{iPhone Rewind} :: August

The freezer meal prep continued! It has definitely been doable and efficient...but I will say that knocking it out in a day or two {with help!} is definitely preferable to cooking longer every day :)

All toddlers eat food off the floor, right??  Sigh. 

Bath time fun :)

Fun water play date with these cuties!

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt...we had our first legitimate tumble and poor baby girl's face met the concrete. She was ok; it didn't seem to bother her much, it just looked pretty bad for a little bit.

She can be such a Mama Pup...when the babies are up from nap, she will not stop giving me the death stare until I go get them haha.

Getting Eli and Maddie's outfits ready for when they meet their little brother! :)

She's one tough little cookie :)

When Daddy joins you on a Target run, you leave with new toys and fedora hats...naturally :)

Charley Claire celebrated her 1st birthday with a super cute Milk and Cookies party!

Love my silly boys :)

When you just. can't. even.

No, thank YOU Target. You made life so much easier for this largely preggo mama towing 2 toddlers around!

Eli discovered BBQ sauce :)

He likes to give me a hard time about matching outfits...but he indulged my crazy a little and surprised me with these ADORABLE t-shirts for our first photos as a family of 5!

We had the special privilege of attending the baptism of one of our former Redeemer members. We had baptized her mom Dannie when we were meeting, so it was so special to celebrate Kylee's baptism!

Some days call for 2 hats :)

The price I pay to grab a quick shower while the twins are awake :)

We had a lot of rough days this month...we are definitely learning to assert independence.

Working hard to finish Aiden's nursery quilt!

This is pretty much what my bump looked like for most of my third trimester...Aiden found a spot he loved, and he stayed there. And my belly was lopsided :)

Those curls!!

I felt pretty big toward the end...but when I did a 38 week twin bump vs. singleton bump comparison, I was reminded of just how big I had been with Eli and Maddie :)

This boy LOVES his dog...and gives her LOTS of hugs :)

Some days are just hard...  #reallife #toddlers

I am super excited about my new journaling Bible! I got an amazing deal on it {$9!} and I am looking forward to start using it!

Eli and Maddie have started spontaneously giving each other hugs, and it's just about the cutest thing EVER!

Baby Bump :: Week by Week // Month by Month

Today I would have been 40 weeks...and I am just so glad that I am not still pregnant :)

Aiden Michael made his debut this past Sunday at 39 weeks + 3 days, and we could not be more over the moon to have him here with us! I promise to blog about all the things, just as soon as I can. Until then, here's a look back on the past 9 months as Aiden grew in my belly :)

1st Trimester :: Month 1 :: Week 3 // Week 4

1st Trimester :: Month 2 :: Week 5 // Week 6 // Week 7 // Week 8

1st Trimester :: Month 3 :: Week 9 // Week 10 // Week 11 // Week 12 // Week 13

2nd Trimester :: Month 4 :: Week 14 // Week 15 // Week 16 // Week 17

2nd Trimester :: Month 5 :: Week 18 // Week 19 // Week 20 // Week 21

2nd Trimester :: Month 6 :: Week 22 // Week 23 // Week 24 // Week 25 // Week 26

3rd Trimester :: Month 7 :: Week 27 // Week 28 // Week 29 // Week 30

3rd Trimester :: Month 8 :: Week 31 // Week 32 // Week 33 // Week 34 // Week 35 

3rd Trimester :: Month 9 :: Week 36 // Week 37 // Week 38 // Week 39

39 Weeks

How far along? 39 weeks

Days since transfer: 254 days

Total weight gain: +35.0

Maternity clothes? I'm just trying to make it to the end fully clothed haha! I am definitely wearing the same 2 to 3 things over and over, simply because they {mostly} fit. I have officially outgrown most of my maternity clothes, but refuse to buy anything else...because he could come ANY day now! My belly is even starting to hang out from underneath some of Mike's t-shirts...haha.

Sleep: I have actually been sleeping fairly well most nights. I have been napping in the afternoons when the babies nap, so I still have some insomnia at night, but it hasn't been too bad. I am feeling pretty sleepy throughout the day, and feel like I could sleep all day...too bad I can't! :)

Best moment of the week: Hitting full term! Getting my major work to-do's done! Also, learning that we have at least made some progress! It hasn't resulted in actual labor yet {which is frustrating}, but at least I know we're getting closer...even if it's slower than I would like :)

Cravings: I haven't been as hungry, mostly because I have felt nauseated off and on. But I am drinking a TON of ice water, and I am starting to crave sushi, because I am close to being able to eat it again!

Symptoms: Large, uncomfortable, hot. My fingers are pretty swollen, especially in the mornings, and feel a little arthritic for a lot of the day. My feet started swelling today after I had been up and walking around in the heat for a good portion of the day, but sitting with them up for a bit seemed to help. All the signs that labor is impending...

Labor Signs: Oh man. I had one full day of contractions, back pain, hot flashes, nausea...all the signs pointed to him coming at any moment. But I have had absolutely zero labor symptoms for the past 6 days...he is hanging on to the bitter end! Despite that crazy day of "almost" labor, I am still dilated at 3cm, 50% effaced.

Looking forward to: Meeting this silly little boy :) Come on out, Aiden. We're excited to meet you whenever you're ready!

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Size of baby? About the size of the body of a 4/4 violin, a full rack of pork back ribs, or a box of a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts

Development: While his body isn't growing as much, his brain is. It's already 30% bigger than it was just four weeks ago! His skin has now finally changed from pink to white, because a thicker fat layer has been deposited over the blood vessels.

Heartbeat: Was in the 150s at my OB appointment on Tuesday.

Movement: Still moving all the time. His movements are increasingly more painful, as I feel his little knees and elbows.

Current Position: Head down, station -2

38 Weeks

How far along? 38 weeks

Days since transfer: 247 days

Total weight gain: +34.0

Maternity clothes? Still the same...but really, whatever will fit :)

Sleep: Still getting up in the middle of the night to pee. I am staying up a bit later, and am able to sleep until about 4pm...and then seem to be up for the day. I guess that's better than being up from 2am-4/5am? Blah.

Best moment of the week: Getting more freezer meals done! We are at full capacity in our freezer, so we are all set for when he arrives...and I am thankful, because all the extra meal prep hasn't been my favorite. But I know I will appreciate it a month or two from now :)

Cravings: Jimmy Johns veggie sandwich. I still ate an obscene amount of food this week, so I am not surprised at all by the last minute weight gain...

Symptoms: Large and uncomfortable. Still not quite to the extent of the twins, but since I am not on bed rest, I am pretty tired and achy by the end of the day. He is definitely sitting on my bladder pretty much all day, and it can be pretty uncomfortable to sit in certain positions because he is so low.

Labor Signs: Nothing this week. I mean, I have had some contractions, but they are back to here and there, nothing consistent {though they seem to be a little stronger}. After all that panic last week that he could come at any minute, we made zero progress and I saw no other signs of labor coming. So who knows when he'll make his debut. I'll go back to my OB tomorrow to see if I have made any progress at all.

Looking forward to: My OB appointment tomorrow! I am really hoping I have dilated a little further...I'm ready to meet this sweet boy!

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Size of baby? About the size of a gallon of ice cream or bucket of fried chicken, an Oscar statuette, or a beach ball {LOL- yep}

Development: All systems are almost go! He is continuing to shed vernix and lanugo, and he's swallowing amniotic fluid. His lungs are still maturing and producing more and more surfactant. He's continuing to add fat and fine-tune his brain and nervous system.

Heartbeat: Looking forward to hearing it again tomorrow...it just won't ever get old :)

Movement: He's still moving quite a bit. Lots of hiccups and belly rolls!

Current Position: Head down!

38 weeks- twin pregnancy - this was the last bump photo before Eli and Maddie were born! I thought it would be fun to compare the 2 bumps in the same outfit...definitely a little smaller this time around :)

37 Weeks

How far along? 37 weeks

Days since transfer: 240 days

Total weight gain: +32.0

Maternity clothes? Yes. My running shorts and t-shirt uniform is working only because I am wearing Mike's t-shirts...but I only have 1 or 2 pairs of shorts that don't feel too tight and uncomfortable. Definitely running out of options...at least cute ones :)

Sleep: I think good sleep is officially behind me...at least for a few months. It has been insomnia, but the last couple of nights, it has been contractions. So that's super fun.

Best moment of the week: Definitely checking more things off the baby to-do list! We got all the remaining baby items out of the attic, installed the car seats, knocked out a few more freezer meals, packed our hospital bags, and finished the nursery. Whew! I had a bit of a panic moment last week, thinking he was coming any minute, so I pushed Mike to help me get all this stuff done. Now I can breathe a little easier knowing that we are really ready for him now :)

Cravings: Nothing specific, but I have been wanting ALL. THE. FOOD. Seriously, I have been SO hungry this week. I have eaten an embarrassingly large quantity of food haha.

Symptoms: We hit early term! So there are fewer concerns for preemie issues, which is such a blessing. I have felt pretty achy and tired this week. My fingers are pretty swollen in the mornings, and I have to pee every 10 minutes haha.

Labor Signs: Things are definitely happening. I will spare you all the details, but there are definite changes, even ones that I never saw with Eli and Maddie. The good thing is that Google tells me that labor could be hours or still weeks away. So that's {not} helpful...I have also had some legitimate contractions this past few weeks. To the point where I actually feel them, and start timing them, but they just go away. But nothing at all today, and at my OB appointment this afternoon, I was still only dilated at 2cm {50% effaced}...so who knows? 

Looking forward to: A jam-packed weekend! We have been trying to meet with a number of people because we know we'll be off the radar for a bit when Aiden is born, so we have a ton planned this weekend. Eli needs a haircut, dinner with Granny and Grumpz, breakfast with friends, a Sam's run to stock up for baby, a friend's baptism, dessert with friends... we might have gone overboard with the scheduling, but it will be fun nonetheless!

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Size of baby? About the size of a Zack Morris phone, half a medium pizza, or a lightweight kettlebell

Development: His lungs are likely mature, and he is packing on about a half an ounce per day {or half a pound per week}. He is practicing his breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking his thumb, blinking, and pivoting from side to side. His head is huge {awesome}, about the circumference as his chest. My development app also says that mamas carrying boys tend to eat more that those expecting girls...so that explains my crazy appetite haha.

Heartbeat: Running in the 130s today :)

Movement: He is still moving a good amount- stretching, rolling, and wiggling. And it kind of hurts when he moves around.

Current Position: Head down!

37 weeks- twin pregnancy

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 weeks

Days since transfer: 233 days

Total weight gain: +30.0

Maternity clothes? Yep...and I officially started wearing Mike's t-shirts haha. Sometimes you just need to cover that belly and not have it stick out the bottom of the shirt you are wearing, even if you're hanging out at home...

Sleep: I have been up several times in the middle of the night, but thankfully have been able to fall back to sleep fairly easily. Or at least with enough time to get at least an extra hour of sleep before I have to get up and start my day. I have noticed that it is getting harder and harder to get up in the mornings...it's like I am waking up right in the middle of a sleep cycle, so I just feel so groggy, like I could sleep all day.

Best moment of the week: Checking in on our sweet boy! I am still a little sad I haven't been able to SEE him as often as we saw Eli and Maddie, but I am thankful for that doppler and the ability to hear his little heartbeat!

Cravings: Still hard boiled eggs and kale...at least it's healthy {and I can actually eat it!}

Symptoms: I have felt A LOT more achy this week...by the end of the day, my back is killing me, and I am definitely waddling just because my legs hurt haha. I definitely had to put my wedding rings on a necklace this week. My fingers are pretty swollen with the heat, so it was just safer to go ahead and remove those. My feet haven't started swelling yet, so I am kind of surprised. Though I am sure that's coming :)

Labor Signs: He has definitely dropped! As of my OB appointment on Tuesday, I was already 2cm dilated, and my doctor said she could feel his head. She doesn't think I will make it to my due date and advised me to make sure I had my hospital bag packed {!} I had a lot of cramping after that appointment for about a day, but thankfully that subsided. I think next week's appointment will be a better indicator of whether or not I am progressing in any significant way.

Looking forward to: Meeting our little guy- we're so close! Although, I have to be honest: I had a little panic moment when my OB said she didn't think I would make it to my due date. Really, if he came tomorrow, we'd be fine. But there is still so much I want to get done before he makes his arrival, so I am hoping for at least another couple of weeks to get it all done!

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Size of baby? About the size of a 2L bottle of soda, a footlong sub, a throw pillow, or a power drill

Development: Bring on the pink skin and chubby little legs! His growth will slow down in the coming weeks. Most of his bones and cartilage are quite soft and most of his systems are pretty mature. Blood circulation has been perfected, and his immune system has developed enough to protect him from infections outside the womb. His digestive system still needs a few finishing touches though.

Heartbeat: Was running in the 150s at my appointment on Tuesday

Movement: Still moving all the time, and poor little guy has had a lot of hiccups. But I can definitely tell that his movements are easing up a bit...he's finally running out of room!

Current Position: Head down!

36 weeks- twin pregnancy

{iPhone Rewind} :: July

We soaked up all the Grandma time we could!

I just love him so...

We ran around the Village Depot maze in Allen, and Eli and Maddie thought it was the BEST THING EVER haha. They just really liked running free and being chased by Daddy :)

When the twin tornadoes wear you out...

Brother Love :)

Buc-ee's stop...then and now :)

Mike had 2 little helpers while he put together Aiden's crib :)

Because why wouldn't you play under the bathroom sink?

Play date with our dear friend Cooper! I can't wait to watch these 3 grow up together :)

Getting things together for Aiden's room, and I just couldn't handle the cuteness of all the tiny things! It's hard to remember that Eli and Maddie were that small!

Eli had another checkup at the eye doctor...his prescription hasn't changed and his eye turn is still getting better!

Hanging out in boxes is super fun and cheap entertainment :)

It's not even August yet...

I have started amassing freezer meals for when Aiden arrives! Instead of doing one big cook day {or two}, I have decided to just start doubling all of the recipes I cook between now and when he arrives. Or at least until our freezer is full. That's a lot of extra cooking, but it's kind of the only way I can get things done these days haha.

He was so frustrated that he pushed a toy under the couch...and Mama's belly prevents her from being able to reach things under the couch, so basically, it just has to stay until Daddy can get it :)

This girlie loves baked kale...but she sure does make a mess with it!

My anniversary gift to Mike was a Salsa-of-the-Month club, and the first 2 arrived at the end of the month! These don't exactly scream "Mike salsas" to me, but hopefully it will be a fun experiment, and he will find at least 1 that he really likes!

#BumpDay

I finally got started on Aiden's nursery quilt...we'll see if I actually get it done before he arrives :)

#reallife

That's definitely the BLACK WIDOW spider that was living on our back porch for a couple of weeks...that we just ignored because we didn't know it was a BLACK WIDOW spider...

The aunt/uncle/cousin parade to the neighborhood pool!