Friday, November 29, 2013

18 Weeks and Gender Reveal!



Happy Thanksgiving, friends and family!

I have been ready to post since Monday, but for some reason my 18 week belly pics 
would not upload onto my computer.  So, this lovely photo will have to suffice for my belly shot!
(Our friend Danielle Swanson is an amazingly gifted photographer.  
We will be hiring her for maternity and newborn photos, for sure!)

The pic I had Andy take of my belly showed my bump much better, but you can kind of tell here that I'm popping out now... or at least I think I am!  It's crazy feeling the bump.  I love it!
I'll do my pregnancy update then post the genders (although, most of you I'm sure already know!).

How far along: 18 weeks and 4 days
Baby size: as long as sweet potatoes (crown to rump)

Total weight gain: still about 10 lbs...  I may or may not continue to reveal this little detail!!  My doctor told me to gain 5 lbs every month here on out from our last appointment on Nov. 2, but I don't think that's absolutely necessary.  I'm trying to watch my portions and eat healthy and let things happen.
Sleep:  I've had a terrible cold/respiratory infection that has plagued me during sleep... coughing a ton and needing to blow my nose through the night.  But pregnancy wise, I'm sleeping well!
Movement:  I still can't feel their movements!  I'm trying hard to concentrate and feel those "flutters".  We found out both placentas are anterior--or basically on the top.  I read if that's the case, they have to kick through more layers, so you may not feel them til later on.
Food cravings/aversions:  I honestly don't think I'm craving anything in particular.  I don't like thinking that any food or craving will control me, anyway!  But I will say that bagels are still yummy and my love of rich coffee has returned :)
Pregnancy Symptoms:  The headaches are still on/off,  but not as bad.  I have gotten sharp round ligament pain when changing position really fast.  Other than that, I feel great!
What I miss: Nothing!  
What I'm looking forward to:  Picking out some cute clothes for the babies for Christmas and starting to plan their nursery.
Milestones:  We found out their genders!  In addition, their whole anatomy scan was amazing, and we were so thrilled to see their sweet little bodies and how miraculously God has formed them and continues to grow and develop them.  All of their parts and organs looks healthy!  (brains, kidneys, intestines, spinal cords, 20 fingers, 20 toes, hearts)

Best moment this week: Spending Thanksgiving week with my parents, Nick, Victoria, and Andy in my parents' new place in Scottsdale.  We're having a lot of fun together, and it has been great to relax with not much on the agenda.  I enjoyed cooking and baking a ton yesterday, too.


Now, onto the gender reveal!!!

TWO BABY BOYS!  

We were actually SO surprised and almost taken aback, but after sometime to process and pray, 
we both realized how exciting this is.  God knows what's best for our family.
We have learned to trust him, especially when things don't go exactly how we planned.
We were thinking we'd have at least one little girl, 
but instead we have been given 
2 little boys. 
2 best friends.
2 mighty men.

We can't wait to meet these special, miraculous little guys!

Friday, November 15, 2013

16 Weeks!



How far along: 16 weeks 4 days (oops, I'm a little late)

Baby size: avacados


Total weight gain: still about 8 lbs

Sleep:  I'm sleeping pretty well!

Movement:  Still can't feel their movements.  I'm waiting on pins and needles for those butterflies, though.

Food cravings/aversions:  I haven't been feeling great this week, so I haven't really been eating as much.  An apple or bagel still does the trick, though.

Pregnancy Symptoms:  Acid reflux and terrible headaches :(

What I miss: Nothing!  

What I'm looking forward to:  Our ultrasound on November 22nd!  We'll find out their genders :)

Milestones:  On Sunday night, I gave myself the last shot I'll have to give for awhile... at least until we do IVF again (if we ever do).  I've been on some form of injection(s) and pills since May, with only a little break in July.  Nightly shots are no fun.  So thankful they're done... but thankful for the medicine and help they were to get our little ones created!


Best moment this week: Spending lots of time with Andy.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

15 Weeks!


How far along: 15 weeks 1 day

Baby size: Navel oranges


Total weight gain: about 8 lbs

Sleep:  Sleep has gotten better this week, although sometimes I'm woken in the night with round ligament pain (and least I think that's what it is).  I'm finally sleeping through the night without peeing!  I'm a stomach sleeper, but that's no longer comfortable...  now I'm sleeping on my back, but I know that can't last too much longer!

Movement:  I cannot wait to feel them!  I'm hoping I feel them sooner rather than later... but definitely not for at least 3 more weeks.

Food cravings/aversions:  Bagels... but I think they're more a vehicle for the plain cream cheese that I'm loving! Still loving apples.  Drinking lots of tea.  I've said goodbye to anything fried for now because of my reflux.

Pregnancy Symptoms:  Acid reflux... which causes stomachaches.  (I've started Zantac for that, which is helping!)  Round ligament pain.  Exhaustion.  Breathlessness.

What I miss: Nothing!  

What I'm looking forward to:  Our ultrasound on November 22nd!  We'll find out their genders :)

Milestones:  Baby A kicked during our last appointment when Dr. Hollar was listening to his/her heartbeat with the Doppler!  I didn't feel it, but you could hear this big "thud".  So cute.  Also, they can hear and discern voices somewhat.  I read that there was a research study done in Australia...  women who watched the soap opera Neighbours while pregnant, their babies calmed down  and focused when the show's theme song played after they were born.  So, Andy and I are trying to decide on a worship song that we want to play to my belly every night--in hopes that this can be the twins' "calm down" song when they out of the womb!  So fun.

Best moment this week: Last weekend I slept in a lot.  That was great :)