Bump Update: 33 weeks

How can it possibly be that I'm 33 weeks and 4 days? Basically 4 weeks to go. I'm still feeling pretty well though. Turtle's office put together a surprise baby shower for us and had me come down to the office for it yesterday. He was very surprised and they were more than generous by gifting us a double B.O.B jogging stroller. I mean, that's an insane office gift. AND everyone was at least nice enough to tell me how "tiny" I looked to be that far along with twins. I got a manicure later and the other customer in the salon was also telling me I looked tiny as well. Weird change of events but I'll take it. I would also like to wear my new outfit everyday please. Old Navy skinny jeans and this Liz Lang Maternity Top from Target.

33 Weeks

I look like an impostor to the Housewife as I'm actually not in work out clothes and have done my hair, right? Weight gain is not so bad I suppose.....40lbs. Meh. I really want to make it to 38 weeks with these girls. We had a minor scare from Tuesday's appointment but apparently it was nothing a same day visit with a maternal fetal medicine specialist couldn't clear up after a referral over there. Sheesh.

Good news is the nursery got a good bit of organizing last night since #1 is with her grandparents. I need to get car seats, swings, and bouncy seats in order as well. Getting there slowly but surely. I'm running out of things to wear and trying not to buy much since it has started to cool off. I'm hoping I can make it with my one pair of jeans and a pair of leggings.

Well I have to go to the store to get some ingredients to make play dough for #1's classroom for the month. It needs to be orange for the month of October. I will also try to do a potty training post soon for anyone interested.......not that I am any kind of expert but will be glad to relay what I did and our experience. And for those this bored I'm sure the Single Gal will have some more dating shenanigan posts for you soon.

The Housewife

Bump Update: 30 Weeks

No picture this week! Just a short update from my 28 week appointment which was really my 29 week and 3 day appointment. Everything looks great right now and Baby B even did me a huge favor and decided to turn head down......at least for the time being. Tell her to stay that way even if she is so high in my uterus she is basically karate kicking my rib cage on the right side. Baby A weighs 2 lbs 15 oz (so just shy of 3 pounds) and Baby B weighs in at 3 lbs 8 oz. I appreciate the Single Gal keeping y'all entertained while I was getting #1 settled into preschool, potty training and dealing with her naughty punkness at nap time. Weight gain was not as bad as the last time and hopefully will slow down some just simply because my heartburn is getting horrible and I just don't have room or feel like eating much these days.

Strangers have been nothing but kind enough to tell me that I'm looking "very big" not to be delivering until November. I do admit to twins now when speaking with them but I would rather just ask them something random about their appearance to change the conversation. It's mostly women but surprisingly there are men who are very inquisitive as well (usually because their wives are expecting or something). I would also like to remind women who have had children that when I agree, yes these babies will be here soon I feel like 9 weeks is soon. Out of 38 weeks total and only having 9 left it does in fact feel soon to me, especially when you are carrying multiples and have a higher chance of delivering early. I have a good friend who just happens to carry her pregnancies very well- like better than a super model. She gets the same thing when she tells people she has only 4 weeks left except they basically tell her she will have some crazy small preemie baby- only she has like 8 pound babies. People cannot be pleased either way. And how can you have a "preemie" baby when you go full term? People are stupid.

Nursery is still not inhabitable for newborns but I did wash all of #1's old things and have those folded in sorted piles on the floor. I stripped all my cloth diapers and need to re-size them down for little babies. Turtle and I are going to have to get on some things once we get back from vacation. I should probably call the hospital and take care of that pre-payment thing they want, too.


Yours truly-
Large and In Charge Housewife

Labor Day

I hope everyone is still having a fantastic Labor Day weekend. The Housewife household has been laying low except for our random trip to Costco for a significantly large television for the living room. It was time and let it be known we did make it through opening weekend of college football on the smaller televisions. Turtle wanted one of those "smart" televisions........and it's so smart we are still trying to get sound to come out of it. But hey.......you can use the internet on it if you want to and it has silent 3D. I think we just lack proper upgraded cables to accomplish this.

Helping Dad wash the car

Found a lizard stuck in a solo cup (pardon the terrible humidity fogging my lens)

After much debate we convinced her to free the little beast

Labor Day is also significant as today marks 10 weeks or less until the twins arrive (if I make it to 38 weeks which we are hoping to). Sleep is a little harder because I have to keep switching sides depending on if Baby B is jammed in my rib causing it to ache or my sciatica/hips are hurting on the left side. It's not unbearable. I don't think it's due to the size of my stomach but more that there is double everything in there right now.

The Housewife

Bump Update: 27 Weeks

I'll cue the embarrassing pictures in a moment. While I don't think I'm incredibly huge I think strangers are giving me a complex. I want a t-shirt that says, "my bump is not an invitation for you to talk to me."  It makes me feel really good when I hear, "Oh, you've got a ways to go still." Then I fess up to having twins and proceed to tell Turtle while we are out shopping that he should not be concerned when I move my due date to October. I have 10 to 11 weeks left at the most. It doesn't seem like " a ways to go," especially when anything can happen. These girls could be here at 36 weeks....I don't have a crystal ball.   I can't predict if my blood pressure will stay down or if both babies will continue to grow at rates the doctors are pleased with at that stage.

these are unedited so pardon if color etc look off

Weight gained? 27 lbs (what...I like brownies.....a lot right now...with ice cream)
Miss anything? my waistline
Cravings? sweets and more sweets. but I'm trying to control myself.


Nursery you ask? Um........definitely not finished by any means. The major stuff is done and we are waiting to pick up some cribs from a friend who's twins are done with them. So it's an empty room. Turtle can start getting down some of #1's old clothes so we can wash and take inventory and get the swing/bouncy chair out. Don't worry, it won't take much to get it done. It's really low key but I'll be sure to do a full post on it when it's finished. 

24 Weeks

I went to the gym today and one of the main childcare ladies was commenting on how I was already "really big." Gee, thanks. I'm not sure how to take that because as this is a twin pregnancy, I missed the memo where I'm supposed to look "small." I think it's only fair to assume that two babies would equal a  larger stomach and I feel that I look appropriate and not too terrible yet. It makes sense to me but who am I to say such? So here is my bump..........go ahead and point your fingers and say, "whoa she is enormous!"

it's actually sort of difficult to take self photos

I get that no one wants to get incredibly large when they are pregnant. I'm worrying about a lot more than my "size" or what someone thinks my size should be at this point. My nursery is a wreck, how am I going to breastfeed twins with a 2 year old so I don't spend insane amounts of money on formula? And lets talk about my c-section nightmares. No, it has not been determined I have to have a c-section yet but tell that to my subconscious. I'll be glad to have large and developed babies so they don't have to go to the NICU. To be honest, I'm feeling great and not uncomfortable at this point at all. The only annoying thing is the restless leg syndrome deal; it drives me crazy at night. #1 is starting pre-school soon and we are going on vacation in September. Trust me, I have plenty on my mind without analyzing every love handle and the size of my stomach. I am sure I will start to get very uncomfortable and large in the 3rd trimester. So what? And no, you don't have to tell me that I'm going to get even bigger. I kind of figured that out- but thank you for your public service announcement.


Weight gain? Eh, probably 20 pounds. I only weigh at the doctor and that is Friday.
Cravings? Definitely into sweets right now. As in I may go to the grocery store to make some pumpkin coffee cake I pinned on pinterest this week.
Genders? all things pink
Movement? most definitely
Miss anything?  running and not being treated like a state fair exhibit and regular clothes
Pregnancy woes?  occasional round ligament pain, heartburn and restless legs

If you need me I will definitely keep lying to complete strangers by moving up my due date and by saying I am only having one girl.

The Housewife

Bump Update: 21 Weeks

Ignore my huge arm flab. I blame the photographer. The Single Gal. 

We had a very successful 20 week appointment last Friday and both babies were in full cooperation for their respective gender scan. I have no more previa at all and at this time they do not think Baby A's cord insertion is an issue. Yay.  I've gained 15 lbs so far........in my opinion that isn't so bad for pregnancy #2 or a twin pregnancy period. Now, I'm sure it's all downhill from here and I will look like a bus soon. My Grandmother called last night and kindly reminded me of this. She said, "I bet you're getting big, big, big!" In her defense, this is my mom's mother hence prior twin pregnancy witness. However, it felt like she said "fat, fat, fat," and that's is what keeps ringing in my ears. Unfortunately I've basically been on an 9 week gym hiatus due to the previa restrictions I was placed on. I have started going back this week for some easy cardio so hopefully that will help out some.

I guess I will talk about the gender reveal here as well. I decided to go ahead with a super small party instead of my other plan. I still really wanted to do my original plan but due to some other circumstances out of my control and other people's control I have deemed it too complicated. I'll be honest. When things start to get complicated for something special I'm trying to do I just end up getting pissed off and then I don't even enjoy it because I'm so pissed off about every little thing that keeps coming up. I'm not a complicated person and I really try to keep things simple. So, I'm taking pride in knowing myself and doing the very over done gender reveal party. With that said I have two weeks to figure out decorations, and no we are not getting the inside of a cake colored blue/pink for the reveal. My Grandmother also asked if we knew the genders when I spoke to her last night.

Housewife: They were able to see them but I had them sealed on envelopes so we can do a gender reveal on 29th.
Grandmother: Oh well you can just go ahead and tell me now!
Housewife: Grandmother, I don't know the genders. I won't know until the 29th.


My poor husband had the same issue with one of his good friends. He wanted to know the genders, said his wife is dying to know. Turtle explains I wouldn't let us find out yet, explained about the party- yadda yadda yadda. This party also eliminates the big issue any of your parents have with who the hell knew first. Everyone is just like Grandmother, "well you can tell me." So you can tell everyone else but me and then I have no news to tell anyone because it's already been spread before I even had a chance. Fab. If Turtle didn't want to know what these babies were so badly we would be having two delivery day surprises. I had the sealed envelopes in my purse for 4 days and had no desire to look at them. Finding out stresses me out. Psycho-analyze at will. I don't care what they are but this gender thing makes it crazy real or something. I have problems. So, my friend from church (the only one who can be trusted with this information) is helping me out with the big reveal detail of the party.

I'm looking forward to heading to my Aunt's house on the lake this Saturday to spend time with The Single Gal, K-Woww, my Aunt and Uncle, and my cousin's sweet little family.

The Housewife

Half Way There

Did you all sing that in your best Bonjovi voice? 19 is half of 38...weeks that is. I lose at least 2 weeks of prep time with twins and that is a best case scenario of course. It feels like I'm in one never ending check list which has some major items on it. Items that I cannot take care of myself even though I want to do them. Items that cannot be completed in one nap time period on a Saturday or Sunday. We are making progress on many of the big items though- minivan purchased, major basement clean out, sell a car. All check. #1 and I are leaving for the beach tomorrow for a week with family. Turtle will meet us there on Thursday as he needs to save his vacation for November when the twins come. I am looking forward to relaxing and trying to read three books that are currently on my kindle. The Single Gal can't come due to work obligations at her new place of employment and it won't be the same without her.

My furniture is finally ready!! Turtle is going a little crazy with the length of disarray that is our living room. We haven't had a TV in there since March. We still need to order a TV and a TV console. Of course the one we settled on we can't get until July 24th. Why does it take so long to get some things? It's frustrating. I have left him a to-do list that is a mile long since #1 and I will be out of his hair (or lack of hair in his case) for several days thus he can complete things uninterrupted.

This vacation caused me to have to go out Thursday and shop for a new swimsuit. It didn't turn out as badly as I thought and I did find two cute maternity suits that were 50 percent off. I purchased one size for now and the next size up for our beach trip in September. They are tankinis and not those lame swim dress looking things. I don't mind wearing a two piece to the lake with Big J and P but I'll skip baring my stomach and enlarged chest in front of most of my extended family on my father's side. With that said I really don't feel that my stomach is insanely large yet. I'm sure we'll get there but for a) my second pregnancy and b) a twin pregnancy, I am comfortable with where I am at.

I'm sure you all just want the good dirt. I will try to take a picture soon to post.

How far along?  19 weeks (Monday)
Weight Gain?   11ish pounds
Maternity clothes? Hell, yes. Except for one pair of jeans I bought early post-baby that were a size too big. I can still wear those. It's getting harder to dress cute but I'm trying not to give up.
Stretch marks? None that I can see. But don't let your OB feed you rainbows about you not having any because then you give birth and you can see more of your stomach again and discover that they are lying bitches. In their defense, I didn't have any last ones.
Miss anything? This week, champagne and lunch meat. My normal exercise routines.
Movement? I have been feeling these two since 12 weeks (very occasionally of course). I feel Baby B more than A but I think it has to do with the placenta position.
Gender?  Gotcha. We don't know yet. Turtle's vote is two girls and I go back and forth between girl/boy and two girls.
Cravings?  pickles, glasses of milk, water with ice, kraft macaroni and cheese, fruit- especially watermelon.

Enjoy your weeks and your Fourth of July. I will have pics when we come back from the beach and you will have to rely on the Single Gal while I am gone.

Love
The Housewife

Life in Pictures

Housewife here, I had a good check up today and no more previa! Just a "low-lying" placenta which should keep moving up where it should be. They could only see Baby B's gender today because Baby A had their legs scrunched up nice and tight. So until next time.....even though you wouldn't know today either because that classified information is being sealed in an envelope for a top secret gender reveal project. For now, #1 is practicing her "surprised" face. 

Hope y'all are having a great week. 

The Housewife

Twice the Babies = Twice the Hormones.

I am truly not a person who minds being pregnant. When I was pregnant with #1 I had a very easy and uncomplicated pregnancy. I had some early swelling that never seemed to go away and so far do not have that this time around. With #1 I was sort of a little sick.....maybe......when I woke up in the morning and on my drive to work. With the twins I was sick all.day.long from around five weeks to ten weeks. I would wake up in the middle of the night and feel sick. I don't know what is worse, just feeling like you will vomit all the time or vomiting all the time. The Single Gal has a dear friend who is still sick and throwing up most days and she's due the first week of August. My mother-in-law pretty much threw up everyday with her first (not the Turtle).

Also, when these twins are sassy teenagers I will remind them how they broke mommy's nose because I'm pretty sure my nose is jacked up. Problem is the only way to tell is by a CT scan and I can't get one of those things until I deliver. And I can't afford a nose job anyway so why get the CT scan? Now the Single Gal can say her nose is better than mine when we used to be equals. Stab her.


This little adorable gal loves the word "NO" right now. Can we go change your diaper? NO. Do you want to take a bath? NO. NO. NOOOAAAAH. (runs away from mommy). I can't even have my own water as you can see. (This is one of my better pictures that's not over exposed. Kind of self teaching and half learning from the Pioneer Woman blog.)

Do you know what you buy when you're pregnant and having a bad day? Candy. Candy and magazines because you can't buy a magazine and a bottle of wine. The grocery bill is a good place to hide these things from your husbands because it's very general and doesn't show up as "GAP" on your billing statement. I am struggling because one of my placenta's is over my cervix right now (placenta previa) and I've been placed on "pelvic rest," with no heavy lifting, no running or jarring activities. I can swim. While I have no problem adhering to the doctor's orders for the safety of the babies it is mentally frustrating. I really like working out.....and while I was a competitive swimmer for many years I really do not enjoy swimming that much anymore, especially by myself. The midwife said this should hopefully resolve itself and not be an issue down the road but they can't really say when. I hope by my 16 week appointment. 

I promise not to be a crazy, grumpy, hormonal basket case. Most of the time anyway. Y'all enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and eat some BBQ and hang out on the lake or something.

The Housewife

A Housewife State of The Union

I have been hiding something from you and it's time for me to fess up. We should all be very grateful that the Single Gal has been on top of her blogging game and taking care of business here. I've been very tired and..........let's just say very nauseous. In November of this year our household will be growing and it's not just by one.

Answers to a few questions I'm sure everyone has.

Q: Wow, you're a twin and you're having twins?
A:  I'm sure stranger things have happened. They are fraternal and fraternal does run in my family.

Q: I guess you're not going to be able to cloth diaper anymore?
A: While I am sure the first several months I will be very sleep deprived I do plan on cloth diapering 60-80 percent of the time once they can fit into the one size cloth diapers. I will be home with them during the day and I will be changing most of the diapers. I can only imagine the amount of trash double the diapers will produce. I am looking into some all-in-one diapers versus the pocket diapers so we can eliminate the stuffing portion. I will give updates as they come. It's not rocket science, it's just a cloth diaper. Traveling outside of the home with three will be hard enough so I'm not sure if I will use cloth on the go but anything I can do not to buy 140 diapers a week will help.

Q: You will probably need a new car.
A: Yes. We are selling one car and we will be getting a minivan. I'm excited except for the fact I hate buying cars which is why we never do it. I don't really care if people have a problem with a van. I want my automatic sliding doors and lift gate. And I don't want your Ford Expedition EXL gas bill or 12 miles around town. Thanks but no thanks.


I'm a little moody today. Happy that Turtle is off and we got some things done this morning but people are starting to irritate me. If I didn't solicit your advice for something then I don't want it. I'm tired of snide comments about the cloth diapering and what I "won't" be able to do. If you don't have anything supportive to say then keep it to yourself. I've had a baby already. I know that I haven't raised twins but I am one. I'm sure it will be hard but people do it all the time. I feel like Turtle and I are making the best decisions possible for us when we make them and that's all that matters. I don't really care if you don't like them or agree with them. It's not anyone else's decision to make.

That was so much better than hearing Obama talk about the economy, right? Now I have to finish a sewing order and try to get rid of this headache before it turns into a migraine. And the Single Gal will be gleeful that I posted.

Love to all
The Housewife