Make a Smilebox photobook

Hi everybody! I hope this reaches you all well! Kristian and I cannot believe that we only have 4 days left until we meet our son and daughter! If you'd like to see some recent photos & video please click on the production above - I'm trying out this new software called Smilebox and I really like it so far... Use the floating arrow to get through the "pages." Since I normally write a bunch when I post as well as posting a lot of photos, using something like this will keep you, my beloved reader, from having to scroll forever and a day. Tell me what you think! :) Sorry it's been a bit since I've posted (Meredith, Mary, Kathy...), I'm way better, as some of you can attest to, at staying current with my Facebook page (or as I like to call it: Crackbook...)! The last few weeks have been kind of a blur, I've been wrapping up editing from the wedding season and Kristian has been busy working both at his "real" job and at home getting everything ready for the babies arrival (which has totally turned into a job)... In a lot of ways we feel like we've just been spinning our wheels, keeping ourselves busy, distracting ourselves, and waiting, waiting, waiting. Honestly, I never thought I'd be sitting here at 38 weeks and 4 days pregnant telling you all of this.... It's just crammed down your throat when you're carrying twins, everywhere you turn, that your babies will be early, they'll be small, they'll be premature, etc. I just anticipated them coming around 36 or 37 weeks and I was content with that scenario since that's a relatively safe gestational age. It's a double edged sword still being (this) pregnant, with twins. As you can imagine, I'm extremely uncomfortable, my ankles and feet are unrecognizable, my esophagus is on fire, my skin is very upset with me, I snore like a bulldog and I'm not sure how it's possible that I will ever be considered attractive again by my husband or anyone else for that matter, including myself. I think I'll write into The Biggest Loser, they might take me as a contestant after all this. That being said, I feel, at the same time, empowered and accomplished - like I must have done all of this right for the babies to be so content on the inside. The feel good hormones are definitely coursing through my veins as well, I cry at the drop of a hat, just thinking about finally getting to see, hold, kiss and hug my babies! My pregnancy has been textbook healthy (save my whining above), the babies are growing like weeds and should be perfectly healthy and "ready to swing on somebody" as KK put it, when they come out. It's a huge relief to have made it to this point since a lot of single babies don't even make it past 38 weeks. Their movement with their size right now is so pronounced and fascinating - that part I wish could last forever, it's incredible being able to watch them and feel them. I am so grateful for my health and the health of my babies, all whining aside. Soon I will have my body back and I will miss being pregnant, I know I will. I've been on a roller coaster ride for the past couple of months, which is, I'm sure, how it goes for all pregnant women... but dare I say it's a little bumpier when you're carrying twins. The dips up and down are intense, and I find myself (depending on the hour) going in and out of bouts of both extreme, immeasurable joy, and then paralyzing fear of the unknown - questioning how on earth I'm ever going to manage sufficiently caring for not one, but TWO babies. I know that feeling like this is all par for the course, but I have been thinking over the past few days that I really have no idea what I've gotten myself into. I feel as "prepared" as I think anyone in our position can feel and we've really, I feel, done a great job at getting our heads in the game... But everything, literally, is getting ready to get turned inside out, and as big of a fan of quiet I am, that's all going to go away Wednesday. No longer will we be able to fly by the seat of our pants and just head out the door without it being a planned production, and seldom will Kristian and I be alone, ever, again. As all of you parents know, there are 99 more things I could rattle off right now that are being "taken away" from us... but as I'm sure you parents would reassure me, you don't look at it like that when the kids are actually here, smiling at you, hugging you, having completely shifted your notion of what's important in life. There's a certain sort of grin that washes over a parent's face when they're talking about their children or when they're with their children that reflects a relationship in life that is like no other... What you gain completely overshadows anything that you've "lost," and knowing that without even really knowing, first hand, yet, brings a smile to my face. I want to take a quick aside and send a shout-out to my mamma, GramBonnie, BoBo, Mammacita, Bonnie Coleman... Our relationship has always been strong and it's something I've always treasured, I know not everyone has such a great mother-daughter relationship and I'm grateful. She is a big reason why I am the person I am today and someone who consistently shows how a mother should love and care for their children. One of the things that I was most excited about when I found out I was pregnant was how our relationship would grow and evolve... I knew that being pregnant and having a baby is a life experience that we will now share, taking our understanding of each other to a new height and giving us so many joyful memories to share far into the future. I will never forget the day that I told her we were expecting, or, of course, the day we found out we were expecting twins - she was the first person I called walking out of the Dr.'s office. Any of you who know Bonnie know that she loves her babies! The work and effort and care that she has always put into her relationships with me and my brothers is something that I will always be able to reflect on for strength and guidance through my life as a parent. The same effort and care and love that she puts into her passions and her other relationships I will be able to reflect on in my life as someone who simply wants to live their life as a good, caring, strong person. No one is perfect and some days are better than others, my mom has taught me that as well... But you must stay resilient and determined, regardless of the hand you've been dealt, to stay on the path that you've set ahead of yourself - all the while, stopping to smell the roses and to kiss your babies. :) Thanks, mommy, for taking such good care of me, both over the past few months and since the day I was born. If Raya has babies, and she and her brother haven't killed me yet, I look forward to doting on her during her pregnancies the way you have with me. My kids are lucky, just as I was to have your mom as a grandmother - although for not nearly long enough, to have you as a grandma. It's my hope that we all have many, many more years together so that both you and the kids can enjoy each other and all of the memories to be made ahead. And although it saddens us all deeply that Joe can't be here to be a part of all of this, we knows he's looking down on us, watching over us. And what a blessing to have Grandpa Harry in our lives! I know he will be a phenomenal grandpa and I look forward to seeing the kind of relationship he has with the kids - there will be no discipline involved on his part, I fear, but I guess that's alright. :) ---- Okay, that was supposed to be quick - sorry, love you mom. :) So, Wednesday, February 25, 2009 is the big day. I swore up and down a month ago when they scheduled my c-section for that day that there was no way I'd make it that far. And who knows, between now and then something could happen, but these kiddos have been perfectly happy with where they are - even after I thought I was in labor last Friday (the 13th, eeek!), the contractions fizzled out and I've only had a few since then. So it's looking like a done deal that Wednesday is, indeed, the day. Much to the delight of a couple of friends of mine - Annie Morrow (previously Rudnick, see previous post about their wedding in Minneapolis!), and my sassy hairdresser buddy Suz Pratt - Ollie and Raya will share a birthday with both ladies! It was funny when I first started telling people that the babies would be here "sometime in February" - all of you Acquarians and Pisces started coming out of the woodwork! My sis-in-law Sue, my cousin Katlyn, Kristian's cousin Joe, our good friends Jean-Marc and Stephanie Biewend and their son Seth... and now Annie and Suz are left on the 25th - I was hoping that the day would fall on somebody's birthday! So I guess that's all for now - the next post will have photos of BABIES! Thanks so much to all of you who have been keeping touch, wishing us well, and saying prayers for us. Our lives are getting ready to change in so many wonderful ways and being able to share all of this with our friends and family makes it all that much more sweet and special! I promise to post photos and updates as much as I can! Lots of love to you all, Joanna

Ready or not...

Hi everybody... I cannot believe how quick time is flying by, I guess I'd better get used to it, eh? I hope this reaches everyone well and happy and that you all have cooler plans than me to ring in the new year this evening. :) 2009 promises to be the most unforgettable year thus far for us, as we welcome our son and daughter, an event that keeps creeping ever near... As I enter the last few weeks of my pregnancy I am truly trying to treasure each moment, which is proving more and more difficult as my back is giving me serious trouble these days. It all comes with the territory though and I know it will be over soon, which is bittersweet. One of my favorite things about the last couple of months as I've gotten further into the pregnancy is feeling them move and feeling them hiccup! They actually had the hiccups at the same time one day, something I never imagined could or would happen and it left me speechless and in tears... it really was a beautiful couple of minutes... Since they're so much bigger now their movement is more pronounced which is fascinating and helps me connect with them. When they move I get to talk to them and I can feel who is who and what is what... Kristian has finally felt them both move which helps him feel more connected physically to the process also. He has been such a bright light through this whole process and I can say with no hesitation that this is the most in love we have ever been with each other, and sorry if that makes anyone puke. :) He has stepped up to the plate in every way, since June he has completely transformed our home into a warm welcoming place for our family of four, all with a smile on his face. It's so special to watch his face light up when we talk about the babies, and there's this confidence about him that, sure, may be naive, but a little faith never hurt anyone and he understands as well as I do just how lucky we are and just how incredible of an opportunity we have in front of us. Whenever I'm out and get into a discussion with someone about the fact that we're having twins, I get one of two reactions - 1) "my condolences!" or 2) "oh my, you're so lucky!" I have always, even through the initial shock of the very first ultrasound, felt the latter. This is one of two times in my life, the other being through our wedding trip to Hawaii, that has brought on bouts of spontaneous and simultaneous laughter and sobbing, a natural and fleeting reaction that only comes from the feeling that "this is what life is about, it doesn't get any better than this." I'll take swollen feet and a gimpy back any day for that. You can't re-create the feeling that I have right now, and you parents, I know, know how I feel. And what I don't know yet is what is the exciting part...The fist time I hear them cry, see them smile, take their first steps... This really is what life is all about, and I will make it through the next 5 or 6 weeks, with a smile on my face, waiting anxiously to meet my new baby girl and baby boy. :)
So, I know, I know, it's been a while since I posted, the most recent update from yesterday (31 weeks) is that everything is going really well, both with the babies and me. As of 3 weeks ago both babies weighed in just under 3 lbs, and as of yesterday they're now tipping the scales at 4 lbs a piece! If I make it to 37 weeks (our goal), we could have a couple of 6 pounders on our hands! Fine by me! Although I may have to deal with not actually having the ability to walk anymore until after I give birth - it's difficult enough as it is right now! After my 28 week ultrasound, my Dr. (Dr. Gi-Gi Streiff) was a little concerned about Ollie's amniotic fluid levels, so that's why she had me come in a week earlier than scheduled for the next big ultrasound. Just as she suspected it might, the fluid leveled itself back out and everything looks great with the babies. I am still right on track with my weight and doing everything I can to eat right, and if by "eating right" you mean indulging in ready to bake Tollhouse oatmeal raisin cookies every other night then I'm doing splendidly. :) (It's really all Kristian's fault, he is a bad influence and will be very mad when I go back to actually paying attention to what I eat...). Mostly I do a great job, but sweets really are the devil.
So here's a bunch of photos from the past couple of months, enjoy! I hope 2009 is a healthy and prosperous year for you all! After 2008 it wouldn't hurt, right?! Lots of love, Joanna

My belly photo and the babies' ultrasound photos from their 24 week ultrasound!

Raya - she wasn't quite in the mood....Ollie was super cooperative and gave us this most handsome portrait... Awww.

And here are some photos from the baby shower, it was a beautiful day and I got to see a lot of ladies that I don't get to see very often... The cake was amazing, it came from Truffes bakery, a bakery that work with pretty often at weddings, vanilla butter cream with white cake and coffee butter cream filling... mmmm. The shower was a whirlwind of gift opening and I didn't get much opportunity to talk to anyone at length, (hence not many photos!) but then again I guess people realize that's how it normally goes. Thanks everyone for coming and really helping me and Kristian get ready for the babies! All of the gifts and love and support are super appreciated - we love you all!!

Kristian's mom (grandma Sue) made these beautiful arrangements for the party...Holy belly batman! And I was only 25 weeks! GramBonnie with the cake :)Aunt Mary (Adams) hand made this care basket - it was so cute and I know it took her a long time to put it together - she hand rolled 72 diapers and stitched the clothes on the little baby dolls! Crazy lady! You're the best, I love you tons...

Below are some incredibly cute hand made gifts that the babies were given, the hand-knit hats and scarves below were made by one of my long-time friend Janet's mom Jean...Jean I can't WAIT to photograph the babies in these, quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen...And another one of the cutest things I've ever seen was given to the babies by my sister-in-law Julia, they are hand made baby booties that she found by on Etsy. com made by a woman who calls her company Piddies, and as you can tell they're made to look like little animals, in this case wales and mice! So cute!! 27 weeks!

28 weeks! And look at my gorgeous babies in their ultrasound photos! Ollie refused to give us a face shot, but as you can tell we got every other kind of shot! Stinker...Ollie's leg and foot, awww.Ollie's, ahem, boy bits....The twin's heads together, they must be plotting! Raya smiling!What a pretty baby girl!!

Another week bites the dust...

Hi everybody! Whew... things are crazy right now, as usual, I hope you're all doing well! Things are going great with the pregnancy, I'm still feeling pretty good, just slowing down a bit... :) Stats for now (still 20 week stats, I go for my 24 week check up and ultrasound on Tuesday, I'll be back with those stats, promise): Baby A, my little chica, is 14oz and Baby B, my little dude, is 13 oz. Their heart rates were 136 and 141 bpm, both quick and healthy. They're getting so big, and they're beautiful, don't you think? Anyhow, I definitely don't have the stamina I used to and my body decides how much I can do at a time - mostly my feet and back are what bothers me by the end of the day, and my wedding ring is dangerously close to not fitting for a time. I have resorted to a few "accessories" to help me through all this nonsense - a couple of life saving products include Dr. Scholl shoe inserts (for my dress shoes), and Assets "support hosiery" leggings in black. Okay so Assets are the Target brand version of Spanx - boys if you're not familiar with Spanx it's what makes your ladies butts and legs look so gorgeous and flawless underneath their dresses. They're thin like pantyhose and are made of some magical material that fits super tight and smooths out any imperfections - or in my case they hold in tight a 20 lb. belly carrying in twins. They are heaven to wear, yet hell to take on and off - which I have to do, as you can imagine, every 15-30 minutes to pee. Sorry TMI. I just felt I have to share - ladies who have been through it you know that the belly gets to be heavy and and any help carrying that beast around is a god send. Check out the photo below, I think it is hilarious. You can see my baby boy's head on the left from the back with his right hand up around his face as if to say, "get your butt off me sissy!!" Her tiny little butt is totally all up on his shoulder.

This is such an amazing time and I am really trying to sit down when I can and just focus on thinking about them and rubbing my belly and day dreaming about what they're going to look like, what the birth experience is going to be like, etc... They're kicking a lot more now and that is so amazing, I can't even explain it. It's just so fascinating when you sit and think "wow, there are two tiny human beings inside of me" - it really is mind blowing and such a gift and a blessing... We started our Multiples Childbirth class, I'm so glad we joined, there is a couple in the class who is having triplets, which is a relief because they're in it deeper than we are! Ha! I wish them the best. :) The class really is great because it will just help acquaint us with what to expect, logistics of the hospital, variations we'll encounter because we're having more than one baby, and of course they're going over everything that will help get my head even further in the game - nutrition, relaxation, emotional and physical well-being, etc. Kristian was forced to massage my back with a tennis ball in the very first class, again, I'm glad we joined. :) I just feel like it's all happening so fast, which I knew it would, but I feel good with where we are and there are just a few more things that need to happen in the house before we're "ready." I use that term loosely. :) Anyhoo - hope everyone has a fantastic weekend - FINALLY it's cooler, I've been so over the 75 degrees in November stuff. Sure that sounds ridiculous, but I get hot easy people!! xoxxoxoxox, Joanna

'Tis the season...

Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well, sorry to have gone missing there for a bit. Fall is always a little bittersweet for me, it's my favorite season of the year, by far, yet it's always the time of year that I'm most busy. I've certainly learned to take it in stride, otherwise I'd be in a padded room somewhere, much less still running a business. I'm much less stressed out than normal at this time of year though, if you can believe it. I must thank my babies for that. Being pregnant and preparing to become a parent really puts things into perspective. I've always known what I need to do to stay sane during times where things are piling on my plate faster than I can shovel them off, but I feel as if I have yet to escape melting down at some capacity around this time of year. I always get the job done but never as quickly as I'd like and never with the perfection that I'd like. What I think that I'm finally embracing is that I don't think any thing will ever get completed in the time or with the perfection that any of us would like. The most important thing is that you get the job done in the best way you know how. If you have, in fact put in your best effort, chances are you did a pretty good job. Anyway, I know for a fact that I'm more mellow than I've ever been - case in point - I had a computer crash on my a couple of days ago and I didn't cry! Normally computer crises make me sob like a little girl. It's just so nerve wracking, not knowing what the prognosis might be, not knowing how much money you might have to spend getting it fixed, not knowing what you might lose.... Instead I looked at the bright side: I do have another computer - a big, bad, fast computer that I recently had built for me to bring to the studio to work on (to have Jordan work on). So, I went to the studio, picked it up, had Jordan help me set it up at home and voila. Back up and running. I do have all of my data and photos backed up of course, the only thing I lost is my calendar. So! If you're reading this, please do email me and remind me of your birthday! Thanks. Sure, I do have to have my other computer completely reformatted, reload all of the programs, etc, but all I need to buy is a new motherboard and crucial memory and that computer, once again, will be a big, bad, fast machine. And I have the good fortune of having a family friend who just so happens to fix his friends computers for a hobby. What a good guy to know. Thanks Kenny! ----------- Above you'll see my ever expanding belly at 20 weeks pregnant. As soon as I have Photoshop back and have the chance to scan the new ultrasound photos I'll be sure to post them. The babies are doing awesome, they're both just under a pound now and all of their measurements are right on. They were both hilarious this time - it's so fun to watch them kick and punch each other and it's just fascinating to know that all of that action is going on inside of me and I can't feel it. I'm starting to feel more movement but it's still really slight and I'm anticipating feeling a lot more... I'm feeling great, other than some swelling and some numbness in my right finger tips, nothing that's intolerable though.... I'm thinking of abandoning my bed though because finding a comfortable sleeping position is becoming a futile effort. Anyhow I'm going to run, I have a wedding today, should be a really pretty one - it's a gorgeous day. I'm looking forward to things settling down, no doubt about it. Again I hope you're all well! xoxoxoxxoxo

The gumballs were right!!

Hey everyone! Last night was amazing, as expected, and today is even better because now we are officially anticipating the arrival of our SON and our DAUGHTER! The gumballs were right, as were a lot of the rest of you who voted - thanks for your input, it was fun to see what people guessed. I know that I said we weren't going to post the results until after Saturday, but we all know that I can't keep my mouth shut and a lot of the people who I talk to on a regular basis just wouldn't take no for an answer last night, so of course I spent a good amount of time on the phone last night and this morning. :) We are so happy, and what's strange is that my gut feeling after the 12 week ultrasound was right - Baby A is a girl, and Baby B is a boy! And how crazy is it that the gumballs from Dave and Buster's were right?! I'm just so excited that we finally know! We could not be happier and we can't wait to meet our little girl and little boy. I'm relieved in some ways, actually, because I know that being different sexes will just allow them be their own people that much more, with their own interests and personalities.... My hope is that they will, even through cats-and-dogs fighting they will be allies and the best of friends. We will instill in them, even though it's natural for brothers and sisters to bicker, to love and respect each other no matter what. We have so much to look forward to, I am seriously bursting at the seams with joy.... Sure, we have our work cut out for us, but neither of us are scared of work, and it will be the most fun (and challenging, I know) work I've ever done. Have a great afternoon everyone, I might not post again until after I'm 30. :) 3 red roses for 3 years of marriage..... whoa our 50th is going to break the bank just in roses!Happy 3rd anniversary mommy and daddy! (Holy eyebrows Batman..... someone should have brushed those beasts for him before we left the house....)

It's finally September 24th!

Then..... 1996
Now.....2008

Today is the day! Happy 3rd anniversary Nina and KK! The week did go by fast to my surprise, but I have really been pouring myself into work and we've been concentrating on the house, so luckily we've been sufficiently distracted. I have that warm excitement filling me up right now, the anticipation is palpable, I barely know what to do with myself. I have a pretty extensive to-do list for the day, which includes buying Kristian the new Kings of Leon album that came out yesterday, (I'm notorious for buying him gifts that we'll both use - but it's cool because we agreed "not to buy each other anything"), and also buying myself (the business) an iTalk voice recorder for my phone interview with Joe Bonamassa this coming week (you can read all about that in the music blog after it happens, I'm super nervous, Joe is an amazing musician....) so I can preview his show at Harrah's this coming Thursday. -------- This feeling, I'm happy to say, is a familiar one. I have been blessed enough in my life to have many very happy birthdays and Christmases and Thanksgivings... and a beautiful, unforgettable wedding day... to recognize the excitement that I feel this morning. More than just the anticipation of an event, it's the anticipation being with family, talking, laughing, loving... I remember many instances when Joe was alive and we were in full swing of family get togethers (besides Joe himself it's the thing I miss most about when he was alive) where I found myself thinking: "this is what life is about." I had figured something out through those years that will stay with me forever - nothing is more important than the people you love and the people who love you. I take my relationships seriously (maybe too seriously sometimes) because they're important to me. I've learned that that's simply not the case with some people, but everyone comes from their own roots and all you can do is try to stay true to your own. You can't turn anyone into the person you wish they'd be. Anyhow, tonight I get to spend the evening with my family, Kristian and my children (although this is the most quiet they'll be in a restaurant in their lives...). We get to celebrate each other over what I know will be an amazing meal, reminisce over the past three fast, amazing years, and finally discover who our children are. Days like this are meant to be cherished and I plan to do just that. If you think about it, and I think about things like this a lot since Joe died, you only get a certain number of days like this, and so you'd better be present to them and appreciate their fleeting beauty and importance. Especially since, unfortunately, none of us know just how many of them we get - both the great ones and the not so great ones. And as romantic as it may sound, I plan on celebrating the not so great ones as well. As long as I have my family next to me - is anything really that bad?

------------------- Happy birthday Big Joe! Of course you know that we all wish you were here.... I know you're looking down on us, some of us you're proud of, some of us you'd love to slap clear across the face. You'll have your time. :) There's never been a single day when you are not a part of my thoughts at some point of the day, and although I am so fond of all of the memories I have of you and of our life as a family, I must be honest and tell you that there is still a gaping hole in my heart that I'm not sure ever will be filled. It's things like your death that make us all realize truly how unfair life can be. However, it's things like your life that teach us to treasure it. There's so many people who miss you and love you and relish the thought of seeing you just one more time - I guess we'll all get our time eventually! Love you and hope you're having a big 'ol party up there. (In case you haven't seen the painting below, it was a gift from Kristian to my mom the Christmas after Joe died.... beautiful, right?)

Have a great day everyone, and just so you know, I'm not posting the genders of the babies until after Saturday - if you're coming to the party Saturday you can vote in the 50/50 raffle we'll have going - YES I know there's a party but I DO NOT know any other details than that. All I know is it's Saturday. Thanks again for stopping in, give everyone you love a squeeze today and let them know it! xoxoxxooxo, Joanna

"I CAN'T WAIT!"

[ "You know I love you - even when you don't try... I know that our love will never die...... Hey darling when you look into my eye...... Please tell me you'll never have to say goodbye"].

Okay, whoever (Meredith) gets this, I'll know that you Googled it. There's no way in hell that anyone will be able to pull this out of thin air. Although the hook of the song (and title) did come out of thin air for me, I did have to Google the group who sings it. The sentiment, obviously, pertaining to the fact that I have to wait an entire 5 more days to find out the genders of our babies! This is getting pretty ridiculous. Patience, indeed, is a virtue... and I hate virtues. Just kidding, virtues are great. Not. Ugh who's idea was this?! Oh, mine. Damn. The anticipation is sweet though, I'll be honest.... And I'm pretty impressed with myself for not yet tearing the damn envelope open, or at least gently sliding open the scotch tape that seals the envelope in a covert operation where I would then do my best not to call everyone in creation and again in a day-time Emmy performance on Wednesday at dinner conjure up my best surprised/shocked/excited act, only to tell on myself minutes later to a disappointed KK. Guess I'll just save myself (and everyone else) and wait. Sigh. Lord knows I have plenty to keep me busy though, but isn't it funny how time only flies when you don't want it to?? Well, to cheer us all up, let's make fun of me! Here I am, at only 16 weeks along: (what a beautifully shot photo, KK. After his belly shots and his photos from Anne and Kris's wedding, he's out for a position with Joanna Kleine Photography. I'd give him one but he's got attitude :)
I'm starting to feel a little heavy in my belly ("really, you don't say?"), and just yesterday I started to actually wonder about how the rest of this is going to go down. I'll just keep reminding myself that even through my discomfort - as long as the babies are safe, I can hang. I'm going to take it easy as much as possible, especially after my last wedding, at which I'll be right at about 26 weeks. And I'm still not going to complain because thus far and even now I'm feeling great and haven't had to deal with the majority of pregnancy symptoms I read about... So, we'll cross the rest of the bridges when we get to them. I tend not to be the worrying type, which, under my current condition, is a good thing. Plus, after my next monthly check-up and ultrasound at 20 weeks (again the countdown is on!), I'll start going every 2 weeks to my OB's. That eases my mind also, considering how close of an eye is on me and the twins... But at the 2 week check-ups is where the medical team really gets down to business - I'll spare you the description of what goes down, but most complications in multiple pregnancies (except for miscarriages of course) happen after 20 weeks, so they'll be watching me like a hawk. And I'm going to take extra measure to really be nice to myself, so hopefully all of my work and the Dr's work will pay off and I'll get myself some fat & happy, term babies. Speaking of my beautiful babies :), here they are from Tuesday.... as you can imagine, I'm so visually spoiled with the images I see everyday that I find myself disappointed with the ultrasound imagery... To which Kristian chimes in "um, what exactly do you expect?" He's so good for putting me in my place. :) Baby A Baby B The tops of both babies' heads - how cute...

Unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to shoot any video this time, hopefully next time. And I promise better pictures when they're on the outside. :) I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this amazing weather... Take care and thanks for stopping in!

"And I can rock a block-party 'til your hair turns gray!"

So I finally gave in. I have yet, that is until today, bought anything for the babies, more or less clothes. And I promise that I understand that they'll grow right the heck out of these, but I want my kids to be in touch with their inner rock star from day one. They'll be the hippest kids leaving the maternity ward when we blow that pop stand. How...cute...are....these!!?? Baby B gets the blue Bob onesie. My babies are bad to the bone.... They're Acquarians, so really all I'm doing is nurturing their anti-establishment personalities... PS, today's title is a toughie, let's see who gets it...

"I was dancin' on the ceiling...!"

SUCCESS!! The babies genders are confirmed, written on the card that I brought by the very nice ultrasound tech, who then actually scotch-taped the envelope shut so that we wouldn't be tempted to open it, say, on the way home! I've never in my life experienced this sort of anticipation - just knowing that the information is written down and official and for sure... I have two sons, or two daughters or a son and a daughter.... Looks like 47% of you so far think it's a boy/girl team, we'll just have to wait until Wednesday! I can't wipe the smile off my face - you could punch me and I'd laugh. Both babies look great, their measurements all look on track - they each weigh around 6 oz. and both have nice quick heart rates. I am right on track with weight gain too - up 5 lbs from last month. Anyhow, I'm going to go dive into work as to try to make the days, hours and minutes go by faster until Wednesday.... Ahhhhh!!!! All this waiting...

"Take the long way home..."

Okay, this is going to be a long one, that's what I get for waiting a week to post - my life, right now at least (and so it has seemed ever since the end of college) is pretty damn eventful. So strap in, I had a pretty awesome week. We'll start with Wednesday, when good friend, Joe Christopher, and I headed out on a mini road trip to good ol' Columbia, Missouri, where the Journalism School is celebrating it's centennial and close to $1 billion (Billion with a "B") in renovations (much needed, I can attest to that). The day was really fantastic - the weather was beautiful, I was taking one of my favorite drives, with one of my favorite people. Joe and I met at Mizzou in an inconsequential communications class, and then, most importantly, when I came to work for the Journalism Library. Our mission Wednesday was to have lunch with Sue Scheurmann (head of the J-Library and smart ass extraordinaire) and to check out the new J-Library digs. Shamefully I didn't take any photos of the new library, I was too busy eating cookies and drinking soda if I'm being honest, although I managed to capture this cute one of me and Joe.... I felt really nostalgic that day, on the brink of tears almost at times. My experience at Mizzou was one of the best of my life thus far - coming 2nd only to marrying Kristian and naturally will have to take a back seat to the birth of and life with my babies... Nonetheless I will always cherish my time in Columbia and everything about the Journalism program. The program was no joke, indeed, which is why it relentlessly holds its position as the top Journalism program in the country. I am glad that I was (finally) in the mindset to get down to business after taking a little extra time to, ahem, "find myself," taking a semester longer than normal to finish high school and spending a little time in community college before I decided, with the love and support of my mom and Big Joe, that it was time to get serious, I wanted to be a part of Mizzou Journalism, and I knew I had it in me. It's amazing when you can be present to something enough to feel it in your bones, and Mizzou Journalism really did course through my veins, and still does. I was scared shitless a lot of the time, but young enough and naively ballsy enough to not let it hold me back. I was taught by Pulitzer prize winning professors, and worked next to Masters students in the Photojournalism program, who came from, literally, all over. I wrote some pieces I'm proud of and shot some photos I'm proud of. I met some people I'll never forget and had some conversations I'll never forget. Beyond all of that though it was just the atmosphere of sheer professionalism mixed with idealism and youth and heart that helped me learn who it is I strive to be - someone who can get down to business, with confidence and idealism. I don't win all the time, but then again, who does? I learned to ask questions - more questions, even, than I normally ask. I learned that everything is not what you see in the media, and I learned what the true job of the media should be. It doesn't win all the time either. -------- Anyhow the J-Library was a part of my experience there for 2 out of the 4 years (as was, of course, my various living arrangements where I met two of the best friends I'll ever have - Annie and Stacey) and most of all I just had fun there - Joe and I are both clowns and I'll admit I distracted him from his job, which was a lot more important than mine since he was actually staff and I was just a part-time student worker. We share a love of R&B and hip-hop - which no one around us at the time did... We play a mean game of Pictionary and can cut a rug at the club. We have an uncanny knack for color coordinating our outfits - without even consulting each other. Here's a couple more of me and Joe from "back in the day."And one of the circulation desk - Sue, our boss, is seated at her computer... And another of the "crew" at a holiday party (2001?) showing off the "classic Sue" pose... Pat simply refuses.Lunch was great (mmmm, fish & chips with malt vinegar), conversation with Sue was like we never left, we were super impressed with the new J-library, a little pissed, sure, that they hadn't completed such renovations while we were there.... Over all we were both really glad we made the trip, and to top the day off we stopped by my favorite pizza joint of all time, Shakespeare's. Anyone who has had it knows that it's one of a kind, both the pizza and the atmosphere. I paid a hefty $52 for two large, half-baked pies, which promptly filled the car with sweet aroma of Shakespeare's for the drive home - only heightening the anticipation for dinner that evening. Kristian was happy I didn't re-neg on my promise to bring home Shakespeare's - a fond memory of his also, considering how much time he spent in Columbia while I was there... I got home, we baked one of the pies the rest of the way, sliced it, added the ever necessary Parmesan and red pepper flakes, and got our eat-on. We felt like we were there, minus the hippies. It was worth every penny.

Thursday was a marathon day - although really a great day too... I had coffee with an old high school friend, April, who just so happens to have 18 month old twin girls! She brought Cameryn and Maddison with her, who are both simply adorable and really well-behaved actually, and she was kind enough to lend me some reading material - a book called "When you're expecting twins, triplets and Quads." I'm already a quarter of the way through it and have learned so much - more than from any of the other books I've read - since it speaks directly to moms of multiples. I learned that I'm not eating enough, that my craving for sweets and fats and red meat are all perfectly normal and to indulge in them since I need close to 3,000 calories a day and lots of protein, fats and carbos to keep the babies on track with healthy gain and growth.... I learned that twins develop faster than singletons initially since somehow they "know" that they won't have as long in the womb - and that their growth pattern actually slows down towards the end vs. speeding up as is the case with singletons since they both develop fast initially and that they'll simply run out of room towards the end. I learned that I'm doing a lot of the right things, and learned some things I need to get better with, like drinking 4 liters of water (I'm at about 3 liters now), and just cutting out the caffeine since it hinders hydration and fluids are super important. Some days are better than others with that - I love coffee. I feel armed with information and have listed a lot of questions to go over with my Dr. tomorrow morning... I can't wait!! I feel like every day before a Dr.s appt. and ultrasound is Christmas Eve!! Please everyone cross your fingers that my plan comes to fruition and that the ultrasound tech is able to confirm genders of the babies, write the info in my card that I'm bringing with me, and that Kristian and I will be able to sit down together at dinner on our 3rd anniversary next Wednesday and learn who these little people are dancing around inside of me..... Stay tuned for new pix of the babies, and video of the ultrasound (I'll post it on my YouTube page). ------ As Thursday continued I had lunch with a childhood friend Kim, who, just so happens to have 4 year old twin girls!! (I'm sure you see a pattern, I try to schedule all of my meetings with people who have twins and where there will be food... just kidding it's a blessing to see old friends and conversations with moms who have twins are invaluable - they've been there!). Kim and I haven't seen each other in a long time - since her wedding in 2003, and before that we were kids. I'm so glad that our paths have crossed again and look forward to hanging out with her any opportunity we get. We're both pretty insanely busy. ----- Lastly, after a meeting with Jordan at the studio, I headed over to my brother Michael's house to hang with him and my little niece G-Funk (Gretchen). We had a fab Mexican dinner with daddy/broham Mike and paid absolutely no attention to the fact that it was September 11th. I love hanging out with Gretchen, she just never ceases to impress me with her wit and insight... We all really have a lot to learn from 3-yr-olds. And just look how darn cute she is..... (PS, thanks Frankie for the rose - she loved it!!). "How many babies does Tia Juana have in her belly Gretchen?" "Two!" (she answers in a rolled-eye annoyed voice like, duh! I'm not stupid!).Okay, lastly (promise - thanks for hanging in there with me...), I can't wait for tomorrow, and I know I already said that. Below you'll see a photo from the 12week ultrasound that I hadn't posted yet mostly because Kristian has been in possession of it. It's a 3D shot of Baby B, and by far it's the best of the batch we got that day, except for the shot of them together, although only in the regular ultrasound mode... You'll notice that he (that's what we think Baby B is) has his hands over his eyes and that he's just simply, super cute and this is just an incredible image that I'm so happy we have. I know they'll both look so different and bigger tomorrow (hopefully we'll get more 3D pix!) and I'm beside myself with anticipation. I'll be sure to tell you all about it. Updates on the pregnancy: I feel great, I love watermelon, beef tenderloin and jalapenos, I'm turning into a hairy beast (you should see my belly), my skin is clearing up (yay, no more 13 yr. old pizza face!), I'm on the coffee wagon, and the kids are just big teases at this point with their "kicking." Less "kicking" really, more of just a random kick here and there, followed by... nothing. Oooh, they're crafty. They sure have me on a hook already..... Have a great week and please come back to visit and leave comments - and thanks to all the moms who have been leaving me advice on the must-have items after my Babies R Us freak-out post. Whew.