175 days to go!

15 weeks and going strong! We're missing hearing their little heartbeats. We have about 3 weeks before our next ultrasound and it feels like an eternity before we get to see them again.

Here's what they are up to in mommy's belly this week...
They are about 4 inches each and weigh about 2.5 ounces. They are now the size of apples. They can move all of their joints and limbs and can now sense light. Their taste buds are forming! By this point we may be able to find out the sexes... BUT WE AREN'T! :) If we saw them right now, we might just catch them sucking their thumbs.

My nausea has remained at bay, though I still feel a little off after eating some meals. My belly is now slowly and steadily growing. I *think* I may have felt little butterflies a few days ago, but I may have imagined it! From what I read, I should start feeling them between 16 and 22 weeks. We now have all 4 possible names picked out, though we are still thinking about middle names for the boys.

We had a garage sale this weekend and got a lot of things cleared out of the nursery. We are hoping to get carpet ordered soon... though we may want to get the room painted first. We will be registering next weekend (we've been saying this for a few weeks) and hope to get our cribs purchased, as that will help us better figure out how we want to set up the room and paint the walls.

I have to take a second and just say how unbelievably lucky I am to have Christian as my husband and daddy to my little apples. I actually tear up when I think about what an amazing dad he is going to be. Everything that we have been through getting to this point and finally being pregnant has brought us even closer and more in love with each other... something I didn't even know was possible. It's amazing how much he truly loves these little beings inside of me that we won't get to meet for many more months. As I am growing and feeling a little less attractive, he reminds me every day of how beautiful he thinks I am and how much he loves me. I couldn't ask for more.

14 weeks

I'm finally starting to feel a little less green! I've haven't been physically sick for a week! Yay! I'm still tired, but expect that with two, that won't change. I go home every night after work and nap for about 1/2 hour before dinner.

This week the kiddos are about 3-4 inches in length, about the size of a lemon! Their bladders are functioning and they are urinating! They can now squint, frown, grimace and suck their thumbs. They can also grasp. They each now weigh about 1.5 ounces. They are starting to become more proportionate as the bodies catch up with the heads. The neck and arms are lengthening. Though I can't feel anything yet, their hands and feet are much more flexible and active.

Their daddy surprised me this weekend and took me to Barnes and Noble to pick out 2 books for him to read to them!

Belly Pics

Okay, finally some belly pics (definitely not glamour shots). The 6 week picture I look like I may be already showing, but it's due to the bloat from the IVF procedure and progesterone shots. I feel much larger than these pictures look!

Our Nursery Bedding

Okay, I "think" this is the bedding we are going with. It's neutral, modern and organic... and of course adorable. I wanted white cribs, but now I'm thinking the white may not work with this set (it's more of an off-white).

Hello 2nd trimester!

Well, I guess technically the 2nd trimester is 13w3d, but I'll celebrate now! I KNOW this will be the week I start to feel better! I had my monthly OB/GYN check today and all is good. My blood pressure and weight are on target. I've gained ALOT of weight so far, but with twins they suggest about 50 lbs by the end, so I guess I'm doing good! Everything is moving up and my belly is moving out. Our chances of Downs is 1:1800 which is a great number. If you don't get screened they lump you in at a 1:270 chance. We go back in 5 weeks for another ultrasound and this time I will have video!

13 weeks:
Fingerprints are formed, their veins and organs are visible through their thin skin and the bodies are starting to catch up with the heads. They are about 3 inches in length at this point and weigh about an ounce each, about the size of a peach. Their intestines have now moved from outside the body to inside the abdomen. Their vocal cords are now developing. When I poke my stomach gently and they feel it, they will start rooting (act as if they are searching for a nipple). If there is a girl in there, she now has approximately 2 million eggs in her ovaries.

Week 12: 4 Legs, 4 Arms

12 weeks:
Right now our babies are 6cm long, about the size of a lime. Their reflexes are functioning and their digestive tracts are active. While their brains are still growing, the components now have the same structure they'll have at birth. Their eyes have moved closer together and the ears are right where they should be. Their fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl and their mouths will make sucking movements. If I press on my belly (like our scan this morning) they will squirm, but it's too early for me to feel it.

We had our NT scan this morning. It was so incredible to see those lil' guys (or girls) moving around. They were so active until we needed them to move, then they just laid there! Everything looks great. They are on schedule for 12 weeks (which is today). Their heartbeats are strong. They measured the fluid in their necks for Downs and the numbers look great! We got a few pictures, no video this time. We'll be sure to get video at our 18w scan.

From some angles you could see the tiny bones in their hands, their ears and their spinal cords. It's just completely surreal to think those little lives are in my belly! We're so happy and relieved that everything looks great so far. Here are some pictures from today: