32 weeks and 2 days

I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy is going!

We're more than 32 weeks in-

My first baby was born at 39 weeks and 1 day.

My second baby was born at 37 weeks and 3 days.

I'm putting my $$ on the very end of August!

It would be really cool for him to be born on Tim's birthday- the 26th.

From the front

From the back

(I have an hourglass shape, small waist/wide shoulders/wide hips)

Tim says that I don't even look pregnant from behind!

But I sure do look pregnant from the side!

Still feeling good, still not enjoying the humidity

:)

Me and my friend Jessica, who is due ten weeks after me!

garden update + a little canning

A little garden update-

My peas have bitten the dust!

No production in over a week :(

My corn really never did grow like it was supposed to.

Better luck next year, maybe?

My squash never produced jack.

My zucchini has really slown down production.

Only getting a few a week.

The cucumbers are still doing really well!

Lots of peppers!

Tons of green tomatoes- some ripening, finally!

Lettuce and kale- yum.

Kale

Little jalapenos

yellow cherry tomatoes ripening

a big tomato ripening!

finally!

I jarred fresh blueberries!

Quite a few pints this week.

apple butter that I made for our buddy Jason, who just got out of the hospital after battling pneumonia for over a week!

apple butter that I made for us and for gift giving- half pint jars instead of pint jars this time, so they will go a bit farther since it takes a TON of apples to do one batch

31 weeks and 4 days!

31 weeks and 4 days!

I think it's the white tank top that makes me look huge- the picture on the bottom of this post was taken about 2 hours prior and I look nowhere near this big.

I'm up 20lbs.

I feel pretty great!

It's really crunch time for preparing things for the birth and postpartum- I don't want to get overwhelmed, so I'm taking it one step at a time! This week, I ordered some nursing pads and mama cloth!

I bought some organic cotton nursing pads!

These things are fantastic- reusable, three sets for $10

I still have my nursing bras from when Jackson was younger, so that will save a bit of money. Just wish I hadn't lost my nursing pads- I had quite a few!

Mama Cloth!

If you haven't tried it, I suggest it!

Organic cotton on top

Fleece on the bottom

(yes, guitars... I'm cool!)

They snap on the wings to hold them in place!

Very cool!

I bought a few of them when I was trying to get pregnant with Finn, thought they were fantastic, so now I'm making sure I have a good supply for those first few weeks postpartum.

A front picture from 31 and a half weeks!

Props to my friend Kristin for picking out this fantastic Threadless top for me for my birthday this year! I've worn it a few times, but this is the first time I've remembered to take a photo from the front :)

How to...

be massively pregnant, garden, take care of 17 animals, and keep the kids happy at the same time!

Have Daddy apply sunblock liberally!

Add a $10 kiddie pool!

Add 5 year old!

Still can't believe she's already 5!

Add two and a half year old in his underwear!

Mix well!

And voila!

:)

I will say that the hardest part of being pregnant in the summer like this is the NC humidity.

I can handle the heat, the belly is not a bit deal-

but the humidity has been rough on me.

It's really nice, though, to pop the kids in swimsuits, slather on some SPF 70, and let them enjoy themselves while I hurry through the outside chores that wear me out. Thankfully, Tim has been bearing the brunt of the animal feeding and water carrying- but sometimes I feel like I need to take a cold swim after just walking across the yard! *sigh*

I'm ready for cool breezes!

The veggies I canned this week-

We had a cuke boom!

I canned hot peppers-

Tim likes eating the pickled peppers,

I like using the hot vinegar to make bbq sauce!

I love the way they look!

All of these from this week-

lots of dill pickles (whole, halves, spears, and chips)

pickled okra (per Tim's request)

dilled green beans

plain cucumber pickles

pickled hot peppers

Canning Peaches

Tonight, I canned 7.5 quarts of peaches!

The picture clearly does them no justice-

they are the most delicious peaches I've ever tasted.

Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that I am massively pregnant and am LOVING peaches at the moment!

My peaches right after they were blanched, before they were peeled.

2 quarts being preserved in a water bath!

5 and a half quarts finished!

(the other two were in the water bath when I took the picture)

Just pretty!

And they are so yummy.

I can't wait to make peach ice cream and peach pies this winter with peaches that I preserved during the summer.

If you'd like to try (and I suggest you do- it's so simple!), here are links to tutorials for two different kinds of canned peaches- one in a simple syrup (I do a light syrup when I make these) and one spiced peach recipe (very southern!)--

Simple Canned Peaches

Spiced Peaches

K turns 5 at the BEACH! (Part 1 - Pic Heavy)

The sweetest girl on the planet,

Keelin-Elise !

Came to us weighing 7lbs. 15oz. and looking around!

Now, she's hilarious and smart!

Starting kindergarten in just over a month.

Jackson Cole, the baby brother who keeps her on her toes!

You can see the wheels turning in his brain!

She was afraid of the waves last year, but not this year!

Jackson thought it was pretty cool!

Last year, he was a cling-on little guy.

Sassy faced girl- not sure what she was being silly about!

Trying to show Jackson how to make a sand castle!

And Godzilla could not be stopped.

He was merciless.

"I squished it, Mommy."

Little sand monster!

Keelin, looking very surprised!

Showing off!

Just gorgeous!

Keelin trying to get Jackson to NOT destroy every sand castle in a 5 mile radius.

Cheeser!

These were taken right when we got there. I hadn't planned on getting in the water until the next day, but I went to the car and changed into my bathing suit, per the kids request!

The waves are a lot more fun when Mommy hangs on to you!

That one was a little stronger than Jackson anticipated-

LOL @ his face!

So much fun!

This just melts my heart!

They adore each other.

Keelin thinks the best part about her birthday being at the end of June is the fireworks that happen to celebrate the 4th of July! We were able to catch a nice fireworks show and Tim managed to capture some amazing pictures. This was my favorite one in terms of color.