Updates...

We are SOOO close to finishing the nursery! This past weekend my mom came up and brought the rest of the shower gifts from Asheboro that we couldn't fit into our car. Once she was here we put up all the gifts. We then washed all the newborn clothes, towels, washcloths, bibs, burp clothes, and blankets. After that we went to take back duplicates at Belk and Walmart. We then put up the curtains (they look so good) and put the bedding on Maddie's bed. The only thing left is Zack's crib, which should be coming in this weekend. After putting up the curtains we had Chinese food and relaxed a little bit. Poor mom had to get up and leave at 5am so she could get back and get ready for her new Sunday class in Asheboro.
Meanwhile, we were up early at 6:30am because I had to sing at our church for both services. Once we got home, I tried to take it easy. I started having some contractions (don't worry, it was just from probably going all out on Saturday and Sunday). After getting plenty of water and relaxing, they stopped. Monday I rested all day, just working on thank you notes.

Today was my 30 week appointment. The babies are doing great! We heard both heartbeats and they are beating very strong. The only thing is... the doctor asked what my activity level was and I told him most of the time I'm off my feet, but will be active every now and then. He then said "well from now on...stay off your feet." I'm taking that as a semi-bed rest. I'm going to try and stay off my feet as much as possible, but I'm still planning on attending my parenting class this weekend and our last baby shower next Saturday. After that I will stay off my feet completely. Please no one worry...it is just precautionary. They are still having me come in every 2 weeks and I don't have to do non-stress tests yet either.

Please keep us in your prayers!

"SURPRISE"d

Every Thursday night Mike and I go to small groups. It is a group of young adults that get together from our church and have a Bible lesson. It is like Sunday school, but at night and better because there is food before the lesson and fellowship after the lesson. We are usually there from 7pm-10pm. Last night we went as usual, I walked in and everyone yelled "SURPRISE". That is when I noticed all the baby decorations and was completely caught off guard. I immediately turned to Michael and asked him if he knew about it. He said yes and said that is why he worked a little later so we wouldn't be too early. It was wonderful!! I don't have any pictures, but that would be b/c I didn't know anything about it.

We started off the night with food. While I ate they made me wear an apron that had all kinds of baby things attached to it by safety pins. After we ate I had to take it off. Then we played a couple of games. The first game we played was Baby Bingo. Everyone got a blank Bingo card and was asked to fill it in with things they think I might receive in the gifts I would open. While everyone was filling those out we also played "Find the Safety Pins". There was a very big bowl filled with 10lbs of rice and 45 safety pins. Everyone took turns being blindfolded and tried to find as many safety pins as they could in 1 min. using only your hands. It sounds easy, but let me tell you...it was HARD!! The pins felt just like the rice or then there was a couple of times you had some harder rice and thought they were pins. The winners ended up finding 3 pins each (Donna and Hope). I found 2, so I didn't feel too bad. The next game everyone played was a memory game. They then asked everyone to try and name all the baby things that were attached to the apron that I was wearing earlier in the night. The winner was Brandi, but I think she might have cheated b/c she knew we were going to play, so she studied the apron while I was eating. Then came the fun part, opening gifts. Within the first 6 gifts opened someone had Bingo, way to go Diane. After the gifts, we sat around and talked. A couple of people took turns touching my belly and feeling Maddie kick. It was such a wonderful night and I can't think Anna-Lisa, Kirsten, and Brandi enough!

THANK YOU!!!

It's raining baby gifts

This weekend was our 2nd baby shower. It was held in Asheboro, at High Pine Wesleyan (my hometown church). Michael and I are TRULY blessed. We received so many wonderful things. We couldn't believe the amount of gifts that we had received. Our family came out, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings and parents. Not only did family come, but friends and church members. We were just truly amazed in how many people were there and the amount of love there is for us. We can't say THANK YOU enough!

So the weekend started (and ended) great. Michael, Trapper and I all headed out on Friday night. Once we got to Asheboro, we were pretty tired, so we went straight to bed. Saturday, us ladies (Crystal, Stacy, mom, and I) and Aaden spent the morning working on shower favors. We made colored (pink and blue) chocolate lollipops that were in the shape of Noah's ark with the animals on it. My theme for the shower was Two by Two. Then we tied them to a pack of "double"ment gum. Mom thought of it so I can't take the credit. Once we were done, we then watched He's Just Not That In To You. It was good. After the movie the family met up with Michael's mom and Aunt Madelin to have dinner. We ate at American Roadhouse in Asheboro. After dinner we then met back up with Crystal and Dean to play games. (The guys one the first round, us gals one the second, but then the guys cheated to win the third, so us girls claim the victory.) After the games we then headed off to bed. I won't share how early it was because it makes us look really old, but I will say it was before my parents went to bed. Sunday after church, dad made us lunch. We invited Debbie, Aunt Madelin and Amy over. It was DELISH!! Dad had made grilled chicken, steamed veggies, new potatoes, and garlic bread. For dessert mom had made this strawberry thingy. I was quite impressed with it all! After lunch we got ready for the shower.

Again the shower was truly amazing. The church ladies, my aunts, Crystal and her mom, my mom and sister all helped with the decorations. They were so cute. The shower was from 3-5. By the time we had opened all the gifts...there were three BIG church tables filled with gifts. They actually had to set up the third table while we were opening gifts because there were so many. I can't say it enough, we are BLESSED!! It was a LOT of fun. I loved getting so see everyone, because a lot of times I only get to see family once a year at either Christmas or Thanksgiving. I even saw some GREAT friends whom I haven't seen in years. It was just wonderful.

After the shower we tried packing the car. I wish I had a picture to show just how packed it was. (We didn't get everything in there, but my parents are going to be bringing the rest.) The car was so packed that on the way back home, Trapper had to sit at my feet on the passenger's side of the car. We had to put a plate of cake on the dashboard and everytime Michael would take a curve or take off after a stop I would have to try and catch it before it fell. We got home around 9:15pm and we were so pooped that we didn't unload the car. (Not that I could do any unloading, it would have to be hubby.) We just found our luggage, which was strategically placed so we could get it easily, and then went upstairs and went to bed, well I went to bed, Michael stayed up and watched the Lakers/Magic basketball game. It really was an awesome weekend! I want to say to everyone that came to the shower and those that sent gifts that couldn't make it....THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I wish there was a better word to express our gratitude.

Check out some of the pics from the shower below.

Showered with Love

Saturday was my first baby shower. It was in Jacksonville and Michael's mom, sister and step-mom were my hostesses. It was really fun! The shower was from 1pm-3pm and boy did I get a load of things. The decorations were wonderful! The first thing I saw was a diaper wreath hanging on the front door. It was covered in diapers and had half covered in girl toys and clothes while the other side had boy toys and clothes. There were balloons and all kinds of baby decor. After I sat down I got my first surprise...my mom came. Once all the guests arrived we then started out the shower with food and then played a couple of games. The first came was famous couples/duos. There was a list of 20 names that had a famous partner. For example there was Mickey and _______ (answer is Minnie). I didn't do too bad on this one, I got 16 out of 20 correct. I think the winner got 18 correct, which was Aunt Debbie. The next game was Mom and baby. There were a list of adult animals and you had to come up with the name of the baby like Cow and calf. I did terrible on this one. I only had 6 correct. I think the winners were Carolyn and my mom. The next thing we did was open gifts. I got so many things. It was such a wonderful shower. Towards the end Michael came in and he had a gift as well. He received a diaper changing tool belt. It was so cute! It had the essentials like safety glasses, face mask, and gloves.

After the shower we got to spend time with our favorite niece, Callie. We had a such a wonderful weekend.

Nursery in progress

Ok, it isn't completely done, but very close.

My mom came up Thursday night. Once she got here Michael helped her unload the truck while I played with Trapper and Buddy. Our next task was to decide how we were going to decorate the nursery. I had watched an episode of Deserving Design and Vern had decorated a nursery for a couple, so I DVR'd it and showed it to mom. So we decided to paint the walls the exact way, but with green instead of blue: http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/vern-makes-a-special-delivery/pictures/page-2.html.

Friday morning, Michael went to work while mom and I worked on cleaning out the nursery. Later I had to go to Rocky Mount to have my car looked at, so mom followed and we went shopping. We went to Lowes and bought all the paint/supplies. We then went to Target to see if they had letters to go above the cribs, but they didn't so then we went to Michael's, but they didn't have a D or a K so then we went to Walmart where we found all the letters that I needed. We then headed home to start working. While Michael was picking up dinner mom and I prepped the room. Here is a before shot of the room once we cleared everything out (except furniture):

After dinner mom and Michael primed while I painted the letters downstairs. They wouldn't let me help with the primer due to the odor. After the priming was done and my letters were done it was time for bed. The next morning mom and I put up tape for where we wanted a green line in the middle and up top, while Michael mowed the back yard. Once that was done, mom went ahead and painted the bookshelf that was bright red to a beautiful brown. At noon we went to Chick-fil-a for lunch and then Lowes to pick up a few extra things like more pan inserts and a mask for me so I could help. We then came back and painted the brown. I did the trimming while mom and Michael rolled. Once that was completed we came downstairs for dinner. Then we took down the tape and then retaped to be able to paint the green stripes. I rolled the middle stripe while mom and Michael painted up top (I was not allowed on any foot stools or latters).

Sunday morning we woke up early for early service at church. After church we came back and did a few touch ups which took just a few minutes. Then we did the rearranging of the furniture. This took a lot of tries to try and figure out how we were going to get two cribs, a dresser, changing station, and a rocking chair in the room. Once we figured it out we put up letters above the cribs and put up the classic pooh portraits I had. Here is the room as it stands now:

The only things we have left to do is put up the 2nd crib (in front of the Zack side), put up curtains on both windows and the closet, and put in our bedding. Our bedding is still on it's way, but here are the links for both Maddie's: http://www.cuddleskidsbedding.com/mobagicacrbe.html and Zack's: http://www.cuddleskidsbedding.com/modern-baby-boy-caffe-4-piece-baby-bedding-se.html.

After we were done, mom had to pack up the truck and head home. Thanks mom for all your help!! LOVE YOU!!!

Mother's Day Weekend

This past weekend we went to A'boro to spend time with my mom for Mother's Day. My sister and her family were also meeting us there so I got to spend time with my nephew who I haven't seen in a couple months (he has gotten so big!!).

Friday night we arrived around 9:45pm and we spent about an hour with everyone before bed. Saturday we woke up and spent some time with each other. Crystal came over and we all decided to take Aaden to the zoo. We ended up walking the entire zoo. There were some new exhibits that I have never seen before. There are several coming out this year that I think would be neat. One in particular is in June there will be a "Feeding the Giraffes" exhibit. I think the funniest thing was Aaden fell asleep as soon as we walked in and didn't wake up until we were waiting for the bus to take us to the car.

After the zoo, Dean came over and all 9 of us went to American Roadhouse for dinner. Then we headed back to the house. Crystal's friend Erin and her fiance came over and we played games. We played Guesstures (which was a game of charades). It was girls against boys and the girls whipped up on the boys pretty good (2-0). By 10pm we were all exhausted from our day that they ended up leaving and I went straight to bed.

Sunday was Mother's Day. Mike and I got up early to make breakfast. (When I said "we" made breakfast, he made pancakes and I supervised.) After breakfast and gifts we all got ready for church. Church was really good and the lesson was "The Importance of a mom". Dad left early to make lunch for us all. Lunch was outside on the patio, it was really nice! Unfortunately after lunch us kids had to leave. Stacy had a 6 hour drive and we needed to get back to mow the yard. When we got in front of our house we saw that a bizarre thing had happened. Our yard was mysteriously mowed. Not only that but our driveway (which had weeds growing up in it) was completely clean. It was like the yard ferry had came down and did our yard (however it was our neighbors who ended up doing our yard.) We felt bad, because we were worried they were so upset at how bad we had let it get so high, but it turned out they did it because they wanted to do something for us.

All in all it was a wonderful weekend!!

Babies Update

Yesterday was my 24 week appointment. We had an ultrasound first and then talked to the doctor. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures, but the ultrasound was amazing. They have gotten so big compared to 8 weeks ago. Both babies are currently breech and are up facing each other. I really wish I had a picture, it was so cute! It almost looks like they are playing with each other. Both of them are measuring right at 24 weeks.

After the sonographer took all the measurements we tried to get shots to confirm that they are still a boy and girl (or as Mike says "make sure no one has lost anything or gained anything"). At first both of them were stubborn and didn't want us to see anything. After a couple of jiggles Zack moved enough for us to see that he is still a boy. However, Maddie refused to let us see. We aren't really worried because we had such a great shot of her at the last ultrasound. Both of them currently weigh in at 1 lb 6 oz. I'm now having to be seen every 2 weeks and in 4 weeks I have to take the dreaded GD test. However, my reward will be I get another ultrasound in 4 weeks. That is the great thing about having twins, I get a TON of ultrasounds to make sure they are growing properly. Mike and I loved the doctor we saw yesterday.

After our appointment we headed to Rocky Mount for a very light shopping trip and dinner. I received my first Mother's Day gift ever, and it was early. Mike bought me the 7 season set of Gilmore Girls. I have fallen in love with this show over the last 3 months and I have made him watch with me and now he is addicted too. Then we went to Chili's for dinner. After we got home and watched a few episodes we watched the news. We discovered that yesterday in Eastern NC there were several tornadoes that touched down and one of them was in Rocky Mount. If we had stayed there for 30 minutes longer we would have been in it. This made us realize just how lucky of a day we had!

By the way we have official names, including middle names for the babies:

Zachary Ryan Nowell

and

Madelin Marie Nowell