20 month update

Schedule
8:15 - wake up
9 - breakfast
12:30- lunch
1:30-3:30 nap
4 - snack
6 - dinner
8:30 - bed


Food
I am still struggling with understanding what the hell "all done" really means. They'll mimic "all done" and then SCREAM for more food. It's getting easier, but seriously... I feel like no one is EVER full.

They are doing great with forks and spoons. Mark's been working very hard with Alexis on taking single bites and putting her food back down to chew and swallow. In the last few weeks this has significantly improved. WTG Mark!


Sleep
It's somewhat rocky right now. The girls still seem to be having early evening nightmares, and now that they are binky-free, it seems to be more difficult to calm them down (and by "difficult", I mean 2 minutes vs. 10 seconds to retrieve the binky). The number of wakeups are still similar though, so there's no change there.

Smarts
Both girls know all 26 capital letters
Can identify numbers 1-10
Can count from 1 to 13
Know their basic colors
Know shapes - heart, square, circle, hexagon, star, and triangle


Favorite Toys
Alexis loves to climb. Her newest interest seems to be nurtering her mothering instinct (playing with her babies, stroller, etc).
Reagan likes quiet things like reading. Her newest interest is "getchu" (I'm going to get you!) She loves being chased.
They love running to me and swinging in my arms in the yard.
They love playing with their cars in the yard too. Alexis hates the swings. I pray this improves

Size -
25-26 pounds. Alexis is about 1 pound heavier. They are in size 24 month shirts, 18 month pants (for the most part). They wear size 4 shoes, size 4 daytime and size 5 nighttime diapers

Teeth
Alexis has all her top teeth except her 2nd year molars. She is missing the lower 2nd year molars and lower canines
Reagan has

Songs
ABC, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Head Shoulders Knees & Toes, Baby Signing Time, The opposite word song, Mickey Mouse Clubhousee

How Does Elmo Go? NANANA, AUTOWORLD (Alexis)


"Share" now means GIVE IT TO ME NOW :(

Day care

1st visits

Kindercare

Kiddie Kollege

OB appt.

Well... lost my MP this am...

contractions on monday were 5.5 minutes apart and were making me nauseated and taking my breath away, but I knew I was very dehydrated (again)

Doctor checked my cervix - I'm (barely) closed, 50% effaced and -2 station (much better than I thought... good)

BP was 140/90, recheck 128/88. Definately swollen...

My neck started hurting a few days ago and has become very severe. She gave the okay for tylenol only and asked that my rheumatologist please call her if I need something stronger. I'm just praying this is a pulled muscle and not one of my long standing episodes of severe pain... sadly though, it's keeping me from sleeping.

Apparently, I've been counting how pregnant I am based on our initial ultrasound - we were told my due date was 9/6. She has always said 9/8. I know when I ovulated and I know what I was told... 9/6 so I've been sticking with that... until now. I can only deliver at SJWS if I am 35 weeks or further along (so according to her measurements... AFTER next weds (8/4)

Just before I left the OB's office, she came over, gave me a hug and told me to stay in bed for the next week (until Thursday night)... and if I was still contracting and dilating next Friday, my babies would be born that day. "Bring a bag"

O.M.G.

34 week bump

How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +5 more. Measurements on my belly went up a LOT
Maternity clothes? I probably should buy a tank top or something to put under the shorter tops...
Stretch marks? one. same one. getting darker and feels kinda hard
Sleep: getting worse. Hard to fall asleep due to reflux (have to be near sitting up), hard to stay asleep. Twice this week I threw up acid and woke up choking on it. Getting up to pee every 45 minutes to an hour and a half... I sleep the best between 6am-noon
Movement: I'm starting to feel LESS. Not because they are moving less, but my belly is going numb from all the stretching
Food cravings: not a craving, but pretzels with my water in the evening is helping prevent reflux
Food aversions:
Gender: 2 girls
Labor Signs: did baby A drop or not? I could've sworn she did this past week... but then it felt like she crawled out. LOL - I dunno
Preggo PITA symptom: My "troll feet" per Mark. He just giggles... They are so swollen and can't really move my feet much any moore. Can't even reach them to get them clean. Ew, right?
Mood: Moody. Crabby some moments and sobbing others. VERY rough week. I'm very uncomfortable. The easiest way to set off my temper at this point is me (or mark) dropping something on the floor. It is SO HARD to pick things up
Arthritis severity: No change from last week. Swollen fingers, triggers...
What I miss: my ankles, fruit, ice cream
Fundal height: 43
BP this week: 120s/80s Seems to be holding steady
Milestones: 34 weeks!!! My babies can suck, swallow and breathe now and that's AWESOME! Next goal 35! (so we can deliver at westshore with my OB. I'd really like to make it to 36 weeks so I don't have to worry about either of the girls getting transferred to UH though)
Other

Welcome to the world baby Caleb

My nephew Caleb was born today via c-section after Amanda was induced, and then labored without any progress for almost 24 hours.
He was 10# 4oz 21 in. Born at 4:33 pm


Caleb Michael is Mark's first godchild

He's the spitting image of Mike... at least from the pictures I have seen of him. Don't know what Amanda looked like as a baby...

(Pictures are from the next day, when we visited)

33 week bump

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: gained 6 pounds this week?! my swelling started and hasn't gone away in the last week. I'm assuming most of the gain has been fluid related and honestly am a little worried about it... will report this to my OB this week
Maternity clothes? Had to buy a few size-up tops this week. Honestly, I don't think they're going to cover the belly very long either! UGH!
Stretch marks? no change
Sleep: no change
Movement: My darling baby A got hiccups this week too. So glad my girls are sharing the adorable-ness :)
Food cravings: ramen noodles (but planning to cut them out for the sake of the swelling problem)
Food aversions: its not really an aversion, but I'm dying for a piece of fruit... something that won't give me heartburn - so actually... none will have to do :*(
Gender: 2 girls
Labor Signs: contractions are status quo. no pain. good days and bad days
Preggo PITA symptom: WHERE THE HELL DID MY ANKLES GO?!
Mood: tearful week. Mark has been very supportive. Usually just his listening to me and a strong hug is all i need to calm me down
Arthritis severity: My hands aren't puffy, but the joints on a few of my fingers are so large I've stopped being able to wear my wedding rings. I have two trigger fingers that are quite painful - 7 (I only give them a 7 because they could be WORSE). Injections probably to come in the next 2 weeks...
What I miss: my ankles, fruit, ice cream
Fundal height: 40
BP this week: 120s/80s-90 Watching this VERY closely
Milestones: 33 weeks!!! Next goal 34! (really wanna make it to 35/36 though)
Other Mom helped me shop yesterday - we went to Target, Costco, and motherhood maternity and I spent a LOT. I wont have to go back for awhile though, so am pretty happy about that. SOOO greatful for her help!

32 week bump

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 30 pounds - ugh! I'm actually right on track with twin weight gain - and my arms and face seem a little skinnier than pre-pregnancy, but still, 30 pounds is a lot to lug around!
Maternity clothes? haven't gone shopping... just doing laundry more frequently. call me lazy. call me cheap. (its really just tired)
Stretch marks? yup... lower ones. Can't see them in a photo, but with a strong mirror, there's no denying it anymore
Sleep: no change
Movement: OMG, Tuesday night I laid down in bed next to Mark and felt rhythmic movement on my right side. Baby B had hiccups!!! It was the most adorable feeling in the world. Mark got to feel her (but of course made me look up in-utero hiccups on my phone to be sure that was really even possible first). We even pulled out the doppler and you could HEAR the hiccups (and a normal heartbeat) on the monitor. SO CUTE!!!
Food cravings: I've been starving this week! (hence the weight gain)
Food aversions: I'm done with ice cream until the pregnancy is over... zantac doesn't prevent it from coming back up. bummer :(
Gender: 2 girls
Labor Signs: had contractions every 6 minutes on weds. night. I doubt I'm gonna get to go back to work. They finally let up after a long night's sleep, but also not until after I drank 2 LITERS of water... oi!
Preggo PITA symptom: contractions are getting old... and actually are a little more painful lately
Mood: it was VERY hard saying goodbye to my dear sister and her kids last night. I hate that they live so far away
Arthritis severity: my hands are about a 5-6. knee pain severity varies
What I miss: I'm so SLOW at getting anything done
Fundal height: 39
BP this week: 117/70ish
Milestones: 32 weeks!!! Next goal 34!
Other Made huge progress this week on the house. Mark cleaned out the basement, Kristin emptied out the babies' room closet, and Mark and I spent most of the weekend working on the debris left in the office. The garbage man is going to HATE us tomorrow!!