Babies First Photoshoot

We had some photos taken by a friend of ours, Lisa Lancaster. I absolutely love all of them. We went to the Sculpture park in Seattle and it was a beautiful day. I had so much fun shopping for and making all of these fun and cute props for our photos. Richie of course thought I was crazy and didn't enjoy spending his Saturday afternoon taking pictures but he loves the end product. Lisa took so many and these were our favorites that we chose and she edited. I put some of these photos into a Valentine card...I can't wait to send it out. :) 

This is one of my favorites...it didn't work well for the card so I can't wait to make it my profile pic after the seahawks win the super bowl. 

Happy Valentines day! 

And GO Seahawks of course. :)

12 weeks

This last week was an exciting week for us. We got our test results back and found out everything was negative which is great. We also found out that at least one baby is a boy. :) Yay, Richie is very excited. We posted this pic on Facebook to announce we are pregnant.

I also told my closest friends. We went to Purple and had dinner and I shared the news. Mindy is pregnant with twins and Mandy is pregnant so there was a lot of baby talk. They were very excited. We are also sharing the news with my grandma and grandpa and aunt today. And I told my co-workers. I will still need to share the news with my classroom families, we have conferences this coming week so I will wait until after that. 

NT ultrasound

January 20th 2014

We had our NT (Nuchal Transluancy Screening) ultrasound today. This scan screens for Down syndrome (trisomy 21, meaning an extra copy of chromosome 21) and other disorders that are caused by extra copies of chromosomes (trisomy 13, trisomy 18), as well as congenital heart defects.

Fetuses who have an extra chromosome may have more fluid at the base of their necks — a spot known as the nuchal fold — and this can make their necks larger. This fluid can be measured on a sonogram during weeks 11 to 14 when the base of the neck is still transparent. Timing is crucial, because the nuchal fold becomes less transparent as your baby grows. We were so happy to find out that we have no risk. :) Feew!

Aren't they so cute!  :)

This was a fun ultrasound because the technician knew so much and showed us all different parts of the babies...the top of the head, tummy, knees, hands etc. -amazing.  The machine is very high tech so the details is great. The size, heartbea,t and everything was great. Next we hope that our blood work results come back good. 

Meeting the Doctor

January 13, 2014...10 weeks 4 days

Today we met with our new Dr. and aside from being there for 3 hours we really liked her. The best part was that our ultrasound was great. Babies A and B are growing so much bigger, they have arms and legs and were moving all over the place. It's amazing how much is changing and developing right now and it's so incredible to see these little humans moving around in your body. The Dr. was candid about it and made it feel so special and real. :) I gave blood today for all of the genetic testing and go in next week for another test. We are anxious about this and are just hopeful they are healthy. Once we get these results back we will tell our friends about the news. The Dr. told me that I need to start gaining weight...and it's going to be a little hard. I'm going to sign up for a class about nutrition and multiples...that should help and be fun, especially to meet others.

Since our last appointment two and a half weeks ago there have been so many things I've been thinking about and doing (even though I'm still trying not to get too excited)...

* I've been catching up on my reading.

I downloaded a baby center app, I can't seem to find a good twin one so that's been working okay.

I ordered a prenatal yoga video, have been reading my "What to Expect When Expecting" book and ordered a book about multiples. So much information....I"m trying not to get overwhelmed with it but just keeping up with nutrition, where I'm at in the point of my pregnancy, and how the babies are growing.

* I've been thinking about how to tell my family, close friends, the world (Facebook) and my co-workers.There are so many fun ideas and of course I have pinned a million of them. My moms birthday is right around our 12 week mark so I think I will share the news with them then. I will have mom bake a cake and decorate it saying that we are having twins I'll share pictures of course in another post. I would love to have my close friends over for dinner and do everything in doubles. Maybe tacos....two kinds of meat, cheeses, chips, onions etc. then share the news. The part that I'm most excited about is having a few pictures taken. I'm going to ask a friend who is an amazing photographer to take a few for us to post on Facebook. I think I will do a Valentine theme. I want to do the hands in heart shape around the belly, one with onsies, and a feet picture (of course so I can wear my pink Christian Louboutins :)). I think I will put these pics into a Valentine card and send it out to our friends and families. (I know that Richie will love this idea the most :)...I will have to think of a creative way to get him excited about it.  Here is my inspiration...
I love the booties and will definitely have to find me some of those....the heart on belly....adorable except I will definitely have a shirt on :)....and love the brick and red heart onsies.

Talked with work about my leave options. So weird to think I will pack up my classroom in June and not go back....kind of sad....but don't get me wrong SO exciting.

We are getting our loan put into place so we can get our house finished by the time the babies come. We are on the fast track now... I can't imagine giving birth and moving in the same month but a new house and new babies sound just amazing to me.

I've been looking at a few products. Ya know double strollers, cribs, belly bands...oh the things I need to start learning about....there are so many of them.

And I bought the cutest journal to keep my everything baby in.... questions, weight, pregnancy moments, and anything else I can think of until the babies come then it will be all baby...feeding times, nap times etc.
This cover couldn't be any more perfect...right?!  SO crazy good. :) And I love my husband dearly for making it all happen.

8 weeks!

We had our second ultrasound today (December 27th) and things are going great... babies are growing, heartbeats are still strong, and things couldn't look better. 

The most exciting news that we got today was that we graduate from the fertility clinic....I'm not actually sure if I'm happy or sad about that. :) Well that's not true... I'm definitely happy about that as long as things continue to go well and I don't have to go back there anytime soon. Now our next step is to pick a Doctor. After I got home from our appointment I spent the afternoon researching clinics and doctors and made an appointment. We are all set for January 13th. Yikes....two and a half weeks away. That feels like a long time. This will be a big appointment....we meet a new Dr. and will have genetic testing done. We might even decide to test for the genders (depending on cost of course....we hear this new blood test is pricey....but how fun would that be?!).  

Two days after my last appointment I talked with my best friend and found out she is having twins as well. What?! Isn't that crazy...I just can't believe it. We are so excited. 

We also gave our parents the best Christmas gift ever. Richies family was staying with us for Christmas and so I invited my parents over for breakfast on Christmas eve. I put the ultrasound pics inside a frame and wrapped them up and gave it to them as gifts to open. They were very excited. My parents new I had had the procedure so had been wondering but not Richies parents....and then of course to see there was two babies....that's a whole other surprise. 

We are Pregnant! With Twins! :)

Today (December 17th)  is the most exciting day ever!  

We are pregnant with twins! 

Oh my goodness....we really can't believe it and couldn't me more excited. We found out on November 29th that we were pregnant, and today was our first ultrasound at 6 weeks 5 days. Both baby A and B are the perfect size and have overachieving heartbeats. Oh gosh....that's about all I can think to say. :) We are still very cautious because we know 6 weeks is still very early in the pregnancy and we have a ways to go....hope these days go fast. 

Our next appointment is December 27th. 

Big Day

I'm so excited that today is finally here. 

I've been writing baby/pregnancy posts for the last 2 months or so and now I'm finally past 12 weeks and get to post them. YAY! Mostly excited that I'm pregnant, and now in my second trimester, and having twins though. :) So here goes....

Getting organized in 2014

Well it's the new year and I have a few projects to share...

In December I was writing on my calendar and realized there were weren't any more months left:) yikes...and that I had to get a new calendar. I was immediately not excited about this. I always have a hard time finding a calendar I like. It's either too big, too office like or with dorky colors. So then I had a great idea....why not look on Pinterest and sure enough I found the cutest one that I could download and print for free. Perfect and so easy...I didn't even have to leave the house and go to the store. 

Each month has a different dot color. I punched holes in it and used twine to hang it on the wall. 

You can find it here on Pinterest. 

This next project I've wanted to make for a long time. Another Pinterest project. One thing that I have a hard time with is remembering family members birthdays and when I saw this project on Pinterest I thought it was a great idea. I thought it would also be a great Christmas gift idea for my brother and his wife. So I went to order it from Etsy and it was a little spendy... but then I found that I could order the pieces and paint and put it together myself for a more reasonable price. So that's what I did. I chose these colors below for mine and chose more neutral colors for my brother's....brown, tan, cream, gold. They both turned out really nice.  Now I have no excuse to not remember birthdays. 

Lastly I made a weekly menu board. Another project I've been wanting to do for a while now and yes of course another Pinterest idea. Richie says all the time that Pinterest is costing him all kinds of money and he should write a letter to the person who started it. :) Funny and yes maybe a little true but hey....I think these projects better his life. I found this prefect size cork framed board at the craft store, had the paper, die cut the glitter letters and bought a chalkboard paper. I painted the fame and glued the paper to the cork. Then I cut the chalkboard paper. I punched holes and put silver brads in the holes which I think turned out nice. 

Every Sunday I decide my meals for the week and I usually just write it on the grocery list, then I forget to keep my list or throw it away and forget what I'm going to make so I knew this would come in very handy. Oh and instead of always having to tell Richie what we are having he can just look on the board now. :)

P.S. Do you notice that I like turquoise right now. Such a fun color. 

bridesmaids tea party

When I was planning my wedding one of the things I was most excited to do was to host a party for my bridesmaids. I decided to do a tea. I ordered invitations. rented chairs and used my china that my great grandmother had given me. Ever since I was a little girl my great grandmother had always given me a tea cup for birthdays or Christmas. I have quite the collection. When I was younger I always thought....what am I going to do with these....little did I know they would be such a special gift as I got older. 

At each persons seat I put a cupcake with their name in it for their place seating. For the names, I took a piece of tag paper, rolled the ends, dipped the sides in glue and then in silver glitter. I sent the cupcakes home with my guests in a clear bag. 

My girlfriend Amy had previously thrown a tea party shower for me and she made these creative tea towers that I was so happy to reuse for my flowers, I also used old tea tins. I love the soft pink and white colors. 

With the drinks I put some appetizers, and fruit. I also baked biscuits, and scones and made homemade jams. 

On the far table I put desserts. I bought some petite fours, my mom baked mini cherry chip cupcakes (love these), and wedding dress sugar cookies. 

Here is a picture of all of the tea sandwich. I made 6 different kinds. It was probably more than I should have done but they were all wonderful. I was running behind and thankfully my family came early and were a huge help and we got them done just in time. 

I should have taken more close up pictures :) The food was delicious and the table setting turned out more beautiful than I could have imagined.

My bridesmaids Amy and Gena having some champagne. 

My Matron on Honor. 

She had given birth to my god daughter about a week before this. She is a great fiends for taking a few minutes away from her new little one to come to this tea for me. Love her. After the tea I gave the girls their gifts from me (the pink bags behind me), and they picked up their dresses as well. I gave each bridesmaid a Swarovski bracelet (a simple gold chain with a single round colored raspberry crystal), a clutch I had made from Etsy, an embroidered pink tank, a handkerchief with their monogrammed initials, and flip flops. And so now I have to share a few wedding photos of course. :)

The girls in their tanks. :) I love to see this photo again two years later...since this photo from right to left Shannon now has a little boy, Mindy is pregnant with twins, Amy has a little boy, Gena had Elyana, Jackie is married, and Mandy is married and expecting a little boy this spring. Oh such fun times in our lives. 

The clutch. 

The handkerchief. And you can barely see the bracelet. 

What a fun day. I appreciate each and every one of these girls more than they know. It was so fun for me to put on a tea for them to show them how much I love them and how happy I was that they could be there for me on my special day. I know how much work and money it is to be in a wedding and I was very grateful that they could be there. :)