Time flies...

On Friday I will hit 30 weeks in my pregnancy; it's unbelievable really. Actually, today at our doctor's visit Dr. Bartlett walked in and said something along the lines of not being able to believe we were already 30 weeks..."wasn't it just yesterday we found out you were having twins?" she asked with a chuckle. It really does feel that way though.

You know the saying, "time flies when you're having fun?" Well it should be "time flies when you are pregnant." Not that pregnancy hasn't been fun...because it has been super fun.

A week or two ago Matt and I were talking about how August was ending and then it would be September which means the next month would be October and that means babies!! When it hit us we started laughing and a little bit freaking out...Matt yelled "Oh no, now I have the nervous poops!" and ran out of the room for the bathroom. I guess realizing that you're going to be a dad in less than 10 weeks causes a man to feel a little sicky!
Back to our appointment...today Dr. Bartlett confirmed that yes we will in fact induce labor at 38 weeks if the babies haven't come before then...but to be ready because with twins we could expect them as early as 35 weeks! WHAT?!?! That is only 5 weeks away...every time we go there they take more weeks away from us...

ready or not here they come!! :)

What's Your Limit?

I am trying an experiment. I know that it's never OK to call a woman fat. But I want to see how close I can get to being punched in the face with my choice of words describing Sam's belly. So far I've tried: 

1. Tubby. The setup went something like this, " Hey Sam, I have a really cute nickname for you". Her reaction was pretty shocking actually. She laughed and thought it was funny. Now, she sometimes refers to herself as tubby.

2. Elephant. This one came out because she was complaining about how big her stomach looked and how heavy it felt. I just told her that she's in the same category as an elephant. She strongly disagreed.

3. School Bus. We were laying down in bed the other day and like always, she was on 'my side' of the bed. So I told her that it felt like I was sleeping in the bed with a school bus. She almost cried. 

4. Angry Bird Hog. Out of no where I thought it would be funny to tell her how cute she looked to me. Maybe it's because I just got done playing about 2 hours of angry birds or maybe because I am a jerk. But either way, I told her that she looked like one of the Angry Bird hogs. More specifically I told her that she reminded me of the one with the cement helmet. She rolled her eyes and told me to shut up. 

These are actual confrontations that took place. I just want to see where the limit is and to be honest, I don't think I've found it yet. So of course I will continue to look for it. 

Lose Your Life

There is something really sacred about sharing your story with people. I think it's great how God speaks to me through the stories from people's lives. I especially love it when those moments come unexpectedly.

This morning I was talking with a friend that I only get to see two or three times a year. I was telling her about the excitement that has consumed me and Sam about our babies on the way. I often tell stories about my life to people. Most of them are about other people in my life. This week I've been talking an awful lot about my wife and most of which are actually true and accurate stuff. I did say most.

I was telling my friend about how Sam loves organization. She really enjoys it for some reason. Give her a pink labeling machine, some markers and a messy room and prepare to be amazed. She is absolutely gifted at it. 

Since I am out of town, she chooses to make the best of her time to organize anything she can. I called three different times yesterday and each time she was up to something new: organizing. She cleaned out our cupboards and refrigerator, she went to school to clean up her room and get it organized and she cleaned our closet and rearranged our clothes and accessories. She is so crazy! But of course I love it. I love everything about her

So as I'm telling my friend this story and we're laughing she looks at me and says "Wow, I mean I know that I don't know your wife, but from what you say about her she seems to know herself really well". I thought about it for a second and told her that she was right. Sam is a very confident person and does know herself well. 

My friend went on to talk about how she is confident too. But only in the areas she is gifted. She talked about how in her own strength she can do things pretty well. She's an actor who is learning that the more that she gives her life to Christ the more she is realizing that she is becoming someone new. But it's really easy to hold onto who instead of embracing who she is becoming. Jesus told his disciples that if you want to find your life that you must first lose it.

When my friend said those words, I was instantly convicted. Not because I think I'm a terrible person or a bad Christian or whatever. But I just don't ever want to feel that I've arrived. I am learning again and again that following Jesus is a constant adventure of losing your life. Being crucified with Christ. Our weakness becoming strength. It's a constant battle of dying and truly living. 

What's the Story?

I'm in my second week of classes at Ashland. I love being here...it forces me to focus on my craft: writing. I live without t.v., chores, responsibilities, and distractions for two weeks. I trade that all in for intense workshops and craft talks, moments of solitude, and mentors and peers all striving to become better writers. But it's Wednesday now...and I can't wait until Friday because I miss home. What has been really difficult for me this summer session is finding focus. I am studying nonfiction, trying to find my voice, my story, and my purpose for telling this story. Over these past two weeks I have realized that I really am lacking direction in my writing...but yesterday I think I nailed down why I am struggling.

I am repeatedly being asked, "what is this story really about?" I am being encouraged to use my imagination to allow my essays to go where they need to go. I have to admit that this hasn't been easy, because the only story that I care about right now is that of my unborn babies and the family that Matt and I have started. In my alone time I sit and tell my boys the funny things that their dad told me on the phone, or place my hand on my belly and let their movements tell the stories that they are wanting to share with me. I can't help but think about what life is going to be like in just a few short months when we welcome these two new lives into our home...who will they be? Will they one day want to go away for two weeks and write? Will they be musicians or athletes or scholars or philanthropists? Who will they look like, will they even look like one another? I know one of them is already way squrimier than his brother...he likes to flip and flop...will his brother take after him or will he after his brother?

Mom told me how she was telling her dental assistant about the twins not too long ago when she went to get her teeth cleaned. The woman told her that Amos Frye sounded like a foootball player's name. Maybe. I hope not. I told mom and Christin (sister) that Matt and I didn't want football players. Not that we won't allow football players...we just won't encourage it. Matt says he is determined to have golfers! Christin was very disappointed at the thought of her nephews not playing football...and to that I say that if she trys to make my boys into football players then Cami's (her daughter) Uncle Matt will for sure be buying her a drum set and teaching her to play as loud as possible!! ha!

Kidding aside...I can't help but realize that as much as I try to focus on my story, the truth is my story is about to hit a pretty incredible shift in plot. Who are these babies? I guess I have time to worry about that later. Matt I am sure will mold them into little clowns! Right now I will settle for healthy boys. We have an appointment on August 15 for an ultrasound and I am dying to see the little guys that have been growing and moving inside of me. I can't wait to see thier individual stories, as well as our family's story reveal itself.