Toes, Tugboats & Tractors

This was a very eventful weekend. It's been relaxing and productive all at the same time. It started with our big 19 week ultrasound where we got to see the babies in detail. We haven't seen them since 11 weeks and we were both really ready to have this ultrasound. I know that most people do not get to see their babies on ultrasound as much as we have and we are thankful that we have this awesome technology to reassure us that our little ones are doing well. We did not find out what we're having and I'm feeling good about that decision. :) The ultrasound tech. knows and that's it.

Baby A is 9oz and Baby B is 10oz; both are right on target with our due date. They were moving around like crazy, especially Baby A, he or she was not giving the ultrasound tech. an easy job of getting all the measurements. But she was able to get what she needed for the most part. We will have another ultrasound in 1 month so we will hopefully get some of those measurements then. I think I am finally feeling some movement. Really, it just feels like bubbles in my tummy but by the way they were moving around I'm surprised that I don't feel them more. Maybe in another week or so. I will post their 3D pictures but they look so skinny to me. The Dr. assured us that they are right where they need to be so I will just keep doing my best to fatten these little ones up! :)

Baby A, looks like he/she is a thumb sucker. :)

Baby B's side profile, you can make out the face but not much else. 

Our weekend continued with a ride out on Lake MI with some great friends that Jared works with. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset and even got to see a sail boat. It was a fun night.

 Swimming in the big lake. Water temp. was somewhere in the 70's. 

The sail boat we saw. I think it looks like a Pirate ship!

We ended our weekend with a lot of wood cutting/tree trimming chores on the farm. I even got to learn how to drive the tractor! It was pretty fun. Since I can't be much help with wood cutting/splitting that was a job I could do. Jared was a good teacher too, I only stalled it twice. :) 

That's all for now friends. Hope you have a great week!
-CW

17+ weeks and counting! I'm so excited for our ultrasound next week I can hardly stand it. Normally, this would be the ultrasound that would tell us what we're having...boys/girls/both...BUT because I love surprises we have decided not to find out. I know that seems crazy to some people especially because we're planning on only having one nursery for both babies. How will we prepare? Neutral is so boring isn't it? How will people know what to get us for shower gifts?... And so on. Well I've answered most of these questions as best as I can. First, before ultrasound how did anyone know what to get for showers or how to prepare their nursery? And secondly, in today's arts and crafts era, neutral is absolutely NOT boring. I have been discovering some great websites and online tools to help me create the nursery space and gain ideas on how to organize a shared nursery to maximize space, comfort, and functionality. First on our list is drywall. The room that we are using has some amazing wood floors and ceiling but we're taking the wood off the walls and drywalling just the walls...leaving the floor and ceiling to pop with that great hardwood. The room we're using also has a massive closet that can be easily transformed into an extension of the bedroom by organizing the space well so that it acts as a closet, changing station, and organizational hub leaving space in the room itself for a cozy chair, reading space, and 2 cribs. I will of course post pictures as we get going on this room but it probably won't be for a while yet.

In other news, I had my first bat encounter yesterday! There are all sorts of things I'm learning as I live in the country that were never an option before. So far, I have had the luxury of living with hard water even though we have a water softener, I've had my first up close encounter with a snake, My dog has chased numerous mice in the fields/yard, and now we've discovered that we have bats. Now, being that I grew up not too far from here I am "familiar" with all of these things; they are not completely new to me. However, I have never had to live with them and I'm learning to adjust. I hope that I am adjusting well. As for the bat. It was just a little one and thankfully, Jared's cousin was home (our next door neighbor) to come take care of it for me. It's good to have neighbors you can count on! :) Some day maybe I'll be able to take care of a bat on my own but since I really had no idea how one goes about catching a bat I left that up to someone who's lived in the country much longer than I have! Add to our project list: build a bat house ASAP! This will keep the bats in their own place. Their not so bad to have around because they eat insects that are pests to us and I can appreciate that. I just would rather they live in their own house rather than mine.

Well, that's all for now. PS: if you haven't given me any ideas on what I can rename my blog see the previous post and give me some feedback. I hope to have the blog redesigned by August. Thanks!

-Christina

Hello Blogger World! 


It's been quite some time since my last post and I've realized that I say that almost every time I post! :) Well, you see I started this blog way back when I was a camp counselor at Pine Ridge Bible Camp during the summer of '06 to keep all of my friends and family updated during that busy summer. Then it transformed into a blog of all the new things Jared and I were discovering as newlyweds and homeowners....then life settled in. and there wasn't much to talk about. Nothing much out of the ordinary anyway. I assumed you all didn't want to read about my daily cup of coffee and the hum of the washing machine in the background. So my writing slowed down. As I look back on that I realize that there were many significant moments in life that I could have shared with you all; lessons I learned, trips taken, books read etc. And I held back because to me it was just life. In just a few short months all of that will change as we add two new people to this life that we're building. 


There was a time when I thought I would never get the opportunity to say those words. After 3 years of  longing to open our hearts and our home to children God is blessing us with 2 at once; and we cannot be happier about it! I know that there are so many blogs out there from moms of twins and our experience may not be all that unusual but it will be a journey nonetheless that we are excited to share with you and it is my hope that in the coming months and years this blog will be a documentary of our ups and downs, our joys and fears and the wonderful things that come with being parents. Maybe someday my kiddos will cherish this. 


With all that said...my plan is to redesign "Awaiting The Greater City"; this will include a new name, layout and design. This is where you come in! I need name suggestions. I'll give you a little insight into what I like: 


-Poetry
-Play on words
-Catch phrases 
-Something to do with Twins 
-Not cheesy 
-Short & sweet 
-Gender neutral 
-Our last name is Winell so if you think of something that goes with that you can use that too. 


OK GO! Leave me a comment and perhaps I'll choose your name for the new blog!

 3D ultrasound pictures taken at 11weeks.