Baby Craft Projects

Since I have been feeling better I decided to make a few things for the babies.  Being an engineer, I am not very artistic but I can follow directions and copy other people's ideas.  :0)  While shopping for craft supplies, I came across the Christmas ornament below.  I just loved it and had to have it!

Closet Dividers
My good friend, Haley, made closet dividers for one of our friends. I just loved the idea and thought it would be helpful to organize the babies' closet.  She shared the following blog with me that she used to make the dividers:
http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2009/11/21/diy-closet-dividers/

I bought O's from Hobby Lobby,
craft paint, scrap paper, and Mod Podge 

Anna Kate's Dividers

Foster's Dividers

Anna Kate's Closet Organizers (The numbers look off in the picture but are even)

Foster's Closet Dividers

Anna Kate's Bow Holder

As soon as I found out I was having a little girl I was so excited to buy hair bows and lacy clothes. While organizing the nursery closet, I realized that I needed a means of organizing Anna Kate's hair bows so I looked on Etsy for ideas and below is what I came up with. All of the materials came from Hobby Lobby and were very inexpensive.

I bought all the materials from Hobby Lobby

I used wood glue to apply the letters and a staple gun to attach the ribbons.  I sewed a washer at the bottom of each ribbon to serve as a weight. I was going to glue the washer on but decided for safety reason's that I would sew the washer in. I didn't want to create a choking hazard.  I love the way this project turned out!

I made the ribbons really long to hold several bows

I think Anna Kate will love the crown and owl

I also made burp cloths but will include in a separate post since this one is so long.

WOW!!

Today at 11:45am I had just finished eating lunch (fried dill pickles, fried mushrooms, and fried rice) and I was visiting with my co-workers.  I know what a healthy lunch!  I had my hands resting on my stomach near my ribs when I felt a hard kick.  It was so hard it moved my hand. I was so surprised. It was my 1^st time to feel a kick from the outside. I’m not sure which baby it was but I was able to tell a total of 3 kicks. It was so sweet that it brought tears to my eyes. It was the most amazing thing ever!! I can’t wait to be a mommy!!

So begins the Waddle at 20 weeks!

I was walking to my office yesterday when one of my co-workers said “Where are you going waddler?” And so the waddle begins… I have been trying my hardest to walk normal but I guess that is no longer an option. LOL 

I am 20 weeks today and so proud! I feel like my belly bump is growing by the hour. I keep trying to remember to bring some stretch mark cream with me to work since I really feel the stretch during the day.  According to the weekly emails I receive the babies are the size of bananas this week. (10 inches from head to heel)! So exciting! I think today is the first day that I just feel miserable. My back has a nagging ach and I have a pain in my lower pelvis- on top of that I just feel exhausted. I know this is just the beginning but I am at the halfway mark finally.  As of this morning I have gained 17 pounds which is perfect for twins.

Over this past weekend, Jason and I had dinner with our friends Kevin and Keira at Chef Scott’s. We love sushi!! It was delicious and was nice to visit with and celebrate Kevin’s birthday. After dinner, we went to the movies to see Courageous. It was a wonderful Christian movie about parenthood but mainly fatherhood. It was the perfect time for in our lives to watch a movie like that with such a powerful message. I hope that we remember the movie while raising our children and savor every moment with them. I suggest this movie to everyone even if you are not a parent because it does make you realize that you should cherish every minute you have on earth. 


One night this week, we decided that we were going to make homemade pizza on the Green Egg. The pizza turned out great. We used fresh mozzarella, deli pepperoni, fresh spinach, and olives. It was great!

19 Weeks

I had my anatomic ultrasound today. This ultrasound is normally performed between 18-22 weeks of pregnancy.  The ultrasound determines fetal anomalies, the babies’ size, weight and measurements to ensure growth is according to plan. This is the first appointment that Jason has missed so instead mom came with me.  Everything on the babies looked good.  Each baby is weighting 9 ounces and is measuring the same size.  Foster has now moved to my left side and Anna Kate is still on my right side. Both heads are by my rib cage on each side. My lower back pain has gone away. I think it was due to Foster being so low. I am happy he has decided to reposition himself.

Anna Kate

Foster Side Profile

I think I am now starting to feel some movement. It is not defined but I can defiantly feel something moving at times. I can’t wait until I can feel more movement especially from the outside.  My belly bump is continuing to grow as you can see below. I am still having a difficult time sleeping. I wake up on my back and get upset but can’t figure out how to avoid it.  I am working on crafts this week for the babies but I will include pictures in a separate post.

Anna Kate's tiny foot

Foster's sweet feet

18 Weeks & Cowbell

I can say that I am now 5 months. I know it seems weird to think that I am 5 months at 18 weeks but according to what I have read online your fifth month begins at 18 weeks and continues through 21 weeks. I am just so happy to be this far along without any major complications.

I did go to the doctor earlier this week on Wednesday. I started having sharp pains in my lower pelvis area.  I thought at first that it may be round ligaments pains but the nurse told me that they are usually on the sides and not in your lower pelvis. She had me come into the office for a checkup.  The doctor checked my cervix and the babies’ heart rate. Everything checked out good. She said she didn’t think I was miscarrying or I would have spotting. I couldn’t believe that she even spoke the word “miscarry.” That is such an evil word and brought tears to my eyes just hearing the word! I am so happy that everything checked out good. Mom met me at the office so I wouldn’t be alone.  I decided to take off on Thursday to get some rest to make sure that exhaustion wasn’t a factor.

On Friday, we left for Starkville to watch the Bulldogs play against South Carolina. It was a beautiful day and I was happy that I decided to go after all.  That evening we had dinner with our friends at Old Venice which is normally my favorite. I was a little disappointed because the menu changed but dinner was still good.

More Cowbell!
MSU- South Carolina Game

On Sunday, we decided to have breakfast before heading home. One of our favorites is Starkville Café but the restaurant was packed so we decided on the Perry Cafeteria on campus. Well then the Cafeteria was closed (Note: it opens at 10:30am on Sunday). So we decided to have breakfast at Tyler’s which is mom’s favorite.  Since our original plan was to eat at Starkville Café I didn’t apply any makeup. I looked awful! Well soon after we sat down at Tyler’s, Dan Mullen and the coaching staff entered for a recruiting brunch.  Jason and I decided to take pictures with the coaches.  As always when you are not expecting to see anyone- you see everyone!

Jason with MSU Coaches

Jason, Dan Mullen, and me
One of the coaches took the pic- LOL

Gender Reveal Party

The  Gender Reveal Party was at our house on October 8, 2011. We were so busy preparing the house for the party that I didn't have much time to think about the excitement before the party but I have to say it was an amazing experience to share with our families and friends.  We had an unbelievable time.  

The theme for our party was a bird's nest with 2 small eggs. We served cake, Anderson's sugar cookies, cold coffee punch, lemonade, and coffee.  Below is the invitation:

Our closest friends and family were all there to make memories with us. My sister, Christina, and Uncle Tim in Washington, DC attended via Skype. Everyone stopped by the computer to say hi. I think my Mac is the best present I have received in a while.

We cut the top tier cake which is Baby A--- It's BLUE!!! A Boy!! We announced his name Foster Michael which is after Jason Great-Grandfather James Foster. It was emotional for Jason's family. They were honored that we would name our son after him. We chose Michael since it is Jason's first name, his father's name, and my father's middle name. 

 

Then to the lower tier of the cake- Baby B--- Its's PINK!! A Girl!! Her name will be Anna Kate.  Anna is a family name on both sides of our family (Jason's cousin and great aunt are named Anna and my Aunt's middle name is Ann) and I also have a dear friend name Anna. Kate is just a name we liked :0).  The morning of the party, Jason and I laid in bed still trying to decide on Baby B's name. I don't know why it was so much harder to name a girl. I was still stuck on Lucy and Ann Marie but Anna Kate will be it! 

The top tier of the cake was filled with chocolate mousse and the bottom tier was filled with strawberry filling. The cake flavor was white chocolate.

Cake topper

Sign-in Table

I love this sweet nest and eggs

Anderson's Cookies- my favorite

                      

Below are a some photos from our special day.

The To Be Grandmothers trying to break into the cake

The twins. My cousins Girl-Girl twins Allie and Katie and our friends, the Deangelo's Boy-Boy twins. Next year at this time we will add another set of twins- I can't wait!

Special thanks to Shem and Keira for operating the camera and video camera. Also a very special thanks to my wonderful mother who practically cleaned my entire house. (My lower back was hurting so bad that it would have been difficult to do that much labor.) Also thanks to my mom and Mother-In-Law, Mrs. June, who helped with all the cleanup. I also want to thank everyone who shared the day with us. We received 1698 Diapers and 1060 wipes!! 

I am inserted a video that I created to capture the memories.  This was the first time I used iMovie so don't be too hard on me. I know it needs some more work but I decided to post it anyway.  I will update it as I improve it :0)

If the video doesn't work you can watch it on YouTube at:
http://youtu.be/00PEzN8m9gw

17 Weeks

So Jason and I went to the doctor today for my 17 week checkup. We were both excited all day for a couple of reasons 1) I love getting ultrasounds and seeing the babies move around 2) We get to find out the genders of our sweet babies.  We were so excited!! We decided that we wanted to find the genders out before we revealing to all of our family and friends. We have been through a lot as a couple trying to conceive and decided that this was an intimate moment that we wanted to share alone. We also wanted to announce the names at the Gender Reveal Party and wanted to ensure we decided the names beforehand.

Everything went well at the appointment. According to the scale at the doctor’s office, I have gained 14 pounds (on my scale I gained 12 pounds).  I’m not sure if I mentioned it previously but I have been trying to follow suggestions made by Dr. Barbara Luke in the book When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy.  The book outlines weight gaining suggestions when expecting more than a singleton.  According to her guidelines I am on target. She recommends gaining 20 pounds by 20 weeks based on a normal BMI. At the rate I am going, I don’t think I will have a problem gaining 6 pounds in 3 weeks. 

I always confuse what the babies heart-rates are but I know one heart-rate was 150 and one was 144. I need to take notes while in the doctor’s office. I also asked the doctor a few questions such as can I use a heating pad on my back? (answer: yes); can I travel to the Alabama/MSU football game in November? (answer: possibly but we will have to wait and see); are there any classes offered on birthing or lactation? (answer: yes call the hospital), can I sleep on my back? (answer: No!! No!!) and similar questions to that.

I am still feeling better beside a few aches and pains. The nausea for the most part is gone but my lower back has been killing me. I think it is because Baby A is so low. I really don’t have any food cravings which makes me sad. I sure which there was something that was just delicious to me because now I just eat to eat.  I use the restroom non-stop especially when I am trying to go to sleep at night.  I am not sleeping good at all! I sleep but it is a light sleep which I think is due to being worried about sleeping on my back. One last note- I still can’t feel the babies moving. If I am laying flat and still I think I feel something but not sure.  Overall everything is going great!

We are working late each night cleaning the house for the Gender Reveal Party. I can’t wait! Only 4 more days!!

Weekend Trip to Baton Rouge

October 2, 2011

We left Saturday morning to visit the Thomason's (Jim, Christie, Reece, and Dean) in Baton Rouge. We have been planning our visit since the Spring.  Each year we communicate by email or plans for the MSU football season. The Thomason's decided to host us and the Forman's (Matt, Haley, and Collin) for the weekend to watch the MSU/Georiga Game. We arrive around 10am for the 11am game.  We snacked on tailgate food and enjoyed watching the game together. I am not sure what has happened to our team but we ended up losing 10-24. We were suppose to be the real deal this year but I'm not sure what has happened,

Jason and I watching the game

During the 4th Quater, Christie, Haley, and I left to shop at a Pea in a Pod and Babies R Us.  I sure wish we had a Pea in a Pod around us. I think I would shop there every week! After our shopping trip the guys had dinner ready for us which was delicious.

Baby Collin, Reece, and Baby Dean

Dean loves the grass!

We had a great time in Baton Rouge! Thanks Thomason's!

Collin was the only one that would take a pic with me