Kicks and Giggles

Is it the end of May already? Oh, who am I kidding. I have been counting down the seconds until our next appointment! No, we haven't gone in yet. We're less than 36 hours away, but who is really counting? I wanted to post about the last few weeks before our big appointment on Thursday.

I have heard that the second trimester is also known as "the honeymoon trimester" and boy, is it ever! My energy level is back and I'm feeling great. I cannot (and will not) complain because the pregnancy has been incredibly smooth so far. (knock on wood!) 

I think it's been great for a few reasons: I feel so good to have made it to (just about) sixteen weeks. Those first twelve were incredible, but I couldn't shut the worry button off in my brain. I can't say the button is off completely now (nor do I think it ever will be as a mommy), but I can say that I've slept better these past few weeks than I have in months and I think the downslope of worry factor has a lot to do with it.

The next and most important reason why the second trimester is so amazing is that I am starting to FEEL the babies move. Talk about incredible. Now, I'm not seeing fists and feet and boxing matches in my belly (...yet) but right around 14 weeks I noticed a little...flutter. Being a first time mom, I'm not sure exactly what to look for with movement. I do know with twins it can be felt sooner because, well, there are two babies in there. So it was during a wild thunderstorm when I was up (and okay, a little spooked that a tree was going to crash through our bedroom window and hurt the babies) that I felt the slightest flutter in my belly. I knew immediately that it was something different than a hunger pang, so I waited for it to happen again. It did, the next day, and the next and the next. It's not consistent because they are still small, but if I am very still and and very patient, I can feel little tappings and bubbles and butterflies. It is so amazing and I just wish I could feel it all day long! T.J. was able to feel it once, too, so that let me know it wasn't all in my head. I'm looking forward to those little butterflies getting stronger and stronger and turning into full blown kicks. Babies, you can kick mommy's lungs and ribs all you want! :D

Our babies' hearing is developing this week, so they can actually begin to hear and recognize our voices. I have already ordered some sweet books to read aloud to them and have gotten in the habit of talking to them on my way home from school and while walking around the house. Neighbors and drivers may think I'm talking to myself, but no, I'm talking to the twins!

The big news of the week is that we will *hopefully* find out on Thursday whether we should buy blue or pink, dresses or overalls, cars or castles...you get the point! We are absolutely giddy when we think about the possibility of having two baby boys or two baby girls, and it's a wonderful feeling knowing that whatever they are, we are already so incredibly in love with them and that love is growing and will continue to grow and grow in ways we have not yet even imagined. We pray for healthy babies. It's that simple! That said, we are so excited to find out whether they are boys or girls!

Being the planners that we are, the nesting has definitely set in. We felt like we needed to check some items off of our list, so since the last post we have taken the leap of buying a larger SUV for the babes (bye-bye CR-V, hello Volvo!) and already purchased the car seats. Once we know what we're having, we'll hit the ground running with the rest of the planning! I have become involved with CMOMS (Charlotte Mothers of Multiples) and l-o-v-e it. We've put several classes on the calendar and have been to two baby shows in that past two weeks. I think staying busy is more for us to keep our sanity, but it's been great to really start to focus, plan and get excited for our babies' arrival (in November, babies, in November!)

Thank you for your continued positive thoughts and prayers for our babies and our family. Please keep them coming for a continued healthy pregnancy and for healthy, growing babies!

 13 weeks

15 weeks

Our new twin-mobile :D