32 weeks

The best Christmas present ever was making it to 32 weeks with twins :) I had a lot of fun spending time with family- it was great being around my aunts (where an 8 pound baby is considered fairly petite) they were all telling me how "tiny" I looked. While I'm not exactly tiny, I do think I look pretty good for having twins- especially after my appointment today... my belly was measuring a whopping 42 weeks! It will be interesting to see what my final measurement is.

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain? Up one pound over the past two weeks, but I was weighed on a different scale... I'm guessing I probably really gained between 2-2.5 pounds. I have an appointment with the MFM tomorrow, so we'll see what the scale says there.  

 Maternity clothes? Yes... and some of the tops are starting to get a bit short. I joked with someone in my HR department that I would probably be pushing the boundaries of dress code over the next few weeks and she would just have to avert her eyes when she saw me in the hallway.

 Stretch marks? A few small ones around my belly button... I suspect that few people make it through a twin pregnancy completely unscathed.

Sleep? I hope the girls are as good of sleepers as I am :) I usually have to get up about 2-3 times per night, but fall asleep again within 5 minutes.

 Miss anything? I just continue to be annoyed with my dwindling wardrobe options.

Cravings? M&Ms
    
Aversions? Not really, although I would much prefer to have candy instead of real food.
       
Symptoms? I continue to be really lucky and relatively symptom free. I really think taking circuit class and weight lifting pre-pregnancy made a huge difference. I also firmly believe that having a supportive husband helps a lot... some of the little things Justin does like packing my lunch and keeping the bathroom stocked with toilet paper helps a lot!

gems of the day

Perhaps I'm starting to get some of the stereotypical pregnancy-induced moodiness, but I am starting to get rather annoyed with some of the comments I've been getting lately. Here is a sampling:

"You look like Barney!" (I am wearing a purple shirt today)
"You're waddling!" (I might have mentioned this one earlier- it was from a few weeks ago... I happened to be wearing flats that day, so my coworker just wasn't used to seeing me walk in something other than heels)

The appearance comments don't bug me all that much, but I absolutely hate speculation regarding when the girls will be born... one of my coworkers said that they needed to start a bet to see if I actually come back after Christmas (um... I'll only be 32 weeks, so I better be coming back!). I went on to say that I was hopeful that I would make it to 37-38 weeks and that I would be thrilled if the girls were in the 6-7 pound range... another coworker (with multiple children) responded with "ouch!". Maybe I'm being a naive first time mom, but I would imagine that having 4 pound babies would be just as uncomfortable as having 6 pounders... especially if a c section is involved.

I've also been trying to remind people that just because I'm small doesn't mean that I lack the genetic potential to have big babies... There have been lots of tiny women in my family who have had 8+ pound babies. I use my mom as an example all the time, but I think I need to start exaggerating... "I weighed 9 lbs 6 oz at birth and my mom only weighed 88 pounds pre-pregnancy"

At least I'm pretty good at just smiling and nodding when I'm annoyed... I'm guessing there will be several opportunities for me to fine tune my skills over the next few weeks!

31 weeks

Justin and I went to our first class at the hospital last night- I pointed out to him that I had the largest belly by far, and was the only one wearing heels. He told me that I probably shouldn't be proud of that and should switch to more practical footwear. I'm still wearing heels until I am physically unable to... I figure if my feet start swelling, that is nature's way of encouraging me to switch to flats. If I end up with a planned c-section I might even wear heels to the hospital :)

The class at the hospital wasn't particularly helpful, a lot of it was basic information such as "this is an epidural... this is an episiotomy". The class also featured a video that featured live action shots of births, but honestly "A Baby Story" on TLC shows almost as much. The most helpful part of the class was getting to go on a tour of the birth center. The rooms look quite nice... I was excited to see that they all have hair dryers (yay! one less thing to pack) I know, the things I worry about are kind of silly... but I figure if my grandmas were able to give birth to a combined total of 10 kids in the 40s and 50s I will be just fine- especially since there have been quite a few advances in pain management. The unit also has a really nice waiting room that is typically stocked with snacks, so that will be a bonus for family. Another thing I learned on the tour is that they try keep all of the laboring moms on one wing- I noticed that the active labor/birthing rooms are on the opposite end of the unit from the waiting room, so hopefully the separation from where all the action is will help prevent my brother and dad from being scarred for life:)

 

 

31 Weeks

How far along? 31 weeks

Total weight gain? I'll find out next week. Although I apparently look huge to strangers- one lady recently came up to me and said that I was "way due". I just smiled and said "nope, not until February" I didn't mention that I'm expecting more than one- they shut her up pretty quickly! 

 Maternity clothes? Yup- I'm still wearing cardigans and a few other things from pre-pregnancy though (seriously, who buys a maternity cardigan??)

 Stretch marks? There are a few suspicious marks, but I'm not ready to admit defeat yet.

Sleep? Still good- I'm usually up about 2 times per night, but am able to fall right back asleep.

 Miss anything? If you guessed wardrobe, you would be correct! I hope I can bounce back to within 10 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight quickly- that will definitely open up many more wardrobe options!

Cravings? I'm still liking clementines (yay for eating fruit!) but don't be fooled... I still have at least one sweet treat per day.
   
Aversions? I don't really have aversions, but there aren't many meals that actually sound good.
      
Symptoms? My belly button is creepy looking... I may have scared my cousin who is in her first trimester when I showed her what happened to mine. I really am a fairly modest person, but I don't have much shame when it comes to showing off my belly button... Oh, and I now feel entitled to the last of all food items. Yesterday Justin made some chocolate chip cookies... there were plenty left when I went to work this morning, but when I got home they were all gone. I was irrationally upset that he ate "my" cookies... there is some kind of phenomenon where the last cookie, slice of pizza, etc. is always the best.

30 weeks

It is hard to believe that the girls will be here in 8 weeks (or a little less, but hopefully they will be cooperative and stay put). At my last dr. appointment everything looked great- her big goal for me is to make it to 32 weeks, when the girls will be neurologically intact (I keep reminding her that I really want to make it to 37-38 weeks). Apparently there is a saying in the OB community that 32 weekers go on to Ivy League schools. The thought of financing two Ivy League educations gives me heart palpitations, so I'm rephrasing that to graduate summa cum laude from a local university.

How far along? 30 weeks

Total weight gain? Up 3 pounds total, for an average of 1.5 pounds per week... which is right where I should be. As long as I don't completely binge on Christmas cookies or retain a bunch of water, I should stick within the recommended range, albeit the higher end of the range (I've decided that since I was on the lower end of the bmi range pre-pregnancy I'm the perfect candidate for gaining on the higher end of the spectrum).

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination...although a lot of my tops (even some maternity) are becoming a bit short.

 Stretch marks? I have a few suspicious marks around my belly, but they don't really look like what pops up when I google image stretch marks. I'm not too concerned... and if they do happen to be stretch marks I suppose getting my first stretch mark at age 28 still makes me pretty lucky. 

Sleep? Still good- although rolling over from one side to the other has become a bit of a challenge.

 Miss anything? My clothes! Although I have a feeling that after the girls are here, I will still be facing some wardrobe challenges and will be in the mood to shop.

Cravings? Clementines... we'll see how long a healthy craving lasts.
   
Aversions? Not really.
     
Symptoms? Heartburn- I've only had it a few times, but it really is no fun. My dr. was surprised that I hadn't experienced it sooner- apparently a lot of people develop heartburn very early in their pregnancies. Thankfully, my heartburn can be treated by drinking a glass of water (that is my cure for everything) and if it is night time and really uncomfortable I will chew a couple of tums.

diapers

It is no secret that I love to shop- especially online shopping... there is just something about coming home to a package! Over the past few weeks Justin and I have been busy stockpiling diapers... definitely not the most glamorous of packages to open, but something that is necessary.

After some quick googling, I discovered that we could easily spend upwards of $2k on diapers and wipes in the girls' first year of life. Cloth diapers can be a huge money saver (and they are adorable! Nothing like the nasty ones from 20 years ago) but Justin and I decided that going the disposable route is the best option for us right now... so I have made it my mission to get the best deals possible (because spending over $5 per day on something that just gets thrown away is not my idea of fun).

After reading reviews and talking with friends, I decided to go with Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive (aka the most expensive diaper on the market)... however with my shopping prowess I have been able to get the cost down to $0.19/diaper...versus the $0.25 per diaper they retail for at Target and $0.24 per diaper at Sam's Club. I know $0.06/diaper doesn't sound like that much, however the savings translates to about $10 per box.  I have found the best deals from drugstore.com- there is free shipping on orders over $25, they often have coupons and promo codes, and you get 5% cash back on every order... plus I don't have to leave the house! Shopping online makes comparison shopping much easier too.

Figuring out a target savings price has been key for knowing when to stock up on diapers- after some online research I learned that $0.19/diaper is about the best price you can find without becoming a crazy coupon lady. I spend a little bit of time googling diaper deals each week- if I find anything at or below the $0.19 mark I place an order. I'm trying to order quite a few diapers before the girls come, as I figure I will have more time for shopping and research now, but I don 't want to go overboard and end up with more diapers than we can use (because having a stockpile of $50 worth of diapers in the wrong size would negate any savings).

Once the girls are a little bigger we have the potential to save even more. We decided for our sanity it would be worthy buying the top rated expensive diapers in the beginning, but once the girls are past the 12 diapers per day stage we are going to play around with store brand and other lower-cost diapers. I know some people have great success with Luv's... and at only $0.10 per diaper we could save $50+ per month... which could go to more important things, like shoes college savings.

29 weeks

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain? I'll know after my dr. appointments next week- I'm guessing it will be around one or two pounds... but Justin and I have been indulging in lots of birthday treats, so it might be a little higher

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination... I recently discovered that I have a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans that fits with the help of the be band and long tanks from express. In fact, in my picture I'm wearing all pre-pregnancy clothes.

 Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Still pretty good.

 Miss anything? My wardrobe choices are becoming even more limited...

Cravings? String cheese.
   
Aversions? Not really.
     
Symptoms? Pregnancy brain! Earlier this week, I was convinced that the outlet in our kitchen island was beeping. Justin was at work, so I called my dad for help trouble shooting. My dad thought it was bizarre that an outlet would be making noise, but gave me suggestions for fixing it. I ended up flipping over every circuit breaker in the house, taking off the outlet cover, and I could still hear a noise. My dad couldn't think of any reason for the outlet to be buzzing, especially with the circuit breaker off, so I decided to call Justin to see if he could think of anything. Right away Justin asked me if I had looked in the drawer in the kitchen island- sure enough his remote starter for his car was beeping because of a low battery. I quickly called back my dad, who was relieved that I figured out the problem and he didn't have to make a late night trip to visit. I would have been very embarrassed if he drove for over an hour to find that my electrical emergency was something so silly! Although, it is very nice to know that my dad is only a phone call away if I ever need rescuing :)

baby shower part deux

Over Thanksgiving weekend I had my second baby shower hosted by Justin's family. It was really lovely! There was lots of yummy bars and snacks. I forgot to take pictures, but did manage to get a couple of the diaper cake and decor:

My parents came to visit last weekend and were very impressed with the diaper cake- my dad even took a few pictures of it to show his coworkers! Eventually I will have to disassemble the cake, but for now it is sitting on the girls' dresser. The diaper are newborn sized, so I will want to get the diapers put away before the girls arrive... maybe sometime after the 32 week mark.

hello 3rd trimester

This week I had appointments with both the MFM and my regular OB. Everything is looking great! Baby A is breech and 2 pounds 8 ounces (51st percentile) and Baby B is vertex and 2 pounds 13 ounces (64th percentile). Size-wise the girls are right where my doctors want them to be, so hopefully they will  keep putting on the pounds. My OB said that as long as everything keeps going as well as it has been, I may not even go into labor on my own and need to be induced/have a scheduled c-section between 37-38 weeks... I really hope that is the case!

How far along? 28 weeks

Total weight gain? Up 2 pounds in the past 2 weeks, for a grand total of 38 pounds total. Normal range for twins is to gain between 37-54 pounds, so I would be thrilled if I stayed within the recommended range, but I'm not going to stress if I gain a little extra.

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination... although my only pant options are maternity, leggings, and the "magic pants" from my mom.

 Stretch marks? Not yet... regrettably, I did a google image search for "twin skin" and was scarred for life... here is to hoping my belly stays nice and stretch mark free.

Sleep? Pretty good- I usually wake up a couple of times during night to reposition, but for the most part I'm able to fall back asleep again quickly.

 Miss anything? Being able to pick things off the floor easily.

Cravings? Oreos.
   
Aversions? Nothing I can think of- just my usual picky eating habits.
    
Symptoms? I really don't have too much for symptoms- I don't have quite as much energy as I did pre-pregnancy... but as long as I listen to my body and rest when I need to I don't run into any problems.

27 weeks

27 weeks down, only 10 or 11 to go! The past month has really flown by... I think December will go by quickly too.

Right now I look like I'm about 35 weeks pregnant. I'm sure my bump will reach epic proportions if I make it to my goal of 37 or 38 weeks! I have been getting more and more compliments about my size these days... I have to say, speculation from anyone besides my doctor about when I might go into labor isn't particularly helpful.Oh well, it gives me even more motivation to prove them wrong and make it to my goal date without any bed rest :)

How far along? 27 weeks

Total weight gain? I'm guessing somewhere between 1-3 pounds, but we'll find out for sure at my appointment on Monday. Apparently it is normal for weight gain to slow to about a pound per week in the 3rd trimester, so I wouldn't be sad if I only gained another 10-15 pounds.

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination- in my picture today I was wearing a pre-pregnancy top (from Express, of course) and maternity pants.

 Stretch marks? Nope. I've heard some women have them pop up right around 39-40 weeks though, so who knows what will happen.   

Sleep? Pretty good- I'm in the final stretches of my cold, and have been waking up a few times with sore throat/coughing, but thankfully I've been able to get back to sleep quickly.

 Miss anything? Circuit class at the gym... I'm looking forward to starting that class again after the girls are here and I'm cleared for exercise.

Cravings? Butterfingers.
   
Aversions? Not really, I prefer the taste of candy to food (although that has nothing to do with pregnancy).
   
Symptoms? I've been mostly symptom free this week. I'm glad that I was in pretty good shape and worked out regularly/incorporated some weight training prior to pregnancy... my doctor said that it has probably helped me avoid a lot of discomforts. I think I'm lucky and have good "pregnancy genetics" when I asked both of my grandmas, they said that they really didn't experience any problems during pregnancy (although they are both in their nineties.... so maybe they have forgotten about some of the annoyances).

Most of you have already since this picture on Facebook, but it is too cute not to share. Here are the quilts that my mom made for the girls... I'm pretty obsessed with them!

bump pic

As promised, here is my 26 week bump picture. I have to say, I'm very glad that Express carries a variety of loose and flowy tops- they make great maternity shirts! While true maternity tops are a bit more flattering, I've had the urge to shop lately, so I've just picked up a few tops from Express in my regular size- it is the perfect solution... the shirt fits now, and will be even cuter later :)

Justin and I spent the day wrapping up most of our Christmas shopping. We still have a few things to pick up, but have the bulk of our shopping done. I figure its a good idea to get as much as possible done while I'm still mobile- my mom recently showed bump pics to my 91-year-old Grandma Verna... she asked if I'm still able to walk, I thought that comment was hilarious (but take note, certain things are only funny if they come from Nonagenarian grandmothers).

26 weeks

 I'll post a picture later this week- I wanted to get my update in today but it was definitely a change into lounge wear as soon as I got home kind of day, and since I have yet to splurge on lululemon my lounge wear is not photograph-worthy.

How far along? 26 weeks

Total weight gain? Down a pound since my last appointment. The PA didn't even mention it, so I'm guessing it isn't a big deal. I think the weight loss can be attributed to the following factors: 1. Our Halloween candy supply has been depleted 2. I haven't been feeling well for the past week, it isn't very fun to eat with a sore throat/congestion 3. This appointment was in the morning, my last appointment was in the afternoon (I always way less in the mornings). My next appointment is the Monday after Thanksgiving, so I'm sure I'll have some healthy weight gain by then... if not, I'm sure Justin will be happy to make me malts on a regular basis :)

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination. I'm so glad that I received a pair of "miracle pants" from my mom... they don't look like much on the hanger, but are extremely flattering and magically fit regardless of belly expansion. I'm convinced these pants will even fit when I'm 37+ weeks pregnant.

 Stretch marks? Nope.  

Sleep? Pretty good, just waking up due to coughing/congestion.

Miss anything? Just my wardrobe.

Cravings? Chocolate malts
  
Aversions? Not really, although nothing sounds particularly delicious this week.
   
Symptoms? Just my cold... it hasn't improved since last week. I swear, since I've been sick and now sound like a chain-smoking 12 year old boy, I have had a major increase in client/collateral phone calls at work... not quite the professional image I'd like to project. 

25 weeks

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain? My scale at home is very inconsistent (one of these days I'll have to get a digital one) so now that my Dr. appointments are every two weeks I'll report on weight gain on weeks that I have appointments.

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination, but mostly maternity. I'm so glad I waited until about 20 weeks to start wearing maternity tops- I feel like I wear the same few things every week!

 Stretch marks? Nope.  

Sleep? Pretty good, although I've come down with a cold that has impaired my sleep a bit.

Miss anything? Non maternity jeans.

Cravings? Pizza, chocolate malts
  
Aversions? Nothing beyond my usual picky-ness
   
Symptoms? Nothing pregnancy related- just this stupid cold! On Wednesday night I started having a bit of a sore throat. I ended up not sleeping at all and feeling miserable on Thursday, so I stayed home from work to sleep and eat popsicles. I felt quite a bit better on Friday, so I went to work, but ended up feeling pretty run down by the end of the day. Today I'm really tired/congested... the only productive things I've managed to do are shower and a few loads of baby laundry. This picture of Paxton pretty much sums up what we've been doing most of the day:

The funny thing is he crawled under the blankets all by himself- this is how I found him after my shower!

baby shower

On Wednesday my coworkers hosted a baby shower... alternate post titles could have included "further proof I am spoiled" or "Christmas came early this year". The shower was fabulous- the planning committee definitely went above and beyond!

I especially loved the paper rosettes

the cake turned out great- it matched the invitation that the Communications staff created

The girls received all sorts of great gifts- and several adorable outfits! It is hard to believe, but unless the girls are teeny tiny when they are born, the only thing we have left to buy in newborn sizes is their coming home from the hospital outfits.

a portion of our baby shower loot

 In addition to all the sweet little outfits we received some diapers, wipes, and other essentials. I can't believe how tiny the newborn sized diapers are! I've plan on spending this weekend unpacking everything and doing baby laundry (it's a good thing baby laundry is so much more fun than regular laundry).

I couldn't let Paxton escape without trying on a baby hat- he was not impressed! He froze as soon as I put it on him... perhaps this will be a good trick if we need to calm him down after the babies come?

24 Weeks

At 24 weeks the girls have reached the point of viability. Obviously we want the girls to get as close to full term as possible, but it is a nice milestone to have reached. I'm now seeing my OB every 2 weeks and MFM every 4 weeks, so there are lots of appointments to go to. I had some lab work at my last appointment and am now on an iron supplement, which is no big deal- I'm glad I see my Dr. often enough to catch any potential problems before they become a big issue. I also passed my glucose screening test... I don't understand why everyone complains about the drink... it wasn't bad at all, it kind of tasted like a combination of flat orange pop/orange koolaid. Oh, and I am very lucky to have inherited my dads veins- when I pulled up the sleeve of my sweater the phlebotomist said I made her day!

How far along? 24 weeks

Total weight gain? 3 pounds this week... I guess someone had too much Halloween candy! I'm not too concerned though, as the only thing the OB said was that she was really impressed with how the girls were growing.

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination- the number of non-maternity tops that fit are dwindling though.

 Stretch marks? Nope.  

Sleep? Still great... Justin on the other hand is still plagued with his cold and has been having a hard time getting a full nigh of sleep.

Miss anything?My winter coats! I have super cute pea coats that won't be making an appearance this winter.

Cravings? Pizza
  
Aversions? Not really... I'm still a picky eater though.
  
Symptoms? Nothing too out of the ordinary- my back seems to have gotten less sore lately. As long as I remember to get up and move around throughout the day I am fine. 

pinteresting recipes

Like many others, I do more pinning than making when it comes to Pinterest. Earlier this week I was inspired to make a few recipes that I had pinned... they all turned out great!

My first project was Crispy Coconut Chicken Fingers:

image source: Our Best Bites

I pinned this recipe almost a year ago, but held off on trying it because of the "exotic" ingredients... panko? coconut flakes? oh my... but on a recent trip down the baking aisle at my local grocery store I noticed that these ingredients are easily accessible and a far cry from exotic. I followed the recipe from Our Best Bites pretty closely, but made a few modifications. I left out the onion powder, because I hate buying spices just for one recipe. I figured that the garlic would give it enough flavor. I also used garlic salt instead of garlic powder, so I just left out the table salt that it called for. I can thank my Grandma Verna for my willingness to sub/omit ingredients- she did it all the time, even in baking (some modifications were more successful than others... I think everyone in the family was disappointed when she ran out of butter and made cookies with lard instead!).  Anyways, this recipe was great- I'll definitely make it again. This was much tastier than heat and eat frozen chicken strips! Oh, and as a side note, I tried sweet and sour sauce for the first time in my life when I made this recipe... I can't believe what I've been missing out on!

Next up was Baked Chicken Ranch Taquitos:

Image Source: Six Sisters' Stuff

This recipe was seriously easy! Justin cooked the chicken in the crockpot when I was at work and we had leftover bacon on hand from weekend brunch. DO NOT leave out the green onions in this recipe- they made a huge difference! I didn't measure out 3-4 tablespoons like the recipe called for- I just chopped up about 4-5 and called it a day. My only other sub was using cheddar cheese instead of montery jack. Technique wise, we added more filling tortillas than the original recipe- we probably made about 12 taquitos. We also skipped mixing the shredded cheese with the chicken mixture- we just put the chicken mixture in the tortilla, added some cheese, and then rolled up the tortilla.

I will definitely make these again! Justin was a bit skeptical when he saw the ingredients getting mixed together, but he was a fan. These also reheated pretty well and made for a yummy lunch.

My final pinteresting recipe was Parmesan Pull Aparts:

Image Source: Life as a Lofthouse

This is a super simple way to jazz up canned biscuits! Of course I had modifications... I don't have a large enough round baking pan, so I used a square 8x8 pan instead. I also used one can of biscuits instead of two (but didn't half the butter or cheese). I skipped the minced onion and used garlic salt and Italian seasonings instead. I didn't bother measuring out any of the spices, I just gave everything a couple of shakes and it looked good enough. I subbed shredded Parmesan for grated (we never use the grated stuff, so I didn't want it to go to waste). You would be fine skipping the parm all together and just using a little bit more mozzarella (which surprise, surprise I didn't measure out but eyeballed instead).

Hopefully Justin and I can keep our cooking mojo going and find some more great recipes on Pinterest. I don't mind cooking, my biggest challenge is coming up with interesting/yummy things to make. 

weekend fun

My mom came to visit last Friday and brought quilts for the girls:

I absolutely love the quilts- I'm tempted to start using them myself! The fabric in each quilt is from the same collection (Michael Miller Citron Gray) but they aren't identical.

My mom and I also had the chance to get some shopping done- we found an adorable changing pad cover (my mom ordered fabric, but thought the velour material would be more comfortable for the girls). Once we get the changing pad set up I'll take a picture of that. My mom also bought me a fuzzy pink robe to bring to the hospital- Justin said that I could use the hospital-issued robe, but my mom thought I would need something a bit more comfortable (and mom's do know best!). It is very handy that my mom is about the same size as me (pre-pregnancy)... she was able to act as my robe model!

Justin was busy with another handyman project over the weekend- he assembled the bookshelf we ordered from Pottery Barn Kids:

I can't wait to completely fill up the bookshelf- the girls have a good start on their library! I read that forward-facing bookshelves encourage children to read... it could just be propaganda put out by the manufacturers of the forward-facing bookshelves, but I figured it is worth a shot!

23 weeks

This week I had another appointment with the MFM- the babies look great! The girls both weigh 1 lb 6 oz, which is right on track with singletons at 23 weeks. Baby A was in the 55% and Baby B in the 56%, so Baby B must be just a little bit longer than her sister. I had another 3D ultrasound, so it was neat to see the girls squirming around. It was hard to get a good look at their faces, but at least they were cooperative enough to get all of the important measurements taken.

The MFM wants me to be tested for gestational diabetes at my next OB appointment. Apparently the risk of GD is higher with multiples. I'm hopeful that I will pass the test (we all know how much I love sweets!), but as far as complications go, this one is pretty manageable.

How far along? 23 weeks

Total weight gain? I'm up 8 lbs since my last MFM visit, so it seems like 2 pounds per week is my magic number. I've read that in the 3rd trimester weight gain slows to about 1 pound per week, so hopefully that is true... otherwise it looks like I might weigh 50% more than my pre-pregnancy weight by the end!

 Maternity clothes? Still wearing a combination- I am so thankful that it is legging weather!

 Stretch marks? Nope.  

Sleep? Still great... poor Justin has a bit of a cold and as been ending up on the couch though. I'm completely oblivious and don't notice that he is gone until I wake up the next morning... so lets hope my sound sleeping continues.

Miss anything? Still clothes shopping... I'm really in a shopping mood!

Cravings? Buffalo wings, caramel rolls
  
Aversions? Nope (although I still refuse to eat pork chops)
  
Symptoms? Just sore back/sore ribs... which I think is pretty par for the course at this point in pregnancy.

lined drawers

Last week Justin and I put the finishing touch on the dresser update by lining the drawers. It is amazing to see the difference $5 worth of contact paper can make!

Just had the great idea to line the sides of the drawers too

Newborn sleepers, ready for the babies... They probably won't be folded as nicely after the girls arrive.

maternity fashion tips

Here are a few of my best maternity/postpartum fashion tips. Even if you aren't pregnant- pay attention! These apply to you too.

1. Wear proper undergarments. I swear, every single day I see ladies who have ill fitting bras that can be seen through their tops. If you have weird cup lines you should probably go up a cup size and down a band size. Also, regardless of your size, get a bra with light padding- this will prevent too much of you from showing. Buy your expensive bras in black and nude (don't even bother with white- it shows through white tops, nude does not). My favorite bras are by Wacoal- they can be pricey, but I've had luck finding great deals at TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack. Wow... that turned into quite the rant, but a good foundation is the most important part of any outfit.

2. Open cardigans are your friend. They create nice vertical lines and are visually slimming. Colorblocking by wearing a solid color cardigan and printed top is particularly effective- your eye is drawn to the pattern and you get to look inches smaller. Open cardigans also do a great job at hiding any unfortunate muffin top or side chunk. When you select your cardigan make sure it ends either above or below your widest part- i.e. don't have the cardigan stop at the widest part of your hips. 

13 weeks

14 weeks

22 Weeks

3. Stock up on sexy stretch bra camis from Express. I am not exaggerating when I say that I've been wearing one of these almost every day since 2003. They smooth everything out and prevent weird bra lines from showing through. These days, they also do a fine job of concealing the pregnancy belly button that desperately tries to become an outie. I love how the camis are nice and long and able to cover the bump. 

4. Aside from the be band and Express camis, don't buy maternity clothes right away. I really didn't need maternity pants until I was around 20 weeks (at which my point my bump was comparable to a 26-27 week singleton). I was able to get away with my regular tops through 3/4 of my pregnancy. When shopping only buy clothes that you absolutely love (this applies with regular clothes too)... a limited wardrobe is much more appealing when it consists of clothes that you love and feel good in.

5. You only need 2 pairs of jeans. Seriously. And this is coming from a denim addict.

When I looked through the tub of clothes I borrowed from my friend, I was shocked that she only had two pairs of maternity jeans (she loves clothes just as much, if not more than I do). I thought I would need to invest in a few more pairs of jeans, but honestly I feel perfectly content with two pairs. Make sure you have a pair to wear with flats and a pair to wear with heels- I have gotten the most wear out of skinny jeans that I pair with knee high boots (and trust me... you need more than two pairs of knee high boots).

6. Always make sure that at least one article of clothing is fitted. This is one of the rules that applies to non-pregnant folks too... clothes that are loose all over add pounds. Pre-pregnancy, I loved trouser style pants, but I found that as my belly grew, that style of pant no longer worked for me... they only made me look frumpy. During pregnancy I have found that skinny jeans and leggings are the most flattering pant choice for me. So, always make sure that you wear something fitted, and use the fitted piece to highlight your best feature.

22 weeks

How far along? 22 weeks

Total weight gain? I think it is another 2 weeks, I only had my scale at home (which isn't digital) to go by this week, so I'm not 100% sure. I've been indulging in lots of Halloween candy lately, so we'll see what the numbers look like at my appointment next week- if I'm gaining faster than 2 pounds per week it will be time to cut back to a more reasonable amount of candy.

 Maternity clothes? Yup, but still a combination. In my picture this week I am wearing maternity jeans, but a regular shirt and jacket. I am glad that most of my shirts are long enough to accommodate my 40 inch (!) belly.

 Stretch marks? Still no tiger stripes :) Justin's aunts recently traveled to England and sent me a care package with some awesome stretch mark prevention oil. It is Mariposa Balms Bumpy Belly- the oil is so much easier to use than the thick cream I had been trying... plus it smells amazing.  

Sleep? Still great... I'm not sure if Justin can say the same though.

Miss anything? Clothes shopping. I've bought a few open cardigans that will work post-pregnancy too, but I have been trying to limit my purchases. I figure I will prefer to buy new stuff after the babies are here.

Cravings? Can't leave alone bars, caramel rolls
  
Aversions? Nope (although I am still a super picky eater, so when there are potlucks and what not at work I may casually mention an aversion or two).
  
Symptoms? My back is still sore pretty frequently, but I think that is a symptom that will be around until the babies are here. It has been a lot better this week than last- I think it is because I have found a few tricks to help cope with it. I make sure to take quick walking breaks every 30-60 minutes at work, and stand instead of sit at my desk when I feel uncomfortable. I'm lucky to have a job where I'm not tied to my desk!

the cribs are here!

Over the weekend Justin painted and assembled the cribs- I am so lucky that he is handy! Justin has been passing along this helpful painting tip to anyone who will listen- use an extension handle for the entire job, not just the high spots. It makes painting much easier and saves your back.

 I absolutely love the cribs- they are gorgeous! Assembly wasn't too bad either. Instructions always leave something to be  desired, (I seriously think that manufacturers should be required to have how-to videos on youtube) but it was a pretty frustration free project. The benefit of having two is that the second crib was a breeze to assemble. Thanks to Justin's parents for generously purchasing the cribs for the twins- I know I've said it before, but the girls are definitely spoiled :)

Here is a glimpse at the curtains- I loved the curtains from west elm, but found these at Target for about $100 less.

This picture gives a more accurate representation of the paint color.

 At Target we found these awesome sunburst mirrors (they were even on clearance!). They will be hung over each crib... don't worry, they are fairly lightweight and Justin will make sure to hang them very securely.

One of my favorite features is the storage space that is built into the cribs!

21 weeks

We've been making progress on our nursery this week- Justin has started painting, we picked up a few decorative items, and we have our cribs (thank you Grandpa Brad and Grandma Marla). I'll post pictures once we have everything put together.

How far along? 21 weeks

Total weight gain? Two more pounds- which isn't too bad considering I've been hitting the Halloween candy hard this week. 

 Maternity clothes? I'm still wearing both regular and maternity clothes. Over the past 2 weeks my belly has grown, so a lot of my pre-pregnancy shirts are too short. I have some great coupons to Express, so I'll have to go shopping soon to add a couple more tops to my wardrobe.

 Stretch marks? Still stretch-mark free... but at the rate my belly has been growing lately it might not be like that for long, we'll just have to see.

Sleep? Still going great.

Miss anything? I'm not a fan of having a limited wardrobe.

Cravings? Pizza, nerds
  
Aversions? Not really, although I plan on continuing to avoid pork chops.
  
Symptoms?My back has really started to hurt, but I suppose that is to be expected since my belly is carting around an extra 25+ pounds. I looked up a few back strengthening exercises, so hopefully doing those will help. I have determined that it is not shoe related- I get soreness regardless of heel height. My supervisor suggested wearing tennis shoes to work, I had to try contain my horror... everyone knows the only time I wear tennis shoes in public is if I am exercising. 

dresser reveal

In my last post, I gave you a teaser of the dresser Justin and I were working on over the weekend. Justin finished up the dresser today, and it looks amazing. In fact, we are so pleased with the results, that we will use the same process to refinish my childhood toy box.

Here is the before shot:

And the after:

I am thrilled with the results- I think it is quite the transformation! It is amazing what a few coats of stain and new hardware can do! The project cost about $80, $20 for the hardware, the rest for paint, stain, and supplies. The most expensive part was painting the top white, as that required primer, paint, and polyurethane... but I think it was worth splurging for the two tone look.

Here is a quick rundown of the process:

1. Give the dresser a thorough wipe down with a damp paper towel.
2. Apply one coat of primer (we used kilz).
3. Apply 3 coats of white paint.
4. Apply 3 coats clear poly to the painted part of the dresser (we used minwax)
5. Apply 2 coats of minwax stain and poly in one. The stain and poly in one was perfect for us novice refinishers- it was applied in thin layers with a paintbrush- no wiping down with a rag required!
6. Add hardware and admire handiwork.

I was inspired by this tutorial at Young House Love. We didn't follow the exact steps that they did, but it was an extremely helpful guide. Justin did all of the labor-intensive work on the dresser, but I like to think that since I picked the design I can say that I had a hand in the project too.

Justin will be painting the nursery next weekend, so I will add more pictures after that project is complete. I think the dresser will really pop once there is color on the walls. I am so impressed with the dresser that it is almost embarrassing- I often go into the nursery just to gaze at it. I'm sure the situation will be completely out of hand after the cribs arrive and the decor is in place.  

cliffhanger

Justin and I have been working on a fun project this weekend. It isn't quite ready for the after shot, but here it the before picture:

Stay tuned to find out how we are transforming this dresser that has seen better days. Because I'm nice, I'll give you a hint:

20 weeks

I had another doctor appointment today, and everyone is doing great! I will continue to see my OB once a month and will see the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist once a month. The MFM will perform growth scans to make sure the twins are on track. I forgot to mention the size of the twins in my last post- they were measuring 9 and 10 ounces. According to Dr. Google, average size of a singleton at 19 weeks is 8.47 ounces- lets hope they keep it up! The MFM will also monitor for signs of preterm labor, so if there are any complications down the road we should be able to catch it right away.

Today my OB mentioned that we have a big milestone coming up- the next time I see her is at 24 weeks, which is when viability begins. Once I make it past that milestone, the next is making it to 32 weeks, which is when the twins will be developed from a neurological standpoint. Justin and I are both hoping that the twins make it to at least 36 weeks (37-38 would be even better). I've been telling the girls that they will have several opportunities to rebel in their teen years, and that for now I want them to listen to their parents and stay put until the end of January :)

How far along? 20 weeks

Total weight gain? Two pounds once again... I am definitely consistent! My OB said that my weight gain looked great... which immediately made me think "score! I can keep up my chocolate malt habit!". The vain part of me hopes that the weight gain slows to 1.5 pounds per week (I really want to avoid a Jessica Simpson situation), but I don't mind getting a little puffy if it means healthy babies.

 Maternity clothes? I continue to wear a combination of maternity and regular clothes. I am BFF's with my leggings, and have even worn them as pants on a few occasions. (For those who aren't familiar, my pre-pregnancy rule was that leggings could be worn in public only when your top was long enough to cover your butt. At this point in pregnancy, I've gone on walks around the neighborhood and to the grocery store with my legging-clad butt on display. I've rationalized this by telling myself that everyone is paying attention to my belly and nobody is looking at my butt. Maybe this type of thinking is how people start to become frumpy? Friends and family, if you ever see me in mom jeans get me to the mall STAT!).

 Stretch marks? Still stretch-mark free.

Sleep? Still going great! Today my OB warned me that sleep will probably become uncomfortable soon. Maybe I'll be a "magical pregnancy unicorn" (watch the movie what to expect when you're expecting) and avoid any problems with sleep.

Miss anything? Pants that both button and zip.

Cravings? Pizza, skittles (someone in this household ate an entire Halloween-sized bag over the course of a week... I think it might have been Justin), nerds, chocolate milk.
 
Aversions? If you guessed pork chops, you are correct! Over the past few weeks I have been able to start eating foods that made me nauseous earlier in pregnancy. I can once again have smoothies... which is a great way to make sure I get enough fruit.
  
Symptoms? Does needing a chocolate malt at least once per week count?

nursery revisited

Now that we know we are having two girls, I have been able to make final decisions about the nursery decor.

I ordered these sheets from pottery barn kids:

The reviews have said that the sheets are somewhere in between a pink and purple... so we'll see what color they actually are when they arrive. I had though about painting the walls a soft pink, but might opt to paint them light grey instead. It is much easier to choose all the fabrics first and then find a paint color that works.

I plan on getting these curtains from west elm:

I was all ready to order them, but unfortunately we had our anatomy scan a day to late. The night before the big gender reveal they were 20% off, but when I went to order them on Tuesday the sale was over. Hopefully if I'm patient they will go on sale again... there isn't a huge rush, I just need to have the curtains before we select a paint color.

I found a crib that I love from Walmart of all places:

photo credit: younghouselove.com

There is a shortage of storage space in the nursery, so I love how there is a built in drawer! My mom really likes the crib, as it will save her from making a crib skirt with box pleats :) Originally I had loved a grey crib (also from walmart) but it went out of stock. We plan on refinishing a dresser and painting the top white and staining the bottom, so having a two tone crib will help tie everything together and add warmth to the room.

The bane of my existence has been finding a changing pad...I have found a few contenders, but I'm not sure if any of them are quite right. Once the crib sheets arrive and I know exactly what color they are it should be easier to make a decision:

The final big decision is figuring out what color to paint the rocking chair:

I'm thinking either pink or grey... again, I need to wait for the crib sheets to arrive (the should ship by October 5th... I'm going to start a countdown!). This is a project that needs to be completed before there is snow on the ground, so hopefully we have until at least the beginning of November :)

Oh, and in non-decor related news, my coworkers are planning a baby shower! I am so excited, the big day is November 7th! Apparently there is a planning committee and everything... it should be a lot of fun. The baby gear is definitely starting to pile up around here... I'll have to do a post on that soon :)