HOME

As my last post mentioned, preparation for the twins was well underway in our home.  In addition to moving Ryan's room we also set up another living area upstairs for extra space.  Now let me jump around for a minute. 

We moved here after selling our house and not finding a replacement in a timely fashion.  While living here we've watched the online listings for houses but we'd decided to stay put until early next year.  This decision was easy considering all that was going on and the fact I wasn't seeing houses of particular interest. 

Last summer, while in the midst of heavy house hunting, we made an offer on a house.  It was my dream house.  I loved everything about it.  Obviously, we didn't get it.  Fast forward to last Friday.  I was browsing the online MLS and noticed the house next door to the above mentioned 'dream house' was for sale.  Chris and I decided we should take a look.  We'd previously agreed to use a different realtor but never chose one, so I quickly called a friend for a referral.  I spoke with him on Saturday.  We saw the house on Sunday.  I went back for a second look on Tuesday, at which time I was told an offer was already submitted.  We made an offer that night.  After a couple minor adjustments, it was accepted.  Five days on the market, two offers, SOLD.  And they say its a bad time to sell.  And the realtor, talk about an easy commission.

Now begins the tedious process to home ownership.  Closing date April 10th.  We plan to take til the end of the month fixing up a few things.  So, at 33 weeks pregnant with twins (which I pretty sure translates to 43 weeks pregnant) we'll move to our new home.  And hopefully not move for a long, long time (if ever).   
 
More details to follow but for now here's a noteworthy tidbit.  The room in our current house Chris and I were going to move into once the babies were here (mentioned in my last post as the smallest room in the house, with no closet), well I'm happy to report our new walk in closet is the same size! 

Can't you just see 3 little boys playing in that backyard? 

Ry's Big Brother Room

We're playing musical rooms in our home.  In an effort to minimize the change for Ryan we've concocted a multi-step plan.  First step, Chris and I switch rooms with Ryan. Done. See below.

 Ryan is such a copy cat and proof is in the pictures of him helping below.

My mom made these awesome canary and white chevron curtains and the dresser was a new purchase from IKEA.  I was super excited to find these curtain rods for $2.99/each at IKEA (I bought 2 for the twins room as well).  We had the alphabet cards since Ryan was little, I just bought some mini clothespins to hang them (note: the 'A' card is currently MIA but I know it's around here somewhere).  The retro 'Welcome to Syracuse' print is new, but the fabric is clearly left over from the curtains and the frame previously held a print from Chris's bachelor times.  As for the print, it holds a few meanings.  Of course, Chris is from upstate NY, but some people may recall that our wedding invitations utilized the same 'Welcome to Richmond' image. 

I added coordinating fabric to cheap wooden embroidery rings for a little added detail. 

The drawer liners even match (ok, so that was mere coincidence but still).

This dresser/changing table is simply in waiting to be put in the twins nursery, at which point it will be replaced by a bookshelf currently in the playroom.

And, of course, I couldn't have a Syracuse print without adding some Texas in the mix.

This frame was made, with love, from a $3 piece of trim and some twine.  Not exactly what I was envisioning when I started, but for 3 bucks I can't complain.

Step two, once the twins are here, and I feel comfortable with them sleeping in their own room, Chris and I move into the ultra-tiny playroom and our room becomes the twins room.  That's right, Ryan gets the big room (afterall he has a lot of toys and he is losing his playroom).  The twins get the next biggest room.  And we get the worlds smallest room...without a closet!

Double Trouble

I'm fairly certain Ryan's hand-me-downs can clothe both babies.

Of course, I'm going to need to supplement with some matching outfits!

My first double purchase...

MidPoint

20 weeks down.  At least 16 more to go.  I'm aiming to make it to 38 weeks.  When I was 20 weeks pregnant with Ryan I'd gained 10 pounds.  This time around I'm up 17.  The weight is spread out more than last time too.  My belly is rounding out, whereas last time the weight was centered in my belly.  I asked Chris how my butt getting bigger supports the growth of our babies.  His response "to balance you out so you don't fall forward".  Thanks honey. 

I've been feeling the babies move since week 16.  Chris has been able to feel them since week 18.  And I was able to see my belly move at 19 weeks.  I can often tell between the 2 based on where I feel the movement, but not always.  Once they get bigger and stop flipping around so much I think differentiating between the 2 will get easier. 

I've also been feeling lots of braxton hicks.  I can directly relate picking Ryan up several times a day with more braxton hicks.  Doc says its ok.  All and all I feel good.

Chris asked if I'd blogged about the babies recently.  He said he worried these babies were going to get the shaft as far as documentation goes.  It tickled me he thought about that at all.  I'll do my best, babe!

When we ask Ryan where the babies are he lifts my shirt and kisses my belly.  It's absouletly precious!  And then he says 'bye, bye' and pulls my shirt down.  Of course, we have no idea what he actually understands.  Gotta love that kid.

 17 weeks

18 weeks

20 weeks

Poor Ryan

A few weeks ago Ryan and I were at the Children's Museum, for all of 5 minutes, when he was running, tripped, and bonked his forehead on a wood block attached to the wall.  As most toddlers, he falls and hits his head regularly but this time it was bad.  I immediately picked him up and within seconds I gave him a once over checking for blood but instead I found a huge goose-egg on his forehead.  And it kept growing.  It probably took all of 2 minutes for him to calm down.  I was a different story.  After calming Ryan I fell apart.  I sat in the sandbox and cried.  I blame the majority of my hysteria on hormones.  I'm happy to report the final stage of the monster bruise just faded. 

Here's my attempt capturing the goose-egg.  It doesn't do the egg justice.

A week or so after the goose-egg tragedy, Ryan stopped eating well and started spiking fevers.  I'd been sick off and on and Chris and I assumed Ryan had just caught what I had.  After a few days with fevers he developed stinky breath so in to the doctor he went.  Positive for strep throat.  Poor guy.  He was back to his usual self just a day after starting antibiotics.

To make matters worse his mouth was bleeding.  Why?  Not exactly sure.  I believe his gums were compromised from several teeth coming in and the infection decided to settle in.  Now when I say he was bleeding, it wasn't just a bit of blood.  The blood was seeping out his mouth and down his face.  The doctor said to bring him back in for bloodwork if it didn't stop.  Fortunately, it stopped! 

While he was not feeling well, I broke down and let him snuggle me on the couch and watch Barney.  That's right, the big purple dinosaur.  Let's just say he got hooked.  He now asks to watch 'Bar'.  I suppose one 15 minute episode of 'Bar' a day won't hurt him.



1st Pictures of the Twins

Here's the first 5 rounds of pictures of our sweet baby boys!  Enjoy.

First picture of the twins...embryos!

First picture of BOTH, 7w4d

Baby A, 7w4dBaby B, 7w4d
Baby A, 9w3d

Baby B, 9w3d

Baby A, 15w4d

Baby A's Penis, 15w4d

Baby B, 15w4d

Baby B's Penis, 15w4d

Both babies, head to head, 15w4d

Baby A, 19w4d

Confirmation he's a 'he'

Sweet baby arms

Baby B, 19w4d

Another confirmation!

Project Pretty Christmas

Ever since my mom and I made Ryan's birthday banner we plotted to make a Christmas banner. So, last November we did just that. Well, actually, we made a 'bunting'. The difference? It appears, according to Etsy, the difference is words. As with the birthday banner, my contribution was the idea, the fabric, and my superior cutting and ironing skills. My mom did all the sewing. I absolutely LOVE the fabric. Do you know how hard it is to find modern Christmas fabrics in a world of ultra-ugly fabrics?

Upcoming projects: curtains for Ryan's room and curtains for the twins room.