Braxton Hicks and Belly Pics

The last few weeks I have had Braxton Hicks on the brain. I didn't think I'd been having them but I guess I was. I kept reading and talking to friends about what theirs felt like and I was really 50/50 as to whether I thought that I was having them. It felt like the twins would ball up in separate spots in my belly and press out. I talked to Dr. Sterling's wonderful nurse, Lindsey, though last Friday and she confirmed that it was BH contractions that I was experiencing. She said I should try to stay very hydrated which should help so I've upped my water intake to about a gallon a day. I was already drinking about 3/4 of a gallon but if I need to drink a gallon of water, then that's what I'll do. I get uncomfortable sitting for very long anyways so it just gives me a reason to get up pretty frequently and walk around.

We have the nursery pretty much done. We still have a few pictures to frame and have to hang the letters for their names and to wash their bedding but we have washed all of their newborn and 0-3 months clothes, blankets, and towels and put all of them away which took literally an entire day and that was just the newborn and 0-3! We picked out their "going home from the hospital" outfits this past weekend. We optimistically picked out newborn outfits instead of the premie size as we are hoping and praying that I can make it full term (or as close as possible) and that they will be big (at least for twins) babies.

So some of these are a little old but I had to include a pic of my Halloween costume which won me first place in the Halloween contest at work! I also included a pic of me and my cousin, Jordan, who is due January 14th. My belly is um a little big bigger.

26 weeks - Decorating the nursery and holding my favorite nephew, Brody, in our Halloween costumes..

Me and Jordan at her baby shower last weekend. I think I win the biggest belly contest!

The Big 3-0

No, it is not my 30th birthday but I am officially 30 weeks today! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. Every day I look forward to meeting them more than the day before. Lately we've been having fun watching and feeling them roll body parts (I'm guessing knees and elbows) across my belly. Totally cracks us up too when we can see them (and I can feel them) "jump" around in my belly. On Monday, I felt Colin in one spot and just poked him softly and he wiggled around. I'm sure he was thinking "Stop it Mom! I was in a comfortable spot!". :)

Today we had our 30 week doctor's appointment which went great! Colin weighed about 3 pounds 11 ounces and Leah weighed 4 pounds 3 ounces! They were in the 64th and 86th percentile!! We are so excited about this since twins are usually small and a major risk is preterm labor and delivery. Dr. Sterling still thinks that I should be able to go full term and was very impressed with the size of the twins. He said it would be great if they could get up to 7 or 7.5 pounds each. He measured me today for the first time just to see and I was 39 cm from my pelvic bone to the top of my uterus. The rule of thumb is a centimeter for every week so my belly is basically full term at this point.

As this is the day before Thanksgiving, I would like to end this post by saying I am so thankful for two beautiful, healthy babies, my wonderful husband, all of our family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving!!

4-D Pics and Third Trimester

Last weekend we went for a 4-D sonogram (pictures below) which was amazing. Since this is most likely my only pregnancy, I have really wanted to do all of the "pregnancy things" and this is one of them. We got some great pictures of Leah but were afraid for most of the ultrasound we were not going to be able to get any of Colin. Thank goodness he FINALLY got into a position where she could get some pictures of him during the last half. Poor little Colin is a bit squished (okay it looks like a lot squished) by his sister who has lots of room laying on top of him. It was very cute though because they are both head down and had their little heads together as they are already best friends :).

On Wednesday, we went to see Dr. Sterling for my 28 week appointment which marks the beginning of my third trimester. Looking back on the last two, I would have to say I have definitely preferred the second to the first. My first trimester was a little rough with being sick all the time. My second trimester though I felt great, I felt the babies both move for the first time, Brad felt the babies both move for the first time, we picked out names, I had my baby showers...it was just a really great trimester. I am very much looking forward to this trimester as it will be the best in that the twins will arrive. Starting my third trimester comes with more intense feelings of anticipation and excitement as well as some nervousness. I cannot wait for them to be here and that is pretty much what I think about all day. I feel them moving all the time now and their movements are stronger and can be seen by just watching my belly which is soooo cool. After eating Mexican tonight (nothing spicy even) they were rolling around and running elbows or knees or something pointy along my belly. I know I will miss feeling them in my belly but holding them will more than make up for it! So back to the actual appointment...we got great news! My doctor said he thinks out of the 5 patients he has carrying twins that I have the best chance of making it full term and he has a really good feeling in general about me going full term. I haven't had any complications or problems or issues. He was pleasantly surprised I had not had any Braxton-Hicks contractions. My cervix measured great at the last appointment. All in all, everything is going very smoothly for carrying twins and we could not feel more blessed. It is truly an answer to prayers that everything has gone so great with all of the complications that can come with having twins. He has another patient who is also 28 weeks who he just had to put on bed rest and they have given steroid shots to so I am so fortunate to not have any of the problems so many moms carrying twins have. This weekend we are going to finish setting up the nursery and organizing everything we moved into my aunt's house that we are staying in until our house is built. I can't wait to have the nursery done and ready for our two little miracles!

Colin with Leah's head on the left side kind of squishing him... :)

Our little Leah

Colin and his cute little feet!!

This is Leah's little pouty face...so cute! She looks so peaceful.