October Pics

The annual photo op outside the "nachos and pizza" tent :)

Each year Caleb must try the "new foods"....here is the fried frito pie which was actually pretty good!

And we must always go feed the animals pre-game :)

Carter sure was excited about his first corny dog!

And what's the fair without fried beer?! (They actually said it was pretty gross...)

Ryan and Margaret at the game

Me with my traditional sprite during the game  (see previous post!)

Caleb's college roommate flew in from Maui for the game--it was great to catch up with Randall during the 3rd quarter!

We got the crib in! Here it is set up with the bedding and we LOVE it!

And here's the other side of the room with the dresser/changing table

His 'lil closet is filling up!

We bought this glider to put next to the crib in the nursery, should be in this week!

We spent this past Saturday at childbirth class. I didn't want to embarrass Caleb too much, but just loved how focused he was learning how to swaddle a baby and got the camera out before he could notice :)

And friends, here is the 32 week belly pic. I thought when I started these I would always be able to fit in that tank as it was soo long...hmm, not so sure now. And those of you wondering why I don't put my face on these...it's usually b/c it's right after I've worked out (hence why I'm always in work out shorts) and don't love the face shots so much :).

Advice

I find it interesting the comments I now get from random strangers. Some tell me how "cute" I am, that I'm "all belly" while others tell me "you're so big, there's no way you'll make it to your due date!". Just this week I had a patient's mother put both hands right on my stomach and say "it's a boy, the way you're carrying I know it's a boy", the check out lady at the grocery store say "that baby has to be a girl, the way you're carrying, I'm sure it's a girl" as she INSISTED I needed help to my car with groceries (which I ran away with the cart from her line before she could get me help), while a 16 year old patient (very delayed) was mesmerized by my belly and the only way I could get her to do therapy was to use "now you can pat the baby" as a reinforcer.

I'm sure it will keep coming. I also get a lot of "how are you feeling?" and "are you ready?".....but the other day, I think I got some of the best parenting advice I think I may ever get. The conversation went something like this--I'm talking with the father of a 15 year old girl who just had a bone marrow transplant for cancer:

Dad: "So, are you ready?"
Me: "We're getting there, but definitely not ready. I'm hoping he cooks a good 10 more weeks and then I think we'll be ready"
Dad: "Well, enjoy this time. It's so easy to say "when I have x I'll be ready" or "when they're sleeping through the night it will get better" or "when this colic stage is over with then they will be fun". Just enjoy each stage for what it's worth, because you never know what will happen. I always "wished" for the next stage of (patient's name) life and never knew this would hit us, now I wish I could turn back time. Now I wish we were dealing with colic and not cancer.  I long for those days being at home and rushing kids off every direction, as now my wife and 3 other kids are in Amarillo while we're here and she's fighing for her life. So, that may sound scary, but start it early and just enjoy each stage. Enjoy your pregnancy now, those kicks and sleepless nights might seem like a pain during pregnancy, but pregnancy is so short in the big picture. Enjoy it".


Something to remember, not just for pregnancy but for life. To everything there is a season. Thank you, Lord, for getting to carry this little blessing and feel him moving on a daily basis.

Carter is so excited....

....to experience his first TX/OU weekend :). He really doesn't know what's in store, but he has been jumpin' and jivin' all day gearing up for the big weekend, he must know it's here. Little does he know we already have a babysitter lined up for next year, as this will be his only game to attend for about 10+ years :).

So, in keeping with tradition, I took today off of work to kick off this holiday weekend here in the Wood household. Friends are coming in tonight and the guest bedroom/bathroom is set to go with white towels wrapped in burnt orange bows and "H2Orange" water bottles shaped like the UT tower out on the nightstands.

I also took this day as an opportunity to begin my "nesting" and work on getting the nursery organized, making room in the kitchen cabinets for bottles and bibs, and room in the medicine cabinet for baby medicine and baby healthcare supplies.

No worries though, I did all of this to the UT band soundtrack which kept me in spirits :). I also have a prenatal massage booked for this afternoon and have already picked up a longhorn maternity shirt to sport tomorrow. Now, everyone is saying after last week's game UT has no chance, blah blah blah. It's definitely a rebuilding year, so as excited as I am about the game, win or lose, it will still be worth it because I'm looking forward to:

-friends in town tonight, catching up and discussing game plan for tomorrow

-waking up feeling like it's Christmas in the morning

-getting to the fair at 9 am to let Carter get his first experience with "fair food" :)

-1/2 orange, 1/2 crimson cotton bowl  yelling "Texas Fight" while the other side yells "Boomer Sooner"--my heart is racing just thinking about it :)

-Showband of the Southwest making the big entrance

-the flyover

-gametime. word.--drinking sprite to calm the nerves and hope I don't go into labor :)

-"The Eyes of Texas"--win or lose, we will be there supporting the horns

Now, of course Carter is so excited about TX/OU, but he's had a busy few weeks, so I'll keep you updated blogworld. His friend Sadie is due to come Monday if she doesn't arrive before then. Here's our b-study girls doing an impromptu baby shower for Steph at her house, as she got put on bed rest that day. I can't wait to meet that little girl!



Then, we went out to Roscoe to hear Grandaddy announce the Plowboys homecoming football game and spend time with family. Nothing compares to West Texas football....the whole town shows up, which is only about 800 in this case :). I love this pic...check out the windmills in the background that scream Friday night in West Texas.

 Here's some of the family at the game:

And we got a quick pic with Grandaddy in the press box at halftime:

 And nothing says a trip to Roscoe/Sweetwater like Saturday morning donuts at Doris' sweet shop. This was my first (and likely only) donut during pregnancy and Carter was sooo excited he got to eat Doris', he was moving all day long! Ali even got to see him kicking my belly :)

Carter is going to have so many friends. Here are 4 of us "speechies" at work...3 are pregnant, one is not :)

Carter is one very blessed and loved little boy. Some wonderful friends threw us a baby shower in Dallas this past weekend and I'm still overwhelmed with the love and generosity of sweet friends on our little family. Here's a little pic of his loot:

Caleb came over afterwards and we got a pic in front of the adorable sign Alison crafted. I have a friend that took a lot more pics and will get more on here eventually :).

And Kate, for you, here is the 29 week belly pic. Per my books, Carter is about 3 lbs, 16 inches, and will just continue to grow! Come on buddy!

And it's very fitting to end this post on TX/OU weekend and let all you blog friends know that this was purchased last night on etsy. Carter can't wait. Hook 'em.