Nursery, Registry and Headaches...oh my!

I have a vision. A vision of a shabby, chic, beautifully designed nursery for my two girls. What does this vision look like you ask? Look at the greatness below {thanks, Pinterest for making me overachieve and do extra work that probably will go unseen...}.

 

I'm NUTS right?! I really love it though, while I don't believe I can recreate everything, at least I have a vision of what I want. I think I have enough talent to paint the tree mural. I love the designer's blog; everyone on there so creative. Going to try to research more on the paint color, "Cobalt Blue" since in the photos it looks more of sage green {more of what I'm going for}. I'm in LOVE with the pink though, which was surprising to me since I'm not an over the top pink person.

 

I'm having the hardest time finding something similar to the crib skit - this was from Target originally as the blog mentions, but their Shabby Vintage collection no longer carriers it...AMAZON, maybe?

 

The crib's wood is a great contrast - I can't find that color of wood at Babies R Us, however I know if we look at a warehouse {I know of one in Whittier}, I bet they carry something similar. This crib looks a lot like mine however when I was a child.

 

 Absolutely ADORE the peonies. Blog said she just used double-sided tape, which is much easier than I originally thought it was going to be. I thought they were paper mache or something like that!

I found this gem on Etsy {$75 bucks though!}. This is something I CAN TOTALLY create. I just need to get my paints from my parents house...{hmmmm again overachieving!!}

Other than that, I'm lost for bedding. I don't really care for all the patterns and appliques. What I really want are nice and simple colors that I can interchange with ease. What baby uses the quilt in the bedding set anyway?! Also told to NOT use bumpers. 

Always up for suggestions if any.

 ~~~~~

 We also went registry shopping to Babies R Us yesterday; such a headache! I thought I had gathered enough information on reviews, speaking to mommies of twins and my own good judgement. But it was just ALL overwhelming. It came to the point where I just told Eric to scan everything that looks good and we'll deal with it later. LOL. We're still not done registering, but I'm really curious on what other mommies have registered for {what works, what doesn't...what you wish you had, etc.} 

Below are some items I heard are great. 

 

 

Gender Reveal! {22 Weeks}

So I finally got enough energy to dress up {and the hubby mind you} and get outside to take our gender reveal photos. Many people {close family and friends} were already aware of the gender since we found out around week 15 {jeez, seems like light years ago}, HOWEVER, I wanted to do something cute and memorialize the moment we announce what we're having.

It cooled down a bit that Saturday {still hot mind you, I was done after 2 hours!}. I've seen some great shots from friends at the Laguna Niguel Regional Park so I thought we'd try our luck there. Of course with the help of Pinterest, Eric's patience, the timer on our camera - the shots turned out great.

Even though I posted already on Facebook {Rebecca helped me that night with the editing}, I wanted to post on here as well. P.S. Note to self, change settings before taking different shots. I ended up shooting in RAW format for the majority of the pictures, which was fine since Eric was able to convert them to JPEGS, but still, annoying to say the least}.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

We're having GIRLS!! {Eric faints}. 

I am SO excited; I was really thinking we were having boys, I guess psyching myself out since I've always wanted a girl. Again, we are over the moon and just so excited to have this life changing experience. We appreciate everyone's love and support! We're ready for this new adventure and can't wait to share with you.

Eric was great at being a photographer. I really love the shots he took of me :) Probably the last really nice photos I'll have before I balloon up like a beached whale LOL.

 

Baby GIRLS are the size of a papaya!

Kick off! 21 Weeks

Haven't updated in a hot minute. I had this post in draft but just never got around to it. About 1.5 week ago is when I first started babies kicking. I was so determined to finally feel them {all the books say from 18-22 weeks others say as early as 13 weeks!}.

Nowadays they are very distinct and they are constantly kicking, moving, tumbling, whatever! They are acrobats - kicking me high and low in the belly. Little jabs here and there. Gone are the days that I have to lie down to see their movement (while that is still fun to do). I'll be in my office at work and they'll go wild or even in a meeting and they feel the need to jab me with an elbow. I absolutely LOVE it though. It makes me so happy to know they are healthy and wiggling around. Such a beautiful thing to be a mother, I am over the moon.

P.S. We had our last ultrasound on my dad's birthday, 8/17 {Happy Birthday, Daddy!}. It was a long U/S because Dr. Pevzner had to check the anatomy of the heart. Hearts are strong and healthy looking; Baby B was difficult as always - covering up the chest area this time with arms and resting hands on the face {I swear, gets it from Dad}. So after a lovely 1.5 hour {I always have to take a break in between the U/S's because I get dizzy with lying on my back for so long}, we were finally done. We did learn however Baby A is slightly bigger than Baby B now; they had been so close the whole time if not the same in weight/size. Dr. P wasn't too worried since I'm still in the second trimester for any Twin to Twin Transfusion {since babies share a common monochorionic placenta, one twin at times may receive more nutrients than the other, resulting in a fairly larger, healthier twin}. I pray that this doesn't happen, it's still too early to tell.

Babies are the size of a pomegranate!

How far along? 21 weeks, 4 days
Size of babies: Baby A: 17 oz, Baby B: 14 oz.
Total weight gain: ~20lbs!
Exercise habits: Still recovering from Girls Camp LOL.
Maternity clothes? Yes - found some cute tops/bottoms on clearance at JC Penney's..WOO HOO!
Stretch marks? no..lather up, baby!
Sleep: Lately I've been sleeping later and later...
Best moment this week: Feeling babies go nuts in my tummy
Miss Anything? Not really, been satisfying my hunger :)
Movement:Yes! Yay!!
Food cravings: donuts
Anything making you queasy or sick: still with chicken.
Gender: TBA...yay!
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Belly aches, it's getting bigger that's for sure.
Belly Button in or out? still flat
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Gender reveal photos {check out next blog}
Not looking forward to: Unpacking from the move...STILL
Goals: To have babies be over 4-5lbs and to not deliver until 37 weeks.

First movement: 20 Weeks

After my much needed rest from Girls' Camp {like a 3 hour nap}, I still was tired but starving of course. Eric did a Chipotle run and we watched re-runs of Felicity on Netflix hah. Coming back from GC is a weird feeling, while I was only gone for 1 day, it felt time had stopped. I think it was just the lack of sleep thinking because even though I'm writing this post, I can go back to bed any second.

Last night however, after reading Twin blogs {become quite an addiction lately}, I really wanted to take the time to feel the babies move. I'm already 20 weeks and after reading my pregnancy books, movement tends to happen 18-22 weeks, however with first time moms, I read it can be up to 24 weeks. Eric swears he felt Baby B kick two weeks ago, but I didn't get the pleasure of encountering that feel. So I was determined to feel some movement that night; after some spicy Chipotle I drank a glass of apple juice, and as a snack some cinnamon apple rice cakes. Then, I just laid on the bed staring at my tummy. I demanded that Eric stop moving in bed {he's such a wiggler} and I steadied my hand on the most active Baby B side.

Of course, I Googled 'Best Way to Feel Baby Kick' so I could get the best tips on what to do. After doing my research I just waited. Low and behold after a few minutes Baby B gave a kick little kick and we saw a tiny little protrusion out of my tummy! Yay! Finally! Success! Of course it didn't stop there; I felt a roll and other flutters {I guess that is  the best way it's described from people}. All of a sudden my right side gave a little push, Baby A wanted to show off, too! We were so happy to finally experience seeing their movements; Eric gets such a 'kick' out of it..haha. So I know these babies are Eric's for sure - what gets them going is 1) Food 2) Anything apple cinnamon...LOL.

Eventually when they start to really kick and move, I'm going to record it. While we're at the half way mark...actually a little further since twin pregnancy terms are shorter than singletons. Our MD has told us that 36-38 weeks is considered full-term. So I'm crossing my fingers, 18 more weeks to go! I guess I need to muster some energy up and start what they call 'nesting', huh? We're still in the midst of unpacking since we've been so busy {unable to celebrate our 3rd anniversary this week due to a broken water heater...} and I've been unable to make the gender announcements like I've been wishing to do. Lastly, we haven't even registered for baby stuff - we went to Babies R Us the other day and I cracked up laughing seeing Eric's face on what items actually cost. I had to push his eyes back into their sockets. While we were first given the twins news I don't know what went through his mind, but that is what exactly went through mine : $$$ DOUBLE OF EVERYTHING $$$.

Still can't commit to Baby B's name - I've figured out some front runners, but nothing is sticking like Baby A's {granted, I've had the baby name picked out for awhile since I just always thought we'd have a boy or a girl, not in my wildest dreams I would think I needed TWO of the same gender}.

Some sites that I've stumbled upon {some are quite funny/strange}:

• When it's hot down there...
• Blame it on the pregnancy
• Adding the LBS with twins
• Pregnant with twins
• What to eat
• Two in the oven
• Mama said they'll be days like this

 

Babies are a size of a banana {wow!}

How far along? 20 weeks, 4 days
Size of babies: 10 oz, 6.5"
Total weight gain: ~15lbs
Exercise habits: I count Girls Camp as exercise...
Maternity clothes? Yes - I finally found a pair of maternity jeans at Old Navy {finally} BUT my tummy isn't large enough yet to hold the band up that my jeans sag and low ride LOL.
Stretch marks? no..lather up, baby!
Sleep: I knock out pretty easy now.
Best moment this week: Feeling babies kick!
Miss Anything?Pizza...
Movement:Yes! Yay!!
Food cravings: cheeseburgers, vanilla ice cream cones, and mac 'n cheese! STEAK.
Anything making you queasy or sick: still with chicken.
Gender: TBA...yay!
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Leg cramps! Ugh!! Horrible. I've given myself 3 charlie horses last night.
Belly Button in or out? still flat
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Register at Babies R Us.
Not looking forward to: unpacking 
Goals: To have babies be over 4-5lbs and to not deliver until 37 weeks.

There's no place like home {Girls Camp}

It has finally arrived!! I was so excited for this week {saddened that I only spent 1 day at Girls Camp, but excited nonetheless}. Our theme this year was the Wizard of Oz aka There's No Place Like Home.

I ended up driving to Camp Mile High Pines {near Big Bear} with some other leaders for the night. This Girls Camp was definitely different from what I've experienced in the past: they had running showers/actual bathrooms, cabins with bunks, a mess hall, etc. Girls Camp has always been Big Meadow to me and that included hikes, 'biffies', cowboy hash, tents and dirt :) Take a look at what Camp Mile High brought us {it actually felt like Camp K.E.E.P. of all things...}

To be in the mountains and with nature was really relaxing {while it was still kind of hot}. I was in charge of the Thursday night dinner's table presentation. I had put a lot of effort in what I could do with my energy level on the table and of course I left my camera in the cabin while it was finally completed. I was too tired to walk back and forth, even though I should have considering how much time was put into it. Either way I got a few good shots. Each ward was assigned a different value color and name from the camp's theme {IE Orange, The Munchkins for Marina Hills Ward!}. The other wards' tables were really extravagant - and presented very well I might add. I have a few tricks up my sleeve for next year if I'm called again...