State of the Bump: 24 Weeks
Published Jan 28, 2014•Updated Mar 31, 2021
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No food today – just babies.
I barely cooked a thing all weekend. Frank was in Chiang Mai with our visiting friends from Bulgaria, so I’ve been content on my own with dinners of scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, and variations on Crunchy Szechuan Green Beans.
But seeing as we’ve finally reached the 24 week mark of this crazy ride called pregnancy, I thought I’d do a little update. Reaching 24 weeks feels huge. I mean, I feel huge.
Okay, both are true.
19 weeks
Sonograms, Pregnancy Brain, and Corn
We had our last doctor’s appointment a week ago, when I was just shy of 23 weeks pregnant, and everything looked great. I’m still pregnant….with twins…both girls….and they are most certainly identical. True to form, Baby A posed for the sonogram like she knew she was having her picture taken and Baby B flopped and flipped and made the doctor exclaim “Wow -these babies are active!” We seem only able to get a nice profile shot of one baby per visit, so here’s the best one we have of each from recent visits.
Baby Girl A…
Baby Girl B (I think she’s in motion even in this shot)…
And last week when we were about to get a great shot, Baby B stuck her foot in Baby A’s face for good measure.
I think the babies are supposed to be as long as an ear of corn at this point. But those vegetable comparisons make no sense to me – when are ears of corn ever uniform size? Our doctor told us they’re 12 inches long, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. At 23 weeks their weight estimates were almost exactly the same at 1 pound 3 ounces each.
As for me, well this business of growing people turns out to be hard work. I’m tired all the time, and everything just seems to take longer. Getting out of bed requires something akin to a 3-point turn, and my mind wanders during the most basic tasks. Things like grocery store trips take forever these days. The other day I stood in front of the pasta section for five minutes in odd indecision over what pasta shape to get for dinner.
20 weeks in a tuk-tuk to church (’cause the walk down the street seems SO far now)
Twin Differences
I’ve read that parents of twins, especially identical twins, are always on the look-out for the things that distinguish them. And we’re already doing it! But whether it has to do with what makes them unique or simply where they’re positioned, I’m noticing patterns in these twins’ behavior, and they’re definitely different. Baby A has been low and head-down since the very beginning. By the time I wake up in the morning, she’s up and buzzing around in there, vibrating off the walls and doing who knows what….remodeling? Baby B is up above my belly button and was perfectly horizontal at the last ultrasound. She never seems to get going until mid-morning when I’m sitting at my desk and have a front-row seat for her morning dance party.
Thankful
And just to be sure that I include this one important note before I’m off to watch Downton Abbey (love it), I’ve got to say that this whole experience really is incredible. It’s simply amazing that we could produce these two tiny people seemingly out of thin air (and, to be fair, with the help of many baked potatoes and bowls of cereal in those early weeks). Both Frank and I are getting so excited to meet these little girls. During the day when I’m exhausted and weird parts of me hurt, their arrival seems so, so far away. But most other moments, April seems just around the corner!
23 weeks (and counting!)
Wow, you look so, so great! I still cannot believe you are having identical twin girls, maybe by April I will. Love the blog updates, keep them coming!!
Jess you look fantastic! I’ll tell you one thing that doesn’t change – you feel like you’re so big you could never get any bigger and then the next week, sure enough you’re even bigger!
April will be here before you know it. I can’t wait to see your little girls.
It is such an amazing thing isn’t it? I think I’ve said to Will at least 10 times in the last two days that I just can’t believe we made a little person and he’s here and he grew in my stomach!
Like Kristine said, so glad to see this post!
Only you could look cute pregnant on a TREADMILL! Enjoy this special time together as a couple. The anticipation is too much to handle at times.
Life will never be the same 🙂
There was a time, not long ago when a Dad in Kansas wouldn’t be able to share this amazing time with a daughter in Thailand.
Today, I can show friends Movies of my Grandchildren on my Smart Phone.
Times sure have changed.
You look great. I love you.
Dad
Looking good Jess! I’ve been way behind on both writing and reading blogs, but I checked in today and was thrilled to see you and your baby bump! I imagine that growing babies is very hard work, so I hope you’re taking good care of yourself. I’ll hold my thumbs that those protests remain peaceful and that the remainder of your pregnancy goes by quickly and smoothly! Much love coming to you from Sweden.
Congratulations for these coming babies. What a joy and blessing they are!!! Thank you for sharing.
Oh Jess the babies are precious! And you look stunning! I looked like a beached whale and I never carried twins.
My twin sister and I, although identical, are very different in personality and always have been. Unfortunately my parents had a difficult time embracing the differences (this was the 60’s) and insisted on always dressing us alike and together at all times. Until one day my very strong willed, determined and much quieter sister rebelled. Lol! Which was a good thing. She and I are best of friends and always have been. She is the more quiet and clever twin, and I the very chatty and never knows a stranger twin. You will have so much fun getting to know your little girls, watching their sweet and strong personalities emerge. I’m so excited for you Jess!! Thanks so much for posting the update. Hugs! Karista
I love hearing this Karista – it’s so amazing that you and your sister are so close AND that you’re so different! There seem to be 101 theories on the whole dressing twins alike, putting them in the same class in school, etc. A can see the appeal for parents, although I can absolutely imagine that at some point one or both twin might rebel against it and want to assert her independence. I’m getting so excited for this whole experience. (P.S. when I lived in Eastern Europe after college, it wasn’t unheard of for parents of twins to give their twins the SAME name! Talk about confusing!)
Me: “oh I’ll check Jess’ blog – probably not an update since she just did the loaded potato latkes but…”
BAM! BEST BLOG UPDATE EVER.
So, SO happy I checked today. You look beyond amazing and I am so excited! xo
Frank’s been a diligent photo-taker! I just have to stay on top of sending them/posting them! Hope you guys are staying warm out there – hugs to you and Mia and Ray!
You look gorgeous! Keep up the great work growing those little girls. Lots of people are waiting to love them when they arrive. 🙂 xo
Thanks so much Alyssa! Hope you’re doing well – LOVED the post on travel snacks. Travel hummus ROCKS.
I loved your newsy email. You look great and everything sounds wonderful. Before you know it those beautiful girls will be here saying “hello” to you and the world. Take care of yourself and take it slow.
Thanks so much Liz! I am starting to feel like their due date is getting closer and closer. Slow is certainly the name of the game these days. 😉