A bit of this and that...

Logan's verbal skills have really just amazed me. He talks in full sentences, has full conversations, and says things I have no idea where he picked it up. My favorite thing is listening to him on his monitor when I put him down for nap. If he isn't tired right away, he will sing songs, read books, talk to his animals, or count. Yesterday when I was listening I heard this:

"April, May, June, July, apple juice, blueberries, and milk!"

This really made me giggle.

When I go get him from nap, he says goodbye to all the animals in his bed, and puts his football safely in the arms of Puppy. This is a fairly new thing that he does, and I love that he is constantly coming up with new ideas on his own.

This past weekend we FINALLY went to visit Ben, Stacey and Jack! He is the sweetest little thing! SUCH a good baby. If I can guarentee two babies like him, I would be more than lucky. Stacey is an awesome Mommy. She is so relaxed, organized, and really just transitioned to the role of "Mommy" gracefully. I just wish we lived closer so I could see them more often, and could take care of Jack when Stacey goes back to work.

A picture from our visit: Stacey and Lindsay with "Our Boys"!

8 Weeks

I'm 8 weeks into my pregnancy with the twins. Just 4 short weeks until I reach that all-anticipated Second Trimester. That brings a world of less morning sickness, more energy, and a little dose of reassurance that you are out of the woods regarding miscarriage threat (for the most part).

I have been asked for a belly picture, and frankly, I was reluctant to take one this soon! I am about as big as I was at 14-16 weeks with Logan. I guess, in theory, that is about right considering I am half that gestation, but carrying two babies. It may not exactly work that way, but it makes me feel better to think of it that way!



Other than that, my all-day sickness has been at an all-time worst. I got a script for an anti-nausea drug that has really been helping. I am finally starting to feel a little bit like a normal person again.

Um.... What did you say?!

We had our much anticipated OB appointment yesterday! The night before I was so anxious that I barely slept. We got to the appointment and waited... and waited... and waited a little bit more! Finally, Dr. Wenzel came in and started the appointment. It was routine stuff - no lunch meat, don't lift more than 25lbs, etc. At the end of the appointment she looked at my bloodwork from when I first found out I was pregnant. She looked at my progesterone level and said "Wow, that is a good level.. like twins-good". We all giggled and I joked about how none of my pants fit anymore and I am only 7 1/2 weeks along.

We went into the ultrasound room and I was shaking. I was so nervous! I think I was mostly nervous because I knew what we would find out....

She put the ultrasound wand in and I saw it. I saw them. Two babies. TWINS! I started laughing hysterically. I mean, isn't that what one does when they find out they are having twins? Brian looked dumbfounded, and Dr. Wenzel confirmed "Yup, it's twins!". I literally laughed the entire time we were in there. Laughed so hard I cried. Brian was silent, just looking at the screen with our two babies heartbeats.

Two babies.

TWO!

Introducing... Jack Benjamin!

Stacey and I have been friends for almost 18 years. Eighteen years! We have been through every single milestone you can go through. High school, boyfriends, fiances, engagements, weddings, pregnancies, and now motherhood. Stacey is one of those people that I would not only trust with my own life, but would also trust with Logan. She is already an AMAZING mother, and I can't wait to see what her sweet little boy turns into. I have yet to meet this little ball of squishiness, but when I do I am going to smooch those little cheeks like nobodies business.

Jack was born on our 4th wedding anniversary - May 27, 2010. It was kind of poetic thinking about how 4 years prior Stacey was standing next to me as my Matron of Honor while I married my other best friend, and now here she was introducing her baby into the world. I am so happy for Stacey and Ben. Baby Jack couldn't ask for better parents!

"Morning" sickness...

The term "Morning Sickness" is a joke. A big, fat, stinky joke. There is nothing about my all-day sweating and dry heaving that is resigned to the morning. This morning sickness is so much worse than what I had with Logan! I guess you get what you ask for! I did beg for this since it would mean that I am pregnant, and that my hormones are good and strong and so should be the baby. But, geez man.

Parenthood

I follow the blog of Kelle Hampton - Enjoying the Small Things. She has such a positive outlook on life. Every day. She is a fantastic writer and an amazing photographer. I have really taken a lot from reading her posts, but something I read today put in words something I have felt since the moment I found out I was pregnant with Logan.

But, here's the thing. Once you become a parent...once you start feeling a little funny and you buy that pregnancy test...once you see a pink plus sign...once you know it's not just you anymore...well, you automatically carry around, for the rest of your life, an increased likelihood. To have your heart broken. And it's a constant fear that we struggle to put to rest.

And we can choose to be afraid or we can choose to live.

And I choose to live.

Ain't that the truth, mama. I keep waiting for the worry to end. But it never will. It is our job. As parents. And we can choose to let it swallow us whole, or we can choose to embrace it as the part of parenthood that makes us whole because it just shows how damn much we love our kids.

Kelle is right. It starts when the stick has two lines, or those bold letters that spell "Pregnant". You would think that something of this magnitude would elicit streamers and balloons to shoot out of the side of the stick. I mean, it is the moment when you as a person will change forever. The lack of streamers and parade means that you are just left with that word to process while you are sitting on the toilet in your bathroom. It is amazing to me that even though Brian and I had been trying for a year to get pregnant with baby #2, we were doing fertility drugs, wishing and hoping each month... still after all of that, getting the positive pregnancy test gave me an instant flutter. And instant worry. A brief moment of thinking "Oh God, I am pregnant. Now what?".

What I have learned being Logan's mom is that I can worry each day about the small things. Or, I can watch him play with his friends and share each moment of each day with him as he soaks in the world around him. That sounds much more fun to me.

Bestest Friends

Logan: No Nile you are not my friend, you are Robin's friend.

Me: Logan, Nile can be your friend too! That is is great things about friends, you can share them with everyone.

Logan: But Mommy YOU are my friend. You are my bestest friend.