baby veto

Our girls have been nameless for pretty much my entire pregnancy. I really think it might be harder to choose two names than one.  I mean, you want to like one as much as the other. Plus, also, most of our name conversations have gone something like this...

What about 'Boston'? Boston Rae...or Boston Rose...

...Or Boston Marathon. Boston Marathon Minor. 

He was kind of  serious.

And then one day Paul texted me asking about the name 'Penelope.' I still haven't figured out if he was serious or not.  Cause I was all, "What?!? Are you serious?" And he just said, "Why wouldn't I be?" {Which made me feel a little bad about reacting so strongly.} But really, he's not all that serious all that often. I know him so well and yet he can sometimes be so...vague. (Another example of this is how I still don't know whether he's ever had his ear pierced. Because I SWEAR one time when we were just kind of acquaintances who kind of ran in the same circle that I saw him wearing an earring. Very JT. But then later when I mentioned it he said he'd never had his ear pierced. But then one time his brother said something about piercing their ears. So I just don't know. Mind you...this is the same boy who also once convinced a roommate of mine that he and his {Asian} roommate were brothers and MKs from China. And another time, he convinced a girl at church that he was an Alpaca farmer. Yup, that's how he made his living. Raising Alpacas.  It's not that he is lying so much as if you're gonna believe he was raised in China and his primary source of income is from a llama-like animal, then he's going to let you believe it.

Anyways, in these last few weeks of being extremely gigantically pregnant, I've been watching the season of FRIENDS where Rachel is pregnant. I feel like this could be us...except my hair's not that good and P-dubs is not quite that nerdy.





Other names that have been thrown out in the last few months...

Braxton & Hicks {seriously these tricky little contractions were a huge pain around 28 weeks...)

Dolly & Howie {Call the kids and the dogs at the same time! How efficient...}

Taylor & Liberty {Throwback to our college days...}

Of course they've also been lovingly referred to as Laverne & Shirley, Lucy & Ethel, Ben & Jerry (ya know, before we knew they were girls...) But we may just have to go with Rain and Veto.    

my pregnancy by the numbers

2: babies

43.5: total number of pounds gained SO FAR. This is hilarious because when my doctor told me that she wanted me to gain between 35 and 45 pounds I thought '35 sounds good. There's no way I'm making it to 45.' Yet here I am. Forty-three point five pounds heavier with time to spare. There's no telling how high that number might get. But, honestly, I don't care. If extra pounds means those babies are getting nice and big. I'll take it. Although, I feel bad for my knees and feet. 

5: pillows needed to gain any semblance of comfort to sleep. Poor P-dubs. I literally take up at least two-thirds of the bed  with my big belly and superfluous pillows. But, trust me, they are necessary. And on that note...

4-6: hours of actual sleep time. I'm convinced that God designed the last trimester to ease you into sleepless nights with a newborn. Or two.

52: number of times I have pricked my finger to check my glucose. Thank you, gestational diabetes. 

0: number of pregnancy books read. I just find that there are so many other things that I need to get done!! My sister-in-law did give me a great book about the 100 healthiest foods to eat during pregnancy and I flipped through that every trimester. Lots of good information. And I really do want to read one about breastfeeding. Because that is terrifying to me.

I'm probably gonna wish I'd read every single one of these. Yeah? Dang it.

3: "shoes" that fit. By 'shoes' I mean my slippers, my Uggs, and these slipper/moccasin things that Karen let me borrow.  I'm lookin' pretty fly these days.

5-7: times I get up to 'go' at night. I used to be able to hold it like a champ...I could go from the time I got to school until I got home 10 hours later and never even think about it. Not so much with 10 pounds of baby crushing every organ. 

1: number of times this has happened...but now that I know she is willing, it will definitely happen again before I deliver.  

Sister of the year award. For so many reasons...but painting my toenails is right up there. P-dubs also wins an award because he took my old polish off.  So blessed.

21: days until these sweet girls will be here!!! One way or another they will be here by November 3rd...whether it's by scheduled c-section or Baby A deciding to turn head down so I can try this the 'normal way.' Really doubting that since she's been breach the whole time. Wicked stubborn. We can't wait. 

september

September flew by...seriously...working a longer day, trying to get a nursery together, and going to a million appointments makes time fly. And makes my feet three times their normal size. 

Some things I LOVED about September?

The Mountains

Our yearly trip to the family mountain house for Labor Day...this little cabin holds a special place in my heart because two years ago when we were there this happened: 

Ummm, yes. Yes, I will.

Side note...this is the ONLY picture of the two of us together the night we got engaged. We keep it classy. And we love it that way. Also, I'm not convinced my rings will ever fit again...and I dare not wear them on a chain around my neck because I WOULD lose them. Without a doubt.

This year was almost as monumental because Paul met this little guy and his heart was changed forever.  

We contemplated bringing him home with us...but he wouldn't fit in the car and the thought of two wimpy poodle-ish dogs, an Alaskan malamute, and two babies in one town house nearly stopped my heart. Someday P-dubs will get his manly dog. Someday.  Until then he has Howard...the complete antithesis.

Fantasy Football

Ok...I don't really love, love this one. But P-dubs sure does and he even got my little brother on board this year. Just look at that concentration. The strategizing going on in this dining room rivals that of many an NFL meeting room, I'm sure.

Second Grade

There's just something about the beginning of the school year that makes me downright happy. And I have fallen in love with this class faster than I thought possible. I swore I couldn't like a class as much as my class last year...but these newbies are given those sweet third graders a run for their money.  Here's a few reasons why...

One of my not-so-little-ones has taken it upon himself to be my protector and voice of reason. I call him 'Big Mike' because he reminds me of Michael Oher from The Blindside.  He is determined to make sure 'da babies' are ok. Nothing will happen to them or me on his watch. He carries my chair out to recess, he holds my hand to make sure I don't slip down the hill on the way to the playground, he brings an extra chair to me at the carpet to put my feet up on...(believe me, my cankles are as alarming to my kids as they are to me...) He's just downright sweet.

Big Mike. And, clearly, those are not my ankles in the background. They don't resemble balloons at all.

I happened upon these sweet boys playing three-player-checkers during indoor recess. I'm not entirely sure what the rules were but at one point I heard one of them saying..."No, no, now I push YOU off the board." I think the concept of checkers was completely lost on them. But I kind of love that they made up their own game. 

 And, of course, they say the funniest things that just make my heart happy....

While describing coins in math class, one little boy said...

'Mrs. Minor! I know this one has John KFC on it!'

 Oh, you mean John F. Kennedy? 

'Yeah!'

 Well...that's George Washington...

One of Warner's little girls came up to me at recess to tell me why it was a good thing that Miss Warner wasn't married yet...

"Because then you no go out with your friends. And you no leave the house. And your husband says...stay in the kitchen and cook me dinner!"

Wise words...from the mouth of babes...

Pumpkin Spice Lattes

I could drink these all day. And eat pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with them.

 Can't wait for all the fall-ness that October will bring!

wardrobe malfunctions

Almost 29 weeks pregnant and the last two days I have finally felt uncomfortable. That's pretty good, though, right? Thank you, Jesus, for my job but the extra hour they've added to the school day is KILLING me! (Or at least my feet...)I survived the sweltering summer with zero swelling and then came a whole gaggle of 2nd graders. People keep saying 'You need to be off your feet. Sit down!' 

I'm sorry... but you try sitting for any length of time with a classful of 7-year-olds. I try to stay off my feet but I still have a job to do. And, honestly, sometimes I forget that these twin-bearing feet can't handle what they used to--until I get home and take off my sandals to reveal puffy, imprinted little balloons. My feet hurt so bad the other night I decided to bust out the Danskos. 

 Usually these are reserved for winter months when dress pants and jeans cover their kind-of grandma-ish style. But, you guys, I LOVE these shoes (along with many a nurse, teacher, and chef). These things are just so dang comfortable. So yesterday I donned my black Danskos (with pants... I once saw someone wearing them with capris and it just wasn't right). But they didn't fit. What?!? They are supposed to be a little loose!! So I put on my brown ones (which then did not match what I was wearing. Oh well, I can't see my feet anyway...) By the end of the day my feet HURT. Not even a little bit. My Danskos failed me. Couldn't even believe it. (I know...oh, the drama.)

So today I tried flats. But shoes were the least of my worries. If only I'd known. Just as my kids were arriving for the day, a downright hilarious thing happened that not only made my day but the day of many a colleague.

Y'all I split my pants. 

Not even a little bit. Like an indecent bit. I was trying to stack a few reams of paper next to a shelf and since I can't bend AT ALL I was in a full out grand-plié...trying my hardest to be graceful. I should never try to be such. It never works out. I sent my poor co-teacher (who I'm sure is completely traumatized by my pregnancy and will likely never procreate because of it) to find someone with a sweater to wrap around my waist belly. I called my brother to bring me some pants but not before waddling down the alley  to Warner's trailer to show her the hilarity that was my split pants (and my booty in the process, not gonna lie...I'm sure that's just what she needed first thing in the morning...poor thing. It's tough being my best friend.)

Lesson learned. It looks like I need to invest in some maternity pants. Dang it. And, also, I should probably just keep a pair of yoga pants in my desk drawer.

conqueror

That's me...in the past two weeks I have conquered this...

And this...

But not before texting my sister a picture of these cords and saying "Where are you? Come HELP MEEEE!!!!"

Now, I know...It's not really THAT hard to set up a couple of computers but those cords were an overwhelming mess.  And I did it. Without my sister. That's a big accomplishment for me. 

I love how our trailer mobile learning unit is feeling more like a classroom. My new little crew is wonderful so far. {But I still miss my kids from last year. It will take a lot to surpass that group.}Regardless, they still say the darndest things. Second grade quote of the day (said as I walked past this little guy in line): 

Man...it is going to hurt a lot when they start pushing out.

Thanks for that. If only they were the ones doing the pushing.   


Pregnancy quote of the day {from my ever so sweet and sensitive sister}:

Wait how many months are you? Like 7? No...you've been seven months pregnant for like two months.

Nope...only 28 weeks...this week. Apparently, it's been a long week? Thanks for that, too. ; ) 

and we have a belly

Eight weeks pregnant in NYC...

Way back when I first found out I was pregnant {well, really, when my sister first found out which is a wicked hilarious story in and of itself}, my sister told me to make sure that I took pictures of my growing belly each week. She showed me all sorts of cute belly picture ideas on Pinterest. She told me I'd regret it if I didn't do it...and she was right. Again. Ugh.  So I scrounged around looking for pictures of me from the last 28 weeks. {Whoa. 28weeks.} Most of which were taken on my phone or Paul's phone. I think the only pictures taken on a real camera were from our anniversary. Sad story. But I have found that people who haven't seen me in awhile tend to have a shocked and amazed look on their face or they bust out laughing like I'm the funniest thing they've seen all week. {My mechanic, Reggie, was one such case and he laughed for literally 2 minutes before taking my keys to check out the Malibu.} So by popular demand and in an effort to cause the least amount of disruption in places of business, I give you my belly...and the changes that take place during 28 weeks of growing a couple of kiddos. 

Eight weeks on the Brooklyn Bridge...

Ten weeks...giving a full and detailed history of our families...

14ish weeks...I was dying to show by this point. Over three months pregnant with TWINS and this is all I have to show for it?!?! {Also, P-dubs likes to point out how long my arms are in this picture. But he has short, little T-rex arms so maybe our girls will have perfect length arms?!} But don't worry the girls made their presence known very soon after...

15 Weeks...in my jammies. Nothing's sacred...

Sixteen weeks....Mom-to-Be parking!! Hey...it was really hot that day and I was wearing heels. 

Sixteen weeks...I thought I was HUGE here. That is laugh-out-loud, side-splitting hilarious now. 

Seventeen weeks...Warner took this. Right after SHE busted out laughing at the changes in the 1 week I hadn't seen her. 

18 Weeks...Happy one year anniversary!

He has a belly, too...

This was the dress I wore to my rehearsal dinner a year ago and it still fit--kind of.  My sister laughed really hard when she saw me wearing it. And P-dubs told me I looked like a duck. What?!? That's at least better than other animals I have been lovingly compared to lately...including whale and manatee. 

Fourth of July....20 weeks.

Whoa belly! Whoa hair!! 21 weeks...

Twenty-two weeks....again, nothing sacred. 

Twenty-three weeks ...

Twenty-four weeks....it still just surprises me SO much when I turn to the side. 

Twenty-six weeks...My friend, Aime, and I at my shower. She's due in a couple weeks. I think my belly has caught up to her. 

Twenty-seven weeks...Told you I was THAT bridesmaid. This picture is just hysterical to me. 

So there you have it. At our appointment this week, both babies were measuring over 2 and a half pounds. That's almost 6 pounds of baby already. Yikes bikes! This belly's about to get a lot bigger. And with that this little manatee is going to head to bed. I survived my first day of teaching but I will make no guarantees about day two. 

soaking it all up

 Yesterday I was soaking up my last few minutes of summer...

The beach with P-dubs' family...

Paul and our niece Kaite building...

...a beach teepee. {Should have brought beach toys.}

Crabbing and alligator spotting...

Good thing because today I was soaking up this....

I kid you not that is a QUARTER next to that thing. Ew. But look at those nice shiny floors.

 And this...

 Which became this...

Five teachers worth of resources=overwhelming.

But I ain't scerred...I will conquer this mess of a new home trailer. And it will be homey...and welcoming...and organized. And it WILL be cockroach free. Gosh darn it. In an attempt to be truly honest and accurate, that roach was in my trailer just not today...it was a week or two ago when my little brother came to help me move my furniture.  But that really is a quarter next to it. P-dubs didn't believe us. {If he had been there my blood curdling screams would have testified to the Goliath size of that bug. I almost peed a little.} I made it five years in this district in an actual classroom, in an actual building. I guess it's my turn to experience all the adventures that come with being in a mobile unit. Warner says she's going to hang Christmas lights on her trailer...maybe put some potted plants in the "alley" outside her door. Sounds downright delightful.