Weekly Update: Week 22

Number of weeks pregnant: 22 weeks

Total weight gain in past week: 2.5 pounds

Most recent stress out about how something I've eaten or done has hurt the twins: My OB told me not to worry about the cream (possibly with retinol) and body wash (with salicylic acid) that I used early on without knowing they were bad. (Products with those ingredients really should have labels telling pregnant ladies not to use them!)

Most recent natural product purchase: For my birthday Rachel R gave me the gift of deodorant. It was because of a discussion about natural deodorants (a.k.a. hippie deodorants) in which I referred to them as "placebo deodorants," and of course also because I reek. The Nature's Gate deodorant she gave me in lemongrass scent is the one I've been using now. It works better than Liken, my previous hippie deodorant, but sometimes by the end of the day I smell like a lemon-scented hobo. Someone online suggested applying it to a large radius around your pits in addition to the pits. It does work better but I feel like a little girl with no coordination putting on lipstick everywhere by the lips.

In case you're wondering there are actually hippie deodorants that come in patchouli scent. Did they do a hippie focus group to come up with that? I'm surprised there aren't hemp or hackysack, or worse, B.O. scents.

Combine these two into one intoxicating scent.

New pregnancy symptom I've noticed: My belly button is on the verge of becoming an outie. Right now it just looks confused. I have a very shallow innie so it might not come out at all, but the skin around it is turning white (or should I say "whiter" since I'm already on the white shade of super pale) like it wants to pop out but can't.

Other new pregnancy symptom: My back hurts more at work since I have to sit farther and farther from my desk to accommodate my growing belly.

Food cravings: Pineapple again. I cut up another whole one. Also, walnuts.

Baby gift: Knit boy and girl hats made by the really sweet manager of AG Ferrari who also is a twin. (Clearly I eat out too often.)

Knit hats from AG Ferrari manager, Louise


Used thing I'm most excited about: Maternity clothes from April. (April also was nice enough to go through the entire "must have" list from the Babies R Us registry to tell me what we will really need.)

Maternity clothing news: I started wearing cotton dresses. They are very very comfortable...

What I've learned: Mark's going to need to start tying my shoes soon.

Weekly Update: Week 21

Number of weeks pregnant: 21 weeks

Total weight gain in past week: 2 (I overtook Mark in poundage on Wednesday.)

Most recent stress out about how something I've eaten or done has hurt the twins: Worrying about the coffee ice cream in my free scoop of Baskin Robbins Jamocha Almond Fudge. I had a terrible time falling asleep that night and Mark (my partner in ice cream crime) did, too.

Jamocha Almond Fudge: Friend or Foe?


Most recent natural product purchase: Mother's Special Blend Skin Toning Oil. Doctors say there's nothing proven to keep stretch marks at bay, but since I'm having twins I figure rubbing this stuff all over three times a day won't hurt. Good news: It's made from all natural products: almond oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and Vitamin E oil so I smell like one of my mother-in-law's chocolate coconut bars (included in the cookie suitcase from her last visit). Bad news: I have a designated towel to sit on afterwards since I get pretty greasy.

New pregnancy symptom I've noticed: Kicking! For the past week I thought I might have felt kicking but wasn't sure if it was just a gurgling stomach, but then Twin B (the girl) definitely kicked on Sunday night, and Twin A (the boy) has been kicking all week. Mark finally felt baby kicking on Thursday.

Other new pregnancy symptom: Itchy tummy. It's been itchy for awhile but it's really itchy lately, which of course means more growing to come.

Food cravings: Pizza. And many times this week I've had to um... deposit liquid assets, so pizza is a no-no.

Used thing I'm most excited about: Maternity clothes and books from Kelsi/Rachel R.

Maternity clothing news: My maternity jeans are already too tight in the belly, and the maternity shorts for the gym are about to bite the dust, too. I have a couple non-maternity skirts I can still wear but only one matching top meets the fit-over-entire-tummy criteria.

What I've learned: Don't feed a baby Clamato and have them do jumping jacks. We learned this after watching one year old Rivven. She threw up into Rachel's cleavage when Rachel came to pick her up, and apparently this was the first time she's puked. (Okay, we didn't actually feed her Clamato and have her do jumping jacks.) I think we were let off the hook when Rivven puked some more at home and Rachel came down with the same stomach flu.

The only thing worse than Clamato?

Weekly Update: Week 20

Number of weeks pregnant: 20 weeks

Total weight gain in past week: Um, 4 pounds. (Yeah, yeah, I'm having twins, okay?)

Most recent stress out about how something I've eaten or done has hurt the twins: Bending forward to paint my toenails hurt afterwards; eating sea bass a month ago after reading it was safe in What to Expect When You're Expecting and reading elsewhere recently it's not so good if you're preggers.


Sea bass at The House. How can something so good possibly be bad?


Most recent natural product purchase: Hippie deodorant with no aluminum.


As a sign of the effectiveness of my new hippie deodorant, I call it "placebo deodorant."


New pregnancy symptom I've noticed: Bending forward at the waist is really tricky. I have to do a sneak attack on my shoes from the side in order to tie them. And forget sitting on the floor instead of a chair to tie them— I'd never get up.

Other new pregnancy symptom: Feeling warm. I've had this symptom for awhile and so far I like it. Finally I'm not the coldest one in the room and don't have to drag my sweater everywhere— even in the summer.

Food cravings: Mango (about the size of each baby). But I wouldn't say any of my cravings have been stronger than they were when I wasn't pregnant.

Used things I'm most excited about: 3 bags of boy baby clothes from co-worker Andrea; maternity clothes from Rachel P.; books from Alison; Baby Bjorn from Jenn.

Maternity clothing news: On top: half maternity wear, half pre-pregnancy clothing; on bottom: all maternity wear. Pre-pregnancy dresses and skirts... barely.

What I've learned: Don't stay on your feet too long.