Jesse Coulter

You may be wondering what the difference between physical therapy and women's physical therapy is. Women's health physical therapy is the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Today I'm partnering with Oscar Health Insurance to share about my experience with this type of therapy and how it's changed my life.

When I found out I was having twins, I knew that a birthing center was not an option since twins are considered high risk pregnancies. I was completely ok with that, because I was already planning on delivering at a hospital and getting an epidural. Turner's natural birth was WAY too painful for me. I chose OBGYN North and enjoyed the 9 months of appointments leading up to Walt and Whitney's birth.

My induction date was set for January 26, which was when I would be 38 weeks. At my 36 week appointment on January 13 I had my first internal exam and my doctor advised I was 4cm dilated and 95% effaced so it could be any day. I left the doctor's office around 4pm and immediately began feeling cramping. Over the next few hours I began having lower back pain and minor contractions. I was pretty sure that my doc had just induced my labor, which I didn't mind. I was READY!

That night I didn't want to sit around the house thinking about what was to come so I told Alex I wanted to get out. We took Turner to Dairy Queen and then walked around Lowe's. The cashier at Lowe's asked "Aww...when are you due?" I replied, "Tonight....no, seriously." We headed home, I took a bath, put on my pajamas, read Turner a few books and put him to bed. My contractions had really died down, so I thought that maybe this wasn't the night.

Last belly photo at 36 weeks

Enjoying our last night out as a family of 3

1:00am - I was woken up by a contraction. I went to the bathroom and noticed some liquid and blood on my underwear. I woke up Alex and said that I think my water broke, but wasn't 100% sure. As we were chatting in my room about it, my water REALLY did break. I ran back in to the bathroom, and thought...IT'S GO TIME! I texted my family and said, "Water broke, headed to the hospital!" Well...I didn't head to the hospital instantly. For some dumb reason, I hadn't packed my bag so I tried to pack as fast as I could. Alex called our neighbor to come spend the night with Turner while we were away. As I was packing I was definitely begging to feel strong contractions about 3 minutes apart. About 45 minutes later we finally left the house.

2:15am - Alex dropped me off at the front of the hospital (St. David's North) and drove off to find a parking spot. I walked in and took the elevator up to the front desk. As I approached, the front desk asked for my name, I responded..."One second" as I grasped the counter and put my head down. I proceeded to have an intense contraction. They could tell I was in pain. A nurse came and took me back to a room. I sat down for 1 minute when I told her that I was 4cm dilated and carrying twins. She then immediately moved me to a delivery room. I told her I wanted an epidural RIGHT NOW, to which she responded, OK, but we I need to check you. I quickly threw off my clothes and put on the hospital robe. I quickly layed down on the bed, grabbed on to the oh shit handle. The nurse checked me and said, "I'm sorry, but the babies are right here. You won't be able to get an epidural." WHAT THE WHAT???!!! At this point I was in too much pain to get upset, so I closed my eyes and held on. I told the nurse they were both head down, and I wanted to keep the placentas. A few minutes later the room was flooded with nurses and my doctor (who I had never met with prior). All of the sudden I felt an INSANELY amount of pressure on my butt, and it hurt so bad. I immediately started screaming, "My BUTT, my BUTT...OMG, it hurts so bad. Is he going to come out my butt?!" I said I wanted to start pushing, so I did. At this point I still wasn't hooked up to anything, and no IV was inserted yet. I pushed through 2-3 contractions and Walt was born at 12:40am! Ahhhhh....the relief. The nurses put him on my stomach, and for a brief second I glanced down and touched him. After that quick moment I layed back in exhaustion and thought, Oh crap I have to do this again.

Just after Walt was born

2:41am - I had a few minutes of no contractions, and then the pain started back up again. I remember there was a nurse to the left of me trying to shove a needle in to my arm to attach the IV, and Alex putting his phone in my face to which I saw my sister on Facetime. Of course I reacted with, "ALEX, GET THE PHONE OUT OF MY FACE!" (nacho libre style). I didn't have the butt pain like I did with Walt (thank goodness), and after pushing through a few contractions Whitney was born...officially 12 minutes after Walt. It felt so good to push. The nurses layed Whitney on my chest and I got to cuddle her for 5-10 minutes. I looked over at Alex with wide eyes and said, "Oh my gosh, can you believe I just delivered them naturally!?" Alex just laughed.  Thank goodness it was so quick, because it was extremely painful. I then delivered two placentas and had a second degree tear stitched up.

The moments after Whitney was born

Walt weighed 5lb 1oz. and Whitney weighted 5lb. 6oz. I don't remember their height, but they were both healthy and didn't have to spend any time in the NICU. A few hours after their birth, we headed to the recovery room where I spent 2 days. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the hospital. The nurses were great, the food was good (I lived off of Chicken Fried Steak and French Toast), and the 3 hours of sleep in between feedings was amazing. I brought a bag full of clothes, but literally wore a hospital gown the entire time. I was not about to stain my own clothes.  I headed home on Saturday morning and had a house full of people...seriously, there were 9 adults, Turner and 2 babies. I was a TAD overwhelmed to say the least. My mom spent 3 full weeks with me, and I went home numerous times for almost 2 months to get extra help. My in-laws took Turner for a whole week on two separate occasions to give Alex and I some relief since Turner is very needy. After almost 8 weeks, I think I'm finally getting comfortable taking care of both babies by myself, but it is EXTREMELY difficult.

Heading home

I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. I'm thankful for a safe and healthy pregnancy and birth of Walt & Whitney! I really enjoyed being pregnant, and am sad to say goodbye to it, but I'm officially done having babies (really, Alex had a vasectomy a month after they were born).

Well, if you haven't seen my social media posts....Walt & Whitney are here! I wanted to pop in and give you a little life update. I can't wait to share their birth story with you...it's crazy! As I read over my last post before I went in to labor, it's crazy to think how life has dramatically changed since. I wanted to touch on a few topics I previously wrote about.

Preparation: 

• Well, my bag was semi-packed when I went in to labor, but honestly I didn't wear anything in my bag except a pair of leggings and a nursing robe on my ride home. I brushed my teeth every day and took 1 shower but that was about it when it came to using my toiletries. I ended up wearing hospital robes the entire time because I didn't want to get my personal clothes dirty. I only had a few visitors, and I honestly didn't care what I looked liked.

•  I've been using my Earth Mama Angel Baby products like crazy...thank you bottom spray and nipple balm for making me feel a bit better.

Anxiety:

• I decided to put the babies in their Rock n' Plays the first night home in their room, but honestly I felt like they were way too small to be in them. The next night I put them in a MamaRoo and RockaRoo which has been much better. I've turned them on a few times at night, but during the day they nap in them (without movement) between feedings. They sleep for longer stretches during the day (3-3 1/2 hours) than at night...of course.

•  Breastfeeding: Oh goodness....I will write a whole post dedicated to this, but I lasted a week. It honestly wasn't a tough decision to stop, because I was miserable. I've decided to pump instead, and I've had to supplement with formula when I don't make enough for each feeding. I'm pumping about 4 oz. every 3 hours, and the babies eat 2-3 oz. every 3 hours. 

• Turner loved meeting the babies, and has been super sweet. He pretends like he is a baby tiger or cat every time he is around them and rubs his face on their foreheads. I don't blame him, because the babies' faces are so stinkin' soft! My in-laws were in town the day after the babies were born and offered to take Turner home with them to Dallas for a week. At first I was hesitant, because I didn't want him to think we were shipping him off or abandoning him. But the first night we came home from the hospital was crazy. Turner was super hyper and all over the place, and I immediately knew that it would be an easier first week at home adjusting to the babies if Turner wasn't home (sounds mean, but it's true).  He has a blast with his grandparents anyway, so I know he is well taken care of and getting much more attention than we would be able to give him right now. 

• Alex and I have been doing really good together at home, even though we both have cabin fever. He's been a huge supporter when I've broken down multiple times, and given me multiple back massages when I'm so tight from breastfeeding. At night, I find myself clinging to him (I'm always the big spoon...and now I don't have a belly keeping me away). He's been able to sleep at night thanks to my mom getting up with me during the night to help with feedings, and then will watch the babies more during the day so my Mom and I can nap.

Random:

• My mom has been with me since the babies were born, and her help is more than I could ask for. I'm so thankful for her support, help, and comfort.  I think most women find comfort in their mother's being there for them after the birth of a child. Thinking about her leaving terrifies me. She will be staying with me for another 2 weeks, and I'm extremely grateful for her taking the time off of work to be with me and the babies.

• I'll be sharing the twin's birth story on my friend's podcast, The Birth Hour, next week and will let you know once it's live. 

• Alex and I actually got to go on a date when the babies were a week old. We wanted to try out the new HopDoddy location in Round Rock, and my Mom didn't really want to go and said she would stay with one of the babies. We took Walt because he had just eaten....poor Whitney got left behind on our first outing. Walt slept through the entire dinner (the advantage of newborns).

• I've taken a bath almost every night and done by hair while my Mom is here. I don't go many places other than the doctor, but it's nice to feel normal. When I was getting dressed to go out with Alex, I thought my body was smaller than it was and tried to put on some non-maternity jeans. Big mistake. I've dropped 25lbs., but my body is still not back to it's pre-baby form (obviously and that's OK). I forget how much my hips shift. I'll be wearing lots of leggings and my maternity jeans for quite a while.  

• I've received so many messages from friends and family and even strangers on Instagram about helping with the babies. I am beyond grateful for everyone's support and kinds words. I was having a few rough days ago, and I posted a photo to IG about my struggle as a new mom and experiencing the baby blues. I received an outpour of encouragement, and it definitely helped brighten my spirits!

Leaving the hospital

During this pregnancy I have found much cuter maternity clothing than I did with Turner over 3 years ago. I've picked a few of my favorite outfits to share with you mostly based on comfort!

1.) I love this Texas Tuxedo look (sorry, I don't call it a Canadian Tuxedo. My Dad sports this look everyday), because I would wear this non-maternity. I'm a jean lover, so these maternity rockstar jeans from Old Navy were life savers when it came to recreating my distressed skinnies. I do have to admit that they were a tad uncomfortable when they would sag (the side panel is comfy but tends to fall off my frame).

Top/Jeans: Old Navy. Hat: Cotton On. Boots: Justin (Thrifted). Hat: Cotton On.

2.) I bought this skirt a few years ago knowing that I would wear it for maternity since it was a size too big. I love the pop of color, and it's super flowy and comfy. It's always nice to find skirts that look flattering over the bump, especially when you're in the stage of "kind of showing". It helps people to see that it's not a beer gut!

Top: Old Navy (Non-Maternity). Skirt: Boutique in Fredericksburg (Non-Maternity). Sandals: Gap.

Top: PinkBlush Maternity. Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Aldo

Top: Gap. Vest: Belk. Jeans: Cotton On (Non-Maternity). Shoes: Converse

Dress: Cotton On (Similar). Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Nine West. Scarf: ASOS. Coat: Nordstrom

These days I'm mostly living in sweatpants, and I'm excited to get back to my normal clothes. I will definitely be selling all of my maternity outfits, just not sure where. Any ideas of where I can get the most bang for my buck? Instagram Sale? ThredUp?

Some of my favorite posts from bloggers are those when they just speak their mind about what's going on in their life and I'm going to do just that in this post in regards to me anxiously waiting for the birth of Walt & Whitney!

As I sit here at 36 weeks pregnant, measuring 40 I am ready for Walt & Whitney to be here. People ask me daily if I'm ready and prepared. My answer to that is, you can't really be prepared for newborn twins, but I am ready to not have this giant bump following me around everywhere I go. Every once in a while I rub my belly and think about how this is the last time I will be pregnant. As uncomfortable as my bump may be at times, I do love seeing what my body can do carrying two humans. When I catch a glimpse of my body after a shower, I'm truly amazed of how it has transformed. I know I will miss it at times.

35 Weeks

Preparation:

• I haven't read one baby book, specifically a book about twins. I was gifted Healthy Sleeping Habits for Multiples last week, but haven't glanced at it. I feel a bit unprepared, but I honestly feel everything is a case by case basis, and I might as well just wait. God knows I will have lots of time while nursing to sit on my phone and google the crap out of everything. 

• I have been on the phone with insurance companies more than I would like trying to get all my ducks in a row for my maternity leave.  It's a pain in the neck going back and forth with my doctor's office and insurance company, but hoping that after the babies are born I can get everything solidified.  

•  I've washed baby clothes, and Walt definitely has the advantage when it comes to the amount of outfits thanks to Turner. Gap and Old Navy have been my go-to for finding matching outfits in different colors. 

• We're not using cloth diapers this time around. I don't have time for that, and washing them is that last thing I want to worry about. We have the closets full of newborn and size 1 diapers as well as wipes thanks to family and friends.

• I haven't officially packed my bag, but I have started gathering things and writing down what I'll need. Turner was born in a birthing center, and we didn't intend to stay more than 6 hours there so I'm a bit unsure of what I'll need for a hospital birth (especially if the babies go to the NICU). 

A few things in my bag;

• Pajama pants
• Nursing tanks
• Slippers
• Toiletries
• Leggings & button-down top for the ride home
• Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum items; Bottom spray, Natural nipple butter, Mama bottom balm (Mama needs to be taken care of too!)
• Nursing pillow
• For babies; Diaper bag, swaddles, 2-3 outfits, diapers

 
Anxiety:

• Sleeping: How will I and the babies sleep? Where will I put the babies when I bring them home? In the individual Rock n' Plays in my room? In one crib in their room? I actually bought a baby monitor for the first time, but honestly I'm not sure if I will use it.

• Breastfeeding: Holy crap this one scares me. I want to be able to breastfeed so badly, but the struggle is real. Mastitis twice + a baby w/acid reflux/colic that didn't gain much weight + a cut and yeast infection on my breast that wouldn't heal were all things I dealt within the first 5 weeks of breastfeeding Turner. Alex could see the pain and stress I was going through and went out and bought formula one day. I never looked back after that. This time around I really really want to breastfeed, because 1.) We can't afford all that dang formula 2.) I would feel like a superhero. Although, the independent side of me cringes thinking of being tied down due to breastfeeding or pumping. My sanity depends on getting some me-time, and is that even possible when breastfeeding twins? I am praying that it all works out. I had an in-home breastfeeding consultation by Stork Maternity Consulting last week, and am planning on having a second consultation once the babies are home.

• I had baby blues with Turner, and the nights were the worst. I worry about experiencing those same emotions this time around, but I'm hoping encapsulating my placenta(S)..yes I will have two...will help combat my crazy hormones as well as bring in a good milk supply. I'll be using Hill Country Placentas, and on my to-do list is getting a cooler to put them in after the babies are born....kind of weird, but hey, you do what you have to do! Alex suggested this is the perfect time for him to buy a YETI cooler...bahaha. I died laughing. You want to buy a YETI to put my placentas in? I don't think so.  

• I know that Turner is going to experience a lot of emotions with the arrival of his brother and sister. I've bought him a Big Brother book to give him at the hospital, and I'll probably put in a little treat because he loves sweets. Lately it's been taking a lot of work to get Turner to go to bed. Reading 3-4 stories, going to the restroom, telling a monster story, and then once I leave the room, he tries to come out at least 2-3 times every 5-10 minutes. It's an hour long process most nights (sometimes longer), and he only wants me to do it. I know I don't have that time when the twins are born, so it's going to be rough those first few weeks I'm sure. 

• I always worry about the stress a new baby will put on Alex and I's relationship, but I'm praying for strength and peace during that newborn phase. Lack of sleep can make a woman say and do crazy things.  We changed churches recently, and we've really enjoyed the messages we've heard and spending time together growing in our faith. Prayer is going to be very important for both of us during those tough times.

Getting in lots of time as a family of 3! Spoiling Turner a bit ; )

In-N-Out Burger Date

Random Thoughts:

• In regards to giving birth, I'm not nervous one bit. Even though Turner's natural birth was hard due to the pain, I'm hoping for a well-timed epidural. You can read about Turner's birth here.  I have no expectations, and understand that I might have to have a c-section. I'm optimistic that I will be able to deliver both of them vaginally since they are both head down, but who knows! 

• Thankfully I'm not worried about my work situation this time around. After Turner was born I quit my job, and it took me 4 months to find another one. I was interviewing when he was a month old. I'm not 100% sure the amount of maternity leave I'll be getting (depends on the birth), but I know now that I will be able to leave my babies and be ok with it. My neighbor will be watching the twins during the day, and Turner will continue to go to his school.

Date night at one of my hometown friend's wedding - 35 weeks

Well, that was a lot. Thanks for sticking around if you made it through! Here's to potentially 2 more weeks of pregancy, and then I will officially be done having babies (kind of sad).

Top - Maternity Countdown Tee

How Far Along: 35 Weeks (this is a week late so I can give you a full update on my 35th week of pregnancy)

Babies Genders: Boy (Walton) AND Girl (Whitney) #WaltandWhit

Due Date: February 8, but will be induced on January 26th at 38 weeks if I don't go in to labor prior

Things to Note: 

- Had my 35 week appointment, which included an ultrasound, 45 min. stress test and visit with the doctor. Both babies are still head down and Whitney was moving like crazy!  They didn't measure for size and weight, but the ultrasound tech guessed they are probably around 5lbs. 

- My induction date has officially been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7pm. If I go in to labor prior my sweet neighbors said they would watch Turner until family arrives. 

- I had an in-home breastfeeding course taught this past Sunday by Stork Maternity Consulting and it was great. I'm praying that I can successfully breastfeed these babies (we can't afford formula)!

- My body is definitely showing signs that it is getting ready to go in to labor. Back pain, cramps, braxton-hicks...some days worse than others. It's a guessing game, but the doctor thinks I will have them before my induction date. 

Weight gain: 45 lbs.

Symptoms: 
- Braxton-hicks ALL the time

- Heartburn

- Sleepless nights. I wake up about every 2 hours, and either have to use the restroom or flip sides. My stomach is as hard as a rock, and the babies are so high it's painful. 

Exercise: 
- Danced at one of my childhood friend's wedding in 4 inch wedges. Honestly the wedges were super comfy, but I couldn't get very low and shake my hips like Shakira.

-  Constantly wrangling Turner. I carry him a lot on my hip or sometimes on top of my belly, and put him in his car seat multiple times a day.

Clothing: Ugh...I'm getting super bored with my clothing options. I have 2 tunics that cover my stomach and bottom, and then a few loose dresses that I wear with leggings. Thankfully all of my shoes still fit.

Cravings: No specific cravings, but I'm taking advantage of eating out at restaurants as much possible before I don't have the chance for a while. Planning lots of lunch dates with girlfriends and family dates with Alex and Turner.

Check out my Instagram here to get all the sources of the outfits, simply tap each photo.

Dressing a baby bump during the third trimester can get a bit boring as your outfit options minimize, but there are ways to keep things interesting. Cue scarves, hats, jewelry and shoes! I haven't had swelling with this pregnancy, so I was able to continue to wear all of my shoes. My riding boots and over-the-knee boots dressed up my outfits, and I wore my high-top Nike sneakers when I wanted to slip something on quickly.

I relied on comfy leggings for pants, because jeans were very uncomfortable. Dresses and tunics were also my friend. I had thought about purchasing a winter coat, but c'mon I live in Texas. So I wore my non maternity coats and added a scarf for extra coverage when it was actually cold out.

I'm currently 35 weeks, and most of my tops don't fit anymore, so if you see me out I'll likely be wearing the same thing for the next 3 weeks. While I'm at home I'm in baggy t-shirts and sweatpants all day, every day.

I'm very thankful for an able body that has been able to support my active pregnancy with twins. I hope the strength I've built during pregnancy allows me to have a smoother labor and bounce back post pregnancy much faster.  I believe strength training is a big factor to staying strong throughout pregnancy, especially with your legs and core to support the extra weight and growing belly. 

How Far Along: 34 Weeks (this is a week late so I can give you a full update on my 34th week of pregnancy)

Babies Genders: Boy (Walton) AND Girl (Whitney) #WaltandWhit

Due Date: February 8, but will be induced no later than January 25 which is when I'll be 38 weeks

Things to Note: 
- Had my 34 week appointment, which included an ultrasound, 45 min. stress test and visit with the doctor. Both babies are still head down and doing great! They didn't measure for size and weight. I'm guessing they weigh around 4 1/2 lbs each.

- Contacted my insurance and verified that they will cover in-home lactation consulting after the babies are born. Huge relief because I need all the help I can get! I'll be using Stork Maternity Consulting in Austin.

- Saturday afternoon I started experiencing intense lower back pain, and all day I was having shooting pain down the side of my right leg. Later that night I went out with my neighbors for a girls night out, and I was having back to back braxton-hicks contractions. I kept thinking...hmmm? Am I going to go in to labor tonight, because right before I went in to labor with Turner I had the same type of back pain. I tossed and turned all night with back pain and minor contractions, but the next morning I was fine. I was a bit disappointed because I want to meet them so badly, but I know the longer my body holds out the healthier they are.

Weight gain: 43 lbs.

Nursery: Washed all of the babies' clothes as I prepare my diaper and hospital bag.

Symptoms: 
- Braxton hicks

- Heartburn

- Sleepless nights (always something on my mind...When will they come? Will I be able to breastfeed? Will I ever sleep again?)

- Lower back pain/shooting pain down my right leg from my sciatica nerve

Exercise: 
- Took a mile walk w/Turner and Alex on Sunday and then played soccer/football with Turner at the park. The weather was too nice to pass up being outdoors (60 degrees in Austin).


- Shopped for 4 hours and never sat down. My feet were definitely tired after that trip to the mall.

- I feel like a retired grandma because my daily exercise is the walk to check my mail

Clothing: I've officially felt the desire to wear non-maternity clothing. Every once in a while I attempt to look at clothes in Gap/Old Navy, but then realize there is no point. It could be a while before I fit in to normal clothes, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to wear while nursing.

Cravings: Soda, Chocolate. I'm taking advantage of these last few weeks and eating really whatever I want. 

A few weeks ago I shared with you maternity photos Todd White shot of me, and today I'm sharing the second look! I was 26 weeks pregnant {with twins} and wanted a mother earth/flowy feel to the photos. I attempted to make my own flower crown, and surprisingly it turned out ok! Although, I mainly used eucalyptus, and only a few purple flowers. The dress is non-maternity from Kohls (Lauren Conrad), and had an elastic waistband which was perfect for my growing bump. Thanks to Sarah Frey for doing my makeup!

Maternity Countdown Tee

How Far Along: 33 Weeks (this is a week late so I can give you a full update on my 33rd week of pregnancy)

Babies Genders: Boy (Walton) AND Girl (Whitney) #WaltandWhit

Due Date: February 8, will deliver no later than January 25 which is when I'll be 38 weeks

Things to Note: 
- Had my 33 week appointment, which included an ultrasound, 45 min. stress test and visit with the doctor. During my ultrasound the tech was super sweet and let me see a 3d view of Whitney's face because she was in a good position for viewing. She has chubby cheeks and a button nose. Both babies are still head down and facing each other.

-  I'm definitely experiencing lots of emotions as their arrival gets closer. Anxiety, worry, joy, happiness...you name it. I haven't read one book on raising twins, and feel I'm a bit behind.

- Alex, Turner and I said goodbye to our German host daughter this past Sunday after Christmas. We turned her room back in to a guest bedroom, and that is where my mother will stay the first few weeks after the babies are born. I'm thankful we bought a 4 bedroom house.

Weight gain: 41 lbs.

Nursery: 
 - Bought a sound machine because Turner still uses his. The ocean sound is the only noise Alex and I can stand when we are on trips and share the same room with him, so I hope the little bambinos like that sound as well.

 Symptoms: 
- I pulled a muscle in my abdomen, just above my belly button and it is killing me. The doctor told me there wasn't anything I could do except take it easy. Sometimes I forget about it, and then I pick up Turner and I'm immediately reminded of the pain.
 

- Sleeping comfortably is non existent at this point. I toss and turn multiple times a night, which is not easy with my belly. My back and hips also hurt if I lay on one side too long. I don't have a special pregnancy pillow, but utilize extra pillows when needed. When I wake to use the restroom (4-5 times a night) my stomach is as hard as a rock, and the babies are up high. Sometimes they wake up and will kick Alex in the back (haha, I'm usually the big spoon).

- Swelling in the feet after standing for too long (thankfully no swelling anywhere else...rings still fit)

- Lots and lots of braxton hicks, especially when I'm walking around or running errands.

Exercise: Walked around the mall for a few hours, played outside with my nieces during Christmas (minus joining in on the trampoline fun), lots of house work, and getting my child ready for school and bedtime every night are my workouts.

Clothing: Spandex and tunics are my daily uniform. I'm thankful to be pregnant during the winter so I can cover up my pasty white bloated legs, but putting on riding boots is some serious work. A few days ago I slipped on my Birkenstocks due to the 80 degree weather, and they felt amazing!

Tee: Maternity Countdown Tee

How Far Along: 32 Weeks (this is a week late so I can give you a full update on my 32nd week of pregnancy)

Babies Genders: Boy (Walton) AND Girl (Whitney) #WaltandWhit

Due Date: February 8, will deliver no later than January 25 which is when I'll be 38 weeks

Things to Note: 
- I had my 32 week check-up on Friday, and my mom went with me for the first time. It was fun watching the babies on the ultrasound with her. At my 28 week appointment Walt was head down and Whitney was head up. Now they are BOTH head down, so that is great news. They are both facing towards each other towards my belly button, no wonder there is a battle constantly going on near my belly button.

- Walt weighs 3lb. 11 oz. and Whitney weighs 4 lb. 2 oz.. I can't believe I have 8 pounds of baby in me. My bump is measuring 38 weeks of a singleton baby. Turner was just over 6 lbs. at 40 weeks.

-Turner calls the twins' Whitney and Waltney. It really is the cutest, so I don't correct him anymore. I've been thinking about buying him a small gift to be from the babies when he comes to the hospital to visit for the first time. Any ideas?

- Big news this week! I found out that I will likely be able to take 12 weeks PAID maternity vs. the original 6 weeks I thought. I was planning on using 2 weeks of vacation to make it a total of 8 paid weeks, but now that I'm getting 12, I'm going to save the vacation days for a real vacation! My mom will be coming to stay for a few weeks after the baby is born, and Alex gets 6 weeks paid paternity leave. Thankfully Alex can split his up, so he'll take a week off or two in the beginning and then go back to work for a week or two, and then can come back home for a week. It's really flexible, and depends on what our needs are. I'm extremely grateful for that because I know so many moms are not in the same situation. I didn't get any paid maternity leave with Turner.

- I am planning on working up until the day I'm due, so I'm very thankful for a job that I can prop my feet up and work from home when I need to.

Weight gain: 40 lbs.

Nursery: 
- Excited to officially be partnering with the Container Store to renovate the nursery closet! We will be getting started after the new year. More details to come! See the full nursery reveal here.

- I set up my 4Moms mamaRoo and rockaRoo in the nursery. So funny that I won both of these in separate giveaways. I'm so glad I kept them : )

Symptoms:
-  Itching...oh the itching (particularly around my chest). I apply lotion 4-5 times a day.

- Heartburn...Thank the Lord for tums. Oh, and note to future pregnant self, oh wait, that's never happening again. Note to all other pregnant women, DO NOT drink orange juice if you have terrible heartburn. It's very painful coming back up.

- Calf cramps every once in a while in the middle of the night

Exercise: Christmas shopping, yard work, and chasing my toddler around count as my exercise these days.

Clothing: I've stopped buying clothes for myself, and have become obsessed with all things baby girl. I've discovered I'm a hoarder of leggings. I can't get enough of the adorable patterns, and I could never do that with Turner. Poor little Walt and his hand me downs...eh, he'll never notice, plus Turner had some pretty stylish outfits so he's fine. Whitney on the other hand will be sporting lots of bright leggings and headbands.

How Far Along: 31 Weeks (this is a week late so I can give you a full update on my 30th week of pregnancy)

Babies Genders: Boy (Walton) AND Girl (Whitney) #WaltandWhit

Due Date: February 8, will deliver no later than January 25

Things to Note:
- I threw a Favorite Things Christmas party on Friday night. It took a lot of prep work and cleaning the day of, which was a bit hard on my body. Using the Swiffer wet jet was the most exhausting part, and caused me to have a ton of Braxton hicks every time I contracted my stomach.

- Saturday night I went to a friend's tacky sweater Christmas party and my neighbor let me borrow her amazingly horrific denim jumper. It was a hit at the party, and thankfully I didn't have to worry about how I looked...because I was wearing a bag. I ate a TON, and then had horrific heartburn all night. I've been popping tums like they are going out of style.   

- I've bought the cutest boy/girl outfits lately (mostly from Old Navy & Gap).  Buying for boy/girl twins is seriously the funnest thing. I don't think if I had girl twins or boy twins that I could buy the same outfit twice, so I love it when I find matching outfits but in contrasting colors.

Nursery: Hoping to begin working on the closet very soon with an awesome collaboration. Stay tuned!

Symptoms:
-  Braxton-Hicks contractions

- Heartburn, especially during the night. Propping myself seems to help a bit.

- I wake up about 3 times per night to use the restroom.  I wake up around 3/4 I'm wide awake so I have to try very hard not to get on my phone.

Exercise: 30 min. walk. I've basically given up on exercising. At this point, every time I move I have braxton hicks contractions, and the weight is definitely putting a toll on my body so I've decided to take it easy from this point on.

Clothing: I'm really hoping that I can nurse the twins, so I've been eyeing nursing friendly tops and bras. These Bravado nursing bras look super comfy! Do you have any recommendations?

It's come down to only leggings for this pregnant lady. The third trimester has hit full swing, and my jeans aren't comfortable (specifically the belly band area). I'm thankful for maternity leggings, comfy dresses and tops that can be easily styled with boots. My $45 over the knee Aldo boots might be my favorite purchase of the season. I'm eyeing this brown pair...hopefully I'll find them at the outlet for a steal. Over the knee boots really amp up a simple outfit that could be pretty boring. Every time I zip them up I feel a bit like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman ; ).

Dress (Non Maternity): Cotton On. Maternity Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Nine West. Jacket: Nordstrom. Scarf: ASOS

Maternity Top: PinkBlush Maternity. Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Aldo Outlet

Dress: Envie De Fraise. Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Nine West. Scarf: Forever21

Maternity Countdown Tee

How Far Along: 30 Weeks (this is a week late so I can give you a full update on my 30th week of pregnancy)

Babies Genders: Boy (Walton) AND Girl (Whitney) #WaltandWhit

Due Date: February 8, will deliver no later than January 25

Things to Note:
- I skipped week 29 (too busy), but I traveled to Dallas for Thanksgiving. I did well in the car, but definitely had to make a few stops to use the bathroom.

- Purchased a few of the last items on our registry; Joovy Roo Twin + Stroller, Twin Z Pillow (Craigslist)

- Saturday night I met some of my high school friends downtown in Austin for a bachelorette party. I didn't leave my house till 8:45pm to meet them...I was sooo tired, but I really wanted to be there for my friend. I'm glad I went, although I really wished I could have indulged in a cocktail. 30 weeks pregnant at a bar on 6th is....funny. You get lots of looks, especially when you start dancing. By midnight I was driving home to the suburbs in my mini-van. I laugh at my #momlife sometimes. 

- Had my 30 week appointment, and the doctor told me my belly was measuring 32 weeks for a single baby. Funny because at my 28 week appointment, the doctor told me I was measuring 34 weeks. Hmmm? I didn't have an ultrasound, but got to hear both heartbeats which sounded great.

- I've really started to feel and notice the weight gain this week. I know it's necessary (I'm not eating too horrible), so when I have a negative thought about my body I just think..."You're growing two babies. Give yourself a break." I already have a plan to start the PureBarre Baby Bounce Back plan when I find the time/energy after the babies are born. 

Weight gain: 35 lbs. 

Nursery: Haven't done much other than pile the diapers and wipes in the middle of the room.

Symptoms:
-  Braxton-Hicks...last Friday night we went out to eat Tex-Mex and I had braxton-hicks the entire time we were out. They continued the rest of the night as well.  I got a bit worried, and thought to myself, "I need to go put the car seats in! What if these babies come soon?!" I did some googling, and I think it just had to do with the fact that I was dehydrated (our water was shut off the entire day due to road work, so I hadn't drank any water).

- Heartburn

Exercise: 30 min. walk

Clothing: My maternity jeans are starting to fit VERY snug around my belly, and my shirts are getting much shorter. I ordered some more leggings from PinkBlush Maternity as well as a few tunics to wear with them.