one of the last belly shots...

I'm glad my belly can only grow for a week or so more- not only does it feel like it weighs a million pounds whenever I move, but it is just starting to look crazy!

It is seriously unreal for me to look at sometimes...it makes me laugh. It's easier for me to imagine it like a big basketball stuffed under there.

good news

So I graduated from nursing school during my first trimester and after about a month took the NCLEX. I did try to prepare, but I was very distracted. The test was hard. About 1/2 the questions I was asked weren't even multiple choice, but "select all that apply" out of 5 options- even the subjects I knew well were hard to feel confident with all the options. I was asked the minimum of 75 questions, so I figured I must have passed, because there was no way I failed that bad...but I did. I went through the stages of grief and for about a month was convinced I would not attempt it again. I eventually realized that wouldn't be the best choice so I re-registered, but didn't want to think about it over the holidays etc. I finally decided to wait until 2 weeks before the twins are coming to try and take the test again.

My view the past couple weeks:

I studied a little more this time. I planned for a solid week to not cook, not do baby projects, or clean house. The funny thing is that this time I was 2 weeks out from having twins- my pregnancy brain barely allows me to recall the word for "vacume" when I want the thing that cleans the floor. On top of this I was in the midst of a terrible sinus infection- an infection that gave me throbbing pain in my head, teeth and jaw when moving from sitting to standing, spread to my eye making me look like I'd been slugged when I woke up, and also only allowed me a total of about 4 hrs sleep combined for the 2 nights before the test. Not a perfect situation, I tried to change the appointment date, but it was the last time I could take it before the babies come.
The test seemed way easier than the first time I took it, I probably only got 5 questions of "select all that apply". I thought I'd at least be borderline this time and would get the total 265 questions, but a little after an hour into it I was again kicked out at 75 questions. I was a little mad, there was no way I passed when the exam was so much easier. To heck with it I decided. I'm having babies now, I'm over this. Even though I know I've done harder things and know I'm not a stupid person, for some reason the NCLEX had eluded me.
Last night my sister called me to find out the "official" news. I'd forgotten to even check, so I skeptically got online and was shocked to find Katie Lewis Hagen as a registered nurse in Holladay, UT. I wasn't expecting it at all, but it was such a nice surprise and I feel like something heavy was lifted off my shoulders. Its so great to have out of the way before I enter this next stage of life, I feel pretty blessed. It was so fun to finally tell my family that good news after all their support through my nursing journey. Brad and I made it out to celebrate late last night with some delicious chocolate dessert:

Our girls will be here so soon, and I feel like there is so much I want to get done before they arrive- I'm so glad I can go back to focusing on more important things. 

shower power

I have been sick with some sort of nasty sinus infection, it makes the most horrible combo with late pregnancy discomfort. My sister's mother-in-law says that getting miserable towards the end of pregnancy is God's way of making sure you want the babies out. So true- crying babies? whatever. Its virutally impossible to get less sleep than what I'm getting, may as well have some little cuddly babies around to make it worth it, right? I'm going a little crazy as the days get closer to the babies arrival- instead of getting everything ready I'm sitting on the couch trying to "rest" as I watch stupid TV shows and blog. It's giving me anxiety attacks, so hopefully my new meds kick in soon and help me feel better. I'll quit being a whiner now and talk about something fun.
Last week (or the week before?) the girls grandmas and aunties threw a little shower. Sometimes it feels weird inviting people to a shower (wanna buy me a gift? I cordially invite you to...) and I felt a little guilty, (wasn't it like a year ago I had those bridal showers?) but... it was so fun, when it came down to it I didn't even care- I had so much fun seeing people, talking baby stuff, and our girls were literally showered with the cutest stuff. I've got the best family/friends of family. So spoiled. So fun.
I finally uploaded some pictures:

See how fun showers are?! You get 2 of everything!

My nieces were perfect little gift helpers.

Looking all fat and happy with baby wipes:

My mom's house looked all sweet and girly:

shower people:

yummy food:

I traditionally make these big sweet rolls/orange rolls for family baby blessings in the shape of the 1st letter of their name...you can kinda see it...

My, don't we look pregnant?

We made some little cupcakes for favors:

There were 2 to a box, like a thank you from 2 buns in the oven- that wasn't specified so I don't think anyone got it. That's okay, the cream cheese frosting was pretty fabulous- that's what is most important.

the loot:

Couldn't say thank you enough. We have felt all kinds of love and support in so many ways!

meeting babies soon

I'm really getting curious to see what our babies will look like.  It's one of those things- I guess it won't really matter because even if they look like wrinkly little grandpas we'll think they're adorable. I wonder if they will look similar to each other, more like me, or more like Brad. I hope they get some of that latin flare. :) I think they've got decent odds of being cute babies as I checked out me and Brad's baby pics today.

Will they look sweet sleeping like this?

Will they have big eyes like this?

Will they get Brad's sweet smile?

Or my killer glare?

Will they get any Guatemalan genes? (or Hagen redhead genes?)

Or Welsh or Scottish from my side?

Will they be all chill like Brad?

Either way, it's apparent to me that they need a couple sailor outfits for pictures:

Dear babies,

Don't worry- we'll love you no matter what you look like. :)

We can only wait 3 more weeks to meet you. See you then!

a loved fridge

When do people actually take down all their cute Christmas cards? It felt so good to take down the rest of Christmas, but pictures of our friends and family that adorn our otherwise naked fridge seems wrong.
I'm noticing I have a hard time throwing away things people give me, as evidenced by a box of jr. high notes I found the other day... am I a hoarder?

becoming 33 (weeks that is)

I'm not gonna lie, I'm really sick of being pregnant. Each week is just a bit more uncomfortable than the last. I feel like my stomach has maxed out, and yet there are still several weeks to go. I think my babies are trying to figure out how to escape from the side and front region of my stomach. They haven't torn through yet, but I'm pretty sure they're working on it.
Today my doctor asked me about setting a date to get the babies out if they haven't come yet. After talking with him and Brad we are all penciled in at the hospital and I know that we can get this show on the road in just 1 month! I can do that. It's official and we're really excited about it.

sneak peak

So I finally dared to painted a tree in the nursery, I've been planning to do it for a while. I didn't really want to tell Brad I was doing it the other night because he is very skeptical when I begin things and has a hard time envisioning them. I kinda like that he always wants to be involved in everything, but it comes hand in hand with strong opinions that tend not to align w/ mine...

Half way through the project I made the mistake of asking for his opinion. First, he was surprised I was painting on the wall (I don't blame him there). He could only see a dead branch and thought I should have had him tape things and make stencils ("see how this leaf is bigger than all the others, that will always bug me")  I tried to explain that it was a hand-painted tree... I was going for a more organic look and a project I could complete on my own in a couple of hours. (if I wanted a "perfect" tree I could just buy an expensive wall decal) I became less confident that the tree would turn out good and that he (and I) would like it. I still went back to doing it my way and luckily it turned out just how I wanted it!
In the end, he liked it too, but now that he knows we're painting on the nursery walls he wants to get his own wall to paint on. I guess it's only fair, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it because I have been thinking about the nursery and planning it for months... I kinda want to just do it all my way. I told him if he comes up w/ a good enough idea we'll do it- but I have the right to veto anything I think is weird. Fair enough, right?

P.S. I'm about to start the crib bedding so the cribs won't be so naked...