December 30 Ultrasound Pictures of the Twins

We had our first trimester screen today and our results couldn't have been better! Everyone is healthy and growing right on track. There is virtually no risk of downs syndrome (thank goodness). This doctor (who is a maternal fetal specialist) thinks that our babies are fraternal twins. Let's check them out...

 

  

 

The Ultrasound Video

Final Weekly Ultrasound Update

This will be the last weekly update of the Twins. We don't have another scan until December 30th -- but I don't think we'll be getting any pictures to take home (although I'll ask). After that, our next scan is on January 16th. At that point, we should be able to tell the sex of the babies! Either way, I'll post an update and let you know.

The Twins

The twins are doing very well.  They are measuring at 10 weeks 1 day and 10 weeks 2 days.  They were moving and squirming around today -- apparently they either like or dislike orange juice.  So, without further ado...

 

  

 

Update on the Babies

Both babies are looking good.  Although it doesn't look like it from the first two pictures, the doctors seem to think that our babies are sharing one gestational sac.  That would mean that they are identical -- but we're not so sure about that!  You'll have to stay tuned for updates on the fraternal/identical front.  Last week we were told that there was a band going across Baby A's sac.  Today we learned that it's a placental band and since it isn't interfering with the baby, it shouldn't be a problem.

In the next couple of weeks, we'll be doing our first trimester screening for abnormalities.  Everything is looking good -- so we don't expect anything to change.  We'll post more pictures next Wednesday.

 

  

 

Ultrasound Pics from 11/26

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Sorry for the delay in posting these pictures.  The twins are finally starting to look like babies!  In the second picture, you can actually see arms and legs.

Ultrasound Update

 

  

 

Ultrasound Update

We have heartbeats!

This is Baby A


This is Baby B.

It's TWINS!!!

First Ultrasound Pictures

A little more inspiration from etsy artists

If you haven't discovered etsy, you MUST check it out! It's a place for artists to sell their handmade items -- from clothes to artwork. It's amazing.

Here are some of the items that inspired me today

Etsy Buy Handmade jillagro

Egg Inspiration

My first attempt at creating an inspiration board:

Hello? Is there anybody out there?

I've been thinking about revamping the blog a little. Rather than "sharing" items that I find interesting through the "what jill is reading" link on the left -- I am thinking about adding individual blog posts for each item...and maybe some commentary.

You know, some people get paid for blogging! Wouldn't it be great to spend all day online -- looking at fun things and writing about them?! Sounds like an ideal situation. The big BUT is that you have to be a good blogger and I won't really know if I'm good at it until I really give it a shot.

What do you think? Interested? Leave a comment!

Our Maybe Babies

Nina's Bachelorette Dinner

Here are some photos from Nina's bachelorette dinner last night.  What a great time!  It was such a pleasure getting to know Nina's amazing mom, aunts, future mother-in-law and friends!  Click here to see the rest of the pictures.

Pictures of Nina's shower are here.

My father-in-law's beautiful flickr! photostream

People have been requesting a link to Ange's flickr! account -- so here it is!  Great photos, Dad!

Facebook

So I'm finally going to venture into the world of Facebook -- if only to prevent one more person from saying, "Jill, you HAVE to be on Facebook." OK. I get it. I'm on. Now I have to figure out how to use it. Any suggestions?

Amazon.com makes changes to Wishlist

As I've mentioned before, the holiday season is coming! Please go to amazon.com and create a wishlist so that Joe and I know what to buy and you don't get something that you are forced to take back to the store. Amazon just updated their wishlist service, so even if the item you want isn't sold on amazon.com, you can still add it to you wishlist.

Go. NOW!!! Make your list!

Free Handbag Giveaway

It would just be wrong if I didn't tell you about this: http://www.handbagplanet.com. All you have to do is provide a name and your email address.

Vote for my cupcake!

Click here to vote for my cupcake in the Iron Cupcake: Earth competition! It's listed as "The Agros".

UPDATE: If you went to vote and couldn't find The Agros, don't worry! They are having issues with the ballot and my blog should be back up again shortly. Thanks for the support!!

Chara's Shower

Click here to see the pictures from Chara's bridal shower.

Kicked in the Pumpkin

Since I enjoy baking cupcakes so much, I decided that it was time to spread my wings and try something new. To give me a little push, I joined IRON CUPCAKE: EARTH, a global cupcake competition. This month, we had to invent a cupcake using chili pepper - not one of my favorite cupcake ingredients, but the idea is to be creative! My entry is a pumpkin spice cupcake topped with a mixture of white chocolate, coconut and sliced almonds. The recipe can be found below.

The Etsy artist providing the prize for this competition is Jesse Steele. And if you want to find out what Iron Cupcake is all about, visit No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner.

Cupcake Recipe:

1 16 oz. box Dassant Pumpkin Spice Bread and Muffin Mix
2 large eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup water
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chile

Topping

2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shredded coconut
1 tablespoon sliced almonds

Set oven to 350 degrees and prepare cupcake tins with 15 liners (you may get fewer cupcakes).

Separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until they beg for forgiveness. In a separate bowl, mix together the egg yolks, oil, water, pumpkin and chile. Fold the wet mixture into the egg whites. Stir in the boxed mix.

Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake for 18 minutes. Let cool.

While your cupcakes are cooling, put the white chocolate pieces in a glass bowl and put in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Mix until smooth. Add in the almonds and coconut. Stir. Let cool.

Spoon a teaspoon of topping onto each cupcake when they are cool (but before the chocolate topping has time to harden).

Time to Start Thinking About the Holidays

So, last year Joe and I made Amazon Wishlists and got everything we wanted for Christmas. Everyone said that it made shopping so easy. This year, I'll still have an Amazon Wishlist, but I'm also doing a list via The Things I Want.com - which allows you to add ANYTHING you see on the internet to a wishlist. I suggest you all make one so that you get what you want for Christmas, too.

If you look at the lefthand column of this blog, you will see a section entitled "The Things I Want". I've added both of my wishlists there - you can click on either one to buy me presents for the holidays.

If you decide to make a wishlist, please leave a comment on this blog so that I can find it!

Brandon's Trip to NJ (so far)

Click here to see pictures of Brandon's trip to NJ. These pictures are on Flickr and can be viewed and downloaded by anyone. If you want to subscribe to our Flickr page and receive updates when we add photos, click:

Subscribe to jillagro's photostream.

Please email me if you have any questions.

A Quick Word About Blogging

If you're reading this post, then you are aware that I blog - something that I usually feel compelled to apologize for (much like being a lawyer). What you may not realize is that YOU blog, as well (you're reading this, aren't you?)! To the non-blogging community, blogging is weird. Not true. Blogging is fun and easy and meant for everyone (even the tech-unsavvy). As proof, there are more than 100 million blogs on the internet! Click here for a full explaination of blogging.

As I've undoubtedly explained to many of you, blogging has enriched my life. I have interesting topics to discuss with friends and coworkers, and I am usually the first to hear about new developments or products in which I would be interested. Of course, one of my favorite aspects of blogging is finding sales and great gift ideas for the wonderful people in my life. Blogs, for the most part, are kept up-to-date, so I always have the most current knowledge of new products, sales and legal decisions (not as interesting, I know). The point is that since I talk about the things I read, people know that I am current on technology, local news and the law in Delaware, and they don't hesitate to ask me a question if one to which I might know the answer arises. It makes me feel connected.

Speaking of connected, many bloggers write about personal information or experiences. You never know where you'll find a new friend, or just someone to turn to when you need a good laugh (or cry).

All this being said, I was so excited yesterday when Joe unexpectedly asked if I could teach him how to blog (not to actually write a blog, mind you, but how to find one that he likes and subscribe). I immediately had him create an iGoogle homepage and sign up for Google Reader - I thought this might be a fluke, so I wanted to get him blogging ASAP! He quickly found some sites that he enjoyed and is now a confirmed blogger! I'm so proud of you, Honey!

This got me thinking - maybe some of you are ready to blog, but you don't know where or how to start. If you're interested, I'd be happy to help. I'll even go so far as to set up Google Reader for you and find a few blogs that you might like. Just say the word!

**If you care to see some of the things that I read, you can check out the link to the left "What Jill's Reading", or click on some of the links under the heading "Blogroll". A blogroll is simply a list of the blogs that I read everyday. Not all of the blogs I read are posted - but I might work on that in the near future.

Penelope at the Beach

IMG_0657
Originally uploaded by jillagro

Playing in the sand...

Scavenger Hunt 2008

As many of you will remember, we did a scavenger hunt several years ago (honestly, I can't remember if we did it once or twice). I thought this would be a great year to do it again. I have a preliminary list of items, photos, etc... that will need to be collected, but if you have suggestions, please "add a comment" to this post. The more bizarre, the better.

Before I make any concrete plans (dates, teams, whether to include food), I'd like to know:

1. who is interested;
2. a list of email addresses for people you would like to invite (no limitations); and
3. any dates for which you are unavailable.
   

Please email your responses to jillagro@comcast.net, or just leave a response in the comments section.

Wedding Pictures

Please click here to see photos from Nicki and Jason's wedding. The photos are on Flickr, so please feel free to leave comments!

It's probably best to view the SLIDE SHOW.

Stay Tuned

I'm in the process of uploading pictures from Nicki and Jason's wedding to a Flickr account. As soon as it's done, I'll post a link here.

Weekend in Sea Isle

When the unofficial start of summer finally rolls around each year, Joe and I always look forward to the reunion weekend in Sea Isle City, NJ. Our good friend Todd (pictured below in his very debonair suit) is always an incredibly gracious host - welcoming all of his high school friends (and their significant others) to spend the weekend at his beautiful beach-side home.

As always, we had a wonderful time! I laughed until I cried - several times. The weekend started out at Harrah's in Atlantic City. Todd gave us the grand tour of all of his projects going on in the Towers. Everything is coming along beautifully! We even stopped in to see Wayne Newton, but we were asked to leave because we were making Wayne nervous. Sorry, Wayne!! After our tour we went to The Pool - Harrah's newest and hottest night spot. It was amazing! From the gazebos to the glass ceiling, it was over the top! Todd's friend and co-worker, Ray, was kind enough to aid in the group's intoxication and provided us with some delicious beverages. Thank you, Ray!On Saturday morning, we all packed up and headed for the beach, only to be blown back to the house by storm clouds and wind. We decided that it would be just as nice to camp out in the back yard until the storm (or storms, as was the case) rolled through.After a relaxing afternoon, we thought that it would be wise to slow down the pace a bit more and drink our way through a long dinner at Andreas. Since it was BYOB, we did. By the time dinner was over, our bellies were full and our wine bottles were empty - but the fun was just beginning. After dinner we played games and laughed until it hurt! What a great weekend!
Jim and Chara arrived a little late, so they didn't get in the first picture. We'll Photoshop you in later, though!