Finally!

Last night I got to feel the girls, well one of them at least, kick or punch or something. I couldn't quite figure out what I was feeling they felt too small to be a foot. Then again it could have just been her toes. Not to break the tradition, she didn't kick for long after I put my hand on her. Still it is such an awesome thing knowing that our daughters are in there and they really are little people!
Gina does this neat little trick to try to get them active so I can feel them. She puts the BabyBeat monitor speaker side down on her belly and then uses the transducer on the other baby. We were laughing our fannys off the other night because it was making them move and kick and we could hear it and feel it. I can't even imagine how loud it is in there.... probably like a Who concert!

What did we learn today?

Well to start our little girls weigh 1lb 6oz and 1lb 7oz. Baby A has a great profile, unfortunately we couldn't get a clear look at Baby B's face but what we saw was beautiful in an ultrasound sort of way! Everything looks fantastic and the doctor didn't even need to do any extra u/s after reviewing the films. They're happy...we're happy.

I love seeing the girls. I look forward to those appointments more than anything else. Of course I'd love it if the girls would kick for me but it seems they stop everything when I'm in the room! So in the u/s I can actually participate...in a way. I know that soon I'll see them and really feel them kick, I don't know how soon, but soon. They kick Gina all day long and she can even see the kicks now. Tonight she was pushing at them and they were pushing back. Just last night I was doing the dishes when Gina saw the kick and she felt a hard kick. She called me in and as soon as I put my hand on her belly they stopped. I walked back into the kitchen and they started up again! Figures. And I thought girls were supposed to be easier!!!

Excitement is building

I am getting so excited. We're only 2 days from a major milestone and we get to see you again a week from tomorrow. And that time will pass so very quickly.

We went to a Twins, Triplets & more class last week just to give us a hint at what we're in for. I think I'm supposed to be scared! Feedings every 1 1/2 - 2 hours... for about 20 minutes each... if they tag team Mama (worse case scenario) that means about 50 minutes in a stretch... maybe I should be scared!!! How cranky will we be?!? Something like 162 diapers per week! I guess it won't take too long to get the hang of changing them. I have a feeling that picking up dog poop may take a bit of the edge off baby poop... but only the edge!

Still, I'm looking forward to it. All I think of are cute little dresses, cute little shoes, cute little hats and socks. We already have adorable matching outfits for pictures.

I'd say this is going to be great but it already is!

Let the decorating begin...

Well girls, your Grandpa M. came down and helped start on your nursery. We don't yet have the colors picked out but we did sheetrock the wall and checked on new windows. So very soon you'll have a room with a wonderful view.

And when Mommy figures out what your bedding is going to be, we can dicide on colors for the walls and get it decorated for you.

I'm so excited for your arrival but for now just hang in there... literally!!! We're 4 days away from a major sigh of relief, and 4 weeks and 4 days away from relaxation.

Dreams

I know Gina is supposed to have some wild dreams during the pregnancy (and she has!) but I didn't know that I would, too.

The other night I dreamt that the babies were born but it turned out that one was a boy... and I was upset about it! Not so long ago, about 2 weeks in fact, I wanted a son to go along with our daughter and now I was upset about actually having one! Screwy, to be sure, I know. Funny thing was, I didn't actually see the babies. Apparently I wasn't there for their birth, but someone at the hospital told me when I got there. Yeah, like that's gonna happen!

I FELT IT! I FELT IT!!!

Gina called me into the bedroom and had me put my hand on her belly andwithin seconds - BAMM - I got my first kick. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be but right after I felt it Gina asked, more like confirmed what I felt. It was great and I can't wait to feel more and stronger ones in the weeks ahead. I'm waiting to "see" their arms and legs move across her belly... that'll be awesome... and freaky all at the same time!

That little flutter.

I was able to feel them moving. At least that's what we think. When I put my hand on Gina's belly, waiting for the kick that, thusfar, never comes, it feels like I'm having a twitch in my hand. I thought that maybe it was Gina's insides gurgling away because I knew my hand wasn't really twitching away, but it turns out that that's the girls "tapping" or whatever it is they do that isn't kicking.

It's pretty awesome.

I can't wait to feel the KICK!

Mommy' s belly.

Belly shot.

Happy Birthday Teagan

Make a wish.

Happy Birthday Teagan

It's been 2 years since we were blessed by an angel. Born just shy of 19 weeks and delivered into the arms of God, we were blessed just to hold her in our arms, however briefly, and marvel at her beauty. No tears, just love. It's like having a Guardian Angel with a name and she's family.

She's made herself known to us these past 2 years.
We were on a walking tour in New Orleans and were in the cemetary where Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau is interred. In the back part of the cemetary there is a patch of grass that in an area where only one person, the first wife of "someone of society", if I remember correctly, is buried. In the middle of the grass there was one flower, I think it was called a Rain Lilly... I'm not sure. But the guide did take notice of it and thought it odd a) to only see one blooming and b) that it wasn't the season for them to be blooming. Later on the tour Gina notice a butterfly that seemed to be following me and paying particular attention to me before flitting off on its way. It wasn't until later that she told me that she had asked Teagan to show her just one of anything where normally there would be more.

I was doing a pickup on my birthday last year and near my truck was a camo Mickey Mouse antenna topper. I'm certain she knows what a Disney freak I am and it was the perfect present!

I'm convinced she is with Gina most of the time. Mostly because one night Gina came home while I was in the garage. I had the phone with me and it started playing back messages. I thought it strange that when the messages are played back on the base unit, they would also be played back on the phone. So I went upstairs and asked who called only to find that Gina hadn't checked the messages yet. So I tried to check them from the phone and found that 2 buttons needed to be pressed in order to start the playback. Clearly I didn't accidentally hit the button as the phone was sitting in a basket about 5 feet from me. I believe Teagan just made a detour through the garage on her way upstairs just to say 'Hi'.

One other time that really got my attention was when I was getting into my truck at the beach and lying on the ground outside my truck was a miniature rose plant with a small white rose and bare roots. It wasn't there when I got out of my truck... hmmm. I still have the plant and it's bloomed once since then.

I'm sure these aren't the only times she's made herself known, these are just a few of the times I was paying attention.

So, Happy 2nd Birthday Teagan. We miss holding you in our arms, but will hold you in our hearts until you take us by the hand and lead us around Heaven. We Love You.

Almost!

I was so close...so close to feeling a kick last night. Gina called me out of the kitchen and had me put my hand on the spot she just felt a kick only to have them stop... completely! They had been active all day, starting at 5:30am, but as soon as it's my turn they stop. I'm not terribly concerned. I know I'll have plenty of time to get a good kick or 2.

Tomorrow is the end of week 21 which means our next milestone is only 3 weeks away. That's when we start breathing easier. Week 24 is when Gina can relax and enjoy the pregnancy. Week 24 is when the survival rate for pre-term delivery shoots up dramatically. It seems so far away, but each individual week just flies by. I know they'll be here before I know it... I don't even want to think about how quickly they'll grow up!

More news.

3 weeks ago we got some great news. During an ultrasound we found out that one of the twins was a girl. Both of us wanted a girl and I couldn't imagine anything else. We have all these incredibly cute clothes and accessories that Mommy has collected and so all I can imagine is having a girl. I say "a girl" because I also wanted a son. You know, someone to look out for his sister, someone to teach about cars and building things, someone to enjoy a beer with... when he gets older of course, and someone to... well... balance the estrogen levels in our house. You know - 2 and 2. Sounds ideal huh? That's what I was thinking. Our accupuncturist said she was detecting a boy and so we have been calling "Baby A" a boy and referring to "him" when she felt a kick or how "he" was positioned. We just hoped "he" would cooperate at the next ultrasound by uncrossing his legs so we could confirm what we already knew.

Friday was that day and he surely did cooperate and there is was for all the world to see... nothing. And it was clear, in an instant our little boy was now our little girl. I'm shooting nothing but xxxxxxxxx's. That makes 3 including our little angel Teagan. So now it's 3 days later and I'm over the shock. I'm okay with it... really... no, I mean it. I told Gina that from now on we're having nothing but boy dogs!

So now we can start planning the nursery. We'll need 2 of everything, of course, and since they are already princesses, I think I've found the perfect crib. When they get older we can upgrade to this bed. Unfortunately linens aren't included. Now how do we register?