20 weeks-Mama Carter...

or better known as "Her Hugeness" or "Gigantor" to my loving husband.
I do have to say that while I thank God every day for giving me a man that has a wonderful sense of humor, it keeps me balanced and keeps life in perspective, Alan sure seems to be having way too much fun during this pregnancy. As you can see from his previous blog, he is loving it.

Truly we are having fun going through the changes together...but one thing I do know is that he does not know what it is like to be carrying 15 extra pounds around, to have cramps all day and night because your uterus is stretching, and not have a clue what to wear each morning that doesn't make the growing stomach look any bigger than it is. And I haven't even gotten to the painful part, yet, all of you mothers are saying to yourselves. What a great new adventure!
Unfortunately, I do not have any new baby pictures to post, because we had a different sonogram doctor on Saturday who did not save any pictures to our memory stick. SORRY! But, we can relay that the little guy (yes, if we haven't announced to everyone, we know for sure our baby is a BOY) is growing by leaps and bounds. All of his measurements, including his weight, puts him at 22-23 weeks, when in reality we are at 20 weeks right now. You are all saying, well what do you expect coming from our genes, right? He looks healthy and is moving around a lot. Now, Alan and I are waiting for when we can feel his movements:)
I, due to the babies growth, of course, have put on 10 pounds in the last month. I guess I took it seriously when the doctor said at month 4 that I had not gained enough. Now, I am right on target:) As I keep reminding myself, it is all for a wonderful cause, growing a new life.

More updates to come soon!

Something Has Changed

It seems like it has happened overnight. The belly has popped, the eating has increased, the IQ is dropping, and the waddling is starting.

I just noticed yesterday that my wife is changing. This is different from gaining ten pounds and not noticing until you look at a recent picture and you resemble Free Willy the Orca. This is more like reading a really good novel and then the first twist comes in the story and you are surprisingly shocked. Here is how it happened.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday to look at some aches & pains in my heels & knees. Liz came along to be with me and enjoy the afternoon. She wore a t-shirt and workout pants and I could tell that she was pregnant- really pregnant. It wasn't until after the doctor's appointment (around 4pm) that Liz said she was hungry for dinner- at 4pm! I explained that lunch was four hours ago and snack time was just two hours ago. She wasn't having any of it, and blamed it on the baby. I acquiesced and took her to a "classy" burger joint called Del Rodeo. We had dinner with the blue-hairs and began our conversation.

Our conversation usually flows agreeably with rhythm, but today Liz could barely put two sentences together without first thinking through all the nouns and verbs that she knew. It was like talking to a second language learner who is in 2nd grade. I told Liz to relax, take her time, and think through her thoughts before speaking. We both cracked up laughing and I made an IQ joke. She didn't get it for about five minutes and then she playfully hit me.

It was time to head home, after our "dinner" and conversation. We took the Transmilenio, Bogota's light-rail, home. It was here that Liz waddled over to an open window and placed her hands on the window sill and put her head out of the window. She then remarked about the cars, people, and pretty dogs that she saw along the way. She did this the entire way home. I tried not to notice how similar it was to the Golden Retriever in the car a lane over from our transportation. Liz just smiled and breathed the air.

We made it home after waddling a few more blocks, where we enjoyed another snack of hot chocolate and sliced carrots. Think about that combo for a second. Don't ask, because I don't know why. Anyway, we enjoyed our night of registering for baby items online, talking with new moms on the phone, an hour of TV, and then to bed.

It was in bed, where I started joking with her about the afternoon. We were laughing very hard. So hard that Liz started cramping and then crying it hurt her so badly, she swore she was going into early labor. And then I vowed never to joke again, in which she replied she was okay, but hungry and needed to go to the bathroom. She then went to have a snack.

I somehow fell asleep bewildered and bemused.

It is funny how a man can go to bed one night with an intelligent, skinny, athletic, Type-A woman, and wake up the next morning with a gaseous, moody, waddling pregnant woman and somehow it is still all my fault. She is changing, and I love her. And I, I am trying to go with the flow.

Growing, Growing, Growing...

I think I am going through a growth spurt...today I have been ravenous throughout the day, can't get enough to eat...and yesterday Alan said I really look pregnant to him for the first time- finally after 19 weeks of being pregnant...I LOOK IT!!

Thank you again for your continuous prayers...we go tomorrow for a check-up (let's hope the weight has not spiked too much in the last month:), and hopefully our next sonogram will be sometime this week as well!

Love from an evergrowing mom-to-be:)

It's Over

My time as a "Fashist" is over. I have coordinated & produced a fashion show on a large scale. I can now cross that off of my list, "100 Things to do Before I Die." The show went well & we brought in a lot of money. There were a few bumps in the road, but overall it was a success. I do not have any pictures at the moment but I hope to have some in a week.

The next Armani, I am not.

Now it is time to boost some testosterone with a little March Madness. Go Winthrop!!!

Week 16 Pictures of Mama Carter

As we promised, we took a Week 16 (4 month) picture of me before school two weeks ago, it has just taken me some time to post it. As you can see the belly really still wasn't showing at that time. But, the second picture is of me today (almost 18 weeks) and you can see that it is beginning to pop out a little. I think I am actually gaining the 1 pound a week that I am supposed to at this point:) Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts. Dad, Mom and Baby are doing really well! Sonogram pictures will be coming in another 2 weeks at 5 months.

Golfo de Morrosquillo

For my class trip this year in February, I went to the coast with the 8th grade class. We had a wonderful week of staying at a natural reserve, eating all naturally made food from the region, kayaking, windsurfing, swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying the coastal beauty and culture. I love being away with my kids on these trips- it is such a great time to see them in a different setting...their various strengths and weaknesses shine in a different way.

The pictures above are of 3 of my guys on a beach we had lunch at one day. It was quiet and beautiful. Ignacio, the guy in the middle is one of those kids that I would love to have as a son...he is incredible in so many ways. Next, there is a picture of Mariana and her friend starting off on a snorkeling adventure. Lastly, is a picture of Santiago, one of my favorite students this year with several kids on Islote, the most densely populated island in the world. We visited the school there and brought school supplies. It was a precious time for our kids, as they see the power and responsibility they have to make change for their fellow Colombians in the future.

In all it was an incredible week away!!

Why so long...

It has been a while since our last post. There are numerous logical reasons:

1) Liz & I are busy coming up with nicknames for the baby.
2) I am busy making up nicknames for Liz.
3) We are busy planning for the baby.
4) Liz is sleeping.
5) I am playing cards with friends or the PSP (by myself).
6) I am cooking.
7) Liz is eating.
8) Liz is sleeping.
9) We are registering for baby things.
10) We are not registering for baby things (boggles the mind).
11) I am trying to sleep, but Liz has slept so much that she wants to talk now.
12) I am in charge of the school's fashion show (one of the big events of the year).


That's right. You read the last one correctly. The CNG Event of the year is this Saturday, and yours truly is the Head Sponsor. I told the Junior Class that I know nothing about fashion other than what is in Old Navy. They didn't seem to care. So, now my time is filled with conversations with fashionistas (I like to call them "fashists"). Anyway, after Saturday, all will hopefully become normal once again (never has been, probably never will be:).

Final Note: Liz will be writing soon about the baby & other sundry items when she is not sleeping.