21 weeks

Gasp...is that a stretch mark?!! Take deep breaths and remember -- they'll fade after delivery. Your skin may also feel dry and itchy, especially over your emerging bump. Take a cue from your fetus, now coated by vernix (a milky, protective cream), and slather on the lotion

Size of baby: a banana

 Total Weight Gain/Loss: 12 lbs

 

Maternity Clothes: yes, for bottoms anyway.  I can still use most of my tops although I am probably stretching them out.

 

Gender: one girl for sure

Movement: yes, they have been more active this week.  I read somewhere that it feels like what a lava lamp does (if that makes sense).  I think that is a great way to describe it!

 

Sleep: Still pretty good.  It's getting harder to get out of bed in the mornings though.

 

What I miss:  My stamina - it takes me forever to clean the house.  I have to take breaks and sit for awhile because I'm out of breath!

Cravings: Nothing, which explains why we don't have anything in the house for food.  I need some ideas!

 

Symptoms: Movement and growing belly

 

Best Moment This Week:  We got the tile put down in the basement and almost all of it grouted.  We ran out of grout. So once we get that finished all we need is baseboards and carpet before we can begin to decorate and move furniture!  Yea!  We also got the cribs in.  They are still in the box and I am anxious to put them up once the carpet is down in the basement.  This should all be done by the end of September.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I also went to Hobby Lobby after working in Hutch this week and found some great fabric.  I think I'm going to tackle making the crib skirts (with help from my mom) and maybe even some curtains.  I never thought I would say this, but I'm pretty excited to sew!

Milestones: Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion, and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth).

What I'm Looking Forward To: A 3 day weekend.  Mitch has his 10 year class reunion and there are quite a few events going on this weekend in town that will keep us busy.  Oh and I'm also getting my hair cut today.  I'm thinking short, Mitch doesn't like the idea.  You'll see in next week's picture what I decided.

19 weeks

Those nasty leg cramps are probably making it tough to get comfortable. One way to ease the pain: Extend your leg and flex your ankle and toes toward your knees. Or enlist your partner for a calf (and back!) massage. Good news: Your now-bulging belly should get you a little more compassion from everyone around you.

Size of baby: Mango 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 9 lbs 

Maternity Clothes: pants - yes, shirts - no, maternity shirts fit really weird

Gender: we still think it is two girls but we aren't buying anything gender specific until our next ultrasound on September 8th.

Movement: Yes, pretty sure.  It's no kicking just flutters when I sneeze or cough and the feeling of shifting going on.

Sleep: Yes - I'm sleeping very well lately! 

What I miss: Nothing really comes to mind.  :)

Cravings: rainbow sherbert on hot days :) 

Symptoms: growing belly! 

Best Moment This Week: I purchased the twins' cribs today.  There was a sale on Amazon so I went ahead and made the purchase and they should be here by the end of the month.  The grandparents have agreed to each buy a crib.  Thanks Gma and Gpa Hall & Marshall!

Milestones: Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Still, just getting our basement done!  With the cribs ordered I'm going to get antsy to set them up once they are here.

18 Weeks

 

As your growing uterus starts shifting your center of gravity (belly forward, bottom out), hormones are causing your ligaments to relax and joints to loosen. The result? Back pain and soreness. On the bright side, if you want to know baby's gender, this might be your first week for a sneak peek.

Size of baby: sweet potato

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 8 lbs according to the scale at home. 

Maternity Clothes: work pants - yes.  They were getting too uncomfortable.  I still wear short and t-shirts when I'm working at home and I know at least one pair of my jeans still fit.

Gender: drum roll.......GIRLS!  At least one girl anyway.  The other baby was being difficult with positioning so their best guess on the other baby was girl as well.  We go back at 22 weeks and will get another look then.

Movement: I think so.  It feels like something is rolling in there.  And yesterday I was either having some muscle spasms or they were kicking.  Not sure which one it was.

Sleep: Good!  Its been a busy last couple of weeks paired with cooler temps.  So I am sleeping great!

What I miss: Not much lately.  I've been feeling really good.  Even got some NA beer while we were on vacation to make me fit it :)  It tasted pretty good actually. 

Cravings: Still liking watermelon.  Eat it about everyday for breakfast.

Symptoms: Not may.  Just the little movement I feel now and then and the belly getting bigger :)

Best Moment This Week: Well...this week and last week...we found out we are having 2 girls (probably anyway) and that they both look healthy.  We also went to tipton for the weekend and attended the Tipton Church Picnic.  Always a good time!

Milestones: Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements (and I think I am!).

What I'm Looking Forward To: Getting the basement done!!!  I'm getting so frustrated it is taking so long.  I don't want to start getting baby items until we have a place to put them.  Also the gals at work are planning a baby shower for me on October 10th.  My first shower date is set!  I'll be 27 weeks then.  Things are moving fast!

Missed a week again :(

So I may just end up posting every other week for awhile.  It seems like I can't sit down at my computer and get things posted.  Moving on to 18 weeks....