Baby Belly - 36 Weeks

Whew, we've made it to 36 weeks and are exactly one week away from meeting these little ladies...unless they decide to arrive before their scheduled c-section = )  So excited for Sept 29th!!  

Avery is so excited to be a big sister!  On the other hand...she is not excited to share her blog with these two adorable little sisters.  Sooo...we're moving....to a new Steele Family blog instead.  Email me if you would like access to the new blog = )  I will wrap up Avery's blog this week and FINALLY begin turning it into a blog book for her to have down the road!

Count down to meeting Ashlynn Reese & Kinsey Ryan!!!

I Got My New Shades On!

Avery LOVES her new 'eyes' (as she calls sunglasses).  $5 at Walgreens...who knew!

So Much To Talk About!

First...its football time!  Daddy & Avery sported their SD Chargers t-shirts this weekend and it was absolutely adorable.  For some reason Avery's word for Chargers is 'Dar-Dar' = )

When you're as big as I am its hard to sneak up on your toddler in her princess tent to catch a picture of the cuteness overload.  As I attempted to kneel down with camera in hand she bolted out and tried to steal my camera = )

This is what you get when you sneak up a bit later and just put the camera in the tent and hope you catch a picture of the girl.  I promise my pictures will get better once I can actually move freely again ; )

And on to the BIG news!  Looks like we'll be scheduling a c-section at our next Dr visit.  Miss Ashlynn is determined to stay breech and at this point there is no longer room for her to make a major 180 move.  So...next Monday we should officially know when these ladies will be making their big debut unless my body decided on earlier.

And even BIGGER news...ok, not really but now we're talking baby size = )  Ashlynn weighed in this week at 5 lbs 3 oz and Kinsey at 5 lbs 5 oz.  Yes, I am carrying more than 10 lbs of baby right now...and yes, that is right on track for a singleton pregnancy.  The ultrasound tech said these girls obviously don't know they're twins and should be a bit smaller!

Happy Birthday Uncle Mikey!

Avery wants to wish Uncle Mikey a Hap-hap-happy Birthday = )

Can't wait to see you again soooo soon!

Baby Belly - 34 Weeks

And there you have it...my belly enters a room before I do = )  The sweet people that ask 'When are you due' now follow it up with a look of...are you about to go into labor in the store?!  The little girls are doing fantastic and we will have a new Growth update next Tuesday!!  I absolutely can't wait to see how much they weigh now.  So far they have scored perfect scores at all of their BPP Ultrasounds and are right on track for a healthy arrival.  The nursery is ready for them and our checklist this weekend includes putting the carseats in my car - one of the last To-do's until they arrive = )

We've Made It To...

34 WEEKS!!

Just had to make sure everyone was aware = )  I might even consider taking another belly picture to show off just how ridiculous things are starting to get here!

33 Weeks - Getting Closer

And since Canon has not yet developed a camera that has a wide enough setting to capture my belly...

You get pretty pictures of Avery instead ; )

Mouth full of snacks while playing in the backyard still in her pajamas...that's a nice start to Labor Day!

Sneak Peek - Twin Nursery

Avery did not take to her toddler bed as quickly as we had hoped so the second crib is still in Avery's room.  Our game plan is to have the girls share a crib until they can roll over on their own so we definitely still have some time before we officially have to make the transition.  The nursery is almost ready...now we just need these girls to grow and develop a bit more so that we can introduce them to their super cute room = )

A Weekend With Uncle Mikey

Avery is quite fond of her Uncle Mikey!

Per usual, Michael landed and I immediately put him to work.  He watched Avery while Travis and I went to our Saturday Dr. Appt = )  Avery introduced him to every single one of her stuffed animals and then taught him how to download toddler apps on his iPhone!

We had a fantastic weekend full of giggles, fun, and tons of delicious New Mexican food!  Not sure how I turned out so bland and Michael can drown everything in green chile = )

We miss you Uncle Mikey!  Can't wait for your next visit - to be determined next month as soon as Ashlynn & Kinsey decide its time to make their big debut!!

Missy Comes To Town!!

We had a fabulous time with Auntie Missy last weekend!  It was also Bri Bri's 30th birthday weekend so we got in a spa day with an amazing group of ladies and followed it up with a tea time at St. James Tea Room!  Lets just say St. James never disappoints!

The theme was Tea With Mr. Darcy - a tribute to Jane Austen!!  I heart Jane so!

I seriously hope I have an excuse to go to tea one more time before the little ladies arrive!

Speaking of little ladies...I have been a bit concerned that Miss Avery might not be my child given her dislike of fruit until recently ; )  Now she'll dig into almost anything!  Strawberries are a new favorite, thank goodness!  Red grapes, fuji apples...the list continues to grow = )

Avery's been getting some serious quality time with Grammy & Grampa now that they have moved to ABQ!  She can't wait for 'Mammy' or 'Papa' to take the first babysitting shift while Mommy works = )

Up next...pictures of our newly painted twin nursery and Uncle Mikey comes to visit!!!

Baby Belly - 31 Weeks

Welcome to Avery's Art Class!

Mommy provides quite a large canvas!

I think both Ashlynn & Kinsey find this to be a masterpiece = )

Our little artist wants more paint...

31 Weeks and I look like I'm due any day now = )

I think Avery thoroughly enjoyed this art project...and also enjoyed getting hosed down in the backyard with Mommy = )

Avery is available for hire if you are in the market for some fabulous body art!

Pop Quiz Dr. M Patyrak

What do you see?

Since its getting cramped in there and we no longer get good profile or face shots...I went ahead and asked the ultrasound tech to at least throw in a good picture so that my older brother could nerd it out for us ; )  She got excited that Michael is a Radiologist and said that in just a couple weeks she'd try to stump him once we're even more developed!

We had a fantastic visit and got to watch just how much these little girls like to wiggle in my belly.  For the first time in 4 visits, they have finally moved.  Unfortunately not into position...but at least they aren't both transverse.  Hopefully one day soon they will realize just how comfortable it is to be head down = )

A few important details from the ultrasound:

Kinsey now weighs in at a whopping 3 lbs 12 oz.  Yes - that is big for a single baby at 31 weeks!

Ashlynn not to be out done weighs in at 3 lbs 10 oz!

Kinsey gave us a preview of her chubby cheeks = )

Ashlynn showed off how much hair she is already rocking!

Our visits kick into high gear starting next week.  We now have to get an ultrasound done TWICE a week!  Given how low-risk this high-risk pregnancy has been so far I find that to be a bit excessive (knock on wood).  These will be quick visits just to check breathing, heartbeats and such...but still...that's a lot of lunch breaks spent at the hospital.

Okay, enough about pregnancy - off to put some clean sheets on the guest bed b/c Auntie Missy arrives tomorrow!!!

Pajama Time!

Pajama Time is one of Avery's favorite getting ready for bed books = )  She manages to cuddle right into daddy's lap and 'read' the book with him.  I'm pretty sure she has this one memorized.

Doing My Research

With my first pregnancy I did my due diligence to determine where the best pancakes in Albuquerque were.  This time around I don't really have any specific food cravings but I'm back at it again...this time researching the best sparkling water!  With the help of my trusty friend Real Simple - I have done my damage at Whole Foods and returned with quite the supply for sampling = )  So far things are looking quite tasty!

We had quite the busy weekend!  More work on the twin's nursery (compliments of Grammy & Grampa's hard work), a 1st birthday party for our little friend Trevor, and a Going Away Party for our friends Siera, Jason and their little ones Jayden & Cassidy.  Avery had non-stop fun this weekend = )

And the picture above is to show off Avery's new addiction to Daddy's cell phone.  Avery loves to listen to music on Daddy's phone while scrolling through all of his picture gallery.  She's so savvy!

Twin Pregnancy Update!

We had our first of our 'every two weeks' appointments today with Dr. Teicher and all we got today was fantastic news!  The girls are doing amazing in there...my glucose test results came back super low (yay)...anemia test results were phenomenal (double yay)...right on track with blood pressure and (eeek) weight gain.  And he said he has patients whose breech babies can get into position all the way up until 36 weeks - so there's still a chance!!  We are approaching the 30 week mark so its time to amp up the protein intake and apparently start taking it easy.  Things progressively keep getting more uncomfortable and even a trip to the grocery store is an exhausting outing = )

That said - its now 8:13 and I am off to wash my face, brush my teeth, and go to bed!

My Little ABQ Bubble

Things are getting dangerous for my waistline around here!  Now...within one mile of my house...we have Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, Menchies (fro yo), Flying Star, Nestle Tollhouse, Cold Stone - and those are just the sweet treats!!  In case you can't tell from the picture above, Avery may have enjoyed a little of Mommy and Daddy's DQ this evening.

And I'm not sure if it was from the sugar rush but we then had to read 20 books before bedtime.  It was a book marathon at our house!

Who Loves Bath Time?

Avery loves bath time!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

My amazing friends Melissa & John tied the knot!!  Auntie Missy is coming to visit this month and I absolutely can't wait to celebrate.  I may have missed the ceremony but there's still a fabulous reception to come in the future = )  Can't wait to celebrate my favorite Dole Newlyweds!

Baby Belly - 28 Weeks

And we just keep expanding!  Today I had my glucose testing and the girls went CRAZY!  They love their sugar = )

My belly makes for a fantastic toddler seat...

And the fee to sit on top of my belly...KISSES!

Finding A Little Shade

This is one of Avery's favorite spots...she loves spending as much time as possible in the backyard!

Usually Remi is standing guard at the side gate but today Avery decided to take a shift = )

And who knew you could stick velcro to rock?!

Such a creative little girl!

Its Almost August!

How did that happen?!

Since I forgot to take a belly picture I figured I should at least include a picture of Avery with her first balloon.  So much fun but we spent the car ride convinced that she was going to pop it in the back seat and be traumatized = )

Ashlynn & Kinsey Update!!

We had an ultrasound last week and the little ladies are more than just perfect...they are thriving!  Kinsey now weighs in at 2 lbs 3 oz and Ashlynn at 2 lbs 1 oz.  They are both on the big side of 27 weekers!  One fun fact - they have been breech for the last 3 ultrasounds = (  There's still time but lets just say I am already mentally preparing for a possible c-section since there isn't a ton of room in there anymore for big readjustments.  As my Mom put it...it sounds like they're pretty comfortable where they are.

Its Rainier Cherry Season

And all of a sudden I have to share my cherries with this little one!

Isn't she the yummiest!

Baby Belly - 26 Weeks

Whew...26 weeks sure feels more like 36 weeks if I remember correctly from Avery!  We get to take another peek at Ashlynn and Kinsey this week - always something to look forward to = )  And just in case you're looking at this picture and for some sick reason thinking that doesn't look too bad...

Boom!  Check out my sweet new maternity belt I get to rock under my clothes now = )  I'm sure its a combination of carrying twins (super low) and carting around a toddler, but by 4pm my lower back was killing me from all the weight and pressure.  At my last Dr appt I mentioned this and they immediately sent me to a medical support store since the pain was only going to get worse as the twins grow.  This belt is my life saver!  It brings immediate relief to my poor lower back.

And to show off just how uncomfortable things are starting to get in here - I broke down and bought some speed laces since bending over to tie my shoes was no longer a simple task. They should promote these for both triathletes and pregnant women = )