WE HAVE NAMES

I cannot begin to tell you how hard it has been for us to agree on names.  Before we seriously started trying to start our family, Mark and I both had names that we were dead set on using.  We have gone around the world with names!  However, we ended up using Mark's name for our son,  and we came up with a different name for our little girl.  So... we cannot wait to welcome our son and daughter:

Henry Mitchell Mazurkiewicz

and

Harper Frances Mazurkiewicz

"Henry" is the name of both of Mark's grandfathers.  One was named Henry Mitchell and the other is Henry Mazurkiewicz.  So, we decided to blend both of their names together.  We kept going back and forth on what we would call him, Henry, or Mitchell, but we have settled on Henry, and I think it's just perfect.  

"Harper" is just a name that I really love.  Of coarse I'm reminded of Harper Lee, but I also have followed a blog for the past two years about a little girl named Harper and I fell even more in love with that name.  I think I knew for certain that we were going to use Harper when I read in People magazine that Kelly Kapowski, and Doogie Howser both had little girls last year and they used the name Harper.  I was extremely jealous that they had used "my" name! haha  Frances we chose because Mark's sweet grandmother, Mimi, was named Frances.  We will be able to tell our daughter that she was named after a very remarkable woman!

I will say that "Lily" was my name that I have always said I would use because that was my great grandmother's name.  I grew up hearing stories from my mom of her sweet grandmother.  That name has always been special, so if we are ever blessed enough to have another daughter, we will definitely be using that name.  I'm just putting that out there.  ;)

We have decided to go ahead and share our names so that our sweet friends and family can start praying for our children by name.  We have been blessed with wonderful prayer warriors for these babies.  We just ask that everyone continue to pray for them.  We still have a really long road ahead of us, so we covet your prayers.  We believe in the power of prayer, and we are just resting in knowing that God has a great big plan for both of these babies.  

  We can't wait to welcome our Henry and Harper!!!

23 Weeks

22 Weeks 

23 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 23 weeks (and a few days!)

Gender:  We're having a BOY and a GIRL

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  Went to the doctor on Wednesday and I had gained 6 POUNDS!!!!  I had a feeling it was going to be close to that, if not more.  That puts my total to 12 lbs!!  My doctor was very pleased.  I can go ahead and count on gaining around a pound to a pound and a half each week until they babies come.  (That's if I'm being healthy about it!)  I have a feeling it's gonna be a LOT more.  I've never been this hungry in my life!

Maternity Clothes: LOVE them!!  I discovered a new maternity store in Tupelo called Ladybugs!  Mark may kill me if I keep going there after each doctor visit, but it has the cutest stuff!   

Movement: They are just moving like crazy!  

Sleep: Sleep is okay.  I've been a little uncomfortable at night, and I'm waking up at least 2-3 times a night to use the bathroom.  I think it's God's way of preparing me for what's to come!   

What I Miss: CAFFEINE!!  I went 154 days without it, and then I cheated at Charity Ball.  I felt so guilty afterwards, but I was so tired, so I drank a glass of sweet tea.  OOOH, rebel I know! But I haven't had any more since!  

Cravings:  This week I've really craved lemonade!  Random, I know!

Symptoms: Other that feeling HUGE, I really can't complain.  I went to Nate, my chiropractor and "future" (hopefully) brother in law, and my back pain has all but gone away.  Amazing!

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing my babies again on the ultrasound.  

Once again, I'm late posting.  I've been meaning to upload photos from Hawaii, but it takes FOREVER to upload just one.  I'm going to try and talk Mark into doing it.  I'm sure he'll know a way to download them faster.  I did mention in my last post that my cousin was having her baby soon.  Well, she had a beautiful baby.....

BOY!!!  

I was shocked!!  Colby Mitchell Hopkins!  He is just beautiful, too!  He weighed 9lbs 4 ounces.  He is just precious, and his big sisters were so excited.  

I also wanted to share a picture of our furry baby.  I know some people have been worried, MOM, that our sweet Grover has been neglected since we found out we're having twins.  Well, rest assured, he's still our baby and spoiled rotten.  

We normally don't allow him to sleep with us, but every now and then he makes his way to our bed.  

We have also decided on names for our babies.  I will say that both are family names that we just love.  I'll post their names tomorrow, if I don't change my mind between now and then! :)  

Update

20 Weeks

21 Weeks on the North Shore, Oahu

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 21 Weeks (about to be 22, like, tomorrow)

Size of Babies: They are EACH the size of a spaghetti squash.  They are about 8 inches in length and weigh about 1 pound a piece.

Gender:  We're having a BOY and a GIRL

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  No clue!  Funny story... when we checked into our condo, it was very, very late and I vaguely remember walking in the bathroom and noticing scales.  I remember thinking how odd it was to have scales in the bathroom of a resort, but I was too tired to say anything.  Anyway, the next day I wake up and they're gone, so I just thought maybe I dreamed it.  On our flight home, Mark confessed to hiding the scales that night.  He didn't want me weighing myself on vacation.  Very sweet hubby!  I go back to the doctor on March 8th, so I'll know how much weight I gained on our vacation.  I am already nervous! Ha!

Maternity Clothes: LOVE them!!  

Movement: They are just moving like crazy!  One morning I was about to take a bite pineapple (which I crave!), and one of the babies kicked me so hard I started choking.  I caused quite a scene that morning at breakfast!

Sleep: Slept like a baby listening to the ocean waves.  It was great!  

What I Miss: CAFFEINE and being able to just pop right up out of a chair 

Cravings:  Fruit and strawberry cake, or really any cake flavor  (random, I know) 

Symptoms: Some pretty bad lower back pain, but nothing too bad!

Best Moment of the Week: Being able to sit by the beach, in a swimsuit, and thoroughly enjoy a cheeseburger and fries.  It was the most liberating experience!  It was the first time in my life where I've worn a swimsuit and not cared how I looked.  I mean, I'm pregnant, I'm supposed to be fat, right?  Ha!  It was great!  

I will try and post pictures from our trip tomorrow.  We had a wonderful time!  Very grateful for being able to get away with Mark and just enjoy being "kid free" for the last time in our lives.   Unfortunately, I came down with the flu shortly after coming home.  I'm much better, but this is why I'm late updating.  We have Charity Ball this weekend, so I have a very busy week ahead of me.  Also, my sweet cousin, Jennifer, is having her baby this Friday!  I'm so excited!  She and her husband decided not to find out the sex of their baby, so we are all DYING to find out!  They already have two precious little girls, so I'm kinda rooting for a baby boy!  Can't wait to post some pics from this weekend.  

19 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19 weeks

Size of Babies: the babies are the size of mangos - baby A weighs 10 oz and baby B weighs 9 oz!

Gender:  We're having a BOY and a GIRL

Total Weight Gain/Loss: When I went last Tuesday, I had gained 5lbs making my total weight gain 6 pounds!  My doctor said I was doing great, but to eat WHENEVER I was hungry.  I wish he could spend a day with me! Ha!  I won't know about my weight gain until I go back March 9th!  Mark is continuing to keep the scales hidden.  I told him that I am starting to really want to kick myself for ever posting my "weight gain" on the blog.  I have a feeling I am really going to regret it!  From everything thing I've read about twins, I can expect to start really gaining weight in the next few weeks.  

Maternity Clothes: LOVE them!!  I no longer fit into any of my pre-pregnancy jeans.   

Movement: They are just moving like crazy!  Some days I am absolutely worthless because I just sit and let them go crazy!  It's just the best feeling in the world!

Sleep: Still just okay!  I bought a body pillow and it's helped a little.  

What I Miss: CAFFEINE 

Cravings:  Still really no cravings!  When I'm hungry, I'm just HUNGRY!  

Symptoms: Hair is still out of control!  I've started having a few leg cramps, but nothing too bad!  I hope I haven't made being pregnant sound horrible.  I really love it!  Like, can't wait to do it again love it!  

Best Moment of the Week: We were watching the Duke/NC basketball game (yes, I was actually watching it!) and I could feel one of the babies kicking like crazy.  I thought it was a long shot, but I made Mark feel, and he could feel the baby!!  It was a really exciting moment because I have felt so bad that he could never feel them.  It hasn't happened since, but I know soon enough it will happen again! 

We have been crazy busy this past week, so I am super late posting this.  Mark and I have been talking about taking a "babymoon" before it's too late for me to travel.  Last month Mark came home and suggested we go to Hawaii.  So, we leave day after tomorrow for a week long vacation to O'ahu!  I can't wait!  I am so nervous about flying for so long, and being that far from my doctor, but he cleared me for travel, so I'm going to have fun!  We are staying at a resort where a lot of the tv show, LOST, was filmed.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am probably more excited about that than the actual trip.  I apologize in advance if all of my posts about the trip involve LOST references!  And yes, I have booked a 5 hour LOST tour of the island.  

18 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Size of Babies: the babies are the size of small sweet potatoes

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not sure. Mark took the scales and hid them from me. I was becoming a little OCD about weighing. I go back to the doctor February 8th, so I'll know then. I'm thinking a LOT!!  

Maternity Clothes: Loving them!  Funny story...I went with a sweet friend to Memphis to buy a "nice" pair of maternity jeans.  Found a pair and bought them, but they were way too long.  Took them to have them hemmed.  No big deal, right?  WRONG!!  I get home and they are entirely too short.  I'm just sick about it because there's really nothing I can do!  Oh well, I paid too much to not wear them, so please don't make fun of me when you see me "flooding" in my jeans.  

Movement: FINALLY!!!  I woke up early Monday morning and I felt what I would describe as little flutters in my stomach.  I've been feeling it off and on ever since.  I have noticed that whenever I play Coldplay or James Taylor on my ipod that they really get active.  I would like to think that my babies already have great taste in music.  It's a wonderful feeling!

Sleep: It's okay.  I keep waking up so early.  I miss the nights of solid 8 hours of sleep, but I do realize that those days are over. :)

What I Miss: energy and caffeine 

Cravings: No cravings. I just have the appetite of a truck driver.  It's getting worse.  When I'm eating breakfast, I'm thinking about what I'm going to have for lunch.  I'm really trying to make healthy choices, but it's getting harder.  I try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as I can, but I would be lying if I didn't add that I'm also eating lots of junk, too!  Ugh!

Symptoms: My hair is OUT OF CONTROL!!  I have always had thick hair, but pregnancy has taken it to a new level.  As my beautician described it, "it's like a dense mass!"  I've gotten it thinned,  switched to cheap shampoo to flatten it, and I'm using my flat iron religiously!  Nothing seems to tame this mane! So, other than Texas hair, I really can't complain!

Best Moment of the Week: Sharing with our friends that we're having a little boy and a little girl!  We're still trying to narrow down our names.