Two Clue Tuesday - Twin Name!

This week's clues are below! Let's hear those guesses!

1. Both babies names rank over the 30% of popular baby names for the year (not very popular). 
2. The babies names do NOT start with "M" or "S"

Last week's baby names guesses:

• Micah & Mackenzie
• Sophia & Sam
• Max & Megan

30 Week Belly Photo

Had to grab a quick snapshot in front of my High School where Lexie and Kenzie had their recital! What a great place to take the 30 week photo!

Lexie & Kenzie Dance Recital

On Saturday we were invited to see Lexie and Kenzie in their dance recital!

The girls were ADORABLE in their stage costumes and did such a great job in front of a pretty big audience!

The dad's had to get up and dance too! We really enjoyed watching Chris get up and bust out some dance moves.

Natalie was so good the entire performance and sat on my lap for a while, but really wanted to sit with her 'munkle' and ended up falling asleep on him.

Had to steal the family photo from Alicia's blog! 

After the performance Natalie was still passed out on Michael- looks pretty comfy! 

30 Weeks!!

Something about being at 30 weeks has really made me feel like we've hit a big milestone. I know that getting to 34 weeks is critical and that 37 is ideal, but wow! The average set of twins is born around 36 weeks- time to get the hospital bag packed!! Ok, if I'm being completely honest, I've kind of been getting things put aside for it for a few weeks now. :) It's just how I'm wired... I'm a planner and I'm excited!

Over the last week it's been a bit rough with my emotions; not going to lie. It's a bit nerve racking to think that in a few short weeks we won't have just one, but TWO newborns at home. Thank God I have a husband who is patient with me!

Over the last few weeks I literally cannot remember anything. I have the worst 'mommy brain' which I'm told doesn't go away or get any better after the babies are born. In fact, as I'm typing this, I can't remember if I've already mentioned my lack of memory in prior posts. If I did, let's just pretend like this blurp didn't happen. :)

All in all, feeling good still! And by "good," I mean hot, puffy and tired.

What's Happening in My Body?: The twins' eyesight continues to develop. Each baby will be packing on weight at the rate of 1/2 a lb every week for the next 7 weeks. The babies can now regulate their own body temperature which means they are now shedding the lanugo (the downy body hair that has been keeping them warm until now).

Each Baby Is Now the Size of: a Large Cabbage

Salem

We had to take Salem to the vet today because of a sore Michael noticed on him a few days ago. We took him to a new vet now closer to our house and we ended up really liking the staff and how they work.
We got into the room and unzipped Salem's carrier. He took a look around the room, smelt a few corners and then proceeded to go back into his carrier (which by the way he HATES and runs away from at home) as if to say, "Ok, nothing to see here- let's go home now."
Vet confirmed that he is O.K. and it should heal up any day with medication (phew)! He didn't get out poke free though... updated rabies shot for the year and another appointment for some dental work.

Stuffed Sausages??- Oh wait, those are just my fingers and toes

Well this sucks, wedding ring officially no longer fits on my finger. It happened what seems like overnight. I woke up yesterday and I couldn't get it off my finger. Naturally, I panicked as most people do when something is stuck on you. I chalked it up to a combination of eating too much salt the day prior by eating Pho Noodle Soup and the warm weather so left it on and went about my morning routine. Well today, it still was very very tight on my finger, so away it goes to the jewelry box until I'm no longer swollen (i.e.- after babies are born and swelling goes down from THAT too). :(

Feeling like a stuffed sausage as I look at my swollen feet typing this!  It'll all be worth it when we can hold our beautiful babies!

Lunch With My Project Manager

Yesterday I was lucky to enjoy a nice lunch with one of the project managers that I support from the Detroit area. My co-worker (and friend) Melanie came with me and we got to eat yummy food, sit out on the patio in the sun, and catch up with good company. What a nice way to break up a long & busy week!

Growth Ultrasound Check-Up

Today we had our growth check-up for the babies and we were so happy to get to see them! The doctor said everything is right on track and still no bed rest for momma! We're in the final stretch!!!

Twins are head to head:

Baby "A" (Girl)

Weight: 3lbs 2oz

Percentile: 60%

Position: Frank Breech (butt down and in a V position with feet by her head)

Baby Girls Face Hiding Behind Her Arm:  

Now we can see your face! :)

Side profile of baby A:

Baby "B" (Boy)

Weight: 2lbs 15oz (3 oz behind his sister)

Percentile: 45%

Position: Transverse and facing towards my back

Back of baby boy's head- look at that cute little ear! 

Showing off his "stuff" as usual: 

Here's a look at how they are in my tummy except baby B is flipped so that his head is next to his sister's head:

New Bark and Pretty Flowers

Our front yard got a nice face lift! Michael laid down new bark, trimmed the lilies and roses in the front, and Michael's mom gave us 2 gorgeous flower pots!

Two Clue Tuesday!!

As I realize how many short weeks are ahead, Michael had a good idea to give some additional clues up front! Here's two more clues:

Our Twins Names Both Start With The Same Letter. 

The Letter Their Name Starts With Is NOT "O". 

A few guesses we've received that are incorrect:

• Jessica & Joshua
• Jennifer & Jonathan
• Isabelle & Isaiah

Curious About What We Will Name Our Twins??

It's becoming harder and harder to not let our twins names slip out mid conversation, so we've decided on a fun way to get everyone thinking hard about what we are going to name our twins.

Each week, I will post a new CLUE and in a few weeks we'll announce their names! It will be fun to see who guessed what and who was way off! If you have guesses, feel free to leave in the comments or text us! I'll share any guesses we get on the next clue post.

Make sure to sign up for email updates by simply adding your email address under "Follow by Email" so you don't miss out on any clues!

This week's clue:

Our Twin Names Do NOT Rhyme

Twin Pregnancy Comments

Over the past 29 weeks, I've received some re-occurring comments (usually from strangers) that I know someday I will look back and laugh at. This is a topic I recently read in an amazing twin book (Twin Sense) and also the topic of conversation in our birthing for multiples class, so I feel inclined to share and document the most common for me.

1) Wow, you must be ready to POP! "(Starting getting this around 20 weeks) Nope." This is then usually followed with a confused look to which I reply, "It's twins." You can now insert most of the questions/comments below. 
2) Were you trying for twins? How do you TRY for twins? This one still gets me.
3) Are they identical? "Nope- two separate eggs means they are just like regular siblings." My favorite comment that I read in Twin Sense was, "One has a penis, so no." I've yet to use this one, but I've got it in my back pocket for the next lucky stranger that asks. 
4) You are so lucky, I've always wanted twins! "Does your husband/boyfriend know this?" :/
5) How long have you been off work? "I still work... everyday. I'm not broken." 
6) Double trouble... UGH- This gets SO annoying. It's usually said after or in combination of one or more of the other comments listed to which I let out an obviously fake laugh and try to dis-engage from conversation immediately.  
7) A boy and a girl! You must be done then! Not sure how it's any of your business, but "maybe... maybe not." What a pressured thing to ask a pregnant woman! Especially a first time mom. I have no idea what to expect. It's like those people who ask the moment after you get engaged/married when you are planning on having kids. How about let's live in the moment and enjoy. :) 
8) You are already bigger than I was when I was full term with just one: I believe this comment was said to me around 20 weeks as well. Pretty sure I cried that afternoon. Looking back I laugh because I wasn't nearly as big as I am now.  
9) I'm a twin (or) my cousins are twins (or) my sister's husbands grandma is a twin. Great- I just met you so this means nothing to me. I usually respond with a "WOW... That's cool."
10) So if each baby now weighs about 2.5 lbs-3 lbs each then you've only gained about 6lbs? This literally just was asked by a co-worker as I was typing this. I just started laughing and said yes.  

Eight more weeks until full term with twins (37 weeks)... hopefully I won't get too many more of these comments. Although, I fully anticipate a few to stick around and to be asked when we bring the twins places.

Leo Has Claimed My Belly

Apparently the cat has claimed the belly to be his. So cute how he just placed his paw right on the babies as if to say hi. What'd he get in return? A nice few kicks from what I think was Baby B (boy) saying hi back to Leo. :)

29 Weeks

It's definitely become harder to figure out which baby is moving now. They seem to mash together and since they are so long it gets a little confusing. The kicking has become more of a rolling sensation when they move (but they still get in a few jabs here and there when I'm least suspecting)!

Each baby is estimated to weigh between 2.5 to 3lbs, but we'll find out the actual weight at our doctors appointment Tuesday night. We're really anxious to see the little ones since we haven't been in for about 4 weeks (because of scheduling). According to the pregnancy website, each baby will double (or even triple) their weight! HOLY COW... I'm going to be tipping frontwards!

Still no stretch marks, but starting to see that faint brown line forming under my belly button. I can barely see it (partly because my belly is so big and in the way), but I suspect it'll get brighter in the next few weeks.

What's Happening In My Body?: Each passing week improves the likelihood that our babies will be born strong and healthy. Their brains can detect rhythmic breathing and control body temperature. They are growing eyelashes (eeeek), adding fat (can't wait to squeeze), and developing their brains. Because of the brain wave activity, researchers have speculated that babies can even dream at this time!

Our Babies Are Each the Size of: A Butternut Squash

Maternity Photos-- Sneak Peek / 28 Week Belly Photo

We had so much fun last night at our photo session with Sarah Sweetman. She's done Alicia's photos for several years so we wanted to try her out. Michael had his phone camera out for a few of the photos he wasn't in and caught a few good ones. Can't wait to see what Sarah caught with her camera as there was a lot of laughter and it turned out to be a gorgeous day!

Fun With the New Camera

While I was relaxing the other night, I decided to play around with our new camera and test out different settings and the dogs were my subjects! Lily was more interested in the camera than Paco was and kept getting her nose print on the lens. I caught a few cute ones that I had to share. <3

Can't wait to get great photos of the babies once they arrive!

We Passed!

Super excited that I passed my glucose test! The doctors office was quick to get back to us to give the results and also tell us that my iron levels are looking great as well! WHOO HOO!

Glucose Test

On Saturday morning I had my glucose testing at the hospital. I wasn't able to eat anything for at least 10 hrs prior to the test, so I was pretty cranky, tired and irritable by the time we made it to the appointment. The process itself wasn't too bad, but what they make you drink is horrible!
They first start by taking your blood and then ask you what flavor you want... orange, fruit punch or lemon lime. I opted for orange (as if any of them are better than the other) and began to chug down the thick syrupy orange drink. Even as I'm typing this now my nose is squinting and my stomach is turning- it was disgusting.

Then they have you lay back and "relax" for an hour. Thankfully Michael was there to keep me company. He really helped to distract me while I was feeling nauseous. After the first hour, they draw blood again and then you are back to relaxing for another hour. Again they draw your blood and then you can leave.

Let's just say the first stop after that was to get a double cheeseburger! Not the healthiest choice but nothing sounded good and I needed some protein!

Anxious to get the results later this week and fingers crossed all went well so I don't have to do that again.

Baby Blankets!

Once everyone at work found out I was pregnant (which seems like just yesterday), my co-worker Karen couldn't wait to start on baby blankets for us! Today she surprised me with them by telling a team member of mine to come to my desk and say we had a meeting that I didn't know about.
I gathered all my note taking items and headed to the conference room to find her standing there with two big presents! I guess my team are a bunch of pranksters... haha


Thank you SO MUCH Karen for making these sweet blankets as well as bibs and booties for our babies! We can't wait to bundle them up in them! What a great way to start off the week!

28 Weeks Pregnant

We are now 28 weeks pregnant and I'm really starting to get a bee in my bonnet to get things done around the house... I suppose this is what nesting is. We have started to countdown from 37 weeks (which is full term for twins) which puts us right at 9 weeks left before they are here! I think what has really gotten me into this nesting phase is the fact that many twin mom's go into labor prior to 37 weeks and not to mention the chances of bed rest are higher the bigger and bigger I get.
That being said, I've been great about getting off my feet the minute I feel any sort of fatigue (which does not take much). My main focus is on keeping these little ones in until 37 weeks, eating enough protein, and drinking lots of water!
The other thing keeping me off my feet is sciatica pain which is a nerve in your lower back that travels down your legs. At first I wasn't sure if I had pulled something in my 'behind' or what! Now that I've had this for a few weeks now I'm certain that is what it is. I can't do much at this point about it, but I cannot wait to see the chiropractor again to get my spine back in the right alignment!

This week's update from the fun blog I like to follow. To a "T" on what is happening in my mind:

Your Baby:

• Continues to get a longer and fatter by the day. Shocking, I know. His or her weight has actually doubled in the past month alone, which is why you’ve probably gotten comments about “popping” recently.
• Weight is around 2.5 pounds right now, which (if you’re like me, gazing in horror and your inside-out belly button and spidery stretch marks) might sound a little frightening, since the baby clearly needs to gain a LOT MORE WEIGHT before he or she is fully cooked, and oh my God, how in the world is anything bigger going to fit in there?

You:

• Are either feeling like this pregnancy will NEVER end, or that 12 more weeks is simply not nearly enough time to prepare. Or you might feel both ways, changing your mind one minute to the next.
• Must move furniture and fold clothes and organize the linen closet and replace the bathroom vanity and finally get rid of that sooty stain on the marble fireplace and yes, DARLING, these are all essential tasks that MUST be completed before the baby gets here, DO NOT ARGUE WITH ME, NOW GO HANG UP SOME SHELVES.

Our Babies are Each the Size of: A Large Eggplant

New Cars

Yep, you read that right. We had to get 2 new cars after realizing that the car seats did not fit behind Michael in either the Jeep or the Nissan. Initially we started looking at other car seats, but they all measured the same and when we went in to Babies R Us to look at the bases, they were not much smaller. We tried several times to get Michael to squish into the cars, but once I saw his knees on the dashboard I said forget it!

We tried several types of SUV's including a bigger Jeep, Honda Pilot, Chevy Tahoe... and the list goes on. We literally drove to the dealership and started putting the car seat in the back and then having Michael get in the front to eliminate the models that would not work (by the way, none of the above worked).

We ended up getting a Honda Accord (HUGE backseat), and a Ram 1500. We are very happy with how the baby car seats (and strollers/baby gear) fits in each car and relieved that we found cars that were big enough.

Work In Progress- Nursery Update

The nurseries are starting to come together! We had the cribs up (as I had mentioned several weeks ago), but now we've started to decorate and get things up on the walls including some adorable wall decals! They took much longer than we had initially anticipated since each leaf and flower were their own pieces. They came out adorable though and was a nice way to play off their themes without having to paint!

Baby Boy's Monkeys:

Baby Girl's Owls:

New Bouncers, Stroller, and Ergo Carrier for the Babies!

Thanks to Auntie Donna and Auntie Linda, the babies got some fun new stuff over the weekend including bouncers that they can nap in during the day, a new stroller and a carrier!
I was able to get the bouncers put together all on my own... I felt pretty accomplished and proud. :)

Baby Boy's Bouncer

Baby Girl's Bouncer (much easier to put together)!

Our stroller which the car seat clicks into when they are little. Can't wait to take walks around the neighborhood!

Ergo/baby carrier: Michael got 'his' black one

Cousin Jamie had gotten 'my' pink one for our baby shower as well. I still say Michael should have to use the pink one at least once!! :)

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all of the dad's including my dad, Michael's dad and most certainly to my husband! Even though the babies aren't here yet, he has been so amazing from the moment he found out we were pregnant he's taken care of me (which has become a full time job these days) & talking to the babies on a daily basis.

Our babies are so lucky to call you daddy!

Surprise Work Baby Shower

Yesterday my work threw me a surprise baby shower! A few weeks ago I received a meeting request for a 'team even/lunch' and thought it was just that. Well, when it came time to leave work to head to Lombardi's restaurant, I went down the row where my team sits to find all of them had left. This was a bit strange because normally we all try to carpool for team events.
My friend Melanie who sits in the same row I do, asked if she could ride with me, but that she had to finish something before we could go. She said i could go wait in the car so I waddled myself outside and noticed that the Jeep was gone (Michael and I had drove separately, but park next to one another). I of course was not happy that he didn't tell me he was leaving so I called him and he wasn't answering! I wasn't a happy mamma....
I tried to just let it go (which is near impossible with all these hormones) and headed to the restaurant with Melanie. We got there and the waitress said that we were in the back room which I thought was odd, but we walked in and everyone on my team and from other teams were there- including Michael with the room decorated with baby stuff!

Everyone was surprised that I had NO clue- completely oblivious that this was going to happen. I had so much fun eating good food, spending time with great company and opening gifts from our work friends. My manager who has been out for about 2 months because of back surgery was even there as well as my previous manager. It definitely made me feel special!

I have so many crafty people on my team. My friend Marlo made gorgeous flag banners (one for each baby's room) and another friend Shelley painted an owl and also a monkey on canvases! So much thought went into this and we are so grateful for all the wonderful people around us. These babies sure are spoiled!!

My immediate work group- and of course Michael:

Excited to read through all the advice we received! 

They even made sure everyone knew we were doing owls and monkeys!