13 Weeks...

How far along? 13 weeks
How big are the babies? Peaches
Best moment this week: Getting a good night sleep!
Symptoms: Morning sickness and still tired a lot
Movement: None
Food cravings: I really wanted an ice cream sundae but I resisted
Genders: Unknown
Milestones: Received my registration forms for the hospital

Development: Your fetuses are forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with their heads now only one third the size of their body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient.


Headlines from the week:
NASA orbiter discovers ice in craters between north pole, equator of Mars

MCAS scores fall shy of target
More than half of Mass. schools fail to meet new federal standards


Weather today:
Rain, 63 Degrees

NT Scan...

Sorry for the delay on the results. We had our NT Scan on Monday where we had an ultrasound to check for any anomolies and signs of chromosome disorders. Well I am happy, thrilled, extatic to report that both babies look absolutely perfect! Everything measured perfectly and there were no signs of any anomolies. As many of you know, this is a HUGE relief for Ryan and I as we lost our last pregnancy to Trisomy 18. Of course we were both nervous and just wanted to confirm to healthy babies. So as soon as everything was measured and looked great I think there was a simultaneous weight lifted off our chests and we enjoyed the rest of the ultrasound.

They were very active in there too. The bottom one we believe had the hiccups because it kept jolting every few seconds. The top one started out on its back and then when the Dr. went back it was on its belly nuzzled up with the placenta, haha. It was funny because she zoomed in on the face and it looked like its lips were puckering and it was giving me kisses. I said that has to be a boy and is already a Momma's Boy. Now I'm sure all the movement going on had nothing to do with the pop tart I ate right before the exam. Nothing at all.

I will say it was the most amazing thing so far to actually see them move in there. It's just so surreal to know that is all going on inside me. It's a feeling I don't think anyone could really put into words. I love them already and can't wait to show them the world.

We do have pictures, but I am having some technical difficulties at the moment getting them posted. I will add them as soon as I can. It's amazing because they really look like babies now, not just little beans!

12 Weeks...

How far along? 12 weeks
How big are the babies? Plums
Best moment this week: I could have sworn I felt a flutter, although it may have been gas :)
Symptoms: Still some nausea and still a bit tired
Movement: Possible, but inconclusive
Food cravings: Friday I had to have a taco salad
Genders: Unknown
Milestones: 1st Trimester down, 2 to go!

Development: As you move into the second trimester, babies shift into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of their systems are fully formed.


Headlines from the week:
Cleveland Browns sign Raymond Ventrone to the Roster. (That's Uncle Bub to the twins!)

On September 14, at the age of 57, Actor Patrick Swayze died after an extraordinarily brave and dignified 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer.


Weather today:
Mostly sunny, 67 degrees

11 Weeks...and 1 day

How far along? 11 weeks
How big are the babies? Limes!
Best moment this week: Getting the future nursery all cleaned out
Symptoms: Morning sickness, but getting more energy every day
Movement: None yet
Food cravings: Salt and vinegar chips
Genders: Unknown
Milestones: They no longer have webbed fingers and toes

Development: Your fetuses currently enjoy a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.


Headlines from the day:
Obama pushes for new financial regulations
On the first anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse, President Obama declared that it's time for the federal government to extract itself from rescue efforts, but wants to prevent another meltdown in the future.

The Great Diaper Debate
Many parents who want to lessen the environmental impact of raising a baby are choosing cloth over disposable diapers. Problem is, they may not always be making the greener choice.


Weather today:
Partly Cloudy, 74 degrees

A Letter to the Twins...

Dear Little Twinsies,

I love salt and vinegar chips as much as the next person, but wanting to have them everyday is not helping me keep a semi girlish figure throughout this pregnancy. All these chips will do is make it look like I am carrying you in my bum even more. Remember the days when all you wanted was cold fruit? Let's go back to that. Thank you.

Love,

Mommy

10 Weeks...

How far along? 10 weeks
How big are the babies? Prunes
Best moment this week: Getting to see the little bambinos on the big screen again!
Symptoms: Morning sickness is still in swing, bed time is officially 9:00.
Movement: None yet
Food cravings: Tomato and rice soup and cheese sandwiches have been hitting the spot lately
Genders: Unknown
Milestones: Second Appointment

Development: With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, babies are making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will start working too.)


Headlines from the day:
Study links humans to warming in the Arctic
Human-generated greenhouse gas emissions have helped reverse a 2,000-year trend of cooling in the Arctic, prompting warmer average temperatures in the past decade that now rank higher than at any time since 1 B.C., according to a study published in the online version of the journal Science.

Obama’s planned speech criticized
DALLAS - President Obama’s back-to-school address next week was supposed to be a feel-good story, but Republican critics are calling it an effort to foist a political agenda on children, creating yet another confrontation with the White House.


Weather today:
Partly Sunny, 64 degrees

2nd Appointment...

I had my 2nd appointment today and everything looked great! We got to see both the babies again and they were still measuring on time with strong heartbeats. Here is their 2nd debut:


The Doctor tried to get one with both of them in it, but they are already independent and want their own spotlight. I'll have to give them a nice lesson about sharing early on, I can tell. It's funny because the one in the top picture appears to be our little movie star, looking straight at the camera and the one in the bottom picture seems a bit more shy, covering its face up and curling into a ball. We are told that they do appear to be fraternal twins right now so we could have 2 boys, 2 girls, or a boy and a girl!

All in all the appointment was pretty quick and painless (i.e. I didn't have to give up 4 pints of blood... this may be an exaggeration, but it was a lot the last time). I was told that I will be able to give birth naturally (with meds of course) as long as both heads are facing down, otherwise I will have a C-Section. One last tid bit I was informed of is that as of 30 weeks I will be put on bed rest. So I will be 30 weeks as of January 24, 2010, please open your calendars now and plan on making many visits. Or I may be moving in with someone :)