Pa - They do say stretch marks are hereditary, though I disagree. If that were the case, then why is every celeb who's ever had a baby not gotten stretch marks? lol I say cocoa butter! Just keep using it till the day you deliver! A growing baby isn't the only thing that causes stretch marks, when the baby drops into position and all that weight pulls down, you can stretch then. That is what happened to me. I stopped at 8 months last time, bad choice! I was doing great till the baby dropped. My stretch marks are way better than they would have been had I not used cocoa butter lotion. They are very thin and match my skin tone. Good luck at your scan tomorow. I am hoping that the cyst is gone as well! Lets stay positive!
Hazel - Welcome back from your get away! Glad you had a great time, I am so jealous that you have access to all that history and beauty around you. Someday I would love to take a tour of Europe. I am big on European history, so I would have to hit London for at least a week to see all I want to see there. lol 35 weeks! WOW, just 5 weeks or less. It's so amazing to think that one of these days you will disapear and come back a few days later telling us about the whole labor, delivery and of course ALL about little Zorba... name, weight, length, boy or girl! lol I am so excited! Here they tell us to have a bag packed and ready when you hit 7 months preggers. Of course they suggest we be prepared in case of an emergency. No one wants to go into labor and have to stop and say, "Wait, I have to pack!" I probably should have mine done now since twins come earlier, but I will be getting to that here soon. I am just 2 days from the "official" 3rd trimester. lol The shower... the kid situation is a lot like the bbq because one of the kids was the same kid. lol I told Andrew that the next time we have a party of any kind, we are getting a gate so no little kids can go upstairs. I would never allow my kid to go up stairs anywhere without me. Not sure how people are ok with just letting their little kids (2 and under) go anywhere out of their sight. As far as your dad, that is the decision I would make too if it were me. I knew that about myself after seeing how my mom was effected. No matter what the doctors and professionals say though.. listen to your dad! We know our bodies better than any doctor. So even though they give him a year or so... if he tells you to come home in 3 months because he has a feeling... trust it! My mom begged my brother to come home because she felt funny (he was in the Army then) but the doctors kept telling him she had 6 months left and was doing fine. He trusted the doctors. 2 weeks later when he was just leaving to come visit, she passed away and he didn't get the chance to say goodbye. I know that isn't the best thing to hear, but it might be good advice someday. So just trust dad!
Claudia - I am going to stick to my gut and say Flick is a boy. I am normally really good at being right. lol So far everyone on this thread I have guessed correctly. So we shall see if my intuition is right for you.
There is no such thing as carrying like a girl o a boy anyway. Those old wive's tales have been busted for years, though they can make it fun to guess. I was told before (not this pg) that I looked like I was carrying a boy and had a girl. I must be doing pretty decent on how I am carrying this time because no one has even guessed twins. I look further along, but not too big spite the babies both always measuring a week or so ahead. I did only gain 5 pounds, maybe that helps to not looking so big? lol As far as the shower, you said you wanted to join the thread registry but have yet to do so. Let me know if you are still interested. I know it is suppose to be bad luck or something in the Jewish faith to do something like that, so I guess it depends on how supersticious you are. lol You can always do it for after Flick is born and we can send you things then? Angela - I wouldn't be surprised if Gabriella is bigger than Ashley. She is a healthy baby girl after all!
You are now to the point where you will start to experience things in your pregnancy that you didn't have the chance to before. Don't worry, all the pain and discomfort is normal! lol Just make sure contractions and spotting aren't included. Though once you start having BH contractions I am sure you will be a little nervous. I can't wait till your anatomy scan. Would be nice to know the final verdict on gender and how much she is weighing. Have you tried out your new doppler by now? I let one of my pregnant friends keep mine. I don't need it anymore with all the obvious movement from both babies now. One day you will be that confident too! Gi - Oh my are you a busy girl with so many weddings! Reminds me of that one movie.. minus the funeral of course! Hopefully the other weddings will have better chairs! lol You will need it! I have noticed that no matter what position I am in now, it hurts. Back pain is every day now. Fun fun! Hopefully Jason will give you some good rub-a-dubs when you get to that stage. Andrew doesn't, rather he wants me to rub his back! lol I know he has osteo arthritis and buldging discs, but sometimes I think he is a little selfish. I hope he is more helpful after the twins are here! lol
AFM - Not much left to do to prepare for Ethan and Angelina now. Just have to wait on my dad's wife for the rest of the nursery furniture and a few small items. It's a good thing too since back to school shopping for Alex has been put off for the most part. I have gotten her a few things, but not enough. This next paycheck has to go towards that. This is also the first year I will have to buy bras with her school clothes. *sigh* She is 11 and hit a cup size already. Where does the time go? As far as Andew, he has been on meds now for a week and ups his dosage to 100mg of Zoloft today. I have never heard of anyone having to have a dose that high, but his doc said it's what they do for PTSD so ok. It has had an effect thus far. He has calmed down and hasn't gotten a temper spite the news of a deployment coming and the stress of being broke as broke can be lately. lol So YAY fo meds! I am curious to see how the higher dose will effect him. He is putting leave in today for the 23d though the 3rd so lets see if that will get approved. Like I said, we gave up fighting for his promised free time off. He couldn't even get as much as Friday off when he was told he could. So leave it is and that will be a nice break. Then just a few weeks later the twins will be here and he can take the bulk of his leave then. He is thinking they won't approve more than a month so he will have to go back to work and request leave again. He will try to put in for two months though and see what happens.
PS. I have been having issues with my keyboard lately, T's and R's I have to practically punch to make it type out, so if you notice letters missing that I over looked, chances are this is what happened. lol
We have been so busy lately with our work schedules, family get togethers and friends wanting to get together before baby gets here it seems we never have a moment. I did have my shower Saturday. It was the perfect time to have it because I'm not HUGE yet so I still look like me and I was pretty comfortable physically. We got lots of gifts, very humbling to receive so many things especially when I know how much each one cost! Someone has already offered to buy our pack n play and I am going to return some duplicated items to get our swing. That only leaves my breast pump and lots of little things (crib sheets, mattress pads & covers, changing table pad, more diapers, etc.) We have been working on the nursery little by little for the past several months and we finished it up last night for the most part. We still have have to figure out the book shelf organization and some other minor things. We are not much into 'baby-ish' stuff (sorry if that's offensive to those of you who are) so we went with a look somewhat different. 
My little guy/girl was jumping all over today! Like really bouncing away! DH was in AWE. We got to hear the HB for the first time. I cried. It was the most beautiful sound. After the u/s tech was done the Dr came in to talk to us about the scans. He said they were absolutely perfect. They saw 4 chambers in the heart, a great umbilical cord flow, perfect brain forming and all of the insides are in place and in the right spot. They saw the nasal bone and said there was nothing to worry about at the back of the neck. He said it was all very normal and there were no markers he could see. I am over the moon happy. I keep crying because I was so scared and now I feel so much better. I so have to start sticking my finger for diabetes 4x a day. Only because I have PCOS and am taking metformin. They just want to keep an eye on me. So far so good though. SO....I just wanted to share that with you wonderful ladies. Love you all for your support. XOXO 
