Gender Reveal

Momma's intuition was right on! 2 boys it is! We are beyond thrilled that God saw fit to bless us with 2 baby boys. What a huge responsibility, but one that we are forever thankful for. I remember the first ultrasound where we were able to see our babies, even as little blueberries with little flashing heart beats, I was moved to tears. As I have laid there visit after visit, the tears still come because I am blown away that not only have we been blessed with one baby, but two. As overwhelming of a task of raising 2 babies is, I am baffled and profoundly humbled that God chose us. There is nothing special about me. As stated before seriously the only good thing in me is Jesus, so as I look upon each ultrasound screen I am still amazed that God chose such an unworthy, so undeserving person to raise these precious babies. What an honor.

We have been very blessed with an amazing ultrasound tech. If that term is like "cop" to a police officer then I am very sorry to all you radiology/ultrasound friends. Just tell me the technical term and I'll stop with the tech thing. Our sweet lady actually kind of knew us because her niece/nephew and us are friends and she had been reading our blog! How fun is that?! She has been precious. She has gone above and beyond her duties to make us feel comfortable and encourage us along the way. Not to mention these sweet babies already have a photo albums worth of pictures! For her protection, I'm not going to include her name but just know she is amazing and we love her!

Because of her amazing skills we were able to find out the gender of our babies at 19 weeks. I had heard of several twin moms who found out one gender but not the other until later on so I hoping that both babies would cooperate since our gender reveal party was scheduled for merely 4 hours after our detailed ultrasound.

Once we left the doctors office with the concealed information, we went straight to the party store for them to fill up 2 balloons with the correct color confetti. Because we wanted to find out with everyone else, we waited outside for what seemed like FOREVER. They finally came out with our balloons in hand and told us that they wanted to take care of the expense. They told us to go have fun and come back and shop for the twins 1st birthday stuff there. Party City by Sports Authority people... go give them your business. We certainly will.

With the gender reveal balloons in the car, it was time to go set out the food and get ready for our guests. My in laws were gracious enough to open up their home to everyone. We knew that so many people were excited about these babies that we wanted anyone who wanted to, to be able to be apart of this exciting event. We were blown away by the sweet faces that attended. We were surrounded by over 50 people who genuinely have loved, prayed, and supported us through this exciting time.

Before we knew it (and with lots of prying from our sisters) it was time for the reveal!
 

A big thanks to Michelle Walker for taking pictures this night and then creating this video... which I had no idea she was going to do. What a treasure this is to us!

Now that we know what these precious babies are we have GOT to give them names. And still we are at a loss. I will say it is not for the lack of help from others. This is just a hard job! These kids are stuck with these names forever and we want them to be good. So hopefully in the posts to come these sweet boys will have names. Thank you for your sweet comments, texts, and encouragement. We feel so loved and blessed and look forward to raising these boys!

Twin Update

18 weeks! The babies are making their presence known for sure! No doubt I'm either almost full term with one or carrying twins (and people are asking!) b/c this belly is getting big. They are the size of sweet potatoes this week but feel more like watermelons.

Less than a week and we find out what gender they are! I'm still going with I think its 2 boys so I'm so excited to see if I'm right or wrong. Now if both babies cooperate, we will be having a gender reveal party that night. We know that so many are just as excited about finding out what these babies are that we decided to have an open invitation party to all who want to come and celebrate with us.

So...Thursday, August 15 at 7:00p.m. at Daniel's parents house, we will be finding out along with everyone else what gender these sweet babies are! 

18 weeks:

Cravings: captain crunch berries cereal, string cheese, watermelon, green grapes

Most asked question: "when are you due?" (look of shock appears on their face) Followed by, "are you having twins?!" Why yes I am and thank you for boosting my confidence.

Twin Update

Last week our sweet babies were the size of pears. I feel like I'm really fattening up now with a belly that makes bending over not as fun. And I clearly realize I still have a loooooooong way to go so its only going to get worse trying to bend over and get out of d's sporty car.

I have been ravenously hungry the last few days and I've been trying to make wise eating choices, but at times not really caring.Its a really bad thing when you have a Gigi's cupcake hook up. Well bad when you're trying to not have another record breaking weigh in at the doctor. Good in the sense that the babies really like cupcakes.

Cravings: grilled chicken caesar salads, green grapes, cosmic brownies, white cheese dip, coffee, taco bell (told you I've been ravenous!)

17 weeks:

I'm technically 18 weeks today so stay tuned for our next update!

Twin Update and Project Complete

I wanted to create a fun way to keep up with how many weeks I was and how big the babies were. I saw where a friend of mine on FB had created a chalkboard from a picture frame. I have somewhat of a creative streak, but more of 'I can think it and then want someone else to do it or I'll just buy it.' But in this case, someone else did all the creative work for me. Unfortunately I couldn't find it already like I wanted so I bought a frame, borrowed some supplies from Jules and d painted the plywood and attached it to my frame. Now I have a cute reminder of my growing babies on my wall. And a cute place to take pictures in front of so I can remember my growing belly. Here are my updated belly shots with my completed project. (I do realize I need to step back a bit so you can read the whole board, but you get the idea.)

15 weeks:

Cravings: anything dairy... but especially milk and colby jack cheese. (And no there have be no digestive complications with these :)

 16 weeks:

Cravings: green grapes and yogurt

Thankfully my cravings have become a little healthier than before. Hoping I can keep up the healthier food choices so I don't gain 8 lbs. this month like I did last month!

Due to lots of growing pains my dr. told me I need to be drinking lots of water. It's a good thing that I crave it and can't get enough. I literally have a cup or water bottle with me everywhere I go. The bad thing is that I'm spending a good portion of my day in the bathroom... which is annoying.

Frequently asked questions:

-How are you feeling? I'm feeling great! Other than growing pains and constantly having to pee I feel completely normal.

-Are you going to go back to teach this year? No, I didn't want to start a school year that I couldn't finish. Also, I have several friends with twins and a couple of them got put on bed rest early on so with my fall being unknown, I didn't want to risk starting. I will be transitioning the new supervisor throughout the month of August and will sub for as long as I can, but no, I am not going back to teaching.

-Will you have a reveal party? Yes! Hoping that both babies cooperate next month, we will have a party. I'm still thinking through how I want to do the reveal. I'd like to do something different, but I'm kind of at a loss for new ideas. If you've got something creative in mind, I'm all ears!

-Do y'all have any names picked out? No! We've got nothing. We are open to any suggestions.

Breastfeeding Controversy

I have nothing against breastfeeding. I plan on breastfeeding. Several people that I know though have shared stories on FB or have been very vocal about their opinions on it. So I thought since I have this blog and it has become a scrapbook of sorts for us that I'd share my opinion on here. This blog is only for those who choose to read my thoughts anyway so its not like I'm throwing my opinions on people who don't care like many do on FB. I realize that every woman is different and has their own opinion and conviction about what is right or wrong regarding this subject though.

Here's my opinion... I am for breastfeeding, but I am not for whipping out your boob in public for all to see. They make hooter hiders for a reason. For which I say, if you need to breast feed in public, pull out that hooter hider and feed away. (which to me still seems a little weird right now!) I realize this is a natural thing. God created our bodies to do such things, but I also believe their needs to be a level of modesty involved. Birthing your baby is also natural but you don't choose to lay down in the mall and push your kid out there for all to see.

Maybe I'm being naive because my babies aren't here yet and I haven't lived this, but I have watched several men in my life become very uncomfortable when we happen to be out and there's a woman breastfeeding without a hooter hider. Most of us would agree that we wouldn't walk around with our boobs exposed so why does it all of a sudden become acceptable to some if there's a baby attached?

Again, I realize there are a lot of opinions out there. This just happens to be mine as I've begun to think about my life as a new mom and decisions that come with that territory. Am I being naive? Am I being unreasonable? Do you agree? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Twin Update

Yesterday we had our monthly doctor's appointment and we were thrilled to see how much our sweet babies have grown and changed. Unfortunately we couldn't get clear shots of their little private parts but we got to see them squirm around, we saw their sweet profiles, legs crossed and one even sucking its thumb. We are in love with them already!

Yesterdays visit also took a long time. I know I have got to learn to be patient, but when you constantly have to pee (I went 4 times before I saw the doctor!) and then when you're hungry and they have the food network on you have to imagine it was a difficult waiting process... Especially knowing that we are fixing to see our babies again and possibly find out what gender they are.

Belly Update:

13 week belly shot:

14 week belly shot:

I'm actually 15 weeks this week, but have been working on a project so I'm waiting to take my 15 week picture in front of it. So stay tuned to the belly that is measuring at 19 weeks... (which my dr. said was normal since there are 2 in there!)

And last but certainly not least our sweet twins!

Top picture: Baby B sucking its thumb
Middle picture: Both babies together
Bottom picture: Baby A crossing its legs

Current cravings: Apple Toaster Streudels

Most frequently asked questions:
-"What do you think you're having?" I obviously have no magic powers but for some reason all along I've thought 2 boys. 
-"How are you feeling?" I have been feeling great! I've had a lot more energy and even bought a pregnancy workout dvd that I love.

Currently on the brain: baby names... and we've got nothing! We don't like any names. Hopefully when we finally know what they are the reality that these kids need names will sink in and names will start sounding better to us.

We can't wait until next month to see them again, but also see what gender baby a and baby b will be!

Luke 10:27

Last night D's message was powerful and convicting. I've said it before, but I know without a doubt God uses my husband to put me in my place without D even knowing it.

The passage was Luke 10:27. A passage we are all very familiar with and probably all learned as a preschooler. 24 years after learning this verse, its powerful words still convict and change lives... mine in particular.

Whats so great about this verse is that it takes all of Jesus' commands and sums them up in one simple verse. Reading the verse and applying it are 2 very different things though.

We first see that this verse is not a suggestion. It doesn't say if you feel like it, but you are simply to do it. Period.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as your self."

Seems like a simple task until we remember how sinful and selfish we are and how difficult people are. I'm normally a pretty sweet, chill person. I can talk to anyone. However these pregnancy hormones have made my level of patience and irritability with annoying/difficult people less tolerable. The saying some people need a high five in the face with a chair is definitely very strong and down right mean... but its a reminder of how much I need Jesus when I think this. :)

All of this to say, Luke 10:27 is not easy!

D had 2 points for last night that help indicate where we stand with this verse.

1. Attitude- Does my attitude reflect the first part of this verse: that I love God above all else?
3 words help define this:
-discipline- need to
-duty-ought to
-devotion- want to

Which word would describe my love for God?

2. Action- Do my actions result in the fact that I love God? If so, then as a result, I will genuinely love people.
3 questions:
-how well do I love people? This answer tells me how much I love Jesus.
-how content am I? when I put Jesus first then others, and then myself... only then will I find true joy and contentment
-what do my actions reveal? You always act what you truly believe

If we really love God like most of us would admit then the way we treat people will be different. There would be no faking, no pettiness, no gossip... only genuine love for others as a result of our love for Jesus.