3D

Babies are growing well at almost 3 lbs. each. Just a few oz. shy between them.

Doc. Woods says 34 weeks is target; anything beyond that is "gravy".

I don't worry about going into labor that early, but it's good to know what's "normal" or at least have a target.

However, target weight: 4 lbs. each.

I figure if they continue at about the rate they have between the last two appointments they should hit that 4 lb. mark around 36 weeks.

Or maybe they'll go crazy and start growing really quickly now. I can hope.

Bad news is Baby A is now head up (this explains all the kicking below the belt I've been experiencing since last week and the odd lack of feet in the ribs) and Baby B is transverse.
↑Frederick

Good news is there's still a little time and space for him to switch back I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Sebastian↓

Okay, so look closely at these pictures.

I know it's kind of hard to tell, what with Frederick having his hand in front of his face and all, but they look different to me.

Let's see if anyone else thinks so.

If you had to pick, which baby do you think looks like which parent?

Just for fun.

And curiosity.

31 weeks 3 days

briefly, in case anyone is confused about the date/timing discrepancy between what i have on here and what my little ticker says on the side, let me explain: according to my last period i'm 31 weeks 4 days today (this was taken yesterday). according to the size of the babies and what the doctor determined i'm a week behind that. they changed my due date by a week. however, since i choose denial for the first long while of my pregnancy (who wants to lose a week?) all my pictures are dated according to my last period. so in order to keep them consistent i either have to change them all or just leave them be at a week ahead. my choice was the latter.

because i can't resist:

really, how could anyone resist that?

"A brief shining moment, and then that..."

yeah, it's been one of those days. Been having problems with my vacuum. took the whole thing practically apart, cleaned all the filters, found a clog low down, cleaned it out. went to use it today...still no go. went to the one place i hadn't tried: the hose. Success! i found the clog. and it was enormous.


while this isn't the greatest photo (sorry it's all washed out), and you can't really tell the size of this thing from this, trust me when i say it was very large and quite gross. i had to use water to get it out because i don't have anything to snake it with.

after some hot water and a little bit of sitting, there was a great big "plop" and there it sat. after getting it out i wanted to use my vacuum, but i didn't figure water and dirt from my carpet was a good combo unless i wanted another clog, so to speed up the process i got the bright idea of drying it out...with a hair dryer...on high.

stupid. stupid, stupid. seriously, what was i thinking??

fortunately, i got the bright idea to try bissell.com before i went out and bought a new vacuum (though it was tempting) and found the hose, and for less than $20 (with shipping). oh well, at least it wasn't a complete waste. i did get my toilet clean, my kitchen clean, and my kids and husband fed.

I need. . .

a vacation. Beach anyone?

I'm so desperate, I'll take one night.

Exhausted

sick of the pregnancy posts? haha, me too kinda. and yet, here i sit. =)

my body and immune system are EXHAUSTED! i've been doing so well, and not just for the last 4-5 months of this pregnancy, but really for the last 3 years or so. after years and years of getting sick at the drop of a hat and missing all the really fun stuff that was going on i finally felt like i'd reached this place where i wasn't getting everything that was going around. i attributed a lot of it to being a mother and being exposed to so many illnesses in one season from Keith that my immune system was finally doing it's job well.

i haven't had the flu for almost 3 years (not even 24 hour) and i haven't had a real cold for over a year. but, alas, all good things must come to an end, right? last month got a nasty cold. about a week and a half ago got a flu. just starting to feel better when i came down with step-like symptoms sunday night, threw up once monday morning, pink eye monday afternoon, nasty headache all through that and a lingering nausea. oh, and top of all that a baby (or babies) have decided to get very feisty and start kicking me almost constantly all a ways below the belt, almost straight down. it's kind of painful.

i really hope the next 8 weeks go quickly!! (and really hope i don't go past about 38 weeks). everyone cross your fingers for me. and, if you don't mind, send a prayer my way that i can stay somewhat healthy for the rest of the pregnancy!

Baby Names

We've picked out baby names.

And as I've predicted, my mom hates them. (and I don't think Paul's parents are too crazy about them either) =)

The funniest part of it is that she uses phrases like "nobody likes that name!" which makes me laugh cause either she's making it up to try to convince me or people are lying to me.

Either way, we're both too lazy (and not good enough at this) to continue looking when we're both pretty happy with the names we've picked. They will grow on people, and hopefully (i think?) their personalities will grow to match.

Anyhoo, now you're in suspense, right?




The names right now are set to be Frederick Duncan West & Sebastian Wilde West.

The question is should we put a 'k' at the end or leave it simply Frederic? I can't decide. Any thoughts from the general population out there? What seems more natural for you if you were reading or writing it?

words of wisdom:

Said to me while I was drinking a cup of water:
Keith: "Mommy, you don't have to drink the whole thing."

Mommy: "Why not?"

Keith: "'Cause then you'll have to pee."

So true my son, so true.

29 weeks 3 days

No explanation necessary.

The news I've been waiting for. . .

Got to see my doc this morning (for the first time since she diagnosed the twins which was 17 weeks ago!) and she said. . .drum roll please. . .VBAC is an option!

As long as Baby A is head down (which he is) and stays head down (everyone cross your fingers; he's been that way the whole time) we are good to go. Just to clarify with her I said "And that's okay with you?" And she smiled and said, "Yes."

So, yay! I at least have something concrete to go on. 10 weeks to go (or so).

Total weight gain so far: 18 lbs.

Happy 6th Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to me and my honey (yesterday)! I meant to get this post up yesterday, but we ended up being gone for most of the day. I remember lying in bed in our first apartment at night not wanting to go to sleep because when I fell asleep it meant Paul would be gone, already having left for work when I woke, I would leave for school and I wouldn't get see him again until afternoon, and then only briefly before he went off to school. I layed there on several nights thinking, "this is just a newlywed thing. It will wear off in awhile and I can enjoy bedtime again."

After six years of marriage I'm dismayed and elated to say it hasn't. I still lay there at night wanting to prolong the day, every day, because I know when I wake up in the morning he will be gone. I'm sure I've never told him this, but this is why I sometimes act resentful that he can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, while I struggle to find peaceful rest because it's just not as quick coming for me. I lay there torn between wanting to be with him and wanting him to get the rest he so desperately needs being such a hard worker.

Every night (that he can) he says "I'm going to sleep in tomorrow!" and I get prepped to get the kids quickly before they can wake him because he deserves it, and it's definitely my turn, and then, more often than not, I wake up in the morning alone, and I hear the kids out in the family room with him. He gets them before I even hear them usually. He dozes on the couch, while trying to keep them out of our room so I can rest. I ask him why he took the kids; then he says things like "it's good that you're healing" or "you're making two kids!" How do you not love that?

So, sweetie, I just want to say, I LOVE YOU! I'm so happy it's been 6 years and look forward with great anticipation to the next 6. You're amazing and treat me so well. I didn't just get lucky, I got REALLY lucky!

The first summer after we got married.