told me I needed to learn how to change a diaper, but that there weren't any rooms available in the nursery. So, they took me to this room where this OLD man was sleeping. We all got on the floor of the room, trying not to wake the man. That's where I learned how to change diapers....on the floor, in the room, with an old man. I sure hope dreams don't mean anything because if they do I'm in for a world of hurt!