Apr 19, 2010
Twin-Time Time Crunch
One of the weird things about expecting twins is not knowing my timetable. When I thought it was a single baby, I was kinda like:
Okay, baby at the end of August. I’ll stop working at the end of May, and then I’ll have the whole summer to hang out with the boys and do fun and productive stuff.
Hmmm…
I get the most stressed out right now by the not knowing. Mostly it’s not knowing when I’m going to be basically incapacitated, or functioning at a very low level.
At my doctor’s appointment last week, she told me to expect to look and feel 40 WEEKS at 28 weeks. WHAT?!?!?
So now the twin-time time crunch is on! In the next couple months I need to:
- Buy a mini-van. We started the process on Saturday, and it was exhausting! I will definitely NOT want to be traipsing waddling around car lots when I feel 40 weeks pregnant.
- Get stuff! We now have our infant car seats, some hand-me-down cribs, and a double Snap & Go stroller (which I hear is an essential for twins).
Little Morrow excitedly checking it all out. 
Funny side story: Morrow loves babies. He loves to say baby. He loves to wave his hands in front of babies’ faces and say, “Hi baby!!!” So when he saw Abraham out the back window bringing this loot home, he started yelling, “BABY! BABY!” I think he thought we were actually getting 2 babies, not just 2 car seats.
Anyway, back to my twin-time list:
- Get a bunk bed for the boys’ room. Our friend Phil is going to build one for us! By the way (shameless plug coming), Phil has his own custom woodworking and remodeling company. If you live in the Twin Cities and need anything fix-it related, he’s a trustworthy man who’s great at what he does!
- Transition Morrow and Orison into the same room. This was always the plan (because I don’t think kids need their own rooms), but now the timetable is really moving up!
- Set up the cribs and decorate the girls’ room. My friend Jenna is going to help me make the bedding. These are the fabrics I’m thinking of using:
Right now everything seems kinda moved up on the calendar.
In other news, my stomach issues have improved so much! Thank you for praying for me. I’m able to eat more fatty foods now, though I’m still staying away from pork. I’m able to eat beef, though, and my first cheeseburger over the weekend was glorious! And I can eat regular ice cream, which is simply awesome! I’m very thankful for this change, too, since I actually need a good bit of fat each day to support the development of two babies.
Well, I’m sure this isn’t the last of the news on the preparations we need to make for the twins to come. Thanks for being interested enough to read this!
Yes, the double snap & go is WONDERFUL for twins! My b/g twins are almost 4 and we used ours for the first year! Congrats on having twins!
I loved reading this entry! I pretty much always enjoy this blog.
You found out you were having twins about the time that my husband and I found out I was pregnant with our first. I was excited for you because I’ve been praying for twins since I was five, and at our first ultrasound last week, we found out that we are indeed having twins. :-D
I’m almost out of my first trimester but not quite far enough along to really buy a bunch of stuff yet. I was looking at the Snap-n-Go; do you really like it? I mean, I know you haven’t really used it yet, but how does the handlebar feel?
I sympathize with you and all your stresses about the future! My plan was to work all summer (I’m due in late October) and straight through until the end of September or so. Now I’m not really sure about working that long and I’ll have to give a timetable to employers because I’m still LOOKING for a summer job right now (I’ll be graduating in May).
So, prayers are with you! It’s gonna be a wild ride. :) But God is good!
I love those fabrics! So cheery!
A friend of mine with twins was able to put them both in a stretchy wrap and be hands free and on the go when they were tiny… might be something that would interest you? :)
These links have some pictures…
http://www.alongfortheride.biz/Articles.asp?ID=264
http://www.naturallyparentingtwins.com/drupal/node/111
Praying for you all (all 6 of you!)… and I absolutely LOVE those fabrics. :)
The flowery fabrics are so cute! I’m glad things are starting to piece together for you guys…but I can’t imagine what it would be like to need to have everything ready at 28 weeks instead of 40! You must be nesting like crazy.
I loved hearing Morrow’s reaction to the car seats, most of all. What a sweetie.
I think I’m the only male that reads your website :-) Anyways, glad to hear you’re better, as far as stomach issues goe.
I’m here!
Me too!
Oh how fun. Confession: I secretly want to have twins. My grandma was a twin, so maybe someday…?! :) Also, I adore that fabric. Happy twin-preparing! :)
The waiting game is crazy! We were told the average twins birth is at 35 weeks. Ours didn’t come until 39 weeks, and then only because we had an induction! Twins are just completely unpredictable…but then, I’m sure you’ve learned that by now.
So fun!! I love the fabrics! :)
Thank you for sharing all of this! I love the fabrics for the girls’ room. And how overwhelming and intimidating and wonderful and exciting all at once.
i love, LOVE the fabrics!!
Hi Molly, I can’t remember if I’ve ever commented before but have been reading for quite a while. I wanted to comment on your twin announcement post, but it took me half an hour to read everyone else’s comments saying just what I wanted to say only better, and by then nap time was over and I just never got back to it. Isn’t God amazing?! I *love* that He’s giving you twin girls!
Anyway, what I really wanted to ask (and this post seems like just the place to do it) is: can you please, oh please, give us a sneak preview of the name situation?? I think your three little ones so far have just about the best names I’ve ever heard (our second daughter came very close to being a Felicity, but we ruled it out because it started with the same sound as our oldest daughter’s name), and I am chomping at the bit to know what’s on the list for these little girls. Even if you’re not sharing the actual names, I wonder if you’d consider doing a teaser post just about what names you’ve considered and discarded, what the whole process looks like etc. I’ve been a baby name fanatic since I was a little girl, and it would totally make my day :)
We’ll be praying for your sweet baby girls and their arrival in God’s perfect timing!
Jodi, I think you’d like this post about our naming conventions.
Thanks, Abraham! I remember reading that one, but had forgotten the part about never-ever-ever telling. Oh, well, it was worth a try :) Thanks again for your response.
Love the fabrics – that’s going to be super cute :)
The fabrics are gorgeous. Can you believe how fast time is going?!?
beautiful fabrics, Molly! And you look absolutely amazing!!!!
I LOVE the fabric, too. So cute!
My dear friend who has five-year-old twins swore by her souped-up double nursing pillow. I don’t know the brand, but it made it possible to nurse both babies at once, which pretty much saved her sanity for a few weeks there.
“Thanks for being interested enough to read this”
Are you kidding!?! When I found out you were giving birth to Morrow I called my husband at work! I was thrilled!
When we found out you were pregnant again, I told my husband who was home at the time.
I screamed when I found out twins!
So of course we’re intrested!!!
Love that fabric!
I’m just excited about this whole thing. Can’t wait to see those precious girls.
Love the fabric with a PASSION. And our 3 girls shared a room for ages. Oldest finally moved into her own space last year, but they still all pile into one bed (twin w/pop-up trundle) most nights.
Time-crunch, indeed! Sounds to me like you are getting a good start on your list!
My SIL who had triplets looked 40 weeks at 20! She was on bedrest for quite awhile and made it to 32 weeks.
I think the girls’ room (gives me goosebumps to type that!!!) is going to be adorable!! I love the soothing color scheme….not too bright, but not pastels, either!
HUGS!!!
One more thing…line up volunteers to help you in the first weeks (daddy doesn’t count because he’ll be a zombie too). Make sure someone takes the early morning shift. People always stroll in at 10 or 11am willing to help but the worst time for a mommy to twins is 6 am when the other kids are waking up and she’s finally falling asleep! I speak from experience.
You may also want a backup plan if you’re counting on them sleeping in the same room. One twin my wake the other so you may need to separate them. that’s what happened to us. We put one of them in the living room for the first months.
So glad that things are coming together! you look great! You’re doctor was telling the truth BTW! :)
Molly-
We don’t know each other, but I am good friends with your renters, the Parnells. I enjoy reading your blog, and appreciate your sharing your life with us. I had to comment for the first time because of the fabric you picked. I love these fabrics and have dreamed of using them for the perfect project. I think a girls room would be adorable in this “Wonderland” fabric. I used the fabric from this collection to make a playmat for a friend’s little girl–you can see it here: http://lfinndesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/wonderland-by-momo-baby-playmat.html. Please keep us informed on the little girls, as we are all praying for you and them!
Blessings, Leah F
I love the fabrics! I’m want something similar if I had girls (not a fan of pink here). Of course considering I never actually did a nursery for my 1st, I doubt I’d do it for #3 or 4 or so on. But maybe if we had a house!
Love reading the blog!
Awww, yay! Don’t forget to bask in the excitement!
I would have posted that picture just to show how good I look pregnant with twins- you look great!! I think I’m 3 weeks or more behind you and am only having one- pretty sure I look bigger!!
Would love to connect with you guys this summer.
Blessings!
I wonder if nesting with twins will be double the fun?…
or is it double the work? Either way, it’s SO exciting. I can’t wait for the end of summer!
i just had twins in nov. 2009 and i wanted to share with you a little bit of my story in hopes that it may help you figure out your own timetable. i am 5ft2in and normally 110-115lbs. i delivered my boy /girl twins via c-section at 36wks3days as my son was transverse the last 16 weeks. at delivery i weighed 160lbs. within 3 weeks i was down to 106lbs. you will drop the weight QUICK with two babies! its insane!
i was told the same thing about feeling much bigger earlier, which i did but not that much earlier. i always measured about normal until 23 wks. then i started picking up the pace by a week or two each week. by 28 i measured 33wks, by 32 i measured 40 and by 361/2 i measured 44. also, i am a special ed teacher for elementary age children and i worked full time until the day i delivered. i truly believe staying active helped me carry them as long as i did. i ended up delivering because when i started having contractions, my daughters heart rate was decellerating. i was in preterm labor and they did slow it down so that i could keep them in for a week or two longer but with her heartrate drop, they decided it was best to take them and my husband and i agreed.
i pray everything goes well for you. all children are a blessing but there is something special about twins. enjoy them, with two, time flies even faster! i cant imagine having a total of four! you must be a very special person!
i would like to vote for fabric #1 even though you didn’t ask. thank you.
Hi Molly-
I found your blog through another and since I used to attend BBC when we lived in MN I thought I’d check it out. Congrats on having twins! I, like you, didn’t find out until midway through my second trimester that I was having twins. We delivered our boys a little early at 32 weeks, but they are now mostly ‘normal’ little boys! Twin pregnancy can definitely slow you down a bit, but God is able to supply you with everything you need (including the energy to get stuff done when you need to). Keep pressing on…you’ll have your babies here before you know it!
I went on bedrest at 28 weeks. I delivered at 34.5 weeks. So, yes, I would recommend getting EVERYTHING ready before 30 weeks. We had the same double snap n’ go stroller—totally necessary. Also? We only set up one crib because the twins co-slept in the same crib until 6 months. They were happier that way. They liked being together. So, if you can’t get both cribs up, at least get one. :) Do you already have a changing table? I didn’t have one before the twins, but I got one for them and it’s been totally necessary, too. PRAYING FOR YOU! xoxoxo.
I have b/g twins that are 12! It is so much fun. My advice would be not to worry about all the timing stuff. Yes it is wise to prepare ahead, but if you take care of yourself and don’t overdo you could go all the way. I had to be on bedrest and take meds, but they came at 36 1/2 weeks really healthy. I worried because I couldn’t eat a lot without making myself sick so I only gained 13 1/2 lbs and they were 10 1/2 lbs combined. Just enjoy every second. They are such miracles and gifts as you know. I will be praying for you. I have a 17 yr old, 12 yr old twins, and a 6 yr old….all after suffering with infertility and losing 7 babies including a set of twins. God is good….may He bless your pregnancy and your family. :)
After our first baby boy we had a miscarriage, then another boy. When our boys where four and two we had twins. I was so nervous and scared about being the mom of four, four and under. We had to buy a mini-van too. I can honestly say that the first year was MUCH easier then I thought it would be. We where strict about keeping them on the same schedule, though we didn’t schedule our first two babies at all. I have such fond (albeit somewhat fuzzy) memories of that first year. I am so thankful that we had twins. Four is a great number and they are so much fun now at 10, 8 and 6. If you every want to chat you can email me.
Molly, I LOVE the fabric for the twins bedding. I think Ben and I are going to wait to find out the sex of our third baby. We are just going to use the gender neutral crib bedding I have already and then I’ll when I go to do the big girl/boy bedding, I’ll decorate. Do you have a site you like to find fabrics from? I love to sew (not that I’m GOOD at it or anything, but I learning and I love fabric). How crazy that you feel 40 weeks pregnant at 28 weeks! I’ll be praying for you girl. Glad to hear the stomach is feeling better. Eat, eat, eat! : )
xoxo
Molly, congratulations on having twins…they are soooo much fun! The Lord surprised my husband and I with 2 fraternal sets. We now have 2 two-year-olds and 2 three-month-olds. Rest as much as you can…even if you think you don’t need to. Providing nutrients for 2 babies is tough work! I read your to-do list and it was so similar to my husbands and mine it made me laugh. But we weren’t quite as on top of things as you and your hubby are and didn’t do most of the stuff until after they were born. Oh well….at least it got done, right? Congratulations, again! Oh, and we bought the Toyota Sienna…it fits 4 car seats great!
I love the first floral print fabric! Those fabrics will make an adorable nursery!
We are from BBC and live in Djibouti. I had my first introduction to the surprise timing of twins when we got pregnant five months into our marriage and I was 21-years old! Went on bed rest at 30 weeks and off of it at 36 weeks. Delivered at 38 weeks, one natural and one via c-section. (Pray that doesn’t happen to you.) Now they are almost 10 years old. I remember another pregnant woman told me I didn’t look that big. I was bigger than her and she was overdue. I was 28-weeks. Never thought to want them before but now I love having twins. Enjoy every minute.
Loving your fabric choice! I kept everything gender neutral for the first three babies and then found out #4 was also a girl (we have 4 of them) – went out and got some girl fabric.
The fabric choices NOW are so much better than they were even 6 years ago, though!
I was over at Talitha’s on Tuesday and she was saying that you guys are having lots of fun stocking up on the baby supplies. It’s so exciting! God really does have an awesome plan and it’s always cool to see when God takes our mourning and turns in into joy. The pain of Felicity’s death I’m sure will always be there, but these girls will be very healing and lots of fun. God bless!
Molly,
I have been in a cloud of fog created by nursing school and I have not been keeping up with your blog. I am so excited to hear you are prego! But more pumped that you are prego with baby girls! Two!!! From everything I read and know about you. You are one of the most amazing mom’s out there! Congratuations to you and your family!
In Christ,
Michael Paine
Hey Molly! Here’s some unsolicited advice as a past person pregnant with twins: now that your stomach is feeling better, eat as much as you can. I think some of the best advice I got from reading a million “pregnant with twins” books was that to up my odds of carrying the twins full term, you want them to be as large as they can. The longer you are pregnant the less room you have in your stomach for food due to the babies. So the earlier you are able to put on pounds the better. I found it hard to eat a lot but I really tried. And it honestly wasn’t as fun as it sounds! But as the twins grow, you find that you can’t eat a whole lot and they are always bouncing around on your stomach and so that doesn’t feel so great. So, eat up girl! Glad to see you ate two lunches the other day! :)
Hi Molly, I am just so excited for you and Abraham with the twins and baby girls. And I lLOVE your fabric choices. Very fun, and I love orange too. Many blessings to you and your family.
I love keeping up with your pregnacy! My husband and I are trusting God for a baby and it is so sweet to read what He is doing for you. Praying your list gets donw in record time! Wish we lived a little closer and we could help. :)
Such cute fabrics.
LOVE the fabrics!!! So fun! I love that you’re making the bedding! Still praying for you everyday. Keep the updates coming. Will we see any growing belly pictures? Those are always my favorite. No pressure…
[...] was feeling like I had a lot of stuff to do before twins can arrive in my home. I called it “The Twin-Time Time Crunch.” Well have some updates for you to rejoice with me [...]