Baby Belly Progress Report

Here are some facts I can update you on:

Belly Size: 39" (up 10 from normal size)
Weight: 135lbs (which is up 20 from my regular weight)
Weeks: coming up on 25
Mat Leave: scheduled for Aug 1
Sex: still don't know
Feet: still fitting into my heels. Woohoo!
Heat: every once in a while I feel warm, but for most part I'm still my cool, refridgerator self.
Hands: rings are still moving around smoothly
Discomfort: sometimes the right side of my mid-back is sore, but nothing a chiropractor can't fix!
Appetite: huge and GROWING! Eating good portions and eating often!
Cravings: nothing really other than that normal 'mmm, ribs sound really good right now'. I am eating more ice cream and sour candies than usual, but nothing that I HAVE to have. Which I'm sure Miles is grateful for.
Energy: feel pretty good. Every once in a while still need an afternoon nap, but not all the time.
Movement: I can feel kicking and rolling around from both babes. And I can tell who is doing what, which is totally awesome :) The kicks are visual now, if you're watching at the right time. Every once in a while Baby B (who we call Bubba) likes to roll and stretch, which makes the right side of my belly hard and stick out, and I'm totally left lopsided.
Clothes: I have officially put all my old pants and skirts away and most shirts. I can still get away with some of my older shirts.
Shopping: I've started my registry at Babies R Us. I've never registered before, and can I just say? It's so much fun!! It's like shopping without spending money.
Babies' Room: still an office. Yup, I'm a slacker. I'll get to it, little by little.

So here's a quick shot of how we entertain ourselves at work...

The page says:
Our Goal: (being my department)
To make it to end of term (Sep 15) thereby allowing OS to complete the transition.

Shani's Goal:
Not to give birth at reception ie to make it to Sep 1 with two healthy babies.

Then, as you can see, they make a chart of my progress...

How I Know...

I can't believe all the love and happiness I've been feeling the past few months. Of course there are times of freak emotional breakdowns (sorry about that) and times of being tired: no, I'm not cooking dinner tonight. But really, all in all I've been happy, with so many things to smile about.
But most of all, I know I'm loved. Because I can feel it. Every day. Here, let me show you how I know:

• Miles does the laundry. All the time. I'm not allowed to touch it. Sometimes, he'll even fold and put away my stuff. Even when I was talking about diapers (yes, I'm planning on cloth diapers) he said "what are you worried about, I'm the one who does the laundry"
• Miles tells me I'm beautiful. And I know it's true, because he doesn't shy away from telling me when I'm NOT looking so great...
• Every morning, Miles asks me how I slept.
• Every evening, Miles asks me how my day was. Sometimes twice, cuz he forgot he already asked.
• Most of the time when Miles leaves the house and I'm there, he'll say "come say goodbye to your loving husband" in a sing-song voice. Who can deny a man like that a goodbye kiss?
• When I'm busy doing chores and moving about and he wants to hold me, he makes me stand still and we take a moment to be quiet and loved by one another.
• He tells me, all the time, that he loves me. A day doesn't go by without the confession.
• He brings home a chocolate bar once in a while when he's at the grocery store. Sometimes he leaves it on my pillow as a surprise.

Okay, really, I could go on and on and on, but then that would be rediculous for anyone to read. Suffice it to say, it's nice to be loved and to have no doubt about how your husband feels about you. I can only imagine how much that love will grow as our babies join our family and add another facet to our joy and happiness.

I hope that he knows how handsome he is and how much he's loved, too, even when I may not be as vocal about it. But throwing it out there on the internet is a pretty good indication, right?

To Miles:

Hi Sweetie,

Today is your birthday. Today you are 29 years old and oh my GOSH almost 30!!! Can you believe it?

Although your birthday is on a Saturday, it's not great for us to celebrate, because I'm busy with my youth calling and can't spend the day with you. But do you care? Maybe. If you do, I don't know it.

On your special day, you're willing to stay home and do some clean up around the house, because it needs to be done. This is just one example of your generous heart.

I've been lucky to be on the receiving end of your generosity over the years, and I love that I can see your care and tenderness.

You also always make me laugh. Life is never boring. Yes, we have routine, but it is never boring!

You will make a wonderful father. You will lead by example to show love, fun, discipline, patience and integrity. I am so honored to be taking the journey through this life and next with you.

I love you, Happy Birthday!!

Love, your wife.

Stretch Marks

Nope, don't have them yet, so please don't worry about me!! I am taking special precautions, just as everyone has suggested. My belly skin is the most supple ever!

Where I DO have the stretch marks, however, is in my memory. Yup, that's right, I can feel when my two wee ones are having a growth spurt. Is that weird? If so, then I guess it's right up my alley. Nothing average for Shani! Apparently...

So you know the feeling you get when you've overeaten? You have to unbutton your pants, you are SO FULL and your stomach is stretched. You can just feel it. I sure know, because let me tell you, I'd far rather listen to my taste buds than my complaining, over-filled stomach any day!

Well yesterday afternoon, I felt like I had EATEN A HORSE!  Not because my stomach was full of food, but because of the stretching. Ooooh, the stretching! I swear, all afternoon. So my conclusion: a growth spurt.

It was that, or they were leveraging each other to make more space for themselves.

Either way, growing I was.

So I measured my waist (or what used to be my waist) today and found I am now a delightful 38" round. I think the last 3/4" came out yesterday.

All in all, a good thing, because growing babies mean healthy babies.

In other news: I'm starting to feel them move, and it's the weirdest thing ever!!

I Hate Waiting

David after Dentist: "Is this real life?...Is this going to be forever?"

Shani during Pregnancy: "Is this real life? Is this going to be forever?"

I know, I know...not even four months yet, but man! I want to hold these little ones NOW! Paritally cuz it doesn't seem real yet (don't ask me why, there's plenty of evidence), partially cuz I'm just the impatient sort.

If you don't know what I'm refering to, you've been missing out on one of the most viral videos on You Tube with over 86 million views. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs