Twin pregnancy: week 25 in review (and maternity photos!)

How far along? 26 weeks today!

Weight gain: After three weeks of not gaining anything, I gained three pounds this week! Must be making up for lost time. Current weight is 170lbs and total gain is 31 pounds.

I've had a few pregnant women ask me for advice on how I'm gaining. I wish I had enough advice for a whole post riddle with expertise, but really my advice is pretty simple: 1) eat bigger portions 2) eat more protein 3) choose full fat products when possible (like yogurt and milk).

I'm not a perfectly healthy eater, but I do love to cook and choose real food 80% of the time, so eating well for pregnancy didn't require a big change of habits. If you are new to the "eat real food movement" I cannot recommend the cookbook 100 Days of Real Food enough! The recipes in that book are delicious, healthy, and easy for even a beginner cook. When I first bought the book I was pretty skeptical because the recipes looked so simple, I didn't think they'd be very good. I'm happy to say I was wrong and I've been recommending it to all my friends ever since!  (Pro tip: go find it in your local library if you want to give it a try before you buy.)

How are you feeling? I'm still happy to report that I am feeling good and only dealing with normal pregnancy stuff like being tired and not sleeping well. I hardly have any heartburn anymore and my restless legs have all but disappeared. This past week my tiredness changed from fatigue to actual sleepiness which is probably due to the fact that my nights are getting worse and worse. Since my belly is measuring around 34 weeks right now I'm coping with the discomforts most women experience at the end of their pregnancies. Only, I have a lot longer to go! Honestly though, I don't feel grouchy about it. I know it will end and I am enjoying the rest of this pregnancy so much that the discomfort is just background noise.

Last week a friend who is a massage therapist gave me a free hour-long massage. I'll tell you what: everyone needs a friend like that! My body felt great afterwards! Three days later John was rubbing my back and he even noticed a difference saying, "You feel much less tense." What a wonderful gift that was.

Noteworthy moments: My parents, brother, sister-in-law, and little niece visited us this weekend! It was wonderful to have them visit. We enjoyed special moments together shopping for baby clothes, talking about pregnancy and parenting, and my mom and sister-in-law got to feel the babies kick! My little niece Lux was born last April; our babies are due in May, so it is always fun to watch her and imagine what our babies will be doing this time next year! Well, mostly. I had a good laugh when my sister-in-law took Lux into a store to find she needed a diaper change. After a whole event of finding the restroom, removing her daughter's snow suit, taking off her pants, changing her diaper (while squirming), putting pants back on, putting snow suit back on, putting her back in the stroller, cleaning up, and finding the rest of the family again, she remarked, "Every time I do this I think, "And Jill has to do this TWICE!"" Ha!

Send help. 

;-) 

Get a little spiritual: My sister, a photographer in Ontario, took my maternity pictures when I was 24 weeks along and sent me the finished product last week. What overwhelming joy I felt as I looked at them! Not just because she did such a marvelous job (which she did!) but also because I have dreamed of seeing myself pregnant for so long. As a hobby photographer I always notice that there is an extra pleasure that comes from not only experiencing something, but also reflecting back on it through photos. I enjoy looking back at photos from birthday parties, beach trips, and holidays just as much as I enjoy the events themselves. I had the same experience looking at my maternity photos. 

Clicking through the images, a song that I listened to probably thousands of times through my infertility kept playing through my head: Tim Be Told's The Battle Hymn. That song was quite literally my battle hymn as I fought against infertility. As I enjoy overcoming infertility with this pregnancy and anticipate the ultimate victory I will enjoy with the birth of my sons, the lyrics take on a whole new meaning. 

You deaf and blind do not despair

In sickness or in health declare
God is steady in the raging tide
All our weakness in his strength abide

God to you we've cried and prayed
Before the cross our hopes we've laid
And curse the lies denying you are real
Holding onto faith that you will heal

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, every broken heart be brave!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, yes the Lord will make a way!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, yes the Lord will make a way!

Bump Shot: In lieu of the breathtaking mirror-selfie I usually share each week, here are a few of my favorites from my maternity session with Jenna from Bear & Sparrow Photography:

To HIM be the glory! 

xo