29 Weeks!

Today marks my 29th week of pregnancy. Every week feels like a milestone but approaching week 30 is an enormous accomplishment! I calculated that my full term twin due date is September 25th (37 weeks) and that seems really close. As my feet continue to swell and the pain in my back grows I grow more and more excited to greet my boys! My new hobbit feet are not sexy and to be honest they freak me out but I have hope that my feet will return to their pre-pregnancy state.

Today was a physically rough day because I could not find relief from the pain in my back. I tried stretching and walking but could not escape the discomfort. By the time I hit the metro platform I wanted to die. I didn't get a seat on the yellow line and the pain was so great that if a seat didn't open at the Pentagon then I was fully prepared to break into tears and throw a fit. The pain was quite desperate and fortunately I did get a seat so I could relax a little on the ride home. The remedy for my pain? The pool. Jamie and I spent a good hour soaking in the blissful water and not being able to feel my back or belly was a miracle. Summer doesn't seem so bad when experienced in a pool.

No Boys Allowed!

The door to Isabel and Annika's room is covered in drawings and home-made posters exclaiming that boys are NOT allowed. Jamie was lucky enough to enter! The art work was stupendous--Isabel really displayed her creative talents. Jamie pointed out that the main drawing consisted of two pieces of paper taped together to form her 'magnus opus' as he called it. The details are delicious--notice how the girl's eyelashes are so long they blow in the wind. Even when giving the icky message that boys are not allowed, Isabel managed to incorporate her love for all things cute and feminie.

One more Isabel story. While in Utah I tried to give everyone a chance to feel the babies kick. Annika got to feel a very heft kick and she was so surprised she sucked in her breath then said, "I actually felt that!" It was cute. One day Isabel came up to me, put her hand on my belly, quickly removed her hand and yelled, "Oh, the baby kicked!" This scenario was heelarious b/c of Isabel's geuriila tactics and the fact that the baby did NOT kick and therefore she did NOT feel the kick but she had seen enough people feel the babies move that she wanted a piece of that fun.

Confession....

Okay. I'm ashamed to admit this but here it goes. I feel entitled. I really do. I feel that as a pregnant woman I SHOULD always get a seat on the metro. I feel like smokers, upon seeing me, should either walk in the opposite direction or quickly extinguish their smokes. Is that really asking too much? Rhetorical question.

I was sitting outside today when a pungent waft of match and cigarrette punched me in the face. I immediately started coughing and fanning the air in front of me. The woman who had just lit up noticed my drama and kindly apologized and walked away to finish her smoke. I have always hated cig smoke but I absolutely abhor it now.

Taking the train home today I missed the first yellow line because it was an effing four car train and I would have had to risk my belly being caught in the door to fit onto the train! Why does metro taunt the yellow liners? I hate it. I successfully got onto the next yellow train and was VERY happy when Mr. Rat tail offered me his seat! I graciously accepted and was thrilled to be off of my wretchedly swollen feet.

Best Uncle EVER

The girls have traditionally loved to crawl into bed with us in the morning after a sleepover--it's actually quite sweet to share those sleepy moments with them.

Isabel and Annika were really excited about uncle Jamie sleeping over and their naked baby dolls.

Hannah joins the fun!

More Jamie/doll fun.

Jamie and Beckham snuggling.

Jamie is clearly the best uncle ever--he's totally fun and loves to spend time with the kids. My sister's kids make being a stellar aunt or uncle easy because they are so generous with their attention and affection.

Utah Baby Shower

Amberlyn arranging flowers--she's so talented!

My beautiful sis showing off her tantalizing pavlova.

Shower decorations.

The food! Gruyere/sun dried tomato quiche, nutella puff pastries, chees puffs, pavlova, almond tart, seven layer bean dip, sugar cookies, and blackberry limeaid.

The limeaid and sugar cookies--both were soo stinking good.

My baby shower in Utah was an absolute blast. Seeing so many loved friends and family members was rewarding and that they each had so much happiness and enthusiasm for the boys made the experience even more sweet. Amberlyn and Aunt Gaye were wonderful hosts and their creative vision was greatly appreciated. The food rocked! I loved cooking with my mom and sister--one of the highlights of my trip! I'm lucky to hail from such a talented group of women. Sadly, I only have photos of the shower preparation because I was too busy talking to document the actual event.

Baby babe update

Jamie and I saw the boys on Monday and they looked stinking cute as usual. At 26 weeks they had again doubled their weight and were both over 2 lbs. Baby A remains head down (yay! good baby) and Baby B's head moved from my left side to my right side, which would explain that hard 'bump' under my right breast. The doctor was happy with the development of the babies. After the ultrasound we met with my OB and he said that my swelling, size, and weight gain were all completely normal and healthy for a twin pregnancy. He said that my health coupled with the presentation of both babies made me an excellent candidate for a vaginal birth! I was SOOOOOOO ecstactic. I hope Baby A stays head down...Yay for good baby babes.

I am also happy to announce that I have detected NO stretch marks so far but I realize that anything can happen in the next two months. I asked Jamie if he thought it was possible for my nose to get stretch marks? J/k forever.

Photos of the 4th

Success!

This was the first week that people actually offered me their metro seats! On Wednesday a MAN energetically jumped up to offer me his seat. I was thrilled for such kindness from a man. Yesterday when I boarded the bus the driver yelled, "I NEED A SEAT, PEOPLE." The bus was crowded but a seat appeared for me and I could not have been more grateful. The following afternoon a woman offered me her seat so a big THANK YOU to all the kind people taking the 'tro! A woman standing next to me asked when I was due and when I told her in October with twin boys she raised her hands above her head and exclaimed, "Praise the Lord! A blessed pregnancy indeed!" Her enthusiasm made me happy.

I have a theory about these recent bursts of kindness. In the true spirit of civil inattetion, people quickly look away after noticing my belly but when they look down and see my hideous swankles they gasp, shed their inattention, and beg for me to sit down for fear that my feet will explode.

Fug of July

My mom and her pregnant daughters!

Cutest hubs ever.

Mom and me--notice my mom's awesome tan.

The Famiry!

Predictably, my trip to Utah went by much too quickly. I spent months in anticipation of my final trip sans children and it was over before I was ready for it to end. Utah was beautiful, my family was beautiful, and time with Jamie was beautiful. I had not celebrated the 4th of July in Utah since 2000 so it was exciting and fun to be home for the festivities. Ryan grilled some fantastic veg burgers and my mom made wonderful salads and other treats. The best news of the day...Amberlyn is pregnant!!!! Yay for the boys! It has always been a dream of mine to be pregnant with my sister and I didn't think I would ever get the opportunity. Amberlyn is due in February, which means that the boys will have TWO cousins (Lori's baby babe too) in the same grade. I couldn't be more pleased.

When they were younger

Beckham's first day home! I love how ticked he is in these photos and how stinking cute the kids are--they've grown up so much! Isabel does not seem phased by Beckham's fussiness.

Such cuteness! As a baby Beckham would stick out his tongue when he was really happy and excited, it was really endearing.

Isabel and Annika. Have twin girls EVER been cuter? Love those girls. I think Annika looks like me so if I never get my baby girl, at least I'll have an idea of how she could have looked.

Rummaging through my photos of China swept me into the mood for looking at photos. I came across some photos of a few years ago when Beckham was just born and enjoyed them soo much I had to post them.

On another note, I talked to Jamie and the Isabel on the phone last night. Isabel was really sweet and asked how I was doing with the twin boys. I told her that I was doing well and that the boys kick me all time! I mentioned that at church I was resting my arm on my belly and Baby B kicked with such force that my arm nearly flew off my belly. I had never been kicked so hard before! A few minutes later my arm was back on my belly and Baby B again used his linebacker force to knock my arm away. Isabel was so amazed by this story that she basically dropped the phone and yelled, 'Annika! Jessica said that at church one of the babies kicked her so hard her arm moved!'

Really, really missing China

I love this photo of the water buffalo cooling off in the water while the farmer works. The Hubei countryside was stunning in it's simplicity and texture.

He's so cute! Jamie on the tram coming down from the Great Wall of China. We joked that the tram was sponsored by cigarette companies b/c everyone smokes in China.

My FAVORITE food in China! Grilled flatbreads stuffed with pickled veggies. I miss this food so much and was happy that there was something so instantly satisfying in an otherwise intimidating culinary culture.

Our classy bathroom--don't miss it at all.

Jamie's birthday feast of french fries! Yay. Notice how we are indoors but we are all wearing our warmest coats because it was frightfully cold.

Jamie and the Dalian cormorant.

Jamie and his warrior friends.

Jamie didn't cut his hair once while we were in China. He did shave his beard after the local teachers asked him, "Have you ever heard of Karl Marx? You look just like him!"

A friend from work just returned from a fortnight trip to China. Looking at her pictures and hearing of her experiences has reminded me of how much I devoured my time in China and above all, how much I miss it. I miss the thrill of waking up each morning in a strange place with accompanying strange sounds and smells. My senses had never been so engaged! I miss working only nine hours a week and having a luxurious amount of time to spend with Jamie. I miss our daily lunch routine of eating grilled flatbread and drinking a cold Pepsi on the steps of the town plaza. The hardships of living in China have become less harrowing as time passes and have transformed into badges of courage and adventure.

The Comfort of a Sister

Isabel

Hannah

Isabel, Annika, and Hannah

The other day Isabel had a scab on her leg torn off from a menacing branch. Blood everywhere! Jaren freaked out and Hannah quickly ran to Isabel and said, "Imagine you are in a beautiful field and you are not hurt." Isabel responded, "Yes. I am in a beautiful lake and I am a beautiful mermaid and I'm not hurt."

What a cute exchange! I love how Hannah rushed to the aid of her sister and how Isabel took a cute idea and made it even cuter and more girly. Love those nieces!