Baby Isla Lynne Carter

Isla Lynne Carter, our precious little girl...

Born on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 10:46 PM. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. She looks a lot like her older brother did when he was first born, just "more petite and feminine" as daddy says!

Thank you Lord for your gracious, loving gifts...and blessings abundant!

Here she is:

9 Days Over-cooked and still waiting

Thought I should post a short update, since people are waiting so patiently for news of the baby's arrival. I went for my 41-week check-up two days ago and the non-stress test showed the baby's movement and heart rate to be normal and mature, ready for birth. I am still not barely dilated or effaced as has been the case for over 2 weeks, even though I have been feeling some cramping and "yucky" every night (poor Al having to put up with me after 6:00pm:). They checked fluid levels and I had low-normal fluids, but according to my doc, still normal and nothing to worry about or take action upon. So, the plan is, if the babe does not come on its own before Tuesday, to check my dilation and begin inducement on Wednesday, July 29, at the latest. Please continue to pray for safety and health for both the baby and I:) Thank you...

So, our little babe that we thought we would have by July 4, is going to end up being an end of July baby:) In reality, although I am not completely comfortable all day...it has been a great couple of weeks to play and spend time with Oakster...slowly get prepared for the new little one...and for Alan to get through the toughest part of his summer classes...God is wise and knows when the timing is best, we are confident of that!

Thank you for your continual prayers and kind thoughts, emails, phone calls...we'll update you as soon as anything happens!!

Still no little munchkin'

So, I am thinking of being mad at my doctor...last night in the middle of my sleepless tossing about, I remembered something. My original due date (based on menstrual cycle) was July 21, and my doctor changed it at 12 weeks based on the size the baby was measuring to one week earlier...well, duh, look at the genes this kid has, of course it is going to measure "big." So, if my real "due date" is this coming Tuesday, and this whole week I have had to answer a thousand questions, looks, and phone calls, as to why the baby hasn't come yet...well, then I am thinking about being mad at my doctor!!

Due dates...they are so arbitrary anyway, right?

On another note, I got to hold a newborn at a birthday party today...and wow, did I start to get the jitters again...as much as we want to meet our new little one...we are thoroughly enjoying this stage with Oak, so fun, so active, so independent, so responsive, just a big guy...and the thought of a completely helpless, although sweet as sugar, newborn scares Al and I a bit...but, look at the millions that have done it before us...we can make it, I know we will!!

Please keep praying and hoping for safe labor and delivery and a healthy new baby!

2 months of catching up to do...

Sorry for being quite delinquent in posting...as usual, it has been busy around our house, with the end of the school year, Alan's summer classes, summer fun, and the new baby coming...so I have been trying to take some pictures, but just haven't had a chance to post them...so for those that have been wanting updates, I am truly sorry (Grandma and Erin:) I am 4 days from baby #2's due date...and so far, no major action. We are trying to enjoy the summer weather, beaches and parks...and time with our little Oaker before baby arrives:) Oak has been changing so much lately...just so Alan and I don't forget down the road-and because this blog is kind of our family scrapbook (not that you all want to know this stuff), I want to post some of Oak's moments/phrases from the last month or so:

• Love you, mama, love you dada, nigh, night


• Choo choo all gone-and must go see our train down the street any time he hears it (which is twice a day)


• Wanting to help with everything from cooking, to unloading dishes


• Please, thank you for everything


• Fire truck (fr-uck)


• Notices every moving object, train, car, truck, ambulance, tells me about it and makes the sound


• Rides around in the car like a rollercoaster, saying woooo under bridges


• Loves his BoBo and golf cart rides, beach sand, wrestling with Daddy, playing outside, hitting baseballs, kicking soccer balls


• Repeating everything we say...and getting lots of words down well enough that we can understand him

Ridin' with Daddy-Oak loves to go fast in the bike trailer

Head stand with no hands-one day Oak just did this for Alan and I, we aren't quite sure who he learned it from:)

Borrowing Bella's stroller to push BoBo aroundSwinging with Asa

Cracking himself up after "posing" for Uncle Tim's photo shoot

Golf cart rides are the best

At Millenium Park, snack time with Maxwell Father's Day with the whole fam at North Park Beach
Sportin' his new shades from Uncle Shaun
Family Day at North Park Beach

39 weeks and holding....

Here is a quick photo of my "tummy" from Saturday, July 4th, 10 days before due date...and holding! Sorry I haven't had a lot of belly shots this time...it hasn't been as pretty for sure-and my focus has been on chasing after Oaker and everything else:) Doc said everything looked good this morning (Dilated 1-2, 40-50% effaced), so it could be tomorrow or it could be 3 weeks from now...that we see the newest Carter!

Love to you all (and I promise I am going to post other pics once I can get Alan to attach the camera cable behind the computer, where my belly won't let me reach right now:)