Where the Buffalo Roam

This past weekend, we took a retreat to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma. Despite the cold (overnight low was 30F) and the wind (gusts up to 35mph), we still managed to have a great time on our first camping trip together.  Looks like we'll need to buy a tent after all!

 Our little home away from home.  Thanks, Travis, for letting us borrow your tent!  

Our lovely campfire.  Since neither of us had really built a campfire before, this was a big accomplishment. Nice and warm, too! 

 We hiked Elk Mountain while we were there.  It was cold and really windy at the top, and I didn't want to fall off the mountain, so we didn't stay too long up there. 

Feeling hardcore as a pregnant lady who just camped in sub-freezing temperatures, and then climbed a (n admittedly puny) mountain. 

Us at the summit.  The day cleared up quite nicely, despite that it was quite foggy when we woke. 

Meet Buffy, our new friend.  She wouldn't come home with us, though. :-(  This photo was taken earlier in the day than our hiking photos, so you can see how foggy it was before. 

Prairie Dog Town--not to be missed!  They're so cute and chubby.  We wanted to take one of these home, too.  His name is Sgt. Pickles McGee.  

We also saw and / or heard a flock of wild turkeys, a pack of coyotes, some ducks, some migrating Canada geese, a cute little bunny, and some Texas longhorns (the animals, not the UT fans).  It's a great little haven, if you get a chance!  

So who's coming with on our next trip??

FAQs

Yes, it has been a while since our last update. It certainly hasn't been for lack of fodder for posting, but just that the blog hasn't been the right forum to discuss what has been happening.  It has been a whirlwind of change: I started a new job, which meant I was working two jobs and out of the house from 7:15am until 7:00pm daily, and eating lunch in the car between jobs.  Then, I subsequently resigned from the first of the two jobs, which cut 40 daily miles off my commute, and lots of stress out of my life.  In the midst of all of this . . . 

THERE IS A BABY IN MY UTERUS. 

It's nuts. 

So, on to the FAQs: 

How did the baby get there? 

I am not sure.  I've spent a lot of time with children and babies in the past couple of years.  I think I must have caught it, like the flu.  Also, I'm not sure how the baby transfers from my belly to the little blanket in the stork's mouth.  You'll have to ask your mother.  

When is your due date? How far along are you?  

June 18th.  Andy's birthday is on June 9th, and Father's Day is June 16th this year.  Oh, and my school year ends June 11th.  That puts me at 12 weeks on Tuesday.  

How do you feel? 

Thanks for asking! I feel fine--insomuch that at times, I don't feel pregnant at all.  I haven't been sick once.  The most I've felt is a bit of fatigue and some aches and soreness.  Also, I feel pretty hungry.  

Is it a boy or a girl? 

Don't know yet.  We'll find out, but we're not into the whole "pink and blue" bit, so it will mostly be to mentally prepare ourselves for the outcome.  You know, and help us choose a name.  

Speaking of names, have you thought of any? 

Not really.  If you have any ideas, please send them our way! 

Who was the first person you told? 

After our immediate families, the first person I told was my girl Januka, a Bhutanese 65-year-old who speaks very little English.  She was my English student in Pittsburgh, and calls me every couple of weeks just to shoot the breeze.  She says she wants to come visit me and the baby.  

Any cravings? 

Nah.  I've been eating a ton of eggs lately, so maybe that counts.  But at the same time, I am not really sure that my constant desire for sweets and fatty foods count as "cravings," and not just "fat kid disease," which I suppose is a condition that pre-dates the pregnancy. 

How did the cats react when you told them? 

Yunus is happy, and has taken to protecting my belly and giving extra massages to the baby.  Annie is just too wrapped up in her own cuteness to care, really.  

Also, here's a picture of Nugget, taken at 10 weeks.  Love that little belly!