It's Hot Out Here Folks!

Okay, so in most of the country, 80 degrees in August isn't anything to complain about.  But we live in southern California afterall, so anything below 65 or above 75 is either too cold or too hot.  Yes, we are spoiled.  However, because the weather is almost always so beautiful, many of the houses here do not have central heating and air conditioning.  Ours would be one of those houses... no AC what-so-ever.  And 80 degrees without AC plus 30 extra pounds and 35 weeks pregnant = HOT.  The good news is that it cools off at night, down to around 70, and so I am able to sleep.  Even better news is that I can now also breathe!  At my last appointment, I told the midwife the only problem I had was that I got a cold at the beginning of July and STILL had horrible congestion (so bad that at one point I couldn't even chew because the side of my face hurt so bad).  She suggested I try Zyrtec and a Benedryl before bed.  Three days later I am a new person!  Oh I can breathe!  So apparently I have allergies, which is bad, but the drugs help 100%, which is good.  That is until BC2 is born... it says on the Zyrtec box that nursing mother's shouldn't take it.  So pray that whatever I'm allergic to is gone by mid-September.

In other news, Ryan left last Wednesday to go pick up another helo in Jacksonville.  He was supposed to be gone for a week.  I love Leyton, but taking care of her 24/7 with no breaks when I am also growing another baby is exhausting.  Luckily, Ryan's mom agreed to come out from Kentucky and help out and oh has it been wonderful.  Instead of an exhausting week (which has now turned into 10 days because of course the helo broke down) of barely surviving, I have been able to get TONS of stuff done.  Gramma plays with Leyton, and Mommy catches up on cooking, cleaning, shopping, errands, naps... so wonderful.  I always wondered what rich ladies did who had kids and a nanny and no job -the answer is: anything they want!  Gramma's visit was supposed to be a surprise for Ryan and for his sister and her family, who are in town from Oregon.  But due to scheduling, we had to tell Ryan, but Sonya was completely surprised to see her mom when she showed up at the water park to play.  As usual, I have been really bad about taking pictures (like of the two birthday parties we went to), but here are some that I did get. 

Leyton and Gramma playing in the fountain

Leyton didn't really like to run into the sprinkler, but she didn't mind a mild splash from it.

Playing 'Fill the Bucket' with her cousin McKinley

Tongue out for extra focus

Yes, I know she is tan.  I feel like a horrible mother every time someone mentions it.  I put SPF 50 on her anytime she goes outside and she has never been burnt.  But she tans anyway... I blame her father :-)

McKinley, Piper, and Leyton

Kisses from Aunt Sonya

Family Reunion

Leyton is very curious about Piper, especially when she cries.  And she was NOT a fan of sharing her toys with Piper.  Oh what a rude awaking Princess Leyton is in for in just a few short weeks!

She is getting pretty good at dressing herself.

She decided to add this little number to top off her pajamas this morning.  And no outfit is complete without DoDo.

BC2 is growing and doing great as far as I can tell.  Next week at my midwife appointment they will do an ultrasound to make sure the baby is positioned well and all is good.  According to my smartphone app, BC2 is due in just 34 days!  Other than being hot, which is mostly weather related and not baby related, I am feeling awesome.  I am sleeping well (the Benedryl probably helps) and I am still doing CrossFit most mornings.  I plan to keep going up until I have the baby or until I'm just too tired.  Other than a few exercise modification here and there, until now I have been able to do the same workout as everyone else.  But this week I started getting some pain in my tailbone region when doing squats.  So I think it's time to ease up on the 200lbs deadlifts and 130lbs front and back squats (yep, actually lifting that) until AFTER the baby.  The pregnancy hormones are softening my joints and it's no longer a good idea to put that much of a load on them.  But I'll still go to the gym and move around.. being super pregnant is no excuse for being super lazy!  And perhaps regular exercise is one of the reasons I'm still feeling so good... hmmm.. just a thought!

One last baby note: I bought BC2 a 'going home/hospital picture' outfit in case she is a boy.  It's grey and can still be worn by a girl, but that is the only real 'boy' thing I've bought.  It was very strange shopping for 'boy' stuff.  I generally bypass that section all together.  That is one plus to not knowing the gender, is it keeps you from buying crap that you don't need.  I plan to buy a special 'girl' outfit too, so I can keep it in her keepsake box.  But I don't want a pink one, so that is hard to find.  I am not as against girls in pink now as I was with LC (as long as they don't ONLY wear pink), but brand-new newborns are so red that pale pink looks awful on them.  Leyton wore green, but purple or blue would work too.  What a blessing that these are my concerns just weeks from my due date :-)