if I wrote everyday....

You might hear a different story about my pregnant life. I meant to write on Thursday, and I planned the beginning. I've forgotten it now, but it was going to be something about how I named myself the White Whale for the day. It's weird even now to see the fluctuations between a huge tummy, a pretty big tummy, a tiny slit of a belly button, then a rounder one, tummy slighty squishy, tummy so hard it might knock someone out. And while there is now no mistaking whatsoever that I'm pregnant, it's funny it would vary so much by day, and by outfit. It's starting to get harder to put on shoes, or sometimes get up from really slouchy couches. And the girls are kicking and moving pretty much all the time. Ian hasn't been able to feel them yet, but I sure do.

We had our first Seattle ultrasound this past week, and for the most part, all is well. They're sharing their fluids nicely, I'm still holding up well. One unhappy piece of news, which is that apparently Twin A has a calcium deposit on her heart. It's a common indicator of down's syndrome.

Now, here's where you have to take things with a grain of salt. Of course whenever you hear something like that, it's worrisome--and often creeps back into your mind from time to time (especially that day). But the truth is that we've already done the testing--we're something like 1 in 33,000th chance. It would also be strange for A to have it, and not B (at least I think so, since they're identical), and there aren't other indicators at this point.

The doctors didn't seem very worried, either. So it's one of those things that taint the overall visit a tiny bit, but that we can't really sit and worry about. Because what can we do about it, anyway? And an indicator doesn't mean it's positive. So alas, overall the girls are fine. Calcium deposits--perhaps I should switch milk brands. haha.

Things with the house are progressing as they can be. There's something new every day (welcome to the new mortgage application process!). Oh, night and day from buying our first house. And unfortunately, no one in the business currently knows what's going on, since rules and regulations change literally every day. So, it's hand one thing in today, later in the afternoon it will be something else. We've been compiling our financial history steadily now for the past 2 weeks. We really just can't wait to get in and start getting busy. So much work to be done (all cosmetic), but so exciting to make our own. Our close date is now 9/18, and we're able to move in the 21st.

Until then, we're stuck in this lovely corporate housing for another 4 days, move out Thursday into an Extended Stay America until the following Tuesday, then move in with Carrie and Paul that night until we can move into our house.

Oh, the nomadic life. It's fine. Aside from the easy proximity to work, this place is terrible. There was a raging party last night--I feel like I'm forced back into college. And we love this place and their smarts--how all the elevators are brought down for maintenance at once (and for 2 weeks)...not the most well-run place. We are constantly amazed that anyone would actually choose to live here on their own.

Next week work-wise should be fun. Seattle is definitely the hub for out-of-town visitors, and next week there will be plenty of them: at least 6. Good times. Also, Ian and I are planning our anniversary trip. I think we'll be heading up to Victoria Island, BC. It's part anniversary, part last trip before we have babies. So with even all this financial pressure lately, we think it's important to slide it in.

Today we're thinking about heading to the zoo. I love zoos, and can't wait to see the one that will be within a couple of miles from our house!!

ps--my feet are back to normal, thank goodness. It was just a NY / flying thing. whew!

And we're rolling on....

My feet are huge. I am calling them my piggies. Or, it's like someone just inflated a latex glove and tried to stuff it in my sandals or flats. They're enormous, whiter than usual, puffy, and ridiculous. I hate them.

I'm hoping it's temporary. I'm hoping that they will reduce quickly--as though someone took a pin to them and they whirled around the air aimlessly, all the while getting smaller and smaller. To the size they should be. To the size that makes them comfortable to fit into my shoes. Or at least to the size where it isn't painful.

I'm going to blame it on New York. I've been in New York City this week--since Sunday, and just returned last night. It was an inauguration of sorts to step back into the East Coast humidity. It just happened to also be 100 degrees on top of that. Holy great goodness, am I happy to be pregnant on the west coast! In cities like SF and Seattle, where humidity is unheard of, and high temperatures a bit rare to find. And if it is hot, all I need to do is walk on the shady side of the street.

I'm blaming my feet on New York, because that's when--for the first time--they blew up like this. There was a woman Ian and I used to work with, and she was pregnant a few times while we worked there. Ian and I set a certain bar against her. Remaining nameless, we call her condition, "First name X/ last name Y pregnant" which is a different type of pregnant than normal pregnancies. It means that you blow up like a balloon and it's something I wished would not happen to me. But I have First name X/last name Y feet. It's depressing.

I walked a lot in NY. And it was stuffy and hot. And then I flew back yesterday amidst multiple delays and cancellations, and ended up back in Seattle a full 8 hours after my expected arrival time. Perhaps flying didn't help either.

But today, they're still a bit swollen and painful, and look ridiculous in the sandals I wore today. Alas, enough about my feet and being pregnant. I guess the last thing I will say is that all is well in that department. I'm at 21 weeks, and recently feel like I blew up (or out, I should say).

On the subway in NY, I had someone offer up their seat for me. A young woman--how sweet! It was a first. I also made friends with the man at the Westin checking me in, when he asked and found out I was having identical twin girls--he just had twin girls 3 weeks ago. He came around the counter, digital camera in tow, to share pictures with me.

I had a huge meeting in NY that I'm so relieved is over. My past 2 months have been revolving around build up for this meeting. I was so nervous, that pit in my stomach having a hard time fighting for room with the girls. But the meeting was better than I could have asked for, and I really wished at that moment I could have a huge, celebratory alcoholic beverage. But alas, I have to wait for many more months. It's tough.

I was also spoiled in NY because I got to hang out with my good Hippo friend Kirsten on multiple nights. It was like we lived in the same place again--meeting after work for dinner or a movie (or both). It was so comfortable and fun, and at the same time felt completely natural. Sad that we're not closer, but don't you love having those friends you can fall back to and it's like no time has ever passed?

In other news, I wish Ian would write on this blog! He has been single-handedly exploring the city during the day, in between networking and working on freelance jobs. He admitted to me last night that he's in love with Seattle, and is sooo happy we moved here. He's also been spending time with his new BFF, Paul, my good friend (and boss)'s hubby. He's even out tonight with other friends, and I think Seattle will be good to him. Good to us. :)

In other news, we spent our first weekend here really diving in. Saturday morning went for brunch in Capitol Hill (it was OK, not our favorite place), and then went to the Science Fiction and Experience Music Project museum. I just had to go there because they were hosting my dream exhibit--a whole exhibition on Jim Henson!! The exhibit left a tiny bit to be desired, but can you believe I got to see a real Kermit, Rowlf, Bert & Ernie, and Gobo? Not to mention all of the sketches, original commercials, ideas coming to life...what a genius. Ian enjoyed the Jimi Hendrix exhibit, and the history of guitars...and even the Science Fiction portion was cool--we saw ET, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and Yoda.

That night, we went to Carrie and Paul's house--her brother and his girlfriend were there, along with her best friend Annie. We ordered in Thai and then just hung out--watched a few episodes of a show, and walked up to 45th street to Molly Moon's--maker of delicious homemade ice cream and treats. You have to love a place that makes waffle cones (on a waffle machine) right before your eyes and serves them up slightly warm. Delicious. No wonder there was a line down the street. On the walk back to their place, we ran into another friend from work and her husband, who only live a few blocks away.

Sunday we had a better brunch in Capitol Hill, and then hit the open house circuit. I think we must have seen 12 or so? It was exhausting, and honestly slightly disappointing because the only thing we fell in love with was way out of our price range.

Monday was a different day. I saw a house go on the market in Wallingford (the neighborhood we love, where Carrie and Paul live). The house was actually in our price range (rare for that area), but no pictures were posted yet. Ian decided to do a drive by, and then somehow worked his way in to see the house that day--it was brand new on the market.

Next thing I knew, I was going to see it too, with our realtor, and we decided to put in an offer. Long story short--we're under contract and close on or before 9/23. Hooray! It's only a block from 45th--where the great ice cream place is--and is quiet. It has an incredible garden, and requires only cosmetic work (it has a lot of wallpaper). Super exciting news. Financing is so tricky, though, so we'll see if we pass through. It's well within the budget we created for ourselves, but with Ian freelancing, it's a bit tricky to navigate financial approval waters.

Not much else to report other than those things--we did go to a concert last Saturday in Marymoor park--interesting to see how Seattleites differ from other places / people we've been. Was a nice outdoor show with beautiful weather.

So, that's it for now. I'm going to prop up the piggies, and eat some food. Maybe it will distract me from the girls completely doing acrobatics right now.

a whole new blog?

This blog is about to change in a major way. Most of you know how this blog is changing. Ian even suggested starting a new blog, but I think we can all agree that that is a bit ambitious considering our blog-writing track record. So, let's give this a good, hearty continuation instead.

Our last months in SF (yes, this is the end of making the Mission neighborhood our Mission) were pretty amazing. I had a great birthday weekend back in May in Mendocino (yet another fascinating / beautiful area of Northern California), we went camping by the ocean, my great friends from college (the Neos) came to visit in July, Ian and I traveled to Paris and Germany with my Dad, just got back from a crazy week in Atlanta....we have been busy, busy beavers.

On top of all that, we found out back in April that I was pregnant. The first ultrasound revealed a surprise (read: shock)--we were having twins. A later ultrasound confirmed they were identical twins, and here's where I'd like to explain a bit, because most people ask me: "Do twins run in the family?"

Here's the thing that differentiates identical twins from fraternal: it isn't hereditary, it's not a result of fertility drugs. It's nature's own little oops. There's one egg, one sperm. Just like normal. Except when the fertilized egg travels down to attach itself to the uterine wall, it accidentally splits into two and they both attach. That's why identical twins also share chromosomal makeup. They are contained within the same placenta (sharing blood back and forth), but mine are in their own sacs.

Having identical twins automatically makes it a high risk pregnancy. I have to go every 2 weeks for an ultrasound to make sure they're playing nicely and sharing blood and fluid properly back and forth. I guess it was worrisome at first, but now it's a bit comforting to be so close to the process, and have those regular check-ins.

Fast forward to this week--I'm 19 weeks along. The latest ultrasound (yesterday!) was the big one, and everything looks great. We found out a couple of weeks ago that we're having girls. Wow wow.

The twins, and our thinking for almost the past year about making the move to Seattle, has found me here today. In our corporate housing, or first full day having moved to Seattle, and having left San Francisco behind.

It's a little surreal. I keep feeling like it's a normal trip to Seattle, which I take all the time. Ian and I left last night--I went into work this morning. Typical, really. But the difference might have been that Ian was with me, or that we checked in 6 bags total, and rented a car, and picked up keys, and drove to an unknown apartment complex, and unpacked our bags.

We've spent the past week or so frantically--finishing things up, coordinating the movers and packers, working, finishing work (Ian is officially not employed, and taking on mass amounts of freelance!), and living in a hotel in Union Square--like total tourists. We've been having goodbye dinners, and brunches, and a series of lasts. It's funny that SF ended for us in the area it did--on the street it did. It ended as it began.

And so here we are. The new office is great, and my manager Carrie made it extra special for me--she bought me a plant, snacks, folders, a mug---just so thoughtful and welcoming.

So begins a new chapter in our lives. The next series of adventures. In the past months, we've put offers on two houses (neither of which went through), and we're pretty motivated to find a place. We can't wait to keep exploring and finding the right home for us, and our expanding family. So comes the exploration, the house, the babies....so many things to continue to blog about.

Ian is out with Paul now (Carrie's hubby, and Ian's good friend)--they are so happy to finally be together. :) They went to Serious Pie for dinner. I am relaxing--have had a pretty exhausting few days.

Anyway, Ian has moved all our pictures into special backup places and I haven't had access to them. Once he's organized them, I'll be able to post pictures of our last few months' highlights--because there are great pictures!

Talk soon....