If you have been following for a while now, you know my love for Old Navy Rockstar denim. I finally broke down and bought these Rockstar maternity black jeans and I am in love. They are softer than any of the other maternity jeans I currently own and so, so comfortable. I will be wearing and styling them at least once a week until I deliver so prepare to see a lot of them.

  This weekend was exactly what I needed after my hellish week last week and I am recharged, well rested and ready to see my babies at my ultrasound today. Stay tuned for the update tomorrow.

 

Old Navy maternity jeans (click here to purchase), Walmart flats (click here to purchase), Motherhood Maternity top (click here for similar), Forever 21 earrings

Pregnancy Isn't All Fun And Games

So far throughout this pregnancy I have talked about the things I learned in my first trimester and also about the sweet things like baby movement and the love I already have for my twins.

My pregnancy has been far from a walk in the park and here are all the reason why.

1. Two words- DAILY INJECTIONS!  I have a 4G/4G blood clotting genetic genotype which is associated with the highest levels of circulating PAI in plasma (thanks to my dad's side of the family) that makes me very susceptible to blood clots and thankfully I knew this going into my pregnancy and notified my doctor just in case.  Well...just in case haha on me they decided at my twelve week ultrasound I needed to be on Lovenox shots as a preventative measure so blood clots don't form in my placenta.  To say I freaked the fuck out would be an understatement.  I hate shots with a passion like-start-shaking-and-getting-all-hot-and-sweaty-and-worked-up and I was informed I had to do daily injections (in my stomach) for the remainder of this pregnancy.  They called in my prescription that day and my husband and I went and picked up the monthly supply (it costs $150 dollars a month and that is WITH insurance) and I couldn't do it...I still can't give myself the injection.  It took my husband 45 minutes that first time because I was crying and moving around aka running away and literally making myself sick getting worked up thinking about it.  I have gotten much better than that first experience 15 weeks ago but I dread it every.single.day.

2. The constant peeing is another annoying pregnancy symptom.  The first trimester I was waking up 2-3 times a night and basically sleep walking to the bathroom and then it magically went away at the start of the second trimester.  As I am entering my third trimester the peeing is back and again it's 2-3 times a night depending on what time I go to bed.  I also toss and turn and wake myself up a lot now that I am a lot bigger and my hips are starting to hurt in the wee hours of the morning.  So all in all I wake up about 6-8 times nightly.

3. Swelling is another joyful part of making a baby or babies in my case.  I have not been able to wear my wedding band and engagement ring for almost two months now and I miss them so bad.  I had a fake diamond that I wore on my honeymoon so I didn't lose my rings in the ocean, pool, etc. in St. Lucia and thankfully still have it and have been wearing it so I didn't feel so naked and without a baby daddy.  My feet and ankles just started swelling a month ago and at first it was just long car rides and but now it's a daily occurrence.  Standing for long periods of time makes me look like I have cankles and I cannot wear heels for more than an hour. My feet don't hurt at all but they look crazy and I am really starting to worry if any of my fall shoes, boots, wedges will fit me when colder weather strikes. 

4.  Chloasma/Mask of Pregnancy...even the name sounds horrible.  As soon as I go out into the sunshine I get sun spots so it was no surprise that I would get this skin discoloration on the face during the summer months of pregnancy.  Women with darker skin are more prone to it and I keep nice color year round, my whole family does.  I have been wearing SPF 50 on my face every day this summer and I'm never seen without a hat at the pool when I go.  This symptom is more annoying than anything because I truly look like a weirdo without makeup and it really does make me self conscious so I have invested in some really good, expensive concealer.  Thank goodness this goes away after having these baby boys or I would really be in trouble. 

 

5. Did anyone else know that nosebleeds were a pregnancy symptom?? Anyone?  I have never had a nosebleed in my entire life and then I get pregnant and have had like 10 of them.  Apparently as progesterone and estrogen course through your body, they increase the blood flow which makes your tissues soften.  This can cause your blood vessels to constrict, which result in congestion and bloody noses.  I had two of them the weekend of my baby shower and even passed a blood clot -so gross and it scared me half to death.

 

 

(This is not everything weird that has happened to me cause that list would be a mile long but it is stuff that has been pretty continuous my entire pregnancy so far.  Even though all these things are super annoying I would do it all again in a heartbeat!) 

Baby Shower Pictures

I just realized that I never shared any baby shower pictures from the twins shower last Saturday...pregnancy brain is REAL y'all.  I loved the decorations and everything about it was so perfect.  These baby boys are already so loved and blessed beyond measure.  

Have a great weekend:)

All the hostesses- the twins aunts and great-aunts

This is the table BEFORE the guests arrived!!

Gestational Diabetes FAIL

I received the call from my doctor's office late yesterday afternoon that I failed my gestational diabetes screening test.

  Um, WHAT? Excuse me?! Come again???

I thought it might happen because I have a family history of diabetes but I have been working out and eating semi healthy throughout this entire thing. Apparently none of that matters...skinny and fat woman both get gestational diabetes, it doesn't discriminate. So my next test-a two hour test- is now scheduled for next Friday at 9am (sigh). This test requires fasting, no food after midnight and only water in the morning, and then I drink a even bigger, sugary drink and have my blood tested every hour for two hours.

This is just a bump in the road and I'll do anything for these babies. 

 

Old Navy midi skirt (click here for similar ONLY $10), Target t-shirt (click here to purchase), Old Navy vest (click here to purchase), Tory Burch flip flops (click here to purchase), Swell Caroline monogram necklace (click here to purchase), Flower Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby Floral Coral lipstick (click here to purchase)

Fuchsia Rose

Triste dress via Gwynnie Bee (click here to get a FREE month), Tory Burch sandals (click here to purchase), Old Navy maternity jacket (click here to purchase), Sassy Steals necklace

Kimono's Are ONE Of My Pregnancy Staples

I hardly ever wore kimono's when I wasn't pregnant but they have been one of my pregnancy staples since I have started getting bigger in my stomach, arms...well everywhere really. Check out other ways I have worn kimono's here and here. 

  Dresses are also a no-brainer maternity staple. I couldn't have survived this far into my pregnancy (21 weeks and counting) without them. Great news is most are actually just a size up from my regular non-maternity sizing so hopefully I will still be able to get some use out of them in the years to come.

 

Old Navy maternity dress (click here to purchase), Southern Bella Boutique kimono (click here for similar), Target skinny belt (click here for similar), J. Crew earrings, Sam and Libby sandals via Poshmark

If The Shoe Fits...

How stinking adorable is this handkerchief tank top!  I am dying over the quirkiness of it...it is the ultimate summer top.  I can just imagine wearing it with jean cut-offs and Converse and a more classic look with white jeans.  

I hope y'all are not tired of me wearing billowy tops yet, I just cannot seem to wear tight, belly baring stuff...I'm not quite there.  I obviously knew that I was going to gain weight while pregnant but I didn't expect to be so weirded out by it. I have had to diet pretty constantly from high school on and I have fluctuated up and down for years so to see the numbers on the scale continuously going up...it's doing crazy things to my body image.  Last Thursday at my doctors appointment my doctor told me I was to gain a minimum of one pound per week until I deliver...ONE POUND WEEKLY.  I left secretly thrilled with those "doctors orders"- I mean, I have never in all my life been told I needed to gain weight!  Of course I am planning to do it the healthy way and not gorge myself with candy, ice cream and pizza (bummer, right).  A little ice cream can't hurt though;)

 

Karen Kane tank via Gwynnie Bee (click here to join), Old Navy jeans (click here to join), Target cardigan, Lulu's clutch, Francesca's earrings, Al'tard State sandals

What I Learned During The First Trimester

What I Learned During The First Trimester

I am not a expert by any means considering these are my first babies, but I learned some things during the first 14 weeks and thought I would share.

1.  Worrying does not solve anything!  The second I found out I was pregnant (right at 4 weeks) panic and terror took over.  I was petrified of a miscarriage and it was all I could concentrate on for the first 3 weeks of pregnancy.  I was reading everything I could about them, reading stories from other moms on chat rooms and remembering all my friends that had them throughout the years.  It was so bad that I started dreaming about it happening.  I was driving my husband crazy with worry.  I finally realized that I needed to start thinking about the positive instead of the negative and every time I started getting scared after that I would focus on the "glass half full" approach.  I was feeling great, I hadn't had a reason to even be worried (no spotting or bleeding) and I going to be a mommy!

2.  Having friends that are pregnant the same time as you is awesome!  Two of my very best friends have been right there, literally living this pregnancy right along with me.  One is 8 weeks ahead of me and the other is 17 weeks ahead of me.  I can not tell you how many times I have text them up until this point about questions I have had both weird, crazy, big and small stuff.  I am so thankful they are ahead of me and can guide me through all the milestones and what to expect.  It's also a added bonus that we can all hang out and do pregnant things together like eat (duh), shop for all things baby related, movie dates and exercise together.

3.  Sleep is your best friend!  I have napped almost EVERY,SINGLE DAY since I have found out I was pregnant.  I get so tired all the time, even after the smallest things (like eating a meal).  I cannot even go near my bed without getting in it and closing my eyes and next thing you know, two hours have passed.  I am getting on average 8-9 hours of sleep each night plus an extra 1-2 hours a day napping.  My husband said it is good I am resting up now because after these babies are born, we will both be walking zombies.

4.  If you find out you are having twins, prepare for a RANGE of emotions!  I still remember everything that happened in the ultrasound room the day we found out we were having twins (7 weeks).  My husband turned into a statue...wouldn't talk, wouldn't move his head, just stared straight ahead at the ultrasound screen.  I, on the other hand, was in complete disbelief.  I bet I asked my doctor if he was joking six different time while we were there.  I was convinced we were on that show Pranked, and they were gonna announce after the shock of our lives, that they were only kidding.  It took a good week for both of us to absorb the news...we were terrified (how do we take care of two babies), we were scared financially (we are gonna need double of everything, how can we even afford this), I started getting nervous about things that could go wrong again (a whole new list of worries- vanishing twin syndrome, the risk of bleeding in your first trimester is higher with twins, etc.), and finally excitement and acceptance (we can do this, we love both babies so much already, I cannot believe we were blessed with two miracles instead of one).

5.  Take it day by day or week by week!  You are not supposed to have it all figured out in the beginning, especially first time moms.  I was reading every baby book I could get my hands on and browsing the Internet for at least an hour a day.  The majority of the stuff I read just started scaring me so I cut back.  I have been in the minority about a lot of things and VERY lucky.  I have not had any morning sickness, no food aversions or even cravings, no headaches (although I have started getting these now)...basically besides making myself worry, I have had a pretty easy first trimester.  It has gotten easier every week since I have been pregnant and I finally quit acting like a crazy first time parent (seriously, my doctor was on speed dial there for awhile).  Seeing those babies heartbeats and little lives inside of me was the coolest thing that I have ever experienced.  I am so excited to meet my babies!