35 Weeks

This week was a hard week and a fun week!

It was a hard week because Clay's grandpa went to be with Jesus. He was a wonderful Grandpa who loved God, his wife, and family above all else. We are blessed that over the 4th of July he was able to come to Seabrook Island with us once again. Here's a picture of us right before the firework show. The twins will hear of the wonderful legacy their Great-Pop Pop left for them. Pop pop went to Auburn and always loved that Clay did too.

 It was a fun weekend because we had our 10 year High School Reunion. This was one of my goals to make it to the end of the pregnancy. It was fun being there with my friends! Here are some pictures from that night:

10 Years Later and Still Together 

 Some of my great friends

 It's been great having Sarah by my side throughout High School and the last 10 years

 Mallory is also pregnant with a precious baby girl!

 The twins get lots of love from Sarah and Katie

Today I went for a follow up doctor visit. There wasn't much the mid-wife said. She is still impressed with how we are doing and scheduled a stress test next week with my ultrasound. This week is my last full week of work. I will work this week and then Tuesday and Wednesday next week. 

How far along: 35 Weeks (my belly is measuring 43 weeks)
Total weight gain: I weighed the same today as I did last Monday. The mid-wife wasn't concerned and said it's normal. so still 32 pounds.
Maternity clothes: Long skirts and dresses are my best friends right now.. dang swollen feet..
Stretch marks: I am beginning to think they will come after?!
Sleep: I wake up every hour, every time with a contraction.

Best moment of this week: having a girls night with mom and Steph Friday (we got our nails done and drove around in mom's new convertible), and then Saturday night with High School friends
Miss anything: sleeping good.. and moving around easy (it's really hard to get out of bed or off the couch)

Movement: today especially lots of movement
Food cravings: the fall time M&Ms

Anything making you queasy or sick: I had a horrible cold last week and stayed in bed all day Thursday

Have you started to show yet: Today the lady at the post office said, "twins?" first stranger to say that to me
Gender: Girl and Boy
Labor signs: Braxton hicks continue and I think I am feeling some harder contractions too
Belly button in or out: sticking out
Wedding rings on or off: On most days (I have a CZ ring that I wear on the days I am really swollen)
Happy or moody most of the time: Very emotional this week. I started crying when we put the car seats in the car. It's all becoming real.
Looking forward to: Hitting 36 weeks!! :) I am praying we make it until at least 37.

This week's verse: 

Numbers 6: 24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord life up His countenance on you, And give you peace! 

The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.' - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Baby-dedication#sthash.AvktvusZ.dpuf

The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.' - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Baby-dedication#sthash.AvktvusZ.dpuf

34 Weeks

This past week I really started to feel like I was getting close to delivering. This weekend I was really tired and didn't feel so great. I tried to rest as much as I could. Sunday night Clay practiced smoking a brisket for our small group. Clay, his brother and my brother are in a BBQ competition the end of September. He is so excited about it, and this weekend was a great way to practice. We are truly blessed with such a great small group.

On Monday I went to the doctor for another ultrasound and follow up visit. The ultrasound went great! The twins are hitting all their measurements, the fluid is good, cervix is long, and heart beats were great. Colton is still breech and continues to be on the right side. I seriously don't think they have much room in there. The estimated weights were 5 pounds 9 oz, and 5 pounds 12 oz. I know this is just an estimate, but it is so strange thinking I could have over 11 pounds of baby in me now. The doctor also said "have your bag packed and ready we are getting close..." Twins are considered full term at 36 weeks. I think we are pretty much ready. Just a few more things to throw in my hospital bag and for Clay to do around the house and we will be good to go! :)

Here's the picture from last week: 

Here's the picture from this week:

How far along: 34 Weeks
Total weight gain: the nurse who weighed me Monday said for their records I have gained 32 pounds
Maternity clothes: I am liking long maxi's because my feet are so swollen
Stretch marks: still haven't seen any..
Sleep: I am not sleeping much.. I get up sometimes every hour now..

Best moment of this week: Small group dinner Sunday night at our house and getting a good report from the doctor Monday
Miss anything: feeling better..
Movement: lots of movements.. some of the lower movements have really started to hurt
Food cravings: nothing in particular this week

Anything making you queasy or sick: somedays I just don't feel well overall..

Have you started to show yet: if one more person says.. "you look like you are about to pop!!"
Gender: Girl and Boy
Labor signs: braxton hicks continue.. some lower back pain..  lots of swelling especially in my ankles
Belly button in or out: sticking out
Wedding rings on or off: On but really not comfortable..
Happy or moody most of the time: I feel like this week I could cry at any moment.. for no reason in particular..
Looking forward to: Our 10 year High School reunion on Saturday night. 

This week's verse: 

Jeremiah 1:5
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart ..."

33 Weeks

This past week was another great one. Each week that goes by I am thankful for another week for the twins to grow.

Last week Thursday I went for my doctor visit. He said everything is looking good. Colton is still head up but he said there is time for him to flip. The doctor also said some sets of twins typically come around 35-36 weeks gestation. It is my prayer that they stay in until 37-38 weeks. My stomach is measuring 40 weeks. It is getting harder to be in one position for an extended length of time.

This past Saturday I had my last shower. Cathy threw a luncheon at Van Goughs Bistro. Here are some pictures from the shower.

 Clay's Cousin was sweet to come down from South Carolina!

 My Nana and the twin's great grandma!

 Laura and Cayden Grace- both so excited for the twins to arrive

 Pretty flowers at the shower

 Cathy threw a great shower

 We got some great gifts!

 The twins are going to be spoiled with all their grandmas! :)

So thankful for my mom and all she does for us!

I haven't taken the 33 week picture yet, so I will have to upload it next week. 

Here's the weekly questions: 

How far along: 33 Weeks
Total weight gain: I think I am up to 36 pounds now
Maternity clothes: mainly just the dresses that still fit
Stretch marks: still haven't seen any.. but I feel like they are coming
Sleep: I am waking up every two hours most nights
Best moment of this week: dinner with Clay's family Saturday and my family Sunday. So blessed to live close to our families
Miss anything: being able to move easily.. not aching all the time
Movement: still feeling movements both high and low
Food cravings: frozen fruit bars

Anything making you queasy or sick: still the smell of burnt food in the oven/toaster oven.. work is still the worse with this

Have you started to show yet: continuing to grow everyday!
Gender: Girl and Boy
Labor signs: braxton hicks continue.. some lower back pain.. swelling of my ankles
Belly button in or out: sticking out
Wedding rings on or off: On but getting a little snug
Happy or moody most of the time: this week I was more anxious and nervous about everything
Looking forward to: Another week preparing the house for the twins to come home

Verse for this week: 

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

32 Weeks

Today was bitter-sweet for Clay. He sold the jeep he rebuilt with the help of his brother. He bought it 8 years ago. We enjoyed it while he had it, but with the twins on the way, it was no longer practical. Here's some pictures throughout the years..

Sorry Colton, one day when you want a cool jeep and you are sad because we sold it- it's kind of my fault. However, Clay and I have already said we will have another jeep later on. Maybe it will be a project for Clay and Colton to do together. It was a fun eight years with the jeep. We hope the new owner loves it just as much as we did. Interesting fact, the guy we sold it to is a twin!!

This past Friday I went to visit one of my best friends who is expecting triplets! It's so crazy that college roommates would both be pregnant with multiples at the same time. It's so cool to see how God brings people together to go through life together. Natalie is 26 weeks pregnant and needs continual prayer for her and the sweet babies to stay put for another 6 weeks. We are going to have fun with all the little ones in the years to come!

Today I went for a follow up ultrasound. We were released from the specialist and are now able to get the ultrasounds at the regular OB office. Mom met me there this morning, she always loves seeing the little ones on the screen. It's gotten harder to see specifics on the screen anymore. It's getting a little cramped in there I guess. :) All the measurements were great, both babies measured 32 weeks when she measured the head, leg and whatever else she did. The estimate for Colton's weight is 4 lbs 9oz. However, this is just an estimate. The program wasn't calculating Ann Marie's weight for some reason, but the tech said it was probably close. Colton is breech and Ann Marie is head down right now. I go back to the office to see the OB on Thursday.

 How far along: 32 Weeks
Total weight gain: 34 pounds on my home scale
Maternity clothes: my mom took 6 dresses to have them altered for me, they fit in the stomach but are too big in the arms.. looking forward to some new options for the remainder of my pregnancy
Stretch marks: still haven't officially seen any
Sleep: I have started waking Clay up on accident around 3pm when I get up. I guess you can say now we are both getting ready for the weeks ahead.
Best moment of this week: spending time with Natalie in the hospital just like we were back in the dorm room and good reports from the ultrasound today
Miss anything: my back not aching..
Movement: the upper right side is where Colton's head is - so all the little punches up there are from him. The bottom left is where Ann Marie's head is and I can feel little movements down there too.
Food cravings: love me some sugar still- poor kids are going to have a sweet tooth
Anything making you queasy or sick: nothing really this week
 Have you started to show yet: of course! :)
Gender: Girl and Boy
Labor signs: braxton hicks have really picked up as well- on average 6-7 per day (unless I am dehydrated or not moving enough then they really pick up). Swelling has also gotten worse the last week or so.
Belly button in or out: the whole belly button seems to poking out now- could totally see it today with the shirt I wore
Wedding rings on or off: On but getting a little snug
Happy or moody most of the time: happy and excited.. yet nervous too
Looking forward to: my doctor visit Thursday and a shower with Cathy's friends Saturday for a luncheon

Verse I am focusing on this week for the twins: 

Psalm 139:13
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.