Vacation

We just got back from Cape Cod for Ryan's family reunion. We had a great time and enjoyed being on the East Coast and seeing his family. Every time I am there I realize how much I miss it and for at least the first 2 days I imagine moving back. By the end of the week I am so happy to come home and can't imagine living anywhere else but beautiful Oregon! The babies enjoyed the trip and seemed to grow bigger every day!



We also got to see our friends Simon and Nora in Middletown CT. Simon works for ESPN and we were able to go in and tour and pretend to be on TV. I think we have a future!

Growing!!! 20 weeks

The babies are growing...which means I am growing. I am already much bigger than the ladies who are due the same time with just one. I feel pretty good but I can certainly tell that I am pregnant. It is amazing to feel them moving around and to guess which one is kicking where. The seem to sleep most in the morning and start moving around more in the afternoon and evening. I feel so blessed!!!

From 2 to 4!!!

We have been blessed with the best news! We are having TWIN BOYS!!!
I went to my midwife on Monday because I was having some problems and she thought it was a good idea if I came in. They checked me out and found the baby heartbeat but still thought they should do an ultrasound to be sure there were no issues with the placenta. The ultrasound tech fit me in between appointments for a "quick" look. She placed the ultrasound wand on my belly and said "Do you already know that you are having twins?" I started laughing and asked if she was joking, she was very serious and said "no, I don't joke". I asked her how she could tell so quickly and she said "well, there are two!" She also commented that she thinks they are identical. It was amazing to watch them, almost like they are dancing with all the arms and legs in motion. They are facing each others feet so basically they can kick each other in the head all day long. She was able to tell the sex so instead of telling me I had her put those photos in an envelope so I could find that out with Ryan. He was surprised and then started calling everyone he could think of. It has been so fun to see all the great reactions of excitement and shock! We both feel so blessed!

Gluten Free for me!!!

Well...R confronted me on Friday about my diet...I was not too happy about it but I knew he was right. i was diagnosed over a year ago as being gluten intolerant. Meaning I need to avoid anything made with Wheat, Rye, Barley...most all flour products. I was really good when it first happened and felt so much better. Well I have gotten really lax because it seemed to not be such a big deal. R pointed out that I was consuming LOTS of gluten and not feeling well at all. he asked me to try to give it up and see how I felt. OH MY GOSH!!! I feel so much better it is not even funny. I mean I feel like an idiot because I was eating all this crap and basically making myself feel worse and then blaming it on the pregnancy. the last 3 days have been amazing...I have energy and I am only burping/gagging a couple times a day. I wish I had figured this out for myself but I am so thankful that R was kind enough to point it out! HOORAY!!!

Sick and tired...

of being Sick and Tired. I had been told the second trimester is the best! you feel all happy and glowy and have all kinds of energy. I call bunk! I actually have felt worse in the last 2 weeks than I did at 6 weeks. I gag all day long no matter what I am doing. I can be sitting at my desk and out of no where a little air bubble and then GAG! Sometimes I can calm my stomach and other times I am off to the toilet. I feel like such a whiner...but honestly I just want to feel better. I want to have good thoughts about being pregnant and stop saying "I am not doing this again!"

Poor hunsband R and kitty Olive are catching it. He has had terrible indigestion and gagged while cleaning the litter box and poor kitty threw up yesterday. I swear this is contagious...don't come near me unless you want to feel the all body convulsion that is the GAG!

i have tried:
rolaids
tumms
pepsid AC, tablet and pill
ginger snaps, ginger chews

they all help for about 20 minutes...then back to the same old thing.

Hopefully my next update will be much cheerier!

MAMA

Most of my childhood memories involve me playing house. I always loved being the mommy, caring for my dolls or for my bear Wally...who still lives with us! My mom was my favorite person in the whole world. I never felt more loved than when I was with her and I remember thinking I want to be this kind of mom. Well, I am being blessed with the opportunity to try. That's right...I am pregnant with our own little one. Yesterday I laid in my midwifes office and prayed and prayed that they would find the heartbeat. After what felt like an eternity she said "do you hear that?" I felt such relief, like i had been holding my breath for the last week and I was finally able torlet it out. It is the most amazing sound to hear your own childs heart beat. We feel so blessed and a little freaked out. Which I hear is completely normal. I can't wait to write about this new adventure and share it with our little one someday.

I have been getting lots of questions so I will cover them here...

I am due December 13, give or take a few days.
I am feeling ok but not great...also something I hear is normal
Yes, we will find out what we are having...I am a planner after all.
No, we have not decided on names
Yes, we will take all sorts of hand me downs
Yes, this was planned and no it did not take long.
Yes, we are excited and happy and unsure and scared and overwhelmed...i hear this is normal too!

Good Friends!

I have many women I would call my good friends. They fit into 3 catergories

1) Old Friends...these ladies I have know almost literally since birth. We lived through middle school together, graduated high school together, partied through college, stood up at each others weddings and have celebrated babies together. We talk often about going on road trips when we get older and are retired. I know with all my heart that these ladies will always be my friends

2) New Friends...most of these dear women I have met since I have been an adult. Some from college, some from work and some are wives of my dear husbands friends. I love these ladies so much. They all make me laugh so hard and we have so much fun! I look forward to the continued growth of these friendships!

3) Family Friends...these gals are a blessing!! My sister has always been a support for me. She has watched me grow up and has always been there when I needed her. My step-mom has fit into an amazing place for me. She is part friend and part mom. We get to grow together in friendship and so much more! Lil sister has also been an amazing light in my life, she is always there for a great story and has such an amazing sweet spirit...I look forward to our friendship growing deeper and deeper.

I do not know what I would do without all of these ladies. Each one holds a place in my heart that could not be filled by another!