24 week twin belly

Babies are each as long as an ear of corn. Weird to picture two humans that size living in my uterus. 24 weeks marks the age of "viability" meaning if I went into early labor now, the babies have a 70 percent chance of making it. This makes me feel a little better since I am constantly nervous about preterm labor.

Baby Bargains

One of my co-workers shared this wonderful resource with me. For most first time moms, you will have no idea what to register for and will feel completely overwhelmed by the hundreds of choices, brands and products out there. What do you really need? What brands are good and do you really need to spend that much?

Enter Baby Bargains.

Photo from the Baby Bargain's website.

With an online version and a book you can order, Baby Bargains reviews all things baby and makes suggestions for good, better and best purchases while giving grades to each manufacturer for the different types of products (strollers, high chairs, swings, play mats, etc.). One suggestion I would make, register for everything you need and then start looking at resale shops/craigslist for the exact items you want and slowly taking them off the registry. Trust me, babies need so much STUFF (especially if you have two in there) that I promise there will still be plenty on your registry even as you buy some items used. The swing that Baby Bargains rated best is listed at $179.00 on Babies R Us. I got two, one on craigslist and the other at a resale event, each $40.

Prenatal Yoga

I've been doing prenatal yoga classes at least once a week since week 10. Best decision ever. I take classes at Puma Yoga in Lakewood. The class is all pregnant women so we concentrate a lot on hips, back and shoulders, as well as building leg and arm strength. I highly recommend for any pregnant woman to take a prenatal yoga class. We also do a lot of breathing techniques that are supposed to help with labor. And, you can obviously do the moves on your own time anytime you need to stretch out your back or hips.

I also got a prenatal yoga video on amazon that is pretty good. I think you'll get more out of a class but if you want to try a video at home first, this one is only $10.

23 week twin belly

Babies are the size of papayas!

They are moving around a lot now. Darren finally felt a powerful kick this week and admitted that was the first time he was positive he felt anything. I also saw something (a head?) poke through my belly in yoga class, which was really cool but weird.

Due date poll

They've started a poll at work. So far everyone is guessing around weeks 37 and 38. Makes me feel better no one has guessed super early (yet)!

22 week twin belly

Babies are the size of spaghetti squashes this week!

My sister in law sent over two bins of maternity clothes. Dresses, tops, sweaters, pants, shorts, capris. I am in heaven. My maternity wardrobe will be better than my non-pregnancy wardrobe.

I tried a water aerobics class for the first time ever this week. When I was a lifeguard in high school, we used to make fun of the old women doing water aerobics. But I must say, it was a harder work out than I thought it would be! I'm going to try and go once  a week to vary up my walking/yoga routine.

Mom's of Multiples Sale

Cleaned up! As a member, I got to go to the pre-sale last night. It was so overwhelming and crazy, there was soo much stuff! My mother-in-law came with me to help me pick out all the good deals. Spent $411.50 for all this:

Here's what I bought and what it retails new for:

Graco DuoGlide Twin Stroller (Retails around $150)

2 Graco Snugride 35 car seats with bases (Retails around $130 each)

Fisher Price Little Lamb Swing (Retails $100 to $170)

2 boppy pillows (Retails $30 to $45 each)

Twin breastfeeding pillow (Retails $55 to $75)

Tickle Me Elmo (Retails $20 to $30)

Baby Einstein Play Mat (Retails $50 to $70)

Whale bath tub (Retails $20)

Twin picture frame

Giraffe bank

Diaper Genie (Retails $20 to $40)

5 sleep sacks (Retails $20 a piece)

1 play stand

3 hand held music toys

2 Fisher Price space saver high chairs (Retails $45 to $60)

2 hand puppets

12 books

4 car seat toys

6 rattles and infant toys

1 bumbo seat and tray (Retails with tray for $50)

29 onsises

2 changing pads (Retails $25)

2 changing pad covers (Retails $17.99)

The clothes:

21 week check up

Had another ultrasound today. Babies looked good! Baby A is 15 oz and Baby B is 1 pound. They are just slightly ahead of schedule! Heartbeats were 156 and 153. Baby B is also transverse now instead of breached so that was good news. The specialist said there's still a lot of time though so we won't really know the final positions for a little bit. Both of the placentas are anterior so the doctor said I might not feel as much movement. I have been feeling tons though so I guess that doesn't matter.

Anyway, everything looked good so a pretty routine appointment. We didn't get a picture this time though!

Snoogle, prenatal massage and the prenatal craddle

I am nervous to say it out loud but my back is actually feeling really good this week. I think its a combination of the prenatal massage I got (thank you to my brother and sister for the gift certificate!) and the prenatal cradle brace (stock photo pictured below) I've been wearing.

The other weird pregnancy contraption I bought on Amazon is the snoogle which has been amazing. I started having trouble sleeping around week 15-ish as I started getting too big to sleep on my back. I was using every pillow in the house to try and get comfortable and my cousin Alice suggested I try the snoogle. I bought it on Amazon (which was $15 cheaper than Babies R Us) and have been using it every night. Stock photo posted below in case you are wondering what the heck I am talking about.

21 week twin belly

Each week I look in the mirror in amazement and wonder if I truly can get any bigger. And then I do. And then I do.

Other than being alarmed at my growing belly and wondering if people think I swallowed an elephant, my back has been killing me. On advice of the lovely ladies at my twin group, I purchased a prenatal cradle support band. Been wearing it since last night, hoping it helps. I also bought a pass to take water aerobics at our rec center. And sticking with yoga and my heating pad.