Where's the Elf?

       This year we are starting a new Christmas tradition! We got an Elf on the Shelf last Christmas for a present, and now we can finally use it! We have seen it in 7 places so far, counting today. Day one: Elf on the Shelf was on the star of the Christmas tree with a note. It said, "Hi Burton Family!" Then after school we named the Elf. We named him Chip. After that we told him where to go. Day two: Chip took my sister's advice and was riding a decorative reindeer. That little rascal! Day three: My sister and I went looking every where and my brother didn't even bother to look. When I finally asked him if he would help, he said, "I already found Chip," Adeline (my sister) and I crowded around him, asking where it was. "It's in my room." Noah (my brother) responded. We ran over there and saw. Chip was hanging upside down from his bunk-bed! It was hilarious! Later on in the day, Chip fell. Poor elf! Day four: We looked every where and no sign of Chip. Finally we went downstairs to watch T.V. and Chip was in the Nativity! Day five: I go upstairs to look for Chip and he is hanging on Christmas lights that is luring him down the stairs. Later on in the day, my baby sister (Josie) drags up the lights and grabs him. She rushes to my dad to show her discovery. My dad said baby's don't count after that. Day six: We look for a while. Then I have to go to the bathroom. I find Chip sitting on the counter with a wash cloth draped on him like a towel. He is holding a tooth brush like it was a staff. Day seven (Today): I go upstairs and turn on the light. He is hanging on to a decorative ball. Chip is also looking down on us like a king looking down on his kingdom. I can't wait to see what Chip will do tomorrow! That was our fun Christmas tradition, so stay tuned for more Burton Holiday fun!

- Lauren Burton

Finding out!

On Tuesday, November 12 (which happens to be my birthday) I had an appointment with my midwife. I am 12 weeks pregnant and was really excited to hear the baby's heart beat. I visited and talked with my midwife for the first time and was really excited to meet her. I have decided to have a natural labor & delivery for this pregnancy. After visiting with her for a little bit and going over questions and concerns it was time to hear the baby's heart beat! I got up on the table and my midwife put the Doppler on my stomach. Within seconds we heard the heartbeat! The heartbeat sounded fast. It was healthy and perfect. After hearing the heartbeat my midwife wanted to check my uterus to see how big it felt. Immediately after checking my uterus she looked at me and said, "Are you sure your 12 weeks? It feels like you are 4 weeks further along. I want you to get an ultrasound as soon as possible so we can be sure. Getting an ultrasound early is more accurate." I was a little surprised and thought, there is now way that I'm 16 weeks, that is just crazy! So we made an appointment to get an ultrasound later that same day!

As I sat in the waiting room to get the ultrasound I was feeling anxious and excited. Excited about the fact of seeing the baby and anxious to see if there was a reason I was measuring larger, or if it was just a fluke. I went into the ultrasound room and lied down on the table. The ultrasound tech started. At first everything looked blurry. Then she said, "Alrighty....there.... are twins, so that's the reason you are measuring big" I was so happy, shocked, surprised, & excited! I couldn't believe it. I didn't think that I would ever have twins! I had been joking about having twins a little bit and had even told Chris the night before that I secretly hoped I was having twins because our youngest will almost be 5 when we have the baby. I really feel like this is a great blessing from God. This is God's way of giving me another baby without having to go through another pregnancy.

The babies were each measuring 12 weeks and 4 days. They are each in their own sac, but it looks like they are sharing a placenta. If they ARE sharing a placenta they are identical twins. But it could also be two placentas that were fused together. In that case, they are fraternal twins. So far as I've researched a little bit about twins this is what I've learned. Fraternal twins are hereditary and Identical twins are just by chance. Fraternal boy/girl twins are the most common type of twin followed by fraternal girls, then fraternal boys; then identical girls and the least common is identical boys. Identical twins can share the same sac, but it's better if they are in their own sac. Identical twins always share the same placenta. Which can be risky because sometimes one baby will get more fluids leaving the other baby deprived. Fraternal twins always have their own sac and their own placenta.

Because it looks like my babies are sharing the same placenta I have another ultrasound scheduled for next week. A specialist will then take a closer look at the babies and the placenta to make sure everything is looking good.

Moving or not Moving

We've had our house up for sale for the last 9 months and with no success with any offers we have decided to stay in our house for a little bit longer. We've "officially" taken our house off the market. Lauren and Adeline were really hoping to move into a house with a big backyard but we have now moved them into the basement and they love having there own space. We had Lauren, Adeline, and Noah sharing a room for 18months.

December 2007

Christmas 2007

Merry Christmas!! Lauren will be 3 in January and Adeline is now 7 months old. Adeline is rolling around like crazy and loves to suck her thumb. Lauren is really excited about Christmas and loves to sing all of the christmas songs, especially, Santa Clause is Comin' to Town.