Pictures for my sister

A few pictures for my sister who has limited access to Facebook...

The Carter bump at 20 weeks--Every day I wake up and wonder if I can get any more pregnant...apparently, I can!

Carter's first swimsuits--We couldn't resist Batman and Superman! He'll be able to wear Batman next summer and Superman the summer after that. I know it's a ways off but they were on clearance and just so cute!

We went shopping at a consignment store and got all these items for a $1.00 each! I know we'll inherit a lot of clothes from my sister-in-law but it sure was fun to pick a few things out for ourselves.

This is the fabric we're using for the bumper pads on Carter's crib. We found a great pattern online and my mom is helping make them.

The last few nights Carter has really been moving...a lot. He seems to think that from 10:30 to midnight is the best time to be active. I guess he really is my kid, a night owl. I can't complain. It just means he lets me sleep in. Maybe he'll keep that trend up once he's born!

Kick It Up

Lately, Liz has felt a lot more movement from Carter. For the past week or so, she has tried to let me feel on the outside, and each time, I thought I might feel something, but I was a little unsure. I thought I might be feeling Liz's heartbeat or something else instead. But last night it came-- obvious proof that Carter is alive and kicking (literally). He was going nuts last night, kicking at a rate and intensity that I could not confuse with Liz's heartbeat. It was incredible to say the least.

I am sure that some people might say that we have a little soccer player in there. I honestly kind of hope not though because well . . . soccer is boring. Now if Carter really wants to play soccer, I fully support that, and I will probably get very excited watching him play, but right now soccer is just watching a lot of running around with not a lot action or goal-scoring. What I am hoping that the hyperactive kicking means is that he might have incredible footwork as a tennis player or even amazing speed around the bases in baseball or around a track. Of course, if the kid is anything like me, he will be completely inept at sports, but his feet will be able to tap out a steady beat while he's playing music.

All that being said, it is amazing that I can feel my son in utero now, and that lets me know that he will be here soon. Regardless of physical prowess, I will love him, but it is wonderful to feel the kicking and know that he is healthy and active.

Personalize Your Baby

Much to Liz's chagrin, I have never been a big fan of shopping. I don't mind looking around online for hours on end, but I just can't stand being in a department store, or worse, a mall. Why walk around for hours on end when I can type a simple string of words into Google or Amazon and get what I want? Why doddle and look around when all I really need is a new pair of jeans? I just prefer to go, find the jeans, find what I think will fit, try them on, and leave. It should not take more than twenty minutes. At Christmas-time, my attitude is often very similar. Fighting through crowds of people to leave the store often empty-handed just seems to be a waste a time. Oh, what's that UPS man? You will bring what I am looking for to my house? Yes, please.

This past Friday my previous disposition to shopping seems to have been crushed. I actually enjoyed going out and hitting up several stores, not looking for myself or an impossible-to-find gift for someone else, but looking for clothes for Carter. We found a lot of great stuff at Once Upon a Child. I must say I am a fan of consignment. They were having a sale where a lot of items were a dollar. We got him some great onsies with guitars, peace signs, Dr. Seuss characters, spaceships, and more, and what's even better, we spent almost nothing. Anyone who knows me very well should know that I do not enjoy spending lots of money on clothes. I buy what is nice, but affordable. We then hit up a few more stores (Kohl's and Ross Dress for Less) and found some good items. The best finds of the night were at Old Navy. Since it is the end of summer, all their bathing suits were on sale. We found a Batman swim shirt and trunks for his first summer and a Superman swim shirt and trunks for his second summer. Sure, it's a little ways off, but even I couldn't resist. At the end of the night, I felt not exhausted and frustrated, but satisfied and content.

This brings me to my point of personalizing my baby. I love the fact that I get to decorate and accessorize my baby however I please. Seriously, Carter will be a reflection of Liz and I. Of course, I know that later in his life, he will develop his own tastes and preferences, and I want him to embrace those things that make him a unique person . . . but in the meantime, we get to dress our kid. And there is one thing I already know-- my kid is going to be a big nerd. After all, he will be a reflection of me, and I am a big nerd. Also, I will love my son no matter who he grows up to be, but why not give him a gentle nudge in the right direction? After all, it will be nice to have someone to watch sci-fi with the rest of my life.