A Pretty Perfect Thursday.

Yesterday, Prater & I had plans to meet some of my cousins for lunch (at Cracker Barrel, duh) & decided to make a day of it.

The few times a week that I actually 'get dressed', Prater has to have a little blush & lipstick. She starts puckering her lips & brushing her cheeks with her fingers as soon as she sees me 'assume the position' in front of my mirror. Sometimes we even have to pull her hair back with a headband, just like when Mommy gets ready. I can imagine having boys is so much fun, but it really cracks me up at how girls are just instinctively 'little women' who mock their Mom. It definitely makes you reflect on how you want to be mirrored, whew.


I needed to drop some things off at one of consignment shops that I use, so that's where we started. One of my girlfriends has offered to host a sweet little breakfast shower for the twins & we'll all be wearing pajamas! I was able to grab a pair of designer pajama pants for $3! I even had a credit on my account & didn't have to pay out-of-pocket for them! Now I just have to find a top to wear with them & they'll be perfect for both the shower & the hospital. Speaking of consignment, I snatched the smocked dress above for $7 at one of my favorite shops! And again, I had a credit so I didn't have to pay out-of-pocket for it - that's my favorite way to shop!

Our next stop was lunch & we had the best time catching up with my cousins! Prater even got to 'chat' with her big cousin, Avery. They were so sweet to entertain each other during lunch. We all don't get to get together nearly often enough but when we do, it's such a special time! Of course, I always enjoy being surrounded by redheads, ha!





My cousin Brandon reminds me so much of my Daddy. The way he looks & acts & carries himself. He always makes me feel 'at home' when I'm around him. Maybe it's the beard.


I think my cousin are my is one of the prettiest ladies, ever. She has perfectly freckled skin but with a tan & I'm so envious of her red hair! As beautiful as she is on the outside, it doesn't even begging to touch her beautiful heart!





Brandon has two boys & is such a 'manly' man, but he would be the perfect 'girl' dad too, he has such a soft spot for little ladies!


After lunch, we hit up downtown Hartselle to check out some of my favorite little shops. Both of us were so full & tired that after our first stop was a bust we decided to just hit up Sonic for some ice & head towards Huntsville. I had heard that a few stores at Bridgestreet have started carrying maternity clothes & wanted to check them out while I was dressed (ha, I'm serious - it takes a lot of effort & energy these days). I have slim pickings in my closet for things that fit & want to pick up a few staples that'll help me make it thru the remainder of the pregnancy. I wasn't hopefully because I rarely find things that I like in Huntsville or things that I'm willing to pay for at least, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a few things that I love! I found the cutest outfit for our maternity pictures next week & love it so much, I'll probably wear it for the twins' bigger family shower. And every other day this summer!

We tooled around Bridgestreet & then stopped in at PF Changs for some crab wontons & spring rolls. Aaron had went fishing with his boss after work so we just took our time & enjoyed our time together.


Our last stop was Target & I was able to find some cute colored jeans in a smaller size than I usually wear & definitely what I was expecting to have to buy! That was the icing in the cake, ha!

When I was telling Aaron about our day when he got home last night, I told him it was like our very own little Mother's Day celebration. We just had the best time together, being girls! I've felt so bad this week - my exhaustion level has been off the charts & we've spent time at home so I could rest. But I was determined to get out & about yesterday, it was so good for the both of us!

Today, we just lounging around the house, waiting for Nanny to come eat lunch with us so that I can show her my shopping scores. Then Prater is spending the night with her Nana & Papa while we have dinner with friends tonight.

Tomorrow, Prater & I are joining my best friend for an event at Limestone Bay Trading Company, Junk in the Trunk! I'm so excited about it (or maybe it's the cheesecake?) & can't wait to check out all of the vendors' goodies! If its pretty, Aaron plans to get some things accomplished at our land, but we're thinking its going to be yet another rainy & muddy weekend that doesn't set the stage for bush hogging ditches. I half expect him to tag along with Prater & I for the cheesecake yummiest if he isn't able to 'work' - which of course, we'd love!

And Sunday is Mother's Day! I'm so excited because my Momma, Prater, my cousin Rebecca, & I are going to visit my sister in Nashville for lunch & some shopping at Opry Mills! Woohoo! I've been looking forward to it for weeks! I'm hoping to find a pair of maternity shorts to help round out the maternity wardrobe & really just can't wait to spend the day together! Prater & I tried the double stroller at Bridgestreet yesterday in preparation for Opry Mills, ha! That sucker is a pack mule! I'm sure it'll be perfect for all of our purses & shopping bags & to haul Prater Ellis around on Sunday.

I'm off to put away some clothes & take some Tums. For the love, these twins better have LOTS of hair!

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A Lovely List.

I'm pretty much succumbing to the fact that I will not be able to put together a decent, flowing post for the foreseeable future. Transitioning paragraphs seem so overrated & also so exhausting right now, so... here I am. With a list. Yep.

We had a fun little play date at the park this morning with our friends Miranda & her sweet daughter, Luna. Miranda is just such an interesting woman - multi-faceted & encouraging - I love our talks & always feel so refreshed after them. And Luna is seriously one of the most well-behaved children I have ever witnessed & just a sweet girl. My little lady, ahem, didn't want to share or listen very well - of course, this makes the Type-A-Brittany feel so defeated. But here's what I keep telling myself in those dark, you-don't-know-what-you're-doing-as-a-mother moments: she's never had to share, there's no other children in her day-to-day life. Every toy in our house & her grandparents' houses are hers, thus it's both a new reality & a new concept for her & she'll soon enough be forced to adapt with the twins' arrivals. It'll happen, all I can do is discipline her when I feel it's needed & realize that she's basically a normal toddler & I'm not creating a monster who bullies other kids for their balls & snacks. Nothing like a toddler tantrum to make you feel inadequate & insecure.


Tomorrow, my Aunt Jenny is coming over to play with Prater. She's so funny, she usually calls me on Monday morning to see what our week looks like & then picks a day to come hang out with us - she likes to help me hang things on my clothesline & chat. I love the time with her, I'm so thankful to have an 86 year old lady who likes to come spend time with us! She's making some special items for the twins' nursery & I'm really hoping to be able to cook these babes until August 9th so that they can share her birthday!


We also have a play date with my sweet friend, LeiAnn, & her little mister, Riley, this week. I'm trying to clean out my pantry/use up some things that need to be used - you know how some items have suggested recipes on their packaging? I'm going to be trying a new chicken enchilada recipe & am hoping it works out (this is all riveting information, isn't it?). I'm definitely looking forward to the fellowship the most - I'm so lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful ladies who are such a joy & encouragement to me through their friendships! I can't wait to hear about her plans for Riley's upcoming 1st birthday - girl throws some dang good parties!


Our little family has been so sickly this year - sinus infections, stomach bugs, pregnancy related issues, etc. A month or so ago, Aaron started complaining about his side hurting & after a few weeks, finally went to the doctor. A couple weeks of tests later revealed his gallbladder is only functioning at 8%, thus that sucker is coming out this week. If you think about it, say a prayer that everything goes according to routine-surgery-plan, please.


We also have a baby appointment this week. It's just a routine appointment. I always get so excited (& a tad nervous until I see two flickering hearts) to see Hatley & Giles. Hatley seems to be very laid back & Giles seems to have a pep-in-her-step, they're so funny to watch on the ultrasound screen. At my last appointment, I had gained 4 pounds (in two weeks, geez) bringing the grand total to 9 pounds. Both of these babes better have a head full of hair to accompany this dang (overwhelming, all-the-time) heartburn. My energy level has picked up & the nausea continues to get better - I'm just really having to listen to my body, know what I can & can't do, when I need to eat, etc. It's been an adjustment for me - I like to push through, never say 'no' - but I really think its helping prepare me for having three kids under 2, my lifestyle is definitely going to have to adjust, which is fine - to everything there is a season.


This coming Sunday is Decoration Day for Daddy's cemetery. I know it's strange, but given the circumstances, I so enjoy decorating his grave. It's one of the last remaining ways that I can serve him & although its bittersweet to change out the flowers after yet another season without him here, I always love to take my time picking out the most perfect arrangement that I think he'd be proud of & love.


This past weekend was full of rain & dreary weather. Being the outside-lover that he is, Aaron decided that since he was going to be stuck inside anyways, he'd paint the nursery. Obviously I still need to figure out all of the organizing once I have everything we will need for them - the closet, the chest-of-drawers, the armoire but decor-wise, it's pretty close to being complete. I basically 'flipped' Prater's room's color scheme so that they would easily coordinate - all the overhaul cost us was the wall paint & the crib skirt fabric. I used some 'iron hem' to hem the fabric & then used Velcro to adhere it to the bottom of the crib - just like I did in Prater's new room. It's also the same fabric so that when P's ready for a toddler bed/the twins are ready for separate cribs, I can simply move the crib out of Prater's room - easy peasy. As for the rest of the decor, I raided my 'extras' cabinet for trinkets & put the room together using only things that I already had. One, I refuse to spend money on new things when I have plenty of old things & two, everything in their nursery has a story - it belonged to someone I love, was used in our wedding, etc. I love being surrounded by meaningful things.


My Pops & Nanny bought this antique column for me when I was very little. It's meant to display breakable treasures & shines the sweetest little light that is perfect for a nursery night light. I also love the little extra storage compartment in the bottom.


There's few things I love more than piling a bunch of random junk on top of a flat surface. So many treasures on top of the armoire, which was mine as a baby & has always been one of my most favorite pieces of furniture, ever. One side has a hanging area & the other has drawers. It's priceless to me. And above the closet doors - a plate, the vintage hat I wore for Prater's maternity session, & a metal bird's nest that was used as the ring bearers prop for our wedding (which interestingly enough, never made it down the aisle because it was lost underneath a pew).


Both the chest-of-drawers & the mirror belonged to Aaron's grandparents. Of course the paint color isn't represented very true in the pictures - it's Valspar's Mountain Lake (PE's room is Brazilian Blush) with a watermelon spray paint (for PE's room, I used a periwinkle spray paint).

I'm making The Pioneer Woman's Pasta Alla Marlboro Man for supper tonight but am using venison instead of beef. We've been using lots of venison & wild turkey lately - which is both healthy & makes my grocery trip cheaper, woot!

I need to have my eyebrows waxed. For serious. Which means I get to see one of my favorite & most talented friends, Amber! Which will make three appointments with her over the next few weeks - our maternity pictures, a brow wax, & a lunch date to our favorite sweet spot, Marcy Jo's.

I'm off to finish supper, I think we'll grab a honey ice cream cone at Belle Chèvre after supper & head to the land to check on our equine-babes.

Holla. (And if you read this whole 'thing'... God bless you.)

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Sweet Treats.

Some sweet things have been a'happening 'round these parts the past few days...

Aaron & I were able to attend Epic Church's marriage conference, ReCreate, this past weekend with some of our best friends. The conference material was AWESOME & the time away at a nice hotel was so much fun! I definitely needed the reminder of the importance of making our marriage the number one priority in our life together - life happens & sometimes I forget that I'm a wife first & foremost. When that role is put first, all the others fall into their places in perfect harmony, creating an alignment for our home to be blessed. It was an inspirational weekend!




Prater either came down with a quick stomach bug or ate something that didn't agree with her so we stayed home from church on Sunday... I hated to miss & that she was sickly, but man - my normally 'busy' baby was such a cuddle bug. She hasn't fallen asleep on me since she was a wee infant so I soaked up this goodness (& just about sweated to death - the reason neither of us enjoy cuddling very much, we're both so hot natured).




While we were laying in bed last night, Aaron was FINALLY able to feel one of the babies kick! They are both wild women in there, just like Prater Ellis was & I've been holding his hand where they've been partying for weeks but of course they'd always stop once his hand was on top of them - but last night he definitely felt Giles, Baby B, Kung Fu Fighting. It's always one of our favorite parts of pregnancy & we plan on relishing in it because unless God has some CRAZY plans for our life in this regard, this will be the last time that I experience pregnancy. Its neat to really experience how different pregnancies can be, like something as simple as getting up in the middle of the night to tinkle. I only had to do that the last month that I was pregnant with Prater, but this time I've had to do it since about 6 weeks. I wouldn't mind it so much if I could go right back to sleep, but I hardly ever do & lay there, tossing & turning, getting hot for about an hour before finally drifting back off to sleep. But as a plus, my nausea has thankfully taken a turn for the better & I've only gotten sick a handful of times lately - much different from Prater's pregnancy! I've gained 5 pounds thus far & at 21 weeks with twins, I will take that! I plan to weigh right before & after delivery to see exactly how much weight the babies with their sacs & placentas weigh - I just find it all so fascinating! At the most, we have 16 or so weeks left before their debut (I'm praying that I'm able to keep them cooking until August 9th - 37 weeks & 5 days) & at the 'safest' earliest, it could be 13 weeks or so - CRAZINESS! I feel like it is FLYING by this time around, where with Prater time seemed to crawl. Note to self: I've got to start looking for dresses for our maternity session & the showers that have SO GENEROUSLY been offered in the twins' honor. And then there's the issue of repainting & rearranging the nursery...




Speaking of repainting & rearranging, we redid our second guest room/office for Prater Ellis a few weekends ago & she seamlessly made the transition to her new room. It's the smaller of our two guest rooms but with a little toy downsizing & organizing - it's really turned out great! We painted the walls a blush color (that doesn't show very 'true' in pictures), used things we already had to decorate & organize, moved her crib & only her 'pretend play' toys into her new room. I'm a stickler for clutter - I cannot stand a million toys (or things in general) laying around & she's gotten to a point where she really only wants to play pretend with her babies & kitchen & cleaning supplies & table set anyway. I definitely think she plays better with fewer options instead of overwhelming her & her room with a million toys. Now, don't judge me but yes, that is a deer head hanging on her wall... I know. I promise I'm not redneck nor white trash but this deer head was in our office & she has always LOVED it! She would have to pet it & kiss it & talk to it everyday regardless so when it came time to redo the room, instead of putting the expensive 'art' out into the garage, where it could be ruined, I decided to 'girly' it up by surrounding it with antique plates & leave it in her room for her to enjoy. Seriously, it makes her so happy! Parenting never stops humbling me. Other than the paint (for the walls & spray paint for the old desk turned chest-of-drawers), the only other things I bought for her new room was a ceiling fan & the fabric for the crib skirt - which I simply used some iron-on hem & Velcro to create - easy & cheap! I plan to use the same fabric for the twins' crib skirt & basically 'flip' the paint colors (use the blue on the desk for the nursery's walls, the pink on the walls for the nursery's chest-of-drawers) to make moving Prater's crib to their room an easy transition when she's ready for a toddler bed/their ready for their own cribs (I plan on them sleeping in the same crib for the first little bit). Also, the little turquoise ironing board was my Momma's when she was a little girl - PE loves to pretend iron. And the baby doll bed & rocking chair were both mine when I was a little girl - she loves to care for her babies in this little nook of her new room.




Okie dokie, I'm off to take myself a little nap while Prater Ellis does. I've been battling the beginnings of a sinus infection for the last two days & the short list of approved medicines that I can take is making me so groggy...

I do have a prayer request, there's a young couple from my area that lost their 19 month old son unexpectedly & tragically this past weekend while they were on vacation. They are expecting their second child, a girl, about the time that I am due with the twins, I believe. I have been in a constant state of mourning for their families since hearing the news - I just grieve for them so badly. His visitation will be tomorrow with the funeral on Thursday. Please cover them with prayer in the days ahead.

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Miss Hatley Miller & Miss Giles Nolia.

Once again, we are tickled pink to announce that we are adding TWO girls to our family! This was a total shock for us, I just knew that we were having two boys! We've totally embraced the idea of having THREE beautiful girls & are so excited to hopefully continue an uneventful pregnancy & meet these little ladies in August! They could come, 'safely', as early as July 21st but my personal goal is to keep them in until August 9th.

We've had their names picked out all along, we were just waiting for the genders to be made known because we were torn on two different names for Baby B. I'm still hoarding my 'boy' name - I mean, you never know what curve balls life will throw your way!

Baby A is Hatley Miller.

Hatley was on our 'list' of contenders when naming Prater but ultimately 'Prater Ellis' came to me in a vision of a little girl with curls - I'm not kidding, it totally happened. Craziness, I know. And her middle name came to us after soul searching for a way to include two special guys. And oddly enough - both names are sweetly intertwined...

Hatley is the last name of our  'kindred spirits' as I often refer to them on my blog. When we were on our honeymoon in Alaska, we kept seeing this brand of merchandise & thought it was so neat because we have close friends with that last name - even commenting then that we liked the idea of it as a first name... They are just the best people, "good people" as my Daddy would say - their friendship has been such a blessing & we wanted to honor them & their impact on our lives.

And Miller is after our friends Jason & Aaron Josiah Miller. Jason & my Aaron have been best friends since college & his son, Josiah, was named after my Aaron. Shortly after our wedding (in which he was a ring bearer) he was killed in a horrific accident. We said then that we'd love to name a child after him one day. Miller is that tribute to their impact in our lives as well.

Funny thing. My 'kindred spirit' bonded with Josiah at our wedding. She acted as our wedding director & fell in love with the petite, blonde haired sweetie - bribing him with money to walk down the aisle to his Daddy who stood as a groomsman. Devine intervention, I tell you - I love when things just make sense & tie up in a pretty package with a bow.

And Baby B is Giles Nolia.

Giles is the name of the county that I grew up in, I hold that little slice of heaven on earth dear to my heart. Aaron & I have always loved driving around & admiring God's creation within that county's lines. When we were on our second anniversary trip to Nashville, (remember The Flood?) we stopped for lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's & per my usual connection with elders, I became so intrigued with an older gentleman who sat beside me at the table... His name? Giles. I lit up when he told me & mentally added it to 'my list' right then & there. Fast forward a few years to naming Prater Ellis & it made 'our list'.

And Nolia is in reference to my obsession with all things magnolia. I inherited this love from my Nanny. she loved to decorate with magnolias & all of us girls love the movie "Steel Magnolias" because of her. And quite honestly, it's also somewhat of a tribute to this little space of mine on the internets - this space has been such a healing place for me throughout the past 5 or so years, it's where I've shared my soul & it's helped me work through some difficult thoughts & feelings. Nolia reminds me of everything that I love about the south, being southern, being a lady, my Nanny, growing up in God's country, sweetness, the scent of beauty, the elegance of blooming where you are planted - it's just middle name perfection to me.

I am so thankful for a husband who understands my need for special & meaningful names; there's only been a few instance where he's reined in my 'different' taste & thankfully it hasn't been for any of our three girls' (!!!) final names. So long as they aren't totally 'out there' he isn't so much concerned with what we call them as to what we teach them - that they are beautifully & wonderfully made, to have servants' hearts, how to drive a manual, & how to field dress a deer.

I think I am still in shock that we are having TWO babies. TWO. It's always been one of my greatest desires to have twins & for it to come to fruition is almost too much for my psyche to comprehend. I feel like we lived in the trenches for so long - caring for Daddy & him ultimately not experiencing an earthly healing - that I'm awkward with our newfound abundant blessings. I may be awkward but I am definitely ever so thankful.

Thank you for your prayers - all of the testing that we've had for the twins have come back proving that they are perfectly healthy, thank God. And thank you for your continued prayers - we are hoping to keep them cooking as long as possible & that I will continue to feel as close to my normal self as one can feel while sharing one body with three people. Tee hee!

We are so thankful for all of y'all's presence in our lives!

Whining. Babies. Horses. & Gal Pals.

I am not sure that I currently have enough brain cells to formulate this into a paragraph-by-paragraph post with transitioning phrases & the like so I am once again making a list.

 

This is what my life has become.

 

Number 1:

 

I feel like junk. I promise that the ridiculousness of that statement is not lost on me – someone who is well aware that there are MANY people suffering from the effects of chemo, women who have FAR worse pregnancies than I experience, etc. It’s just that it’s my blog & I can whine if I want to. I have absolutely no energy & I don’t feel like eating anything other than total junk. Which annoys me to no end. It’s all a vicious cycle – I don’t feel like eating so I don’t & feel worse, I feel like eating McDonald’s fries so I do & feel worse, I don’t feel like moving from the couch so I don’t & feel worse, or I feel like beating myself in to submission so I do & feel worse. See? Vicious cycle. But, I have decided NO MORE. Today I am researching healthy maternity menu plans & when I make my Menu Plan on Thursday, I am going to mean business. Furthermore, I am also going to try some maternity yoga after this post – of course I will be following along via YouTube in the privacy of my own living room because NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT. Hopefully both of these efforts can improve my overall feeling of being a human carrying two humans, which will improve my ‘tude because lately, gag.

 

Number 2:

I am so excited about Easter! Some of the ladies of my family will be getting together to resurrect (see what I did there) a tradition that my Nanny loved – Easter dress shopping! I’ve already picked mine out but my sweet husband suggested that I should maybe wait until closer to Easter to purchase… just in case the babies hit a growth spurt… a’hem. It really did make me laugh when he suggested making sure that I’d still fit in to said dress by the end of the month. I’m also excited about Epic Church’s LOVE WEEK leading up to Easter Sunday. The Life Group that Aaron & I host in our home will be loving on the community of Athens that week with some service projects & we are all so excited about it! And, there’s a chance that most of my family will be joining us at church on Easter Sunday – I love going to church together as a family!

 

Number 3:

(Disclaimer: this may be considered as “more whining”.) Never in a million years did I think I would ever text “I miss the beach.” to my cousin as I did last week. I am a LOVER of fall & winter. My family is in propane, for goodness sake. But this winter has about done me in. All of my complaints have to do with the fact that I have a toddler. The unending sickness – it’s true, they are little germ carriers & it seems that our house has been a petri dish for sinus infections, colds, bronchitis, snotty noses, stomach viruses, etc. The feeling of being quarantined – I am SO THANKFUL that I don’t HAVE to get out every day, like to go to work or take older kids to school or basically be a functioning member of society because I am so annoyed by the amount of layers that I have to dress myself & Prater Ellis in just to still be freezing by the time we are buckled in the car.

 

Number 4:

Let the hallelujah chorus sing: all three car seats fit in to my Edge & as weird as this may seem coming from me of all people – we don’t have to go car shopping! We did have to buy Prater Ellis a new, more slender car seat (& got an awesome deal on it) but I would much rather spend $100 than spend hours searching & haggling & wrangling Prater Ellis & standing in line to transfer the tag… I’ve just love my little SUV & really wanted to make it work – so thankful it does!

 

Number 5:

Daddy has been on my mind SO MUCH lately. I have dreamed about him for over a week now. Nightmares, that I don’t care to go in to detail about, that have woke me & kept me awake. And I have seen TWO men that looked JUST LIKE HIM who took my breath away & left me crying for him. Obviously I miss him every day, in every aspect of my life but this sort of reaction is usually the result of an upcoming, significant anniversary – I lay in bed last night from 3:00 to 4:00 wondering why my mind is playing these tricks on me in the form of nightmares lately. Of course, it could totally be pregnancy related.

 

Number 6:

Overall, my anxiety & stress level has calmed down by a MASSIVE amount over the past 2.5 years. And even though I don’t feel like I am allowing this to affect me as I would have then, I wonder if my worry over the impending government furlough could be some of the reasons that I feel so bad all of the time & am having nightmares. I am really trying to pray through my anxiety & not worry about what this temporary 20% (which doesn’t sound like a lot to some people, but to look at it on paper, through the eyes of a family’s budget – yowza) pay cut will look like to our family, but I believe I may be failing. I just keep reminding myself that I need to be thankful that we will be able to supplement our loss with savings & that Aaron continues to have a job when some won’t be as lucky & that God will provide – that I am not in control of our finances as I have always thought to be – He is. But for the record, God also gave us brains & we will be cutting WAY back to hopefully help offset some of the loss. This is going to be a BIG time growing experience for me – to say “no” when I feel embarrassed to do so, to rely on my husband’s guidance, to rely on God’s guidance.

 

Number 7:

Prater Ellis continues to be the light of our world. She is such a joy. She says all sorts of things now but my favorite is definitely “Love you.” She calls all of the dogs by name & if she is in a 5 mile radius of my Momma’s horse or a picture of him, she will scream “Jack!” She loves loving on others & is a gracious sugar giver. My only fear in her becoming a big sister is that she will love the babies a little too much. She is obsessed with babies, baby dolls, pictures of babies, etc. She is, for sure, going to be my right hand gal when the twins are born. She is really such an amazing little person.

 

Number 8:

Speaking of the twins, everything is rocking along. The results from UAB were all negative for any sort of genetic disorders, etc. & they each have their own placenta – which is the best case scenario for twins. Today, I am 15 weeks & 1 day. The ultrasound tech mentioned that we may get a sneak peak of their genders at our next appointment but I am not going to get my hopes up, simply for the sake of not being disappointed. I really feel like they are either both boys or one of each – but we all know how that sort of thing goes. I would love for Aaron to have a boy but neither of us is too hung up on their genders so much as we are in making sure they get here safely & soundly & no earlier than July 21^st – 35 weeks. Here’s hoping that I can keep them in until our desired due date of August 9^th – 37 weeks & 5 days & my Great-Aunt Jenny’s 86^th birthday.

 

Number 9:

We are having our horses’ teeth “floated” this Friday. I know, ground breaking news. I am really anxious to see how the appointment goes. My horse, Apache, is really old. I don’t know exactly how old but coming out of this winter, he is really starting to show his advanced age, which is why we are having this procedure done. Hopefully the vet can give me a close estimate on his age, his advice on his continued care, & ease my worries that he’s on his way to the big pasture in the sky any time soon. We aggravate each other but… I love him. He is one of the hardest things that I have ever worked for. I worked 3 summers on my grandfather’s farm for $5 an hour to pay for him. A story for another time.

 

 

Number 10:

I have plans to get together with some gal pals next weekend & I am super excited about it! Some of us have been friends since Middle School & it’s just always a good time when we get together. Lots of laughing, sometimes some crying. It’s good stuff. We usually all go out to eat but I will be hosting them at our home for a Mexican-themed potluck & am looking forward to not having to worry about being too loud or closing the restaurant down, as we usually talk in to the wee hours of the morning. STOKED! Growing up with more ‘boy’ friends than ‘girl’ friends, I am shocked by the crowd of ladies that I am surrounded by – that they would have me, honestly. They are all, not just this particular group, such a blessing to me & I am so thankful for their friendships & accountability & thoughts & prayers & hugs & encouragement & tough love… Blessed to the brim. 

Twinkie Update.

I can't sleep.

I don't know if it's because I tend to sleep late in the mornings (my child, I love her & her sleeping late ways) or because I'm naturally a night owl, because Aaron gave me some sort of cough medicine that's doing the opposite of what Benadryl does for me or because I want to watch tonight's episode of Nashville commercial free... but I thought I'd take a moment to update about the twinkies.

I've basically been to my doctor every 2 weeks since I was 6 weeks along. At first they told us to not get too excited about 'having twins' because there was a chance (1 in 10) that one or both could 'dissolve'. Those worries have since, for lack of a better word, dissolved & we are now at a less than 2% chance of miscarriage - basically the same as if I was pregnant with a singleton.

(As for some other statistics - less than 10% of twin pregnancies have to be put on bedrest, less than 10% of newborn twins have to be admitted to the NICU following birth, most ladies pregnant with twins don't have to modify their daily routine - all very reassuring for me. The worry wart.)

At every appointment both babes have had strong heartbeats & Baby B (I cannot wait to share their names, most likely in about 8 weeks or so) was actually bouncing around. Although, we've yet to hear their heartbeats - apparently regulations have changed since Prater Ellis was born & you no longer hear the babe's heartbeat before 12 weeks. They measure them another way instead & I'm so excited that I'll get to see my two lovelies at every appointment since there's no way to measure the twins heartbeats without an ultrasound.

My next OB appointment is next week & after that, I will see a specialist in Birmingham. No need to fret, this is just a precaution since I am considered high risk (& the only reason it sounds slightly scary is because they couldn't get me 'in' with his office on the day-of-the-week that he spends in Huntsville). Basically this doctor will do in depth ultrasounds of both babies - checking their organs, their sacs & fluid, for any genetic abnormalities, & to see if they each have their own placenta. Each baby has their own sac, this we know - but the "perfect world" scenario for twins is that they each have their own placenta for personal nutrients & security. Our ultrasound tech said she was sure that they did, but this specialist will be able to tell us for sure. It's all so exciting!

Also, I'm pretty sure that I've been feeling them flutter around. I still can't hardly believe it's TWINS!

At my last appointment I asked my nurse if she thought we'd get to find out their genders early since I have so many ultrasounds - she said no. Not until 20 weeks. (Apparently my doctor's practice is very rigid on the milestones.) Dang it! I'm hoping that an ultrasound tech offers a little early peak-a-boo, but if not, 20 weeks will be here soon enough! (Of course I already have the gender reveal party planned.) So far, the common consensus is that one is a boy & one is a girl... I may have to start a poll.

I really try not to complain, but... I feel like junk. I'm grateful & happy (& scared) but dang, my body does not like being pregnant. If I get up too early, I vomit. If I stay up to late, I vomit. I don't want to eat anything. If I get up off the couch too quick, motion sickness... It's pitiful. And the exhaustion - it is debilitating. I've told Aaron that I regret ever telling Daddy that he needed to make his body work when he was sick from chemo - of course, I meant well & was following his doctors orders, but I totally feel like I can relate to his extreme fatigue. I'm really hoping that my body adjusts around 12 weeks & I can be more of the person I enjoy being.

Prayers for a good report at our next appointments are greatly appreciated! They're God's little miracles & I have been, shockingly, calm about everything. I just have a feeling that they are perfectly healthy, that they are going to 'stay in' until they're strong & won't have to have a NICU stay... But, we definitely covet your prayers on their behalf... Check out their profiles from our last appointment - life, isn't is amazing?

Thursday Ten.

We are fasting from TV for the first 21 days of the New Year. The first few days were charming, then I was annoyed, & now I'm just bored out of my mind. Pretty certain those are the exact feelings Jesus meant for me to feel. (Sarcasm. Sheldon.) 

Thus, this list. I apologize in advance.

1. I'm pretty sure that I will have to buy maternity clothes this pregnancy. I bought one pair of yoga capris & one pair of maternity leggings last time - that was it. I wore all of my own clothes the entire pregnancy. Of course, it was helpful that at the time, I was heavier &  wearing loose clothes to begin with - as I lost weight from being sick, my usual clothes gave way for my expanding belly - which I didn't really start "showing" until 7 months or so... I believe it will be a different story this time, considering I've already lost 5 pounds from being sick but my pants are already a tad tight because of a little swelling around my belly... Craziness! Anyways, I definitely won't be buying much because A. I think maternity clothes are terribly expensive for items you'll wear for a short period of time, B. most maternity clothes aren't my style & I refuse to spend money on stuff that I don't like, & C. I'll be pregnant with twins during an Alabama summer - I probably won't be leaving my house very often anyways! I'll most likely live in dresses that I already own much like I did the summer I was pregnant with Prater. Now, I did stumble across this tunic/dress earlier & am digging its casual feel...

Liz Lange for Target

2. Per my boredom, I bought something online for the babies today. I know. Ridiculous. But here's my deal. I want to start collecting things for their gender reveal party & have a little outfit project in mind. Thus began the hunt for the perfect newborn gown. Which led me to being annoyed that I couldn't find the perfect newborn gown.  But i did find this perfect newborn coverall instead. Be still my heart. With a coupon code, I snatched two for $10 & will be getting them embroidered with their sweet names. Yep, it's starting. I'm sorry. 

Children's Place Dotted Coverall

3. We're both going to get new cars. Technically, we both don't have to - just me because three car seats won't fit into the back seat of my Edge - but we are. It just makes the most sense for our situations. We're going to get Aaron a car to drive back & forth to work for better fuel economy, something he's wanted for awhile & I'll be getting a crew-cab truck. We'll be able to use the back seat for car seats but still have a truck bed for farm business. I won't be going very many places anyways. If you need me, you'll most likely have to come to me, ha!

4. Have I mentioned that I hope our house sells quickly? Well, I do. But, if it doesn't, that's fine too. My grandparents raised 7 kids in a 900 square foot house, if they can do that I can raise 3 in a 1350 square foot house. Our house's layout & storage is pretty great for its size so I know it'll all be fine. 

5. These babies will be starting out with wubbanubs.  I didn't like them before Prater was born, but they are perfect for paci-loving babes. (Yes, I realize she's over a year old & we should take it away from her. Here's the deal, she would probably transition beautifully as she always has but I'm just not ready for her to not have it anymore. There I said it. I think it's so sweet. Sue me.) These two are on my must have list. I mean, a longhorn? Precious. 

6. Long before the news of this pregnancy I had decided to scale down Prater's second birthday party to just family; considering I'll birth twins just before her 2nd birthday, I think it's a grand plan. I already have it planned, totally different than last year's shindig, I'll just have to buy the goods as the date draws near. I'm pretty excited about it - you know, considering its still 8 months away. 

7. We have another OB appointment in the morning, prayers for 2 healthy heartbeats are greatly appreciated. And travel mercies, as much as I would love for Aaron to be delayed going into work or be off all day because of snow, I really want to see my two little loves again. I'm so excited that I get to see them at ever appointment. 

8. These pictures make me happy. On our way to Georgia for New Years we stopped in Auburn to walk around & introduce Prater to her PeePaw's old stomping grounds. The picture on the left was taken at 2010's Homecoming, 21 days before he passed away. The picture on the right makes me heart happy. 

9. Long time no Kate Spade love. Yes, I still love all things KS, there just isn't much need for her in my life or near future right now. I do love these sunnies. Yum. As a side note, I'm actually considering selling Prater's KS diaper bag, I just know it won't work for two babies & I hate to see it just sit in my closet. 

10. I was messaging back & forth with some gal pals on FB earlier when someone mentioned Chick-Fil-A... & it hit me. I had to have it! We've been homebound almost all week so we decided to make a drive-thru run in our PJs. Aaron wanted a Jack's milkshake so we made a stop there too. It was a fun little outing for a cold & rainy Thursday night. Now I'm off to bed since I have to be "in town" early in the morning for my doctor appointment. Myself & mornings (sickness), we jut don't mix but I sure am looking forward to seeing my two babes.