first hair cut!

Ava's hair has been growing into something that more and more resembled a mullet: messy bangs in the front with an unruly mane growing in the back. So while we were at Aunt Alisa's the other week, we decided to trim up her back a little, hoping that would help a little until her bangs grow out more. I was just silly and didn't take a before picture!

I wasn't sure how Ava would do - she hates having her hair brushed lately (we're just getting into the world of tangles). But between Brynne, the bathtub AND a popscicle . . .she hung in there all right.

The aftershot - much neater!

Now we'll just wait for the front to catch up! : )

Happy 18 months Monkey!

Ava is 18 months old today . . .going on 5. Through the ups and downs that her increasing desire for independence brings, it has been so fun to watch her grow into more and more of a little girl and see her personality continue to shine. We're thankful for our busy, silly and ever snuggly monkey!

At her appt on friday Ava was:
Weight: 26 lb 14 oz (80%)
Height: 32 1/2" (70%)

Here's a couple snapshots from lately:

Addy and Brynne were over playing the other day. Ava had so much fun. I do have to say, though, I'll be quite glad when Ava's hair is grown out a little more AND she'll keep clips in. : )

Ava plays with her baby dolls much of every day. This is a common scene: taking her babies "potty."
Ava LOVES the new rain boots and coat Aunt Amy bought her. We got to try them out lots this past week with the great weather we've had. It's been so fun! Maybe today, with the forecast for rain, we'll get to try out the umbrella too.

Last night, before getting ready for bed, Ava was playing around the house. All of a sudden she came around the corner quite pleased with herself. She had found a hidden paci (she only gets them going to bed now) AND got her boots on by herself. I thought it was pretty cute.

Ava and Daddy have this thing of sitting down and having a "talk." As I think you can tell the pictures, it's nothing too heavy. But Ava will come up to him, all serious and say "Talk." Then as soon as they get face to face, the giggles begin. It's pretty cute to watch.

33 weeks/full term . . .kind of the same thing?! (oh and maybe a giveaway)

So today at my appt, I measured a full term 40 weeks. I suppose I should mention it was my 33 week appointment?!?! : ) At least I know why so few clothes fit! I had to kind of chuckle to myself and wonder, "If I make it to 37 weeks, I wonder what I'll be measuring then."

SO, I"ve decided to make this fun . . .and use my stomach stretching (and it's accompanying designs along the way) for a GIVE AWAY!!!!!

Here's what you have to do:

Each of you have one opportunity to make ONE guess of when these babies will be born . . .AND how large I'll measure the day I deliver. I debated having you guess my total weight gain, but thought I'd like to remain friends. : )

Here's some helpful hints to the guessing:

1. Unless I'm feeling amazing, the babies are showing no problems, and I beg to keep waiting longer, it is hugely unlikely I'll have the babies after the first week of March.

2. It is currently Feb. 3rd (in case anyone had lost track).

3. I am not experiencing any contractions at this moment (in case any of you are going to try and spring babies on me yet tonight).

4. Two weeks ago, I measured 37 weeks.

After I've had the babies, the person who came the closest to my actual delivery day will win a $10 gift card to any of the following stores:

Target

Borders

Chili's

Olive Garden

(I figured that allows a wide variety of indulgences : ) ).

The measurement will be the tie breaker in case two people picked the same day.

All guesses must be given by this sunday night at midnight. If babies happen to show up before then, the winner will come from any exisiting guesses.

Happy Guessing!

*disclaimer: gift card will be placed in your hands within 3 months of babies' delivery. Life might be a little busy. : )

Hopefully Ava does not possess the gift of prophecy

although if we would come home with 3, at least I know I'd have help with diaper changes!

SO, if I was 32 weeks pregnant with twins . . .

Yea, you're right, I probably wouldn't look like this. I suppose I can't pull off a "switch-a-roo" on you all again?

So for comparison's sake . . .this is me 24 weeks pregnant with the twins. They say to expect looking around 5 - 6 months pregnant when you leave the hospital after baby though. . ..so should I just claim this as my "after" photo?!?! : )

But if I was 32 weeks pregnant with twins . . .I might look like this.

I still think I should have just copied/pasted Ann's photo and claimed it as mine though. : )

32 weeks!

It seems unreal but today I find myself at 32 weeks. My doctor's big goal for me this pregnancy has been to for sure hit 34 weeks, but 32 weeks is a huge milestone in terms of the babies' health/condition should they need to make a sudden appearance.

I've been thankful for how well, in the whole scheme of things, this pregnancy has gone. My blood pressure remains incredibly normal for me - I tend to have a low blood pressure anyways and it's remained that way thus far; which the nurses commented today can be rare with one baby, much less than with two.

My doctor also commented today how pleased he is with how I've been doing (other than the typical aches/complaints to be expected) . ..to which I replied is largely do to an incredibly amazing husband! Ryan does deserve so much of the credit with how much he has enabled me to rest/take it easy as I need to.

There are days I feel like I'm swollen - but in all actuality know that's just the reality of putting on the neccesary weight for a twin pregnancy . . .on a 5'3 frame. Other than the occasional day of too much time on my feet, I've largely avoided that as well thus far. I thought I was going to be brave and post a picture . . .but chickened out. : ) We'll see some other day.

Both girls were doing great today - squirmy as usual! Even more exciting? They continue to measure well and are growing at a healthy rate. As Dr. Nord told me their estimated sizes it was crazy to think how close they are to weights that we could bring them straight home from the hospital without an extended stay. Lots to be thankful for!

So:

Baby A measured 4 lb 2 oz (2 days before 32 weeks)
Baby B measured 4 lb 7 oz (32 weeks, 3 days)

Currently, Baby A is head down, while Baby B is head up. I've been getting LOTS of question about what type of a delivery I'll have and when . . .and the grand answer is: I DON"T KNOW! : ) There are so many factors outside of my control that I"m really going to just have to go into the next few weeks trusting Dr. Nord and, ultimately, the One in charge.

This is what I do know:

Dr. Nord won't have me go past 37 weeks - which is the first week of March. He does want me past 34 weeks which is Feb. 10th. His big weight goal is 2 babies at 6 pounds. He is willing to let me attempt a vaginal birth as long as one baby is in position and my cervix is opening well with labor.

The big wild card? Baby number 2. So his current position is: if my cervix opens wells, baby number 1 can definately be delivered vaginally. Baby number 2 is up in the air and dependent on several factors: my cervix, baby's heart rate/health, my own health, baby's position after the first baby is born (they often can turn again or change position - for better or worse) . . .

I guess my biggest prayer right now is just that I can continue to surrender to whatever comes. Truthfully, as people ask, it's easy to get anxious about how little of a real answer I have since I don't know the when's and where's myself- there are just so many wildcards. Whether I find myself with an emergency c-section, a smooth vaginal delivery of 2 babies, or one of each . . .I can't control the outcome and God will provide regardless. It's not up to me. So my prayer has been in finding the promise of being out of control . . .and having God in control.


I'm taking one day at a time - I have fairly good days (like today) and then will encounter days where I can do very little on my feet. Yet Ava continues to keep me hopping while still being a good sport on the days Mommy needs to take it easier.

On a more sober note . . .

I'm sad to report the fish #4 has decided to leave us as well. I'm starting to think that we're not cut out for this. : )

Ryan decided to change their water last night (he thought it looked too dirty) and our guess is that we didn't put the correct number of drops in the water to create an optimal ph.

After considering our name options (chocolate and chip were suggested to us well), we had decided to go with Rice and Krispie (It seemed to fit the current theme we had going).

So only Krispie remains. Hopefully his name isn't a statement of foreboding!

And while we're on updates . .. : )

Ava has been doing great in her big girl bed. Other than that awful first night, she has done fabulous adjusting. The only rough part has been that she is waking up about an hour and a half earlier than she was when she was in her crib (without compensating in a longer nap). We have room darkening shades ordered to see if that will make a difference. But if that's my only complaint, I know I have very little to complain about.

She continues to amaze me with her ingenuity these days. She loves playing with her baby dolls and cleaning is a late obsession. If I give her wash rags, she'll merrily "scrub" our kitchen floor for 20 minutes straight.

Mommy decided to take advantage of her busyness scrubbing yesterday and was getting some things done in the other room (I know, never a good set up). All of a sudden I heard some splashes and quickly walked around the side of the kitchen.

I found my daughter, dipping her washrags in the toilet before she would then wipe them on our floor. Ava promptly looked up at me, smiled, and told me, "Clean." The idea was right. The source of mopping water? - not so exciting!

Later that afternoon she had taken an awful nap and Mommy was not ready to be off her feet.
So I was taking it easy and letting Ava kind of entertain herself (warning: lazy mom consequence to follow).

Ava had headed upstairs but I didn't think too much of it since she often likes to head into her room, grab a different toy and come back down. Then I heard a splash that was followed by the sound of toilet seat being banged down.

As I headed into her upstairs bathroom, I see my daughter with a soaked shirt front, water on the floor and a big smile on her face. She proudly held her soaked baby doll up to me and told me, "Bath . . .brrr . . .up!"

Translation?

She had given her baby a bath. The baby was now cold. We needed to wrap her up in a towel and dry her off.

It was too cute to get mad. She was so proud of herself. We got a blanket out and proceeded to dry the baby off to make her warm.

She has since been given strict instructions that the toilets are not to play in. Although today I did have to fend off her desire to have her baby go "potty."

Oh the adventures sure to still come!

snap, crackle and pop no more

This past saturday night I was feeling pretty crummy. So Ryan took Ava out for a Daddy/daughter night on the town.

One very excited little girl came home with a bag of 3 goldfish (for the record, fish are the only type of pet that are acceptable surprise pets in our house :) ).

Ava and Daddy got to work right away putting the fish into their new home.

Ava proudly displays her new pets for mommy and the camera

Checking things out - I think we have this too full Daddy!

We surnamed them Snap, Crackle and Pop, respectively and watched them explore their new home.

Of course, we had to give them a welcoming meal.

Eat up little fishies!

Sadly, by the time Ryan and I went to bed saturday night, one fish had surcumbed to "new home shock" and a second fish was close behind. So only Snap was still with us as we went to bed saturday night.

When we woke up sunday morning, Snap had gone to join his fellow fish friends in the land of Nemo as well. Given the explanation that her fishy was "sleeping," Ava would point to Snap, put her finger to her lips and tell us, "Shhhhhh."

Since we couldn't allow our daughter to experience the traumatic loss and absence of a pet so soon in her young life, sunday night we headed back out and brought home two more fish (as well as some water drops to further prevent our new fish from experiencing "new home shock" as well . . .hey, we never claimed to be fish experts here!) And when they sell for 15 cents each at Meijer, you can afford to be "extravagant."

Here's Ava giving her new fish a welcoming kiss.

Happy with her new pets!

We're excited to report that 24 hours into their new home, fish number 4 and 5 are still swimming merrily around their home. Here's hoping for no more "napping."

Our only current dilemma? We can't settle on names for our new fish.

Any suggestions?!