Week 20

Well, today I found out something that I was anticipating would come much later on: My belly button is disappearing.  Let me back up... we spent today doing many baby errands, one of which included going to Target.  While we were there, I decided to try on a few maternity clothing items.   So there I was trying to maneuver around in the small box of a dressing room, innocently taking off my many layers of clothing, including the eighteen straps that are included in the Baby Hugger (don't worry - pictures to follow).  I nonchalantly happened to peer in the mirror.  Double-take: Holy shit - where is my belly button.  Move closer, bending over and squinting slightly: whaaa??It's turning inside out!  Isn't this supposed to happen at eight months and not five?   Does this mean that soon I will be able to see it pop out through my shirt? Groty.  So, I'm a bit shell shocked as I make my way out of the dressing room.  "What's wrong?" Aaron asks. As I regale my tale from beyond, he looks at me totally unsurprised and said, "yes, this has been happening for awhile".  Why didn't he tell me???  How have I been in denial??  Will it come back??  We didn't even get to have a proper good-bye!

As I was stunned, wandering aimlessly through the baby aisles of Target, thinking about how large I was getting, I was reminded of some interesting  pregnancy literature I came across this week that I hadn't been able to properly digest yet. It was about the average growth journey of the breast of a pregnant woman.  Let's just say that it was once again a reminder that I'm definitely not average (does that make me above average?).  Let me paraphrase below:

US literature (measured in ounces): "The average breast before pregnancy weighs about 7 ounces and during pregnancy each breast can weigh up to an average of 14 ounces." For those people counting, this is less than a pound each at the end of the pregnancy.

Culturally sensitive literature (measured in grams): "Before pregnancy, the average breast weighs about 200 grams.  Near the end..., each breast may weigh up to 800 grams!"

Lisa (I'll take pounds or kilograms, Alex):  Before pregnancy, your breast will be heavier than the average post pregnancy breast.  And, by week 20, each breast will weigh-in at over 4 pounds (measured accurately by a kitchen scale - wouldn't you have liked to be a fly on the wall for these weigh-ins?).

For those who need visual representation, I've included a diagram below. In anticipation of this potential discrepancy, I've been charting my breast growth (something meaningful for the baby book, I thought...).

Switching subjects, Aaron maintained the productivity after we got home from errands today!  We think we found the cribs and dresser/change table that we want!  So Aaron spent part of the afternoon taping off the nursery to make sure we have room.  Silly Turtle is falling off the crib.

And I'm embarrassed to say that there was one thing that played a way larger role in picking out the furniture than it should have.  Not so secretly, all I want is a diaper depot.  In fact, we were going back to the drawing board on the crib/dresser until my friend Katie alerted me to the fact that there was a version that hung over the side of the crib.  Phew - we can now proceed with our selections and not have any organizational concerns.

Week 19

Well, we are still getting used to the fact that we are going to have two boys!!

This week we started providing music for their listening enjoyment. Clearly we needed to start with the basics. As you see below, they will be much more musically advanced now that they've spent some quality time with Journey.


I'm also excited to report that at the doctor's visit last week, she wanted to set my expectations appropriately and let me know that I should expect to really "pooch out" over the next few weeks. Phew! I was getting so worried that I wasn't growing...

Some additional Week 19 information regarding A and B (or as my mom refers to them as Amos and Barnaby):

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Research suggests that he may be able to hear your voice now.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom - about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to eath other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on his skin to prevent it from picking from the amniotic fluid (ew)

I have two penises!

They're boys!!

Well, we had the big ultra-sound on Tuesday! Apologies for not updating sooner, I've been so busy with work, that damn parenting class (last week - thank god) and well, growing two babies. I was so tired after the ultra-sound that I fell asleep at 6:30pm. I woke up around 11 as Aaron was coming into the room. I groggily asked him if he'd been downstairs this whole time, and he laughed and proceeded to tell me, no, he actually went to Chris Koza's concert at the Sunset Tavern and was back already!! And I then found out that I slept through four phone calls and a thunderstorm. Ahem.

Back to the juicy stuff! We were lucky enough to have Aaron's mom, Elanna join us for the ultra-sound, so she was there when the technician said, 'and here's the scrotum'. Who would have thought those would ever be words of beauty that would make me cry. Just between the world wide web and myself, I did definitely shed a number of tears after we found out the gender of Baby A. It was just so overwhelming and made it seem so real. And then we got to go through the same thing all over again with Baby B! Such an emotionally draining, crazy, exciting experience.

So this is how the babes are situated in my belly. They are vertically parallel with one another. A is head down with his feet up by my ribs and B is breech with his head up by my ribs.

Time for the ultra-sound photos! They aren't really clear, because they were flopping around so much! And boys being boys, they were rassling. A would kick B, and not to be outdone, B would kick right him back. It was hilarious! However, as a result, we couldn't get great photos! Feast your eyes!

Both babies!

Baby A's Little Feet! Awwwwww.

Baby A Profile - you can see the membrane that separates the sacs in this one. You can also see that he's about to launch a kick into Baby B.

Baby A - here's a close-up of his little face.

Baby B Profile

Baby B Profile

Week 18

Happy 18 weeks! We survived another week! This week has gone well. I'm very excited that we only have one more week of multiples classes. They poo me out! They are on Wednesday evenings from 6-9 - I don't quite understand how they expect a bunch of women carrying babies to sit there for three hours, but alas. So, as a result, my Thursdays are soooooo exhausting. This week, I even needed to go out to the car during work to take a small rest.

My win for the week: Discovering the golden key to putting the final little bit of morning sickness to rest!! I started waking up at 3am and eating a bowl of cereal. Voila. No pukies. Poor Aaron, I do so well in the beginning of the week, but as the week progresses, he has to get up and get it for me. Just preparation for what's to come, I guess!!

My loss for the week: Well, this one is a bit more difficult to tell to the world, however, it's quite emotional. But let's be honest, I've always been fairly, how shall we say, transparent about most things. So you see... well, I'm growing out of my maternity bras. Already!! Yea... I bought brand new ones about two months ago (after I was already well out of my regular bras, mind you. And let's face it, I've never been a dainty A cup). Well... you've seen the pictures! They make my belly look small. I'm trying to be in denial and just stuffing and adjusting accordingly each morning, however, if things get any bigger, I will be well into special order territory.

In other news, I'm onto my next craving: Pomegranate Berry smoothies from Jack n the Box (I know!). My good friend Katie has been telling me for weeks now about these new smoothies from there. I hadn't gone, because, well, it's Jack n the Box. Despite their humorous ad campaigns, to be truthful, all I thought of was E. Coli. HOWEVER, I have officially eaten my words, because I've had at least one every day since I had my first one last Sunday (yesterday was a double day). Officially, my cravings have gone in this order (I've also included a status)

• Watermelon: Done
• Green Olives: Done
• Easy Cheese (um, yes, the cheese that comes in a can): Done
• Otter Pops: Still going strong
• Pomegranate Berry Smoothies: Still going strong

I will leave you with a photo that I found online that made me laugh out loud so hard -- so hard that I had to call Aaron into the room. The lady below is also 18 weeks pregnant. We could totally be twins.

Week 17

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Here's a picture of what they look like - just take the picture below -- times two.

Here are some photos of how my belly is developing (and Aarons)!

Welcome!

Hi all! Well, it's about time that I start posting regularly to this blog! We're through the first trimester awfulness, and we're through with the second trimester flu. On to bigger and better things! I'll be using this blog to provide updates to how the twinnies are comin' along. I may still send out an email or two, but this will be what I update most frequently. Enjoy!

Lisa and Aaron