7 Years of Marriage

 Yesterday Brian and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary. 7 was our theme of the night since we also realized it would be 7 days until we became parents. We tried to get lottery tickets to see Newsies since who knows when we will be able to see a Broadway show again, but it wasn't our lucky night so we enjoyed a wonderful meal out and a movie. Going to the movies is another thing people keep telling us to do because apparently parents of small children don't go to the movie theater. It was a great date night and we are very excited about all the new changes and challenges this year of marriage will bring. 

Since we didn't get lottery tickets to Newsies last night we decided to try one more time tonight, but yet again not our lucky night since this is how we spent the afternoon and early evening. My blood pressure was high at my doctor appointment and they wanted me to go strait to the hospital for monitoring.  Even though I am smiling in this picture I was really uncomfortable with all those monitors and straps on me. I was also starving and thirsty since they wouldn't let me eat or drink in case they decided to deliver the babies. I was a little disappointed that this is what I did my hair and make-up for today, but at least everything is OK now and the babies are still nice and cozy in my belly.

Maternity Photos

I was trying to decide if I wanted to do maternity photos or not for awhile. I have looked at so many beautiful pictures on Pintrest but I didn't really want to pay anyone to take them. What are you really supposed to do with them anyways? I guess I will just make a page of my favorite ones in the babies' scrapbook and maybe frame one or two. I am glad we didn't pay anyone but I am also glad Brian took them because I think they turned out pretty good for armature photography. Now you can really see how big my belly is in these pictures!

 Some are the same pose I'm just not sure if I like the color or B&W better

35 weeks

How far along: 35 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 30 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Stretch Marks: No

Sleep: I am starting to get used to getting up 4 times a night and I’m much better at getting myself back to sleep quickly. I still have a mountain of pillows and a body pillow and a pillow at the foot of the bed to keep my feet elevated.

Best Moment of the week: I can’t really pick one moment but this week was a little bitter sweet because it was my first official week off work or as Brian likes to say my first week of retirement. I’m glad we got to have brunch with Field and Clementine this weekend because it was weird being in NY but not seeing them. We also had a few other fun moments like meeting our pediatrician, going out to one of our last dinners with friends before babies, and having a nice Sunday lunch with Brian’s parents when they came into the city to pick up another load of boxes.

Movement: Hudson is still my little rollie pollie and Hadley is the feisty kicker.  C-section is imminent because Hudson is once again breech and Hadley is transverse stretched all the way across my belly, but I am mentally prepared for it.

Food Cravings: ICE still all the time

Symptoms: My ribs and back still hurt on and off for most of the day and shoes are a challenge. It turns out that my itchiness is a symptom of cholestasis which showed up as positive on my lab work from Friday. I’m not in the really dangerous zone but they are going to start monitoring me much closer, I am on a medication for it, and they moved my C-section up a week to March 4^th.

Wedding Rings on or off: on

Looking Forward to: Being a mommy!

Happy or Moody: Happy :)

Belly Cast

I saw the kits for making a belly cast at a maternity store and then I kept seeing it done on other blogs and TV and I decided I really wanted one for myself. When I told Brian about it he immediately got excited to do it and told me not to buy a kit because putting on casts is part of his job everyday. So this week Brian brought home the rolls of plaster from the hospital and this weekend we made a cast of my belly. I could have waited another week or so but I also feel like since I am pregnant with twins I could have to go in at any time and I would be sad if I missed out on making a belly cast, plus Brian thought my belly was big enough. It turned out so cool. Thanks babe for making the perfect cast. Now I just have to decide if I want to paint it or put the babies' footprints on the inside etc...lots of possibilities. I do know that I am going to hang it in their room as my take on modern art. 

33 weeks

How far along: 33 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 26 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Stretch Marks: no

Sleep: The worst part of the day. I used to love sleeping in my big huge cozy bed but now everything is so uncomfortable and I wake up so many times that I dread going to bed. It is a vicious cycle though because then I get so tired during the day and need to take naps.

Best Moment of the week: Knowing that I am ready to go for when the babies arrive and everything is completely done, including my belly cast (more on this later)

Movement: Hudson likes to move all the time and roll around and do flips, but Hadley just gets her little foot lined up right in my side and gives me a good strong kick every so often to remind me she is there. They both did move to be head down now so that’s really exciting and I might not have to have a C-section.

Food Cravings: ICE all the time I want a big cup of ice to crunch

Symptoms: Really bad swelling in my hands and feet that is kind of painful, itchy skin, my ribs feel bruised from the pressure of my uterus, my gums are sore, and I am irritable a lot   

Wedding Rings on or off: on

Looking Forward to: Not being pregnant any more and meeting my two sweet babies

Happy or Moody: Moody

NYC Couples Shower

Last weekend the family I nanny for threw us a very nice couples "baby cocktails" party. The theme was pink and blue and we were able to celebrate with our New York Friends. Most of the guests were Brian's fellow residents and significant others so it was really nice for Brian to celebrate our upcoming arrivals with his friends too. 

These are my favorite cupcakes from One Girl bakery in Brooklyn

 Kristine and Leslie, they both live in our building and Kristine and Bob will be making the big move to LA with us this summer where Bob and Brian are both doing their fellowships at the same place

 Mingling 

 Clementine and Field helped us open all of our gifts, they were so excited. Diana wrote up this really cute speach using candy bars and the kids were patiently waiting to eat the candy all night.

 My friend and fellow nanny Mandy

 Hostess Diana 

 Bob & Kristine

 The night ended with some great musical performances by David and Host Nelson and Brian thought he could join in on the harmonica 

 Margaret and the cute diaper cake she made for us 

I'm going to really miss these guys and I only have about 3 weeks left with them, but I'm so greatful that I have been a part of their lives for the past 4+ years and we have gained lifelong friends. Thank you for such a fun shower and celebration for our babies Nelson and Diana. 

31 weeks

How far along: 31 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 21 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Yes but I still wear blousey tops that are not maternity

Stretch Marks: no

Sleep: I wake up several times at night to go to the potty, or reposition my pillows, and to get a drink of water. I now also have to sleep with my feet propped up because they were swelling up so bad in my sleep that it was painful.

Best Moment of the week: Knowing I'm one more week closer to meeting these little guys. I'm not sure If you know this but I'm not really one of those women who love being pregnant. 
Movement: Lots of rolling around kicking at night, they like to have a dance party in my belly when i am trying to go to sleep. Also I have felt a couple times when they get hiccups.

Food Cravings: ICE still, this is because I am still anemic and have to up my iron intake even more. I still don't have really weird or strong food cravings but I do like pastries in the morning and I love ranch dressing.

Symptoms: This week I was on the mend from the flu. Yes I got the flu even though I had a flu shot back in October. It was awful and I still have a horrible cough from it. Thank goodness I was able to start Tamaflu since we caught it in the first 48 hours.  I also failed my normal blood glucose test so I had to do the three hour test which was miserable. My hands and feet have been swelling at night and I am so itchy it feels like bugs are crawling on me all the time. I think I apply lotion 2-3x a day all over my whole body. Seriously I'm not sure I how I can take 7 more weeks of these symptoms, hopefully something will ease up.

Wedding Rings on or off: Wedding band on, engagement ring off sometimes

Looking Forward to: Getting some "nesting" tasks completed. Almost everything is ready to bring those two peanuts home but I still have a few last minute preparations like a little laundry, finish packing my hospital bag, finish shower thank yous, and go shopping for nursing supplies.

Happy or Moody: Itchy all the time :)