This guy!

That is Adrian, my sister's little guy. He is by far one of the funniest boys out there! This was 4th of July last summer and he was in a particularly good mood (i.e. not saying the camera hurt him).
I love summer, water, sun, boats, suntan lotion, swimming suits and the lakes of my hometown. This was one of those perfect days, where is lasted forever and just felt so dang good!

I do this Adrian all the time, usually when he won't kiss me- I plan on using them as blackmail at some point. Whenever I do something silly like this he says. "Oh Geeg..." Like he is so above my antics...

That is my dad...I can promise you, you will never find a happier looking picture of him, than on a boat. In all their albums, the best pictures usually involve him and water. This is a particularly good one cause you get him+boat+grandson = one happy grandpa!

Eat!

So, I didn't make this in bed but I did make it- with help from Bubba. We took it to Easter at a friend's house and everyone seemed to enjoy it! We had a great time and got to experience a very different Easter filled with 9 kids and 17 adults! Wowza! They are such a nice family and we are able to blend right in. Well Bubba is- I don't blend so well anymore...

Green Goddess Pasta Salad (Really Barefoot Contessa's Pasta, Pesto and Peas- but that's a boring name)

Barilla Campanelli Pasta (1 box)
1/4 c olive oil
1 1/2 c pesto
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach (defrosted and squeezed dry)
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 1 /4 c mayo
1/2 c fresh grated parm
1 1/2 c frozen peas (defrosted)
1/3 c pine nuts

salt, black pepper, and garlic salt to taste

Cook pasta till al dente, drain and toss with the olive oil. Let cool.
In a food processor puree pesto, spinach, lemon juice and mayo. Add to cooled pasta along with the parm, peas, pinenuts and seasonings. Toss to coat.

*I'm not big into measuring but I'm pretty sure I do more parm and pine nuts - I also toss it with more olive oil and lemon juice at the end- if making it ahead of time.... Enjoy!

32 weeks +

It's a cold and dreary day here today- so different from 60's and sunshine! Seeing as my adorable kitty, Clarabelle has moods that change like the weather it only seemed appropriate that I feature her today! ;)

Well we're 32 weeks and my LAST ffn came back negative!!! So here's to making it to 34 weeks and beyond! I'm so happy and just can't believe that my worries are now shifting to actually birthing and raising two gentlemen- when for so long I was just concerned with holding them in there! I have my LAST cervical check on Monday and if all is well- I believe I will be free! Scary!

A year ago...

{Mabelle and Annabelle}

The little one on the right joined our family....and is now 3 times the size of the one on the left! Not to mention 300 times the trouble!

The 500+ bulbs that Bubba and I planted on a cold and rainy Fall day made their appearance- thank the Lord!

These little bunnies were discovered nesting among some forsythia in the backyard. The way they were discovered involved Mabelle digging and pulling one out (ultimately killing it). It was a horrible day as I bundled the bunny up and drove as fast as I could to the Humane Society. They were closed so I did what any crazy, bawling woman would do- I banged on the doors like crazy, only to have them tell me it was dead.
But...because that happened we were able to save the other 6 by taking them to the Wildlife Sanctuary where they wouldn't be disturbed. There really isn't anything sweeter than pulling bunnies out, all soft and warm, only to find more hiding underneath.

This year, as Spring fever settles in we are awaiting the biggest change to our lives yet- our two babies! They have become extremely active lately, making their presence known 24/7. Bubs and I will often just sit and watch my belly go crazy and talk about how surreal it will be when they are "outside" babies.
Update: My cervix has stayed stable even with the increase in activity and both of the boys look great!

Nesting? Nesting?

{Harrison Michael}

{Oliver William}

These were from 24 weeks, ever since then they have been too crammed in there to get any great pictures. I look at these all the time- I taped them up on the wall next to the couch. I can't believe those are my babies. I can tell the have their daddies nose and not my polish shnoz- thank goodness! We talk all the time about what they will look like and I just can't believe how close we're getting to finding out!

I have now re-entered the nesting phase. The house has gotten a little out of control since I've been on bedrest and the fact that it is shedding season and track mud all through the house time has not helped the situation. I want nothing more than to take the day and deep clean this pig sty!

Alas...I am being good and picking one task to do each day and nothing to strenuous. Brian has been a huge help and has been really understanding about my OCD tendencies! Although I like to save his energy to get him to make me kettle corn- he's a kettle corn making genius! mmmmm soo good! On my next outting I'm going to get him a popcorn pot with a stirrer, because he never mentions anything he wants but made a subtle comment that he thought he could make even better kettle corn with "one of those pots that has a turner thing."

The dreams I'm having have reached an all time crazy! All from last night- found my mom's sewing machine on the side of the road but couldn't pick it up because it was more than my weight limit, got a new puppy, moved to Portland and LOVED it, had amazing sex with Bradley Cooper... and killed some more snakes (this one has become a regular).

Yup all in the life of moi...it's oh so glamorous!

The Rollercoaster

(The sunset over the Bay, a view we hope to have again)

I'm sure all pregnancies are an emotional rollercoaster. I guess I wasn't prepared for it.
Just finding out you're pregnant is life changing...for us we were shocked and so excited that it happened!
Then we went for out first appointment at 7 weeks and found out it was twins. Holy Cow!
I, of course got every book I could find at the library and started reading. Many nights were spent crying and bundled up with anxiety and fear of vanishing twin. Then of course I started spotting. One day the spotting was so bad I though for sure something had gone horribly wrong.
Then we passed the monumental 12 week mark- ah relief- until I read that the rate of miscarriage is higher in twins and doesn't really go down until after 20 weeks. At 16 weeks we were told with 80% accuracy that we had a boy and a girl! Perfect! I of course went on a shopping spree and got the cutest things!
18 weeks- it's actually 2 boys! At first I was little heartbroken, what happened to my baby girl? Then I quickly got over it and decided to move on. That was until I went to return all the little dresses, headbands, shoes and most noteably the pink bird sheets that I loved! The Target return lady was mean to me and once I got to the car I just started bawling. Over the next couple of days I started to realize all the benefits of having two boys and now I can't imagine it any other way.
Ok, so 20 weeks now- whoa! I must say week 20-23 was great! I was pretty worry free, uncomfortable but happy!
Then week 23 happened and we all know the story...
Now at 30 weeks, and another negative ffn under my belt, I'm starting to feel really good! I might get to have the natural birth I really wanted and I may not have preemies. Heck- I might even be succesful at breastfeeding- because really at this point I'm pretty damn determined! ;)

Thank you all for taking the ride with me, hopefully things will just coast from now on.

With all the great news about restrictions being lifted, I treated myself to a lovely prenatal massage. Ooohhhh it was so good! The best part was the table- it had a nice removal "donught" to cradle your belly. It felt amazing to lay that way and take all the pressure off. The masseuse also did this cool thing where she monitored the boys heartrate at the nape of my neck. She said she had never done it with twins but she got them loud an clear. She predicts I will have two very healthy boys at 36 weeks. Sounds good!

Then yesterday, in the glorious weather, I went to what will be my new workplace- Buds n Bloom. It was so nice and they had an amazing selection of gorgeous spring flowers! Then I was off to have maternity pictures done by my uber talented friend, Aubrey.
It felt so good to be enjoying my pregnancy. She made me feel so pretty and special and of course we goofed off a lot and I may or may not have flashed the lovely customers from the natural foods store... I may be prego but the sass is not gone!

Check out her blog to see the pictures....