Nestle and Santapaws

Nestle is probably the most spoiled dog on the planet and doesn't realize that she's even a dog. She is going to have a rude awakening when Carter and Coleman are here and she's no longer the center of attention and getting all the pets and hugs she does now, but I know the boys are going to love her and she's going to love them. For the past couple of years, Nestle has made a visit to see Santa and tell him what she wants for Christmas and this year was no exception. She was a little excited to see him in Petsmart and it took some coaxing and treats but she finally settled down enough to have her picture taken. Can't wait to hear what's on her list this year!

Coleman and Carter

These are some of the ultrasound pictures from my 21 week appointment with our specialist. Coleman and Carter look great! They are both measuring the same size and weight and have strong heartbeats and organs. I think Jared and I are truly spoiled to be able to see these sweet babes grow every month and to watch them for over an hour each time. It is so amazing to watch each of those little bones move and turn and to see them dance around and kick one another. Right now their heads are both next to one another and they are getting so big that the specialist will be measuring one's growth and the other one will have an arm or leg float into the screen. Too cute! We will be going back in January at 26 weeks and I can't wait to see the growth they've made then!

I have started being able to feel them move a LOT more. It's amazing to feel these little kicks and jabs and to feel them in two different places! They are especially busy when I sit down and relax or just after I've finished eating. Jared was able to feel the little kicks for the first time a few days ago. It was such a neat moment to be able to share together and to know that those are our two little boys in there! I know those kicks are only going to get stronger as they get bigger and run out of room....let's just hope they save those soccer skills for when they are older. ;o)

As the belly grows...

This belly picture was taken when I was 5 months, which just made me realize that I need to take a new one since that was three weeks ago! I've learned that in just one week the belly and the boys can grow leaps and bounds! I am definitely feeling much more energized these days but am having the worst time sleeping through the night. I used to default and sleep on my back and there's no doing that anymore, so having to get used to sleeping on my side with 30lbs (yes, 30lbs so far!) of extra weight is proving to be difficult in addition to the bathroom trips every few hours. I have heard that sleeping in a recliner is the best cure all for this but I enjoy snuggling with Jared too much, so I just see this as Mother Nature's way of getting me ready for those sweet boys that will be here before we know it!

Washington D.C.

Jared and I were talking a while back and I had mentioned that I had never been to Washington D.C. and would love to go sometime. Now that we live in North Carolina, Washington D.C. is only four hours away so it is easily doable for a weekend getaway, so Jared and I decided to do just that for an early anniversary celebration. We had an amazing time and we really lucked out when it came to tourists. We hardly waited in any lines, if any, and were able to go to all of the museums, memorials, gardens, and even the zoo without any problems. Our legs were definitely sore from all the walking but it was totally worth it!! We were pretty busy though, so we weren't able to have dinner with Obama and his family. Maybe next time...

The Belly

That belly is definitely growing, which is a great thing since the boys are growing in there too! It is kind of an awkward feeling though to not be able to fit into clothes, sleep how you would normally sleep, and use the bathroom a zillion times a day. It is true what they say though, the second trimester is wonderful compared to the first!! I have not had any morning sickness this trimester and eventhough I still enjoy my daily naps and early bedtimes I feel like I have a lot more energy than I did in the first trimester. I am about 19 weeks now, which means that we are halfway there (I am due to deliver at 38 weeks instead of 40)!! It is kind of crazy to think that our family of two and a half (Nestle) is about to become a family of four and half in just a few months. It's going to be a crazy ride but what a blessing it truly is. This is a picture from when I was 16 weeks and that belly has grown a lot since then. I'll update some more current pictures on here soon!

Happy Halloween!!

We had a great week celebrating Halloween with some friends by carving pumpkins and then having our own trick or treaters come by. Our pumpkin didn't turn out quite as scary as it looked like it would be on the page, but we thought that it looked pretty cute!


Nestle was not a huge fan of her costume for the second year in a row...she wound up retiring it by the end of the night and wearing a more fashionable Halloween bandana instead.

We can't wait until next Halloween when we get to dress up those cute little boys of ours!!!

Countdown!!

Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

I know, it's been FOREVER since I've blogged. Truth is, I've just been so tired by the time I get home from dealing with my 26 "friends" at school that I just take a nap (for hours on end) on the couch.
My mom came up for a much needed girl visit and we had a great time shopping and just lounging around for a few days. We also went to see my ultrasound specialist to have the babies tested for downs syndrome and some other chromosomal disorders. It was extremely scientific and involved a TON of measurements and locating the bridges of the noses, bones, toes, etc. It was awesome to spend almost an hour watching them wiggle and move in every direction though and to share that with my mom. :o)
We were happy to find out that the babes are progressing great and are healthy and happy (the top bunk is almost a little too happy as he was doing flips and kicks the entire untrasound!). The doctor was able to determine the sexes of the babies and placed them in an envelope for me until Jared came home from being out of town. Although mom and I definitely wanted to peel back that envelope and peek, we didn't and the surprise was worth it. Jared and I found out that we are going to have two boys! They are fraternal with two completely separate placentas and amniotic sacs. They have healthy strong heartbeats and are about the same size. I'm sure they will be the best of friends if they aren't already!!

Two Buns in the Oven!!

Well, it's official! Jared and I found out on August 10th that we were pregnant. We were so excited and overjoyed!! Our friends, Kara and Monte, took some Baby announcement pictures for us to tell friends and family in a fun way.
When we went to the doctor on September 14th for our 9 week ultrasound and first prenatal visit we got a bigger surprise than we were expecting. There are two babies in the oven, not just one! We were definitely in shock at first, but we are getting more excited as we prepare for our two newest family members. We will find out in October if they are fraternal or identical, and then in November we will find out what the sexes will be. We have truly been blessed in many ways this year!!

Let Them Eat Cake!

Last weekend we celebrated Nestle's 5th birthday! Yes, we do realize that she is a dog...but she had a great time celebrating with her two and four legged friends. There was a baby pool for the pups to swim in and even a special peanut butter and chocolate cake from a dog bakery for the birthday girl and her friends. Overall, a great time was had by the pups and their
owners!

It's a great day at the beach!

I haven't posted in a while, and there are definitely some things that need to be updated! Dave, my brother, and Mercy were married in Tybee Island on August 2nd on the beach. It was a beautiful ceremony and the reception was a lot of fun! Jared and I stayed in Savannah and really enjoyed hanging out in a city that neither of us had explored before. Too bad Nestle wasn't able to make this trip...she loves her uncle Dave!

Camping in NC

This weekend we went on a camping trip with some of the other members of Jared's Land Cruiser club. It was a lot of fun, and Nestle was even able to join in on the festivities!
We camped out in Boone, N.C. which is only a few hours from our house but it was at least 20 degrees colder! The highs were only in the upper 60's and the lows at night were in the low 40's. It was definitely chilly, but we had a great time and enjoyed 3 different hikes over the weekend. Nestle was the leader of the pack on all of the hikes and even enjoyed a swim at the last one.

Wedding Bells

This weekend we traveled to Wilmington, N.C. to watch two of our close friends, Khristen and Rachid, get married on the Cape Fear river. It was a beautiful wedding and the weather was great too! Jared and I laugh that it's so much more fun to go to weddings now that they are not ours, and we can appreciate all of the details and planning that went into it. We were able to make a long weekend out of it and stayed at a cute bed and breakfast that was near the river, and enjoyed some beach time Saturday and Sunday....maybe a little too much judging by our pink noses and faces today!

Let Freedom Ring

This weekend Jared and I had a weekend that involved yard games, hotdogs, fireworks, and great friends. We couldn't have asked for a better time together! It's amazing to sit back and realize that we are truly blessed to have freedom. It seems like such a simple thing, yet many have risked, and are risking, their lives in order to ensure that we may live our lives without fear or restriction. It is definitely a holiday worth reflection but also a holiday filled with celebration. We did both of these, and even Nestle enjoyed joining in the celebration (and a hotdog or two).