The lazy final days of August...

Oak has settled in nicely since coming home from the hospital. His days are mostly filled with sleeping, eating, and...(He gained 7 ounces for his first doctor's visit this morning). But, he has also been busy with special outings to the park, visiting family friends, to church, to several different restaurants and stores, and hanging with the guys for the fantasy football draft. Alan and I are really enjoying our little guy...he is pretty docile and laid back (must get it from his dad:)right now...but so precious to hold, snuggle, kiss, and love on! We are overflowing with gratitude for his life!

A day...

...at the park.

No pics...just quiet

It is just Oak and I this morning. Mom is resting. The Grandparents are out doing business. It is raining slightly. So I turn on some Alexi Murdoch music, and Oak and I have some quiet time. He sleeps a little. And he is awake a little. We dance. He suckles on my pinkie. I sing. He grins and then passes gas. It is our little morning together. I am his dad and he is my son.

Just Sitting and Chatting...

It seems that Oak just likes to sit around and talk about things like books, music, theology, and the environment. Needless to say, it has been a fun day.

More Photographed than the Next Top Model...

A few more pics for the world:

More Cut than Scarface...

Circumcision Photos:

1) Before

2) During (This one is my favorite photo of all of his to date. -Al)

3) After

P.S. Liz won't let me post a pic or two of his wanker. She says it is in bad taste, so I will just save it for graduation, wedding day, or Hall of Fame induction.

P.P.S I didn't keep the foreskin either.

First Full Day

Today was filled with sleeping, eating (I am trying to get the hang of it), getting my diaper changed, soaking up sun after a morning thunderstorm, snuggling mom and dad, letting visitors hold me and laugh at my funny faces, and getting circumcised (that was a bit traumatic, but dad says I was a champ and hardly cried at all). All in all it was a great first full day. I sure am tired, now, though. Thank you to everyone for visting me in the hopital, sending love, prayers, great emails, blog comments, and your welcome into the world. I am really excited to be here! Take a look at some of my pictures from today...

RULE #1:

DO NOT FORGET THE Grandma NONNA PICTURE.
Plus an extra with Aunt Libbie & Uncle Tim!

More Cradled than a Super Bowl Football...

OAK'S PICTURES: 1) Great-Grandma holding her first great-grandson before flying back to Florida.
2) Pops holding his grandson for the first time.
3) Aunt Libbie and Karleigh cooing at the little guy.
4) Aunt Amanda cuddling little Oak.

More Internationally Known than the Cold War...

OAK'S PICTURES with mom and dad:

More Anticipated than the Oscars...

OAK'S FIRST PICTURES:

Bienvenidos Oak Lowell Carter

Our miracle was born on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 2:52 am. He weighed 8 pounds, was 21.5 inches long, and has big hands and feet like his dad. We were in labor only about 8.5 hours...we'll spare the gorey details for those that want to know them at a later time. I can't say thank you enough to God for a short, healthy, and safe delivery and my wonderful husband and mother as the best coaches I could have had.
Alan and I feel so blessed to have our little boy with us...that he was delivered safely and that he is doing great now! Of course in the first few weeks, babies change how they look so much...right now we think he kind of looks like a little old man with a wrinkly face...but he changes every hour almost. We keep trying to figure out which features are from the Anders and which are from the Carters...we think he is quite a blend...but definitely cute.
Now, we are trying to get used to breastfeeding, sleeping a lot, and enjoying the quiet time with each other. How blessed we are!
Thank you to each of you for your continued support, encouragement, thoughts, and prayers during this pregnancy! Oak has an incredible family of beloved people all over this world and we hope to tell him all about each of you!

Monday Night at 7:30 PM

We think we may be starting...about an hour ago I started to have contractions...at least I think they are...it is so hard when this is our first labor. The contractions have been pretty regular at about 5 minutes apart...so we have done our final packing and called the doctor and will probably be heading off to the hospital in the next hour or so.
Until we know more...or until Oak is born...this is our last post! Thank you for your prayers!!!

40 weeks + 5 days

Yes, we are still here...feeling good...trying to keep busy and active. We go for our regular weekly doctor's appointment on Wednesday if Oak does not arrive before then...and hopefully at that time we can see if progress is being made, or if we should begin inducing...we are really hoping that He is safe and healthy and that we can wait for him to come on his own! Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers...we will update you as soon as anything happens!

40 weeks + 3 days

So....yep...you guessed it...great news...we are still waiting for Oak to be born! Part of us wonders if he knows how to get out....he keeps punching and kicking hard, making us think he is so crowded in my tummy. I have felt great for the past 3 days, tons of energy...so is that good or bad? At this point, one starts to feel that they are letting everyone down around them...those that have traveled to be here for the birth and those waiting patiently to hear the news. Of course, everyone has advice about what to do to bring labor on...but in reality, we have tried everything natural, and it really is true that he is going to come when he wants to. Our one and only prayer right now for labor is that everyone is safe and healthy...and hopefully he comes naturally without having to be induced, etc.

We love you all...We are thinking of you all...

40 weeks +1 day

Be patient, Be patient, Don't be in such a hurry...
My husband, father, and brother keep singing this childhood song to me as I have been getting so bored and anxious waiting for our little guy to arrive. There was good news yesterday at our weekly doctor's visit. Yesterday at 2:00 PM, I was 2 cm dilated, 70% effaced, and the baby's head was at the 0 station of my pelvis. Today, I lost my mucous plug. Now, for those of you who have had babies recently, you know that all of these things are good signs pointing towards the beginning stages of early labor. Our doctor thinks we won't make it another week. For those of you, who have not had a baby, or do not care to hear the details, it just means he should be coming soon! But, for me it feels like the waiting is unbearable. Everyone says to enjoy the last minutes of quiet and rest...but I feel like I have been doing that for 8 weeks. I am NOW as READY as I will every be...I know it will challenging, I know I don't know how hard it is going to be...but, I am ready to start this new chapter.
In all seriousness, my emotions right now are incredible...excitement, fear, anxiety, peace, readiness...We know God is protecting us and will bring His new son into this world in His time.

So, Oak Lowell Carter, mommy and daddy are ready to play...come out, come out, wherever you are!

P.S. We do promise to post updates and pictures as soon as possible after the buddy is born...we will have our computer at the hospital with us!

39 weeks-TODAY...

and are you coming any time, soon, little guy?!? Alan and I have been having heart to heart chats with our son often, letting him know that we are as ready as we will ever be for him to join our family...and with how we are feeling right now...sooner would be better than later! Thank you for your continued prayers...we hope to be posting some pictures of little Oak, soon!

Baby Shower:)

My mom and sister-in-law were kind enough to host a baby shower for Oak this past Sunday. They made beautiful, yummy food, and many of my family and close friends living in GR came to celebrate our new little one. We had a great time hearing stories and getting much needed advice from the veteran moms, and enjoying being women! Thank you to everyone who made me feel so loved and special! We are so ready for the little guy to arrive!

Aqui estoy...Lo proveera Dios

Here I am, Lord...God will provide...

Throughout the summer, as Alan and I have been visiting different churches and trying to discern where the Lord wants us to join in His work and family, I have been using my spanish Bible in service. I want to keep the language as fresh as possible in my mind. Often hearing and reading in different languages reiterates for me the true meaning of the words and it is so amazing.

This past Sunday was an amazing time for Alan and I. God really spoke to us, exactly at the point in which we are right now, faced with big decisions, life changes, and uncertainty. We both were in tears by the end of Sunday morning knowing that if we respond as Abraham did in saying to the Lord, "Here I am, Aqui Estoy," willing to sacrifice what is most precious to us and trusting with all of our beings..."God will provide, Lo proveera Dios," and usually at the last minute. Re-read Genesis 22...a story we have heard many times...but truths that are still profound today!!

38 Weeks-Come and Gone

Well, the 38th week flew by with a blur and we didn't get any actual "belly" pictures. But, here are some from a nice walk Alan and I took on one of my new-found trails. Alan wanted to take pictures of nature and snapped a few funny ones of me, too. (I am not as exhausted as I look in the last one, he just happened to catch my mouth open:)