Well this just bites...

My stupid computer will not boot. Tim assures me everything is there and there is nothing to worry about... but that doesn't really make me any less aggravated, frustrated or ticked off. Thankfully we've got two other computers I can sit in front of to check email or read the news. Otherwise I would have to do something horrible... like housework. Wait. I am 34 weeks pregnant, housework isn't in my vocabulary at this point. Sitting, eating and drinking (water, unsweet tea, etc) are my only chores at this point - right?

We are in the final countdown stage of pregnancy. We've got 21 more days until the big C-Section and at this point, I think I might actually make it. That's fine with me. I think June 20 is a great day! It's the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. I think that's kinda cool to be honest!

Only 21 more days....

Wow. ONLY 21 more days! Ack!

Baby Update... Announcing at least one new Towle Whopper!

Okay, I admit it. I HATED it when people said TJ was a "whopper." We heard it all the time. Well, we actually had to use it again today to describe one of the babies! ACK!

Baby A is right on target - 4lbs and 13oz (estimated weight), which puts her right on target for growth. Baby B is the little whopper - she is measuring a FULL MONTH ahead (like TJ when I was pregnant with him) and is 6+ lbs at this point. So basically, I am carrying around a baby TJ and one more!

In addition to this all, everything down there is still prime for more baby baking. The oven is still closed! You can read more details at our Towle Twins update page.

Belly, Babies and "Boy am I in pain..."

Well here I am at 33 weeks pregnant with the twins... accompanied by Mr. Monkey, proudly displaying his Clone Wars (cartoon) DVD. Yes, my belly is bigger than it was when I was full term with TJ.

Yes, I am big. I look at this picture and realize why people stare at me in the grocery store and at restaurants. I DO look like I am ready to pop! But if there is anything positive for me to say as I sit here with the puffiest feet ever (reminiscent of an Elephant), I haven't really added to my stretch-mark collection. I can't believe it... but it is true. All the old ones are still there, but so far nothing new for me to cry or write home about. Consolation for the additional pain I've been suffering? Perhaps! I'm not going to question it. By now, I've learned to roll with the punches.

People are always asking me if it is different carrying twins as opposed to carrying just one baby. Yes, it is very different. When I lay down at night, no matter which side I try to sleep on, it makes one of the babies mad. I sleep more comfortably for me on my left side, but I get less objections when I lay on my right side. These were not issues with TJ's pregnancy. He just kind of stayed in the middle. I feel a LOT more movement, and that includes kicks, stabs, jabs and punches in places I wouldn't name in a public blog. And it hurts!

One thing about this pregnancy is that I haven't gained much weight that is in addition to what is recommended for someone my size with a twin pregnancy. I suspect I am holding 7 pounds of water right now, though. I was never this swollen when pregnant with TJ. Literally, my feet look like they belong on an elephant.

Here's a picture of what I was working on over the past week. There wasn't one lamp that went with the bedding we chose for the girls' room. My mother purchased a matching switch plate and nightlight, and when it arrived the nightlight had broken off from the base, making it unusable. However, I had the idea of hot gluing it to the base of a lamp with a pink gingham lamp shade to make a lamp that would match the set. Voila! I was actually shocked when I found the lamp base I had imaged AND the pink gingham lamp shade at WalMart! Each costing only $5 each! So, here we have pictured exactly what I was hoping to create... a matching lamp for the girls' room!

I also wanted to paint a couple of canvas squares with the girls' first-letter initials to hang up over their cribs. I painted a matching ladybug on the canvas with the letters and stapled some frilly yarn around the sides. You can't see it in the picture, but the same frilly yarn (pink and hot pink) are used to hang the canvas, too. I will be sure to include pictures of the nursery soon!

Right now I am working on another canvas picture to hang (ideally) above the changing table. I am not fond with the way the flowers have turned out in the canvas, but I like the other aspects of the picture (so far)... so hopefully I will be done with it this week.

I am also working on a "T" canvas to go into TJ's room. Still not happy with it, so it hasn't been "finished" yet. I also got him the same lamp base and have painted part of it blue (since TJ picked out a white shade) and I hope to have that in his room this week, too.

Speaking of artsy-fartsy things...

Here's something I did for my mom (from all of us) for Mother's Day. I actually got the idea from a Parents Magazine. The pictures are of TJ holding letters and words to show how much he loves his Mimi. It took a LOT of patience on both of our parts to get him to take the right photos, with the right smiles, right lighting... etc. But when it was all said and done, I think it turned out really well!

Needless to say, I've been having fun being a little more on the creative side and taking back the creativity I once used more regularly.

The canvas paintings for the nursery are the first canvas pictures I've done since High School! I've done some watercolor and pencil drawings since then, but no canvas. So, it's been fun doing something so large for the girls. I hope it is something they will treasure forever.

As for me, it's time for my feet to make their way to the kitchen, have another late-night snack, fill my two 32-oz cups full of water, and make my way upstairs for the night. We've got an ultrasound tomorrow which will measure each baby's growth. I can't wait to see how big these little buggies have gotten!

New Pictures and Updates to Share

I uploaded pictures from our Twin Baby Shower to Photobucket. It was a lot of fun. Raney and Greg did a great job at hosting it at their home. Everyone seemed to get a kick out of the baby-bottle-drinking contest. Who could suck down root beer from a baby bottle the fastest? We will never know - because the winner chose to drink water instead!

I also updated the Towle Twins page at our website. We've been doing BPPs (bio-physical profiles) twice a week and will continue to do them until the babies get here. We actually have a growth ultrasound next week and I can't wait to see how big these babies are getting!

I also uploaded pictures from Keith's graduation celebration where Tim performed as Magical Tim for the kids. The kids seemed to have great fun. The whole day was great. TJ was far from his anti-social, shy side. He basically walked into Keith and Alice's home and ditched his parental units. He was happy, social and pretty darned independent. It made me proud. He's come a LONG way from crying at strangers to socializing with adults and other children.

I am officially 33 weeks today - exactly 4 weeks away from my scheduled C-Section. I am TRULY miserable. I've hit the wall. I can't sit, walk or lay down without being in pain in some form or another. My feet resemble something you'd see on an elephant and yes, my nose is spreading too. Of all the horrible things about pregnancy, women are blessed with swelling that makes its way to our nose. What joy! But I will take it any day of the week. I am telling myself to enjoy every last miserable moment of this pregnancy because it is, without a doubt, my last. Believe be, we WILL be making sure this doesn't happen again! :)

Indy Time!

It's been almost 20 years since the last Indiana Jones came out and we are so stoked about this new movie! Tim and TJ are going to see the movie this evening... but I don't think my tailbone is going to allow me the time to see it with them.

Yes, my tailbone is in SO MUCH PAIN that I'm even having dreams about how much it hurts. No fun. I just can't see myself sitting for two hours, even in a comfortable chair. Unfortunately, I won't be seeing the movie... or the "Sex and the City" movie later this month (which I would love to go see with Raney).

So, my two Tims are going to enjoy some male bonding over the newest Indiana Jones movie. TJ is super-duper-over-excited about this. He's already talking about it and he's been up for less than an hour.

Saturday Magic Fun!

On Saturday the 17th, we went to a graduation party for a friend. He was celebrating his recent success at receiving his Masters degree. It was an informal and casual event at his house and the turnout was really good.

A lot of folks brought their kids and I am glad they did. I did some magic for them only slightly out-of-character and dress than usual. I kept the show shorter than normal, but the kids had fun!

The picture to the left is me trying out some magic wands (oops that one turned her in to a rabbit!) I was to make balloons after the show, but after I cooled off, the children enjoyed a pinata instead and had fun with that! It was fun to watch them and take pictures as they all lined up to take a swat at the palm tree. They had a great time. I had many positive comments about the show and was happy to perform for the kids. I specialize in entertaining children with magic. TJ had a lot of fun with everyone at the party and had no problem finding something to do. He even tried Guitar Hero!

The Funny Monkey's Dreams

At about 2am this morning, I popped into TJ's bedroom to pick up his Duckie and Bear off the floor and put them back up on the bed with TJ. TJ must have been awake because he looks at me, with his sleepy little eyes and says "Hey Mom! I had a bad dream... but I had a good dream too! It was about Mickey Mouse in Star Wars, and he was asking me if I wanted cookies!"

I know I am biased, but my kid is the funniest little monkey around!

Getting Ready for Katherine & Lauren

We have been working our butts off over the past week to get the nursery ready for Katherine & Lauren. We are officially 32+ weeks into the pregnancy and anticipate the babies coming at any time now. We'd love for the to stay put as long as possible. Our scheduled C-Section is set for June 20 at my 37th week. Five weeks to go! Can we make it? I sure hope so!

The cribs are all set and ready to go. The cloth diapers are in place, ready to cover little baby butts. The closet is set with clothing and my hospital bag isn't packed, but the stuff is at least on top of my suit case!

Can't wait to post some pictures soon!