ALMOST 37 weeks! :)

37-ish Week Poll

How far along? 36 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: 58 lbs
Maternity clothes? Of course :) But I haven't bought any in a while! I am starting to grow out of the ones I have but hopefully I won't need them for much longer!

Stretch marks? Whatever. I guess I should just accept it. I was using some lotions that do really help with the itching/burning, but the stretch marks still came! I am sure they will lighten up after labor. If not, there is always Celtrixa!

Sleep: My sleep has been getting worse and worse! I wake up to go to the bathroom 4-5 times a night most nights. My back hurts so I am rolling all around and that wakes me up, too. It takes a nap or two to get me through the day.
Best moment this week: Clothes shopping with Brian. He was picking out the cutest newborn outfits! We got A LOT of clothes at our baby showers, but we ended up with barely any newborn outfits. So we picked some up yesterday.

Movement: I can still feel the babies move a lot. I don't feel a lot of kicks, but I feel the babies rolling around and making a lot of big moves. They have stayed head down for a few months, but they are still always twisted in different positions when we go in for ultrasounds.
Food cravings: Still just chocolate.
Gender: One boy and one girl!
Labor Signs: I wish! I am having some cramping and pain when I move around a lot. So I have just been resting most of the day.
Belly Button in or out? Out and it pokes through my clothes.

What I miss: Sleeping all night long!
What I am looking forward to: Meeting the babies
Weekly Wisdom: Don't drink water before bed.

Milestones: Checking some things off the to do list.

We have an appointment tomorrow morning and the babies will be measured, YAY! I cannot wait to find out how much they weigh. Last month Emma was estimated at 4lbs, 9 oz. and Brett was estimated at 3 lbs, 13 oz. So tomorrow we will see just how big these watermelons are!!!

FAQ's

Soooo I just left Publix and after about 30 minutes of shopping I had probably been stopped at least 5 times and asked the routine of questions I get over and over in a typical day. Usually I play along and answer nicely, but sometimes I want to mess with people. It isn't their fault that I am sick of the interrogations, but some people have no issue with invading another person's privacy. Here is a run-down of my repeated conversations:

Frequently Asked Questions:

About pregnancy:

Wow, when are you due? A couple of weeks.

Is there more than one in there? Yes, I am having twins.

Are you going to have a c-section? Not unless I need one. Which currently I don't.

About twins:

Do they run in your family? Yes, actually they do!

Oh so you didn't do fertility treatments? Blank stare.

Are you having boys or girls? One boy and one girl

Are they identical? No, actually a boy and a girl cannot be "identical." (This really should be a blank stare, but I feel the need to educate people on this!)

Everything else:

Are you going to breastfeed? I plan on it.

How? Another blank stare.

So, that was my night at Publix! I went grocery shopping and bought some foods to make freezer meals. I am starting with chili. It is a favorite of Brian's all year round. It will be the middle of summer and he will ask me to make chili! I can't really blame him because it is so yummy!!! I will post the recipe and a picture when it is all finished :)

While at Publix I started to have trouble walking. I felt like I was going to pee my pants! (TMI?) So I tried to hurry along and went home. When I got home I went into the bathroom before even unloading my groceries. Apparently I didn't really need to go to the bathroom at all. So I stood back up and went to get the groceries and I was STILL feeling it! I put away the groceries and took the dogs outside. Rocco is in potty training, round 2, so I have to keep him on a leash and "walk" him in the yard. It was so tough, I still felt like I was going to pee my pants! So now I am laying on my couch and this is where I intend to stay for the rest of the night. I am not sure what is going on. I know that Brett's head is right on my cervix, he is very low. And Emma is right near him. Hopefully this uncomfortableness passes soon, or else I am going to be waddling around like a penguin with an overactive bladder! Which, by the way, is probably what I looked like at Publix!

The hospital bag!

36 weeks today, YAY! Brian and I are so excited :)

I wanted to have the hospital bag packed by today, but that didn't happen! By the weekend it will definitely be done. The first step was getting a bag. How crazy is it that I do not own one duffel bag! I have a couple of smaller overnight bags and some suitcase luggage, but nothing mid-sized. So obviously getting a cute bag for the hospital was the first step! For my birthday I got a very cute Vera Bradley tote bag from our good friends Adam and Marissa. So I decided to order the matching duffel from Amazon.com. I really love the pattern, it is Buttercup. It should be arriving any day now, and will be filled up with everything we will need in the hospital.

So, what exactly will we need?? That is a great question! After asking around and finding some lists on other blogs and websites, I was able to figure out everything I think we will need.

The List:

• Insurance Card
• Nursing bra and tank
• Nursing pads
• Chap Stick
• toiletry bag (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, hair brush,toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, deodorant, face lotion, body lotion, contact solution and case)
• glasses
• flip flops
• baby's grooming kit
• glasses
• hair ties, headband, and bobby pins
• snacks for Brian!
• cell phone and charger, headphones
• digital camera
• flip video camera
• laptop and charger
• books/magazines
• boppy
• receiving blankets

• outfit to wear home
• coming home outift for babies one newborn and one 0-3 month for each
• car seats installed in car

So for now I am piling everything up in the nursery so that I can fill my new duffel as soon as it arrives! If I forgot anything, please let me know :)

Once the bag is packed, our to-do list will be almost complete! Here is what we have left:

• Change blinds in the nursery to white
• Hang two shelves in nursery
• Hang picture frames in nursery
• Pick out coming home outfits in newborn and 0-3 months
• Install car seats and get them checked at the fire dept
• Trash can for nursery

This week I ordered a cute side table to go next to the glider and a window seat cushion for the bay window. The table is from homedecorators.com, my new addiction! I also ordered the nursery rug from here and LOVE it!

This is the side table, I think the shape of it goes really well with the Dr. Seuss theme!

And here is the faux sheepskin rug, which I ordered in 8 foot round, not rectangle like it is pictured. It is sooooo soft! Brian and I laid down on it and did not want to get up, it was so comfy!

I really need to get some pictures of the nursery on here! Now that we finally have all of the clothes put away and things organized, I can take some good ones. So be on the lookout for that :)

So...we are ALMOST done. It is so hard to believe!!

But, that is enough about that! How in the heck are the BABIES doing?!

"It’s the calm before the storm. Changes in your baby's weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 6.3 lbs and 19 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born."

And these babies aren't honeydews anymore! Now that I am 9 months pregnant, they are a little bit bigger...

So that is everything for now!! Next week the babies will be measured again and we will know their estimated weights!

35 weeks!!

Hello!! The end is near :) Just a few more weeks to go! YAY! It is so hard to believe.

I found this picture online and thought it was hilarious! And it sums up how I feel, haha!

So I am officially past the 35 week mark! My doctor said I would deliver between 35-38 weeks. So anytime now, babies! I know they are enjoying their current home but I think it is getting to be time to move on out :)

Here is some info on how the babies are progressing:

The countdown continues… and in fetal developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut into the world. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are structurally ready for a secure launch. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). And in genital development: if you’re having a girl, her labia are now fully developed. Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?

35 Week Poll

How far along? 35 weeks, 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: 55 lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes, and I have a lot of them!

Stretch marks? ugghhhhhhh

Sleep: Sleep has been interrupted by waking up to go to the bathroom about every 2 hours. Luckily I can usually sleep in as late as I want, but getting a straight 6-8 hours has not happened in a while. And I have a feeling it will be a very long time!!
Best moment this week: KNowing that the babies will be here very soon!

Movement: Yes! Emma is moving like crazy this morning and it is actually pretty painful. A lot of rolling and tumbling going on and I worry she may be turning or flipping.
Food cravings: Chocolate!! The only craving I have had all pregnancy but it is getting pretty intense.
Gender: One boy and one girl!
Labor Signs: Nope.
Belly Button in or out? Out and it pokes through my clothes.

What I miss: A lot of things!
What I am looking forward to: Meeting the babies
Weekly Wisdom: Get lots of sleep.

Milestones: I made it to 35 weeks!! My doctors said that the babies can be born anytime now :)

That is all the news for now!

Goodbye 2010!!

This was such a great year :) Brian and I have a lot to be thankful for. So many exciting things happened.

2010 in Review:

In January we...decided to start our family!!! I slowly went off of my RA medications so that I could become pregnant. Brian ran the Disney Marathon!!

Race Morning Before: Approx: 3AM Race Morning After: Approx. 10AM

In February we...celebrated our 2nd Valentine's Day as a married couple :) We went to a charity dinner hosted by Shelton Quarles and were waited on by Bucs players. It was so much fun!

One of our waiters...Mark Royals!

In March we...were able to start trying for a baby!! All of my medications were out of my system and we got the all clear from my gynecologist and rheumatologist.

In April we...added a new addition to our family! I went to NYC for a weekend and came home with Rocco!! Brian was not too happy at first but it didn't take long for Rocco to win his heart :)

I sent Brian this picture and said "Can I keep him??"

Brian said "NO!"

And although he was a little mad at first...

he loves Rocco more than ever now!

In May we...celebrated Brian's 27th birthday. For his birthday he got a kayak! We also found out we were pregnant!!! It was on May 31st that we saw the positive pregnancy test :) No Memorial Day drinks for me!

Brian taking his kayak on it's maiden voyage from our dock, and Rusty jumped in the mud to try and follow him!

In June we...went to doctor at 7 weeks to confirm pregnancy. A quick ultrasound showed TWINS!!! We also went to Hawaii for a week with Brian's family! I had some morning sickness and Brian got the Norwalk Virus but we still had a good time.

Twins!

Boksen family photo in Hawaii

In July we...enjoyed the summertime. We watched the 4th of July fireworks from Brian's parents condominium in downtown St. Petersburg. We went to lots of Rays games and BBQs with our friends and families.

In August we...had an awful flare-up with my RA! My hips were inflamed and I was not able to walk. I was out of work for about a month and Brian took great care of me!

In September we...found out the genders of our babies! We had a party with our families to tell everyone the good news. It's a girl...and a boy! I was able to go back to work after the inflammation in my hip finally went away.

Baby A is a boy! Baby B is a girl!

In October we...really started to get serious about baby business! We painted the nursery and Brian started putting together the cribs and changing tables.

In November we...went to Naples for a babymoon! It was a fun and relaxing trip and our last out of town adventure before the babies.

In December we...celebrated the holidays with our families! We celebrated our 2nd year wedding anniversary and my 25th birthday! Brian bought a new car! He loves his 2011 Ford Edge, and I am a little jealous.

We are so happy to have shared so many great memories with our friends, families, and each other. We know 2011 will bring us many more great adventures. Thank you to everyone who makes every day so special for us. We cannot wait to see you in 2011!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! Brian and I sure did. My family came over yesterday and it was so nice. My mom and Grandma cooked a lot of delicious food, all my favorites! It was so nice to see everyone and still get to relax at home. THANK YOU!! :)

Brian really spoiled me this Christmas with a beautiful necklace with "Brett" and "Emma" on tiny little footprints and a birthstone for January. I hope I don't carry these babies into February!!! He also got me a little sea monkey farm! I was very excited :) He really surprised me with Marc Jacobs sunglasses I have been wanting for a while and a beautiful blue Burberry scarf. He wasn't expecting much for Christmas since I gave him 8 awesome presents for Hanukkah but I slipped a new XBox360 under the tree and he was so happy! He has been complaining that his hasn't been working well for a little while so I figured he would get rid of it when he got a new one. Nope. Now he has one upstairs and one downstairs...how convenient! Oh well, he can get all of his video gaming in now while we wait for the babies. Plus he has something to do when I make him go to bed early with me :)

Rusty and Rocco had a good Christmas, too. They got a lot of doggy toys. Rusty loves the Christmas tree. Here she is sleeping under it:

Isn't she sooo cute!!

Even though it was a great Christmas, we are really looking forward to Christmas with the babies next year! The babies are just a few weeks away from being born and there are still a few things to do. The nursery is almost done, but we need to finish putting away all the clothes and gifts! I started washing everything but I am getting tired of that, so I think I will just start hanging everything up and washing it as we need it. We have clothes from newborn sizes to 24 months, so there will be plenty of time for laundry. (OK, I know I will be kicking myself for that later!!)

We also need to pack a hospital bag and choose the babies' coming home outfits! The first outfit they wear after the hospital is very important. That is all I can think of for now, but I am sure there will be more and more things to get done!

Right now the babies are the size of honeydews. WOW!!!

Your amazing baby is on the move! They’ve been riding fairly high in your stretched-out womb till now (while kindly compressing your poor internal organs), but now they’re planning on making the big move to your pelvis this week. If you haven’t noticed it already, you’ll be feeling the weight shift that signals that your baby is most likely out of breech position, with their head now resting on your pubic bone. In liver news: although not quite fully formed, your little miracle’s liver is now capable of processing a certain amount of waste. In general, most of your child’s prenatal physical development is pretty much up to snuff and ready for the outside world. Naturally, further weight gain is expected—so you’re still not at maximum capacity despite probably feeling like you definitely are maxed out.

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!! Thanks for reading, and we will continue to keep you updated on Brett and Emma!! THEY ARE ALMOST HERE!!!! :)

Hello, hello!!

Hi! I know it has been a little while since I have updated, oops! The last few weeks have been very BUSY! Brian and I have such great friends and family!!! We were thrown three baby showers! We are so lucky to have so many people who care about us :) We got a lot of really nice presents, and one I picked out myself. Brian's mom wanted to buy me a diaper bag so we went shopping together a few times. I finally narrowed it down to the perfect one! I don't have and really good pictures from the baby shower but here is the website picture...

I am so in love with it!! Thanks, Susan and Bert!! :)

So we have been busy putting away gifts, organizing the nursery, putting furniture together, writing thank you notes...and a lot more!

I finished up work on December 17th. It is hard to believe I will not be working again until August! I am looking forward to getting ready for the babies...and then spending lots and lots of time with them.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and they measured the babies, again! I love hearing how much they weigh! Baby A (Brett) is estimated to be 3 lbs 13 oz and Baby B (Emma) is estimated to be 4 lbs 9 oz! She is "hungrier" the nurse said! Both babies are moving around a lot, have strong heartbeats, and have been practicing their breathing. Some days I wish they would just come out already, but hearing their weights reminds me they still need time to keep growing and aren't ready for our world just yet. In 4 more weeks the babies will have their measurements again. We can't wait!

I have been feeling pretty good the last few weeks. Just tired but no problems. I have been a little uncomfortable. Mostly because I am so big it is hard to get up and down. My feet swell out of control, and my hands too! I cannot wear my wedding ring but I did get a fake one from Claire's. My ring is a 4 1/2 and this one is a 6!

Isn't it cute! :) And look at my nice manicure. It is called Shellac and is a two week manicure that does not chip! A lot of salons are starting to offer this service and it is well worth it! It is much less harsh then acrylic nails but just as sturdy! Check it out :)

That is all the news for now..I promise to update more frequently now that things aren't so busy. Just a few more weeks and the babies will be here. HOORAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

32 Week Poll

How far along? 32 weeks, 5 days
Total weight gain/loss: 53 lbs
Matern

ity clothes? Yes...and I have plenty that are way too small if anyone wants to borrow some!
Stretch marks? ugghhhhhhh

Sleep: Yes yes yes!
Best moment this week: Hearing the weight estimations

Movement: Oh boy! All the time.
Food cravings: Chocolate.
Gender: One boy and one girl!
Labor Signs: Nope. Possible Braxton Hicks but the babies move so much I can't really tell.
Belly Button in or out? Mostly out but it looks so silly!

What I miss: A lot of things!
What I am looking forward to: Meeting the babies
Weekly Wisdom: Get lots of sleep.

Milestones: Nothing new!