{iPhone Rewind} :: July

Date #20: Baby Registry! #wcsavethedate16 {Such a fun day! We're just so thankful...}

Date #21: Double Date with the Shens! #wcsavethedate16

We got to spend a week away from the 100 degree weather, and it was SO nice. 

THIS was at the checkout in Walmart. It's like pregnant-lady-in-the-summer temptation row haha. {I refrained, by the way, but it took ALL of my will power}. 

Mike snuck a photo at our ultrasound this month...

LOVE seeing my babies...and seeing exactly who is causing all the ruckus inside my belly :)

Mike was the official photographer for PK's birthday party and he totally rocked it. Fully committed and completely adorable :)

This. I wasn't sure if I would ever be celebrating a baby shower of my own. So when I got the super adorable invite for my first one, I couldn't help but just cry. All happy tears, but tears nonetheless. This invitation means so much more than a pretty invite and a fun party. So much more.

Our a/c went out, and when it hit 95 degrees in the house, we packed up and headed to a hotel for a couple of nights. So we decided to make the best of it: date night!

Date #23: Dinner at Grimaldi's and dessert at Paciugo #wcsavethedate16

Yep. That sounds {and feels} about right! #24w4d

24 Weeks

How far along? 24 weeks

Days since transfer: 150 days

Total weight gain: +19.6

Maternity clothes? Mostly maternity clothes now. My baby bump is growing like crazy!

Sleep: Sleep was a little more sporadic this week. I have started hitting a wall during the day where I just can't keep my eyes open. So I end up taking a quick cat nap. Not sure if that's babies or the heat {or both}. But I am SO thankful that I am able to sleep when I need to.

Best moment of the week: Seeing our babies again at our perinatology appointment, and hearing that they are growing well, and looking good :)

Cravings: Ice water. We hit 100 degree temps this week {and our a/c went out}, so I have been chugging all the ice water I can get my hands on.

Symptoms: Still feeling really good! It is getting a little bit more difficult to move around, due to my ever growing bump. But I guess that just comes with the territory :)

Looking forward to: Getting our a/c fixed! Ha! Being pregnant makes tolerating the 100 degree temps without a/c a little more challenging.

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Size of baby? About the size of a garden eggplant or an ear of corn, a demi-baguette, a GI Joe, or Atlantic puffin :)

Development: Babies are starting to develop taste buds and their lungs are developing significantly. Even as twins, they are considered viable at this stage {such a huge milestone!} They gained about a quarter of a pound of bones, muscle, and fat this week, and their skin is a bit pinker due to the appearance of capillaries.

Heartbeat: Baby A's {baby boy} heart rate was 136 bpm, and Baby B's {baby girl} heart rate was 167 bpm at 23 weeks + 2 days. Nice and strong!

Movement: Babies are moving all the time now. The ultrasound tech was able to tell me how they were positioned, and it made perfect sense for where I feel their kicks. Baby boy definitely moves and kicks WAY more than his sister. They are starting to develop a semi-routine, so I feel them about the same times each day. It is SO weird that my belly literally moves/pops when they kick. 

Gender: We're having a BOY and a GIRL :)

Grow Babies Grow!

Today we had our routine check up with the perinatologist. Today's ultrasound was to measure growth and take a closer look at babies' heart development. I love getting to see our babies on a regular basis, and it's always good to hear that they are "beautiful" and doing well! :) 

Both babies are growing well and measuring ahead {as they have from the beginning}. They both have strong heartbeats, and all organs look good. Music to this mama's ears! Both babies are currently head down, but they will probably flip a thousand more times before the end. We're praying that they are head down when they're ready to come, because it's my only chance at a natural childbirth. But we're trusting the Lord to move them exactly where they need to be so they come exactly like they are supposed to come {natural or c-section}.

Baby A {Baby Boy}:

- Heart rate is 136 bpm

- Weighs 1 lb, 5 oz.

Baby B {Baby Girl}:

- Heart rate is 167 bpm

- Weighs 1 lb, 8 oz.

She not only has caught up to, but has surpassed, her brother! But they are both measuring just like they are supposed to be. We're praising Jesus for another good report!

23 Weeks

How far along? 23 weeks

Days since transfer: 143 days

Total weight gain: +17.0

Maternity clothes? Yep! It's amazing to me how quickly my belly is growing and how I am even starting to grow out of some maternity clothes.

Sleep: I have actually been sleeping really well. I didn't have my Snoogle with me in San Diego, but was still comfortable. Because we walked everywhere, I think I was just so worn out at the end of the day, that I just crashed and slept through the night with no problem.

Best moment of the week: Spending the week in San Diego with family! And celebrating 5 years with my love.

Cravings: Ice cream. But you would crave it too, if you smelled the waffle cones...  :)

Symptoms: I have felt really great this week. I do seem to feel a tightness in my belly when it starts to stretch again. And my poor little belly button is looking pretty scary these days...SO stretched out haha. Bending over is pretty much out of the question these days. I have to take a deep breath to tie my shoes because my diaphragm gets squished when I bend over to tie my shoes. So funny, and so strange! But I feel good, so I am so thankful!

Looking forward to: Seeing our babies again at our perinatologist appointment!

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Size of baby? About the size of a papaya or bunch of grapes, a Barbie fashion doll, or a chinchilla :)

Development: Babies' tiny faces are fully formed, and they are getting ready to start gaining their baby fat {translation: growth spurt!} Their blood vessels are developing, especially in their lungs. The noises they hear are becoming less fuzzy and more distinguishable, so they are more reactive to sounds.

Heartbeat: Looking forward to hearing that sweet sound this week!

Movement: Babies are moving all the time now. And I absolutely love it. I can tell the kicks are getting stronger, but they're not bothering me yet. I love feeling them move, and I love when Mike gets to feel them too. Best. Feeling. Ever.

Gender: We're having a BOY and a GIRL :)

Beach Getaway

We spent this past week soaking up the sun and the cooler weather in San Diego! My parents were blessed with an awesome house rental on Coronado Island, so we got to enjoy a fun family vacation. 

We spent a lot of time at the beach, which was awesome. The water was a little too cold for me, but Mike enjoyed the boogie board and the waves. I was just thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the sun, the crashing of the waves, and my book.

Not a bad view for the week

Date #22: Coronado Beach with my love! #wcsavethedate16

My cute parents

Babies' first trip to the beach! #21w6d

Boogie board dudes

Stud :)

After a day at the beach, we headed back to the house for a homemade meal and some games. The weather was absolutely wonderful, so we got to enjoy dinner outside on the patio. Mike found a new card game called The Game, and we had a fun time learning and playing it.

On Sunday we took the ferry over to the mainland and walked along the pier.

Enjoying the ferry ride

Yep.

USS Midway {my parents toured this before we got to San Diego...too tight of quarters for this preggo!}

The Star of India- the world's oldest active sailing ship

Shadow babies

Ha!

Unconditional Surrender...and our re-enactment :)

On Monday, we headed to the San Diego Zoo. We got there early to beat the crowds, and it was so nice to walk the zoo in the cool of the morning. 

This guy greeted us at the entrance. Apparently they just wander around the park...

Making the best of one of his least favorite places...

Favorite animal photo of the day #meerkatlife

SUPER thankful for the escalators and moving walkways

So I know I posted my weekly bump photo, but I really took that banner photo before we left. So this is my real 22 week photo. Babies were actually hanging out at the beach :)

#22weeks

On Tuesday, Mike took a private surfing lesson! He has always been pretty athletic and adventurous, so I had no doubt he would do well with it. And he did! He got up on the board almost every single time, which the instructor said is most of the battle. 

Learning the basics

On our last day, Mike rented a surfboard to practice his new surfing skills. Look at my sexy surfer dude :)

While he was swimming out on the waves, he saw a fin swim by and realized he was swimming with dolphins! A pod of dolphins came close to shore to play in the waves, and Mike wasn't too far from them!

On our first day in Coronado, we walked by MooTime Creamery and were instantly pulled in by the smell of their waffle cones. Their ice cream was SO good! On our last day, we were heading back from the beach, and Mike said that if there was a parking space in front of the ice cream shop, it was meant for us to have it again. Parking is at a premium in Coronado, so when there were 2 empty spaces in front of the shop, we couldn't say no :)  Mike enjoyed their waffle ice cream sandwich...ice cream between 2 mini Belgian waffles. So good!

On our last night, we headed back over to the mainland to enjoy dinner on the pier. We got to watch the sunset, and of course got our "dressed up" family photos for my mom.

Beautiful sunset on our last night

Probably my favorite photo of my parents :)

Love him so much :)

We had such a great trip, and we were so thankful for the time away. We had some good family time, and we were thankful for the opportunity to have a vacation before our little ones come.