SPRING!

So... we have had some wonderful glimpses of Spring lately and are ready for more! My little guy needs to get out and breathe the fresh air! We recently went to "Touch-a-Truck" in downtown Kennesaw and Jackson was in heaven! They had all kinds of trucks there for kids to climb in. Jackson especially liked the school bus, mail truck, and the ambulance. What a great idea and the weather was great! His birthday is Friday, and I can't believe my baby is going to be three! How did this happen? He is also exercising his opinion much more these days which makes for interesting conversations and some great opportunities for discipline! Haha! Yes, he can be a challenge. And yes, he wears me out most days and I sometimes end the day in tears (pregnancy hormones) but he brings so much joy to us and I can't imagine life without him! We are very blessed!






And speaking of blessed, we also had our 20 week appointment a couple of weeks ago ( I am 23 weeks now,) and Hannah and Olivia are doing great! They are getting big and kicking my ribs all the time. But I love it and can't wait to meet these sweet little munchkins! We are slowly working on the nursery and I am trying to restrain myself from buying tons of clothes. I buy things here and there as Andy permits me! :) March has been crazy with lots of birthdays and activities going on. I am trying to participate in as many as possible, but I just get so worn out these days. So please forgive me if I can't make it to your next event or if I miss your birthday, my brain is not my body's priority right now and I am a bit of a flake! We continue to ask for prayers for our girls and for my health. I just pray that I can carry them as long as possible! In the meantime, I'm gonna enjoy the sunshine! :)


Me (20 weeks)


Me (22 weeks)


Hannah (20 weeks)


Olivia (20 weeks)

A New Year Indeed!

Family and Friends,

Well I guess it is time to update you all on what we've been up to the past few months. It all started with a positive pregnancy test on Nov. 14th. After a heartbreaking miscarriage and year of emotional ups and downs, Andy and I were thrilled and also very cautious about our happy news. We decided to only tell a few people on a need-to-know basis until we got to the crucial "12 week" milestone. The weeks passed slowly and I was an emotional mess. I convinced myself that this pregnancy would suffer the same fate, just so I would already be prepared for it. I made it to the 6 week mark and went in to the Dr. for a blood test to ease my mind. They called a few days later and said that my numbers were great and were very high! Whew! Now I could relax a bit. But I didn't. I continued to worry and expect the worst each day.

When I started feeling sick at around 7 weeks, I allowed myself to feel a glimmer of hope. When my 9 week appointment finally came , (Andy was out of town on businesss during my 8th week), I was both terrified and excited to get the long awaited ultrasound. Andy and I prayed together the night before that God would let us hold this child in our arms and managed to get a little sleep that night. We went in the next morning and I just wanted to see a heartbeat and hear that my baby looked healthy. What we found out would shock us and change the course of our lives forever! The ultrasound tech started looking around the screen and calmly said to us, "Um, you know there are two in there." WHAT!?!?!? We were in utter disbelief! Not only was there a heart beat, there were two beautiful beating hearts on the screen! We just cried, out of joy, fear, and gratefulness to God! When we saw the midwife afterward, she asked us if we used fertility drugs or anything like that. "No!" we said, still stunned. We had no idea how we would have gotten twins! My great-great grandfather on my mom's side was a fraternal twin and that was the extent of any twin genes. She informed us that with twins, there is a chance you can miscarry one of them before 12 weeks and to prepare myself for that possibility. So we left the office armed with nothing but the knowledge that we had two babies to worry about now.


12 weeks

My morning sickness got worse (a good sign!) as the weeks passed and we nervously awaited the 12 week appt. where I would get another ultrasound and we could hopefully relax finally! The 12 week appt. came and both babies looked great and were measuring the same. But we found out that I had one placenta. This meant that our twins were IDENTICAL! Identical twins are not genetic, it just happens. Once again we thanked God for this miracle that could only come from Him! But one thing we did learn was that with identical twins that share a placenta, I am at risk for a condition called TTTS where one twin hogs all the nutrients. This is rare, but it does happen and is yet another thing for me to worry about! The Dr. was great and told me she was confident that I would be able to carry them close to full term (37 weeks for twins) and that I would do great! What great encouragement!


15 weeks

We just had our 16 week appt. last week and both babies continue to look healthy and strong! We also found out another miracle, well in the Torbert family anyway. Our babies are GIRLS!!!!!! I had always thought that I would have all boys, and was perfectly happy with that (I already have one that I happen to adore). But God delights in suprising us and has done that once again! Since last week, I have been knee deep in pink! I have spent endless hours on the computer pouring over everything girly! We have decided to name them Hannah Grace and Olivia Kate! I never thought I would be this excited about girls (notice my girly background!). We are closing in on our 17th week now and although we still have a long way to go, I am trying to cherish every moment (rollercoaster and all) of this pregnancy and strive to be joyful and not terrified about what lies ahead. Andy and Jackson are wonderful as usual. Helping me get things done around the house and making me laugh when my hormones get the best of me. I decided to write this post instead of calling a million people so I could tell our story and include fun photos that you'll see below. I am growing at a rapid rate now and am doing my best to keep everyone updated. We ask for your prayers in the months ahead. We pray that I am able to carry them for the long haul and that they continue to grow healthy and strong every day! I can't wait to meet them and to introduce them to all of you! We thank you all for your love, support, and prayers! You all mean so much to us! Thank you for taking the time to let us share our lives with you! :)



17 weeks

Missing Fall

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I know you are all gearing up for Christmas (as am I). We have been having too many sick days recently and I long to get my boy outside to play at the park again. Luckily, I recently got some great shots of Jackson on the trail behind our house right when the leaves were changing. I LOVE Fall and I feel like it went by way too quickly this year! I look forward to receiving everyone's Christmas cards (hint, hint) and seeing how much you've all grown this past year! :) In the meantime, we are decorating and snuggling and watching as many Christmas movies that we can get our hands on!

Pumpkin Patch '09

Today we went to Berry Patch Farm a.k.a. the Punkin' Patch! We went with our small group buddies from church! They have become like a second family to us! We LOVE you guys! The kids had a blast (and the adults had a pretty good time too)! Jackson had a few meltdowns while we were there. He is VERY passionate about tractors and was bugging us the whole time to go on a hayride. Then he didn't want to get off of the hayride and had a fit! Whew! Fun times! :) I had a hard time getting some photos but then he was in his element as we got out to the pumpkin patch and he was able to roll the pumpkins around and sit on them. The day was perfect for a trip to the pumpkin patch. It was chilly and we had to bundle up! We had popcorn, fried blueberry pies, and boiled peanuts! YUM! I just LOVE Fall!

Crazy Week!

Whew! It has been a crazy week! My wonderful husband went out of town to sunny California and left me to hold down the fort. With the flooding and being in survival mode with Andy gone, it has just been a bit crazy around here. Thankfully, we were not affected by the flood waters, but are saddened by the amount of devastation that affected people all over Atlanta. We pray for their quick recovery and that God would provide for those who have lost everything. We watched the creek behind our house swell to a raging river. That was quite the sight. And it is always humorous to see ducks swimming on top of the baseball fields at the park down the street! What a week!

Earlier this month (Sept. 6th), Andy and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary (and almost 11 years together)! Six years of marital bliss!-(ha ha! close, but not quite). The birth of our little boy two and a half years ago was enough to sap some of the marital bliss out of our marriage. But none the less, I am still madly in love with my big strong man! He continues to stand by me through all of my mommy melt downs, struggles to grow spiritually, and emotional female outbursts. He listens intently while his eyes glaze over and I go on and on about some issue I'm having trying to be a better mother or to have a more positive attitude. God bless my sweet husband! You have really earned at least half of the Sundays you spend watching football (wink, wink)! I love you, honey!


Then


Now

My Big Boy!

Well, Jackson is officially a BIG BOY! We moved him into his new room (that is still unfinished) a few weeks ago and he has done pretty good besides a few escapes. We were forced to do this because one morning I went to get him up and he was holding one of his crib spindles and said "I broke my crib, mommy". So, we scrambled and got his room ( mainly his bed) ready so he could go ahead and sleep in there. Of course, the other day I did wake up to find him playing in the hallway, having climbed over the baby gate. There is just no keeping him in! So we must close the door now and watch him on the video monitor as he creeps out of bed watching the door closely to see if we come in! It is so funny!!!! Andy and I have had a couple of good laughs watching him! Enjoy the pictures!

Life's A Beach!

Wow! I haven't been on in a while, but the time has come to update you all on our exciting life...well it's exciting to us anyway. We just came back from Myrtle Beach a week ago and had a fabulous time! We went with the other Torberts (Jeremy, Pam, Luke, and Sarah). They were kind enough to let us tag along and it was just the getaway we needed. Jackson had so much fun playing with his cousins Luke and Sarah and also had a blast jumping the waves with Daddy! We had a blast driving around in the golf cart (a.k.a. a farm buggy to Jackson) that came with the beach house. The community we stayed in also had a TON of ducks and some had a face only a mother could love! They were ugly! I got to eat my crab cakes and enjoy a little lounging on the beach too! It was just a wonderful time together and will be a cherished beach memory! More pictures below!