Baby kicks

Somebody pinch me.

(Not you Nicole, yours hurt.)

It doesn't cease to amaze me with where I am in life. I am not that far away from where I was just a few months ago; longing to know a baby was in my future.  And now I know that I have 2 on the way. Two babies.  Wow.

This week I am 15 weeks pregnant with my twin babies. They are now each the size of an avocado.

I can finally say that I felt baby movement for the first clear time on Saturday night. I wasn't even trying to either! I was laying on my side in bed, talking to Matt, when all of a sudden, there it was! It was the softest little movement, but it was there. Afterwards, I was able to focus in on what I felt and went to sleep smiling, with my hand still on my stomach.

This past weekend, we were given the opportunity to watch our nephew and niece.  Our nephew is a little over 3 1/2 years old and our niece is almost 10 months old. It was so fun-a lot of energy-but fun.  Matt really got to appreciate the, as he calls it, squishy age that our niece is. He took pride in buckling her car-seat and pushing her around in the shopping cart at Sprouts.  It was really nice.

Monday, I had a dr.'s appointment. (I promise I know how to spell d.o.c.t.o.r.-it's just so much easier to abbreviate!) The babies have moved up in my belly! Last time, he detected their heartbeats very low on my stomach, this time, they were just under my belly button! I'm really showing now-I'll have to post some new pictures soon.  The babies were moving around a lot-he had a hard time getting a consistent heartbeat because they kept turning around and were making tons of kicking noises, it was great!

We also got to schedule our big gender sonogram!!! 

The date is set for, drum roll please?......................................

March 27th!

That is exactly 1 week and 6 days away! Very exciting!! I will be a day over 17 weeks at that point-so the genders won't be a 100% sure thing, but will be somewhat promising nonetheless.  Ahh! I decided on a fun way to do the big reveal-I'll let you know when we get there.  Here is an indication of what Matt wants:

Sweet, huh? He picked this up last week and surprised me with it-I hadn't even bought anything for our babies yet! If we end up having two girls, we'll just have to throw some pink ribbons on it. It looks kinda ginormous for a newborn twin, but someday it will be worn! Matt is so cute.

This weekend, I am in  Liz's wedding-she is one of my long time best friends. Pictures will be taken and I'll be sure to share me and the babies in my beautiful champagne colored gown. (Note to self: Do not forget to pick up gown at alteration place!!)

March 27th, March 27th!, -Natalie

Forgotten details

As I have been reading through some of my new-old and old-new posts...you know, the current ones and the flashbacks...it occurred to me that there have been a couple things that I have left out. Some really cool things.

Remember my Curiouser and curiouser post and how my mother had predicted that cd's 13-16 were days that she "just had a feeling" about?  Back then I had written how crazy it was to think that I possibly could ovulate 10 days sooner than I normally do.  Well, it was that cd 13 that our babies were conceived on. Unbelievable, huh? I remember when we told my family, my mom, all Christmas day, was going on and on how she had done it! Haha...  Apparently, it doesn't suck if your mom being right leads to your dream becoming true.  ..and next time my mom gets a feeling about something, I should put money on it.

I also wanted to share my fertility friend chart. My amazing, I'm flipping pregnant chart:

Where the red lines cross is where I o'd on cd 13, December 12th.  Then you can see my first positive pregnancy test, bfp, on 11 dpo (days past ovulation).  My chart was so different! Instead of having an implantation dip, which is common among many pregnancy charts, I had a HUGE spike on 7 dpo.  Where the line turns green at the blue dots, is where my positive test started.  Pretty neat stuff, right?  It certainly is to me! :)

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, my love for diet coke was out the door....I guess not quite the love for it, but I knew I was going to stop drinking it.  I also ceased all coffee and tea drinking.  A couple of weeks ago, I started drinking sweet tea occasionally, but that is as far as I'm going with caffeine.  I do have my moments where I smell the rich aroma of coffee at work and my mouth begins to salivate, or I get Chik-fil-a and know it would taste so good to have a nice, icy, diet coke to wash it down.  Ultimately though, I just don't need them-and I know my babies don't either.  My mentality on it is that now is the best time to be as selfless as I can be and put my growing babies first.

Today, I am 14 weeks and two days pregnant! Yay!!! I can't believe it has already been three weeks since I shared my news with everyone! I love it!!  The babies are now the size of a naval orange each...

...or about 4.5 inches each according to my What to Expect app.  I wonder when I'll start to really be able to feel them?


Orange you glad I shared? :) -Natalie

Baby Waves

Monday we got to have our 13 week sonogram! I just truly cannot put into words how much it means to me to be able to see our babies...they are amazing! They just keep growing!!

Baby A, our sweet baby A, that hasn't gotten to have the best pictures yet, thrilled us with a picture of his or her hand! It was amazing!!

Baby A @ 13 wks-look at the baby hand!

Watching Baby A move that little hand at the end of this video was wonderful.

Click where it says "youtube" on the bottom of the video-then go full screen.

Baby B, our photogenic little mover-did what that sweet baby does best; showed us cute baby moves!

Click where it says "youtube" on the bottom of the video-then go full screen.

After our sonogram appointment, we went to see Dr. Wilder.  We hadn't gotten to hear their heartbeats in our sonogram appointment and were so happy when he pulled out his little doppler thing-a-ma-jig.  I think you can tell by my face that I was happy with what I heard...

Our next appointment is two weeks from Monday.  At that appointment we will be scheduling the big sonogram appointment where we are able (hopefully!) to tell their genders!  We are so very excitedly looking forward to this!!

Now that I am 13 weeks, I am officially in my second trimester! (I just realized that my last 3 sentences ended in exclamation points-but this is exciting stuff. (!!!!) ) There is a lot of relief that comes with the second trimester, however, I don't think I'll ever really stop worrying about the safety and health of my babies.  I'm doing everything I can to have the most healthy pregnancy-I'll share what I've been doing in next weeks post!

Baby wave goodbye for now, -Natalie

Are you my babies?

**Today is my last day that I am releasing these "hidden" posts from when I hadn't yet revealed my pregnancy. I'm sorry if they have confused you! Today, February 23, I am 12 weeks 3 days pregnant and very happy! Next week I'll resume with my current posts, after my 13 week sonogram.  (YAY! Can't wait to see my babies again!) I'm going to take a small break until then. I'm so appreciative of all the kind things and congratulations that have been said to me. Thank you so much!**

FEBRUARY 8, 2012
PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED POST 9 OF 9

I feel like I should be able to feel them.

Don't you think, if you had two babies, the size of limes, and they were moving around in you, that you would be able to feel it?

Last night, after a warm bath, and putting all of my Mama Mio creams and lotions on (I'm trying to prevent stretch marks, ya'll!) I laid in my bed, closed my eyes, placed my hands over my belly, and tried to focus on feeling them move.  If I could just not breath, I think that would help.  I felt what I thought could have been them, but it may have just been normal tummy rumblings.  I fell asleep in the process. 

I can't wait to really feel and interact with them.  It's going to be amazing.  The thought of Matt feeling them move for the first time, ah! Amazing!! So many amazing things...

Well, I was about to close this, but wanted to include one more thing. Do you remember the Dr. Suess book, "Are you my Mother?" by P.D. Eastman?



It came to mind as I was writing.  My mom used to read it to me and my sister.  It was one of my favorite books.  I was reminded of it, because last night when I was trying to feel my babies, I was thinking all the while, "It's, me, your mommy....". 

I have been so overcome with emotion lately.  When Madonna came on for the half-time show during the Super Bowl on Sunday, I literally got choked up as those first few chords of Vogue were played.  Then last night I was reminiscing about wonderful memories I shared with some of my best girl friends which left me teary-eyed, and now today it's this book doing it to me!  Ha!

Maybe I'm not really feeling my babies yet, but I'm certainly feeling other things!

All the more excited, -Natalie

My lovely lady bump

FEBRUARY 7, 2012
PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED POST 8 OF 9


Check it out.

8 weeks

10 weeks

My little baby bump is getting more difficult to conceal!  When I walk around at work I try to suck in as much as possible or hold my hand or arm over my mid-section.  It will be so nice to walk more comfortably when I can finally tell everyone next week. 

I love walking among strangers.  I feel like I can be so open with my pregnancy.  I rub my belly when I walk.  I tell every stranger that I come into contact with that I'm pregnant with twins.  Last night it was our waitress at Longhorn Steak and Ale and the guy at the check-out at HEB.

I can't even think to write much more than this, I am so hungry right now.  Snack time!

Lay off me, I'm starving, -Natalie

UPDATE-I got a bite to eat, and wanted to share their growth!  Our babies are now each the size of a lime. :)

So sweet!

Love letter

FEBRUARY 4, 2012
PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED POST 7 OF 9

Dear babies,

Your daddy loves you so much already.  This morning, although I was awake, I hadn't opened my eyes yet, your daddy rolled over and started rubbing the small bump on my belly where you, my loves, are.

"Good morning, babies. I'm your daddy."

It was so sweet.  On our way to work, he was giddy with happiness and excitement about the two of you.  He had the biggest smile the entire ride into town.

It makes me so happy when I think about how much you are already loved.  Your Aunt Andrea loves to greet you by whispering hello's into my belly button-I tell her to speak quietly so as not to hurt your tiny growing ears.  Aunt Betsy just can't wait for you to get here!  Your Aunt Nicole loves you so much already, too, and cannot wait to start buying little outfits once we know your genders.  Grandma left me a message the other day that she had bought you a book!  This was kind of surprising because she had previously said she didn't believe in buying gifts until you are here-even she couldn't resist!  Oma can't wait to start buying you gifts as well!  Aunt Dawn got teary thinking about how she is your aunt and her son Kristian, your cousin, knows you are in my belly and can't wait to meet you!  We have the best friends in Chris and Anna and cannot wait to have all of our children together and watch you play and interact.  These are just a small handful of friends and family that already love you, but I will promise you this, there are so many more!

I am so happy, honored, and blessed to be your mommy.  I have waited and wanted you for so long.  You will be born into so much love it makes my heart swell.  My love grows for you everyday and I give my belly lots of rubs as a reminder.  There are not words for how thankful we are for your beating hearts and growing bodies.

Thankfully yours, -Your Mommy

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."  Psalm 37.4

Heartbeats!!

JANUARY 31, 2012
PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED POST 6 OF 9


It's been a while since I wrote one of these "hidden" posts. About two weeks actually. Today I am 9 weeks and a day pregnant. I just wrote my Writer's block post and now I am soooooo flipping excited for Valentine's day!!!

Our babies are now the size each of a prune.

Two weeks ago, at 7 weeks pregnant, we got to hear the most incredible, amazing sounds I have ever heard; our babies heartbeats. Check it out!  Twin A was in a weird position and so we were just barely able to make out his/her heartbeat, but Twin B was in a great position and came through pretty clear!  You may need to turn your volume up. :)

Yesterday, although Matt was only able to wait with me in the waiting room for my appt before he had to leave for his chiropractor appt...did I tell you that he has a sport's hernia and won't require surgery?...more on that another time, anyway, I went to see Dr. Wilder alone.  As always, it was a great visit with a few of my questions answered. More importantly was this though: I, for the first time, had warm jelly placed on my belly and a Doppler device was used to hear our babies heartbeats! This was the first time I have ever experienced that! All other sonograms had been done internally. It was so cool! Their little heartbeats came through the speaker of the device loud and clear. I tilted my head back and laughed a little, it was amazing.

It's taken me some time to write about the first time I heard their heartbeats. I was afraid that something would change. I'm cautious with my happiness...and writing about this experience really is such a happy punch of reality.  After my appt yesterday, Dr. Wilder told me that my risk of miscarriage has now been reduced to 3%. 3%!! I loved hearing that.  He said that even being able to hear their heartbeats at this stage was only a 30% chance!  Our babies seem to be doing just great.  Thank you God.

So now I am just brimming with anticipation. I cannot wait to allow everyone to join me on this journey.  Sometimes I tear up at night just imagining how it's going to feel to finally share with everyone how Matt and I have been blessed. We are so very, very thankful.

Dr. Wilder told me that it was probably safe for me to share my news now.  I have a sonogram on February 13th, I will be 11 weeks.  So, with one week before I had previously planned, I will be making my big announcement the following day, Valentine's day.  If you are reading this, it is after I have done my big reveal....ah!! So exciting!!

Lots of love and excitement, -Natalie