| 15 weeks and counting |
Hello friends.
I figured an update was in order, and since I've got a little block of time before heading to a New Years party I thought I better blog.
Things are going well here. I've been better with getting enough to eat and have been rewarded with a growing belly. I think the timing is coincidental but encouraging none the less. Lance says, "Aimee you're getting bigger everyday!" - funny thing is I welcome this comment and he has full permission to say it. My how pregnancy changes things. Today I successfully mastered looping a ponytail elastic around the button hole of a pair of jeans to give myself a little breathing room - this is especially nice for at the end of the day.
I got my first maternity clothes as Christmas gifts and am excited to get to wear them. The two shirts and skirt will have to wait atleast a month I think, but the super comfy yoga pants I've been wearing quite a bit (for all my yoga! ha ha - but really I do need to get into some sort of excercise routine)
We recieved two super soft and cute teddy bears from Grandma and Grandpa Klassen - for the twins (all the expecting moms in our Klassen family got bears for their little ones). Lance likes having them around because they remind us of the little ones on the way -- he, to my surprise, agreed to having the bears sleep with us last night!
Food suggestions I'm looking forward to trying - grinding almonds (in a coffee grinder as per Marsha's suggestion) and adding them to smoothies. Adding spinach to smoothies - trying to trick myself into eating vegetables - according to our friends Phil and Ingrid you can't taste the spinach, it just turns your smoothy green (which makes their boys suspicious). Bought some cottage cheese today as per Jena's suggestion. I plan to make "Cold veggie pizza" - a fave of mine, and Melanie's too I believe. Pilsbury crescent roll dough baked flat on a cookie sheet - then covered, once cool, with a mixture of cream cheese, yogurt (or sour cream), dill and garlic, topped with chopped veggies and grated cheddar cheese (optional).
Tonight we're off to a new years party at Friedrich's. Tomorrow their little son Leif will be baptized and Lance will sing a song that he and I wrote for Leif. I often help with songs - if I give enough input it goes from helping to cowriting. I'm honored that Lance includes me in this way.
Ahh we have a new treat. Since the fall we've been buying water in these refillable jugs (refill at the grocery store) that go in the fridge. Camrose's water has taken a major turn for the worse. It began by smelling and tasting like dirt due to a wet fall and now tastes and smells like MOLD. I kid you not (ha, I've never heard anyone outside my family use that phrase, I am truly a product of my family in this case). So yesterday we went to a real water place and bought two 5 gallon jugs and a spout and stand. Now we'll run out less often and I bet it's cheaper too. But here's a question:
The water place offers spring water (has minerals) and purified water (minieral removed by reverse osmosis). We bought a jug of each for starters, but does anyone know why we might want to choose one type over the other in the future?
Totally disconnected question, but I was hoping to get the Abarbanel kids researching this topic:
We have a lake in Camrose that freezes every winter. We also have many beavers who live in the lake and build dams in the feeder streams. As we walked around the lake this afternoon I asked Lance, "Where do the beavers go". He didn't know either. Anyone know where the beavers go?
Okay speaking of going, it is time for Lance and I to leave. Have a good night folks. Perhaps I will add some contemplative thoughts on Christmas and New Years later, but not tonight. For some really good thoughts on Christmas check out my sister Cara's post Christmas entry.
Aimee |
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| Snacks, yum |
Thought I’d share with you two responses I’ve had regarding my snacking issues:
From my lovely sister Cara:
Healthy snack ideas from me Aimee: Oatmeal (yes, in the middle of the day...has a surprising amount of protein), almonds, pears with pb and dates (cut a hole in the pear, put in some pb and the date and you have a groundhog - from my childhood...maybe too sweet for you)
From my dear mom who already gave me some ideas on the phone, and now a huge list via email:
Tuna salad variations-
Tuna with celery, and chili powder – yum – chili powder really changes things up – Steven likes this9
Add grated cheese and broil – or not
Add sunflower seeds
Tuna snails of course (they freeze perfectly)
Egg salad with green onions and celery (put a little mustard in with the mayo) Keeps for a couple days
Whole wheat cheese and seed or nut muffins (sunflower or walnuts – walnuts being an especially healthy fat)
Rye crisp crackers with toppings
Cheese spread – grate old cheddar – mix in mayo (a little) and maybe curry if you like – eat it on crackers with apples
Veggies dipped in salsa cream cheese – this cream cheese fixes anything
Deviled eggs – or doubled eggs as you called them
Cheese potato skins – I wonder if you can freeze these – I would think so.
Do you like sardines – you can just rip the can open. And what about those oysters we keep trying to recommend? Tee hee.
Avocados – Good fats in those too. hmmm how do you like yours? With bagel chips or tortilla chips (I think Melanie makes bagel chips – slice and bake a bunch – great for older ones -
Bean dip – that would be good with avocados
I love you hungry girl.
Thanks for your ideas, love and prayers friends and family.
Aimee and the little ones |
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| Busyness and Babies |
Thanks folks for all your comments and well wishing about our babies - and welcome newly identified readers. (Heather I read your blog too, just was a little shy)
Details regarding my pregnancy.
Were we trying? Lance likes to use the phrase, we'd "pulled the goalie". So not trying but not preventing.
How have I been feeling? Much to my (and other's) surprise I have not been sick. Many women often suspect they are having twins because they are so sick. Both my mom and sister had some morning sickness and I was expecting it but it never came. At the start I was a teeny bit queasy but this was easily alleviated by food. Smells have driven me crazy. I often step out our door and recoil at the hideous smells wafting up from the cafeteria (for those of you who don't know, we live in an apartment in a dorm building which is connected to the cafeteria building). The thing is, usually those awful smelling foods taste great. Just don't breathe through my nose.
Currently I feel quite tired and need to nap once - or maybe twice- a day. My record is three naps in one day.
Why the early ultrasound? This was to confirm the due date. It sure told us more than that!
I am growing - not that most people can tell. But Lance and I can (mom too and some close friends). It's funny because right now I am excited to grow - I guess it shows that something is going on. I have always loved how pregnant women look (see Kristal's blog as well as my mom's blog for lovely pregnant friends/relatives pics) so I'm excited to be one. I can just hear all the moms groaning and saying, "When you get big you'll wish you were back at this stage, instead of being so huge and uncomfortable and aching". I bet that's right. But for right now I'll stay excited.
FOOD. Yesterday I had a little melt down. I know I need to eat more than I do. My metabolism has always been fast, and now with two babies using the energy and nutrients I get from food I run out way quicker than I expect to. The meltdown related to being hungry and having a super messy kitchen and no good ideas for food. I ended up eating some crackers and peanut butter (with pickles on top - no joke - but this is not a pregnancy wierd food, this is an Odegard household fave) and then calling mom and dad and sharing my woes with them. By that time my blood sugar was elevated back to normal and I was more rational. Mom gave me some good make-ahead-have-on-hand snack ideas. Shopped at Superstore today and loaded up on relatively nutritious food that I feel like eating.
Foods I have enjoyed more than usual during pregancy:
early on - Kraft Dinner - I read the ingredients and they're not as bad as I had assumed.
last week - granny smith apples and mozarella cheese strings
today - Cambells Homestyle Chicken Noodle soup (I never eat canned soup but it sure is handy for when you need something in a couple minutes, enjoyed this tonight with farmer's market carrots and a slice of flax toast buttered - this was "second supper")
McDonalds - Oh dear. Yes. Over these three and a half months the babies have experienced a chicken burger, a Big Mac and McNuggets. People seem surprised to find out that I, someone they view as a very healthy eater, enjoy McDonalds. That's like the lowest of all fast food joints as far as quality food. But for some reason I've always liked their food.
Foods I purchased today and am hoping to still want to eat in the next week are - asparagus, spinach for salad, havarti cheese, 12 grain bagels, yogurt and blueberries for smoothies, and tuna for melts.
If you think of it you could pray for me and eating often and enough food. Thanks.
There is more going on in our lives in addition to growing babies. Here are some random thoughts:
Our tree is up and I love it. We have mishmash of ornaments and brightly colour lights. We cut down the tree a couple weeks ago with Jensens and Friedrichs. It has a wild look to it - not trimmed at all, perfect. Lance said it's our best tree yet. Ahh, I have been emotional lately - the other night we were sitting down to eat supper in the living room and Lance squeezed behind the tree to turn the lights on. Immediate tears came to my eyes. He doesn't care about the lights but turned them on for me. I felt loved and said through tears, "Did you know how much that would mean to me". Nope. :)
Had some good discussions with Lance lately about gift giving and our individual styles. Really good to understand each other more and learn how to work together as a unit.
Lance has been working for his folks. It is the busiest time of the year at their bakery. I was planning on helping too. Maybe one day this week. I am more tired than I expected to be. I don't know how much help I'd be, needing to eat every 2 hours.
Well, maybe that's all for now. Perhaps I can was a few more dishes before hitting the hay. We'll see about that.
Thanks for reading.
Aimee
ps. we got our first book about twins from the library yesterday and have been devouring it and learning all we can. We also borrowed two name books. What a big job to name someone - and we'll get to name two people! Wow. No names are grabbing our attention yet - but we have lots of time. |
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| Late Breaking News |
Thought you'd be interested in the latest developments in the Odegard household. We've been keeping a secret for a while and it's now time to share it with you.
WE'RE PREGNANT!
We're due June 19th, which makes me 13 weeks along.
We had an ultrasound yesterday - which I don't have pictures of since in Camrose they don't give you a picture to keep. It was incredible. I wouldn't exactly call it enjoyable since I had a bladder full of water and had to hold it for over an hour and then have a lady press on my abdomen. Ow. I was in so much pain that she let me go to the bathroom twice during the procedure. I was grateful.
She said while scanning me that this was going to take a while and also said something about needing to see around things - which I assumed were organs.
She said, things are looking good, but I'll call your husband in to explain what's going on. At this point I thought something was slightly wrong but nothing big. When he came in she turned the screen towards us and asked if we could tell what was going on. Not really. Those pictures are hard to read. I found online an image much like what we saw:
We couldn't really figure it out. She asked again and pointed to what she'd written below the image.
"Twin A" "Twin B".
Lance just kept saying "are you sure?". Of course she was. She has seen two babies as soon as she started - that's why she said it would take awhile!
Wow. Talk about a shocker. We are very excited and spend a lot of time laughing. This is a wild adventure we are embarking on. It is a huge unknown thing to become parents of one child and now we are looking forward to TWO!
I feel very blessed. Doubly blessed. Lance - as the provider in our home - is reeling with the thought of needing two of everything. Wow. He's bursting with excitment too. |
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| This and that |
Hi guys, here I am. A forgetful and busy blogger.
Lance and I were away this past weekend on a much needed getaway - 2 nights. It was lovely. We stayed in a chalet about an hour from Camrose. It was built on a hill overlooking a beautiful prairie field and forests. There's snow here now, so it was beautiful looking out the huge windows. I was glad to find the owners had put up some simple decorations - a small tree and garlands white small white lights. I can't get enough of Christmas lights. I just love them. We had a relaxed time and enjoyed each other's company a lot.
Now I'm back to the busy world of work and home. Playing catch up after teaching a week long course with Lance. Catching up on my regular job as well as the marking from the course. And our home! Yikes. I emailed Melanie yesterday and detailed how we were out of every sort of commonly used dish and piece of cutlery - and we have a lot of dishes. We made a dent in the dishes yesterday. I enjoyed this morning reaching to the cutlery drawer knowing there was actually utensils in there. Feels like a treat.
Report on the advent book I bought - it's great. Lance and I try to do it together but miss days for various reasons. He suggested that instead of trying to catch up we should just skip to whatever day it actually is. This is hard for my perfectionistic side to handle - my idea was to just read a couple a day and catch up, which isn't really realistic and certainly not meditative. So we've been going with Lance's plan and it is good after all.
Random thoughts:
I can't believe my mom got to meet Marsha and spend the day with her and Melanie!
I got the Nichole Nordeman CD "Brave" from mom in the summer - this is one of Kristal's favorites and I can see why - there are some songs that I really relate to. Very thoughtful and honest lyrics.
Lance sold 3 CDs from the CD Baby site - to Osaka City in JAPAN! We're still trying to figure this out.
There are lovely frost crystals on my window.
I haven't been dedicating much (or any) time to art lately - this needs to change
Well, I think that's all for now. It's my partial day off today - meaning I don't do the office part of my job. Hopefully the kitchen will receive more attention and perhaps I could begin thinking about Christmas gifts.
Hope you are all well.
Aimee |
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posted by Aimee at 