Countdown - Eight Days.... ....Another sonogram....

Note: In this blog entry and all others you can click on any photo and bring up a slide show.

Less than eight days to go and mommy got another sonogram today. Both of your hearts are beating well and both of you are practicing breathing. In fact, everything looks great except you are a little small but that is expected.

Back on August 8 when the doctors confirmed that two lima beans were growing inside of mommy to today you have gained over 4 pounds each. While there isn't a lot of room to grow, your sister is taking up half the space. Mommy takes over two thirds of daddy's bed so daddy knows how you feel at this moment in time.

First sonogram - TWINS!

Over time you have grown and show more and more of your personalities. In September Baby A showed the shape of your head for the first time. Baby B showed her muscles.

Baby A - 9/16/2013

Baby B - Victory - 9/16/2013

The doctors were worried because of mommy's age and size while she was carrying twins so we paid a lot of visits to she how you were growing, how your heart was beating, and we could see your bones, your brains, and fingers. However you kept your face from us. In January, Baby A you first showed us your eyes and smile and in February Baby B you finally got your photo taken.

Baby A - 1/28/2014

Baby B - 2/11/2014

Today, Baby A you have reached an estimated 4 pounds 7 ounces and Baby B 4 pounds 4 ounces. Mommy and Daddy are still hoping you reach 5 pounds each in the next 8 days so we can bring you home without a long hospital stay.  However, Baby B you are big enough for your head to fill the sonogram screen and active enough to scratch your head.

Baby B - Head Scratching - 2/27/2014

Countdown - Ten days to blast off...

If things go as planned, in 10 days from now, daddy will be holding two sleeping girls.

Daddy will be hoping that each girl is closer to 6 pounds than to 5 pounds in weight. Daddy is betting both girls will have black hair and dark brown to black eyes. Outside of gender all other bets are off.

Ten days! It seems like the first week of August, when we first learned mommy was pregnant, was forever ago while is was just yesterday. Daddy starting a new job has slowed down time while speeding it up.

Check lists are going through daddy's mind and will probably be the topic for the next 10 blogs.

Things checked off:
Towels and plastic bag in car, just in case water breaks.
Camera batteries charged.
Preemie, newborn, and size one diapers at home.
Baby wipes.
PJ's for mommy.
Install infant car-seats.
Crib located in bedroom.
All newborn baby clothing washed.
Extra dog food purchased.

Things to do:
Do we have the name of the pediatrician and phone number?
Dog feeding plan and dry run with neighbors.
House alarm codes for neighbors.
Does mommy have her birthing plan?
Get replacement part for bottle warmer. (This alone will be a blog in the future.)
Has breast pump been sent? (This along will be a blog in the future.)
Teaching plans for school.
Put in leave for substitute.
Pack mommy's suitcase.
Pack daddy's suitcase.
Make changing table. Do we need changing table in bedroom or will crib work for the short term?

Daddy is never anxious because daddy looks at the lilies and the sparrows.  Daddy is just nervous because that's only 1/10th of the actual list.

Daddy, why do I have so many God-parents?

Years ago, daddy was fascinated about the world and the people in it. He found places where you get pen-pals from around the world and he started writing to them. Well most wrote back for awhile, some for years, but over time only one stayed in touch. Daddy even visited her and her family in Oz, the land down under, the land of kangaroos and was very impressed with the kindness of her parents and the loving spirit she possesses. She even visited mommy and daddy in the state you were born in. But since she lives so far away she is a virtual God-mum but one that daddy would trust to the ends of the earth. You must visit her and see an amazing world.

Then came along a virtual world, that by the time you read this it will be gone, but it was called Facebook. As a prank, a young Cambridge pre-law student added daddy as a friend. Cambridge is like Harvard but the standards are not as high. Well this student had a bunch of friends and over time they added daddy as a friend as well, they call themselves Romsey. One is a barrister, one a doctor, one a financial trader...  One day, daddy wants both of you to visit England, Scotland and see the land of the castles, the rolling green hills, and Cambridge. He would love it if you attended Cambridge even though mommy prefers Harvard. So Romsey is invited to be your British God-family, but just don't ask about God, unless you are talking to "The Doctor". And over time I expect Romsey to have offices in New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore so many great places to visit and see.

Daddy was also a university professor and all over the world his students have relocated. Students from West Point, Villanova University, and Temple University. Over time these students will make themselves known as advisers, friends, and role models. There are too many to name but these are your virtual God-cousins.

Lastly, there are your real God-Parents but they will be named later...

Daddy, why is my name ... ?

Before you were born daddy made a declaration about you and said you were “beautiful” and a “bringer of joy” and therefore your names would reflect that. Your name is your calling card and daddy believes it should be uniquely you and therefore not common. The most popular girl names of today are; Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Isabella, Mia, Emily, Charlotte, Ella, and Amelia. While a couple of these names are tempting, you will thank me that you are not one of 5 Amelia’s or Isabella’s in your class or in your office.

No family shares our American last name; we are not from the Johnson, Smith, Jones, or Lee families. At the same time Chinese tradition states that your first name must be unique and you should not be named for anyone in the family tree.

Grandma named daddy first after a long time missionary to Haiti and desired daddy to have a good Christian spirit and his middle name came from grandpa’s boss at the time and grandma’s desire for daddy to have a good work ethic.

Initially, daddy’s first choices for your first names were to honor two beautiful and talented entertainment legends, Lucille and Lillian. It seems logical for twins to share some characteristics in their names and two “L” names with a “double L” in the middle fit that bill. The “double L” meant that you would be a nemesis for any Clark Kent that came into your life. However, mommy vetoed the idea and because of the sonogram your names are started with the letter they do.

So Baby-A your name is a Norse/Viking name that means “beautiful” but in Scandinavian means “God’s strength”. Baby-A you will have to explain your name to everyone but they will never forget you. Baby-B you were almost the French word for beautiful, “Belle”, but it seemed too simple for someone who isn’t. You are a “bringer of joy” to your mom, the playful one in the womb, and therefore your name means just that. In Latin your name means “voyager through life” a concept and hope that your daddy strongly approves of. Baby-B for the rest of your life, though, you will be saying “with an x” and that will make you stronger.

Your mommy is giving both of you a Chinese name; this name will reflect the season in which you are coming. Spring is in the air, and the mornings are cool, crisp, and frosty. Flowers are blooming and so will your Chinese name.

As daddy write this daddy has decided that two middle names are in order. From inspiration 1 Corinthians 13:13 says “And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” So Baby-A, Faith will be your third name, and Baby-B, Hope is yours. But the greatest of these is Love and that is what you are bringing now and forever more.

Daddy Apprehension

Apprehension – what a great word. It means dread – a feeling of anxiety or fear; ability to understand – the power or ability to grasp the importance, significance, or meaning of something; idea – an idea formed by observation or experience; and arrest – the taking of a suspect into custody.

I don’t know what mommy sees in daddy right now, but mommy should be seeing all four meanings but not necessarily in that order.

Daddy Apprehension – Daddy’s ability to understand and grasp the importance of what is about to happen is driving his life and actually changing his thought patterns. What is most important is about to change and priorities are being shifted. Daddy’s job must be organized so he can come and stay at the hospital without any worries. The house must be safe and secure but not too secure. Mommy doesn’t need to mess with childproof locks while she’s still pregnant in fact Daddy doesn’t need to install until you start being mobile. Daddy and mommy are becoming church members to grow the family, to give you extra ‘aunts’ and ‘uncles’ and even the dog guardians are getting extra fencing until they know how to protect you properly.

Daddy Apprehension – Daddy’s ideas and Mommy’s too. So many questions that need answers and ideas, where do we put you, how to decorate the rooms, where can I find help, what if something goes wrong? Every one of the questions is being asked and for everyone I have an answer or idea of who to ask or where to go.

Daddy Apprehension – Daddy’s dread or anxiety and fear is all about two things; is Mommy okay and will I let you down? Mommy is making strange noises and getting up at night, you are pushing on her tummy, lungs, and bladder, she needs to burp, pee, get up and walk around to breath. I am always asking mommy if she is okay and she is being brave and strong. On the fear part, daddy doesn’t fear two years from now or even 18 years but daddy is anxious about the days after you are born. For up until three years ago it was only his life he had to watch over, then mommy came along and things changed all of that, choices were different. But now all those choices and answers are going to change again. By the time you are two and walking and answering “no” to everything I might have you figured out a little but making sure you make it to two safely is a little nerve-wracking.

Daddy Apprehension – Daddy’s arrest or I will say surrender. Daddy is not being taken into custody, but daddy is surrendering into it. Daddy is taking two girls into custody but will be surrendering into your needs and arrest will become no-rest.

Blog Introduction

February 22, 2014 -- Triple deuce day an appropriate day to restart. Let’s see two adults, two cars, two dogs and two buns in the oven. I am less than two weeks away from welcoming Baby A and Baby B into the world.

For those of you who know me, I value privacy but at the same time I see value in the social media world we live in. I just don’t believe that our entire life needs to be displayed in one location.

This blog is the story written to and for Baby A and Baby B as they will be called from this point forward. This is their life in my eyes for them to see. Friends, family and strangers are given permission to read along; comment, and share in my story to them but no biographical information will be given or allowed. The names of everyone from me, to the Wally World, as the Magic Kingdom will be called will be changed. Your comments will be allowed but any that contain any factual identity information will be deleted or edited.

I limit the photos I post on social media websites and I will be posting limited photos of Baby A and Baby B here and only here. If you know who I am, reposting my photos without my permission is not approved in any manner nor is posting a link to this blog with my name attached elsewhere.

You are invited to read but respect the privacy.

Thank you,

Daddy