When the students are gone...I do kinda miss them

It's Spring Break in Aggieland! The sun is shining, traffic is light, plenty of places to park, and the students are gone! This is my first Spring Break since living in College Station that I am actually here. Usually my colleagues and I are carting 60+ students to Europe. I was lucky to go to London twice and Paris once. We have been facing some cuts at TAMU and the trip was one of those cuts...at least for a minute. Turns out we received some funding and will be taking a group to Paris in May. I won't be a part of that trip sadly but I am sure these two little rugrats will be more fun and exciting than enjoying Paris in the Springtime.

Palace of Versailles, March 2009

However right now...campus is way too quiet. I like the break from students but it makes for some boring office time. I am getting caught up on some paperwork but really that can get old after a while. I love working with students. You never know what you are going to help a student through that day, what crazy questions you will answer, how students will make you laugh, and the nutty stories they share with you (whether you want them or not). I have been so lucky to work with so many fabulous students throughout my career and here at Texas A&M is not different but I can honestly say they have probably taught me the most.

It is a very diverse group of students so my "student lens" has changed a lot as I learn more about their lives, their success and hardships, and how hard students work to make it through a great deal of adversity. I particularly have loved learning about all the cultures! I have students from Mexico, Columbia, Guatemala, Chile, Venezuela, China, Vietnam, Nigeria, and the US just to name a few. A lot of my students speak English as their second or even third language. I am amazed at their success when in some cases they have only known English for 3-4 years. They are so smart!  So while I will enjoy them being gone for the week...I will be excited to have them back on Monday!

A few of the Cushing Group...some of them have been with me since they were freshmen!

And a few Gaines Mentors!

As a follow up to my last blog...I should mention that Dave does help with the dishes every night. I like to wash more than put away. Since I will be relying on him so much in the next few months, I am trying to do as much as I can. Believe me...his time will come!

Week 23

We went to the doctor last week and everything seems to be going great with me and the boys.  The boys are kicking and pulling but aren't super active which is nice just a reminder every now and then that they are there. They seem to be most active when Dave is not around which is not so much fun for him. One of them is VERY close to my bladder. Everytime I move I feel like I have to go to the bathroom. Twin A is head down and probably will stay that way, the other is still sideways. Other than getting tired really easy and a backache I am doing well! The big piece of great news was that the doctor was really optimistic about them making it until June! YEAH! I will be miserable but the longer they are in there the better. Cross your fingers!

I didn't think I had put on much weight before this appointment and I was right only about 4.5 pounds in the last month. Luckily the doc said it was fine just try to focus on gaining one pound a week and we will be in good shape. Not sure we are going to get to that 50 pound mark but we will see! I wish I had a few cravings to help that out but unfortunately not so much. Our doc took a measurement just for the fun of it and it looks like I am measuring at 30 weeks when we were only about 22 1/2 along. So...I am big as you can see. Hopefully they are too. They get another measuring ultrasound at the end of the month. And hopefully we will get that added confirmation that Twin B is a boy! I think it is but I would like one last reassurance since it was so difficult to see the first time and our most recent appointment. He just doesn't want to show his business!

Week 23

Since I am carrying around a beach ball I have realized a few things that are getting more difficult...

• Tying my shoes. I really need for the weather to warm up so I can begin to live in my flipflops.
• Washing dishes. I am short and my arms aren't long and my belly is right at sink level. Water everywhere. On me, on the floor, on the counter...everywhere.
• Reaching anything above the 2nd shelf in the kitchen. I couldn't reach much before but the added six inch difference to how close I can get to the cabinet makes everything a little more out of reach.
• Getting out of bed. One I am tried but two it is like trying to sit up with one of those medicine balls on your stomach.
• Stairs. I really don't take them. I now park on the side of the parking garage with the elevator. A little further walk but I would rather walk than climb stairs! 
• Honda Civic. Dave loves that car but it is getting a bit more challenging to get in and out of. But I am letting him enjoy it as long as he can since he won't have it for much longer. We will be trading in for something longer as he and the car seats don't currently fit in either car at the same time right now. Small problem.

So there is your baby update. We are still working on names and getting the nursery together. We have a long way to go! Perhaps the next post will be the before..since it only has a car seat and a dresser in it!

By the way my blogging week is from Wednesday to Wednesday for those of you who will hold me accountable to this goal!

Lent

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday which begins the Lent season. While I am not Catholic, Dave is so I usually try to do something or give up something. Afterall, it isn't a bad idea to sacrifice something or attempt to do something to not only better yourself but to also observe an important part of your faith, whatever that may be. 

So, Dave has decided to give up sweets. This is a big one for him because he has a major sweet tooth on the weekends and he usually has animal crackers during the week for dessert (I get out of making Monster Cookies for a little while longer!). Obviously I won't be doing anything having to do with food including no meat on Fridays this year.

we heart it

 I actually hope to have a little of this today! Sorry Dave!

I am going to do my best to blog 3 times a week. This will truly be a challenge as I am not a very good blogger but I think I can do it and perhaps gain a new habit out of it. I can't promise a ton of pictures and wonderfully written entries but I can guarantee typos and sentences that don't make any sense. I am going to blame those things on pregnancy--though it happens ALL THE TIME. I hope that I get better over the next few weeks but we will see! 

In the meantime if you have any vegetarian friendly lunches or dinners please pass them along! Otherwise Dave will be eating A LOT of peanut butter sandwiches for lunch! Anybody else doing anything for Lent?

Lately...

Things have been busy in the McIntosh house! Ok not really. Dave has been busy working on his dissertation and training for his next marathon while I haven't been doing much other than eating and sitting! But here is a quick run down of the latest news.

Dave, Brett, and Derek with their medals!

Dave, along with who I usually call "the idiots" Brett and Derek, completed the Houston Marathon a few weeks ago.  The weather was wet, humid and warm which is not ideal for a marathon but they did GREAT! Dave finished the course in 4:54:03. His goal was to finish and to finish under 5 hours was fantastic for a first marathon. They run their next marathon this weekend in Austin which looks like similar weather but a much harder course. Wish them luck! 

Note-they are not really idiots...they are all actually very smart...but they come up with some idiotic things to do.Complete an Ironman, run 2 marathons in 4 weeks...sane people don't do this. 

As many of you know, we learned that we are expecting twin boys! I will admit I wanted at least one girl but as I think about it, it will be so much fun to watch these two little men grow up. I am sure they will be the best of friends and I will be spending a lot of time at even more sporting events. They are looking healthy and right on track with their growth which is really all we could ask for! I am getting bigger and bigger and I am beginning to notice the extra 20 pounds! Here I am at 20 weeks...

Week 20

Well that is all for now so we will see you later...oh wait...someone wanted to say HI!

(I don't think I will put many of these up here but who could resist not sharing this!)

Double the Fun

It's been a while. I know so please don't hold it against me. Perhaps I will get a little better at blogging..at least for a few months. The big news we recently shared with family and friends is that Dave and I are expecting! Yeah! Not only are we expecting we are expecting twins! We found out in November we were expecting (excellent birthday present for me!) and then a few weeks later I saw two little heartbeats and the doctor gave us the news that we were expecting twins. My reaction? I laughed. What else can you do when you have equal amounts of excitement, joy and pure anxiety over how in the world we would manage two children at once! Dave unfortunately couldn't be with me that day due to a conference. The doctor and I both were a little disappointed we couldn't see his reaction because I am sure it would have been priceless.

As soon as I left the dr.'s office I texted Dave to say I was done and he should call ASAP. He did and I told him that he needed to come up with another nickname so that both of our children would feel included when their father was talking to them. He's reaction..."You're Kidding." and then silence. Yes for once I was able to make my husband speechless. Oh to have seen his face!! Then he started asking me all these questions that I really did not even think about when I was in the doctor's office...hello I was just told we were having twins and my brain wasn't working. But as we go to all the doctor's appointments he is slowly getting all his questions answered.

So now we are 4 months in and so far this has been a really easy pregnancy...knock on wood. I haven't had a bit of morning sickness but the Christmas holiday came at the best time because I think that was when I was most tired. I am getting bigger each day and am measuring about a month ahead of schedule which is typical of twins. I am not doing great on the weight gain but I feel like I am eating nonstop. Hopefully it will pick up this trimester. Our due date was July 5 but the doctor said we won't make that so as long as we make it to June the doc will be happy.
 
We will find out girls and boys in about two weeks so let the guessing begin! Here is a picture at 13 weeks and another at 16 weeks to help you in your guessing game.

14 weeks

 16 weeks

In other news, Dave is running a marathon next weekend. His first and I know he will do great. I really don't know where he finds the energy and motivation to train for these endurance sports but hopefully our children will get that from him!  My sister Abrah (along with Josh and Riley) welcomed their 2nd son this week. Myles Levi arrived on Jan. 19 and everyone is doing great. And another sister Chelsea along with Chris and Rease will welcome baby #2 in August! Crazy.

McLovin'

Handmade Banner...so cool!

Dave and I are rockstars. Well, at least we were for 4 days this summer. We had the great honor to serve as Fish Camp Namesakes for a group of 143 incoming freshmen but really we didn't do a thing other than show up! The work was all done by 24 energetic counselors and 2 amazing co-chairs. They have been working for the past 6 months to create an awesome experience for the McIntosh fish.

Kickball Victory during Work Day #1!

Dave and I got to give a speech at camp.  That was a highlight.  We talked about taking chances, stepping into discomfort, and making the most of your college years. One of the themes that we used during out speech was all things 1980's (rap, like Young MC and Digital Underground; the 1985 Chicago Bears; Michael Jackson, John Mellencamp, and Bob Knight), which was funny and sad for us because everything they knew about any of this stuff was from a book or movie.  They weren't alive in the 1980's... 

"M-C-I-N-T-O-S-H! McIntosh, McIntosh all over the place!"

Camp McIntosh 2010

Our fantastic co-chairs Missy & Mandi

YNWA: You'll Never Walk Alone

Our camp color was red which will explain the amount of red hair in some of the pictures. They did a bunch of skits that were pretty funny. My favorites were a group of lovely men displaying their dry land synchronized swimming skills, Chariots of Fire, and Dave showing some impressive dancing skills that I rarely have the pleasure seeing (while that wasn't a skit, that was some comedy). These are incredibly talented people! For 4 days we heard "McIntosh" chanted over and over. It was SO HOT (it is Texas in August) but so much fun!  We couldn't have asked for anything more! 

"Snapping necks and cashing checks, we're hard CORE, how do you like them apples, huhhh"

Thanks so much Mandi, Missy, Anthony, Austin, Ben, Beth, Byrd, Chase, Cristin, Daniel, Emily, Fairleigh, J-Dunc, Jordan, Kelsey, Kevin, Kylee, Meghan, Ross, Sara, Sean, Sisi, Tara, TMac, Trcka, and Will!

Happy Birthday Dave!

Today Dave is 35! It is hard to believe because he doesn't look a day over 30. I am very lucky and blessed to be married to such a wonderful person. There are many things I love and appreciate about him like....

He's determined & driven

Dave riding in the 2009 Silverman...112 miles! Some might call him crazy...

He is loyal and dedicated

Please take special note of the beltbuckle...that would be chocheeze (no idea how to spell that) ...proof it did travel with us on our honeymoon.

He is creative and funny

He always suprises me...this is my suprise honeymoon to MEXICO!

He's loving, caring, and cute!

Happy Birthday babe! I hope you have a great day! Love you!