Belly Shots

My mom has been suggesting, frequently, that I should post some pictures where you can get a better look at the current size of my belly. So here you go, mom!

By the way, I went through all the baby clothes that we have last night, and between what we kept from Carter and what Park & Ashley gave us, I'm pretty sure it will be impossible for this new little guy to wear everything even once. So, grandparents, you're off the hook for baby clothes buying this time around!

10 Weeks to Go, More or Less

I had an ultrasound last week and got these photos of our boy.

He's very active and is mostly treating me nicely, though I most certainly feel the 5 years older that I am this time around. Part of that is probably actually due to the fact that I was in much better shape 5 years ago thanks to all the NYC walking I did. But, I really have few complaints (today).

Carter is SO very sweet about his baby brother these days. He's taken to kissing and hugging my belly, and to talking to his little brother. Just the other day, baby brother apparently informed Carter that he likes Sponge Bob and that his favorite color is orange - just like Carter!

Frequently, when Carter gives me a hug and I say, "Thank you!", he says, "No. that wasn't for you. That was for [points to my belly]." So now I just keep my mouth shut and enjoy.

Faux Father's Day

I'm going to be out of town on Father's Day, and I didn't want Thomas to miss out on having a dad-centric day. So, yesterday, we had a Fowlkes Family Faux Father's Day celebration.

Breakfast in bed

Homemade cards presented to Dad on a homemade tray

Headed off to see a Braves game with Cart Cart

"Happy Faux Father's Day, Dad!"

More Birthday Pics

Here are a few more pictures from Carter's birthday festivities - opening presents the day after his party and on his actual birthday.

He's superman suited AND cowboy booted.

For Mama Helen

Thanks.

Quick Garden Update

When this guy does your watering, look at those results!

Happy Birthday, Carter!

Carter is 5 today! We celebrated on Saturday night with a pajama party -- an idea borrowed from the Kimbro's (thanks!). Here's a short slide show of the fun.

Pre-K Graduation

Friday was Carter's graduation from Pre-K. They had a whole program including a procession, displays of knowledge such as counting to thirty in English and French, spelling the numbers o-n-e through t-e-n, and performance art (or recited poetry). Finally they had the diploma presentation.

As Elizabeth was out of town unfortunately, I was instructed to take lots of photos. Due to my proximity to Carter (very far away), his proximity to a very sunny back lit window (very close), and my apparently very shaky hand with the zoom on our little digital camera, I got very few good pictures. What I did do was take video of Carter's part of the presentation.

This video is as much for E as anyone else, note I think it is the first video I have ever edited. I did get editing assistance and advice from the aforementioned E, so now I know why Director's Cuts exist. "If you're going to have a hit, then you got to make it fit, so they cut it down to 3:05..." (extra credit if you know this reference).

Enjoy.






UPDATE for mobile readers: The video appears to be restricted from mobile devices (I assume due to copyright issues with the music I used), but it works on desktops so I encourage you to watch it from one, I think it's worth it. Thanks, T.

Warrior Dash!

This past weekend, I ran the Warrior Dash with Park and Ashley, and it was quite the event. It is basically a 5k race...with obstacles. It takes place over 2 days, with race waves starting every half hour, with over a hundred people per wave. Lots of people in costume, lots of beer, lots of general merriment. My wave was at 3:30 in afternoon, so we had a chance to watch and absorb before we took to the...street, lake, mud, trails, barbed wire, walls, and fire.

Well, I've had some pretty crazy days, but this was certainly fun!

Eli and a reluctant Carter before the race.

Carter feeling better after getting the official warrior hat and shedding his shirt to look more like lots of other people.

Before the race, looking serene, thinking "this will be interesting, I believe...."

Off we go, with FIRE! The first mile or so was a regular run around the lake/pond. I decided to avoid the crowds and make some decent time, as I was wearing actual running shoes and clothes and not a wedding dress or superhero outfit....

The run around the lake ended with a jump INTO the lake for about a 100 yard wade/swim (see in the background above). Then you slog out of that into 3 sets of burned out cars and a field of tires. And mud.

Over the top.

Just after that you hit a 4' plywood wall to scramble over, then a barbed wire fence about 2' off the ground to scramble under. Through mud. Repeat that FIVE freakin' times! I was okay with the going over, but the going under was hard for an old man.

After a little more trail running (and mud), you hit the BIG wall. After that it is another hill of tires. And mud. Seemingly several more miles of strictly uphill trails. With mud. Then several more obstacles that I was too busy conquering to take pictures of (and they were back in the woods away from spectators, so no photos). A suspended horizontal cargo net 40' long to crawl over (which I busted a$$ coming off of and was bleeding and massively brusied from), a 2' high blackout tent also 40' long that required an army crawl to avoid the giant wood beams in the dark put there to (apparently) knock people unconscious. Then a giant hill covered in plastic and hosed down for a super long slide into a pile of hay and likely another runner. The 18" deep mud pit with barbed wire just at head high you had to crawl under, the other pool of (slightly less) muddy water with floating logs to swim over. Then, finally...

FIRE!

2 sets to be exact, back in front of the adoring crowd. Grace under pressure is all I can say about that photo.

After.

"WTF did I just do to myself?!?!?!"

Park and Ashley before.

And after.

I would highly recommend seeking this race out in your area and getting a BIG group and being warriors. Next year, we are getting more people, and more drunk. It should hurt less. Thanks to Eli and Carter for being a great cheering section and support team!

Just had to share this pic...