Gender Reveal

A baby update!  We're in full swing with our doctor visits every two weeks now.  My mom came with me this week while E was out of town for work, and what a fun day it was to share with her.  I'm always nervous as we lay back and wait to see what comes up on the screen, but I'm getting more comfortable each time and always looking forward to seeing how much bigger they are and how much they're moving around. 

Baby A above, Baby B below - go figure, identical in size :)  And amniotic levels were ideal!  We're entering into a critical time where we're watching close for signs of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, where one twin is getting more blood and/or nutrients than the other, and so far we're in the clear.  I couldn't be more thankful.  I'm even thankful for the 16lbs I've put on and the fact it all seems to be in the form of belly and boob growth and not hips, thighs, face... yet.

The babies are both measuring about a week ahead actually, I'll take it!  And if you've come this far, I can't believe I get to protect and love these two little GIRLS! Josie's coming around to the idea that she's going to be a big sister, and I have no doubt she'll have these girls thinking that she's the boss on day one.  I can't wait for my house of girls!

and random but fun, Ed took J on her first go cart ride last weekend.  She kinda sorta loved it.  I was a little worried as they zoomed around the track and it looked a little bumpy - but apparently she was giggling and telling daddy to PASS 'EM! at every turn.  Good times. 

A Good Friday

We had the kind of good Friday that we got so dirty playing in the yard that we had to take a bath in the middle of the day. 

The dirty pictures would probably have been more fun, but I didn't think to grab the camera.  Her face hands and clothes were black from all the dirt and mulch we (Ed and Josie for the most part) moved around. 

I knew it was going to take a long soaking to turn her hands back to their normal pinkish hue.  I think she spent over and hour soaking and came out good as new.

The good news for me was the weeded beds, the cleaned and set porches and smell of fresh mulch.  Ready just in time for our Easter weekend activities. 



And upon request - now that I'm in my 17th week, these two are making themselves quite evident... for reference, here's 11 weeks with the mini bump...

And here's 16 weeks:

My Blue Princess

After a horrendously nauseous day yesterday, I was glad to see the sun and warm temps today - along with minimal nausea most of the day. Josie spent some time at her friend's house and came home a blue princess with the eye shadow and full attire to share. Admittedly, I've been sorely delinquent in taking any sort of pictures lately, so here's what came home to me today :)

The blue eye shadow really took it over the top....

And it is indeed true, not an April Fool's joke, these two babies are due to arrive in late August/early September and we couldn't be more nervous and more excited at the same time.  Next week I'll be in my 17th week and will thus be on an every two week frequency up to Chicago to check in on these two.  They will be very closely watched until they make their debut.

These are now "old" ultrasound pictures from 10 weeks, the last time we could get both babies in the the same shot.  Thankfully, they've since grown exceptionally well and are too big to photograph them together.  Baby A is on the right and baby B on the left.  These shots were snapped at 10 weeks, a few weeks prior we had found out they were identical when we saw two beating hearts in the same placenta.  Same placenta = identical twins.  Specifically, these two are monochorionic diamniotc twins.  In other words, they're one egg that split and now reside in the same placenta, but are protected in their own amniotic sacs (the faint circles around the babies are assurance their sacs are indeed present).  By contrast, Fraternal twins have their own placentas and generally grow in a more protected environment. While identical twins come with their own set of risks, and the reason I'm seeing a maternal fetal specialist at one of the best hospitals in the country, we have a good feeling that these two are meant to be a part of our family. 

While I continue to twincubate and grow faster than I thought possible, we're anxious for our next doctors appointment to make sure they're both growing right on track.  We might even get lucky and find out if they're boy/boy or girl/girl!