My Little Helper

Abby was so excited to wear her new t-shirt that her grandma got for her. I made her wear it on a Sunday so we could keep it nice and unstained for a long time. She is so proud of her new title; Big Sister. She often talks about how she can help her brother and sister when they come out. Here is a partial list: help them open their Christmas presents, read them books, teach them to play with toys, kiss and hug them, put dummies in their mouths when they cry, hold them, sing songs and make them laugh. I have no doubt she'll do all of those things and more.

I cannot believe what a great help she is to me all the time (now that my physical abilities are becoming somewhat impaired). Just this morning, she picked up the milk cap when I dropped it, got her own snack out of the jar, helped me make the beds and made her own dot-to-dot to do (that was pretty funny actually). She helps me get things off the floor and out from under furniture. She helps me cook (if something needs stirring), she can fold her own clothes (but that doesn't usually last too long), she puts the clean silverware away and she puts rolls of toilet paper in the proper cupboard (it is too low for me to do anymore). She can get me glasses of water (and I need a ton of them), spread her own cream cheese on a bagel, get herself dressed and put on her own sandals- we're still working on which shoe goes on what foot. The part that makes Paul and I most proud is that she is so excited to do all of these things. What a wonderful blessing to our family she is.

Qian Farewell and Wyview Mini Reunion

For Pioneer Day, our family headed off to a BBQ in celebration of our friends, the Qian Family, who are moving to China next week. Best of luck! It was nice to see them and others who lived at Wyview before we were all kicked out to make room for BYU singles who apparently needed more choices for places to live (never mind the fact that ALL the singles housing around here NEVER fills up anyway... but I digress). It was fun to see the children playing around on the slip-n-slide while the grown-ups got all caught up.

Abby was obsessed with the Galaso family and their adorable twin girls who were born last November and wanted to "help" with whatever she could. She also helped German Galaso, who is Argentine, understand his football history (as if he didn't already know) by reminding him that Diego Maradona cheated in the 1986 World Cup Quarter Finals against England by scoring his famous "Hand of God" goal with his hand. Paul was beaming (until Abby was asked if she happened to see the next goal in that game...).



It was fun to see all the new babies and old friends. Thanks Shelleys for organizing a great day.

22 and a Half Weeks

No, I'm not talking about a typical starlet stay in rehab. Here is my big belly (measuring about 6 weeks ahead). Take note: the popped out belly button. Only about 3 1/2 months to go!! You may want to skip these if you are offended by naked bellies... I know it is not very modest, but it's for science... and posterity... and to make the kids feel bad when they're older for making Mummy so big.

Reading "The Good Parts Version" of the Twilight Saga to Paul

This month, I have been re-reading a few classics:(I have no idea why I always re-read Jurassic Park, but it is always on my first to re-read list... I guess I just like the idea of dinosaurs eating people!)I also, FINALLY, talked Paul into reading the Twilight saga. He gave me one stipulation... he wasn't going to actually pick it up and read it himself so I had to read it out loud. I quickly remembered, a few chapters into the first volume, why this might not have been the best way to get him interested in the series. It is written in the first person from the point-of-view of a 17 year-old girl falling in love for the first time (why wouldn't Paul be interested in that after I promised him humor, monsters and most of all, violence?) Also, the lack of editing and grammatical/spelling errors were so much more evident when I was trying to actually read every word instead of skim SO.... I invented the "good parts version" where I only read him the good stuff and skipped over the boring stuff. It took WAY less time to read and the good news is... I now have a willing (albeit not totally stoked) participant in my immediate post-reading discussion in the last book of the series, "Breaking Dawn", which comes out in 11 days (not that I'm counting because that would be embarrassing).

To keep me tied over until then, there is still the book club book to read for this month (have I ever mentioned how AMAZING my book club is?) and another book I have had on hold at the library which is finally ready to be picked up.

Wisdom from Dr. Abigail Baynes

This morning I bumped my huge belly on the corner of the utensil drawer and it hurt! I said something under my breath like, "I hope the babies are okay." Abby heard me and offered these words of encouragement:

"Don't worry, Mommy. The babies are okay because when you bumped yourself, they didn't squirt out!"

Of course, I felt much better after that.

Bit By a Bug

WARNING: Do not read this if you are eating. I was in Labor & Delivery the night before last. I started throwing up... I mean REALLY throwing up at about 12:30AM and was getting up every hour to retch (nice, I know). I couldn't even keep water down and was dry heaving by the end of the night. At about 4:00AM I called the hospital reminding them that I was in for contractions and dehydration a few weeks ago so they told me to come in. I told them I was sure it was not morning sickness as I have never had that and they gave me a couple medicines to help with the nausea along with saline (can I just tell you how much I HATE IVs?). I was really lucky that my good friend, Sarah, happened to be on duty to be my nurse so that was awesome. I was still feeling pretty miserable at about 8:00AM but the stomach probs had moved to another area (better down and out than up and out, eh?). The doc just figured it was a really bad bug aggravated by two extremely active children inside messing with everything. Abby threw up earlier this week and so I think I know where I picked it up. (Here's a cute picture of her that Auntie Carrie sent from when we were in California)

I just slept all day yesterday and feel MUCH better. Now, all's well (I hope).

OH! Of course, while I looked like Frankenstein's Bride on crack recovering, we had visitors... so sweet though, Kim and Pam brought baby clothes and news (I haven't seen these girls for a long time and we had a good visit). Also, Jenny (cook extraordinaire) brought by home-baked croissants and pain au chocolate... I was finally feeling okay to eat by that evening and all I wanted was bread so it was perfect!

Great camera news! We're getting a new one. Regular readers may have noticed a distinct lack of photos lately due to the fact that our old camera was lost/stolen (don't ask... it still bugs to talk about it... we LOVED that camera). Well, because Paul has the most amazing parents, we are getting our new one sooner rather than later so hopefully, we'll be posting more pics soon. To keep you satisfied until then, Jenny let me borrow one of hers so I'll post some soon!

More Scans!

Sorry, Family, for not posting these earlier but here are the scans from last Monday. It was the big one that checks every organ and even the way the blood flows. The great news is that the Perinatologist (high risk baby dr.) said I didn't have to go back there unless a problem develops so it is back to just the OB. They were measuring the right sizes with the right weights and the right amount of amniotic fluid. We counted 2 placentas, 4 arms, 4 legs, 20 fingers, 20 toes, 2 hearts with 4 chambers each with blood flowing in all the right directions. We saw 4 kidneys, 2 bladders, 2 brains, lots of vertebrae, 2 stomachs, 1 penis and 1 not. (Paul hates the word "penis" but what else am I supposed to call it? He got all embarrassed when I asked a friend- a good friend mind you- if she wanted to see our baby's penis... he's the guy, I thought they loved that thing. You can check out Baby Boy's penis in the second to last scan.) So anyway, there were no indications of birth defects or chromosomal abnormalities which makes us all breathe a little easier. Now all we have to worry about is keeping them in the oven until they're done... well, that is a BIG worry actually, but we're dedicated to doing all we can to make that happen. That and naming our baby girl... stay tuned.

Baby Girl's scans are on the left and Baby Boy's are on the right for comparison. The white line in Baby Girl's head shot is Baby Boy's amniotic sac. She kept pushing on it with her little hand... amazing. The doctor said they are definitely aware of each other now. They were actually facing each other but we couldn't get it in one shot as She is a little deeper in than He is. I am feeling them all the time now... it is really something when they are both moving around at the same time... there are no words for it. I have a feeling that I'll find some words when they get a bit bigger and stronger- none of which will be fit to publish here.