34 Weeks - Pregnancy Update

I've been wanting to do this for a while now....take a picture of me pregnant with this little boy and me pregnant with the girls.  Well it just so happened I was wearing the same shirt last night and was the same amount of weeks as one of the pictures I had when I was pregnant with the girls.  So here you go....

Hopefully you can tell which picture is with the twins and which one is now.  So for all those who keep telling me I look the same pregnant with one as I do with 2...now you have proof that I really was bigger with twins.

This pregnancy is still going really well.  I had a little scare of contractions on Monday morning.  Bad enough that I needed to leave work and go lay down for a while and it still took a little while to get them under control.  Since then I've been fine.

We're down to about 5 1/2 weeks and the girls remind me daily that I am really pregnant and don't have the energy and strength that I used to have.  Walking up stairs is hard enough being pregnant but when 2 little girls want me to carry them upstairs it gets really exhausting.

We're trying to get rooms and stuff organized for when he gets here and yes we're still trying to decide on a name.  I have most stuff bought that we need...except for newborn diapers.  Note to self...buy Newborn diapers.

5 1/2 weeks seems so close and yet still so far away.

FHE at the Aquarium

Tonight for Family Home Evening we decided to take the girls to the aquarium.  They are now open until 8pm for the summer and it was so hot and windy outside that this ended up being a perfect activity.  The aquarium was pretty much empty which was so nice. 

The girls ran from tank to tank looking at all the fish.  Each time we go they get more and more excited and interested in the exhibits.  They're favorite pat of the night was the little play area they have.  They discovered the tunnels and ran through them over and over again. 

We were just getting ready to leave when Siena tripped and skinned her knee up.  She didn't really cry that much but it was bleeding enough that we had to ask for a band-aid.  Well who knew that we would get individual attention from 3 employees.  Not only did we get a band-aid but then they had to fill out a whole incident report.  Then an employee came up and gave both Siena and Aria a sticker, badge, and a light up Sea Horse.  It was kind of comical all the attention we got just for a band-aid.  The Sea Horse was a total hit and both girls didn't care about one other thing.  In fact they both went to bed holding it tonight.  Hopefully they didn't keep it lit up too long and went to sleep.

Quite the fun but eventful evening we had.

Cousin Week

The girls have enjoyed quite a bit of cousin time this last week.

Tuesday evening we met at the park and had a cousin party for Darienne who turned 5. It was fun to get together and enjoy pizza, swings and good company. The girls still really aren't into eating cake...although Aria loves to eat the ice cream off of my spoon.

Earlier that day on Tuesday they went to my sister Michelle's for the entire day. Michelle easily managed my 2 girls and her 4 kids and a dog.  

Wednesday they went to Jennifer's for the afternoon.  They love 'the puppy' (at least that's what we call Milo even though he is far from a puppy these days.)  I love that my sisters both have dogs and that the girls aren't scared of the big or small dogs. They love them both, I hope it stays that way since we don't have a dog.

 

Thursday afternoon they went to Whitney and Max's to play for the afternoon.  Whitney was so nice to watch the girls for us.  

Friday we returned the favor to Whitney and Max came over and spent the night.  It was the first cousin sleepover even though they all slept in separate rooms.  It was fun to see all 3 kids running around together.  They ran from one end of the house to the other.  Max was so well behaved and didn't give us any problems.  

Saturday we had a family birthday party celebrating 5 birthdays.  Once again, more cousin time.  I wish I had a picture of Siena practically giving Allie the dog a kiss at one point.  

Sunday we stayed home!!!

Cousins are so much fun and we really took advantage of all the cousin time this week.  And a special thanks for my sisters and sister in law for watching the girls for us this week.  We were in a crunch and they are always so willing to step up and help so thank you!!

Mothers Day 2013

While I was in St. George I had a great Mother's day.  It was fun that all my sisters and my mom were all together.

And it was great because with all the men together they were able to join forces and make a great day for all of us.  It started out with my dad making us all omelets and Hash browns and eggs (my fav.)  I had both actually.  All the girls were able to sit together and eat with no kids interrupting us.  Most my family went to church in the morning and we stayed home and watched the kids that didn't go.  Then that afternoon we put the girls down for a nap and just Shane and I went to church.  It was nice to go to church and actually be able to listen and not wrestle 2 little toddlers.  I do admit, my head might have nodded once or twice (remember I hadn't gotten a lot of sleep.)

Then that evening all the guys cooked dinner again and we all got to sit together for another meal without kids.  We were spoiled.  Can you see Aria trying to sneak her way into the fun?

That night we all opened up gifts and the Happiness books and it was fun to see everyone's book and all the presents the kids made for their moms.

My girls were actually in pretty good moods all day so I was happy to have my 2 sweet girls to hang out with all day.

I'm so grateful I could spend Mother's day with my mom as well.  She does so much for me and my girls all the time and I'm so glad we live close.  After 1 1/2 years of raising my 2 girls, I don't know how she raised all 6 of us and stayed sane...she is my hero.

I'm so lucky to be a mom.  My girls bring me more happiness and love than I could ever imagine.  It's not the easiest job but I love it all the same.  I still look at my girls and think, how did I get so lucky?  I can't believe their mine!

St. George 2013

My entire family made our way to St. George over Mother's day weekend.  (Mother's day post coming next.) We found another large house to rent with a pool.  It's always fun when our entire family gets together and the grandkids all have so much fun together.  This weekend was no exception except for one part...my girls wanted nothing to do with this weekend.

We arrived on Friday.  The girls were great on the way down.  We got a room with a walk in closet and put both pack n plays in the closet.  At 4:30AM the next morning Aria awoke hysterical.  I had to get her so she didn't wake Siena or the rest of the house.  I tried to get her to go back to sleep in our bed but she was up and ready to play for the day.  It was pitch black and I would think she was back to sleep until I would hear her clapping her hands together and laughing.  Ugh...she went back to sleep at 6:15am until Siena woke up at 6:45am.  That was just the start to a very long weekend.  The latest they slept each morning was 6:30...not a happy time for us.  One morning it was Siena that was in bed with us when she crawled to the foot of the bed and hit her head on the foot board...hysterical to say the least and woke up my sister next door as the next thing I knew I was getting a text asking if everything was alright.  I'm not really sure what the whole deal was...different environment, sleep deprived, teething, lots of people...probably a combination of it all.  They were super needy and crying wanting to be held a lot.  Luckily my family is so patient and nice and always offered to help take them on a walk or hold them so I could at least shower or get a few minutes break.  Monday I was sure Aria had an ear infection, she was miserable, crying non stop even when I was holding her and was pulling at her ears.  I gave her tylenol and she fell fast asleep in my arms. So I took her to Instacare and nothing was wrong.  I guess which is good but I felt like one of those paranoid moms running to the doctor at the slightest little thing.  She was actually fine again that afternoon.

The good part is we did still have a lot of fun.  The girls loved running around in the back yard and on the last day got in the pool (couldn't convince them of that earlier) They loved jumping off the side of the pool into Jennifer and my arms.  I even got brave and took them down the slide.  Siena actually wanted to go again and liked it.  Neither really cried that much when we went down it and I was surprised.

 'Dad, I know you thought I was sick earlier today but I really want to go in the pool with Siena and Mom.'

 

On our way home we stopped at our favorite park in Filmore for lunch.  This was the swing they went in last year together and since they only had one they had to share a swing again.  Kind of fun to see them in the same swing a year later and how much they've changed.  Here's the post from last year.

By the time we got home Shane and I were totally exhausted.  We didn't get a lot of sleep and with our high maintenance girls did not get a lot of relaxing time in.  We still have a fun time and it it's always fun to spend time together.  Here's hoping the girls do better the next time we go.

Thanks mom and dad for such a fun trip.  Thanks for helping us so much with the girls!

April Top 5

I'm so far behind, so you're getting a monthly summary for April on what we've been up to.  Mostly it's just some random pictures.

1 - The girls got their first ride in my parents play car.  All the grandkids love this thing.  Aria was ok about it.  Siena thought she was 16 and ready to drive it herself.  Really she just liked pushing all the buttons.

 2 - My manager at work convinced me to take this big box home from work one day.  The girls love this box.  Over a month later they still play in it all the time and peek through the 'windows' and laugh and laugh at each other.  The box was a hit.

 
3 - We went to Wheeler farm twice.  Once my friend Konstantina was in town and it was a cool, windy Saturday morning.  We decided to go check it and out and was surprised when we got there how nice the weather was and how empty the farm was.  The girls were in heaven running around, chasing ducks and seeing all the animals.

4 - We bought the girls a swing set for our backyard.  They stay pretty entertained in the backyard now.  They loved 'helping' Shane put it together.  They love to go down the slide and sit in their little swing and face each other and laugh and laugh at each other.  Most the time I have no idea what they are laughing at with.

5 - One Saturday I had gone upstairs to shower and came out to this scene.  This is how a lot of our Saturday mornings go and it was cute to see them during some reading time with their dad.

Pregnancy Update - 29 weeks

I have a lot to catch up on here.  I've been so busy and then trying not to post every picture on here getting ready for the Happiness Book so that my mom and family hadn't already seen every picture.

So first a pregnancy update.

Me, Whitney, Lori (in order of due date, left to right)

I'm 29 1/2 weeks.  I just had an appointment this week and my doctor scheduled my c-section already.  I was NOT mentally prepared that we were close enough to do that yet.  I know, it's still more then a couple months out but it all of the sudden became so real.  I also start going in every 2 weeks, so I'm definitely on the downhill of this pregnancy.

That afternoon I made a huge list of everything I need/want to get done before this baby gets here.  Nesting here I am!

I'm feeling good still.  Sleeping good, not too uncomfortable, very little heartburn, much better in general then last time even though I didn't think last time was that bad either.

The doctor told me I'm measuring 30 weeks (when I was 29 1/2 weeks) so she's happy with how I'm growing.  At this point last time I was measuring 35 weeks and around 35 weeks last time I was measuring 44.  So I'm definitely not as big as I was last time (unlike a lady who commented at work that I'm bigger with 1 then I was with 2...like she remembers...but still did she have to say that?  I just turned to her and said 'oh gee, that's always nice to hear.'  lol, don't mess with a pregnant lady.)

Siena and Aria now kiss my stomach when I mention baby brother, it's pretty cute even if they don't really, truly get it.

This baby kicks and moves a ton.  And a lot at night.  In fact as I am typing this my stomach is moving all over the place.  I'm pretty sure he's going to be a night owl because he is always so active in the evenings and when I'm going to bed.

Still don't have names, we aren't even close.  I keep suggesting names and Shane keeps saying no but has no suggestions of his own.  Ugh...enough said.

My biggest decision besides a name between now and when the baby is born is whether or not Aria and Siena can/should share a room.  I think they would sleep/nap better apart but I don't really want to clean out another room and give up my office/storage/put anything I want in there and close the door room.  I go back and forth every week.

So here we are less then 10 weeks out.  I know it's going to go by so fast as there is lots to do both at home and work to get ready but we're getting so excited to meet him.