the many poses of pep

Pepper loves finding new nooks into which to curl up. 

1) Her "chaise perch." We noticed, after finding some indentations in a blanket on our sectional, that Pepper hangs out here atop the cushions when we're not home. Kelvin wrapped her in this blanky ("Pep in a taco") after finding her there one morning (while he was still home-- not so sneaky!).

2) Here Pepper is, watching the "taunting cat" which hangs out on our front porch and sometimes on the dividing fence, only to run away when she gets close.

 

3) Coming home from Mt. Shasta a couple of weekends ago, Pepper snuggled into our luggage (not very uncommon) instead of lying in her dogbed on the back seat.

Aww, Pep!

The (Successful) Hunt for Strawberry Rock

 

On Sunday, we decided to try to find/hike to Strawberry Rock, a Trinidad landmark which supposedly offers great views over the ocean.  There is virtually NO internet (google-able) information on the trail, and we had to go on word of mouth. We were unsuccessful in finding the trail in a quest during the springtime, but were successful this time.  In fact, there were lots of hikers along the very muddy route to the top. Rob and Alyssa joined us for the adventure.

From the parking area at the end of basically Frontage road off the 101 in Trinidad, we headed through the forest on a very a muddy path, trying not to sink into the swamp. We actually saw a another unfortunate hiker slip and fall right on her behind in the mud while going down... bummer.

Kelvin led most of the way

 

Due to the conditions, Pep (against her wishes) had to be carried most of the way in her sling.

We came to a big clearing of quarried rocks and then headed on a gravel road for about 10 minutes before coming to a spur on the left which led up to the rock.

Pep was finally allowed to explore a bit in the clearing, where the sun hit the earth.

Alyssa & Rob were very cheerful hiking buddies!

The view of the rock-top (yup, we then climbed that!)

Hiking up the spur

View of the ocean

Can you spot K?

After the breather-with-a-view, we had to boulder up this steep stretch to the very top.

 Contemplating...

 

It was pretty challenging, especially with a little Pep to carry in the front and two hands needed, but we did it!

The view from the top, which we shared with several picnickers, was pretty spectacular... despite the glare in these photos :).  We were impressed that so many people made it to the top.. we found the bouldering quite intimidating. We lucked out with a really clear day.

Even Pepper was enamored with the view... so much so that she wouldn't look at the camera!

Thank you to Alyssa and Rob, who were troopers and put up with us and the trail despite the less-than-optimal conditions.  The Hunt for Strawberry Rock was a success!

A Nontraditional Birth Plan

If you have had children yourself (particularly a past c-section) or work in the OB world, you should read this entertaining article, A Non-Traditional Birth Plan, by a mama-blogger Kim Simon (full text below). Working in an area where VBACs are very popular (and where people are even interested in home and water VBACS (WVBACS?), I found this very amusing.

A Non-Traditional Birth Plan

The clock is ticking, folks, and about a week ago, I realized that at some point a few months from now, I will be required to birth Baby #2.

Damn.

It's easy to be calm when you're pregnant with Baby #1. You don't know what you don't know, and all. But we all know how well that turned out. What, with the labor plus c-section plus OB who didn't really want to be bothered at 3 a.m.. And then the Terrible Horrible Nursing Experience of 2009, coupled with the great baby barf-fest of 2009-2011.

Like I was saying... .a little preparation this time might go a long way.

Which is how I found myself in a workshop called "Meet The Doulas" about a month ago. No, no, no... please don't misunderstand. We are not wealthy. We are not "hippie-crunchy." We believe in doctors, and vaccines, and I even make it a point to sometimes throw random crap that is not recyclable in the recycling bin. I'm a rebel, y'all. An earth-hating rebel. But I had heard about these doula people, and I've been led to believe that they come down from heaven with their soft smiles and reassuring voices, to make your birth NOT SUCK.

Sign me up!

So I sat through the workshop, my pregnant belly tensing up as I realized that I might have to actually say out loud that I was considering a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesearean). Paying the deposit to the doula folk kinda means you've committed to seeing this thing through. I knew that I was in for it when I started having flashbacks to my c-section, and remembered that agreeing to one meant I would have to get very friendly with a catheter, and with my guts splayed out on an operating table.

I listened to these doula ladies. I took a deep breath and really heard them as they explained that their role was to "mother the mother." And then I fell in love with them. All five of them, with their encouraging words about empowerment and labor success. Their warm laughter, their reassuring hugs, their years of experience that built them happy little platforms of confidence to stand on... for a moment, I almost (almost) forgot that I was more than happy to have a perfectly medicated, happily oblivious birth.

So now we're official. I'm part of the doula family. I'm trying for a VBAC. And they want to have a meeting where we discuss my "birth plan." Apparently I need a plan. So here goes...

1) I plan on having the fastest, easiest VBAC ever. I am expecting that my water will break in a place that is convenient for everyone, and requires the least amount of clean-up and embarrassment. Good options include My toilet at home, and out in the middle of our yard, right where the grass needs to be watered a bit). Bad options include: The Target cookie aisle and the chair in my swanky hair salon. I will get to the hospital at 7 cm dilated, and will end up pushing for a leisurely 12 minutes. My baby will slide out with a smile on his face. My husband will be so thrilled that he'll spontaneously yell, "Oh my god this is SO easy! Of course we're having a third!" Don't worry, I will still feel like I got to experience the ethereal bliss of labor and childbirth, even though things went so quickly. Really, I will.

2) If for some crazy reason, I arrive at oh, 2 or 3 cm dilated, please don't tell me. Just smile and nod and say "Wow, you are the bestest, fastest, most calm and under control doula client we've ever had! Can I give you a massage while you watch Top Gun on TV?"

3) Internet Access. I'm a Mommy Blogger, and many of my friends are birth professionals. I will be Skype-ing with Tiffany (my doula friend) in between contractions, and I will need Judy (my lactation consultant friend) to have a full-screen picture of my boobs and my baby as soon as he is born. I will also be updating the Birthing, Breastfeeding and Babies FB group that I'm a part of... every five minutes. This is why I will be refusing an IV, so that I can have my hands free to text and take pictures on my iPhone.

4) Baby's Entrance. Please don't let my vagina tear into shreds. I'll pay you extra to take special care in this area. I'm not kidding. I may even name my baby after you. If you have a boy-sounding name, and it starts with "B." I would also like a background soundtrack that includes Bon Jovi (the old-school stuff), the Grease Soundtrack and Lady Gaga. And maybe some Billy Joel, if I'm getting frustrated.

5) There will be cursing. Please don't be offended. It won't be directed at you, but most definitely will be directed at my husband. Please also don't hesitate to confiscate his cell phone if he handles this stress by checking sports scores or replying to "urgent" emails from his CEO. He also responds well to ordering pizza and switching the TV channel to Fox News.

6). Please make sure that my room is stocked with an ample supply of those mesh panties that the hospital gives new moms, boxes of apple juice and those awesome enormous water cups with pellet ice. And peanut M&M's.

7.) When my 3-year-old walks into the room and announces that his brother's name is Fireman Sam, just go with it. Likewise, when he tells you that the baby "came out of Mommy's mouth." If Tiffany is still on Skype at that point, please hang up on her so that she doesn't hear that part. Not my finest parenting moment Tiff, but you can really only say the word vagina to a 3- year-old so many times.

8.) If I am asleep when they come in to fill out the birth certificate, and my husband tries to name our child after a famous baseball superhero, please physically block him from signing anything.

9.) We will be bringing our baby into this world while obeying Jewish customs and rituals. No, I'm not even talking about circumcision. I'm talking about the very important Jewish tradition of celebrating with copious amounts of food that you push on other people. Please come hungry, as we plan on rewarding your patience, tolerance and care with a disgusting array of sugary baked goods. And please help yourself to the appetizer table in the corner... there's always enough lox and bagels to go around.

10.) Nursing. Please see Attachment A, that will be making it's way to you shortly. It includes a consent form that begs you to do everything in your power to make sure that this baby learns to nurse. Including freely handling my boobs. I'm counting on you. And I'm planning to rock the "Girls Gone Wild" look until this child figures it out.

See? That was easy! We're so excited to have you leading our team. In addition to reading Ina May's Guide To Childbirth and painting a canvas with a picture of my vagina opening like an organic flower, I know that it is your care and love that is going to make this the best darn birth experience ever. I'm ready. I'm embracing it.

This whole VBAC thing is going to be a.piece.of.cake.

A piece of organic, kinda-crunchy, perfectly intact vagina... .um, cake.

just another nerdy Friday

I don't deny it. I am definitely a nerd. I went to band camp. I was not popular in high school.  I didn't really party in college. I studied a lot. I don't break rules. I read a lot of books and hit the library on about a weekly basis. I am fairly pop-culture-clueless at times, to the chagrin of my husband. I hate to dance. I don't like dressing up (yoga pants? Yes, please!). I am a one-drink-wonder. I am usually in bed by 10 p.m (unless the Australian Open is on!). I can't stay up at evening movies starting later than 8 p.m.

I have actually probably become more social/less awkward/less nerdy over the past decade, but, still. Once a nerd, always a nerd, I think.

After work today, on this Friday, I
- walked my dog carrying a shih tzu-print umbrella (albeit it was given to us as a gift, not purchased ourselves). I thought to myself, "How nerdy is this?!"
- spent about 30 min browsing the book section at Target (without buying anything, mind you. I just took a note of titles for future library-borrowing). Heaven!
- passed another 45 min or so at Costco with the hubby. Nothing like a Friday night date consisting of buying stuff in bulk... but Friday night is, in fact, the absolute BEST time to go to Costco. There were NO lines (as many "lines" as there can be in a rural area), because normal, NON-nerdy people have much better things to do on a weekend evening!
- read a 70-page PDF on postpartum hemorrhage (fascinating!)
- am sitting in bed (blogging, obviously), wearing pjs and watching "Hoarders," which is so scarily addicting.

The only thing worse than being a nerd is being a hoarder (which, thankfully, I am not).
I'm so lucky to have a husband who puts up with my nerdiness.
How did you spend your (likely much more exciting) Friday night? :)

Snow sports 2013 (Mt. Shasta, Part 2)

 

We enjoyed being active in the Shasta snow all weekend!

We took Pep back to hike around the city park that includes the headwaters of the Sacramento River. There was a lot more snow on the ground than there was when we visited in February of last year!

 

Pepper LOVES romping around the snow!

 

I love this shot!

Crossing the headwaters...

close to testing the waters...

Some hikers came to fill up their jugs with some fresh mountain spring water!

We took advantage of the discounted "night skiing" rates to ski in the late afternoon at Mt. Shasta Ski park.  Kelvin got to try out his new gear, a snowboard and shoes acquired on supersale from a Redding shop a few months ago, and did great! The snow wasn't wonderful-- it has been a bit warm and dry for the past couple of weeks--- but we enjoyed a couple of hours of "night" skiing (3-5 pm) while it was still light out and when the bulk of the day skiers/snowboarders headed home, leaving the slopes uncrowded.

Lookin' good!

On Sunday, we went snowshoeing at Bunny Flat.

Can you spot our adventurous pup in these photos?

It was warm out and Pep (like the dogsled huskies) figured out that snow could satisfy her thirst. It was hilarious as she bounded through the deep snow taking gulps of snow...
 

Goodbye and thanks for the fun, Mt. Shasta! See you again next year?