28 Weeks

We have hit the third trimester!  The scary part is we are 10 weeks or less away from going from a family of 3 to a family of 5!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 28 Weeks

Size of baby: The twins are 14.5 inches long and just over two pounds each

Maternity Clothes: Maternity clothes and Nick's clothes

Gender: One boy, one girl!

Movement: The babies move all the time!  It is crazy that you can see them moving from the outside!

Sleep: Sleeping is getting uncomfortable.  Some nights are better than others.   I also try to take a nap everyday but sometimes I just lay down for a while. 

What I miss: Seeing my feet, flexibility, energy and sleep.

Cravings: Chocolate, carbs and sweet potato fries

Symptoms: My belly is getting big!

Best Moment this week: Celebrating Nick's birthday.  I couldn't imagine this adventure with anyone else!

Indiana Trip

Cali, Mom and I took a long weekend trip to Indiana to see family.  My great-aunt passed away at 96 years old.  The funeral gave us a good opportunity to make the trip and see lots of family.  We decided to fly up instead of take a 11 hour drive each way.  Cali did amazing!

Eating her sucker during takeoff

Great Aunt Janice, Cali and Great Uncle Clyde

Cali and Great Grandpa Pete

The dog she is holding Grandpa "bought" her with his bingo winning tickets.  He was very excited that he could get her something.

Dave, Beth, Wade, Aunt Louanne, Me, Cali and Nana

Louanne is mom's sister and these are three of her five kids. 

Victor, Beth, Cali and Me

It was good to be in Indiana, see lots of family, introduce Cali to everyone and spend time with mom.
Since I won't be traveling for a while this was my last big trip for a while.

Cali's fort

Over the weekend we got a freezer to store up food for when the twins come and most Gluten Free food like bread comes frozen so we needed more space.

Using Disney's Agent Oso's steps we created a fort!

Step 1 - Lay the box on its side

Step 2 - Draw the windows and have Daddy cut them out

Step 3 - Decorate the box

Step 4 - Play time

Cali is 2.5 years old!

Ta-da I'm 2.5!

Where has the time gone?  How is our little girl 2.5 years old?  She is such a joy and a blessing!

Fun Cali Facts:
If she is awake she is talking - non-stop (unless Dora is on TV).   She is getting braver about eating new foods and doing new things.  She is afraid of bugs because she got stung a few months ago.  She talks in her sleep just like her Daddy.  She is very polite and says "please" and "thank you".  We are working on potty training but her interest goes in and out.  She still takes an afternoon nap (Praise the Lord!).  She is becoming an "I can do it myself" monster.  And she makes our lives better everyday!

We love you Cali Maple!

24 Weeks

Cali wanted to be in the pictures this week!

Cali is excited about her brother and sister

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 24 Weeks

Size of baby: The twins are 12 inches long and just over a pound each

Maternity Clothes: Maternity clothes and Nick's clothes

Gender: One boy, one girl!

Movement: The babies move all the time, day or night!

Sleep: Sleeping is getting uncomfortable but I'm still able to get sleep.  I also take an hour nap everyday per Dr. orders.  

What I miss: Seeing my feet, flexibility, and sleeping on my back

Cravings: Chips, popcorn, pizza, chocolate and sweet potato fries!

Symptoms: My belly is big and I have twins moving around like crazy in there.

Best Moment this week: Having Cali talk to her brother and sister

It is crazy to think we are only 3 months away from having babies!  Life is about to get crazy!

Tenn. Mountain Trip

We were lucky enough to spend a week in the Tennessee mountains with Nick's mom and his brother's family.  We stayed in a beautiful log cabin in Pigeon Forge.  The girls had a great time playing together and with Maw Maw.

We even went on a few adventures!  A big highlight for Cali was a horseback ride with daddy and Maw Maw.  They spent an hour on a trail ride in the mountains.  Cali loved it!  She even fell asleep at one point! She got off and couldn't stop talking about riding the big horse and that it was "bumpy".  After the horse ride we feed some goats at the petting zoo.

Another day we played in a pool.  Everyone had fun playing and splashing around.

She had a great time shopping, eating and hanging out at the cabin!  It was a fun week!

Nap time

As a parent you learn very early on that there is nothing more important than nap time.

You plan your day around it.  You arrive late to parties.  You leave parties early.  You eat in the car.  You drive around with no where to go because someone is asleep in the back seat.  You plan trips around it.  You avoid shopping during it.

Nap time is important for child and parent.  It simply gives everyone a much needed break.   It gives parents time to cook, do laundry, clean, or just sit and relax.

I have never had anything rule my life and schedule like nap time!  But as a mom I will do whatever it takes to make nap time happen!  And that is what it means to be a parent, to put your child's needs first.

Even if that means standing guard in the dessert with your spouse and creating shade for your sleeping child.

Of all the pictures Nick took in Africa this is the one that struck me the most.  Even elephants get it.   It's not about you.   And everything stops for nap time.