Couples' Shower!!

We had a great couples' shower at my grandparents' lakehouse over the holiday weekend. The weather wasn't perfect but we all still had a good time and the girls got lots of generous gifts! My mom and my best friend Shannon hosted the soiree and it was perfect. Cute decorations and lots of great food! They did an awesome job!!

Here's me and the grandmothers!

Me with my mom, Aunt Barbie, and cousin Chrissy

Me and the girls showing off my belly!

Me and Shannon, the hostess with the mostest!

Andie and I, he's proud of his baby maker status! (Check out the "All hail the baby maker" tee)

The girls' great grandparents who graciously allowed us to use their lakehouse

The grandmothers in their special tees!

Addison and Allison are so blessed to have so many people anxiously awaiting their arrival!

26 weeks and the baby showers are starting!

WOW, look at that 26 week belly!!!! These girls are taking up lots of room! I swear I don't feel like I look that big in clothes...check out this next picture, I think I'm hiding that big ol' belly pretty well.

The girls at work threw me a baby shower luncheon from the whole department. The food was great and the presents were generous, plus it was a great distraction from all the work we're trying to get done before the end of the school year! Isn't that cake the cutest! (It was sooo good I ate some for breakfast this morning!)

Lynette, Shauna, Kim, and Amy enjoying the break and eating some good food!

Who do they look like???

I'll be 25 weeks tomorrow and I had a check up at the doc today. She got a new sono machine and was all excited to try a 4D sonogram, and I got to be the guinea pig! Here is a beautiful face shot of Allison, and on the left of the picture you can see the side of Addison's face (almost a profile) like she is kissing Allison on the cheek...aren't they the sweetest!! We are so proud of them already! I kinda think she has my chin and jaw line with Andie's lips. Andie thinks she has his forehead. Tell us what ya'll think! (I've posted a bigger version at the bottom of the blog)


On another note...it has been suggested to me by more than one person that I should consider pregnancy modeling. After much consideration I've decided to take the advice of such good friends and have posted my very first photos below- FitPregnancy here I come!

I've chosen to show off the latest in "fashionable" and "comfortable" undergarments for pregnant women. You can see I have some lovely knee high support hose, along with the much anticipated Prenatal Cradle! It lifts and separates all sorts of body parts! More importantly, the Prenatal Cradle is an all one-piece contraption that requires extensive knowledge in the laws of balance and gravity to get it on- I don't suggest trying to put this on while standing up. Arranging all those straps and then stepping into the right holes is quite a feat. In fact, the safest bet is to sit in a quiet room with few distractions so you can concentrate, or better yet maybe lay on the floor so you just have to writhe and roll around instead of risking a fall. My doctors didn't want me exercising anymore but I showed them...I transitioned through no less than at least three advanced yoga poses getting this thing on. Daily workout- Check!

So you're probably wondering why I actually spent money on something that resembles a parachute harness, albeit without a parachute. The purpose of the Prenatal Cradle is to lift the belly up and support it so that pressure is taken off of the sciatic nerve and the veins in the front of the legs. This should alleviate some of the swelling in my ankles, lower back pain, and sciatic pain. I've also been experiencing a condition called pubic symphysis (yeah, google that without feeling embarrased!) which is pretty intense pain where the pelvic joints start to separate and pull apart to make room for the baby to fit through the birth canal. I keep telling the girls that they are not exiting through the birth canal but rather through my stomach, and they can stop making plans for the alternate travel route but they obviously listen as well as their father. Hence, why I'm having significant pelvic pain when I walk, stand up, roll over in bed, etc. This is also supposed to be helped by the Prenatal Cradle. I'll keep ya posted on the miracles this thing is supposed to work!

24 week update

Had a check up at the doc today and all is well. The girls are growing right on track and getting big. One weighs 1 lb. 9 oz., and the other is 1 lb. 5 oz. They are both head up and facing each other which is sweet, except that that means there are four little feet standing on my bladder and everytime they kick I have a mini panic attack that I'm going to wet my pants.

I'm getting pretty big and somewhat uncomfortable in certain positions. The doc measured my fundal height (the belly measurement) and I'm already as big as someone with one baby is at 34 weeks. I'm only 24 weeks so I can't imagine what I'm going to look like before this is all over!

We got to see their faces pretty clear on the sono today- it's so neat to see little noses and lips that actually look like real babies! Andie and I are so thrilled and we just can't wait for them to be here. We get all teary eyed and sappy imagining what that moment will be like! (Nobody tell Andie that I said he gets teary eyed and sappy...he doesn't want his "manly" image tarnished) Oh yeah, one more sappy thing- he recently put Brad Paisley's new song "Then" as his ring tone for when I call him! He says that song makes him think of how he feels about me. I love him so much, he's the GREATEST husband ever!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

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The "GOOD"....
I've had a week off of work due to the swine flu outbreak and it was great to have some R&R. Andie and I spent a day at the lake which was very relaxing and fun! I'm pregnant and wearing a bathing suit...never thought I'd see the day! We also got some work done on the bookshelves in the nursery and they are completely installed- we're getting really excited that the nursery is coming along!

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Working on my tan at the lake!

Here's the finished product of the bookshelves- we're thrilled with all the added storage they'll provide!

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The "BAD"....

The bad was that getting those shelves put in was a LOT of work- priming, painting, painting again for a second coat, then installing into the room. I overdid myself and my back and feet hurt for a couple days afterward :(

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We had to bring them in through the window cause they wouldn't fit through the hallway! Boy am I glad my husband is strong!

Andie and Jordan working on last minute details...such a nice gift from uncle Jordan and his friend to build and install!

The ceilings are 10 feet tall so it took three guys to lift the top shelf into place- it was difficult but they got it in good and snug.

Here's the shelves prior to being primed and painted- I'm not volunteering for that job again anytime soon!

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The "UGLY"....

Here's my skinny ankles and my swollen, fat, UGLY ankles! Doesn't get any uglier than that!

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