Family Traditions

This week brought many great get-togethers with our families. We started out the Thanksgiving festivities at my brother's and Katie's house for more of a Thanksgiving lunch. Izzie loves to go visit her cousin, Kingston. No pictures, forgot the camera... bummer. Kingston is a Yorkie and they get along so well! Then we were off to Eau Claire to continue the festivities with Adam's side of the family. The food was delicious, although I have to be careful how much I eat. I am in extreme pain if I eat too much! Thursday night was cut early as Adam had to get up at 1:30 a.m. to be at the stores for BLACK FRIDAY!

The ladies kept with Black Friday Tradition and headed West to Stillwater and St. Paul to hit some boutiques. We stay away from all the large department stores and malls which is just fine with me! It was Elle's first year and she was a trooper! I am nervous about keeping this tradition alive next year... two babies + a double stroller + tight boutiques = not sure if it will work...

Elle has the cutest Christmas Shopping hat on... I love hats as well!

Continuing to stay with Wamboldt Family Tradition, we watched "Christmas Vacation" on Saturday night. It is a rule to not watch this movie before Thanksgiving and to watch it with the family on Thanksgiving weekend. It is a family favorite, hence Adam's Halloween costume this past year. All lines are recited on cue and every year they have to pick out something they have not noticed before!

Elle was a good little Tree Shopper! Her pink nose matches her hat!

Another Wamboldt tradition is cutting Christmas Trees. The last two years we have stayed close to home at the Pleasant Valley Tree Farm. Years prior, we traveled to Nicolet National Forest near Green Bay to cut trees. That is where Adam and I got engaged! Our first tree was as Charlie Brown as you could get. The branches were soooo weak we needed fish line to hold them up to support ornaments and lights. So, we still kind of look for the Charlie Brown tree... and we found one!

I like the holes in it and it to not be as full so more of the ornaments show through!

Before we could cut it, I needed to make sure I was not wider than the tree (this is my belly shot for the week.... 24 Weeks).

Adam was proud that he conquered the tree!

The tree is in the house, but will not be decorated until later in the week. check back next week for the finished product!

Baby Bump

Ok... Not so much a bump but maybe a hill. It will soon be a mountain, which makes me a bit nervous! This week is ALL ABOUT the BABIES.

Week 23
The first picture is with the BIG belly covered.

I really don't feel that large on a daily basis... but WOW when you catch a direct side profile the babies are there! Many of the books I am reading state that friends may start to notice the expanding belly... Ummm the MAILMAN made a comment to me last week! Adam and I have also noticed while out and about people's eyes go from my face to my belly.

Then there is the full belly shot... yes, that is a smile on my face still.

The babies continue to be very active. Often times the two are active at the same time. Sometimes though, I can tell that just Baby A is moving and then goes still and Baby B will move at a complete separate time. It is crazy to feel both moving at the same time. It's like there is a boxing and kicking match going on!

The Babies continue to grow as they are working hard to build more body fat. Their skin is still wrinkled but their body and face are beginning to assume more of the appearance of an infant at birth. Their main job right now is to put on weight and fat and strengthen their systems that are already developed. As our doctor said on Monday, "They will continue to grow and we need to keep them in the womb as long as possible!"

We received a letter from our doctor this week confirming pretty much what the ultrasound techs told us last Monday at our appointment. But, after viewing the radiologists report, Dr. Walker wanted to let us know that the babies actually have their own placentas. It takes some stress off of us worrying about one twin stealing all the nutrients as they have their own supply. Otherwise everything looked great and there were no concerns. We have another appointment in three weeks and we will have another ultra sound! We will have many pictures of the little ones before they are even born!

I am looking forward to only one and a half days with kiddos this week. Adam is looking forward to getting all the stores ready for Black Friday and kicking off their holiday season. The both of us look forward to spending time with family this week and eating all the yummy food that Thanksgiving brings!

Bad Roads, Baptism, and BABIES!!!

This post comes a day late, but is full of news and pictures... Not much happened during the week, but we had a very busy weekend to make up for a slow week!

We'll go right in the order as my title says... Starting out with the Bad Roads. We had picked out our nursery furniture months ago and were just waiting for the right time to buy. I was thinking that a Black Friday sale would be the best time, but when I called to hear their promotions, it turned out that this past Saturday was the best day to buy. I was up early to hit the road on a mission... Needless to say, the biggest snowfall in the month of November for Minnesota was also on a mission! I contemplated not going, turning back a couple times, but talked myself into voyaging forward to USA Baby in Minneapolis (just past The Mall of America). My mom rode with, which I am not quite sure if I would have rather been by myself. I didn't need the stress of her reacting to every little snowflake falling. Below are some pictures of our trip... my mom got busy with the camera which took her stress and eyes off the road.

ISH...

EEEEWWW...

ICK... yes, that is a car in the ditch facing oncoming traffic.

The last picture is the steady and trustworthy family vehicle that got us there and back, safe and sound!

We ordered two cribs, two dressers, the mattresses, the toddler rails, and the adult rails. The cribs we picked will allow them to be toddler beds and turn into double beds as well. I think I can say it's the most money I have spent in 10 minutes! Pictures will follow when they are set in the nursery... but delivery is out 10-12 weeks which makes me kind of nervous!

Saturday night we hosted some family members that were up for Elle's Baptism. Adam's aunt Cathy and uncle Bill, his parents, his Grandma, and Aunt Missy came over to order Ted's Pizza and play quarters. We also cannot forget about Elle, Missy, and Dave as well!

Notice Izzie peeking over my arm... she is running out of room on my lap!

Elle Marie was Baptised on Sunday and Adam and I are Co-God Parents. She was the cutest in her gown (made by Adam's Grandma and worn by other cousins) and the bow in her hair.

Elle is so lucky to have two sets of god parents that will always look out for her... and spoil her.

Not crazy about this next picture... It's bad of both Adam and I, but we could not be prouder of our beautiful niece, Elle Marie.

Last but not least, news on the BABIES! We had our appointment today (Monday, November 15th) and we got to see the little bambinos on the big screen. NOOOO we did not find out the gender! The best part of the ultra sound was right away they were punching each other. OK not so true, Baby A was hitting Baby B. Baby B seems to have the shorter end of the stick with being cramped up and having to deal with punches. I have been feeling A LOT of movement and had a pretty good idea on their placements, but today confirmed it. Baby A has his/her head down and is positioned on my left side and Baby B has his/her head right below my right rib (and I can feel it) and his/her legs are down by Baby A's head. Basically they are smelling each others feet but the arms are positioned to be able to punch each other.

Like I said earlier, little Baby B is kind of cramped and was at a bad angle for a good profile shot but here is the best one below... You can see a very tiny nose and the other little blob is it's fist, or boxing glove.

Baby A was a little more cooperative and you can see the profile better. What a cute little nose!

Some quick Stats from today's appointment:

Baby A: 1 lb. 4 oz Heartbeat: 150

Baby B: 1 lb. 3 oz. Heartbeat: 141

They are sharing a placenta and as long as they stay similar in size all is good! Otherwise we don't want one to be stealing all the nutrients. I am measuring 7 weeks over. If you remember from last time, I was 4 weeks over. Oh Boy... big belly, here we come! But... the past 3-5 weeks was a big growth spurt for the babies. We go back in four weeks and I have the dreaded blood sugar test. We will also have another ultrasound at this time and probably every four weeks from now on. It is scary to think that after our next appointment, I am scheduling appointments for every two weeks! Then we will move to every week! Eeek. Time is flying by!

We have a lot to be thankful for!

Amy & Adam

We have TWO Bananas!

This is a slow news week. Halloween weekend was so busy that we really laid low this week and got some much needed rest. Volleyball is done for me, so being able to leave work at a normal time and getting home for a little bit of exercise has left me continuing to feel good! I really have no complaints about his pregnancy, but don't think that I don't have a countdown in my head (15 weeks until I hit the 36 week mark). At the 36 week mark if all continues to look good, my doctor will let me deliver in Menomonie.

It feels like it has been forever since we last heard the heartbeats. We have to wait another week until our 22 week check-up and the BIG ultra-sound. I continue to feel their movements on a daily basis and they definitely have their more active times. I am not sure if it the way I sit up straight to eat, them fighting for the space, or if it is their natural awake time but that is when I feel the most movements. They start at lunch and jolt and jab until after supper. I cannot wait to see how they are positioned as I believe I am feeling them in two complete different sides and spots! Adam thinks he may have felt some movement, but it's hard to be sure. I am sure within the next week or so he will be able to feel them doing their acrobatic routine.

21 Weeks

(Blurry pictures means a new camera for Christmas is in store... before we have priceless pictures to take!)

This week we are 21 weeks pregnant and the babies are about the size of a BANANA. The babies continue to grow longer. Their crown to rump length is about 7 1/4 inches and they now weigh about 10 1/2 ounces each. Their rapid growth rate has slowed. However, the baby continues to grow and develop their different organ system.

Next week should be a more eventful post as we are having Elle's Baptism on Sunday and hosting some of the family to stay at our house. Also, even though our house is for sale and we are hoping to bring the babies home to the new house... I have convinced Adam to at least get a closet organizer and paint the "nursery" here so I can start to feel ready IF we are in this house still. I hope to get the cribs and dressers on a Black Friday sale as well!

~ Thanks for checking in... The Wamboldt's

HaPpY HALLOWEEN!

Adam and I stepped a little out of our comfort zone this past week and had some fun with Halloween! Izzie has been a Bee for the last three years... I think it may be time for a new costume next year. Maybe she'll match the twins in some sort of costume?!?!?! She isn't crazy about the costume, we put it on her for some pictures, and then to hand out candy to the Trick-or-Treaters she wore just a jester collar with bells. Yes, I dress our dog sometimes...

As I said earlier, this is a night we don't really get into but we decided to put together some costumes last minute to enjoy the night and partake in some festivities... My sister got me the Bee costume. I liked it because it was naturally full and covered my bump. This allowed me to secretly be pregnant at the bar and enjoy the night. It's wonderful that WI bars are now smoke free!!! For Cousin Eddie's costume we just needed the white robe and the cigar... I thought he needed the robe shorter but knew I couldn't push the comfort level too much. He already needed to start drinking at home for the courage to walk into the bar ;).

Here is the Queen Bee and her little Honey... she's shy.

The longer Cousin Eddie was out and about, the more comfortable he got... What I really wish I could have gotten pictures of was my shorts he was wearing underneath!!!

Halloween is my sister's and her boyfriend's favorite day of the year. Their costumes are always amazing. Price was a Zombie and Elly was a "Day of the Dead" person... Look at the details!

We ended the festivities with traveling to Eau Claire to Missy and Dave's house to enjoy their company. We don't get many Trick-or-Treaters, so the past few years we have joined then in their neighborhood fun. Izzie and Paisley get along about as good as a big and energetic dog, and a small, lazy dog can. This is a pretty common picture to see them in... Paisley wanting to play and Izzie giving her the "back pose."

Oh! Wait, they are kind of laying semi-close to each other!!! Paisley just wants to play, but she "boxes" Izzie in the face and she doesn't know how to play with big dogs.

And last but VERY NOT LEAST, the cutest costume of the weekend... the CuTeSt little Butterfly we ever saw....

ELLE!

She was so cute, What will she be next year?

Next week will be less about Adam and I and more about the BaBiEs!

~Amy and Adam