26 weeks and 1 day

I am officially 6 1/ 2 months pregnant. So amazing! I'm going to post in bullet points because it is late (9:30 P.M.), and I want to head to bed:

• My belly is a-growin'! I'm measuring 31 1/ 2inches as of last Monday (one day shy of 25 weeks). This equates to being 31 1/ 2 weeks pregnant with a singleton, but it does not really convert to a twin pregnancy. I don't have any stretch marks yet but know they may appear any second because my stomach is getting so large.
  
• I have gained 25 pounds thus far, and my doctor would like me to continue gaining because weight gain for the mom falls off in the last trimester. Babies take up so much space that there is very little room for the stomach to expand. However, our perinatologist said the babies are measuring right on track for weight so not to be too worried about my personal weight gain.
• The babies are super active, although I cannot tell which one is moving or what body parts are moving yet. I can see movement on the outside of my belly as well, which is super exciting. Feeling and seeing the babies move is the neatest thing I have ever experienced in my life. I LOVE it!
• My appointments with my regular ObGyn are now every two weeks.
• I failed my first glucose tolerance test; the nurse forgot to tell me to fast, and I ate a cheeseburger and fries prior to the test. HA! My repeat test was perfect. Go figure!
• I am slightly anemic, which is normal in twin pregnancies. The babies are taking every single bit of nutrition from me. I am supposed to supplement with over-the-counter iron pills once daily and will be monitored closely to ensure my anemia does not get too out of hand.
• I am out of breath pretty and take deep breaths often. I don't even realize I am breathing deeply or sighing/taking deep breaths and have been asked on several occasions if I am okay. Someone even told me that I shouldn't breathe like that because it makes other people nervous and concerned I might be going into labor. HA! Poor Allen wears himself out asking if I am alright when I breathe this way too.
• I have to go to the bathroom about once an hour (if not more) and am up throughout the night not only to go to the bathroom but also because the babies tend to be most active in the late evenings.
• My back still bothers me; the pain is becoming a nuisance. When I think about carrying these two little babies though, I can't help but smile and be thankful.
• My ankles have begun to swell a tiny bit but do not cause me any pain right now. They start swelling about 10 A.M. and just tend to stay that way the rest of the day.

• I am usually super tired after work and come home to take a thirty-minute nap a few times a week. I also think this might partially be related to the anemia, but I need to ask my doctor about that.
• I am constantly thirsty! Super. Thirsty.
  
• We were extremely productive this weekend while my best friend, "Peah," was in town from Houston. We picked out and purchased the cribs and mattresses (which take about six weeks to come in), we planned the family & friend baby shower, we found everything we needed to register for (plan to actually register this weekend), found a recliner/rocker for the nursery (Grandma Lucy paid for it), and we picked out new carpet in case we stay in our current house.
• My mom and my Aunt Sharri (my mom's best friend) willingly drove to Tulsa today to get the rest of our baby bedding for us, and we now have all the bedding ordered. How sweet are they to help us with this task?
• We also found out that we may get an offer on our house in the next day or two. Yikes! I was so not prepared for this and had resigned myself to staying in our current house until the babies were six months old, but I guess we'll see how it all works out in the end. Allen is dying to move, but I'm ready to nest. Our house officially goes off the market this Sunday at midnight. I just keep telling myself that if it is meant to be, it will be.
• My belly is the largest thing on me right now, but I feel like I have started to gain a bit of weight and swelling in my face, rear end, and ankles. I know this is all normal; I just want it documented more than anything.
  
• Other than that, things have been going well. Work is keeping me really busy right now, but it sure makes the days pass quickly. I'm thankful to have a job though!
• I also have a great husband who helps so much around the house! He has been amazing and tells me my main job right now is to grow these babies. Since I tend to be a control freak, it is hard for me to surrender, but my body is happy that I do.
• Allen tells me I move "at the speed of death." I do all tasks pretty slowly and feel like my "high speed" switch is currently broken. It's okay though; I'm growing babies. Remember? HA!
  
• I apologize if I haven't updated as much as you (or I) would have liked. I've been doing an awful job about commenting on blogs too. I am often reading and sometimes just don't have the time or energy to comment. I am sorry and hope I can improve on this.
  
• I'll leave you with a few parting belly shots and a few pictures from our anniversary trip to Eureka Springs as well.
  

More than halfway there!

Man, this pregnancy is flying by, y'all! I cannot believe that I am more than halfway through it. Considering most twins arrive at about 33 weeks, I need to get my butt in gear!

I wanted to start off with some things I have been experiencing and feeling for my own journaling purposes:

• I have been feeling great overall! I can honestly say I have been enjoying pregnancy! And the bigger-bellied I get, the nicer people are to me. Not to mention the bigger my belly gets, the bigger the babies are, and I want healthy twins!
  
• The babies are moving like crazy. I can feel them on the inside and outside now; it feels like popcorn popping in my belly. The babies are the most active early in the mornings and then later in the evenings from about 7 - 11 PM. I love it!
  
• I went to the specialist about a week and a half ago (20 weeks, 6 days). I see the specialist in addition to my regular ObGyn so both can monitor the progress of the babies and to ensure I don't go into preterm labor. Both babies looked great and are gaining weight. One weighed 14 ounces and the other weighed 15 ounces. Here are a few pictures:

• Both babies are still boys. HA! Sorry to anyone who was still hanging on to the hope of a girl.
• We are still working on names but have decided not to reveal the names once we know what they are for sure. We're keeping them a secret for several reasons: 1) we don't want others' opinions about liking/disliking them, 2) we want to surprise everyone once the babies are here, 3) it's one of the things we can keep secret, 4) we know it drives everyone crazy!
  
• I asked the doctor how my (severe) scoliosis would affect the remainder of the pregnancy as well as labor and delivery, an answer I wanted to know but was too scared to ask. He said I would likely have more back pain than a normal pregnancy, which would also be exacerbated by the fact that I was carrying multiples. In addition, it would likely be more safe to deliver via c-section (which my ObGyn and I had already discussed). It might also be difficult for the anesthesiologist to find the right spot in my back for my epidural, and if that was the case, I might have to be completely knocked out for the birth. Definitely not what I want, but I'm glad I asked now instead of being surprised later.
  
• Allen felt the babies for the first time the other night, and I thought he was going to pass out. He raced around the room screaming about how creepy it was! I'm not sure he can believe all this is happening and feeling them kick makes it all the more real, not to mention my ever-expanding belly. Here's me on Tuesday of this week at 22 weeks:
• I'm still not craving sweets, although I will eat them on occasion. Fruit has been at the top of my craving list as well as pasta/carbs.
• I have times when my heart races and feels very fluttery, but all the books say this is normal since pregnant women have twice the amount of blood racing through their bodies.
• My back has started to hurt if I stand too long or sit too long, and I know this will get significantly worse the bigger I get.
• Walking has slowed to a snail's pace. Allen makes fun of me because he says my normal speed is "high gear" and my new speed is "turtle gear." I suppose all the extra weight has really slowed me down, but I think that may actually be a good thing.
• I was never graceful, but my clumsiness is amplified. I trip over my own feet and sometimes just start leaning to one side and have to regain my center of gravity. Again, I think it is due to the belly weight and is totally normal.
• I am beyond absentminded. I can't remember things to save my life right now, so I have things written on notes and then forget about the notes. For those of you that know me, you know this is totally out of character and is driving me crazy. I'm a Type A personality gone astray!
  
• My near-perfect eyesight is off these days too. My eyes get really blurry and occasionally have a very difficult time seeing. This may also contribute to my clumsiness.
• Peeing has become like breathing; I do it almost as frequently.
  
• Last but not least, I seem to be out of breath all the time. I sigh ALL the time, and Allen asks me nearly every single time what is wrong.
• *None of these things are complaints at all; they are more a documentation of my symptoms so I'll remember these fun times later. Allen and I are both thankful and blessed these babies are on the way and can't wait to hold two, healthy sons in our arms!
  

Allen has been awesome! He worries about me constantly, although I like to think I'm still somewhat self-sufficient. He is taking such good care of me, asking about my every sigh, moan, and move. I adore him. No wonder Sunday the 5th we will celebrate our seven-year anniversary. Happy early anniversary, honey!

I had a great weekend with my college girlfriends. We met in Southlake, TX (near Dallas) for a weekend getaway that was just amazing! Three of us are pregnant, and my best friend Leah, the only non-pregnant one, was such a good sport about it all. It was hotter than hot; we kept the room temperature at 61 degrees. HA! Poor Leah about froze her tush off!

Leah & Ashley



The four of us: Ashley, Leah, April, Amy


Amy (27 weeks pregnant), April (due in about five weeks), Ashley (due November 3rd)

Thanks for a great weekend, friends! I love you and am glad we make it a point to see each other at least once a year!

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My good friend Danielle (the one I love and adore) and also the one that happens to be the best blog designer ever is hosting a giveaway that you should totally check out and take advantage of right now. She is giving away one pre-made blog template a week during the month of July. Go read all about it and take advantage of winning a new blog design. If you still want a blog makeover and don't feel you are the lucky type, she is having a great sale on pre-made templates through July 7th. You should check out this special offer too. Or, if you aren't interested in a new blog design, she has lots of other talents too: stationery, buttons for your blog, custom logo designs, and a whole shebang of other things. She is truly THAT amazing and creative, not to mention that she is always doing some kind of crazy sale or giveaway! In fact, if you are not a follower of her blog, you should be so you can take part in all of her fabulous and crazy special offers! I mean, HELLO, she redid my blog AGAIN, and I think it is absolutely adorable! She is so
good to me and does the most awesome blog designs ever! You'll have to leave a comment about her newest blog design for me so she knows how much her work is loved and adored.

I am really behind in life right now (emails, laundry, mail, ironing, baby registry) and blogging has taken a back seat. I'll try to do better about reading and commenting soon, I promise.


Well, I think I have posted plenty this time, but I hope you at least enjoyed the pictures if nothing else. Allen and I are off to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to celebrate our seven-year anniversary and have one last "hoorah" before these babies join us. We'll be safe, and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll have pictures when I return.