Twenty-Three Weeks!

Things...they are a changin'!  The promise of twins provided twice the incentive to get our lives ready for twice the amount of baby.  It's been a big week.  We had our final OB interview with Dr. Mark Garnaas and decided right then and there that he was the right fit for us - very compassionate, informed, and seemed to grasp the kind of birth experience we are hoping for.  We also traded in the beautiful and impractical convertible roadster for a six-passenger vehicle that will accommodate two car seats, two dogs, two parents, and lots of stuff for trips out to South Dakota to visit grandma and grandpa Schager.  Jason has been fascinated by the visible waves that cross my stomach as Anderson and Bergen play beneath.  The babies have also started to make the most of the late night hours - as I try to sleep, they're stretching, poking, rolling, and making a general ruckus.  I don't think I've ever been so content missing out on sleep.  I know they're just conditioning me for what's to come once they arrive.  I'm not sure how Jason is going to be conditioned...

It's a Boy....and a Girl!

A little over two weeks ago Jason and I went in for our first ultrasound to see if we could determine the sex of our mysterious little one.  As soon as the sonographer set down the wand on my abdomen she said "Wow, there's a lot going on in there!  There's two babies!"  Jason and I couldn't believe our eyes and ears - we laughed and cried in disbelief - it was truly the most joyous shock of our lives!  A few minutes later, after some investigating, we were told that Baby A was a boy, and Baby B was a girl...we couldn't believe our luck!  We're so excited for the arrival of our twins!  As it is now, Baby A (Anderson) is a little bit bigger than his sister Baby B (Bergen).  He is also positioned towards the front of my uterus which means I feel his little active arms and legs constantly throughout the day.  They are both approximately 10" long and weigh about a pound each - the same size as an average singleton baby at this time.  Soooo, this changes everything!  My due date is likely to come sooner than June 20.  Term with twins is 36 weeks, so that would put us at the end of May.  It also means that a homebirth is not really an option, so we're going to continue working with our midwife as a doula (meaning she'll attend the birth more as a coach and advocate for us in the hospital).  So we're on the look out for an OB that will be a good fit.  We're also realizing that we'll need two of a few things...and a bigger car than we originally planned on...  Lots to do and celebrate in the upcoming months!  In the photos above, you can see Anderson's face towards the left of the frame, his eyes, nose, and mouth as if he were resting on a pillow.  You can also see Bergen's distinct profile.