News from Mary Tompkins

Okay, do we know the sex? I can't tell.

Not yet, but I do know they are the same sex and are most likely identical. You and Angela will no longer be the only twins (would have spelled Duetses, but I don't know how to spell it:).

Holy Cow! I totally missed that! I didn't know I was looking at two babies. For the record, it's Dootsies and please don't give your precious children that hideous nickname!

I was actually going for the shock value by posting the picture to see if anyone would pick up on it. Guess I ruined the mystery. Robbie got it right away. I've actually been enjoying the expression on people's faces when I show the picture without telling them what they are looking at.

You tipped your hand to me, Mary. Arrivals!

And I disagree with Christina. Doots and Dootsie were precious nicknames.

Congratulations! I'm so excited for you! I was hoping to have the next set of twins in the family. Your family must be thrilled. How did you and Eric respond? Did you already have a feeling that you were carrying more than one? How's your pregnancy going? Do they expect you to go full-term? Are you going to wait to find out the sex?

Mary and Eric - how very exciting! I always prayed with each of my pregnancies that I would have twins. Scott said that he always prayed harder that I wouldn't! Congratulations and BEST WISHES for a wonderful pregnancy!!

Oh, I saw two heads immediately and called Julia to view the twins. Congratulations. I used to want twins before Aaron was born. I was so disappointed when I was 4 months along and had an ultrasound that I was only having one baby. After he was born, I thanked my lucky stars that it was a single birth. I was easily overwhelmed in those first days/weeks/months. It helps to have been a Mom before having multiples, but not that much. Thank goodness you have that extended family. I was 13 when our Doots were born. I recall vividly how much fun that was. It takes a village is right. How very exciting.

This unexpected news brought tears to my eyes. I didn't have the luxory of knowing I was expecting twins. It was a total surprise to everyone, including my doctor. He was ready for a big boy, not two little girls. But it doesn't matter if you know now or know then, it is exciting and wonderful and a great blessing from above. Congratulations to you both.

Congrats Mary, Eric and big sister Murphy! I saw the two heads and made out the hands but I did have trouble with the 2nd picture. Help?

I hope you're doing well. I am so happy for all of you.

What exciting happy news! I'm sure you & Eric are thrilled. I hope that all goes well with your pregnancy and you are able to enjoy all that goes with it. Congrats! Carol

I was so relieved to hear it was twins. I kind of knew, so when the two heads popped into the picture, my Dr. looked at me and said, "you're awfully calm, did you know?". I said, I had a feeling because my stomach grew quite big in a short period of time. I can only imagine how much bigger I will get. I'm only 20 weeks now.

Eric and I are going to keep the mystery of what the sex is since my due date has been scheduled. There has to be a little last minute excitement upon their arrival. Unfortunately, I have to have another C-section, but I guess it's better to have it scheduled rather than worrying about the long drive from Chaska to our Minneapolis hospital during rush hour labor. Although, they could still surprise me, but I guess they are going to monitor me a little closer than if it were just one.

My family has pledged extra assistance. My mother plans to move in. Eric's only question was how long can she stay. He's still a little shell shocked. I just told him this reaffirms that he married well. Our big family hopes just got helped with this extra addition.

To answer Laura's question, the second picture of the ultrasound, I would have cut out if I had know how to in a PDF. It's nothing too exciting. It just shows the membrane between the babies, indicating identical twins. The Level 2 ultrasound that I will have to 2 weeks, will show everything much clearer. I'll have to close my eyes during the gender portin of the film :)

Again, Mary, that is so cool. And identical, how exciting! My sister and I do not know if we are identical. We assume we are because we looked so much alike and still do, however that is not a true technical indication. I wish we did know.

We recently discovered that she can roll her tongue and I cannot. "They" say that's genetic so if that's true then we do not have the same genetic make-up. Which would bring one to conclude that we are not identical. I don't know!!

You are very lucky to have so much help. I think my sister and I had bracelets with our names on them to help tell us apart when we were babies. You'll have to think about that if they're girls. Not sure what you'd do if they're boys.

I actually thought about how I would tell them apart. I like the bracelet idea. I'll have to keep that in mind. Couldn't I do that for boys too? Maybe little sterling bracelets with their names on them?

I had never thought of the genetics of it either. It'll be interesting finding out their differences and similarities. Have you and Angela ever thought of being part of some kind of twins testing? You do look so much alike, but there is enough of a difference in your face, that I can tell the difference. But after meeting you both at mine and Eric's wedding, and again when we visited New Orleans, Eric still couldn't tell you apart. Although, I think the rest of my family has that problem still and they've known you for years.

I'm not loving the bracelet idea for a boy. Maybe some kind of pin.

As for not telling us apart, my Dad's mother had trouble until the day she died telling us apart and she saw us much more regularly than anyone in your family.

Jacob has twin boys in his class who are identical and yet one is a little taller and they have other distinguishing marks, however it's keeping which one is which straight that's hard!!

There are so many cool bracelets out there that I think you could find a masculine looking one. Of course with all the bracelets for causes (like the Lance Armstrong one), you could have one made for boys. And, then you could identify them with a color too. I made a copy of your picture that I'll send to my mom. I saw two heads the first time I looked and thought hmmmm, glad I saw correctly. Caorl

Congratulations, Mary and Eric. I wondered if I had missed something because there was no writing to go with the pictures. I immediately thought that the first picture looked like twins. That is so much fun. I always wished for twins because I really do love the people and I REALLY DO HATE being pregnant!!! Two for the price of one really appeals to me. Actually, that appeals to me in adoption, too. That process was painful as well and I wish I had gotten two little people instead of just the one little Polly Do. It is so nice of your mama to help out like that. New babies, especially twins, are so exciting.

Mary,Eric and Murphy: Congratulations!!!! Hope you are still feeling well and have big, healthy babies. I,too, would want to keep the sex of the babies secret---it's much more exciting that way. Anne wants to know if you have names selected yet? Of course, now you have to have 2 for each sex selected--how fun! John kept hoping I'd have twins too but seemed satisfied with the ones he got. Take care and enjoy.

We had a hard enough time picking a name for Murphy, but when she came out, my Dad's nickname for me seemed to fit. I highly doubt I can use any of my father's other nicknames for me for them. They are quite hideous. I think my child would disown me if I named them Rusty Wilmar. But who knows, maybe Vera Claithorne will stick :)
We are accepting any and all suggestions of names, maybe I'll even give a prize to the person that chooses the best pairing of names. So far, Molly's suggestions of Rob and Roy aren't quite making the cut.

Are you looking for similar names, like names that start with a M, like Murphy's does? Because I know of a great name site, called www.behindthename.com. Here are some names that I like:

Meghan and Mckenzie
Max and Matthew
Mckayla and Melanie

Congradulations! How exciting, to have twins!