A bare belly shot.

I'll try to get a "normal" shot later. But for now:

30 1/2 weeks.

We're talkin' 6+ pounds of babies and a whole lotta other stuff!

30 weeks.

Whoa, where has time gone? There's something huge about 30. Maybe it's my ever-expanding belly, or the fact that we will have two tiny bundles in less than 10 weeks.

I had my very last appointment with my midwife here this morning. She is so great, and I hope sometime in the future we will be able to complete a pregnancy with her. She somehow understands my round-about way of thinking and just gets the way I feel about pregnancy and the entire birthing experience. She's been a huge source of encouragement to be healthy and active, and she's one of the greatest reasons I have been able to be so laid-back about this pregnancy.

How far along? 30 weeks, and a few days.

Total weight gain/loss: +27

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Stretch marks? Not one! I'm so thankful.

Sleep: pretty bad lately.

Best moment this week: My last appointment with my midwife confirmed that Scotland actually is just around the corner.

Movement: Almost non-stop.

Cravings: Ice cream, bananas and cherries. I could live on those three things. Oh, and s'mores.

Genders: They still haven't changed. :)

Labor Signs: Nothing at all! I haven't even been having contractions as frequently anymore. So thankful for that.

Belly Button in or out? Still out, thank you.

What I miss: I really am starting to miss my pre-pregnancy shape now.

What I am looking forward to: My last ultrasound in the States on Monday. And meeting our babies!

Weekly Wisdom: ?

Milestones: 30 weeks is like w o w. So thankful to be here!

Others: We're gearing up and preparing for a great hypnobirthing experience! We're just praying hard that absolutely no complications arise, especially nothing we can't maneuver around naturally. (For those wanting a completely natural approach to a safe, more comfortable birthing experience, we're loving Hypnobirthing: the Mongan Method thus far.  Though we do not agree with everything the author claims, we're loving the thought process and success stories we have heard).

I love pregnancy, I feel great, but I am really ready for these two to come out. I know Peter is too. Last night he was staring at my belly and started laughing (the twerp), "You're huge." Thanks a lot. Thanks.

My last trip to Michigan.

Last week I went to Michigan to visit my family one last time before our big move. It was a fun, full weekend complete with bonfires, spontaneous visits, shopping, and more. Each time I leave there it seems to be harder, and this time was especially difficult as we all hugged goodbye not knowing exactly when we would see each other again. . .

 Friday morning the girls and I (with some assistance from Nate) decorated their bedroom walls with these fun stickers. We first started with just a few above their beds, then expanded. . .

. . .and expanded. . .

We needed Nate for those high places that
heaven knows none of us girls could reach.

. . .until the entire wall was covered. It looked awesome and they had a blast being encouraged to stick stickers on their wall.

Meet Mittens 

Sunbathing. . . inside.

Later Friday morning Mom, Aliza, Anna and I went to an outdoor mall to do some shopping and play in the sprinkler park. This mall is seriously amazing, and I've never seen anything like it with a mini water park like this

We all loved the accessories in Janie & Jack.

Not only was there a sprinkler park, but there were over-sized
vegetables to climb on.

Then we met Jojo the 9-week-old Yorkie pup. . .
I think we all want one. Now to convince the husbands
(and fathers) that they are cuter than rats. . .

Saturday Ashlee spontaneously flew in to spend the weekend with all of us, and my grandma also drove up from Ohio last minute. It was quite the weekend.

We managed to get a family picture Sunday.

Who knows what these are?!

Issued, mailed, received - all in a matter of three short days.

Things are about to change, all in less than three short weeks.

The requirements for these things are unbelievable (though UK visas are much more difficult to get than other countries). And once the package is mailed, your nerves are pretty wracked until you get a response.

Pictures - hair must be away from face, no glasses (unless you are legally blind without them), no head coverings (unless for religious reasons), no red-eye, no grins, smirks or smiles.

There are specific measurements of where your forehead must start on the photo, where your chin must end, the space between your ears and the edges of the photo. . .

The photo size is to be similar to a passport photo, but not exactly. That would be too easy. They must be cut to the exact millimeter.

The list goes on and on.

Last year, over 450,000 applicants to the UK alone were turned down for red eye, a glare on their glasses lens or a grin on their face. . .

Talk about pressure.

But ours were approved, and we're going to Scotland. Praise the Lord.

Ultrasound pictures.

We're past the point of getting those really cute profile, hand, arm and leg shots now. These munchkins are getting b i g and it's pretty squished in there.

The exciting part: everything looks awesome. Their hearts look beautiful, their tiny arms and legs are just precious, their faces are adorable already. Kidneys, bladders, stomachs and brains all look great as well (technology is purely amazing). No preterm labor signs, just two happy, healthy, incredibly active babies that won't sit still long enough to have their pictures taken!

Baby Boy weighed in at 2 pounds 5 ounces, right on track for a singleton and terrific for a multiple. And our chunky Baby Girl, outweighing her brother yet again, weighs 2 pounds 9 ounces. 

I'm so thrilled at their weight gain, and cannot possibly be more excited for their arrival!

The best we could do today:

7.25.11 - 28 weeks.

One year ago today we lost our sweet boys, Hugh and Leif (you can read that post here). It is a sad time remembering the physical pain, the heartache, the weakness we felt knowing what was happening and not being able to do anything. But in the same breath, it is a time of great rejoicing. The Lord restored to us what the locusts have eaten, but more importantly, he has given back to us a great gift that we are wholly undeserving of.

And so, we are rejoicing today at reaching 28 weeks of pregnancy, with two new babies that we are ever so grateful for.

We've made it to the third trimester!
Tomorrow we go for an ultrasound to monitor growth,
so I will have an update on these two
 sometime in the next day or so.

Last night.

The times we'll look back and laugh at: 

Car dropped off at mechanic, 110 degree weather. Preterm labor scare, Wife calling nurse's line, babies are fine. Husband walking a mile in suit and tie to meet a friend after riding rapid from downtown. Dehydrated husband with headache coming home and collapsing in bed at 8:30. A house that feels like it's 140 degrees inside, a broken ice machine, room temperature (aka near-boiling) drinking water, an emotional, pregnant Wife. Husband waking to kill 3 centipedes for Wife, brother-in-law needing weights in basement, Wife retrieving weights knocking over fan, breaking it. (Adjusted room temperature- 212 degrees). 11:30pm- Husband leaving to buy new fan, Wife has emotional breakdown. Wife killing 2 centipedes, one surviving smashing, another crawling out of hole. Husband returning with fan, taking pillow and making plans to sleep in driveway. Husband comforts Wife, Wife tells Husband to come back inside, fan turned on highest setting. 12:54pm- both fall asleep.