And you thought twins were rough...

This proud Momma has 11 little piglets to look after -- Whew! Newborn pigs courtesy of our local farmer's market.

Wren also painted her nails this weekend in the spirit of gender-guessing. I opted for toenails instead :) 

Pic of us last night at the babies first concert -- our friend had a house concert. The babies LOVED it! Make sure you check out the band -- Mama's Black Sheep!

XOXO,
~Finch and Wren



25 Weeks

Hello friends in Blogland!

Sharing some photos of Wren's 25 week belly shot. I think she looks absolutely gorgeous and I grow to love her and our babies everyday. I tell her all the time what an amazing, strong baby-maker she is, because I will tell you -- being pregnant is not for sissies!

We have been working hard around the house completing projects before the little birds arrive. Last week we bought a mini-fridge for the nursery. After putting it there, we decided it completely throws off the fung shui of the room. So now we have to rethink placement of it, and might have to hide it in the closet. Another favorite purchase is a new coffee maker -- not just any coffee maker, a BREW STATION :) I adore coffee and our old machine has been down the past few weeks. Needless to say, I have been enjoying my mornings at home the past few days!

These pictures were taken last night before our date. We always have date night on Thursdays or Fridays. We both look forward to it so much. With our opposite work schedules, it's so nice to have an evening of just us to sit down and talk about our week. Last night, we went to a new favorite little restaurant the next town over, a small, eclectic, organic/hippie, vibrant university town. This is sort of an "anything goes" town. So we strolled threw the streets holding hands in our own little world. When all of the sudden we hear "Hey there mommies!!!!!" Across the street, I see an old friend coming out of a class waving us down. It was a very cool moment :)  Just to hear the word "mommies" coming out of someone else's mouth -- it puts everything into perspective. We enjoyed an outstanding dinner with great conversation! With breakups seeming to surround us (both real and virtual friends), we realize we need to enjoy these moments and work hard to keep them.

Wishing you all a great weekend!

~Finch

24 weeks with TWINS

It has been way too long since we have posted.   This week we are 24 weeks along.

The babies have been kick, kick, kicking all day long and especially around 9pm at night.

• Finch made a "Twin play list" for them and put on my Ipod so they have been listening daily to a variety of music from our wide genre of all time favorites....Indigo Girls, Dixie Chicks, Eva Cassidy, Pink, John Legend, Frank Sinata, James Taylor, Billie Holiday, KD Lang, Alicia Keys, George Gershwin, Dave Matthews, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray LaMontagne and Diana Krall just to name a few.
• Our last full body ultrasound was at 22 weeks and the babies were 1 lb 2oz and 1 lb 3oz, a week ahead of schedule.  Their heartbeats have changed and Baby A is now 122 and Baby B is at 144.
• We had a new ultrasound tech and before we could even say hello - she walks in the room and says, "So you're having a boy and a girl, right?" We looked at her and I said, "Gosh, we have no idea because we aren't planning on finding out!" She said, "oh, ok, I will stay away from those areas so you don't get a peek."  WTF!  So we aren't sure if she looked at the chart before she walked in the room or if she was just trying to make conversation. Either way - she is an idiot! 
• I have developed terrible sciatic and S1 pain on my left side. I started physical therapy 2 weeks ago after I woke up and couldn't walk down the stairs until I iced my left hip.  Finch to the rescue - she got me an ice pack and then helped me get dressed because I could barely lift my left leg without screaming in pain.   Needless to say it looks like the chiropractor and now the physical therapist will be getting lots of business from us until we deliver. 
• We bought 2 new chocolate brown recliners - one for our bedroom for me to nurse in (with the twin breastfeeding pillow) and one downstairs in our living room for us to rock in and enjoy during the daytime. I must admit I have been sleeping in it for the first half of the night. Our bed does not have good support and I can barely walk in the morning if I sleep in the bed all night long.
• Finch has been a rock star getting our house "projects" done - moved the bookshelves to the basement, installed a new shelf in the laundry room, put up 2 new fire alarms, cleaned out the summer flower pots to get us ready for FALL mums :)
• Finch's employer will not allow her to use her SICK leave for maternity leave. She can only use her personal and vacation time which is extremely frustrating.  We have contacted a local employment lawyer to find out more about what legal rights she has regarding leave time since our State (WV) does not recognize our marriage license from Massachusetts.  to be continued.... 

Last but certainly not least....a few pictures to share with you.... we finished decorating the walls in the nursery today :)  Love our Woodland Animals theme!

Wren - 24 week "bump" - I looks like I am carrying a baby dinosaur! :)

New Nursery design with a crib on each side of the room

Mr. Bear, Baby Bear, Mr. Owl and their Zebra friend sitting on top of the bookshelf

This was my mirror when I was a little girl - so blessed to be able to use in our twin nursery!
2 birds of a feather flock together.....

The tree in the corner where the glider will be going

Crib #1

Crib #2

Sending love and prayers to Mommies Making Miracles

Please take a moment to stop by and send your love and prayers to Laurie and Heather at

http://mommiesmakingmiracles.blogspot.com/  - Their son Parker passed away today due to complications of a premature birth at 27 weeks. His twin brother, Zachary continues to fight and grow stronger each day.
My heart is heavy and am beyond words with the loss they have experienced today. 

Finch and I are only 6 weeks behind them and I pray that our babies stay safe and continue baking in the oven until December 20th at 38 weeks.

Love and Prayers going out to Laurie and Heather and your families.

~Wren 

21 weeks and Belly Shots

Update: We are 21 weeks along yesterday - Finch and I went to visit my family last weekend and had a great time. My sister came in from OH and we had a great time catching up - we haven't seen each other in about 2 years.  She is also a lesbian but not out to our family.  My mom was so excited to see me - it was nice to visit for a few days!  Finch and I is doing great  - with the exception of me trying to walk.  Walking is painful and causes a lot of pressure - If I walk around a store for more than 30 minutes or so I am in pain and can't wait to sit down. I ordered the Prenatal Cradle a few weeks ago but I wasn't crazy with the straps across my chest so I picked up the Medella Maternity Support Belt and LOVE it!  Because of the pain (feeling like I have been riding a horse for two days) and pressure, I went for a unplanned doctors check up last Tuesday to make sure everything was ok.  The Nurser Practitioner said everything looked great, cervix long and closed and no infections. Heartbeats were 144 and 138.  She said not to walk anymore than I have to and to wear my support belt each day which I have been doing.  I have to give kudos to other moms out there who have delivered or are carrying twins - it isn't for wimps!  The NP also said to keep up the water aerobic and water yoga class because the pool was the best place for me be right now. I have gained 13 pounds so far although I swear my belly feels more like it is 30 pounds!  I felt one of the babies kick for the first time two nights ago. Pretty amazing!  They start moving a lot around 9pm.

Finch continues to be an awesome wife and partner. I put together a "Honey-Do" list for her and one for me of tasks to accomplish before the babies arrive - she has knocked off about 6 or 7 items already!!!  Rock star!  We bought 2 Espresso Storage Cubicles today which we are going to use instead of a dresser.  Each one holds 6 cubes/baskets and we are going to put labels on each one with for their clothes.  We want to fit a Glider in the corner and a large piece of furniture on the other wall will crowd the glider. The nursery is still a work in progress. We go this Saturday for our Child Birth Education Class and to tour the Mother/Baby Unit at the hospital - can't wait!  I need to start preparing ahead of time for my leave from work - I have a "to-do" list there of stuff that I don't want to leave up in the air and grant applications and reports that will be do while I'm out.  I am going to try my best to do them ahead of time.  I will at least make a good faith effort. haha. Thankfully my nausea has mostly gone away - the reflux remains but Zantac helps a lot too.  I also bought 2 of the best pregnancy items so far - the Bobby Belly Wedge and a generic triangle wedge for my back.  LOVE them!!!! They make sleeping so much easier. We don't have room for a big body pillow and they are light and portable. I take one and put behind my back in the car and then use in on my desk chair at work.  We are also planning for our Baby Moon in October - not sure where we are headed yet but looking at places within 3 hours from home for some R&R together. 

***Please keep the ladies over at Mommies Makin Miracles http://mommiesmakingmiracles.blogspot.com/2011/08/good-with-bad-br-day-2.html  in your thoughts and prayers. They are 26 weeks along with twins and one of the babies sac started leaking fluid and she is hospitalized now.  Stop by and give them some words of encouragement.

Below is some belly pics from last week - enjoy!   ~ Wren

20 weeks

 

20 weeks with Sophie our Yorkie








Mommies-to-be at 20 weeks



Belly Shot at 18 weeks

Here we are at 19 weeks along today.  One word can describe how I feel - achy.  After walking only an hour around Babies R Us today, my belly and back were aching. Of course I didn't wear the Prenatal Cradle so I guess it is my fault.  New highlights from week 18 would be round ligament pain and tired, very tired this week.  I have certainly taken my fair share of naps and gone to bed really early.  Finch and I continue to organize the house and try to get things more in order. It is coming along. We finally finished the invite lists for our baby showers  - one on Oct. 22nd and the other on Oct. 29th.  We are going to my hometown next weekend because my sister is coming in from Ohio. We haven't seen each other in almost 2 1/2 years. Crazy!!!  She is a workaholic though and I am never in town when she has been to visit which is always for only a day or two...can't wait to see her!!!!  Here is a picture from the Belly Shot last Tuesday - at week 18.  I told Finch that my belly looks as BIG as it feels. I can only imagine another 16+ weeks. YIKES!!!!
We are registered for our Childbirth Class at the hospital on August 27th from 9am-3pm and go back to the doc again on August 30th. Can't wait to see the babies again.  Have a wonderful week everyone!  ~Wren

Nursery in Progress

Today is 18 weeks! Can you believe it? WE CAN'T!  It is going so so fast.... 50% of twins are born at 35 weeks so that means we are over half way there although we do hope that our little birds stay in their warm little nest until 38 weeks! I went to the Chiropractor yesterday and had my neck and lower back adjusted - I have been sleeping on 2 pillows for the reflux and it has my neck messed up and the added weight on my belly has thrown my center of gravity off and my lower back has been aching.  My Prenatal Cradle Plus arrived yesterday too so I wore it to work today. It definitely gave me extra support for my tummy and back but I had to wear a shirt underneath it because the straps were itchy on my skin.  Finch and i put the cribs together this weekend - it was really easy and only took about 45 mins each.  Finch did all of the work. I just handed her the nuts and bolts - I do not enjoy assembly projects which means any race car tracks or Barbie houses that Santa may bring one day will be her projects to do on Christmas Eve. LOL.  My mom bought us this storage changing bench a couple of months ago which has a momma bird feeding a baby bird which fits right in with our Woodland Animals theme. We are in love with birds and owls.  I made the sheer curtains with the leaves to add just a hit on the outdoors to the room.  We still need a rug, glider, bookshelf, and tall dresser....all in good time.  The babies will stay in our room for the first few months in bassinets though.  We still haven't selected a monitoring system to use - I like the Snuza (thanks to H1 and H2 for the suggestion on those) but we need to find a good double video monitor system that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.   Any suggestions?   18 week belly pics will follow later this week.  Here is a few pics of our work so far.

    The babies CRIBS

a little pillow for the glider

Storage Changing Bench

     Woodland Animals is our Nursery Theme

     Another view of the Changing Storage Bench...momma bird and baby bird - love it!!

   

~ Have a great week! 
Wren