The Small Things...

  Today after a phone call with my Dad, I took sometime to reflect on my parents.  I sat on my patio with my face in the sun and I was just over taken with gratitude and thankfulness that I have been lucky enough to have been raised by two people who care so much about me, my sister and brother.  Its that love that is the foundation that has kept us so close.  
  Though the road sometimes has been paved with good intentions, we can all say that reflecting on our childhood can bring out some feelings that we never knew we had.  I can say that my parents aren't perfect, but this is something that I am very thankful for.  My parents are real people, with real life struggles and its their imperfections that make them so wonderful.  Sometimes my mom forgets things, and sometimes it can be frustrating, but mostly it makes me think about my grandma and how she always forgot things.  Then it makes me wonder if I am also going to grow to be forgetful?  Its endearing really.  Sometimes my Dad is stubborn, but his Dad was also stubborn, so that must mean that my brother will be stubborn (not me, right)?  
  I know that there have been times that I have disappointed my parents, but they would never say.  To them all their children deserve equal and unconditional love.  That is what being a parent is all about.  So here we are.  
  I remember when I was in junior high and in love with any sport that I could be involved in, during the winter months when Dad was home from working away, we would go into the gym and play 21 for and hour and half before school started.  It was these little things that mattered to me and now the little things are the big things that stick out in my memory.  Who ever said the small things don't matter?  I don't think that I ever had a normal parent/ child relationship with my either of my parents, they were always my Mom and Dad, but they have always been my friends.  Mom and Dad don't have a favorite when it comes to the three of us kids and we all know that.  When one child it hurting they are hurting with that child, when one is happy they are happy, and so on.  It is this quality that I hope to carry into my parenting.
  So here I am about two and a half months away from starting a family with the most amazing man I know, and you go through a lot of emotions.  Feelings that make you examine your life.  Feelings that you want to suppress, but you can't (maybe its the hormones) and yet they say it is all so normal.  I guess that the thing that I personally fear the most is understanding this thing called unconditional love, will I have enough patience and love for two babies at the same time?  Does something click inside of you?  I am so excited about this whole experience.  From the day we found out that indeed we were going to be parents, to the time we found out that we were going to have twins, up until the point that we found out that we are having two girls I have been in love with these babies.  So I guess this answers my question.  
  Just to bring you all up to speed on what is actually going on here... we are going to be 25 weeks on Thursday!  I can hardly believe that!  Our first appointment with our Obstetrician is on June 6th, and I am really not anticipating that much new information about our babes.  Maybe another ultra sound ( I hope).  We could potentially have these girls in 10 weeks!  10 weeks! Are you for real!  With that being said the baby room is about 60% finished!  Have to get some vital things like crib mattresses, car seats, more NB baby clothes, stuff to clean babies with, and just in general some more organization in this little house to prepare for their arrival that has snuck up very quickly.  
  I hope that this summer brings happiness to all of you who read this... whoever and where ever you are!  We are glad that this journey has had very few bumps in the road.  


With Love,
xoxo
Jesse & Babies

23 Weeks... What!

So we are approaching 23 weeks here on Thursday!  I honestly wonder where the time has went!  I am starting to feel the subtle effects of carrying two babies.  My back has been sore and I can't do much bending, and if I do I suffer because of it.  So just some minor limitations, other than that I have been feeling great!  Energy levels are different everyday, I find that if I wake up and just lay in bed for 15 or 20 minutes I just have more energy.  Its kind of my time where I talk to the babes and wait for them to wake up, then we stumble out to the kitchen and turn on the kettle, get the bagel in the toaster and get ready for our daily breakfast which consists of a bagel smothered in honey and peanut butter, a big glass of milk and a cup of black tea.  Its really the breakfast of champions!  It crossed my mind today that I might never drink coffee again, but then I realized that that is just a silly thought!
So at this point in the game we currently have one crib set up, the girls' room is painted, the wall decals have been ordered, and the stroller was put together by yours truly.  It doesn't really feel like a lot, but I am so glad that there is some progress!  Honestly, it is so hard to get motivation to really do anything in the house when it has been so gorgeous outside!  Would you all hate me if I hoped for a rainy day?
The babies seem to be growing by the looks of my ever changing body and they are currently fighting for limited space.  I honestly love just feeling the little nudges and pokes and twirls that they are doing inside.  I can usually tell which baby is moving now and its pretty incredible!  So the next couple of weeks will consist of a diabetes test and at the beginning of June I meet with the OB to see how he feels about how everything is going.  The last doctor felt I would likely make it no further than 36 weeks because of the size of me and the size of babies, but the body is a glorious machine (or should I say the uterus)?  I am just really enjoying this pregnancy.  It really brings out the best in me I think.
Ahhh an important note!  We met with our doula last night, and I am really excited that she will be a part of our birth!  Its just so important to me (us) to have the right support system in place at the hospital.  When we bring the girls home we will have grandma's to look forward to, sometimes I just feel like I have no idea how to mother, but I am sure those animal instincts will kick right in.
Well folks, I hope you are all having a fabulous Spring!  We will do better to update this little blog...

xoxo
Jesse and Babes

Little Ladies

  On the 29th we found out that we are having two little girls.  I am so excited about that, it wouldn't matter what they were kicking inside me, I would be excited regardless.  There is something special about girls though, being one I know this!  Seriously though, twins will always have a special bond, but sister twins they are exceptional.  The thoughts of fear come to me though about raising well rounded women in a world today.  Today's children are so bombarded with how they are supposed to act, who they are supposed to be, and what they are supposed to look like.  I mean we as adults are confronted with this every single day, so to think of bringing two precious innocent souls into this world is overwhelming at times.  As parents Dallas and I can instill confidence in our girls, teach them that its okay to be an individual, and most of all to respect themselves and other people.  I want our children to grow up with a respect for nature with an understanding of the earth and sustainability.  I wonder if they will be alike or very different sometimes (not just in looks).  I guess that the common misconception when it comes to twins, especially identical twins, is that they have the same personalities.  It will be fascinating to watch them develop individually though, to see each mark out their own little pathway in the world with some guidance and support.  I am so excited to make family memories of our own.  There is just so much to look forward to!
Last night at our prenatal class we learnt about wearing babies, it was fascinating.  We in the West, particularly in North America have seem to become detached from our babies.  After listening to the lady (Becky) speak I was totally convinced that what she was saying was true.  So her business is based around attachment parenting, and "wearing" your babies.  She had a variety of baby slings that are traditional in other countries, and they were woven out of 100% organic cotton and then they are woven by a local lady here, so the slings are custom made to fit each couple.  They were beautiful!  So the thought behind it is you put the sling on in the morning and you have your baby (or babies) in it all day, they can nap in it, and you can just go about your day doing what you need to do (around the house).  She said that in the early stages when the babies are just fresh that skin to skin contact is so important to the babies and when they feel like they are being nurtured they are often happier babies and they cry less.  I love this concept, the slings work for twins too!  I am not swearing off strollers, but it has opened my eyes a lot!  You can replace a lot of heavy lifting of car seats in and out of the car by simply wearing a sling instead.  
I posted a link to her website here:
http://uppymama.com/?page_id=2


Enjoy the nice spring weather and the sound of birdies singing and wind in the trees!


xoxo
Jesse & Babies

Making Room

  So the last few days we have made some progress with the Nursery area for the babies.  We went down to Medicine Hat and mom and I found the best deal on bedding for the babies!  Pretty much got Baby Gluckstein bedding for 60% off!  It is just white, so its gender neutral.  I also picked up the cutest bookends for a hanging book shelf for the babies, because they will love books I am sure!  
Here is the link for that:  
http://www.skiphop.com/product/zoobookends.html  ( I got the owl ones, of course)


We are also going to just paint the room an off white color and try and find some cute decals to put on the walls.  Just have to make up my mind about what ones!  It will be easier after Friday to make some decisions once we know (keep fingers crossed) what the babies are!  I can't believe that day is here so quickly already!  


A couple weeks ago my parents so graciously bought the babies their beds!  They are the 3 in one type, so I am hoping that they will have the beds for a long time and that the investment was good.  I fell in love with the crib as soon as I seen it!  
Here is the link for that:
http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=4439518


Its so much fun to get things together for the babies and just to prepare a little spot for them to sleep in ( I hope ).  Its nice to do something special for them before they get here, put some love into it and some thought so they can grow into the "stuff" we got.  I can feel it all slowly coming together.  Soon enough the little gaffers will be here, so I am glad that we have this time to spend on making a little place for them.  


I am sad to think about ever out growing our home.  It has come to our attention that it will happen, and probably sooner than later.  This is life though, and I am sure that where ever we end up next will be just as special, because thats where the babies will probably remember the beginning parts of their life.  I hope whoever is reading this is enjoying the journey!  I need to post a recent tummy shot!  Its getting larger each day I think!


Hope you are all enjoying this sunny weather!


xoxo
Jesse & Babies

Half Way!

  Happy 19 weeks babies!!  I actually cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has been up until this point!  So much happening too with Spring finally here ( I am not complaining about the weather ) and with the first round of the playoffs I am sure the next two months will fly on by!  So to bring everyone one up to speed, we are to our half way point with multiples!  YAY!  It feels good to feel so good!  Maybe a new symptom that has crept up is some swollen gums, but hey I will take it.  I am still feeling quite tired and I know my limits when it comes to exercise now!  One cool thing that has been happening is my cat has been more noticeable of my changing body and I think she knows that there is something growing on inside of me... sorry for the pun I had to!  She will slide under the covers in the morning and come purring next to my tummy and just lays there its like she is calming the babies or herself, but its really quite sweet.  For those who don't know, I adore my cat!  She is basically like our little child, so its nice that she is bonding with the babies in her own little way.
  I have to recognize two new little lives that have come into the world this month!  Two of my dear friends have recently given birth and they both had girls!  The first was Niko Synnove Silea Stewart she was born on April 2, 2011.  She is so content and sweet I got the chance to have some snuggles at Kyrstens baby shower and it just made my heart so soft!  I look so forward to this journey with her mommy and daddy, they are dear friends of Dallas and I.  The other little baby is Charlie Elizabeth Knudslien ( wow I should be able to spell that last name after all these years), she was born on April 16th, 2011.  I haven't met her yet, but this weekend I hope to have a peek at her and see her parents Alissa and Clint.  I just smile when I think about this time in our lives... so much to look forward to.
  I know that again I have been slack with my blog, but I will keep updating I promise!  Next week on the 29th we will find out the sexes of these little babies that are growing inside of me, it is so exciting!  So I hope that you all have a great long weekend!  Much Love!

xoxo
Jesse & Babies

*** Oh yes this Sunday is our 3rd Anniversary, feel so lucky to have such a wonderful husband!

Fashion Please

  Wow have I neglected this blog of ours.  Honestly not much has been happening around the Campbell residence.  The one major thing that has started is the transformation of the computer room into the nursery, is it way too early?!?!  I would much rather be prepared then have these little babies enter into this world and not have anything ready.  So we have move our computer into our living area (it was a tough decision), but I really think that it works.  So the next few weeks we will slowly clean out the room and find a place for Dallas' clothes.  As hard as I try my clothes will always take up 3/4 of the closet... I am determined to let Dallas have half of the closet though... he can share half with me in "my" closet and the other half of the babies closet.  
  Fashion during pregnancy, its easy now to still feel like I am fashionable, but I soon know that the clothes are going to be an issue.  One thing that I am really happy for though is the fact that I can wear some great summer dresses!  I have a few that I am sure will work at least until mid July, after that I make no promises.  I do promise that I will try to maintain my own style during this time and afterwards of course.  I have went through my closet and basically took out so many clothes that I am not even going to try and wear the next year or more.  Out of sight out of mind.  So it seems I must do that again.  Its not as sad as I thought it would be, it will be like a whole new wardrobe when I go through them again!  In the meantime I have been pleasantly surprised that a few of the dresses I have look way better with some babies beneath them.  I need to really hit up a good maternity store that is affordable!  I have one pair of jeans, which is fine because basically as soon as I get home from anywhere I put on leggings and a long shirt or tunic.  Comfort all the way.  The other thing is I thought that carrying twins I would be so hot all the time, instead the opposite is quite true, I can't seem to layer enough these days!  I am hoping that will change in a couple months though.  
  I have been feeling pretty good, feeling some movement which is incredible.  Some days they move a lot other days not so much, I can't wait till Dallas can feel that!  My hunger has intensified, today I ate like 7 pancakes for dinner ( are you kidding me), just feeding the babies right?!  I also have increased my water intake a lot.  Just need to stay hydrated and its so good for the babies, even though the trips to the bathroom at night increase its so worth it.  There aren't too many complaints coming from this lady here, a huge plus is I found a book that says that I shouldn't vaccume or mop!  How great is that!  Love it!  
I have been meaning to share this quote that I found in a book so here it is:
  If, I myself upon a looser creed
Have loosely strung the jewel
of good deed.
  Let this one thing for my 
atonement plead:
  That one for two I never 
did misread.
- Omar Khayan, 12th Century


xoxo
Jesse and Babies

Today was a good day!  The babies and I had our second doctors appointment.  It went really good, I have finally put on weight (those nightly milkshakes have paid off).  Just a good 15 pounds already, which is good for being 4 months along (should be more really).  So I will hit the shakes more!  The Doc said the babies were really moving a lot today so it was hard for him to get an accurate reading on Lefty, he figured that the heart rate was about 138 bpm and Righty was 145 bpm.  It was amazing to hear it though, I wanted to cry, but I was the doctors last prenatal appointment of the day, and I am sure he had been around a lot of surging hormones, so instead I just smiled and held back.  Our due date has been changed, as I suspected it would.  We are due Sept 15th which would be a full 40 weeks, however the babies will more than likely be here at 36 weeks!  So sometime close to the middle of August!  Maybe the most exciting part is that we get to find out what the little gaffers are on April 29th!  Wow... it just goes so fast!
Last night Dallas and I watched a documentary circa 1988 it was about pregnancy, it was super comical!  Mostly the style of the people and the prenatal aerobics, totally worth a look ( at least for a laugh ).  I have been super tardy with this blog, and I really need to just get to it and keep writing!
Hey I have an idea... if any of you have topics that you think would be sweet to write about suggest them, and perhaps I can do some thinking on them!
I hope you are all having a wonderful day!
xoxo
Jesse & Babies