4 Month Check-Up

Luke went in today for his 4 month check up. Everything looks good! Luckily, Drew was able to take today off, so he came with me and he held Luke while they gave him 2 shots. I asked when the shots stop and they said at 18 months! That seems forever away! Anyway, Luke's a champ. And so far, very healthy!

Weight: 15.8 pounds
Height: 25.5 inches

Original weight: 6 lbs 15.6 ounces
Height: 19.5 inches

Happy Father's Day and Four Months!!!

Happy Father's Day, Drew! You are the best daddy to our little man. And happy father's day to my own daddy. I love him very, very much.

Also, Luke is four months old! Yay!! He has lots and lots of hair now, he can roll from his belly to his back, he loves to laugh, he's drooling constantly, and he's a joy in our lives!

Luke's Trip to California!!

We just went to California last week to see my little brother graduate. I can't believe Steven is all done with high school and is moved out and is on to college!! It's just so crazy. Anyway, so we flew over to Cali to see that and Luke got to be on his first airplane ride. He actually did okay. Not too fussy and he smiled at all the stewardesses. He was also a big hit with the fam. Everybody loved him! While we were there we took family pictures and ate at In'n'Out and the boys played basketball a million times and we ate lots of junk food. Luke got to meet his great-grandpa Frank and his great-grandma Marion and all his aunts and uncles and lots of his mama's friends. Oh yeah, and Steven graduated!! Yay! We miss everyone but we're so glad we were able to go out and see them all. Well, that's about it. The pictures will show the story:Our growing family!

Jamin, Luke, and Berlynn: The Cousins!!

The whole family

Luke and Grandpa Frank (my dad's dad)

Steven graduated!!! (And sorry for the inapproprate behavior of my brothers. That's how they are.)

Luke and Grandma Marion (my mom's mom)

Summer O' Fun!!

This summer is going to be off da hook! We are leaving in a week to go to California to see my little brother graduate and while we're there we're going to the beach! My brother and sister-in-law and niece live right next to the beach...awesome!! And then in July Drew has to go out to North Carolina for training and me, Luke, and Mama Pepper are going with him! We're going to hang out in North and South Carolina and end our trip with a visit to Myrtle Beach!! I'm so excited for all these fab beach trips! Plus Luke will be able to meet all of Drew's side of the family, so that will be pretty cool, too. Dang, I need to work on my beach bod.


Myrtle Beach and Grover Beach! Aren't they beeeautiful??

Three Months Old!

Luke is three months old today!! He can smile and laugh and gurgle and coo and DEFINITELY scream. He is the apple of both mommy and daddy's eye. We love hanging out with Luke because he can interact with us more now! We love him so so so much.

Luke thinks the little light that flashes on our camera is very interesting.

He thinks I'm so funny sometimes.

He loves to laugh! He's such a doll.

Why do I love Drew Pepper?...

Drew is gone this week for a business trip and I am missing him like CRAZY. I decided to list the reasons (in no particular order) why I love my wonderful husband so that other people understand why he is the BEST husband and friend in the world.

1. He loves me
2. He loves Luke
3. He has a strong testimony of the Gospel
4. He makes me laugh
5. He gives me massages after a rough day
6. He honestly thinks he loves me more (HA)
7. He is the BEST friend I have ever had
8. He watches stupid shows with me (The Bachelor, American Idol)
9. He is the one person I can't wait to talk to at the end of the day
10. He is the most handsome man EVER!

I love my husband!!

2 month check up

Luke is 9 weeks and 5 days old today and he went in for his 2 month check up today. He had some shots and we both cried. I know, I'm a baby. I had to hold his arms down while he screamed! Give me a break. Anyway...

Length: 24.5 inches
Weight: 13.2 lbs.

Original length: 19.5 inches
Original weight: 6 lbs. 15.6 ounces

I love them.

Rory: What's with the carrots?
Lorelai: I was afraid you weren't eating well at school.
Rory: Ohhh.
Lorelai: Marshmallow?

Luke's Blessing

Some of my family members were able to come out to good ol' Texas for Luke's blessing on Easter Sunday. My mom and dad and youngest brothers Steven and Jonathan were able to come out. Drew did such a wonderful job of blessing our new baby boy and of course I cried through almost the whole thing. I'm glad my dad and Drew's family were able to participate in such a special day for Drew and I.

We went out to IHOP with my family Monday morning before my dad left and we wanted to give Luke a little love.














Grandma and Grandpa Salas wanted to give him some IHOP love, too!!














Our Easter celebrations before church. We even made Luke his own Easter basket. Drew gave me the best basket ever! It had shoes I wanted and I super cute T-shirt! He's the best husband in the entire world.














The whole gang (My mom, dad, me, Drew, Jonathan, Luke, Mama Pepper, Dad Pepper, Matt, Martha, Kevin, Steven)














Our little family!


















My brothers Jonathan and Steven with Luke and I.

Two Delicious (and somewhat fatty) Recipes

Okay, so these recipes may be real fatty, so don't cook both for the same night. They are also real easy. And if I can make them with a newborn needed tons of attention, you can make them too!

Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups whipping cream
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1 box fettuccine
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Fresh basil leaves

1. Place butter in large bowl. Using wooden spoon or electric mixer on low, beat until smooth. Add the cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir well; set aside.
2. Cook pasta. Drain and immediately add hot pasta to the butter mixture. Toss the fettuccine in the butter mixture to coat. Add salt and pepper.
Divide pasta between 4 serving plates. Shred basil leaves and sprinkle over pasta.

Chantal's New York Cheesecake (from allrecipes.com)

15 graham crackers, crushed
2 tablespoons butter, melted

4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup milk
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup all-purpose flour Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch springform pan.

1. In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter. Press onto bottom of springform pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Blend in milk, and then mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and flour until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Chill in refrigerator until serving.

One Month Check-Up

Luke went to the doctor this week for his one month check-up.

Height: 22 1/4 inches
Weight: 9 lbs. 9 ounces

Original height: 19.5
Original weight: 6 lbs. 15.6 ounces

Obviously we have an eater on our hands. But his growth is definitely good news--it means he's getting nice and big! The doctor also said he's perfectly healthy. We are very blessed to have such a wonderful little man in our life.

What's new in 2009

Just to catch you up with what has been going on lately:
- Luke Andrew Pepper was born on Feb 20, 2009. He has been a great source of joy to his parents (who also don't appreciate the late nights). He is doing well and is very healthy.
- My brother Kevin was married Feb 21, 2009 to Martha Crofts. We love having Martha as part of our family now.
- My little brother Matthew came home from his mission. He doesn't miss Los Angeles at all, but he does miss his mission.
- Another new facebook.com is out and making everyone mad. It's worse than the last one that replaced the good one.
- I started a new job with Kay Chemical Company, a division of the company ECOLAB. It has been good to start a steady, normal job. I like my boss. I like the company. I was substitute teaching before that.
- Kathryn has been experiencing motherhood on a new level since Luke arrived. She has been recovering well with the help of the mothers. Her mom came for two weeks and we still live with my parents right now.
- My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's. He has a rare type that cannot be traced genetically or explained based on his lifestyle. It is not noticeable really, he just moves a tad slower. He is now taking medicine for it, which should slow down the disease. The doctors are pretty optimistic.
- Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. And then went on Jay Leno.
- My parents bought a new house. The new house is newer, bigger and nicer - and has the same monthly payment as the last one. Kathryn and I have the whole upstairs, which has been nice for our little family.
- American Idol is on TV again for another new season.
- The backbone of our financial system has nearly collapsed - and some how AIG still can manage more than $200 million of bonus money for running a company into the ground.
- Kathryn's dad's bank was bought by another one. He still works for them now, but he's not sure for how long he will be there.
- Jason proposed to Melissa and then three months later, he asked Molly to go out with him. Crazy, huh?
- Steven (Kathryn's little brother) was accepted to LDS Business College in SLC. We are all excited for him, and he leaves for school in June.
- Tax day is coming up. April 15, 2009.
- Luke will be blessed on Easter Sunday. Kathryn's family is coming to Texas for the blessing.

Luke Andrew arrives!

It was 1 a.m. and we had just gone to bed. Drew's family was in town for a wedding and we had spent the night hanging out with them. Right as we were falling asleep, Kathryn grabbed my hand and said, "I think my water broke." (Bytheway, when your water breaks, it gushes. It's like a gallon of water that comes out!)
A few minutes later, we were pulling up to the hospital and Kathryn was going into labor. My mother and aunt also came to the hospital with us. After sticking Kathryn five times to put her IV in, she was on her way to birthing the little man. Kathryn's contractions weren't close enough, so we had to wait about four hours to see if they would increase - they didn't, so the nurse injected her with Pitocin at 6:45 a.m.
The Anastesioligist came in at around 6 a.m. to give Kathryn her epidural. (Kathryn: "It hurt to get it, but it was nice afterwards. It was worth getting it.") After that we all just chilled until about noon (worst night of sleep ever! - my aunt kept us all up virtually the entire night - but she was a lot of fun to have there). Kathryn was dilated to a 9.5 for a few hours, and then at about 1:30 p.m. the nurse started telling Kathryn to push.
The nurse made Kathryn push for 10 seconds three times every other contraction. She would basically push for about 33 seconds with a second rest between, and then she would rest for about a minute. Once the baby's head was popping out she called in her reinforcements - Dr. Morgan and four other nurses.
Dr. Morgan had her push and once Luke's head was out, the doc grabbed his shoulders and yanked him out. His head took about 3o minutes to come out and the rest of his body was about 10 seconds. I cut the umbilical cord and then they washed him off and handed him to his crying mother.
It was an amazing experience! Mom and baby are doing well and are on the way to recovery after a few days in the hospital for monitoring. And the father is very proud of his wife and new son!

Official labor time: 1:04 a.m. - 2:04 p.m.
Length: 19.5 inches
Weight: 6 lbs, 15.6 ounces
Health: all toes, all fingers, one nose, two eyes and two ears
Cuteness: real cute
Name: Luke Andrew Pepper

Just some of the latest

Well, it's been a while since we wrote anything new on the blog. There isn't too much to write about, but we did move! Well, Drew's parents moved into a new house and since we live with them right now, we moved too! Drew and I feel like we painted every single room in that entire house but there are three rooms we didn't paint. We live in the upstairs, so it's pretty private. It's niiiice.

Matt gets home TOMORROW, so I'm sure I'll be posting pictures about that AND I have another baby shower this Saturday. I'm excited for that, too, especially since my mom is coming out for the weekend.

Drew is still looking for a job, so if anybody knows of some job leads in the DFW area, let us know! I just thought I would update a little, so there you have it!

Christmas Blast

We had lots of fun this Christmas in Merced. Drew never had a chance to sit down because my brothers kept going to play football or basketball or some form of physical exertion. On Christmas Eve my little brother had his Eagle Court of Honor and I was so proud not only to see Steven getting his Eagle but also to see Drew in the "Eagle's Nest" looking handsome in his Scouting garb. I am so glad he is an Eagle Scout. I love him.

Christmas Day was fun. We had the traditional chorizo breakfast and then once all the family was assembled, we opened the presents. Well, Berlynn and Jamin opened presents. Most of the time was spent with Anthony and Natalie and Michael and Mamie helping their babies open the tons of presents they got. It was fun and later that day my Grandpa Frank and his girlfriend Pat came and we were able to eat dessert with them and have fun as a huge family.

The next day was my baby shower! My mom organized it and Mamie and Jamie and Natalie helped in the execution of the event. The best part of the shower was getting to see all the people that I haven't seen in forever. Plus I got really cute stuff for the baby! I got to see my friend Lacey, who I haven't seen for a couple of years and me, Steph, and Lacey were reunited for the night.

Drew left earlier than I did to catch his best friend's wedding reception, so I hung out with my family for a couple more days. All in all, it was a fun vacation. I love my family, my brothers drive me crazy, and my niece and nephew are adorable! I ate at In'n'Out three times (in a week) so I think I have fulfilled my In'n'Out quota for last year and this year.

Steven and my handsome husband and I at the Court of Honor.

Before we left for Cali, we made gingerbread houses for some families in the ward. The looked awesome!!

My brother Anthony, my grandpa, my mom and dad, me, Steven, Nick, Michael, and Johnny.

Christmas Lovin'

My friend Bec and I are due a week apart. My belly looks bigger and she's due before me! My baby is going to be bigger than hers, I think!

My friends Lacey and Steph at my baby shower.

My nephew Jamin found a yummy chocolate sucker that he had to have.

My beautiful niece Berlynn! She is so much fun.

Preggie Update

So a few days ago I received a big package. It was the high chair I registered for!!! It is so pretty; I love it! My grandpa's girlfriend bought it for me and sent it here to Texas. I have never even met this this lady and she bought the most expensive item on my registry! I was shocked. But then I looked at the high chair and I love it.

So, just to update anyone who cares on the pregnancy, it's going along fine. I was getting kind of worried because when I would go into my OBGYN he would just check the baby's heart rate and the progress of the uterus and ask if we had any questions and then kick us out. I was like, that's it? That's all you're going to do? That has happened for the past couple of months. I don't even really know why I go in. I could probably do that on my own and call him up with the info. But then Drew and I were talking about it and we realized that it's probably a good thing that we don't have to be tested and questioned a lot. It means the baby is healthy (hopefully).

I had horrible pains from just sleeping. My hips felt like they were being jabbed with pins and needles when I would wake up. Very painful. I used a heating pad and that worked for a while but then the pains started up again. So Drew bought me a body pillow and I'm still using that and the pain seems to have gone away -- for the most part. Other than that, I don't have a lot to complain about with the pregnancy. I'm thirty weeks along which kind of scares me, but I'm excited at the same time. 10 more weeks!! Well, theoretically speaking, I guess.

Bethlehem Revisited

This past Saturday (Dec 13) we all went to this event called Bethlehem Revisited. It's in a smaller town called Waxahatchie and they transform what I think is a public park to look like Bethlehem when Christ was born. It was really neat. They had live camels and all the people that participated kept in character by speaking in "Biblical English" and acting the part. We saw Joseph and Mary (she was on a real donkey) and they went to the stable and she had her baby (that part wasn't real -- at least I hope it wasn't). Anyway, it was really fun to see the community of that city all get together and reproduce their version of Christ's birth.

I wish that that kind of celebration could happen in my home state of California. Unfortunately, Cali has gotten just a tad too liberal. I'm sure if a town were to put something like Bethlehem Revisited on there, someone would complain and there might possibly even be a lawsuit. It's CRAZY there, I tell you. Oh well, at least I'm in the good ol' South and here they still keep their traditions and beliefs alive (unlike stupid California).

Also, 8 more days until Drew and I go home for Christmas!!! I'm so excited to see my family. All my brothers and their families are going to be there and I can't wait to see everyone -- especially my niece and nephew! I hope my brothers aren't too weirded out by my big belly.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Time!!!

Yeah, yeah, Thanksgiving was great. Wonderful food! Oh man, we should have more holidays revolving around eating. Actually, aren't most holidays saturated with food of some kind? Anywho...I am so excited for

Christmas!!!!!

Normally, I'm pretty chill about Christmas. It's probably my pregnant hormones, but I is supa excited this year! Just think:

Chilliness -- I can actually appreciate the chilliness because I don't live in Utah anymore where you have to broom off your car in the morning. Texas chilliness is way better than Utah chilliness.

Christmas lights -- Okay, so we're probably better off energy-wise without Christmas lights, but I think they're just pretty.

Presents! -- I love presents. Drew and I got all our shopping done today so I wrapped all the presents and they were so pretty and I wanted to give them to everyone right then. I'm excited for people to open our presents!!

Anyway, Christmas is here. I'm excited. I love feeling the spirit of Christmas. I especially love seeing Nativities because I know that some people remember the true meaning of Christmas. I love this time to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Woman appreciation

Shhhhhh! Don't tell her I posted this.

As I laid on our bed watching my wife get ready for church, I had a thought come to my mind. The thought went something like this, "Dang! I could never make myself that pretty!" With each eye brow pluck and smidgen of makeup, my appreciation began to grow. And then I thought, what lengths women must go to to impress and keep impressing men. I then asked my wife if she will get one side of her ready - so I could examine how getting ready for the day changes the woman I hang out with before its time to get ready. This is the picture I took. Kinda interesting, actually. I personally think she is beautiful both ways, but if you put your hand on one side of the picture and look, and then switch to the other side of the picture and look, you can see a difference.

Women, I feel bad for you. I hope we men will someday change our expectations, but until then, at least you won one man over this week in appreciating what females go through.

Happy Birthday Drew!!!!

Today is Drew's birthday and I just wanted to tell him I love him tons and that he is the most amazing man in the entire universe!!!!! He is the bestest husband and I am so happy to know and be married to him. Happy 25th Birthday, honey!!!