Weekend Getaway

A few Thursdays ago, Mark and I decided that we couldn't let an entire summer go by without a trip to the beach. So on Friday we packed Bentley up and headed down to Fort Morgan. It was fun to be able to include Bentley in the trip. He had a blast!! We basically just hung out on the beach and enjoyed some dinners out. The beach was beautiful. There were a few tarballs, but nothing that stopped us from getting in the water and walking along the beach. Bentley was in and out of the water all day long! Mark and I challenged each other to a couple games of miniature golf! I won only because Mark gave me a handicap. It was so fun just to get away for a little break to the beach. There's something about being at the beach that is good for your soul. I hope we can still find time to spend together after the baby comes. I also hope Baby is a good traveler. We love to be on the go!

Even though we set up an umbrella for B-dog, he wanted to be in the small spot of shade right behind our chairs. He always wants to be right by us.

Life is good!

This is the best, daddy!

Super sandy

Cousin #13

Baby Carter now has 13 cousins!!! Evyn Elizabeth was born last week. Baby is officially the next to make his/her arrival. I hope they have many fun years ahead. I don't have pictures of all of them on my computer... hint hint to all my sisters and sisters in law. I need more pictures. So here's a list of all the cousins that Baby has to look forward to meeting: Gracie, Baylor, Andrew, Colin, Bailey, Bridget, Audrey, Currin, Ethan, Banks, Beres, Cameron and Evyn. I'll have to write a post with all their pictures... coming soon!

We have an exciting week ahead with a doctor's appointment and a shower, so more to come. I think this is the only time in my life that I'll look forward to doctor's appointments!

Evyn Elizabeth Carter

Baby Has a Bed

My loyal helpers

The crib bedding arrived, and I couldn't wait to put it all together. We immediately went to Buy Buy Baby and bought a mattress and mattress pad so the crib would be complete! I must take a minute just to say what a great daddy Mark has been already. He literally put the mattresses right on the floor of Buy Buy Baby and laid on each one to find the firmest one. He's so good to me and Baby! I can tell he's going to be really involved in this little one's life and I'm so happy our child will have such a wonderful daddy. Anyway, I love the bedding and I like to just go in the room and look at the crib trying to imagine our little one laying in there. I can't believe we are finally having our very own baby! I'm just so excited!

I had my 31 week appointment this week, and everything still looks healthy. I was able to have a surprise ultrasound because the baby is breech right now. There is still time for the baby to turn, and even if it doesn't I'm not stressed out about it. As long as I have a healthy baby I don't care how it's delivered.

29 Weeks and A New Hobby

I had my 29 week doctor's appointment this week, and everything is healthy and right on track! I have only gained 4 pounds in the last 7 weeks, so I was pretty happy about that even though it looks like a lot more than that. I still can't believe what a miracle this baby is. Feeling it kick and move around (which it's doing all the time) is just so amazing. Last night it kicked so hard that it shook the whole bed. When people say "I can't believe you're not finding out. That's crazy!" I just want to explain that when you try for a baby so long that it's not really about clothes or decorating the nursery anymore. I'm just thrilled to have a precious baby. Anyway, that's how I feel about that.

A couple questions for all my mom friends out there.

1. If I buy a jogging stroller should I also have a regular stroller? I was thinking about getting the City Mini and the FIT by Baby Jogger, but then I was wondering... can't I just take the jogging stroller everywhere? Or is it too difficult to take everywhere and would I wish I had a regular one also?

2. Anyone out there use cloth diapers? I know that sounds crazy, but they have really come a long way. They don't seem too difficult, and of course they are cheaper and better for the environment. Plus, it just seems healthier for the baby. I don't know... I have a feeling it may be one of those things I get all excited about and two weeks later I give up.

I started smocking lessons this week! I have never sewn anything at all and I have no artistic ability, so this is a big adventure for me. It's pretty fun so far, but all we've done is practice. I have a feeling that once I start on a real project it's going to get a bit stressful. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll have a finished project to show off!

A Shower and Icings

What a fun weekend! It all started Thursday night when I went to a neighborhood Bunco get together. It was great meeting a bunch of the girls in the neighborhood without them having to chase their kids around. We stayed up chatting until about 11:30. Mark and Bentley hung out outside with one of our neighbors and their dogs while I was at Bunco. So all three of us were tired!

Saturday morning I went to my friend, Jenny's, baby shower. It was at our friend's, Ginger's, parents house in Mountain Brook, and it was gorgeous! We had some excellent food and it was just fun visiting with everyone. We're looking forward to meeting Jenny's little girl, Maggie, in about a month or so. I hope our children grow up being good friends!

Saturday afternoon we went to our friends, Jason and Rebecca's, house for a cookout. The weather cooperated and it was so fun seeing everyone. We had some great food, and Mark and his friends enjoyed "icing" each other. Watch the video below of Gabe getting "iced" and Alex saying, "Woahhhh Gaaaabe" in her hilarious NYC/Miami/Las Vegas/Oxford, MS accent.

I have my 29 week appointment tomorrow, and I actually have a couple questions this time. Usually I don't know what to ask and the appointment lasts about 5 minutes. I have been having horrible middle of the night leg cramps and they are getting more frequent, so I think I'll see if there's anything I can do about that. Other than that, things have been going great! I actually really love being pregnant, and I think I'm actually going to miss it. I know, some of you think I'm crazy!

Catching Up

This summer has gotten off to a busy start. Now that it's all settling down, I'm hoping to post a little more often. My last week of school was just crazy. Mark took his final section of the CPA exam on Monday. My last day was Wednesday. We were closing on our house and moving on Thursday and then closing on our new home Friday. That was the plan at least. Everything was going great, and then we were told our closing on our new would be moved to the following Friday. Only one problem... we were left homeless for a week. Thankfully, the owners let us move everything off the truck and into the house, but we couldn't actually live there. So, we packed Bentley up and headed to the lake house. I must say it was a wonderfully relaxing and quiet week at the lake that was much needed. Bentley and I enjoyed a lot of walks and swimming together. Unfortunately, my camera was packed up somewhere at the time so I have no pictures of that week.

Anyway, things have settled down now and we're enjoying life in Ross Bridge. I have been walking a lot and lounging in the pool. We have made several new purchases including a king bed, dining room table, sofa, and furniture for our favorite place in the house- the front porch! Needless to say, baby's room has been a little neglected. I did put together a bouncy seat from my shower at school and Mark put the crib together. It took a total of about ten minutes, but I guess that's a start. Yes, I know the room is pink and there is a 50% chance that it's not a girl. It was pink when we moved in, and we're waiting on the bedding before we decide what color the room should be. I'm sure we'll paint over the pink and then have a girl! I am 28 weeks now, and I'm really wishing my shower were sooner because I have plenty of free time and I'm wanting to get things organized and ready. I'm trying not to shop too much until after my shower, but it's hard to wait! More exciting news... I think we have names picked out. We're withholding that information too and making everything a surprise in September!

Bentley was a big help!

All this assembling really wore Bentley out!

Final product... ready for Baby!

My mom painted these many years ago, and I can't wait to see them in the nursery!

First Thing's First

So we don't even have the beginnings of a nursery, but we did buy Baby an Auburn outfit to cheer on The Tigers this fall!! We are ready to share one of our favorite places with Baby. I just could not resist this cute outfit. I'm hoping it will work for either a boy or girl.

My sweet friends at school are throwing me my first shower on Monday! I'm so excited. Here's a belly shot at 20 weeks. I feel huge already, and I know it's only going to get more out of control. I still feel like it's a boy and Mark is thinking girl. We love being able to feel it moving around. I have another appointment next week at 22 weeks. September still feels so far away, but I know this summer will fly by as always.