**Meet The Mama!**

Let's welcome Jessica as this week's Meet the Mama. :Clap: It's time to put her in the spotlight and ask her those questions we've all been wondering about. Here is a little about her:

I am very excited to be adding twin boys to my family that at present is composed of myself, my husband, my 21-month-old daughter and 13 year-old stepdaughter. I work two night-shifts a week at a local hospital as a mental health worker and spend the rest of the week taking care of my daughter. Night shifts can be rough, but during the quiet hours I am able to devote time to writing--often blogging--and of course practicing my profession which generally does not leave many dull moments. My main interests right now are reflected in the blogs I post in my signature, one being on perinatal/postpartum mental health, the others on general family, charting the progress of my twin boys along with where things are at (experimenting w/toilet learning) with my daughter. I live in Chicago but am from Northern New York originally, however have lived in multiple timezones as far north as the Canadian arctic and as far south as Southern California--where I lived most recently prior to Chicago. The other hobbies I am shelving for a time when I have a bit more, well, time, include pottery and running.

 

:wavey: Jessica!

Have you guys decided on any names? Care to share?

How did your 13 year old react to hearing about twins?

What do you guys like to do as a family? On date nights?

 

Hi Jessica and congratulations on your twin pregnancy!! :yahoo:

What has been the biggest difference in this pregnancy compared to your 1st pregnancy?

Are you craving any specific foods? Any foods that you can't eat?

 

Have you guys decided on any names? Care to share?

We have one name that we really both like--Walter (no, not after W. Cronkite but a family name for me and a name that my DH agrees to. The other name we are torn on--have been entertaining John (both of our fathers had this name), Byron, Franklin. We tend to like "old fashioned" names so are going that way and incorporating family names as middle names.

How did your 13 year old react to hearing about twins?

She was a little shocked for a millisecond, then went back to being caught up in her own little world (ah, teenagers They really are not a reality for her until they arrive I think!

What do you guys like to do as a family? On date nights?

As a family we like to just spend time outdoors, whether it is walking up the block or going for extended picnics, bike rides. Of course the limited mobility of pregnancy has required a cutback on some of these things.

For date nights, dinner and a movie usually has it. Since babysitters can be pricey, my DH and I will just go someplace cheap for a slice of pizza, catch a flick, and then maybe out for a drink or two (for him of course!) while we chat. Hopefully we will get one more getaway in before the new babes come, as I imagine finding a baby-sitter for 3 will be quite a challenge until they are a bit older...and even then...

 

What has been the biggest difference in this pregnancy compared to your 1st pregnancy?

The 'biggest' difference so far is ME and my belly! At 30 weeks I am already up about 40lbs which is what I gained w/dd. What is strange though is I don't look as chubby as I did w/her, I think most of that weight (or so I like to hope) is going to growing the boys. I am measuring about 5 weeks ahead and am about as big as when I was full term with DD.

Are you craving any specific foods? Any foods that you can't eat?

I almost never drank cows milk before the pregnancy but through this pregnancy I could easily drink 2 pints a day. I crave dairy the most, so I eat lots of cottage cheese, yogurt, hard cheeses and milk mixed with ovaltine (which I loooove). I guess the babies want the calcium. I certainly had an ice cream phase too, but I have to say lately I have lost a taste for that. I also struggle to eat my greens. Previously an avid salad and raw veggie eater, I have a hard time eating raw vegetables at all. When I do eat them, they are cooked and usually smothered with cheese LOL! I guess I need the high density calories these days b/c that is what I eat.

 

Interesting about the dairy! :lol:

Do you stay at home or work outside the home?

 

Hi Jessica!


Where do you see your family going on vacation in a few years once they twins are a bit older?


What has been you favorite vacation spot so far?

 

Hi there

To answer above, I work part-time, two night shifts a week. It can be tiring but mostly works out well.

I imagine going to the Maritimes in Canada, particularly Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island as that is a frequent vacation destination for my family and my DH has a lot of family in PEI & New Brunswick as well.

So far, well we have not done much vacationing since we relocated to the midwest from LA. Mostly we do day trips and stay local.

 

Nova Scotia must be beautiful because I've heard alot of people going there. ardon:

Tell us something you think we'd all find interesting about you?