28 Weeks

Got a surprise at our 28-week ultrasound...3D images!  The tech asked if we had any 3D images done of the babies.  I told her that we hadn't and didn't really think anything of it...anyone I know who's had it done has gone to a separate ultrasound lab and paid extra for the images.  I thought it would be cool to see, but we're already having enough ultrasounds done, and they'll be here soon enough, that the cost didn't seem justified to me. A few minutes later the tech switched the machine over and started doing 3D views right there!

Twin A: 2 pounds, 11 ounces.  And cute as a button.  Just look at that profile!

Twin B: 2 pounds, 7 ounces.  Also cute as a button.  B was facing a different way and harder to get images of, but you can still see the cute face.

Tyson and I might be a bit biased, but we think we make pretty cute babies. 

Post Weekend

It was a Christmas-y weekend, which involved:

Making cranberry bars.  These are a must for this time of year.  And they've been my breakfast all week...

Going to see "A Christmas Carol".  One of our good couple friends scored some free tickets (win!), and the husband HAD NEVER SEEN "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" BEFORE.  Like, not even the Disney version.  He had no idea what it was about.   Luckily he enjoyed it, and it really was awesome.  Except when I went to the bathroom at intermission and the old lady behind me decided she had to chat me up because I'm pregnant.  Which wasn't necessarily so bad until she told me "Wow, you're huge already!" after finding out I still had a couple of months to go.  And yes, she knew by this point in our conversation that there are twins in there.  Gee, thanks...

Christmas present wrapping.  This year I used craft paper, burlap, baker's twine, and gift tags.  I already had the craft paper and burlap from last year, so all I had to buy was the twine and tags.  Directions: wrap gift with craft paper.  Cut a small square or length of burlap.  Hold burlap in place by winding around and around and around with baker's twine.  Add gift tag.  The end.  I'm picky with my gift wrapping.  The craft paper's great because it's so heavy, and the roll is so thick it lasts forever, which isn't bad for $4.99 a roll. And you can use it year round by tying with different ribbon, etc., unlike most Christmas paper, which tends toward the cheesy side.  Also clear gift wrap tape is a MUST.  Regular Scotch tape just won't do.  

Post Weekend (Even Though it's Almost the Next Weekend...)

Last weekend was the first weekend in a long time that I pretty much did whatever I wanted all weekend.  I didn't even leave the house at all on Sunday, which is UNHEARD OF for me. Usually I get restless cooped up inside all day but somehow it was just what I wanted.

So were these brownies.  Plain old $1.29 from-the-box fudge brownies.  And they were delicious (as were the remnants of batter that I scooped up).

Hello veggies.  You are about to become the start of some delicious chicken dumpling soup. Which was super delicious (enough that I'm going to make it again by request this weekend) and healthier than the aforementioned brownies.  No yummy batter to lick up at the end, though.  And how is it that celery is nasty on it's own, but becomes delicious as soon as you combine it with carrots and onions to create soup?  Also did you know that the combination of carrots, onions, and celery is called "mirepoix", particularly when used as the base for a soup? There's your bit of culture for the day.  The French always know how to make things sound better.  We don't even have a word for the combination of carrots, celery, and onions in English, except for the generic "veggies". Which doesn't quite have the same ring to it...

Also did some comfort reading.  Like comfort food, but reading instead?  Whatever, it's all good for the soul. Except that now my belly gets in the way of words and turning the pages.

One of fall's guilty pleasures: stepping on crunchy leaves.  Which reminds me, I DID leave the house on Sunday to go for a walk.  So that kind of counts.  And actually I don't feel one bit guilty about stepping on crunchy leaves.  So just one of fall's ordinary pleasures then. Crunchy leaves are MADE to be stepped on.

And a bump pic.  The bump kind of blend in with the shrubs.  But how pretty are they?  I couldn't resist.  Even with the gutter, etc. in the background.  

20 Weeks

20 weeks (and 6 days), and it's still hard to believe that we are going to have two babies. My belly is expanding, my back hurts more, and I'm still in bed by about 9:00 every night, yet I can forget I'm even pregnant sometimes. Although A and B don't seem to have any problem giving my belly some not-so-gentle reminder kicks every so often (like whoever is kicking me in the belly button right now...you could totally stop doing that).  I can feel their kicks getting stronger (not like two weeks ago when "was that a baby...or just my stomach?" was the norm). Tyson can even feel them, and sometimes they're so strong they startle me.

I thought that maybe getting to see them again last week would make it more believable. While it was fun, and they were moving around like crazy, it's still weird to think that there are TWO LITTLE PEOPLE INSIDE OF ME.

A is the stubborn one (I'm convinced it's a feisty little girl, Tyson thinks it's a boy), and while he/she was moving around like crazy, they just wouldn't turn around so we could get a good angle to see his/her face.  He/she really liked showing off their spine though...

B was much more photogenic, and started with this feet-above-the-head maneuver just to show off after how stubborn A was being. Then he/she decided to go for the ultimate in cuteness and start sucking his/her thumb.

Tyson and I think they're pretty darn cute.  

Team Green

When someone asks me if we are finding out the sex of our babies, and I say no, I've found that I get one of two reactions.

1. "Good for you guys!  That's so exciting!"
2. "Seriously?  You're not going to find out until they're born?  Wow better you than me!"

(Note: #1 is the only appropriate reaction.)

In fact, finding out the sex before birth has become so prevalent that usually I'm not even asked if we are finding out the sex or not.  Instead, the question is, "So when are you finding out the sex of the babies?".  My response, "When they're born" then incites reaction #2 from above.  And then some...

Never mind that finding out the sex of a child before they're born has only been technologically possible for a small amount of time, and really only become "the  norm" in the past decade or so.  Forget that for, oh, basically all of human history, people (*gasp*) didn't find out what their children "were" until they popped on out of mom.  Nope, despite the past thousands upon thousands of years, all of a sudden I'm the strange one for waiting, and wanting to wait,  to find out.  And really, it's not like we have a lot of options here. I'm not going to pop out an elephant - I can pretty much guarantee that they'll be one of two things.

What gets me even more is when people with reaction #2 start wailing, wondering how on EARTH will I be able to make any decisions or purchases not knowing if they are boys or girls.  Some even turn this around and start talking about how this will affect them, and how will they know what to buy for a shower gift?  Because, of course, I only made this decision to inconvenience them.  It kills me even more when I get this question from people who are around my parents age, who (in all likelihood) had children without knowing the sex.  So to them and the apparently paramount questions, "But how will you know what to buy?"  I want to say, "Well what on earth did you do?"  

Related to the above, I also get asked how in the heck am I going to know how to decorate their nursery.  First of all, as someone who does interior design for a living, I take offence to that.  Second, this implies that I can only decorate in pink and/or blue.  Because there are no other colors in the world.  Seriously, do you know how many other colors there are? Even if we did know the sexes, I would probably STILL not decorate in pink and/or blue (*gasp again*), because everybody does.  How original.

Now I don't really mind when people DO find out what the sex of their baby is.  I'm not trying to imply that waiting to find out is superior or anything like that.  And I don't mind people decorating in pink for their baby girls, or blue for their baby boys.  Hell, pink is my favorite color, and if we have a girl (or two), they will have their fair share of pink things. But I DO mind when people imply that not finding out the sex of our babies is crazy, and that we can't make any decisions whatsoever without finding out.  As if everything hinges on the fact that they are boys or girls.  We don't really care if they are boys or girls (although secretly we are hoping for one of each).  We can't wait to meet them the day they are born, and it's exciting for us not to know until then just who they are.

Year 3

3 years ago, we pledged the whole, "til death do us part" thing.  Surrounded by all of our family and friends, which was so cool to think that they were all there just for us.  It was, to put it modestly, the best, most perfect day ever (*ahem* because I may or may not have planned every last. freaking. detail).  Though of course we didn't know exactly what we were getting into.  Ours isn't a new story, I don't think anyone knows what they are getting into with marriage.  How can you until you do it?  Life is crazy.  And for us, throw in moving to a brand new city a week after getting married, a husband pursuing his PhD, a wife job hunting...then job losing...then hunting all over again, moving to a new apartment, plus the various minutiae of plain old everyday life, and 3 years fly by and get even crazier. Not to mention that little did we know, very soon...

 

2 little babies would be on their way to us.  At the same time.  We are so excited for our little twins and this next phase of life and marriage.  And, let's be honest, we're a little psyched out.  I mean, girl loves a full night's sleep.  But, c'mon, two babies?!?  That's pretty awesome.  And just like three years ago, I'm sure we have absolutely no idea what we're in for.  We didn't know what we were getting into with marriage, and we don't know what we're in for now as we're about to be parents.  To twins.  Good Lord.  But that's ok, because in the end, we only have...

1 life, together, (oh gosh, that was pretty corny, huh?  I know, I'm sorry.), and he's really a pretty good guy to hang out and do life with.  We have fun, and life is about to get even more crazy, so I guess I'll keep him around...for at least another three years or so.  ;)

It's Fall!

Crossing this leaf's path the other day makes it official...it's fall!  Break out the cider, apples, sweaters, boots, and pumpkins!

What It's Like to be Pregnant with Twins

So I've been kind of quiet on here.

As should be obvious from my last post, things have NOT been quiet in real life.  Not by a long shot...

!!!

Yup, that happened.  Also, I just posted a picture of a stick that I peed on.  You're welcome.

And then THIS happened...

!!! !!!

Yes, there are two baby Williams' on their way.  Look out, world.

So far this is what being pregnant with twins is like.

1. It's exhausting.  I'm tired all of the time.  It's getting a little bit better, but I'm still in bed by about 8:00 every night.  A couple of nights it's even been 7:00.  And this from a girl who's usually up until at least 10:30-11:00 (and let's not even talk about what my sleep schedule was like in college).  I have no idea if this is what it's "normally" like to be pregnant, since I have absolutely nothing to compare this to.  I'm just tired all the freaking time.
2. Your entire vocabulary changes.  We started with expecting "a baby", calling it "it" (which isn't the prettiest of pronouns), talked about how it would be "the three of us", etc.  Now we're expecting "babies", and "they" will make "FOUR of us".  It's crazy.
3. Everything is times two.  I know that sounds obvious, but it really hits you.  I had a whole nursery planned in my head for one.  So far, finding things for two hasn't been the easiest, and they don't always have examples in the stores (i.e. double strollers).  Also I babysat for a friend's adorable, single, one-year old awhile ago, and I kept thinking, "I will be doing all of this...times two."  Wiping sticky little hands...times two.  Changing diapers...times two.  Buckling into strollers...times two.  Cutting up food into teeny little pieces...times two.
4. It's incredibly fun.  Not everyone gets to have twins, after all.  (Although look for a coming post, "Annoying Things People Have Said Now That We're Expecting Twins".)  We had so much fun first telling our families that we were pregnant, and then, a few weeks later, that it was twins!  It was like getting to tell them we were pregnant all over again.  And now that we are telling more people who didn't know before, we get to do the one-two punch, "Hey guys, I'm pregnant!" *cue cheering and congratulations* "But that's not all...it's twins!"  *cue stunned silence before even more cheering and congratulations*  I have to say...it's ridiculously fun to get to make that announcement.
5. Your plans completely change.  I went from having a firm plan in my head about time off, and what transitioning back to work would look like, while Tyson would be able to watch a lone baby part-time.  NO WAY with twins.  First, it's twice the babies.  No way could I expect Tyson to watch two babies part time and still graduate in a year.  Second, it's TWICE THE BABIES.  What I would make going back part time just isn't enough (or barely) to put two kids in daycare (which I wouldn't really want to do anyway), so I'd basically be going back to work to be in debt to daycare.  And since we don't have family around (aka FREE daycare), we don't really have another option.  No idea how Tyson's being-in-school salary is going to stretch that far, but God clearly has a plan.  And on the incredibly bright side-hey, early retirement!  At least for awhile!  Woo-hoo!

It's Official...

San Francisco Phone Dump

San Francisco was definitely a needed break.  I get restless if I'm in the same place for too long, and Tyson and I haven't really taken a vacation together since our honeymoon.  And while sometimes it seemed that things didn't go as planned (or that nothing was going as planned)...poor food, a wasted ferry ride, and getting suckered into an expensive meal at a tourist trap...it was actually a great trip for us.

Especially when it included breakfast in Union Square every morning.  I wish every morning could start with a vanilla latte, delicious pastries, and just generally relaxing.  Also looking around Union Square and thinking..."Hmm...I think I shall go browse around Tiffany's today..."

Also, the Legion of Honor was AWESOME.  First of all, the building was awesome.  Second, they had an Impressionist exhibit going on, and I am ALL ABOUT the impressionists.

Third, they had their halls set up so you could get glimpses of art like this...

Fourth, Tyson is THINKING next to THE THINKER.  It was too perfect.  Tyson is cuter, though.

So overall we didn't have a fantastic experience with food...but we went to Boulevard which more than made up for everywhere else.  It was one of the best meals I have ever eaten ever.  I don't know what "marble potatoes" are but they were part of my meal, and I ate them, and then I died of happiness.  Over a potato.  The ambiance, the service, the food...everything was perfect.  I am SO glad we made time to go there, and the choice to make that our "date night".

We also took a trolley and RODE HANGING OFF THE SIDE OF THE TROLLEY.  Kay, so I know that real San Franciscoans don't actually ride the trolleys, much less hang off the sides of them, but it felt like quite the quintessentially San Franciscan thing to do.  I wish I could have gotten more photos but...hanging off the side of a trolley with your iPhone seems like a poor life choice.

And Ghirardelli Square.  Where we got chocolate.  And wine.  It was awesome.

This is us trying to get a photo with the Golden Gate bridge in the background.  If you squint you can see it.  I am horrible at getting photos of the two of us when we are out someplace cool, and then Christmas comes around and I have NOTHING for a Christmas card.  And it looks like we've done nothing all year.  It's pathetic.  And this photo is clearly not Christmas-card worthy.  I swear we do things people, I'm just too busy enjoying the things to stop and take photos of myself enjoying the thing I am doing.

But here are more photos of the bridge.  

And Alcatraz.  We didn't take the tour (I'd done it before), but it was still fun to look at.

There was also bread.  Lots of baskets of bread.  

Our other excellent meal was at our future sister-in-law's family's restaurant in Sausalito (that sounds more complicated than it is), which was an adventure.  Attempt #1: Buy tickets for ferry to Sausalito.  Wait much longer than normal for ferry, which is running late due to the plethora of bikers riding ferry.  Board ferry.  Ride ferry.  Step out into Sausalito.  Hair which was perfectly curled is now completely straight due to the strength of the blowing wind.  Have trouble walking straight because of the wind.  Literally walk down the gangplank of the ferry and get a phone call saying that the 70mph winds have blown a power line down, and the restaurant had to close.  Exasperated sigh.  Or several.  Turn around and board last ferry back to San Francisco.

Attempt #2: After a leisurely day, board ferry to Sausalito.  Step our into Sausalito, make it in plenty of time, with no wind and no problems.  Get treated like royalty at the restaurant.  Actually, scratch that, treated like you are a judge on Top Chef.  Get food you didn't even order brought out for you, over and over again.  I think becoming a judge on Top Chef is my new life's goal.  It was awesome.

Also...this is what happens when you try to take photos.  And it's windy.  Don't do it.  This is an even worse idea for a Christmas card photo.

First "Spring" Weekend

It finally became spring.  Just in time for our first venture to the Farmer's Market of the year.

It's an exciting day.

Mostly because of this.

The mecca of baked goods.  The one and only Hot & Spicy Cheese Bread.

I'm actually surprised that Tyson stood still long enough for this photo to be snapped, instead of digging in to the steaming, cheese-oozing goodness.

So damn good.

We also went to the zoo, where I got back in touch with my roots.

This is about how tall I am in real life (kidding).  

Also, these macaws are pretty cool.

Not pictured:

• Our friends Crystal and Daniel, who we went to the Farmer's Market/zoo with, and who stayed over Friday night.
• The Union terrace, where we hung out after the zoo for some ice cream.
• The in-laws, who stayed over last night (we were basically like a hotel this weekend...minus the whole charging-to-stay thing).
• Love Madison Sunday...the one day a year where church services are cancelled and we spend time out serving ("loving") on the community instead.
• A post-Love Madison grill-out with our Life Group that involved brats, beer, and not one, but two types of homemade guac.  Also, a cute baby.

I'm exhausted, and can't believe that tomorrow is already Monday again.  I love weekends like this where we're out seeing the city and there are so many fun things going on...but it sure makes it that much harder to transition back into the "real world" of the work week.