Baseball Baby Shower

I'm not a half-ass-baby-shower-thrower. If we're throwing a shower, I WILL spend excessive amounts of money on things that will make the day JUST SO. Plus, when it's your only sister's first baby, you have to go big or go home. So, I went big, and I just so love how it turned out. 

Want details? Keep reading.

This cute concessions sign was handmade by Magnolia Tree Designs. Fit easily in my suitcase without getting crumpled like a lot of other stuff.

Now, this. This you cannot buy in stores. This was handmade by Baby G's Papa just for this table. With 24 hours notice, sweet Dave sprang into action and created the most perfect baseball bat Cracker Jack stand. And it was my absolute favorite part of the entire table.

Modge Podged letters. Meh.

The Daddy-to-be keeping his distance from 40+ women.

Sissy & my girl.

Danny had seen this really fun idea - have the guests write love notes to Baby G on a baseball bat to keep forever and ever.

The sign. My nemesis. Forgot the letters at home. Called my niece at 10pm the night before, begging for help. She showed up with goodies and letters, and basically, saved the party.

And the pinwheels. Gah. Love them. You can snag them at The Parties That Pop!

A hot dog rotisserie. I know. #gobigorgohome
 

The detail on everything blew us away. I mean, this is just the coolest cake. And tasty. Holy crap. There wasn't a single piece left by the time the shower was over.

Handmade sugar cookies and cake pops from my darling niece, Megan. She is my go-to baker...oh, Megs! I need to pay you! Crap! Text me!

This day wouldn't have come together if not for the grandmas-to-be. Mom and Penny, thank you for letting me squawk orders at you when I needed things to be a certain way. 

Dear Twins

Hi, it's me, Mom. You have now been inside of my body for 35 weeks. Today, I am 35 weeks large. You two don't seem to care.

When I first found out I was pregnant with two babies, I was totally panicked. Panicked. We bought a brand new car just 4 short weeks before finding out our bundle of joy was 2 bundles. You two wouldn't fit in the new car. That we just bought. Not the most motherly of thoughts when it comes down to it, but that's what went through my mind. I'll make it up to you at some point.

Just a couple of months later, we were given the warning that this wasn't going to be an easy pregnancy. Now, many of Mom's friends thought that mandatory bed rest seemed like a dream. No, no. Let me tell you. I have too much energy/OCD/ADD/anxiety to bother laying around all day. I mean, you can only rewatch The Office so many times.

Oh, and pelvic rest. Thanks a lot.

By the time we were just shy of the third trimester, I landed in the hospital for 6 weeks with contractions & nearly no cervix. You guys will hear about Mom's short cervix for the rest of your lives. You're welcome.

Here we sit. The three of us. Jax, your head is slamming up against my cervix & bladder. You have totally made me pee myself. I hope you enjoyed that. Jett, if you could find it in your heart to move your head out of my rib cage, I wouldn't find it necessary to lean over chairs & couches to try & use gravity against you. And while we're at it...after 8 months of stretching, sweating, aching, crying, hormoning, hemorrhoiding, and peeing, I have just one simple request: getoutgetoutgetout!

I'm very excited to meet you both. I know you're both going to be super cool and super fun (I mean, look at your sister. We clearly make rad kids.), so just do me a solid. Waking up with contractions at 2am, that cause me to squeeze your Dad's leg, that inevitably lead to nothing, is really not my cup of tea. It's a lot better out here, so let's get this show on the road, little dudes.

Love,
Mom

34 weeks | 3rd Trimester

We are finally in the home stretch and I am finally free! As you can imagine, my first day of freedom included Starbucks and Target. Plus, my mother-in-law took me for a mani/pedi! She thinks I deserved it after this debacle - I think she's right.

Since being back home, I've already had 2 follow-up visits with my favorite doctor. People, we are at 2cm dilated & 80% effaced! I count this a huge victory. My body feels battered and bruised. It's time for these boys to make their appearance. Given the position of Baby A, the cord presentation issue we had before and just the overall nature of twins, I won't be going past 37 weeks...END IS IN SIGHT! None of us, including Dr. P, believe that I'll even make it to that point. 

So, now, we wait. Nails are polished and shiny. My hair is the most beautiful ombré I have ever seen thanks to my amazing hairdresser, Miranda. Girlfriend offered to come down to my hospy room and do my hair in the bathroom! I mean, she's a keeper! Text me for her number! You will dump your girl in a flash to go see this GEM!

How far along? 34.2 weeks
Babies are the size of a? Butternut Squash
Total weight gain? 36lbs
Maternity clothes? I can finally wear my maternity clothes out!

Stretch marks? Still none.

Sleep? Besides waking up every 4 hours to take my Procardia (which stops contractions), I sleep as well as I can being the vast size that I am.

Miss Anything? Not waddling.

Movement? Always.
Food cravings? Blueberry pie. I've wanted it my whole pregnancy, but I have yet to get a piece.

Belly Button In or Out? Out.

Rings on or off? It still fits, but it's not comfortable.

Symptoms? My entire body is achy & sore, but it's the end, so this is the fun I can expect.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.

Labor Signs? Increasing contractions. I forgot how much these suckers hurt.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy!
Looking forward to? Their arrival!

30 weeks | 3rd Trimester

We made it to 30 weeks! Huge accomplishment considering a what cluster of a month March was. At this point, no news is good news. I haven't had any consistent contractions in 10 days. I'm still stuck in bed for most of the day unless it's pool time. Really a pretty boring existence until the boys decide to make their debut. The doctors think I can make it to about 32 weeks, but I'm hoping I can get to 34, head home and deliver with my doctor at my hospital. We'll see how the next few weeks play out. 

Today is my favorite day of the week because it's the day that Josh and Maddie come down and spend the night with me. It's funny how much you miss the simple luxuries you grow accustomed to. 

Thank you to all my visitors! You guys are keeping me sane! I've received some sweet care packages with tasty treats and fun things to help me pass the time. I have the most decorated nails of anyone on the floor because I get bored and new nail polish rolls in weekly from friends and family. 

How far along? 30 weeks
Babies are the size of a? Cucumber
Total weight gain? 25 lbs. (got lectured last week about not gaining, so I've been told to step it up. Oreos are helping.)
Maternity clothes? Yoga pants & maternity tanks!

Stretch marks? Still none.

Sleep? Not bad considering they wake me up every 3 hours to give me contraction meds. 

Miss Anything? Normal life

Movement? So much. They have swapped places and turned so much that they are in completely different positions than they were just a week ago.
Food cravings? Coke!

Belly Button In or Out? Depends on baby location.

Rings on or off? On.

Symptoms? A giant belly.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nah.

Labor Signs? Not for 10 days! Haven't had any consistent contractions since last weekend.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy considering.
Looking forward to? Going home!

26 weeks | 2nd Trimester

I had an entirely different summary typed out for this week's progress report until I saw Dr. P today. I walked in the office quite cocky because I thought all was just completely fine. I even boasted that the high-risk OB wasn't concerned with checking my cervix anymore because everything looked fine and there were no signs that anything was amiss. Today, he glared at me & said, "too bad. We're checking you."

Turns out my cervix is funneling, which means that it's beginning to open from the inside out, which puts me at risk for my water breaking early/preterm labor. They hooked me up to a monitor, and I wasn't contracting, so that was positive. I'm now on strict bed rest. And.I.Am.Pissed. I am so bad at this bed rest stuff. I hate laying here, just waiting for the days to pass. I am a major Type A personality with energy to spare, so sitting on my flat butt is the last thing on the planet I want to do. YES, it's the right thing for the boys, but I want to tantrum a little about it.

Thankfully, we moved the baby shower to my house just in case something like this happened. It's also early enough that we don't have to worry that I will be in the hospital (we think). Growth scan for the boys is in 2 weeks, as well as the beginning of steroid shots to help their lungs develop in the case of them being born before 34 weeks. 

This is not the report I was expecting at all. I thought we were in the clear for any kind of preterm labor type stuff, but I was way wrong. We are in the process of looking for a car for our litter, and this has lit a fire under our butts just a little more. I was perfectly ready to put it on the back burner and wait a while. Guess that won't work.

Little model showing off her bump with Mama.

Contraction monitor at Dr. P's office.

How far along? 26 weeks (measuring 32 weeks)
Babies are the size of a? Head of Lettuce
Total weight gain? 23 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Obviously.

Stretch marks? Still none. Hopefully, they stay away.

Sleep? Pretty good this week. Getting up to pee 4x a night doesn't help, but I've been passed out cold lately. It helps that Maddie is in the mode of sleeping til 9:30 & 10:00am. #parentingwin

Miss Anything? Deli meat

Movement? Yep!
Food cravings? Sweets!

Belly Button In or Out? In, but getting pushed out more & more.

Rings on or off? On.

Symptoms? Same as always.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really.

Labor Signs? Some BH contractions, but very mild and inconsistent. Funneling cervix :/
Happy or Moody most of the time? It's moment to moment at this point. 
Looking forward to? My shower!