16 weeks

We are 16w2d. Yay! Our babies are the size of Avocados. No wonder I feel like my belly is so big! Thebump.com says "Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender."
Well, I have noticed over the last month or so my language hasn't been ideal and so now I'm really going to need to watch it. I blame it on the hormones but I guess I just need to be more aware. Taste buds...I wonder if these babies are going to be as picky as their mother when it comes to food. James isn't a whole lot better than me, but I definitely stick with what I like and I'm not big on trying new foods without a lot of convincing. My most favorite of all foods is pizza....the food I've craved the most during pregnancy. I sure hope our little ones love pizza or I'm in BIG trouble! As far as determinig gender, we're hoping to find out Thursday!!

I've not had what I would consider strong cravings. If people are talking about food, I find often that I then decide I want to eat that food. Pizza sounds good, constantly. Yesterday, I experienced a new feeling. I've been wanting Crazy Bread from Little Caesar's Pizza for a while now. I've not been able to have any. Well yesterday, I can say I had the strongest craving for it that I've had thus far. It was all I could think about. I could only eat half of my PB&J sandwich because it wasn't crazy bread. I couldn't get it out of my head. It stuck with me all day. The problem is that there isn't a Little Caesar's anywhere close to where we live, at least 30 minutes away and we had plans last night so it wasn't an option. I will have it this weekend, believe me! I will hunt down this food that I want so badly!

My cousin Brittany is about a week behind me in her pregnancy. I talked to her last night and she's starting to feel her little one. I am so ready to feel these babies. For all I know, I might be and it's just not distinguishable enough from other things for me to pick out movements. Then again, I just may not be able to feel them yet. I have seen them, I have heard them, I want to feel them. I just can't wait!!

Fear

I experienced a new kind of fear today.  I had gone to the bathroom at work this afternoon, one trip of many during the day, and I was looking at my belly in the mirror.  It itched a little so I scratched it through my shirt.  Then, for whatever reason, I lifted my shirt to look at my belly.  At this point I started to panic.  I almost started to tear up.  I thought I saw about 4 stretch marks starting to show.  I kept thinking, this can't be happening-no, I can't get them, it's way too early.  Well, the light in the bathroom is dim so after much examining, I realized it was my scratch marks.  For whatever reason I tend to kind of welp up when I scratch any body part-like what it would look like if you were scratched by a dog.  After I realized it really wasn't a stretch mark I was able to calm down.  I didn't realize how afraid I was of getting them until I thought I had a few.  What a strange thing to experience!!!  

Strollers

Where oh where does one find a stroller for newborn twins that doesn't cost $1000??? Please tell me someone knows. None of the local stores even carry double strollers except the kind you'd put toddlers in to go for a run. That does not help us at all. I've been trying to look online but I'm not sure what I'm finding would hold two newborns and they're all extremely expensive. James and I talked yesterday about taking a trip up to Cincinnati or even TN to shop for it if there are stores that actually carry them, but I'm not having any luck finding stores. When you're having twins, you come to accept that they bring double everything: twice the money, twice the furniture, twice the space, twice the frustration, twice the lack of sleep and most importantly, twice the love. You know there are certain things that will be harder than others and trying to find a double stroller is one thing we expected to be a little more difficult. However, I did not expect it to be almost impossible. Please tell me the baby stores or online sites you're using to get your baby items. Maybe that will help us. We need the help!!

15 weeks

Today we're 15w 2days. We're less than 2 weeks from the big ultrasound. We're also less than 3 weeks from Shannon's visit! February is going to be such an eventful month ;) I tried to take a few more belly shots on Thursday but my camera wasn't cooperating. They all turned out blurry. Apparently at 6:30 I do not operate a camera well. This week was so much better than last week. I had more energy and didn't feel utterly exhausted all week. I got plenty of sleep and it felt great!

Last night we saw "WICKED". It was amazing. My favorite movie ever is The Wizard of Oz so I was a bit worried it would ruin it for me but it didn't. The music was amazing. I loved it. Even though sitting still in those seats was uncomfortable me for for over 2 hours, it was still worth it! If you get the chance to go see it, GO SEE IT!!

The second best thing to happen this week was that I found the nursery bedding I want to use and James approved it :) I saw a plate a Target about a month ago that had a Damask like print on it and as soon as I saw it I got an idea in my head of how I wanted the nursery to be decorated. I had no clue I'd actually find bedding to match what was in my head. At first I was just checking websites of stores that were local so we could register there, but I decided to check other sites to give myself more ideas and that's when I found them. They have a girl and boy set and compared to what we've looked at, the price is reasonable. The great thing is that no matter if these twins are boys, girls or one of each, the idea in my head matches them all!!

Exciting News!!

I got a call from the Fetal and Maternal Medicine office that is doing our Level 2 ultrasound. It has been scheduled for Thursday February 5 at 10:00am. I am so excited!! We'll be 17 weeks on that day. I hoping since the Level 2 is a higher tech machine (from what they told me), even though the twins will be small, they will still be able to tell the sex. We really do want to know. With twins, we feel like it will just make planning easier. My sister requested off from work to go so I'm hoping they approve it. I think it would be great for her to experience it with us.

I couldn't be more excited!! 3 more weeks :)

14 weeks...on to the 2nd trimester!!

Today we enter a new stage of the pregnancy. 14 weeks!! According to thebump.com, our little ones are the size of lemons. "Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth."

Yesterday we had our doctor's appointment. Other than the long wait, it went well. I just wanted to hear both of our babies and we did. She found them both on the doppler and we were a little surprised. It was amazing how James and I could tell the difference between the two and it wasn't us just taking her word for it. It really is the most beautiful sound in the world!! We discussed our big level 2 scan. We go back to see the dr Feb 12 and she wants the scan done before we go back. They're supposed to call me with the appointment info. It is so cool to think that we could potentially know what these little brownies are in 3-4 weeks. I just hope that they're cooperative and they're able to tell!! James and I have also discussed getting a 3D/4D scan. I think along with our black and whites, it would be neat to get one where you can really see them. Speaking of pictures, we finally copied our 10 week scan so I can post them. This was 4 weeks ago, I wonder how big they look now.










The one above (if this loads like it's supposed to) is a shot of both of them together. It was more like the tops of their heads, but she wanted to get them on the same plane.


















These are of them individually. Baby B is on the left and Baby A is on the right. When she was trying to take the shot of B, he was moving and bouncing around, kind of flapping his arms. It was so cool to see. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the moment I realize I'm feeling them move!!

Excited for....

our doctor's appointment tomorrow!! I'm leaving work at 2 to make our 2:40 appointment. They're checking for their heartbeats and I can't wait to hear them!! I pray they're still both going strong.

Exhaustion

I am about to crash. Overall, I definitely have more energy than I did, but when I don't get enough sleep, I have NO energy. Because I have more energy, I'm not ready to crash at 8:30/9 on Sundays. Unfortunately, because I sleep in until about 9:30, I'm not ready to go to sleep then at night. Last night I didn't get to sleep until almost 11. Each night is filled with tossing, turning and at least 2 times getting up to use the bathroom. This combined with going to sleep way late equals very rough Monday. I feel so drained and sick when I don't get enough sleep. It seems like it's going to be a cycle I deal with every week. I guess it's all part of the process. These babies tell me when I just can't go anymore and then I have to lay down. Last week without realizing it, during lunch I fell asleep. I was resting my head on my hand because lunch wasn't settling with me and before I knew it, I was waking up with my hand and butt both asleep :) It made me chuckle a little bit, but I was lucky no one caught me. I guess I need more sleep!!

13 Weeks!!

We start week 13 today! I guess depending on what book you read I'm either on my last week of the first trimester or starting the 2nd. I guess I'll go with it being our last week of 1st tri, but I can't figure out why on this subject, the books differ so much. Oh well.

What's going on with the babies?? They're the size of peaches. Can you believe it?? How amazing :) "Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)"

Our doctor's appointment that was scheduled for next Tuesday had to be moved to Wednesday. No biggie, Dr. S was scheduled for surgery that day. That means we'll be seeing the dr one day before 14 weeks. We'll be discussing our big 20 week ultrasound at that visit. I'm super excited to find out when we'll be seeing these babies on the "high tech" machine and hopefully finding out what they are. I can't wait to find out if we're having a Camille and Nathan, two Camilles or two Nathans. Last weekend we visited BabiesRUs to look at bedding and strollers. It's not going to be easy to find a double stroller for newborns that we can see in store. We found some bedding that we liked as possibilities. We were also talking about names. We have our favorites on a list but James doesn't want to narrow it down too much or get too attached to an idea that they're any specific gender yet. I see his point. I've kind of already decided it's one boy and one girl so if it turns out that I'm wrong, I'll have to adjust my thinking. I don't think I'll be disappointed for a second but I'll have to prepare in a different way.

One thing that's new...my dog, Bailey, will not leave my side. She follows me everywhere, wants to be cuddled up next to me, follows me to the bathroom, and tries to jump in the bed with me each night. James thinks she knows and just wants to be near me, kind of nesting with me. It's cute, most of the time. Sometimes it can be frustrating, then she just looks at me and I melt. James said he has a feeling he's going to be the disciplinarian since I let the dog get away with everything. What can I say.....I'm a softie!!


Shan, I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and I'm sending LOTS of HUGS your way!!!

Question.....

At what point do you become a mother? James and I were having this discussion and I was just curious what others thought. Do you become a mother the moment you find out your pregnant? That's when you realize that your body is no longer your own. Do you become a mother the first time you see your baby during an ultrasound? When you're newly pregnant you know there is life growing inside of you, but when you see the baby on the ultrasound, it just changes everything. Do you become a mother when you find out what you're having? You mentally get to prepare for that gender: decorate, shop for, name the baby. You can bond in a different way. Do you become a mother at birth? Do you become a mother the moment you hold your baby? I know there is no right or wrong answer because people have different opinions, but I'd like to know them. James said at birth. That makes sense. As for my answer, the jury is still out.

Happy New Year!!! 12 weeks

Today marks the start of a new year and we hit 12 weeks! I hope everyone had a great NYE and that 2009 is a great year for you. It is going to be a very interesting year for us. Experiencing pregnancy of twins, the birth of them, and of course, raising twins. We're both looking so forward to it though!

Our little ones are now the size of plums. I've never liked plums but today, I'm a big fan. They are definitely growing and because of that, so is my belly. I was so UNCOMFORTABLE at work yesterday in my jeans. My favorite gap jeans have stuck with me but it is time to retire them for now. I had to walk around work with a rubberband around the button of my jeans because it was almost impossible to have them buttoned after lunch. It was at that point that I realized it's time to move in to maternity pants full time. I did get a few gift cards to Motherhood Maternity and plan to go spend them on Saturday. James and I are going to spend the day shopping for clothes and decor for our house. I'm excited. I did take a few belly shots today, but unfortunately only one came out. It was one James took. I just can't seem to make them work in the mirror so he's officially in charge of those pictures. I'll post the one he took and a few others, they just may be blurry but you can totally see the belly sticking out.














The one in the middle with the hand, that's James. He's a proud papa!!

Opinions....I know everyone has one but it baffles me as to why everyone feels entitled to share. I was at work Tuesday and we had a new patient come in for an evaluation. They tell me at work I have baby brain because I seem to be easily distracted and in my own world sometimes. Well, one of the therapists was walking the patient and his wife up to my office because I had something for them to sign and she was telling them I forgot to have them sign it earlier because I had baby brain b/c I am pregnant with twins. Well, our rehab aide was standing in my office next to me, while we were both on lunch, and the lady asked her when she was due. Becky was PISSED! I would've been too. Well I told her I was due in June and she was like, Oh you're the one pregnant. She proceeded to talk about her three pregnancies and blah blah. I tuned her out. I happened to be eating a McDonald's cheeseburger (no onions) and she thought it necessary to tell me I really needed to be eating healthier and that my babies wouldn't appreciated McDonald's. Well, let's just say this did not make me happy AT ALL. I gave her a look, turned around and decided to let Becky handle the rest and ignored her. After they left, I said loudly strangers should keep their unappreciated and unasked for opinions to themselves. I don't know if she heard me, but I hope she did. I know people are going to offer information and opinions to me that I do not want, however, I expect this from people I know, not total strangers. Oh well. I wanted to say something but I chose to keep my job instead and kept my mouth shut until she left.

James is hoping that in the 2nd trimester, I am not as hormonal or moody :) We'll see :) It's not been directed at anyone really, I just don't have time for stupidity. I do find it somewhat harder to filter/sensor myself. I also find myself using the bathroom a lot. I'm trying to drink lots of water because I feel thirsty a lot and of course it runs right through me so it's at least every hour, especially at work. I joked around saying they needed to build me my own bathroom in my closet so I didn't have to walk to the back of the clinic to go. Sometimes I have to run to get there b/c it hits so fast. It's going to be very interesting in the 3rd tri when I'm going every 5 minutes.