progress and updates

A few things:

First--it is so hot. You can assume this will be a theme throughout the summer, but seriously, it is so hot. The heat is supposed to break today, after we are hit with some severe storms, but we'll see--it was supposed to be cooler this weekend too, but it wasn't. Weathermen lie. But it is honestly too hot to be outside at all...and the air is so dirty, you don't want to breathe in too deeply anyway. Poor Spud--he and I have been forced to take sanctuary in the comfort of our air-conditioned house. It seems to bother Daniel less, which I may never understand...

Second--we got lots of things done on Saturday. Lots of house cleaning, lots of preparing for babies. We bought their crib mattresses (which I think is a bunch of hooey--selling cribs without mattresses?! HOOEY!), and our first box of diapers. We also bought a lamp for the babies' room, which is going to match their bedding perfectly--exciting :)
Speaking of their bedding, I'm very excited to see what it will look like. My mom is amazing, and is amazingly talented, and is making all of the bedding for our babies. Amazing, right? She may not have fingers left by the time the babies make their appearance--but what would we do without her?!

Let's hope her fingers don't end up looking like this.

On Sunday, we got a glider for our room, thanks to a very generous gift from Daniel's mom (there is a theme here--what would we do without our families?!). It fits perfectly in the corner of our bedroom (even though I'm reminded how small our house is when we do things like add furniture). We're getting excited to rock our babies in the glider! The chair looks like this, except that the fabric is cream and the wood is slightly darker.

Third--this weekend is a long holiday weekend--hooray! And next week is a short week (hooray!), Congressional recess (hooray again!), and full of doctor's appointments. This week, the babies each weigh over a pound and two thirds, and are 14 inches long--the same length as an English cucumber! We should have better statistics on them next week, when they get another in-depth ultrasound, including weights and measurements.

I'm spent!

Today, I am still tired and recovering from last week. The babies, Spud and I spent the weekend resting and doing things around the house getting ready for the babies to arrive--Daniel was in Boston with his Dad and Casey for some baseball, Red Sox vs. Dodgers. At home, we had our new couches delivered on Friday (and they are great--hooray!), and then all of the babies' furniture delivered and put together on Saturday. So Spud and I spent Saturday morning emptying out what was left in the babies' room, making space, and cleaning--then spent Saturday night putting the clothes we have into the dresser, and the blankets we've received in drawers under their cribs. Exciting!

Today, the babies are 13 1/2 inches long, and each weigh over a pound and a half, roughly the size of an average rutabaga.

Babies--you're making your momma's hips hurt. If you could put slightly less pressure on the old heeeeps, it would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

I should be careful what I offer...

Whew, babies, we made it through last week. I had a big work meeting, our Washington Conference, where our members from all over the country fly in for three days of meetings--it was kind of my last big push before I can start winding down and taking it easier at work--and it was exhausting. All in all, it was a very successful week--but, it included a brush with disaster.

On Tuesday afternoon, we had just finished all of our subcommittee meetings, and the Government Affairs Committee meeting was getting ready to start. There were probably 80 people in the room--the first speaker was on, talking about the recent Supreme Court decision allowing corporate dollars to be spent on campaign advertising--and I was next up on the agenda to speak about our PR campaign. All of a sudden, there is a huge commotion a few chairs down. To those of us who couldn't directly see what was happening--all we knew was that A MAN WAS DOWN. On the floor. And come on--we are in a room 90 percent full of older, white men--assuming the worst, we knew this could not be good.

It turns out--a poor old man's chair collapsed under him, totally gave out, causing him to topple to the floor. Luckily, he was fine, if not a little bit shocked and more than a little bit embarrassed. Whew, I ALMOST had to break out my newly acquired CPR skills--good thing everyone was OK!

(Time out--bless his heart, but thank goodness it wasn't my chair that gave out! Not good for the babies--and not good for mom's self image!)

Need CPR?

This weekend was intense. Just in case any infants, children, or adults need CPR or first aid, Daniel and I are officially certified. Saturday morning we spent in class, learning and practicing CPR and first aid. In retrospect, it's probably not necessary that we be certified in emergency response--but it doesn't hurt, either!

We then ventured out to buy a couch. And buy a couch we did...more to come on our couch buying good times. The bottom line is that it took many trips, and was far more complicated than it needed to be--but the result will hopefully be the delivery of a beautiful, comfy new couch and chair-and-a-half next weekend.

Sunday was spent in a twins birthing class. Oh.Boy. It was one thing getting them in there--it looks like it will be another thing entirely getting them out! Actually, the class was really good, and rather comprehensive for a one-day (really long) session--it went over what to expect, what to do, when to call a doc, what drugs they might give you, how to breathe, how to labor, how the babies are actually born (INTENSE, and frighteningly visual, but we won't worry about that just yet), how to dress a baby and change a diaper--it really ran the whole gamut.

In babies news, yesterday we hit the 24 week mark--which is great news! Our babies are officially viable--but have another 12 weeks left in the oven, so don't get any ideas, babies. They are over a foot long, longer than an ear of corn. They each put on 4 ounces last week, and are going to keep packing on the weight in coming weeks. Their brains are developing, and so are their taste buds. Keep on growing, babies!

Coincidence...or something more?

So, we've had a mini cervical miracle, if you ask me--or, if you ask my nurse, she might tell you that a cervix changes all of the time. I'm going to say miracle. I was so worried about today's follow up with the specialist, that we'd see more problems with my cervix, that it would be worrisome for the babies, and that I'd immediately have to go on bed rest for the next three months (which would NOT really work for me--I have some serious meetings scheduled for next week, which would be hard to miss. Like, sorry Secretary of Agriculture--can we take this meeting from my couch? No?). Anyway, turns out--my cervix looked fine, much better, no funneling visible. YAY! And, in really cute news, while I was squinting to scrutinize the images that came up on the ultrasound machine (there's not much to see when looking at the ol' internal lady parts), all of a sudden two hands waved across the screen. I was surprised, because in my estimation, there wouldn't have been baby hands down there (obviously, I'm all sorts of confused about who's where)--but it was our little girl, just waving hello. Looks like she's already putting on a show for the camera.

They will have a place to lay their heads

This weekend, we bought the babies' furniture! With all of the preparations we're making, it is definitely feeling more and more real that we're going to have some little ones join our family in a few months. Yikes!
This is our crib...we bought two Bonavita Peyton Classic cribs and the tall 5-drawer dresser, as well as a white changing table (from another collection...it's going in the closet, so we figured it mattered less what the changing table looked like, and it mattered more that it's functional!). And, thanks to giftcards and cash from Aunt Susie and Uncle Alan, Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Alan, and Aunt Jan and Gene, we were also able to buy our car seats--so at least we'll be able to bring our guy and our gal home with us!
At their appointment on Friday, both babies weighed in at one pound, two ounces. The baby tracker said that this week, they each weigh about the same as a large mango--but in my limited experience with tropical fruits, those would be some seriously hefty mangos, my friend.

In baking terms, each baby weighs the same as four and a half sticks of butter.

(And yes indeed, Land O'Lakes is a farmer-owned cooperative.)

What else are the babies up to this week? They are each over 11 inches long; blood vessels in their lungs are developing to prepare for breathing; and the babies can hear more and more. They also have a very developed sense of motion by now, so they can feel me move. And I tell you what--these babies are WIGGLY! While it is kind of bizarre--I love feeling these babies move in my tummy.

And the lady at Costco makes three...

Three people, that is, who in the past few days have asked when I'm due, because I look like I'm about ready to pop. My response (my tone full of charm, of course): I'm actually having TWO babies, and they aren't due for MONTHS.

PEOPLE: please censor yourselves!! There are lots of ways to inquire about my current state and/or the pending arrival of our little ones, without reminding me that I'm HUGE and (evidently) look ready to pop!!

It's a Sure Thing

Whew, our doctor was right the first time around--we are FOR SURE having a girl and a boy. Our little girl is in the "twin A" position, which is closest to the escape hatch--she's sitting in breach position, so her bum is down and her head is up. Our little boy, who is still camera shy with his back facing out, is transverse (laying side to side) higher up in the belly. We only got one picture--it shows the two of them with their heads close together. It looks like they're in cahoots--I imagine they're whispering secrets to each other and making plans for when they're finally out of their current, cramped home.

In other (slightly TMI) news, I have to go back to the specialist next Thursday...she wants to double check my cervix. All I can think is--HANG ON CERVIX! Which makes me think of the song, "Hang On Sloopy, Sloopy Hang On," which is ridiculous because I really don't like that song. And really, Sloopy?!

Progress

The babies are the length of a spaghetti squash this week, each over a foot long and weighing over a pound--and I tell you what, I feel it, and I look it!

We have our monthly appointment with the specialist this Friday--another ultrasound, to confirm that Baby A is in fact a girl (the doc was 95 percent sure, we'd like 100 percent, thankyouverymuch), and to get a complete look at all of our baby boy. So, we should have more pics of the babies on Friday!

First Shower for the Babies!

My family is so good to me. While I was in Idaho this past weekend, my mom planned a shower for the babies. And, even though she'd just pulled off a huge wedding for her only daughter, my Aunt Susan hosted it at her house. It was so good to see everyone--and everyone was so generous with their time and their gifts. These babies are sure to be well dressed, well swaddled, and well loved!

Andrew, Mom, me, my huge belly (aka the babies), and Rachel

The food (which was delicious) and the cake (which was adorable, and also delicious)

Kaye, Rachel me, Kimmy, and Susan, all trying to get our hands on the babies

Mom, me, and Rachel

So, there's the belly for you. More to come on all of the cute stuff we got...