22 Weeks, 4 days and They're Taking Me Over!

I can not believe that we are almost to 23 weeks! Where has the time gone? It is going to be October 1st on Wednesday!

Life is continuing to go well for our household. No more near attacks from Chris so that's always a plus. :)

I can't believe the growth of my belly. Every couple of days I am putting a few more pounds on the scale.

The boys are moving SO much now and I haven't grown tired of it yet! It is a constant reminder that they are there and doing well. I take a few minutes every morning and evening to just lay in bed and feel them for a few minutes before I start and end my day. It is a special time with them.

I have been trying to find time as well to read, talk, and sing to them. They know my voice now and I know it can be comforting to them, so I want them to hear it as much as possible. They probably hear it enough already with me for their mother! :)

We go back to the Dr. on Wednesday morning for a quick check of my weight, their growth, and the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding them.

I am continuing to feel great besides the feeling that I am running out of room! I'm not sure what's going on with my ribs - but I feel like they are being pulled apart. It gets worse throughout the day and by evening it feels so good to lay down and stretch my body out as far as possible. I have also been starting to have some back pain - so it may be time for a belly support band before too long.

I'm telling you - I am just getting sexier and sexier by the day. :)

Yesterday I spent some time looking through old pictures and just noticing the way that my profile used to look. I also just glanced back at my belly shots from weeks 3,7,10...and I can't believe the changes!!

I continue to outgrow many of my clothes. My pregnancy update e-mail (meant for single baby pregnancies) that I get every week told me today that at week 23 I may have begun to show a little, and may possibly have gained 10-12 pounds by now. Umm...give or take about 30 I would say that's just about right. :)

I did some yard sale shopping this weekend and found some little boy clothes. A friend of mine also gave me three big bagfuls of clothes that her son has outgrown or things that have been passed on to her. I so appreciate everyone's generosity and excitement. I don't think our boys will have to go naked!

Here are some pictures showing me now at 22 weeks and 4 days. Don't laugh. :)

The Dangers of the Sleeper Keeper Total Body Comfort Pregnancy Pillow

I bought this pillow a few months ago to help me sleep better at night. I have loved it, but it sure is taking up room in our bed! Poor Chris is losing more and more space with every week.
This morning my alarm went off and I was up and wandering around the house. I ate breakfast, checked the news, and tried to come back into our bedroom to get ready. I tried to push our bedroom door open and Chris was blocking it from the other side. I kept trying to push it open and he kept pushing it closed. I finally laughed and said "What are you doing??" Chris opened the bedroom door with this look of panic on his face and said " I thought you were an intruder!" He had been hearing footsteps around the house, had reached his hand over, felt the pillow and thought it was me! He was sure that someone had broken into our house and he was quickly trying to think about what his plan of attack was going to be! His heart was racing from adrenaline. We had a good laugh over it, but as some friends mentioned today...is it really a good thing that my husband mistook me for a big, squishy, lumpy pillow? :)

Father's thoughts: Boppies, Bumbos, and Breast Pumps...

Well, it is past due for an update from the Dad to be. The last month or so has been great. A few weeks ago Beth and I spent a weekend registering for showers. If for no other reason, it was time well spent just getting acquainted with all the baby "stuff" on the market. What an education! Taking time to really understand what all the different things are and what they're meant for helped a lot. It didn't take much more than a good, educated guess to understand what a breast pump was, but I've noticed that the names of many things aren't so intuitive. There seems to be a baby gear code - deciphering and understanding the meaning of secret baby code words like Boppy, Bumbo, and binky has taken some work, but I'm getting there.

By now we've gotten the nursery pretty much furnished; largely due to generous family and friends. We appreciate all the help! Last week I was walking by the nursery and decided to take just a few minutes to go in and sit down in the recliner. It was one of those moments when a good dose of reality sinks in. I was surrounded by two cribs, a changing table, and a dresser. Some of the very first baby clothing we've received was hanging off the changing table. There's already a small collection of stuff animals scattered about. And there are a few thin picture books - the ones I remember from my childhood - on one of the changing table shelves. As I was looking around the room I just thought of all the things to come. What memories (the good, the bad, and, I suppose occasionally, the very ugly) will be made in that room!

The doctor visits are a lot of fun, but always somewhat stressful. You just hope and have faith that everything is going the way it should. Not sure if Beth covered this, but I am very proud to report that during our last visit it was VERY :) obvious that there are two boys in there. They seem content - moving around, kicking, stretching - head to head. About one pound each! I can tell they're already best buds...

Our Two Sons

I love to think back to that 5 week appointment when I first found out we were having twins. Their little hearts were already beating, but that was the only part of them I could really see.

Now to think that they are both 1 pound and all their perfect little parts are there and working and growing... it is completely and totally amazing. The whole experience of a life (or lives!) being created and seeing the progression and the growth...I have been just awestruck. There truly are no words. I will and can truly say though that I believe that life does start at the moment of conception. There is no time along the way when I would be able to say - "...okay now they are actually living." I have learned and experienced first hand so much over these past few months and I have truly loved every single second. I feel blessed, honored, and humbled to be the mother, the feeder, the protector, and the nurturer of these two forming lives.

The boys have been moving so much the past few days. Their kicks have really gotten stronger here recently, and just last night Chris was able to lay his hand on my stomach and feel them kick for the first time. I love that he too can be involved in feeling them. His eyes lit up and he said "I felt them!"


Here are some pictures from our past appointment. I am such a proud mother and love them so much already!

The above is a picture of both boys looking up. Baby Boy A is on top and Baby Boy B is on the bottom. Look at Baby A's little arms crossed on his chest! They are a bit scary and alien looking right now - but I would say they look identically spooky and precious. :)

I love this side profile of Baby B. His perfect little round belly, his right arm laying at his side, and his perfect little button nose sticking up.

Here are the tops of their two little heads. They sure are close in there aren't they? My friend Cheryl asked if they could tell if they were facing each other. I'm not sure - but it kind of looks like they might have been.

Here is a picture of one little foot from each boy. The top picture is one of Baby A's feet and the bottom picture is one of Baby B's. We could see all their little toes. Twenty of them total.

Lookin' Good

Everything is looking great at the 21 week mark! We went for a check-up today and they did a detailed ultrasound where they measured the boys and checked everything out. I am happy to report that I have gained an additional 10 pounds since the last appointment two weeks ago - which puts me at gaining 16 pounds in the last month - which puts me around 30 pounds weight gain total so far! Yeah boys! The doctor was very pleased with the gain and told me to keep it up!

The boys are looking GREAT! There is only good news to report when it comes to them. The technician measured every little part of their bodies - from the top of their little heads, to their noses, to their little leg bones. We were able to see all the arms and all the legs (there are a lot of them in there!), along with all the fingers and toes. Both Baby A and Baby B are feet down right now. Their heads are up below my rib cage and their little feet are hanging down below my belly button. Even though they are in separate sacs these boys are definitely close and we had a hard time figuring out which legs belonged to which boy!

We also confirmed that they are most certainly boys. They were showing off their manhood today and made their father proud. :)

Baby A is weighing 1 pound and Baby B is weighing in at a very close 15 ounces. Their measurements place them both around the 65th percentile so they are healthy little things and are growing just great!! Praise God!

I am one thankful, awestruck mother. I got home around 4:30 and after unpacking a few groceries and unloading the dishwasher I crashed into bed. When I think about the fact that I have two pounds of little baby boys in me - and that the only reason they are the size and health they are is because of how I have been taking care of myself and what I've been eating - it makes sense why I've been so tired and why it's important to keep resting and eating like I have been.

I do have some updated pictures from the doctor - but they are in the car with Chris this evening so I will have to post them later. Instead you're stuck looking at more pictures of my belly. :) Enjoy.

It is an amazing journey. There truly aren't even words to explain it all.

Our sons.

The Nursery

We have been having a fun time getting ideas for decorating the nursery. It has been such an adventure finding bedding though! I have found a few things I love, but then it's hard to find enough stuff for two cribs without getting too much! I would like to have one comforter, but there's really no need for two...it just gets complicated! I was almost ready to buy something tonight, but have decided to give it one more Saturday of searching before I make my final decision.

Here are a few pictures to show our progress. It is coming, but not ready yet!


Back to the Dr. tomorrow on week 21! I'll post updates tomorrow evening. Can't wait! Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts towards our little boys.

Our two cribs - waiting for bedding!

Our new dresser Chris found. I love it.

The changing table

Our newest addition! Not Kodiak, but the awesome chair from Tina and Karl. This chair has experienced much love through the birth of their own twins who are now in first grade, and now it's our turn! Thank you for sharing this with us! It is so comfortable and will be used often I'm sure!

20 Week Pictures

Here are a few pictures taken tonight of our twenty week mark. Gotta love the love handles and thighs of thunder that are beginning to take shape! If it's helping to grow healthy boys than I am all about it! I love the way my body is changing and knowing that these boys are getting one day closer to joining our family.

All is going well - just tired, tired, tired. Work has been amazing so far this year, but it does take a toll on me. I truly feel that all I do in my spare time is take naps or lay on the couch- but I know that for right now it's what I need to do! I also realize that my time of rest like this is limited, so I am going to take advantage for now!

The boys are moving so often now! It is amazing to feel them and know that it's their little arms and legs I'm feeling! I can't wait until Chris can feel them too.

Alright - the couch is calling. :)

These little pups were a gift from Mom and Dad today along with a super comfy maternity shirt and a little boy bib. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Hitting the 20's

Today marks our official start of the 20's. 20 weeks today! You know I'll be posting some pictures this evening - but for now I'm off to another day at school. Just had to blog about my excitement at this milestone! The boys are excited too! They are sure moving this morning!

This Man

*Warning* The following post is going to be a bit mushy. If too much sweet, sappy stuff gets to you-you may want to skip this entry.*

Throughout this pregnancy I have been more in love with Chris than ever before. Perhaps some of it is due to the hormones raging out of control in my body - but I also think that going through this experience bonds me so much closer to him.
I just want our boys to know how lucky they are to have such an incredible man as Chris as their father and that is my reason for documenting it here. I feel so blessed to be married to a man that I can look at and know without a doubt that he will love these boys unconditionally, will play catch with them, will teach them how to fish and how to change the oil, will read to them at bedtime, will kiss their boo boos and teach them how to ride bike...
We have been married for over seven years. We have learned a lot in our marriage about each other, about love, about hardships, grace, forgiveness, and laughter. We have learned about giving up our selfish ways and trying to truly put each other first. I will be the first to admit that I have not always been a model wife. I have selfish tendencies and I know that Chris puts up with a lot from me at times.
Chris has been so amazing to me throughout this entire pregnancy. He truly has put me first and makes sure that I'm not cleaning with any chemicals, not carrying things that are too heavy, not too hot or cold while I sleep, taking my daily naps, cooking dinners for us, cleaning the floors on his hand and knees...I am completely undeserving of such love and attention.
We have stood by each other through many storms in life and I am thankful to have him to lean on. I am overjoyed at the thought of all the adventures that lie ahead as we step into the role of parenthood. There is no other man that I can imagine wanting to go through this experience with. I am blessed with who God has given me and I pray that He help guide us to continue to mold into the people He wants us to be. I pray that we would be good parents and also love each other through the many years ahead.

Update

The appointment on Thursday went really well. I was glad that Chris was able to be with me this time and meet the Dr. The appointment started off with a flu shot in my left arm. They then weighed me and I have gained 6 pounds in two weeks! The Dr. told me that I can't gain enough, so keep putting it on! She was pleased to hear that I am taking my additional supplements every day of calcium, magnesium, and iron. I have also been eating often and in large quantities, so I guess I am doing okay!
They did an ultrasound and checked the amount of fluid around the boys. They check their bladders to make sure they are full as this can indicate whether or not they are both receiving proper nutrition. Their bladders looked full and the amount of amniotic fluid around them seemed about equal - so we're good there too!
The next time we go back on the 17th they will do a more in depth ultrasound where they will weigh them and measure them again.
Chris and I went to the hospital just to look around since we had never been there before. We went to the fourth floor and talked to a woman who said that at our next appointment we will register at the hospital and then sign up for a tour of the nursery, NICU, etc.
It really hit me Thursday that this is all going to happen!
This is such an incredible journey - and one that I can't put into words. It is such an incredible blessing to see these two lives inside of me. On Thursday I told Chris that it is so amazing that right now I am carrying on my body 30 toes, 30 fingers, 6 eyes, 6 ears, 3 beating hearts...incredible!!
We were able to hear their heartbeats for the first time as well. We have seen them beating since our 5 week appointment, but to hear them was just amazing. They are both beating at 150 beats per minute and they were nice and strong.
The time is quickly approaching to their arrival. I can't believe I'll be 20 weeks on Wednesday. In the meantime - the nursery is coming together nicely. I came home yesterday and Chris had surprised me by picking up a dresser that he had purchased earlier this week. I walked into the nursery and just cried when I saw it! I will post a picture later. Today I am doing some online searching for bedding, a rug, and a lamp.
Oh boy ( or perhaps I should say "Oh boys!") - I can hardly stand it!

Week 19!

Another week! Things have been going really well this week. School started yesterday and so far it has been amazing. I have 21 students, which is the smallest number I've ever had. They are all so sweet and well behaved. We had a long talk yesterday about the reason why I have to sit, eat, and drink so much. I told them that I would need their help and when I asked if they thought they could handle that they all looked at me and shook their heads up and down in unison. One little girl named Elizabeth hugged me twice today and said "I hope that you have healthy boys." It feels good to be back there again - and time will now certainly fly!

My evenings have consisted of coming home, crashing into bed for a couple of hours, eating dinner, and then going back to bed again. I have been feeling some guilt about the lack of things I am able to do as far as calling family and friends, cooking meals, cleaning the house, etc. - but I know that for now my little boys have to come first and I must rest....so I am. Like a friend told me today - it's time to take care of me...which in turn means taking care of some little ones growing inside of me.

And growing they are! I am astounded by the rapid growth that I am seeing. I feel like nearly every day I see something new or do a double take in the mirror about how far my belly is sticking out! I remember at first I would strain my eyes to see something...and now...well, in the words of our custodian today "WOW!" Don't you just love when someone looks at your belly and just says "Wow!" Haha.

Tomorrow we go back again for another check-up. Thank you for your continued prayers! We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go - so prayers are always welcomed!

I THINK I felt them move last evening!! I have heard that it's easy to always second guess yourself - but I was laying in bed after school and I felt 4 random movements. It felt like little pops. I laid so still just hoping to feel more - but then I fell asleep. :) Pretty amazing to think that there are two little ones in there moving around!

Here are a few pictures for week 19. Wow is right eh? :)

It's starting to take on the appearance of a bowling ball!

WOW!

The view of my feet - wherever they are.

More Dreams

Saturday night I had another doozy of a dream. I have no clue where they come from!
I dreamt that I delivered twins. The only problem was that the twins I delivered were not human - but instead they were black and white kittens. I must admit they were pretty soft and cuddly, but I remember looking around the nursery at all the other mothers with their human babies and I wondered what I had to do to have one of those! As we held the kittens their fur started to disappear and they began to take on human form - but their whiskers wouldn't go away! I remember being pretty upset that I was going to have baby boys with whiskers!