The verdict is in...

PINK IT IS!!!!

It is official. Two sweet little girls will be joining our family. The ultrasound techs and docs have been speculating since week 11 but we were nervous to accept it and tell everyone so early. But technology is AMAZING and they can tell on just a little 5 oz. baby without a shadow of a doubt at this last appt. 15.5 weeks....WOW! They are growing perfectly with no signs of twin to twin transfusion (they watch identicals closely for this-one can start gettign the majority of the nutrients, oxygen, blood,etc. and they both suffer ill effects) and measuring right where they should be. Fluid looks good, babies look great, and momma is starting to feel better and the belly is in full effect! Love it :) So I continue on my bimonthly ultrasound schedule for the next few months.

SO girls...I must admit that I would have been happy either way. Looks like Lucas will be the solo big bro, and strangely enough I think this might be the best scenario. Time will tell! I am so excited to see how my amazing husband will completely melt over his little girls. Just thinking about it makes me smile... I know the special relationship Lucas and I have and I really think that is what lies ahead for Todd and the munchkins. I just think it tends to work that way for the most part- Momma's little boy, and Daddy's little girl, in our case- girlS ;)

No doubt Lucas will be such a good and protective big brother. Can you picture them all in school together? Who will rat on who? Will they have similar circles of friends or be polar opposites? I just think it is great that they will be close in age and get to experience life together.

Justin can help teach Lucas how to be a great big bro to twin girls :)

God is so incredibly good and we are so incredibly thankful! Here are some recent pictures for your viewing pleasure. Can you beleive they are only 5 oz. and 4-4.5 inches in these? AMAZING!

Trip to PA

Two weeks ago Lucas and I headed off to West Middlesex, PA with my dad to visit family and go to the annual Bateman family reunion. Todd had already made plans months back to go to a concert with good friends so unfortunately we had to leave him behind. Both of my parents are from this quaint little town about an hour north of Pittsburgh. Growing up we travelled up there several times a year to visit and spend holidays with family from far and near. John and I used to spend a few weeks up there in the summertime when we got a older and really loved it! Well, we don't make it back up as often anymore do too our growing families, work, etc. So when we got the opportunity to go I was excited! Especially since our lives will be pretty hectic next year. Can you imagine travelling 7 + hours with THREE under THREE and then staying in a hotel....I can't....So we jumped on the trip this year!

We had a great time visiting with Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and even Great Aunts and Uncles! Lucas loved seeing everyone just as much as I did and was thoroughly enjoying his extra time with Pa-Pa (Grandpa), Ge-Ge (Uncle Gary), Jean(Aunt Jean), Yess-e ( Jessi), my seat (Aunt Wendy), and Ann-e (Danielle). The my seat name was actually really cute! Wendy played games with Lucas "stealing" a chair, after which he would quickly respond, "no, my seat!" and therefore I guess "my seat" was easier than Wendy.... They are too funny! ;)

As always we were sad to go and wish we could do this more often and for a longer time period. But we were ecstatic to get the time that we did :) We love you all!!!!

Lucas coloring with some of his distant cousins at the family reunion:Cousins - All those pictured here are my mom's first cousins- well except for her hubby(Dad in the middle) and her sisters- Wendy and Jean(they are on either side of my dad) ;) Don't you think the lady all the way to the right looks like mom with lighter hair? That is Jo....;)

This one adds in the previous generation- my Great Uncle John and Great Aunt Janet. They are my Grandmother's siblings.
We had an adventurous day at a zoo/petting zoo. It is a great place with TONS of animals nearby- Deerpark...
Here are some pics from that excursion:

A donkey/zebra blend, very strange but cool, none-the-less:

Feeding the mountain goats:

Lucas found a familiar friend, a sweet little kitten!

Aunt Jean feeding a silly goat, obviously it had figured out this was a great ploy for getting treats! Really sweet baby (twins I might add ;) ) goats. They were super soft too...

Feeding the deer (these are Asian deer)

Lucas pointing out the ducklings he wanted to see, he was willing to get close but wanted NO part in actually holding one!

Jess and I were brave enough to pick up and cuddle the ducklings, they were so cute! But, there was some serious hand washing afterwards...

These guys had some pretty crazy hair! They didn't mind at all if we touched it, it felt like really soft down...

A really pretty leopard:
Who is this scary creature ;)???? It is the paci lion!!!!We had a blast watching this guy swing all over his cage. That was great entertainment!

Jean and I made crafting part of our weekend adventure as well. We both made flower pieces for mom's grave. They turned out pretty good I think...I know she would love them!