32 Week Babies Bump

Ok...we have something very special to share for our 32 week baby bump photos....but I had to rename the title to babies as I am getting huge :-)...anyway, Chad and I had maternity photos done yesterday at exactly 32 weeks follow this link http://www.swsphoto.com/tuttle/ and you will be able to see me in all my pregnancy glory :-). Of course unfortunately I cant pick and choose which photos you get to see and I will admit some of them are not very good but hopefully you will just look at the ones that came out well LOL :-).

Hugs to all

2-Week No-Wait

Chad (Dad) here....I've been back home for two weeks, and what a whirl it has been!  The homecoming and reunion with Gena was awesome and amazing...and the comfort and joy of being back home was such a peaceful feeling.  It didn't take long for my eyes to put reality on all that I had been eagerly wanting to do as far as getting the nursery going...the sea of boxes that filled the entryway and nursery confirmed all of the purchases that Gena had sent to me via email while I was away.  It was an awesome site...a belated Christmas of sorts that promised to fill up much of my off time...but I was ready and so happy to get started on preparing the nursery with Gena.  With the formidable task ahead, I gave myself 24 hours off to catch up on some sleep before getting to work.  

After donning my Tennessee Titans hardhat and gathering a multitude of tools...paint, nails, and sawdust started flying.  First up was repainting the bedroom and attached full bath in a mix of Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage color and Fresh Aire's Rooftop Garden color.  Then came construction...and in two days we had two cribs, a changing table, and a bookcase ready to go.  Add in a closet system installation and some new chair railing and I was well into day 4 of my off-time.  In the days that followed, a ledging shelf, double curtain rod, light dimmer switch, and towel rack were added.  With the main parts of the room taking shape, focus shifted the other items such as putting together the bouncies and carseats.  The "list" sure does add up when it's for two!  It was so fun to add some of the details to the room such as hanging the awesome letters that Gena made for their names (pictures in a previous post) as well as adding the items to the ledging shelf above Taryn's crib.  It was an absolutely fun time working to get things ready...punctuated by spending the better part of today doing many loads of laundry to get their clothes ready to go....saw the impact of "double" there too!!  Now there are little clothes folded and ready, and little outfits hanging in the closet.  I get goosebumps when I open their closet and see the little clothes...and daydream about our Evan and Taryn who are nearing their arrival in our family.  Every moment makes it more and more real...and with every little thing we complete we seem to get one step closer to welcoming them home.  

So as today concludes, we're just a few bedding items away from putting the finishing touches on the nursery.   I think I've put enough boxes out for the garbage men to build a mini-skyscraper with!  

Today is officially 32 weeks...which means there is 6 or less to go.  And it was a special time today spending part of the morning taking photos up in making.  We got some great "pregnancy shots" that will surely capture some awesome memories as we close in on the big day.  The anticipation grows with every day...and with my first day back at work tomorrow, I know the time will go by even faster than it seems.  

We'll post some pictures of the finished nursery soon.  It's so great to be home and a true blessing to share these times with Gena as we get ready for Evan and Taryn to arrive.  Thank you for your prayers and thoughts and we send our love to you.  

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!!!

Yes, we have been so busy since Chad's return from the 'sandbox'. His time home so far has consisted of going through the many boxes of items I had purchased for the babies while he was gone and then it was off to the nursery to start clearing it out so we could move the new stuff in. Chad has painted both the nursery and the nursery's bathroom, hung trim, switched fan blades, hung artwork and towel racks, put 2 cribs together, a changing table, a bookcase as well as a closet organization system. He then moved on to the car seats and learning how to install, strollers, bouncies, and a pack-n-play. We have officially be invaded by numerous baby items and our house feels and looks transformed. It has been so surreal seeing the transformation as the nursery has been empty since we bought the house left undecorated, I had not even hung a shower curtain in the bathroom always think it would be a waste of time and money...not realizing it would be over 4 years before we put that room to use. Beyond all the home projects Chad had I have managed to squeeze in dr appointments, a sonogram, breastfeeding classes, car seat safety class and a tour of the hospital...all of this is making this feel and seem so real. I cant believe we are just over 6 weeks away from becoming parents. Oh, and I cant forget the all important taxes. Poor Chad hasnt had much rest or relaxation on his comp R&R time but I think it has been fun for him :-).

All my check ups have been great so far...my dr said she was proud of how well I was doing...personally I am proud of how well the babies are doing. I measure 35 weeks yesterday at my appointment and am currently 31w2days so I am happy w/ that 4 weeks ahead is appropriate and it is to feel like I am on target w/ my growth. The babies are doing extremely well and just keep growing and growing. Taryn weighed in at 3lb9oz and remains in the 41st percentile which really is great and Evan weighed 3lb15oz so just about 4lbs and moved up to the 61st percentile. The best news so far for me anyway was that Taryn is now head down, Evan remains laying across the top of my uterus...really he is on top of my ribs and lets me know every time they are in his way LOL. But because Taryn is now head down and if she stays that way my dr. is willing to let us try from a vaginal delivery. I was so excited after talking w/ her yesterday because up until this point Taryn has been breech and I was really thinking we were headed straight for a c-section. Still may end up that way but to know that there is a chance to avoid a c-section this late in the game make me very excited :-). Now this means we need to add one more class to the list...birthing classes...I have not really looked into them as I thought it was not necessary but now it looks like we may need to be a little bit more prepared.

Chad and I are headed to Atlanta this weekend for one last get away before the babies come. We are going to the melting pot for Valentines Day dinner YUMMY and then plan on finishing up our shopping for the babies. After that we should be fully prepared (well as prepared as we can be for our lives to be turned upside down :-), we will at least have all the essentials we need for them) for the babies to come :-).

Nursery Time

Well, Chad made it home safe and sound on Monday just before 1100 and it was a wonderful reunion. I have to admit I got a bit more emotional then I have for past homecomings but I am blaming the hormones :-). Chad being home means we have finally started on the nursery. We don't have much work done yet but he did manage to get it painted and is now working hard on the cribs. I cant wait to have all the finished pieces together. I think it will be the end of February though before everything is completely done as half the bedding I ordered has been on back order....so that means a slight delay in finishing everything up. Until then I thought I would share the letters I made to hang above their respective cribs. I am also making the word "Blessings" that will go on a shelf that we are putting high on one wall...more pictures to come as the nursery takes shape.

Just Checking In

I hope that everyone is doing well. We are doing great! I had my 29 week appointment this past week and everything continues to move along well. I was switched from appointments 1 x a month to every other week, I guess that means we are getting close. I measured 30weeks last week which is kind of small for twins I should be anywhere from 4-7 weeks ahead instead of just 1 week but as long as the babies are growing well it is OK w/ me. I know I am getting bigger because while a lot of people I know personally tell me how small I look strangers have no problem telling me how big I look LOL...specifically in Publix...for those westerners out there...Publix is a grocery store we have here and the 2 times I have been in there this week I was told by an employee how big I look. Although I was kind of prepared for this as I witnessed first hand what my friend Megan went through towards the end of her pregnancy. All I can say is that it is never OK to tell a woman she looks large...even when she is pregnant :-). The first incident happened on Tuesday, I was checking out and the cashier asked me when I was due and I told her April...her response, "OMG are you having twins" at least I get to answer "yes" to this question. Then just today a guy stocking the shelf asked "boy or girl" I told him "one of each" and then he was going on and on about how hard life is going to be...then proceeded to ask me how far along I was....I told him "30 weeks"...then he flipped on me "OMG....and your that big already, what does your husband think about this"...are you saying that I look so fat that my husband should be turned off by me? I don't think I am ever going back into Publix as it seems I look large in that store but to everyone else outside Publix I don't...LOL. Thankfully my weight gain is only around 18lbs so far or I would feel horrible w/ everyone commenting on my size. My goodness there are 2 babies in there what do you expect?

OK...now that I got that off my chest...I get to share some really great news...Chad is coming home in just 2 days :) I am so excited I can hardly stand it. We get to start on the nursery when he gets home which I am completely excited about as well. I have bought just about everything we need for it...I at least have enough of the supplies and such that Chad will be kept plenty busy on his comp time. I will definitely be sure to share photos of it once it is done. I cant wait to see what it looks like once everything is up and in its place :)

Happy Super Bowl Weekend everyone!!!!!!! Go CARDINALS!!!!!!!

Gena

28w1d Baby Bump

Here is my 28week belly...I cannot believe how fast time is going. The picture isn't the best as I had to do it myself in the bathroom mirror but it is all I can do until my photographer comes home :-). I am so anxious to meet these little ones but am enjoying everyday of this pregnancy (especially sleeping). Things continue to go well just waiting for Chad to come home so we can start working on the nursery. We have bought so much stuff for these little munchkins but still have so much more to go...not sure where we are going to put it all but it has been fun shopping. I hope everyones new year is off to a great start.

OH and a BIG shout-out to the CARDINALS!!!!! GO AZ!!!! Congrats on your trip to the Super Bowl.

Hugs to all

Gena

26w1d Sonogram

We had our 26 week sonogram on Tuesday and while it was sorta anti climatic after the awesome 4D experience it is always fun to see the babies even if it is just a 2D black and white picture. The babies are doing awesome and continue to grow strong. Evan is up to 2lb5oz that is a 7oz gain in just a week and Taryn is up to 1lb15oz w/ a 5oz gain from last weeks ultrasound. I cant believe that they put on 12oz between the 2 of them in just 1 week. No wonder I am feeling so big :-). They continue to be very active and I love every kick and roll and turn and stretch I feel. It really does amuse me. Enjoy the pictures!!!! I love the profile shots...I think they looks so cute :-)

The top photo here is Evan's Profile while the bottom is the front of

Taryn's face w/ her arm up by the side of her face.

The top of this photo is the front view of Evan's face

and the bottom photo is Taryn's profile...I just love their little noses :-)