Happy Halloween, and our Beautiful Fall Baby Shower!

Happy Halloween!!!!

(Almost) 28 weeks picture from the side, and then showing off my costume :)

I'm still tired and overwhelmed from the beautiful shower yesterday but I wanted to share a few of the pictures.  My Mom has taken quite a few more "people" shots that I will share when she emails them over!

 On the left is our friend Erin, and her daugheter Lucy!  Lucy is 11 months old and just adorable!  On the right is one of my friends Stephanie who has two daughers and a son of her own.  She's shared a ton of practicle parenting tips with me already and will be my on-call Mama!

On the left is my cousin Amanda and on the right is my cousin Alison.  The lighting in this is not so great but what beautiful subjects :)  Amanda and I put Alison through some torture growing up and I'm sure she will be teaching my girls some tricks of her own!

C and I with my nieces Michelle (L) and Rebecca (R)

Adorable ducks and "How big is belly" game.  Most people were pretty kind with their guesses, but a few of my cousins must have been guessing my height not belly size :)

Adorable polka dot ribbon wrapped around the silverware.

Guest book with our shower invite and beautiful flowers.

Fall colored cake that was scrumptious!

My Mother-in-Law put some beautiful flower arrangements together and I loved the use of pumpkins!

Gotta have the baby carriage fruit bowl!

Personalized Lily and Grace M&Ms!

Mommy and the girls have enjoyed the remaining M&Ms in the past 24 hours :)

Thank you to everyone!!!

I will post more pictures, and of course some of the beautiful gifts we received when I get a little more organized!

Shower Pictures from 10/16!

Thanks to our friend Amanda for all of her hard work (and also Stephanie and Dana!) and for taking these pictures from the shower!  I wanted to share a few with you all to show just how lucky we are to have these wonderful people in our lives :)  Photo Bomb warning (get used to it!!!)

LOVED these pink hanging decorations!!!

Scrumptious spread.  Bagels have been my EVERY day craving plus lots of fresh pastries!  Mmmmm...

Twice the Sweetness!  Adorable favors with pink and skull ribbons, loved these!

Chip getting practice with Baby C!

With this blanket hiding my belly I don't look THAT pregnant!

LOVING the cute clothes for the girls!

I heart Mom and Dad!

Bumbos!  Excited to have some "hands free" time later in life!

An adorable cake with two pink buggies!

What a wonderful day!!!

But I'm the Baby!

Kitty is no dumby, she knows something is up!!!  My Mom bought us our mattresses for the cribs last week and we left the plastic on them because Kitty did not like the plastic.  Well we tried one of the sheets on to see how they looked and this morning when I couldn't find the cat, she was napping in one of the cribs!!!  She just looked up at me like "Who... Me?"

Which brings up the new topic of discussion, the pet-free room.  Many resources recommend having a pet free room in the beginning for babies.  If we have them sleep in a pack and play in our room, we will lock the cat out at night.  But in the past, when one of us is sick and we do this, she scratches at the door all night.  If we decide the nursery is going to be the cat free room, we will lock her out of there, but it has also been free for her to roam for the past 3 years, and then babies will be sleeping farther away for late night feedings.  Oh decisions decisions!

Why Hello, Third Trimester!

Not much new to report here... and no news is good news right?!  Except that I'm ecstatic to be in the 3rd trimester!  Work is getting harder by the day, and I can't WAIT till my appointment next week to see if she can modify my work to maybe 30 hours a week or something a little more manageable.  I'm doing ok on the 4 o'clock closes but the other shifts are not going so well :/  Thankfully I work with a great group of managers who have my best interest at heart.  Also, I found a maternity support belt at Motherhood which is like some sort of back brace and tummy brace tied together that seems to be helping.

Let's talk sleep.  Why can't I get any?  I sleep well from 7 am to when I have to get up.  The past two nights we've gone to bed early to try to help me get more sleep.  Both nights I was up at 2 am walking around for a while because I couldn't sleep.  Last night I actually ended up sleeping across the bottom part of the bed b/c it was the only place I could get comfortable.  I need a recliner lol!  I guess this lack of sleep is preparation for when the girls arrive!

Stats?  I'm too tired :)  Our bathroom is still under construction (although I can shower and the toilet works so that's all I need!) and because of that the scale is out of commission.  Will update next week at our 28 week appointment!  27 weeks was my "small goal" #2.  Onto small goal #3.  30 weeks!

SURPRISE!!!

Sunday, some of the people I work with threw a surprise baby shower for us!  Even though due to scheduling issues we had been given a head's up on Friday, it really was a wonderful surprise!  The kindness and generosity of the other managers and staff is truly amazing and reminds me how blessed we truly are.  I didn't have my camera but our friend Amanda took a few pictures she is going to pass on and I will share.  The babies will be styling!  Here are some pictures of their goods!  (Warning Photo Bomb, but I"m just so excited!)

BUMBOS!  Our friends Brian and Amanda (and their two sons who will one day be the twin's husbands lol!) picked out the Bumbos for us!  Amanda even decorated them with skull stickers!!!  They are PERFECT for the girls!!!!

These beautiful blankets were hand made by one of the Hoffman servers, Renee.  They are so snuggly!  C wants to know why they don't make these in adult sizes!

One of my managers from Hoffman and his family bought us these two adorable outfits!  I just love the "Love" and the "heart" on their little tushies!!!

Two of my Lombard servers, Jackie and Tim, picked out these adorable Peter Rabbit outfits with ears and all!  Also some adorable CK onesies and socks!  And of course, the lion bag won me over!

Heather and Cyrus, the best hosts ever, packed a "Mommy Bag" for me, with baby themed candies, Love socks, the classic Mrs. Doubtfire, and liquored flavored candies for after the girls come!  Gotta pamper Mommy a little!  Two of my Lombard bartenders also brought me a bottle of tequila, but that has been hidden till after the babies arrive.  I'm been DYING for a margarita, and the non-alcoholic ones I have them make me are just not cutting it!

Pam picked out the girl's first VS purchases, PINK doggies!  Also two I heart Mom and Dad onesies and two layettes that are adorable!

My co-managers from Hoffman, Dana and Stephanie, really spoiled the girls with these outfits...

these outfits...

and this baby gear!  C and I had just started to sit down and make our "necessity" list of what we had to buy before babies arrive.  They knocked out most of the list, including the girl's first packs of diapers and wipes!

It was a fun day and I can tell it was a lot of hard work to put together.  Again, we feel so blessed to have these people in our lives!

Did I mention that C and his dad are redoing our bathroom right now?  Yes, at 26 weeks pregnant we have no upstairs bathroom right now.  It's almost done!  Here is a sneak peak, tile is layed and grouted, room is painted, and new cabinet is being put in.  We should have water in there by tomorrow!

Under 100 Days Left!

26 weeks along and 98 days to go!  Well, technically 84 because the doctor let me know she will not let us go past January 10th (if babies don't make their appearance before then.)  Oh my, 84 days?  Eeeekkk!
It has been a very busy past week.  As I mentioned before, I have started to slow down a bit.  BH contractions are also becoming a regular part of my life, however I remain pain free with them so we are in good shape.

My twin Halloween shirt arrived!  C and I went to the pumpkin farm.  I was cold before we even went in.  Can you tell by my facial expression I'm rethinking this?! :)

C doesn't like his picture taken.  Too bad Daddy to be!  He loves Pooh so I made him take this!

Get it?  Brewin'?  Babies?  Kinda... :)

C and the Giraffe!

That's the closest I have ever been to a Giraffe!

Next year we plan to take the girls to the pumpkin farm.  We did buy two mini pumpkins, one for each of the twins.  Their first pumpkins!

The girl's dresser that their Grandma Kay and Grandpa George picked out for them is here, and assembled!

I LOVE it, and I know the girls will too!

25 Weeks!  Wahoo! 

We're starting to get things settled for Babies.  I can honestly not BELIEVE we are at 25 weeks.  Harder to believe?  Is that at the latest, in 13 weeks these girls will be here.  Of course I want them to "cook" as long as possible :)  In other great news, just as I am starting to hit a kinda hump in pregnancy (feeling more tired at work, worrying about being parents, how our life is over, etc and just feeling kinda down...) I just found out two sets of our friends who will be AWSOME parents are expecting also!  That has lifted me right back up, and congrats will come in due time when they share with the world :)

Onto some goodies!

C's Aunt Grace has sent over some really cute outfits for the girls.  It was very generous of her and thoughtful!

And... she sent some socks!  I can't even believe how tiny baby's feet are!!!

Today we decided to get out of the house and explore "Lilac Park" of Lombard.  The website said it was a great attraction for Lombardians and travelers alike.  It is a beautiful park, and I can see bringing the girls down for a picnic or to play around.  Here is me getting all excited to check it out!

Here is the official animal of Lombard I guess?  I thought it was the Lombard Lions, but this seems to be some sort of lamb and deer hybrid.  I wanted C to stand sideways and show his belly too, but he refused.  At least I got him to sit for the picture!

And... the cribs came!!!  I can't get my flash to work on the camera right now but it still showed up ok. 

C got them both put together and up in the nursery:

My Mother-in-Law has generously offered to purchase the matching dresser (which will double as a changing table).  I can't wait till it arrives and we can see how the room will look!!! 

(Don't worry, I'll post pictures!)

Kitty is very confused as to why her room is being taken over, and why Mommy is acting so crazy.  We've spent today doing craft projects as we're trying to get the nurery decorations started.  C has painted letters and started tying bows to hang them over the cribs.  I have found out that bow tying is NOT my strong suite.  We're also going to order our wall decal for the nursery tomorrow!  My goal is to have the basics of the nursery set up by November 1st incase I start feeling really bad.  I've read that anywhere between 28 to 32 weeks is where twin mamas really start having issues.  We'll be decorating, etc I'm sure until and after they are born though!

And in the most exciting news of the day... our memory mattress foam topper has arrived!  It's airing out right now and we will be putting it on the bed tomorrow.  Can't wait hope it cures my sleep issues!

Random thoughts of a 24 week pregnant lady....

"Are you due any day now?"  No, I am not lady.  Thanks for asking.  I'm actually in my 6th month and hoping to keep these two cooking for 3 more months, believe it or not.  Shut your mouth that has dropped to the floor and let me seat you at this booth and enjoy your night.

If I don't get my memory foam mattress topper in the mail in the next few days I may not get any sleep.  Consequently, neither will my husband.  We are both suffering when I can not sleep.

I'm hungry.  All the time.

Baby A's movements are seen from the outside for the first time today.  Awesome experience, but a little creepy too!

I want my Halloween shirt NOW.  I don't understand why the lady only reads her email every 3 days, I need that shirt.

Not sure if I can reach my toe nails to paint them, but I'm getting a pedicure this week either way!  I deserve it (I'm sure for something!)

That is all for now :)  3 am and can't sleep and I'm a little crabby but you can't tell, can you? :)

All is well at our OB visit today.  Both babies are measuring on track, one at 650 grams (1 lb 7 ounces) and one at 600 grams (1 lb 5 ounces).  Baby B is back on track, she just measures a little "shorter" than her leggy sister!  She has also flipped (again!) and now they are both head down.  It seems that 24 weeks has hit hard.  My OB said that I am now close to the size of a full term single pregnancy and she is in SHOCK that I was working some 10 to 11 hour shifts on my feet at this point!  She recommended 6 to 8 hours, but pushed it to 6 to 9 hours for me so I can still be full time (for now.)  She did say that she likes to keep her patients working through most of the pregnancy at least a few hours a day since it keeps Mamas-to-be in better shape then taking them off their feet completely.  My boss was happy with that today :)  I actually have felt worse on my two days off when we've just been running errands and sitting around.  It also seems that yes, I am having some Braxton Hicks, but not to be worried unless I get 6 in an hour and accompanied by pain.  I got my flu shot at the office today to keep me, and babies safe.  I asked C where my present is for my shot since I was such a big girl... but I got no response!  I'm going to order a memory foam mattress topper today to hopefully help with my sleep also.  I want to share some nursery pics but C wants to wait till our cribs arrive next week so will post pictures then :)

October!!!

PUMPKIN :)  It's fall (and 70!)

Wow belly is growing! 

And of course, I had to order this!  Every year I wear my "pirate" skull shirt and was sad that I wouldn't fit in it this year.  Instead, I found this one which is super cute and fits with the two girls!

New this week:

People keep asking me if I am due soon.  No, thank you for asking but I am not.

Then I say we're having twins and everyone says I look great... WHICH IS IT PEOPLE? :)

Holy cow these girls are moving up a storm!  It's awesome to feel every day/ all day and C can finally, consistently feel them move from the outside too which is awesome!
Work is getting harder to be on my feet for 9, 10, or 11 hours on the longer shifts.  Yesterday I told my supervisor that while I hope to make it till December, the longer days are starting to get really hard.  Tomorrow is our 24 week check up and I plan on asking my OB to limit me to 9 hour days at this point.

And finally, what we believe are Braxton Hicks contractions have started :(  I know they are usually nothing to worry about, but I was hoping to make it a few more weeks before I started feeling them.  Last night was the first night I felt them twice, it's been only one time a day so far.  Hope they stay away for a while longer.

While I'm excited to make it to the 24 week point, 27 weeks is my next goal.  Small, achievable goals :)  I am talking to the babies every day telling them they are not allowed to come out yet!  C is always reading to them every night which I feel is important to make sure they will recognize his voice!

Also C is hard at work on the nursery.  I will post some pictures of his progress with the Dr. visit update tomorrow!