11 weeks to go

Another busy week for us. Thankfully we got some rain this week in San Antonio (which was very much needed - but I'm sure those on the TX coast didn't need Hurricane Dolly). The rain really brought our lawn back to life. On Tuesday we had the front and back aerated and compost/top soil put down. So the rain on Thursday and then fine weather since that has really made a difference.

We have also cleaned out the upstairs guest bedroom and sold my old computer desk and the queen bed we had in the room. So within the next month we will go and buy a new crib and change table etc. During the week I also bought the Cadillac of all double strollers - a Phil & Ted's Dash with the double seat. It is way more than I thought I would ever spend on a stroller but I was dead against buying a side by side one and I hate the idea of having a double length. So the fact that this converts back to a single stroller once Amy is walking everywhere was very appealing to me. This one is also very light weight. I was going to hold off until the baby was born to see if we have 2 girls (in which case I was thinking of getting a pink camo one!!). However, this is a newer model with various extra features and for the introductory week it was $100 off - it only comes in red or black so we chose the red.

I had another regular check-up with Dr Washington this week and everything is going well. I didn't enjoy having to swallow the glucose stuff for the 1hr glucose screening test so hopefully I pass that and don't need to go back for the 3 hour test. I only gained 1lb in the last month and Dr Washington would "like to see if I can grow a bigger baby this time." I guess he's concerned because Amy was less than 6lb at full term and based on my weight gain with this pregnancy and the fact that the c-section will be done at 38 weeks. I'll have to see what I can do - but given the fact that I was only 6lb 4oz and Jerad was under 7lb it's not likely I'm going to have a big baby.

Today while Amy was taking a nap I also went online and bought her a costume for Halloween (I really have had a shopping week haven't I?). I bought her a cute Little Red Riding Hood costume. Now I just have to get her a little basket and I was going to try and dress Buka up as the wolf to go trick or treating with her :-)

Back home and back to reality

The Clay family reunion on 4th July was a success and I think everyone had a good time catching up with each other. Jerad, Amy and I stayed another few days with Traynor and Donna-Ra before heading back to TX. The picture I have included is Amy sitting out Donna-Ra's garden near the fountain. On the way back we decided to take a different route home and do it over 3 days rather than 2. The first day we just drove to Albuquerque (so only about 3 1/2 hour drive). We checked into the hotel and then headed to the Old Town Plaza for lunch and look around the shops. I of course found something to buy! While in Durango I had bought some sterling silver and amethyst jewelry (ear-rings, ring, pendant and necklace) and in Albuquerque found a sterling silver bangle to go with it all. The second night we stayed in San Angelo - it was a long drive that day and we came to the conclusion that the rest of New Mexico was not that exciting and we especially would not recommend Clovis!! We had trouble even finding something to have for lunch. We made it back to San Antonio by lunch time on Thursday so it was nice to have time at home before going back to work. It was also a pleasant surprise to find that there had been some rain in San Antonio while we were gone so our lawn had not completely died as we had expected but rather there were a lot of patches of new green grass.

Summer vacation '08

Once again I have not done well with my plan to update this blog each week. Initially I was having problems uploading video to this website so I haven't been able to add the video of Amy when she first started walking - I'll keep trying though. Then I just seemed to get too busy. We left last Saturday to head to Durango, CO - Jerad, Amy, I and the 2 dogs. We took 2 days to drive there and stopped overnight in El Paso. We arrived at Grandpa Traynor and Granny Ra's on Sunday afternoon. It's certainly nice to have a break from the constant 100 degree weather in San Antonio.

On the 4th of July is a Clay family reunion and there will be about 60 people here to celebrate. Yesterday Amy helped Jerad mow the lawn using the ride-on lawn mower and she loves playing with all the puppies here. Poor Buka didn't have such a good time on Tuesday when she thought "playing" with the horses would be fun only to find out when they kick you in the mouth it hurts! Yesterday I went shopping with Donna-Ra and she bought Amy a pair of pink cowgirl boots. They are a little big right now but she will grow into them.

Our little cowgirl

Don't you love our little cowgirl!! She loves her rocking horse that she was given for her 1st birthday. She rides it each day and is even getting used to the hat (although I think this was just for the camera).

Amy is just growing up so fast - each day she is more and more like a little girl rather than a baby. She is now confidently walking all over the place (much to the dog's delight!). It is so funny when she walks though because she has her arms out for balance and while doing that has her little pointer fingers sticking out like antenna. We do have some cute video of her walking at home however, I am currently having some problems downloading the footage onto the PC. Hopefully I'll get that sorted out this weekend and I can post it next time.

On the weekend we did the usual in taking Amy to Little Gym. Next week will be her last week of the Spring semester and they have "Showtime" and she will be getting a ribbon etc. I'll definitely take photos of her showing off her Gym skills for you all. She will still go the Gym in the Summer so I'm sure she'll keep learning new things. This weekend I also bought her some swimming diapers to go underneath her bikini and I took her down to the community pool. They have a really nice covered baby pool so I thought she might to have a little paddle in the pool. She was a little unsure of it but hopefully she'll get used to it and start to enjoy it - especially in this Texas heat. She did look absolutely adorable in her bikini too!!

Last week I had a follow-up with my doctor and they have scheduled the c-section date - so the little pumpkin #2 will be here on October 6. Everything is going fine right now with no more illnesses etc so fingers crossed I stay well for the next 17 weeks. We are all looking forward to our vacation that is coming up. We will be driving to Durango, CO to visit with Grandpa Traynor and Granny-Ra. It will take us a few days to drive there and back but at least we'll get to see some places we haven't seen before.

15 month milestone

As usual the time flies by and I forget to post every week as I originally intended. Since the last post we've had a busy couple of weekends. One Sunday we took Amy to the Helotes festival (Cornyval) and she got to see some baby ponies which she seemed to like. While there she also got her first taste of cotton candy and somehow got some pieces of peanut from either mummy or daddy's ice cream. Of course we freak out because you're always warned not to give kids peanuts due to allergies. Well needless to say - she was fine and had no reaction. She of course liked the cotton candy because she could shovel that into her mouth and it just kept dissolving!!

I had a follow-up doctors appointment with a hematologist to look at my arm and it appears there is a superficial blood clot. They will not be treating it and my body will apparently dissolve the clot on it's own - it just might take 3 months I'm told!! Amy also had her first boo-boo while trying to take some unaided steps she ran into the coffee table and has a nasty little cut above her eye. Hopefully it won't leave a scar - but we'll see.

During the week Amy also had her 15 month check-up. She is now 19lb 12oz, 30in. So she only gained 11 oz since her 12 month visit but the doctor said this is not unusual given she is more active these days. Amy did not enjoy the vaccination she had to have but I am told her 18 month appointment will be the last shots she receives until she is 4.

I went out this weekend and bought paint to paint the new babies room. I of course had to choose a gender neutral colour since we won't be finding out the sex of the baby - so I have gone with a yellow colour. Now that Amy is napping I am going to tape the room and then once Jerad is home I can paint the room while he looks after Amy. It occurred to me the other day that I only have 10 more pay checks coming before the baby is born so I am starting to look at cribs, change tables and double strollers. I guess here on out I'll purchase something each pay. Luckily we won't don't need to buy everything again as we can re-use a lot of stuff Amy had like the high chair, swing, pack'n'play etc. But still there always seems to be so much you have to get.

Lots of news to catch up on........

Well so much has happened since I last posted....... I guess the exciting news is that Amy will have a little brother or sister arriving in October!! I'm due on October 20 but as it will be a scheduled c-section because of the complications last time I will probably deliver a couple of weeks early. We're going to have this one be a surprise too and not find out the gender. Many people think this one will be a boy but if you believe the old wives tale about a high heart rate in the baby means it will be a girl - well it may be a girl, the heart rate has consistently been between 150 and 170. Of course things haven't gone as smoothly with this pregnancy as last time. Two weeks ago I was admitted to hospital for 4 days with a kidney infection. I needed a lot of fluids and i.v antibiotics etc. So that wasn't too nice - and it seems I now have some irritation/infection of the vein where the i.v was inserted. So back to the doctor's on Monday for another follow-up visit.

Amy also had her first haircut last week. We really had to get it trimmed as it was in her face and uneven at the back. She did fine to start with but then started to get a little fussy. Very exciting day for a little girl!! The next day it was Luke's 1st birthday party. Luke goes to the Little Gym with Amy and that is where the party was held. I've included video of Amy at the party using the bars.

Climbing stairs

Once again I have been slack and didn't update the blog last week - sorry about that. It's been another 2 busy weeks for us and today Amy turns 14 months old!! As you can see from the video she has mastered climbing up the stairs. Jerad is trying to teach her how to get back down but she hasn't quite mastered that yet (hence the gates we have put up). Of course the dogs don't particularly like the gates but they'll have to get used to them. She is also really good at pulling herself up and cruising along holding onto the furniture. I'm sure it won't be long before she is walking on her own.

I was supposed to travel again this week but fortunately I don't have to now. It's tough being away from my little girl all week. As with any Sunday, Jerad played golf this morning while Amy and I decided to go out for breakfast to IHOP and share some yummy pancakes before going to HEB Plus to do the grocery shopping. Then we came home and baked some brownies together. This afternoon I'm sure we'll be watching The Masters.

Well not much to add this week - just wanted to share the video of Amy climbing the stairs.