34 weeks

Today is a big day. Actually today is regular and I am BIG. :) I am 34 weeks pregnant. Babies are measuring 4 plus pounds each. And here are a few pictures to document the last few weeks.

Here I am at 32 weeks pregnant:

That shirt is not actually a maternity shirt but has now become a maternity shirt because I have stretched it into submission. Horizontal stripes probably do me no favors but it is very very long and covers the underpart of my belly - which some things simply can't reach. 32 weeks pregnant at 32 years of age. Wow.

Here I am at 33 weeks pregnant:

I am not small. The belly may not look bigger in this shot but let me assure you. It has grown. Surprisingly without stretch marks.

I haven't taken a picture of 34 weeks yet - I need to be a bit cuter than I currently am right now before we get the camera out again.

Here are the top 10 things I have learned about pregnancy:

1) Strangers touch your belly. For some reason, most of them are in the grocery store. Not sure why. But it is uncomfortable when a person you don't know touches you. I wonder how they would react if I told them I wasn't pregnant and it was a tumor or something? Hmmm.

2) Touching is totally fine if you actually know the person. If I know the person, it ISN'T uncomfortable. Almost like they are giving you a hug or something when they touch your belly. Almost as strange as number 1.

3) People are WAAAAAY nicer to pregnant people. I often have people offer to carry things, let me sit down earlier at restaurants, start casual conversation with me - simply because people are nice. And particularly more nice to pregnant ladies. But really - family members, church members, co-workers - everyone wants you sitting down and resting. I find that most of these people have personally been pregnant or had a spouse be pregnant - so they understand how a woman can become winded when she bends down to slip on her Crocs. Yeah. I wear Crocs and they are LOVELY.

4) I knew your feet would get swollen but I have NO IDEA that this included conditions like, Foot Muffin Top (thanks Heather Warren for coining the term). This happened to me last weekend when we were going to a reception. The dresses still fit (a small miracle) but I tried on 20 pairs of shoes and I looked like I had replaced my bony feet with Miss Piggy's feet. The end result was either flip flops or driving to Target to buy some fat flats for the reception. Since I am emotionally not to the point where I am comfortable wearing flip flops to church or events - we stopped at Target on the way. I am sure that emotionally I will be there in a very very short time.

5) Parts of your body actually jiggle. Parts that didn't/shouldn't jiggle. LIKE MY FEET AND ANKLES. Yeah, I feel small jiggling tremors coming from them. And it is disturbing.

6) The belly doesn't stop growing until the babies are actually delivered. I know that may seem like a no brainer, but when you are looking at your belly in the mirror - there is a part of you that thinks - this thing can't possibly get any bigger - can it? Guess what everyone? It CAN GET BIGGER. And it is getting bigger every day.

7) Stretch Marks haven't happened. YET. I am not saying that to brag. I am saying that because I am genuinely surprised by this small miracle. Genetically my Mom helped me out. But she can only help me up to a certain point because I am pregnant with twins and I am venturing into some unchartered territory in our family. SO I am expecting stretch marks. Because I think I'll be pregnant for another 4 weeks (unless some complication arises) and like I said in number 6 - the belly doesn't actually stop growing until the babies come out. So I won't be disappointed if they show up. I am patiently awaiting their arrival.

8) I actually want the babies to stay in as long as possible. I know that I am uncomfortable right. But I think I'll be a LOT more uncomfortable when I am up all night nursing, changing diapers and at my home for the first 2 months.

9) Nesting is a REAL condition. Where all of a sudden you have this overwhelming desire to redecorate, clean and do every project you have intended to do in the last decade in the course of a few days. Luckily I have been blessed with a husband that is just going with it and helping me complete this list. In the back of my mind I know I will not get much done as soon as the babies arrive. I am just going to be tired and enjoying babies. So I am a whirlwind of activity right now.

10) I am fairly certain that all of the books in the world can't prepare me for how crazy/fun life will be when our babies make their appearance. I have been reading the books. They elude to certain things but I am sure that nothing can prepare us for that moment. We are excited but there is a sense of fearfulness as well. I almost wish there was a book that gave instructions like - "When they put the babies in your arms, you will probably think - Oh my gosh - I'm a parent! Followed by an emotion that is like - what did I just get myself into? And that feeling will never quite go away - especially when they turn 16 and borrow the car on Friday night. Or they discover a sharpie and play tic-tac-toe on your couch." I might have to write such a book because in my mind THAT would be incredibly helpful.

Despite the last comment, we are very very excited about our little people. It is hard to believe they are going to be ours. With no return policies :)