Pretty in Pink

Here are two pictures of the girls before the day got kicked off last week.

                                    Allie

                                                                                 Olivia

Early Morning Thoughts

OH DEAR!!!!!

Well, here we are four weeks later.  As you can see the girls are about to bust out of their bassinet.  This picture was taken last night by my sister-in law after we put the girls down for the evening.  The girls are both struggling with gas so bad and I wish there was something more I could do to help them.  Olivia is on the left and Allie on the right.  Allie went down and before Olivia.  As soon as we put Olivia down she threw her hand up as if she was saying, "Oh dear, please make this pain go away!"  It was the cutest thing but made me so sad because I knew she was in pain.  They eventually went to sleep until the next feeding.

The girls are getting so big! We are not real sure how much they weigh right now but we are estimating them between 7-8 lbs.  Yes, that's right! They have hit a growth spurt and are growing like weeds.  In one week they gained what seemed like 10 lbs.  I was in the nursery last night cleaning up a bit and had to remove some of their newborn onesies.  I started tearing up because I realized that they aren't going to stay my little babies forever.  People have told me from the day we found out we were pregnant that they'll grow up in a flash and it's gone before you know it.  I know that they are only 1 month old but now I understand.  I still find myself staring at them in amazement.

Justin and I went home to Opelika for his Dad's birthday this past weekend with the girls and oh my at having to pack and travel with children.  Again, people kept telling us that it's crazy at having to travel with kids and I truly UNDERSTAND now.  It's difficult to travel with one child and when you have two infants.............well, you can imagine.  The girls are excellent riders thank goodness.  We were at Justin's parents house and Justin's Mom found his baby book.  We were looking through it and were shocked.  I'll explain.  Allie is the baby that we all say is the spitting image of Justin and Olivia looks like me.  In Justin's baby pictures (newborn to about 4 months old), he and Olivia are identical.  It is unreal how much Olivia looks like him.  Their mannerisms are even the same.  Allie is the "present day" look alike of Justin.  Hopefully I can get those pictures and scan them in to show off.  

Last thought before I try to go back to sleep (LOL).  As I was looking at the girls sleeping this morning at 2:30 after they finished eating and we put them down to sleep, I started thinking about my childhood.  Our parents have been so helpful and looking at the girls made me think.  I thought about my parents getting up with me in the middle of the night sterilizing bottles, changing diapers, rocking/walking/singing/praying me to sleep and said a prayer thanking God for them being such amazing parents and taking care of me.  I have taken and still take advantage of some of the things that my parents do for me and realized that at 2:30 this morning.  It's funny how you come to realize some things.  Growing up my parents gave me and my brother and sister everything that we wanted and if they couldn't get it for us they went above and beyond to try and make it possible for us to have.  I just wanted to say THANK YOU from my heart Mom and Dad!! 

As I'm posting this the girls are sleeping and make me so happy to be their mother.  I hope I can come close to being the mother that my awesome Mom has been and still proves to be everyday.       

Introducing Alexandra and Olivia

Well, they are here! Alexandra and Olivia were born on Wednesday, July 7, 2010.  Surgery went great and the girls are doing wonderful.  Alexandra Lynn Armstrong (Allie) was born at 7:22 am and weighed in at 5 lb, 12 oz, 19 inches long.  Olivia Grace Armstrong was born at 7:23 am and weighed in at 5 lb, 8 oz, 19.4 inches long.  After surgery I was very sick from the anesthesia and we couldn't let all of the family back until I felt better.  Around 10:00 am we started letting family back to see us.  If you know our families you know that there was not a lack of photo opportunities.  I have never seen so many cameras in my life and flashes in my life. 
Alexandra loves to stretch out and hold her arms over her head and kick back.  She has the wildest hair.  Her personality is a bit different.  She is a lot like Justin, just laid back and goes with the flow.
Olivia loves to look around.  After she eats she does not go straight to sleep like Allie.  She will take a long look around and take her time analyzing everything she sees.  
They both have totally different personalities and are the most amazing things we have ever seen.
The girls are little pigs.  They LOVE to eat.  Being parents is the hardest job but the most wonderful job we have ever had.  I never knew that you could love someone so much that you just met.  It's amazing how much we love these little miracles.  I am not looking forward to going back to work in September.  A friend told me today that it's going to be hard to go back to work.  I made myself upset because I can't even get in the shower without missing them.  I don't know how I'm going to leave them come September.  God has a plan and he will get me through it.  
Below are a few pictures of Allie and Olivia.  Enjoy!  To be continued.................................

 Olivia on the left and Allie on the right

Olivia on the left and Allie on the right

Olivia on the left and Allie on the right

Proud new parents!!

Olivia on the left and Allie on the right.

Happy Father's Day

Even though we are not parents yet, I felt that it was appropriate to acknowledge Justin as a Daddy.  This is a picture of Justin in the nursery as we were hanging the final details on the walls.  My sister took this picture of me a few weeks ago in my Dad's back yard.  His camera is amazing and takes awesome pictures.  I had it matted and framed for Justin and wrote a letter and had it put on the back.  He was speechless and absolutely loved it.  He is always talking to the girls and rubbing my belly.  He keeps saying that he's going to miss my big belly.  This way I figured he would remember the amazing adventure that we have had for the past 9 LONG months.  Happy Fathers Day, Justin!

UAB Update

We are finally home after a LONG trip to Birmingham.  We met with Dr. Davis at UAB (Fetal Med Clinic) and had an ultrasound.  Everything came back normal and the girls are fine.  They each have both kidneys, all chambers of their hearts (which are perfect!), bladders, and all of the other major parts.  Dr. Davis didn't say anything about their lungs or lung development.  He said that they are measuring in at 5.1 lbs and 5.3 lbs.  Very different from yesterdays measurements.  I'm glad we went to Birmingham even though it was a long trip because it eased our worries about the babies.  We have been SO incredibly blessed throughout this entire pregnancy and have not had any major or even minor problems.  So for us to make it to 36 weeks and the doctor only be worried about their sizes, I think we are doing pretty good :-).  At the end of the appointment Dr. Davis told us that we just have to continue waiting until July 7th (my c-section) or if my water breaks and I go into labor.  I must admit, I was a little disappointed that he didn't tell me today that we can go ahead and take them but I was excited at the same time that all was good with the girls.  My Mom keeps telling me that I could go this week since it is a full moon. Who knows, maybe it will happen!!!  I'm so ready to meet these little kickers (as I type this, both girls are getting their nightly aerobics exercise...........ouch!).  I've enjoyed being pregnant and being able to experience this amazing blessing but enough is enough.  It's show time. 
We go back to Doctor G here in Dothan next week and maybe he will have good news for me.  Thank you for all of your prayers.  Keep them coming please.  The countdown is on with 15 DAYS TO GO!!!!!

UPDATE

We went for  our 36 week check up and our last ultrasound, or so we thought.  The babies heartbeats are strong with one at 144 and the other at 132 beats per minute.  They are weighing in at 4 lbs 14 oz and 5 lbs 9 oz.  We thought everything was okay until we got into the room with Doctor G.  The smaller baby is in the 11th percentile for low birth weight and that concerns him because they were both identical in weight and on the right track only 2 weeks ago with both at 3 lbs 11oz.  So, Doctor G is sending us to Birmingham (UAB) tomorrow morning for a more invasive ultrasound and more tests.  Doctor G just wants to make sure that the smaller baby girl is getting the right nutrients and is ok.  I'll post more information after our visit.  As excited as I am that we only have 2 weeks left (C-section scheduled for July 7th) and have wanted the doctor to say "let's go ahead and take them", I'm scared to death about things being alright with both of them.  Please pray and stay tuned!!