Bracing ourselves, and storing for the winter.

Finally, after all this time being dedicated to settling in and doctor's appointments and work and seemingly everything else under the sun, we are focusing on these little girls that are about to enter our lives.

With the birth of little baby nephew Lucas, with our weekly Preparing for Multiples class, with the crazy baby dreams that just started last week, with the awareness of contractions and how big they're getting...well, I'm listening, and I feel you're on your way.

We had finally bothered to register for the girls a few weeks ago. Even though we're not having a shower, we had some people ask. I know for one that I was stressing Stephanie out big time--every time I spoke to her, and she asked how the nursery was coming along, or what we've gotten for the girls, my answer was pretty much always the same: "well, we have some clothes, but that's about it." She was stressed for us.

So, the boxes started arriving, and Ian and I finally got it in us to arrange furniture and make it look more like a room (less like an extra bedroom to store stuff in). Of course, the room is tiny and it fits the one crib perfectly. Eventually--and from what we hear, a few months down the road--the second crib will need to come into effect, and we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Things will be a bit tight at that point.

Regardless, while I'm putting tiny socks into drawers, or folding little hooded towels, it is still so hard to imagine them coming. It's hard to imagine what our lives are about to become, how we'll cope, what they'll look and act like. I just can't even wrap my head around it. We gave the new changing pad a test run with our baby stand-in (a Giraffe). He was a good little baby--hardly made a sound or move before we put him back in the crib. Still hard to imagine the real thing, and how we'll actually be using the room and what we'll use and when. Just crazy to think about.

Ian even finished up the mobile and hung it yesterday, and I think it's super cute (he's pretty proud of it himself). I really love the way it turned out, and I hope the girls like looking up at them.

And I'm started to get excited about Christmas, even though we haven't done any shopping and it is also hard to imagine. I feel like it will be a gift card year, especially since we're all the way over here. My Dad will be here for Christmas--which is super fun news, but other than that--I guess we'll be doing a lot of gift shipping. Regardless, Christmas in a new house is fun--deciding how to decorate and what new traditions might crop up.

And can you even believe Thanksgiving is literally right around the corner? Not me! Sheesh. My brother Jeff will be visiting us--how lucky are we that people are willing to travel the 3,000+ miles to hang out with us. Still so much to do with the house, but these things will take time.

Anyway, I guess that's it for now. Pretty boring entry, but I feel like we're closer and closer to being ready for our family to double.

New bill o'health, and a pictureless Seattle

Quick update on my health! Or more importantly, that of Twin B. Had my ultrasound yesterday, and follow up doctor's appointment today. Twin B's fluids are back up to normal, and all is well!

On the one hand, it means that bed rest did a body good. So, I'm still advised to take it very easy--only go into the office part-time, etc. But at least I won't feel guilty everytime I get up to do something. I'm so happy I won't be home-captive completely this weekend.

This week, my very good friend Carlos was in town from SF for work. I have missed him terribly, and it was fun having him. We had a great date Monday night at Wild Ginger--really delicious food. I love when you can go somewhere with someone, and hours can pass without realizing it. We shut the place down.

Last night we went for Round 2, and luckily Ian was able to join, after having gotten back from the east coast on Wednesday afternoon. We went to Bizarro for dinner--tasty treat, and nice in the midst of a rainy night. We followed it up with some Molly Moon's ice cream and some lounge time at home before taking him back to his hotel.

There have been 3 distinct times this week that I've been reminded to have a camera with me at all times here! With crazy weather like Seattle, there's always something interesting going on in the sky--between the bursts of sun, dark clouds, mountain ranges...without a camera, you miss out on some amazing shots. On the way to pick Ian up from the airport, Mt Rainier was insane. Just breathtaking. On the way to my ultrasound yesterday, it was gray and dark over Seattle's skyline--just outlines of buildings, really. But above the space needle were beams of light--so perfectly placed, and bizarre at the same time. And finally, on my way into work this morning, I passed the funeral procession for a police officer who was shot. 1500 police cars, ambulances, fire trucks. All with their lights on, but without the noise of sirens. As far as you could see--cars from Oregon and British Columbia, and all over the state of Washington. Breathtaking and moving and sad.

Anyway, Ian and I should both just arm ourselves with cameras.

Below is a pic I took from my window at work 2 weeks ago. Happy to have had a camera handy.

Seattle so far....

In phases, I'm going to catch you up to date with some things we've been up to--granted, not everything, but just a couple of the major things.

Victoria

We spent our anniversary weekend in the city of Victoria, on Vancouver Island. It was a gorgeous weekend, and we had a perfect time.

We took the Clipper--about 3 hours, and arrived in the sunny harbor city. Highlights of the trip were walking the town, and discovering its extremely cute, quaint, and historic shops and boutiques, a tour of the nearby castle, food!, and the wax museum (yes, cheesy, but it was fun).

Moving In

Next major event was closing on the house (finally!) and moving in. We've officially been in the house just over a month, and boy has there been a lot of work to do. On the 5th day of our move-in, Ian's parents came to visit for a week. They were a HUGE help to us, taking down loads of wallpaper, making countless trips to Home Depot, swapping out fixtures, installing a dishwasher, painting....the list goes on. There's still a lot of work to do, which we'll tackle over time. But the main things have been taken care of initially.

Other Things

We got an annual membership to the Woodland Park Zoo--it's really close to our house, and is great. It's kind of like a large park, which happens to have animals in it. And the habitats seem nicer than the SF Zoo, which is nice. We particularly enjoyed the orangutan, who draped a blanket over his head and played up to the crowd.

Ian also celebrated his 30th birthday! That weekend, Carrie and Paul had us over for dinner and a movie. The next day we had a neighborhood potluck with a lot of my co-workers, (Ian and baked pumpkin cheesecake), and then carved pumpkins in the neighborhood, which was pretty fun and festive. Apparently, every year this guy Gene (who lives across the street from Carrie and Paul) buys hundreds of pumpkins, and invites the whole neighborhood to drop in and carve. He has all these stations set up, and provides stew and drinks. Then he lines all the pumpkins down the stairs and along the wall in front of his house. Good times.

The following day (Monday) was Ian's birthday. I surprised him by taking the day off, and we spent a relaxing day together--got a late brunch, went to see a movie, had a delicious dinner.

Ian and I started a pregnancy class a couple of weeks ago--Preparing for Multiples. It has been really interesting, and we like our teacher tons. There are still 3 classes left, so I hope I can make it that long--the good stuff is in the last 2 weeks.

But as we both mentioned in our last couple of posts, I've been prescribed to bed rest (at least for the next week). This weekend has been kind of a bummer because of it. Mainly because I feel fine and the weather was seriously gorgeous. And I stayed inside all day both days (stepping out last night to go to Paul and Carrie's--where they fed me delicious lamb stew and we passed out candy to the tons and tons of kids. Everyone gets so into it here! How much fun.

And then the final most fun news is that Ian and I become an aunt and uncle last week. Ian is now visiting his new nephew (plus, the rest of his family) right now. It sounds like he's having fun, and I'm just really happy that he was able to make it, especially before it gets too crazy for Hilliary and Francois (with the guests they're about to have, moving into a new house, etc).

But of course, I miss him.

It's crazy I'm in my 31st week of pregnancy. Not much time left, I suppose. I am hoping the girls appreciate my sedentary weekend, and that it has the effect it's supposed to on their fluid levels. Looking forward to finding out at the end of next week...

Oh! And we had been working on a project--I think I'm leaving the last part of it for Ian to finish up. We bought fabric and sewed a bunch of birds in order to create a mobile for the girls. Our birds are pictured here. It was actually a really fun project to work on together (and Ian is such a good sewer!).

the traffic report

Well, not only does our relationship get better everyday, we also learn more about each other everyday. For instance, we found out that the way I push a wheelchair effects Lori the same way I drive a car. She gets all stressed out and thinks I'm going to run into everything. She has every reason to think this. During the 45 minutes that I wheeled her around, I managed to run her into the elevator wall, the back of someone's leg, and I almost ran over our guide's foot.

Don't worry, I'll get better. I need to be careful when I push you and those two tiny girls around.

Sweet dreams my pretty wife.

Oh, and I wanted to share something that Lori and I found. We lost it two years ago, but just recently, it's come back into our lives:

Autumn.

Thank you Seattle for having seasons.

Our blog is a long-distance love letter.

It's raining here in Seattle. You might think to yourself--why point it out? Doesn't it always rain in Seattle?

Well, it doesn't. And even when it does, it's not enough so that you hear it on the inside. But right now there's a nice sound of rain hitting windowpanes.

It's 10:32pm, and I'm about to head to the bedroom and call it a night. Just spoke with Ian about 20 minutes ago, and he's settled into Hilliary, Francois, and baby Lucas's place.

I actually just got on to say one thing, because I got a second alert that "anonymous" posted another comment. I thought I'd respond.

I've been meaning to update the blog. Really and truly. We've had a very busy couple of months, and it has been great.

What I was going to say before shuffling off to bed is that because I'm on bed rest and have nothing better to do this weekend, I will absolutely update the blog. I even uploaded pictures before Ian took off this morning, so there are no excuses. And all of the running around I may have done--unpacking, cleaning up, running errands....well, it's kind of gone to pot now that I'm storing my blood flow, energy, and whatever else for the week to make sure B's fluids pick back up.

So, I logged on to say--Anonymous! you win! Check back this weekend! (and tell me who you are), but I noticed that not only is the header different (which Ian showed me this morning), but that he had actually written something!

And not just anything! But a love letter of sorts. I have to say that we just hit the 3 year mark, and man oh man. It's been a good 3 years, but it seriously just keeps getting better and better. If these girls bring even half as much happiness and love into my life as Ian and I already have....well. Watch out world. The seams will burst forth from the house.

My love, I'm being good. I've been drinking so many glasses of water (I refilled the Brita 4 times today already!), and since coming home from the doctor, I've been on my feet for probably 10 minutes all-in-all. If that! The only thing I will suffer from at all this week is (1) boredom. And (2) missing you.

But, I am so so so happy you are able to go visit your sister and your new nephew! It's weird to think that a new person has just entered our life for good. That we will be involved in this little person's whole timeline--graduations and weddings and births and such. Bizarro. And that soon there will be 2 more new people to add to the chaos.

I'll just leave you all with a goofy, blurry picture. When I found out I had to have 24-hour bed rest yesterday, and told the doctor we had our hospital tour, she insisted I take the tour in a wheelchair.

So, Ian and I tried to smuggle a picture. There's not a dumber feeling than when you feel perfectly normal/fine, but you still have to be pushed around in a wheelchair. At least I liked my driver. A lot. :)

Nighty night everyone.

the view from here

I’m sitting on a plane, somewhere above Colorado. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m 2 hours into my 4 and a half hour flight to Washington DC and that’s my best guess. Thankfully, our pilot doesn’t like to inform us of things except when they are and are not illuminating the seatbelt sign. As if the loud “PING” and the light itself weren’t indicators of the change.

I’m thinking about Lori and the girls a lot right now.

Due to the nature of the pregnancy, we have to have an ultrasound every two weeks. We’ve gotten to the point where we actually understand what it’s showing on that screen.

I don’t speak much when I’m in there. I always feel like it would be awkward. Usually I just hang out by Lori’s side and think, “That’s the bladder. Those are the kidneys. That’s a foot pushing on someone’s head.” I also go over the different qualities of our ultrasound technician. After meeting so many, I can’t help it and I know that Lori is doing the same. We always compare notes when they leave the room. We don’t like Karen.

Typically, we have zero news to deliver. They are growing and the amount they weigh is usually the only thing that changes. (they are both around 4 pounds now) Yesterday it was different.

The amount of fluid around baby B was not ideal. They put Lori on 24-hour bed rest and told her to come back in the follow day (today) to redo the scan. We both think that it’s an error on the part of the ultrasound tech. She was having trouble getting certain measurements and so we hope the revisit will show it was just a hard reading. I hope the appointment ends with a “Keep up the good work and keep drinking lots of water. “

With this news (no matter how much we talk ourselves out of it) I can’t help but worry. I would elaborate, but I feel like “worry” really covers it.

Before I left, I made sure to demand she “take it easy” while I was gone. Like me saying that would change her behavior. She’s so incredibly independent and headstrong that I know the only way she will “take it easy” is if she wants to. It’s one of the things that makes, Lori, Lori, and I’m 100% positive she will pass that on to our girls. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m in the window seat. 30F. I noticed my computer was a different color so I looked out the window and noticed the sun going down. This sunset is very red and curvy. My computer reads 4:05. Flying east always makes the day so short.

I’m on this trip to visit my sister. After I touch down in DC, I’m catching another flight down to Charleston so I can meet my new nephew. This is my first trip to Charleston since Hilliary and Francois moved there. I’m really looking forward to seeing how things are going for them and how they are settling into their new role as parents.

It’s so crazy how things sneak up on you. My sister and I are adults. Wasn’t it just yesterday we were reading Where’s Waldo books and eating as much mac and cheese as possible? I wonder how she’ll be? Will being a mom make her a different person? I guess I’ll find out in a few hours.

My battery looks angry. I better get back to my book and give this guy a rest.

Lori, I miss you already. side-wave

update:
Okay, since I haven’t posted this yet (there wasn’t time between my flights) I’ll just include it along with this first post.

The Tech wasn’t bad at measuring the fluids. They really were on the low side. They issued Lori a week of bed rest to get her fluids back up and if that doesn’t do it, she might remain that way until delivery.

Well crap.

Now I really wish I was home with her. Who’s going to get her cool whip? Who’s going to bring her milk or orange juice? Looks like Carrie and Paul are going to have their hands full. ☺

The Scarlet Letter

Now I know what Hester Prynne felt like. Kind of. While I don't have a big Scarlet letter A, I do have something else that puts me into a grouping. Something obvious that attracts attention. It says, "This woman is pregnant. This woman has done something to become pregnant. This woman is married. This is a woman."

Is it OK that I still kind of feel like a kid? That I'm plugging away through my 30's, and am a little incredulous that I'm even old enough to have kids? It's insane for me to think about the overwhelming responsibility of caring for the peanuts for the rest of my life.

I keep thinking that I'm becoming one of those people--the people I see battling their screaming kids in stores, or trying to stop their kids from throwing cheerios on restaurant floors and banging sippy cups on high chairs. Or one of those people that forces other people into listening to countless stories about how cute junior is and what junior eats and throws up, and let me show you another 100 pictures and videos on youtube. Or I'm becoming one of those friends that sinks into the oblivion of motherhood, and no longer has time to hang out with friends, or drink lots of glasses of wine, or go on trips on a whim. I will become the one that invites people over, and spends the evening fawning over my kids, trying to put them in bed, revolve, revolve world around these things....

I sound cynical. Or like I don't want to be a mom. And that's not true. I also sound like I don't like that my friends all became moms. And that's also not true. I think it's just the hardest for me to imagine how my life will change, what those peanuts are going to be like, if I'm going to be a PTA mom or a "cool" mom or a strict mom or an impatient mom.

It seems a sink or swim situation, and no amount of preparing can actually prepare you for what's to come. You just have to take it as it comes, learn from it, adapt. But in the meantime, it's anxious waiting to find out what kind of person you're going to be. It's like being in 2nd grade all over again, and writing an essay on "when I grow up...." and then finding out 20 odd years later that I'm not actually a store clerk. That I live in Seattle, WA. That I'm 32 years old. That I'm married, work for a huge company, and am about to have twin girls..........

Alas, enough about that. What have we been up to in our new city? Well, we finally moved out of Abobo (that's the affectionate name for corp housing), and moved into Extended Stay America last Thursday. One word: wow. More like, Extended Chiropractic Visits. Or, Extended Foot Fungus. Or, Extended Time to Not Sit in the Nasty Chair in order not to catch something. or Extended amounts of time stale cigarette smoke can hang in the air.

It was disgusting. Picture the seediest motel room from some Tarantino flick, and that could be our hotel. It lasted a long 5 nights, and we just moved in with friends Carrie and Paul.

But not before we had dinner with other friends Saturday night--in a cute dog-friendly pub/eatery in Fremont called Norm's. Two couples we knew in North Carolina--it was such a fun and comfortable environment, and really great to be around familiar, old-school friends. Even greater to find out that Grace was also pregnant, and due in March. Should be super fun, although they're moving next June.

We also went mattress shopping (hooray, Labor Day!), and invested for the first time in our very own mattress. Can't wait to have it delivered (4 days after we move into the new house). And speaking of the new house, we went for a visit on Monday. Rosemary (the seller) is super fantastic, and it was a great visit. We are both so excited and anxious to move in. The house is going to be absolutely perfect for us, and things happened as they were supposed to. She gave me the tour of the gardens--I hope I don't mess those incredible plants up--but hopefully I'll learn.

We're set to move in on September 25 officially--so just about 2 weeks / 2 days! Hooray! It can't come soon enough.

Until then, Ian played a great house husband and made us a delicious Mexican feast from scratch last night. It was awesome coming home from work, and having such a great meal on the dinner table. We'll see what he cooks up next...

And our 3rd wedding anniversary is tomorrow! Crazy, no? It seems like so long ago. To celebrate, we're heaving to Vancouver Island Friday-Sunday, staying in Victoria. We get there by the Seattle Clipper--kind of like a big speedboat, but just under a 3-hour trip. Should be a great get-away.

Okie dokie, that's all for now!