61 days to go

Well, I'm now at the end of week 31. Only 61 days to go until 40 weeks (keep in mind it's unlikely we'll go to 40 weeks, 36 to 37 is full term for twins). We had another appointment last Friday. I had not gained any weight since my appointment two weeks prior, so they were a bit concerned; however, the babies have grown which is good. I'm still sick from time to time, which is no fun. Other than that, everything is going well. They're moving a lot and I'm generally uncomfortable. Both babies are head down and they keep kicking the same spot over and over. Its like a bad episode of 'Prison Break.'

Mr. Mono and I also had our last Bradly Method class. It ended with a pizza party at Austin Pizza Garden and our instructor even brought some outdated natural childbirth videos from Brazil--hmmm, nice addition to the pizza (sarcasm included). I'm glad we took the class though. I didn't agree with everything they said, but overall it was pretty informative. I also didn't enjoy watching childbirth videos, eww! But I think most people expect to see some videos in a class like that. If my junior high sex education class was more like this Bradly Method class I think high school would have been very different for a lot of people. Fortunately, it was mostly abstinence-based so all the really icky reality was left out and no one could possibly imagine how icky pregnancy and childbirth really is. Hence, probably the reason why my high school also had a day care.

With the classes behind us, it really feels like we are quickly approaching the end of this carnival ride. Two of my fellow pregnant comrades have now both had their babies, which means my turn is coming up soon. I'm looking forward to not being pregnant anymore, but not so sure about caring for two babies. Having a baby is kind of like getting married. Its a lot of fun, great parties, very exciting, and in the end it totally changes your life. Except with a wedding, after its all said and done you get to go on a honeymoon. I have a strange feeling that this is going to be a bit different...a bit not-so-honeymoon-like. Although I find myself looking at vacation catalogs nonetheless.

We took some funny maternity pictures too. We're getting a few more done in the studio soon and I'll post some of those when we get them. Hopefully I won't go into labor before our photo shoot. Andre really liked this one.

Houston

This is rather late, but here are some pictures of the Houston shower and Andre's family.
http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh57/lbweisstx/Houston%20Baby%20Shower/?albumview=slideshow

Family History

One day after Mr. Mono and I first met he asked me what nationality I was. I said, "American." And he said, "yeah, I know that, but like where is your family from?" Amused, I said, "America." Growing frustrated, he said, "I know, but where are your ancestors from?" "America." Then I explained that my family on both sides have been in the US since before the revolution and that there really wasn't a "mother country" anymore. Not one that any of us would recognize at least--or would recognize us. Aside from my mother's rendition of Toora Loora Loora we have little to no customs resembling our original Scotch-Irish heritage.

Having a baby, or babies rather, has made me think a lot about our growing family tree and what I want my children to know about their family history. Talking to my dad this afternoon, we got on the subject of some of our ancestors.

The first was Gordon Wood
He was my grandfather's cousin and my dad says "he was the winningest football coach in US history." He's actually in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. His record has since been broken, but he's still well known in the football world.


My dad told me this story about Gordon and my Grandfather "Bid" He said the carnival came to town and they had a strongman contest. So whoever could go in the ring with the strongman for however long would win something, like 50 cents. Well, he said Gordon got in the ring with him and beat him up. These are the family stories my dad likes. Gordon lived with Bid some as they were growing up and they were pretty close.

The second person is Zebulon Baird Vance. Aren't you glad we didn't name one of the girls Zebulon. He was twice governor of South Carolina and a US Senator.


Zebulon was against the civil war and secession. He was really big into individual rights and stood by the rule of law. South Carolina is the only state to observe the writ of habeas corpus during the civil war. He was elected to the Senate in 1878 and was re-elected in 1884 and 1890, serving from March 1879 until his death.

Funny thing is, I think my dad kind of looks like a cross between Gordon and Zeb.

Shower Madness

Everything is going pretty well. We had another sonogram on Friday. This is a profile picture of Evelyn. Both babies are doing well, Evelyn weighs 2 lbs 8 oz and Rowan weighs 2 lbs 11 oz. They are measuring right on track as well and they're definitely girls. They are moving quite a bit now and my belly is taking on all sorts of strange shapes. We had two sonogram Friday. The first was early in the morning and Rowan was head down and Evey was head up. Then that afternoon I went back for another sonogram and they were both head down. Rowan was so far down we couldn't get a good picture of her face. Every once in a while I feel a sharp pain on my bladder so I have a feeling she's staying head down.

As for me, well I have now gained 36 lbs (my doc wants me to gain 45), but it appears to be mostly in my belly. My legs are starting to hurt when I have to stand. I think I probably look like that big cartoon chicken. I have also developed carpel tunnel syndrome in my hands due to the pregnancy. They say it should go away after they're born (fingers crossed...no that hurts).

Mr. Mono and I had two showers this weekend and one last weekend and one the weekend before. One more shower to go. Yes, I know its shower madness, but could it really be any other way? Our first shower was a de la Reza family shower. Then we had a friends shower last Saturday with one group of friends. I had one at work on Friday, that was really nice. Then we had a friends/family shower this past Saturday that was a lot of fun too (different friends). And this coming weekend is the firefighter shower.

They've been lots of fun and exhausting in a good way. This past Saturday everyone stayed until pretty late into the night talking and laughing. It was after midnight when we finally settled down and my toes looked like little sausages after standing and walking around so much. Mr. Mono was very pleased to get his much desired diaper bag...




They make such cool diaper bags for men now. Its from a place called "diaper dude," so now he can take the kids to coffee shops and look as cool as the other dads. It even comes with a black baby changing pad.

But most of all it was just great to share this time with our friends and family. There are really only a few times in your life when it seems absolutely necessary to bring together all your available friends and family and be together to celebrate or to mourn. Graduations, weddings, funerals, new babies, and maybe just a handful of other times--bar mitzvah, quinceaneras, what-have-you. Those times do not come often and yet they mean so much--not only to the person, couple, etc, but also to the whole: to the family and friends. They are not mere get togethers. On the contrary, these are the moments that change our lives and at the end of the occasion (be it happy or sad) we are not the same anymore, nor ever will be again.

We celebrate the arrival of our girls. Our little girls that we thought, many times, would not ever be in our arms--yet now I'm in my 3rd trimester. How difficult it all was and what a joy this time is for us now. Who better to celebrate in this life changing moment then the people we love and cherish. And sitting with family and friends I realize how much these kids mean to other people too. It is my grandmother knitting baby booties, it is my friend giving me motherhood advice, it is my sister tearing up over every pink little dress, it is the thought that one day I will be at my own daughters baby shower celebrating the joys of her life.

And so these showers, these seemingly silly parties we throw at the expected arrival of a new baby--or in our case babies--have been great. And when they are here finally we will throw a huge party (after everyone has recovered) and drink lots of wine and beer (especially Mrs. Mono--since Mr. Mono will be the new designated driver) and eat good food, listen to bagpipes, talk late into the night and properly welcome the girls into the world so that they will see that there is much to celebrate in life and lots of people who love them.

Poor Lil Mama Chicken

Well, sure enough it happened. After I had to pull out all the stops to get Mrs. Mono to get over the fear of needles and let me give her a flu vaccine, she went and caught the version that wasn't covered by the vaccine!

As if third trimester wasn't chock full of no-fun-ness, she has to deal with all the flu symptoms. Trying to find a pregnant lady okay drugs at 6:30am was not easy. After a conversation with our ObGyn, looks like we are going to get her on anti-biotics, Sudafed, and Tylenol.

Guess it is time for our girls first drug buzz...