Monday, August 23, 2010

21 Weeks Today

At our ultrasound on Thursday both babies were head down, which means the low kicks I've been feeling are probably punches.  Baby A is lower and kind of lounging diagonally from my top left to my bottom right side, and Baby B is above Baby A in much the same position.  The babies weigh approximately 13 oz each right now - about as much as a full can of pop I suppose.


I get a weekly email reminder from Babycenter.com with fetal development and helpful tips, not to mention plenty of shopping links.  Here's a synopsis (I changed some wording for babies instead of baby):
"Your babies now weigh about three-quarters of a pound and are approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like they are practicing martial arts as their initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to their activity as you get to know them better. In other developments, your babies' eyebrows and lids are present now."


Well, martial arts practice is pretty accurate. I keep wondering if they'll punch out my belly button - never did have the popped out belly button with Aaron or Lily. Today at work I kept leaning different directions to get them to ease up - not so much!  During my frequent trips to the bathroom, I try not to waddle, but it's getting harder to not do that.  The lower back pain is definitely showing it's ugly self.  I had back labor with Aaron, and that's the same spot/area that feels it now.  At church we worship and sing standing up, and about the 3rd song I have to sit down.   Then I can't sit very long during the sermon, so I tend to get squirmy like a little kid.  I've learned to take a water bottle and a hair clip to church with me.  I just get too hot with all the clapping and joyful noise-making!


Tomorrow is the first day of school for Aaron and Lillian - yay!!  Aaron is going into 6th grade - MIDDLE SCHOOL.  He is excited, and a little nervous I think.  We dropped off his supplies tonight and got his locker combination.  He got the hang of the lock after a few tries, then he practiced some more.  Hopefully all will go well tomorrow. It's so strange having him go to the same middle school that I went to 20 years ago!  There is still a counselor and a teacher that were there when I was a geeky middle schooler.  I didn't actually have that teacher, but I remembered him. Big notice that 6th grade has changed from 20 years ago: Standard supply list includes a 1G flash drive!  We got Aaron a 4G since it was on sale. He'd better not lose it, or his house key!  His school is very good at communication - School Website, Google Calendar with homework, and Twitter for school announcements. 


We went shopping for some jeans and gym shoes for Aaron, and it turns out he's a SIZE 8 SHOE.  They even measured, he wasn't just trying to wear a bigger size.  Yikes, he's almost caught up to me.  No wonder he keeps wearing my socks. At the beginning of summer, he got a pair of Converses that were size 7, and they had plenty of room in the toes.  Growth spurt!


Lillian is going into 2nd grade!!  She's taller than most of her classmates, not by a lot, but enough that I notice.  She and her best friend O. are in the same class = ECSTATIC GIRLS!!   Actually, ALL of the 2nd graders are in 1 class this year - 30 kids total.  I love her teacher, the same one Aaron had for 2nd grade, and I'm sure she can handle it, but I hope she has helpers every day!  


Of course, since I took Aaron shopping, Lillian had to get a few things.  She can't wear flip-flops to school, so a pair of athletic shoes was in order.  That turned into a few shirts and capris too.  While Roy and Aaron had a nice relaxing afternoon at home, I waited 40 minutes sitting outside the Target dressing room while Lily tried on clothes and came out to model them for me.  She's pretty efficient about it, but she tried on 20 things I swear!  



Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Almost halfway!

Monday was 18 weeks of pregnancy, and wow am I showing.  The babies sure seem to be up high under my ribs so far.  A friend told me my face is looking thinner, so the babies must be getting all the nutrition!  I'm still eating a lot of meat for protein and iron, dairy, fruit, and veggies.  This week I've been wanting Chinese food or pineapple. I had a few bites of red potatoes for lunch yesterday, and the babies didn't seem to hate it like the last few times I had potatoes, so maybe they got over it.  Aaron said the babies are like him, since he doesn't like potatoes either!  I'm taking that as Aaron bonding with his baby bros.

Our neighbors and friends are sure generous!  Two friends have promised tons of baby clothes and gear ever since we announced this pregnancy.  A neighbor up the street had a yard sale and didn't sell her gorgeous cherry wood Eddie Bauer highchair, so she offered it to us.  Another neighbor got new furniture, so we're taking a dresser for the babies' room from her. Everything sure is starting to come together!

We're turning the dining room into a downstairs baby area/nursery since we rarely use that room anyway.  We're freecycling our extra desk, the other desk is going in Aaron's room, and I have our dining room table & chairs up for sale on craigslist.  Soon we'll be able to fill the dining room with baby stuff!

Aaron and Lily are enjoying the last days of summer before school starts again.  Aaron went on a field trip to Lost Island with his summer program class.  They had a blast, plus DQ on the way home!  He's been mowing our friend/neighbor's lawn for the past few weeks to make some $$.  He's hoping to save enough for an iPod Touch.  We'll see if he can actually save enough for one - he's a spender like his momma.  We're really stressing the value of responsibility with chores around here - like most 11 year old boys, he's not interested in  doing a good job, just in getting it done enough to go back outside on his scooter.  He's got a nice golden tan and hair that's too long.  We're picking our battles with the hair, but it's really obnoxious. We keep teasing him about looking like Justin Bieber (he can't stand him).   Aaron will be in 6th grade this year - yikes!

Lily has been playing with her friends all summer.  She's been a homebody about sleepovers, but occasionally she'll actually spend the whole night at a friend's house.  When she's only a block away, we don't really mind going to pick her up at 10 p.m. so she can snuggle with mommy and sleep in her own bed.  Let her snuggle while she still can.  Once these babies are here, it will be harder to do!  She's also a Wii master, kicking anybody's booty in Wii Bowling.  It's been so humid outside that the Wii has been a good way to get up and move without getting too hot and sweaty.   Lily is looking forward to 2nd grade!