21 Week Update

How far along? 21 Weeks 1 Day
Total weight gain/loss: +27 <– It made me feel better that BOTH of our boys are bigger than average. They're already tall for their age.
Maternity clothes? We hit the black friday sales at Kohl's and nabbed 3 maternity tops. It is so nice to have stuff that actually fits!
Best moment this week: My chiropractic appointment. Oh my word YES. I would pay big money to be able to sleep on my stomach on that drop table.
Movement: Yes. :) Cam finally felt Baby A, who oddly enough is the runt of the two. He has been kicking a lot lately. I think he's happy to be noticed.
Waist Diameter:  38″ However, I have a couple shirts that hide it really well. I wore a black shirt the other day and if you saw me from the front, I look very much un-pregnant. A side-view is a very different story.
Food cravings: So, I mostly like hot food. I've been pounding chester's flamin' hot fries like they're going out of style and hurt my throat. Apparently flamin' hot snacks + pepper jack cheese isn't good in large quantities. Who knew? (It seriously felt like I had a draft in my throat, like there was a window open back there...weirdy)
Labor Signs: Mr. Braxton Hicks has made his debut. I know it's REALLY time to sit down and put my feet up when my whole belly gets hard. Makes things tricky when you're grocery shopping.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Moving. ha. No, but really. Getting out of bed, getting out of the car, picking something up, bending...these will all quickly becomes things I did "way back when."
What I am looking forward to: Making stockings for our family of 4. I bought all the stuff. I just need to psyche up and cut them out. I can't wait to see them all in a row up our stairs.
Milestones: Stretch marks on my boobs. TMI?
Realization of the week: I can't do as much as I used to. Normally, when I'm in a rut, I make a master list of everything I want to get done, prioritize it, and get crankin'. This week, I tried that. And by 11 am I had hit a wall. I forced myself to get dinner in the crock pot and then watched The Biggest Loser until I fell asleep. I realized that nap and relaxation is just as productive as doing the dishes, cleaning, etc. It's taking care of my boys. And they need it.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We've decorated for Christmas over here at the Call house. I love that Cameron leaves the tree lights on for me to wake up to every morning before he leaves for work. :) My favorite part of the tree is that every ornament has a story. My family has had the tradition of buying an ornament wherever we go on family vacations, and my grandmother painted an ornament for each of her grandkids every year. It makes my heart happy to see that there is a growing collection of ornaments from me and Cam's life together instead of a bunch of "kristin" ornaments. In the pictures, the first ornament is one we picked up on our trip to Disneyland last year. Then comes the "Oh Lola!" ornament. You can see the key from our first car, which was purple, tied to the top. We totaled it in a snowstorm last Christmas. The high heel is from my advertising internship. The snowflake is from BYU graduation. The I Love You ornament is from our first anniversary. Putting up the tree this year made me realize just how much of a life we've made together already. It also made me realize how much life is ahead of us. :) I love that.

Additionally, the silhouette has really made Christmas crafting fun. :) I used a bit of white vinyl to make the Oh Lola ornament (after using spray adhesive inside a cheap clear ornament and shaking purple glitter all over) and made the Merry Little Christmas sign from a piece of scrap wood from when we deconstructed the couch and some vinyl. I sure love being able to create anything I can imagine or re-create anything I've seen. :)

20 Week Update - Drumroll Please....!

Judging by the texts, wall posts, and phone calls, it seems like the news of these little babies is killing everyone! Thanks for being so excited! It makes this all the more fun. :)

We went to the doctor yesterday and had a wonderful ultrasound. Everything looks perfect on our little ones. We found out the genders and called Jessica to fill in our gender reveal cakes. A quick stop at home and we were on the way to Arizona for Thanksgiving. (Many apologies to those waiting to hear via Facebook, this is the first internet connection I've had!)

My family was on their way to Idaho for the holiday so we met near mile marker 25 to give them the cakes. My mom and dad started digging (near the headlights for light, of course...lol. I can't wait to see the pictures from all this.) and my dad (who had Baby A's cake) said:

I SEE BLUE!

That's right, Baby A is a boy!

My mom (who had Baby B's cake) said:

I SEE BLUE TOO!

There are two momma's boys headed to our house and we can't wait to meet them!

We got to repeat the entire process this morning with Cam's family. It never gets old.

Normally, when I wake up each morning, I say "hello babes" or something similar. This morning, I woke up and said "good morning, boys. :)

As for the ultrasound, it was incredible. I loved being able to see their little personalities so early on! I really wanted to see if Baby A was head down because I'd really like to deliver naturally if at all possible. Right off the bat, we saw that Baby A was head down and Baby B was breach. I clapped and said "oh good job Baby A! Thank you for being head down!" Not 10 seconds later, Baby B flipped around as if to say, "look mom! I can do it too!" It made me laugh.

We took all the measurements and checked for heart defects, spinal problems, cleft lips, etc. In fact, Baby A had the umbilical cord across his face. (HIS. I love being able to say that. :)) And we needed him to move so we could see his lips. The ultrasound tech prodded him a little bit through my belly and we were able to watch him wake up, arch his back, roll over, and go back to sleep. Seeing him react was so cute!

They're such little people already! Baby A is measuring 20 weeks exactly as he should be and weighs 11oz. Baby B is measuring 20 weeks 6 days and weighs 14oz, but the doctor said it's because he's just taller than Baby A, which really isn't too shocking in our family. We're long people. :) Both babies are getting enough blood and nutrients, which is nice because if one starts taking nutrients from the other we'll have to look at emergency delivery options.

Cameron has been so cute. I think seeing them and knowing the genders has really helped the reality of all this sink in for him. He is such a proud dad. Out of nowhere he keeps saying "two boys!! TWO BOYS!"

As for me, my first thought at finding out I have two sons on the way was:

"I'm gonna love you so much that no girl will ever be good enough for you!"

(2 points to anyone who can name that quote)

[caption id="attachment_1683" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Baby A"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1684" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Baby B"][/caption]

And for the sake of consistency:

How far along? 20 Weeks 1 Day
Total weight gain/loss: +24
Maternity clothes? Yes. I tried my "fat jeans" on a couple days ago. It lasted about 10 minutes before they made me physically sick. lol.
Best moment this week: Finding out the genders and telling everyone! There are so many fun announcements to make when you're expecting. Things I've dreamt about my entire life. And they did not disappoint.
Movement: Yes. :) They are kicking like crazy! The car ride to AZ was so fun because they kicked so often. I think it has something to do with where my seatbelt hits me.
Waist Diameter:  38″ <--I'm measuring 28 weeks for a singleton pregnancy.
Food cravings: Vinegar and Potatoes. Also, hot fries. Anyone from Flagstaff remember "tom's hot fries"? I had them in high school a bunch and I don't think they make them anymore. BUT Cheetos has made a pretty decent substitute. It's not quite the same, but it's good enough!
Labor Signs: None, thank heavens. :)
Belly Button in or out? Totally still in. And actually more in than it has been. Woot!
What I miss: NOTHING! I love this week. :)
What I am looking forward to: Baby shopping on Black Friday. :) :)
Milestones: We know the genders!!
Realization of the week: We are not only being blessed with two sons. Our parents are being blessed with two grandsons. Our siblings with two nephews, and on and on. These boys are coming into an incredible family. And I am so grateful.

(I will post pictures as soon as I get them. My mom has most of them. The rest got accidentally left in Utah. I figured making everyone wait until Monday would not make me many friends. :))

19 Week Update

How far along? 19 Weeks 3 Days
Total weight gain/loss: +22 <– and proud of it! Grow babies grow!
Maternity clothes? Yes. That’s all. My mom called me today with her latest plan for making more maternity pants. The woman is a lifesaver.
Best moment this week: Cam feeling the babes kick! They're sneaky little guys. A lot of the time they'll give 3 big kicks all at once just to get me excited and by the time Cam comes to try and feel, they are all tuckered out and completely still. BUT, around 8 every night, they go a little crazy. I was waiting for them to start kicking and so was Cam. It was so cool to see his face light up "was that one?!" His face when he felt the first kick (and then 2 more!) will go down as one of my favorite moments of our marriage. Our little family really is growing!
Movement: Yes. :) It makes me so happy to know they are healthy, alive, and that they have legs. :) lol.
Waist Diameter:  37" I actually look pregnant! It's awesome!
Food cravings: Found out this week that Starburst makes a bag of "favo-reds" which means all the red flavors are in a bag. Oh. My. Gosh. I ate 50 before I realized what was going on.
Labor Signs: None, thank heavens. :) But my belly does get tight and sore fast if I am walking around too much.
Belly Button in or out? Totally still in, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time! It’s also sore. But judging from the comments of last week's update, the battle of the belly button will wage for a while
What I miss: Being able to cuddle up close to Cam. My belly is finally getting in the way! I had an emotional breakdown because I couldn't remember the last time he just held me. (It was probably, oh, 2 days earlier, but rational breakdowns are not my forte.) We've since gotten more creative and I've been less picky about how comfortable I really have to be to enjoy cuddling.
What I am looking forward to: FOUR DAYS UNTIL OUR ULTRASOUND! I am so dang excited to see our babes again! I haven't seen them since week 9. It seems like such a long time ago and I can't even imagine how they've changed! As far as I've seen, they are cute little glow-worms with nubs for arms and legs. I can't wait to see BABIES in there. I'm preparing for my mind to be blown.
Milestones: Cam feeling kicks from the outside! Also, we are now halfway to MY goal. :) woo!
Realization of the week: These babies will have physical traits from me and Cam. I had a dream that we had a little girl and she had my eyes. Cam said (in the dream) that he could see me in her. And then I cried. I can't wait to meet them and get to know them and pick out features. Little noses, toes, eyes, ears, hands, the list goes on. How incredible is it that these babies are already people?

Also, it is really hard to commit to looking decent once a week for these pictures. oh boy. lol. The last two have been taken on date night because I try to look normal anyhow.

18 Week Update

How far along? 18 Weeks 3 Days
Total weight gain/loss: +18 <-- I'm for real going to stop posting these numbers.
Maternity clothes? Yes. That's all. Also, my own "lounge" shirts no longer fit. I have busted into Cam's side of the closet.
Best moment this week: Waking up in the middle of the night after a really bad dream and having Cam to make me feel better. I love that he doesn't care if I wake him up, he's completely willing to comfort me, wrap me up, and keep me safe. I love him. Also, getting my hair cut by my brilliant friend, Lisa. She is seriously the best stylist I've ever had. What a blast to get to catch up AND have the best bangs EVER by the end of the night.
Movement: All. The. Time. It's awesome! Cam still hasn't been able to feel them, and I actually can't feel them from the outside yet either. It's only a matter of time though.
Waist Diameter:  I can't find the tape measure. No really. I even tried using a ribbon and measuring that with Cam's industrial tape measure. I can't find that either.
Food cravings: Water and vinegar. I downed an entire bag of salt and vinegar chips for breakfast the other day. Pure bliss. Also, pink starbursts. There is nothing better.
Labor Signs: None, thank heavens. :)
Belly Button in or out? Totally still in, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time! It's also sore. The "pop" is upon us!
What I miss: Having motivation to do anything BUT work on baby things. I am trying to finish up all the (gender-neutral) projects I have going right now so that once we find out the genders, I can really dive into my hopeful days list.
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the genders! We are less than 2 weeks away! However, that should really be next week's entry for what I'm looking forward to. So, tonight Cameron and I are decorating for Christmas. Wahoo! I bought HP 7.2 and Michael Buble's Christmas CD this morning and we are busting out the hot cocoa, tree, and decorations tonight! I can't wait! [If you're a Thanksgiving Purist, do not bring your rain to my parade. We decorate early because we go out of town for Thanksgiving and again for Christmas. 2 weeks of Christmas cheer really isn't enough, so if we were staying home for the holidays, we would probably consider holding off until after Turkey Day.]
Milestones: Half Way There! My Dr. said he's sending me running around the block if I make it to 36 weeks, so 18 weeks marks the half way point. I'm still mentally shooting to make it to 38 weeks, but we need to be prepared for anything from 34 weeks on.
Realization of the week: I am not super woman. I need rest. I also need to get up and get ready for the day otherwise I feel like a bum for the next 12 hours. But an afternoon nap can be game-changing. Also, these babes have completely taken over my body. I am merely "along for the ride," as my mom says. I couldn't be happier though. :) I hope they're nice and cozy for the next 4-5 months!

17 Week Update

How far along? 17 Weeks exactly
Total weight gain/loss: +15
Maternity clothes? Mom came into town and made me the stretchy black pants you can see in the week 17 picture. She also made me a stretchy grey floor-length skirt. I would rather wear them than anything else I own. They are fantastic.
Best moment this week: Getting to talk to a bunch of friends we hadn't seen in over a year at the Halloween party last night! Cam and I went as an army man and a bomb. (a.k.a. a hormonal expectant wife and her husband). The back of my shirt said "Caution: Short Fuse". Cam's said "Beware of Wife." We had a total blast at the party.
Movement: Every now and again. Cam went to Dallas this weekend with my dad and brothers and when he gave me a hug goodbye at the airport the babes were kicking against his stomach harder than I've ever felt! I asked him if he could feel them. Still no, but it's so cool to me! I give it a couple more weeks until he can feel them. They're getting so strong!
Waist Diameter:  36.5"
Food cravings: Just food. In general. I still just really like salty things. Sweets, I can stomach, but they just aren't that enjoyable to me. Also cheese. I really love cheese. Is 9:30 too early for mac n cheese?
Labor Signs: None, thank heavens. :)
Belly Button in or out? Totally still in, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time!
What I miss: Sleeping. I found a GREAT position to sleep in 2 nights ago and woke up feeling better than I have in weeks, but last night...no dice. My hips are sore, sore, sore. I last about 30 minutes on each side before I wake up and roll over.
What I am looking forward to: Eating. lol. I dove into our meal plan for 2012 complete with date nights and shopping lists. November is taken care of and we're testing it out this month. I'm working from home now, so I have a bit more freedom of what I can make. There are quite a few recipes I've wanted to try but lacked the energy to do so. In all honesty, I haven't planned meals, gone shopping, etc. since we started IVF back in June. We've kind of been in survival mode and it's time to snap out of it.
Milestones: I'm currently measuring 22 weeks (for a singleton pregnancy). The doctor was thrilled and said that our babes are probably already taller than average (go figure). The appointment went really well AND I got to schedule our 20 week appointment and ultrasound! 3 short weeks until we find out the genders!!
Realization of the week: There are 2 babies growing inside of me. And they will be fine. I also came to the beautiful realization that I can do this. I can be a stay-at-home wife and mother. (I got laid off at work last Tuesday...hence the lack of update, but it turns out the person who fired me didn't have the authority to fire me and so in order to clean up their mess I get to work from home). I've gained a lot of confidence in my ability to clean the house, plan meals, take care of Cam, and take care of myself and these babes. It feels so good.

Also, this pregnancy is flying by. I keep looking forward waiting for the next thing, but I really do like being pregnant right now. It blows my mind that there are babies inside of me. That my body knows what to do with them to help them grow and develop. It's miraculous.

And because of the lack of update for 16 weeks, here's a picture. You'll have to excuse the puffy eyes. There were a lot of tears that day. (stupid work drama).