Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

The following post contains affiliate links for 3rd party products or services I feel may be helpful for readers. I may make a small commission if a purchase is made using one of these links.

Seriously, where was this product when I was carting around Peanut & Jelly Bean at Kroger's?

The Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock is the alternative way to cart your baby around without having to put the infant car seat into the shopping cart. Designed for babies who are not able to sit up on their own, this hammock snaps to the cart giving your baby a cozy cradle to rest in while you do the grocery shopping. Hammock is large enough to fit babies up to 50 lbs with the snap seat belt to keep them safely in place. It will fit on various kinds of shopping carts while leaving plenty of room underneath to put groceries. Item is available in 4 different prints.

Looking for other ideas? Check out How I Did It: Grocery Shopping with Twin Babies

The following post contains affiliate links for 3rd party products or services I feel may be helpful for readers. I may make a small commission if a purchase is made using one of these links.

A Dose of Sunshine

When my girls were in public school, they enjoyed having the occasional day off. The local school district has had several snow days this winter and my girls have asked if they can have the day off as well. While I enjoy a day off like anyone, I simply refused. I figure, if the weather is crummy and we cannot drive anywhere, why bother? Get that schoolwork done during the yucky days so we can take advantage of the warmer, spring weather to come.

And here we are!

Spring is right around the corner and the weather in my area is finally starting to perk up. Actually so am I. I love when the temperature begins to rise, the green outdoors begins to grow, and the sun is out. There is nothing like a dose of sunshine to really perk up the mood.

Winter time is a difficult for many people. Some simply have the "winter blues" while others have depression like Seasonal Affective Disorder. Just going through the normal motions of life and all that is required to get through a day is tough. Throw in homeschooling and it may seem like we bit off way more than we can chew.

This is my second year homeschooling and I have experienced these winter feelings myself. From feeling overwhelmed to straight on anxiety, it is usually about this time in the year that I am questioning what on earth am I doing. The girls also have their days when they are just not into their schoolwork and it is pulling teeth to get anything productive from them during the winter season.

Often, I start questioning whether I am doing this whole homeschooling thing correctly. I can jump into a panic reconsidering all of my curriculum choices, even if they are working well or not.

Certainly, there has to be something better than what we are using?

What if they are not doing enough?

Why can I not inspire them to go beyond what is assigned each day? Can't they take the initiative?

Maybe I wasn't meant to be a homeschool mom...

After I have my winter panic attack, I have found the oddest thing happen: spring comes and everyone gets back into their groove. I see progress. I see enthusiasm. We go out and enjoy those nicer days. There is more lively initiative to finish the year out.

I am learning that homeschool is not simply doing school at home. This is truly a lifestyle. We will have good days and not-so-good days. The point is that they are learning even when we cannot see it. It just takes time to see them bloom.  

Who Blazed the Wilderness Trail?

“Who blazed the Wilderness Trail?”

Sitting in my usual place at the kitchen table, I quietly sat with the textbook in hand and my head turning from one child to the other. Peanut sat chewing on the end of her pen, halfway sitting on the chair. Her mind looked like it was anywhere, but on pioneers heading to Kentucky. Jelly Bean, though focused, was putting all her efforts into drawing a picture on the back of her math worksheet. She proudly held it up one hand revealing a drawing of her holding a can of Sprite. My eyes scanned over to her other hand which held up the actual can.

“Nobody remembers? We talked about him at the beginning of the week!” My grumpiness was evident in response to the lack of participation. I was also not hiding a pounding headache very well. Maybe, I thought, if I didn’t think I was talking to just myself, I wouldn’t get a headache as often.

Jelly Bean pops up and yells out, “Johnny?” Immediately, Peanut decides to reinforce this answer with an echo of the same name.

“Don’t you remember?” As I summarized key facts about the pioneer in question, my mind began to wander. The word pioneer has been a part of my own understanding since I was a little girl. Studying early American History is typical in education. Early settlers who left the familiarity of their old home in search for new opportunities, freedoms, and prospects are the reason we even have this great country.

People who “risked it all” for a better way of life. People who had to literally start over from scratch with only the things they could handle during the move. Some arrived by large ships like the Mayflower. Others walked on foot or by horse as they traveled westward. As time went on, other modes of transportation would get people from one point to the other, but the result was always the same. These people went from point A to point B and started over.

We are getting ready to start over.

Soon we will pack up what little possessions we have left and we will travel across the border westward. We will blaze a new trail. Leaving everyone we know and love, we will venture out into the great unknown. Not knowing a soul, we will have to make our way to creating a new home. We will have to stretch out of our comfort zones and meet people.

Certainly the early pioneers faced many challenges. Our modern day challenges will pale in comparison. Yet, I sat there wishing that I could feel just a small measure of the bravery they had when they set out on their journey.

Suddenly, Peanut blurts out, “Daniel Boone!” She begins to chatter about the cool story we had learned about him tricking Indians who were trying to attack him.

My focus shifts back to our lesson as I scan over the questions and I stop at one that perks my interest.

“Okay, what would a man need to have in order to survive in the wilderness?” I secretly was waiting for smart alec answers like Doritos, chewing gum, or the iPad.

But instead my girls surprised me.

“An ax.”

“A gun.”

“A knife.”

“Food. Things to cook with.”

I nodded my approval and replied that these were all good things for them to have. Having all of these items would make it easier to eat, stay safe, and to set up a camp. I imagine that I would want all these things, too, if it were me.

Still the idea of packing up and leaving, unaware of what dangers lurk around, as well as what would be found upon arrival still baffled me. How could anyone just do that? Their way was so hard. How did they have the faith to just…go?

Later as I was settling into my evening after a busy day, I looked at my girls playing with each other. Everyone seemed at peace. As much time as we all spend together, being together is what we like best. A hopeful reply to my earlier answer settled in my mind. Family. That is why they could go. Often times, they went together.

A home isn’t a certain building on a certain street in a certain city of a certain state. Home is where your people are at. A family makes a home.

How can I have the faith to just…go? I can because as long as I have my husband and my daughters, I will always be at home no matter where the trail takes us.

Why Do You Homeschool?

For years, I pondered the idea of homeschooling my daughters. After all, I knew several friends who were homeschooling their children and they were doing it well. When I first started talking about it with my husband, my daughters were only three years old. We still had a couple years before we really needed to worry about it, but at the time we both agreed that we didn't have what it would take to homeschool our kids.

In our minds, homeschooling families were on-the-go, active, engaged families who went on field trips every day and were involved in everything. Surely in order to be successful at homeschooling, children need to be "socialized" and in order to do that, it takes an active family that purposefully initiates contact with the outside world on a regular, daily basis.

If the kids were not going to go to school Monday through Friday where they can be "properly" socialized, it would be up to us to ensure they receive these vital life lessons. There was just one problem with this. We are not what you call social people to be begin with.

We are introverts.

So, how could we responsibly give our children a well rounded educational experience when we were not the go-getting type of parents who would willingly and joyfully sign their kids up for every sport, activity, and hobby under the sun? These parents schedule back-to-back commitments with a smile and eagerness. Not only would they do that, they would be the coach, the parent volunteer, coordinate the ice cream social, and still have time to put a five course dinner on the table.

This idea scared me.

As I considered every excuse as to why I didn't qualify for being an adequate teacher for my children, I was reminded of these truths:

1. I loved my children more than anyone else in the world.

2. I cared about my children's education and their future more than anyone else in the world.

3. I would do whatever it took to ensure they received what they needed to develop in all aspects of their life in a way that was fitting for our family.

4. What they learned was important to me and ensuring that was founded on biblical truth.

5. Letting them explore who they were and letting education come naturally was important.

When I consider the truths listed above, it reminds me why I am homeschooling my children. And it is exciting to see how my kiddos have blossomed into more confident social creatures outside of the brick and mortar school. They are learning to engage people of all ages, to be kind to those younger than they, and find humility when they are not treated kindly back by those who have embraced the age/social pecking order of the public school world.

I am also learning the balance of homeschooling my children and not getting caught up in the doing-it-all mentality. Taking care of myself is a vital part of maintaining order in the household. While I am not always perfectly in line with my energy levels as an introvert and our daily workload, I remind myself why we are doing what we are doing. All I have to do is remember, and the idea of homeschooling doesn't scare me anymore.

Twinmama Tip of the Day 11/19/12

If you can't find your cup of coffee, check the microwave. You mostly likely left it in there after you warmed it up for the seventh time.

Why can't I get  through one cup of coffee without having to do something for somebody around here?

How I Did It: Grocery Shopping With Twin Babies

The following post contains affiliate links for 3rd party products or services I feel may be helpful for readers. I may make a small commission if a purchase is made using one of these links.

Five years ago when I brought my two little bundles home from the hospital, survival was key. My husband cooked a lot, did a lot of the grocery shopping, and if I needed something he would swing by the store after work.

One day it occurred to me that I would eventually need to leave the house by myself with the girls. I know there are some twinmamas out there that busted out of the house the first chance they got with their little two-pack, but not me. I was scared out of my mind about taking two little ones out on my own.

I finally got the courage to step out into the sunlight with Peanut and Jelly Bean when I had to go to the store and no one could help me. They were still little babies and I was still toting them around in their infant car seats. Unable to hold up their heads much less the rest of their bodies, putting them in the front part of a shopping cart wasn't going to happen.

In a frantic search for motherly twin wisdom, I searched the internet for ideas on how to do this and not look like a complete crazy woman. Here are some ideas on how to keep your twins in tow while you grocery shop:

Take your double stroller: Use your stroller to push the babies while you hold one of the small shopping baskets for small trips. For large trips, drag a shopping cart  behind you while you push the stroller. (Drag by holding from the front of the cart so you have control as the wheels swivel.) A rolling shopping tote pulled behind you like the Olympia Rolling Printed Shopper Tote is a great option for those medium sized trips to the store.

Use two carts: Put one infant car seat in each shopping cart. Please note that I didn't say to put them on the top part of the child seat section of the shopping cart. Car seats and shopping carts are not designed to work together. Put them inside the cart. Yes, this takes up a good portion of the cart. Deal with it. Baby's safety is more important. Pull on cart behind you by the front of the cart while you push the other cart.

Carry one or both babies: Utilize the help of an infant carrier like the Infantino Sash Mei Tai Carrier so you can wear one baby while you keep the other in the shopping cart. Use one cart for small trips (since the shopping cart portion is full with the other infant carrier) or drag a second cart to fill up. Rather carry both babies? The Stuff 4 Multiples TwinTrexx Twin Baby Carrier is a great way to hold both of your babies and relieve your arms.

Team up with your partner: If going solo isn't for you yet, why not split up the grocery shopping duties with your spouse or partner? Head to the store with two shopping lists, separate with your assigned baby, and agree to meet back at a certain place when finished. Shopping gets done faster and you only have one wee tot to worry about.

Go solo: Hey, who says you have to take the kids? Have your spouse or a trusted babysitter watch the little angels and enjoy a peaceful hour or two by yourself. (Take your time for crying out loud!)

However you decide to do your grocery shopping, you cannot go wrong as long as your little ones are safe and secure.

This post contains affiliate links for 3rd party products or services I feel may be helpful for readers. I may make a small commission if a purchase is made using one of these links.

Where Does the Day Go?

I am very ambitious. I can set out each morning with a list in hand ready to scratch everything off of it. I imagine that I can get a ton of work done for my job, I can entertain and stimulate the children with activities and meaningful memories that will last them a lifetime, and I can accomplish all the housework and errands that need to be done.

What? Isn't there 40 hours in a day? That's okay, I just need six more hours. That should do it.

Seriously, folks, I cannot begin to tell you where the day goes. I sit down to work in the mornings while the girls play and the baby naps. Check. When my work hours are over, I prepare lunch for everyone. Check.

Suddenly, the rest of the afternoon is a blur. I might actually black out. I am not sure.

From the hours of 1pm to 5pm, I literally think my life is like that movie, Click, starring Adam Sandler. Someone has a remote control of my life and they hit fast forward every afternoon.

By the time my husband comes home from work, there is still laundry to fold, dinner is still not ready, and that list sits with only a few scratches to show for. (Luckily he doesn't judge as he has recognized that going to work is far easier than wrangling three little girls all day.)

I need a new strategy, but I am afraid to say that I don't have time to figure one out.

Please, somebody remove the batteries from the remote!

The 2 Month Check Up

In April, we welcomed Bitsy into the family. She was born weighing 8 lbs and 6 oz and was 21 inches long. In contrast, Peanut and Jelly Bean were both around 19 inches long and were a little over 4 lbs each.(They were born six weeks early. Bitsy was born two days after her due date.) In fact, if you added up their weight it totaled 8 lbs and 7 oz. Apparently this is about all I can carry until it is time for delivery.

Having a full term baby versus preemies has certainly been eye opening for me. Things that I remember the twins could not do, Bitsy is sailing through at such a young age. Right from the moment she was born, she was alert. Preemies are often not alert at all and mine were no exception. They normally seemed sleepy and grimaced a lot which is common in premature babies.

Trying to get them to eat was challenging, too. They would often fall asleep during a feeding and I would have to wake them up or patiently wait for them to stir. Feedings could take a very long time. Bitsy, on the other hand, is very eager to eat and has a regular schedule. She takes her time eating like her sisters, but after feeding preemies it really doesn't bother me to wait for her to slowly drink her bottle like it is a fine wine.

The one milestone though that has made all the difference this time around was sleeping through the night. From the first night, Bitsy only woke up once to eat. By five weeks, she has been sleeping through the night. This is such an amazing gift especially after the sleepless nights with twin babies!

Yesterday was Bitsy's 2 month appointment and the dreaded series of shots that I worried would render the day useless with a very upset little baby. Although she received five shots and another medication squirted in her mouth, after the initial wailing she calmed down and was actually fine. The doctor also asked me questions to see if she has hit some basic 2 month baby milestones. Some examples are:

- Is she sleeping through the night?
- Does she lock into people, particularly mom?
- Does she hold on to my finger?
- Does she smile?

It was amazing to be able to answer "yes" to every question. And I look forward to the future milestones she will accomplish. Full term babies definitely have an easier time in general (granted they are healthy) than premature babies. However, it is important to note that even though preemies can be behind in their development out of the gate, it is equally as amazing to see that both preemies and full termers seem to finish the same by around age two. To look at Peanut and Jelly Bean now at the age of five, it is hard to believe they were ever that little and are happy, healthy, and smart girls.    

Testing the Kindergarten Waters

Peanut and Jelly Bean have spent two years in our church's preschool program. It was a wonderful experience for them. I have stayed home with them since they were babies so they desperately needed some socialization. Within the first year the girls were out of their shells mostly and making friends.

Preschool taught them many lessons like how to behave in a group setting, listening to other adults, social skills, utilizing school supplies, faith based lessons, and Kindergarten readiness.

Recently, I registered them for Kindergarten and scheduled their assessments. Trying to explain to them what an assessment was proved to be a little interesting. I told them it was like a test. This would have been a fine answer if they knew what a test was. So, I explained that the teacher is going to ask them questions to see what they know.

Today I decided that I would show them what a test was all about. I wanted to make sure they could write all their lowercase letters since I noticed there were some they both still struggled to remember. I created two separate tests. Each test had 10 uppercase letters with a space next to each where they needed to write in the lowercase letter.

The girl's reaction to the test they were given was as unique as the girls themselves.

Peanut immediately sat down happily filling in an answer on every blank. A couple of times she tried to get my help and I had to explain that it was a test and I couldn't help her. She flew through the test and presented it to me. She got 6 out of 10 correct. I showed her how to write the ones she missed and had her sit down and practice them.

Jelly Bean sat quietly working on her test. She took her time...a long time. I patiently waited. Suddenly, she jumped up and ran off to her room. I followed her and found her freaking out over it. She looked at me and cried out, "I don't remember how to do a g!" Her very first test ever and the girl was STRESSED. So, I had to convince her to finish it doing her best. She finally agreed and got 8 out of 10 correct.

They both worked on their missed letters.

Peanut wrote out each one and they were done correctly. She did each one once and was ready to play.

Jelly Bean wrote out her missed lowercase letters along with her uppercase letters and then added for good measure all numbers 1-10. I never told her about extra credit, but I think she was trying to earn some. I think I found the overachiever in the family. Please, nobody tell her about grading on a curve!

I didn't realize today that my little test would show me way more than just lowercase letters.

How I Have Missed Thee

We're coming back! After a very long time away, I have decided to resurrect this very website. For real this time! There is so much to tell and a lot to share that I have learned. Most importantly though if I don't have a creative space to unleash my happiness and hardships then I am going to burst!

Here is a quick summary of what we have been up to in Twinland:

• Peanut and Jelly Bean are five years old and are starting Kindergarten in August.

• In April, we had a new addition - a SINGLETON! Our new baby girl will be called Bitsy on the site. (If you are keeping track that makes three girls.) Big sisters are thrilled to have their new baby sister.

• Twindada started a new job last summer that has been an absolute blessing. After several turbulent years, things seem to be smoothing out.

• I have been a stay at home mom for five years and a WAHM (work at home mom) for 3 1/2 years. I love being a mommy and having a fun job that helps contribute to the family budget. 

•  Our dog, Blayney is almost eleven years old and has become a closer part of our family over the past year since the passing of our other dog, Sydney. Blayney is great with the girls and they love her.

What I would like to write about:

• Peanut, Jelly Bean, and Bitsy of course! (They are saying some seriously funny stuff these days.) 

• Raising twins, baby care, parenting info

• Bitsy - The differences in bringing up twins versus bringing up a singleton. 

• Things I love - products, websites, places.

• Deals, free samples, coupon codes, etc.

 So stay tuned!

Back to Preschool

Peanut & Jelly Bean headed back to preschool today. They were off for two weeks during the Christmas break. There were some mixed emotions about going back, but once they walked into their classroom they were just fine.

I knew it was time for them to get back to their routine. While we planned several fun outings for them and enjoyed the time visiting family and friends during the holidays, they needed to hang out with their pals.

They really do love school. I am very happy with the preschool, teachers, and administrative staff where they go. It really is a great place and we are lucky to be there.

The girls have learned to pray before their meals and Jelly Bean insists on praying before dinner. I am glad for this. We should be doing it anyway and now the girls are reminding us so that we properly thank God for our meals.

Their preschool is held at our church, so the transition in the Fall into preschool was quite easy. They already attended Sunday School, so heading there during the week was easy for them.

Starting this month, they will also attend Wednesday night service where they will participate in the AWANA program. It is new to our church and it should be a great time for them filled with God's word and fellowship.

Twindada and I will also take a class at the same time as their class on Wednesday nights. I am hoping the time together will bring us even closer this year as we prepare for what the Lord has in store for us.

Coming Back

After over a year off, I have decided to resurrect Bringing Up Twins. There are so many things going on in the world of raising twins, that I want to share what is going on in our lives. In addition, I have found there is a whole world of interesting products, good deals, coupons, and other ways we can save a few bucks. The cyber world can benefit all of us trying to take care of our families.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's. Look for Bringing Up Twins to come back in 2011. Stay tuned. :)

New website announcement!!!

I no longer maintain Bringing Up Twins (dot) com. Please find current blog posts at this address.

Perspective

Since I went off to college, I have been trying to escape. I didn't want to live in my hometown forever. I wanted to see more. I wanted to do more. I wanted to explore and spread my wings. So, I decided that going away to college was for me the day of my Dad's funeral. I knew my life had to change and this was the direction that seemed right to me. I then set out to find a way to make this a reality though the odds were not in my favor. No one had gone away to school in my family and I was looked at in disbelief when I announced this was my plan.

I went away to college for the entire freshman year and had fun, shed tears and changed in some ways and possibly digressed in other ways. No one can prepare someone for the challenges of being a college student out on their own. One just has to experience it. I had to grab the bull by the horns and just do it. Some people thrive at it and find this is the way for them. I wanted to be one of these people. Desperately. However, what I didn't expect was to deal with the crushing blow of grief that I had put off for the year and a half since my Dad had died. I squashed those feelings of hurt, loss and bewilderment that one of the people who created me was gone out of my life forever. I did this by being someone that I think both the Lord and me know was not who I should have been and not who I was created to be.

After one year, I retreated back home. I found comfort in being back home around family and old friends. I enjoyed the ability to have a decent job that I didn't have to compete with hundreds of other students to get. Living at home afforded me the ability to have things that poor college students usually couldn't have. I was home. This felt right. Though I was still trying to escape.

So, I partied. Yep, this twinmama enjoyed herself one too many times at the lounge...Okay, we didn't call it the lounge, but you know what I mean. I am sure there were many people in my life that looked at ME in bewilderment thinking, "What are you doing??" I should have been one of them, but I was still numb.

At some point, I picked myself up and decided this wasn't the life for me anymore. I thought returning to college was the best thing for me. This time I would really grab the bull by the horns and get everything out of the college experience. This time was for me! So, I returned to college the following year and spent another year and a half there feeling even more aimless. I had no purpose being there. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn't enjoy what I was learning. I had very few friends who all had their own lives going on. So, I worked. And worked. And worked. This did not fulfill me. It made me even more resentful.

Finally, I decided to leave, but in the midst of making this decision found myself in a relationship with someone from my past that I thought would make me happy. Sometimes we cannot be the person we used to be. I was at this point and realized that I had changed forever. This did not last.

So, I was back home and finished my degree at a local school. I worked while in college and that is where I met twindada. From the moment he asked me out, we have been inseparable ever since. This is hard to believe since we have been together for nine years and married for seven! Being with twindada was the first time that I felt home. I finally found what I was looking for in the midst of chaos and heartache. My world had spun out of control after my father died and for the first time, I found balance again.

At our wedding, we set out a bouquet of flowers for my Dad. I know he was there. Yet, I couldn't find sadness that day. It wasn't because I didn't miss my Dad walking me down the aisle or a father/daughter dance. (I can't stay in the room during this dance at anyone's wedding, it crushes me. What am I going to do when Peanut & Jelly Bean dance with twindada one day??) It was because that day I created a family with twindada and I felt a sense of peace that I had been looking for for years.

It's strange to think about my college years. Twindada and I went to the same college and even lived a street apart one year and yet we met 3 hours away at job. We could have passed each other on the street at any given moment. I could have brushed arms at a club with the father of my children.

Yet it took me going home to find him.

So, maybe that is the key. Home isn't so bad. Home isn't always a place. It is much more than that. I tried to escape my home yet I think that even though I have changed, I have found comfort in the familiarities of my upbringing. I have dear high school friends who I miss and some I am just reuniting with thanks to Facebook. I am not the same person. Never will be, but that is okay. I am a better version of myself because there is one other thing that I haven't mentioned.

I came back to Christ.

When Dad died, I ran like lightning away from God. I still had a reasonable fear of Him, but I was sooo angry. I put up my fist and let Him know this girl was carving her own path. Bad idea. You can see where that got me.

Twindada and I had a spiritual journey (that we are still on!) that changed the course of our lives forever. I believe this is the sole reason I was meant to marry him. I could have made many other choices in my life, but none of those would have glorified God. Him and I were meant to see the love, mercy and grace that the Lord provides. We have seen it every year that we have been together and this year is not any different.

2009 has been one of the most challenging years of our lives together yet we both have felt grateful for the outcome. Neither of us wanted to see twindada lose his job or for us to make the decision to put our house on the market. Stressful things have been happening and it has taken a toll on us! However, every time something challenging happens, it has given us the opportunity to ask the question, "Lord, what do you want to teach us with this adversity in our lives?" God is looking to shape our hearts and I think we are being molded with every challenge.

As I mentioned, we put our house on the market. We JUST moved in a year ago. We are very sad because it is a great house with lots of potential, some we have already taken advantage of with its hardwood floors and beautiful sunroom. Love the sunroom...I digress...

We have made another decision and that is to move back to my hometown. I pray this is the right decision for our family. I am excited about doing this and think the girls will benefit greatly for being closer to my mom. They LOVE their grandma and ask to see her all the time. Being able to see her regularly would be a treat for them. Having my Mom nearby would be a helpful for me as she is my biggest support system besides my husband.

Twindada was able to find a job closer to my Mom's home therefore this is a wise decision for everyone. I pray he is able to find peace in this decision since this is not where he is from. (We are currently living in his home town. It will be a switch for us.) I want everyone to be happy because my family is my first "home". Going back to my "hometown" is a bonus.

I pray we are able to sell our house quickly and move on with our lives. I pray we can find something in my hometown that will be suitable for us while we look for our permanent home. I pray that as we find our next home, we can find comfort in God's loving presence, our real home.

Sometimes writing it all out brings perspective. You know, maybe I will have come full circle in my journey to escape. That is okay. Is it that I am running back to my roots for comfort? Am I bailing on my hellbent attitude of going out on my own and never looking back? Maybe to some, but not to this twinmama. Check out my name. I am a twinmama now. It isn't about me, it is about my family. And my family is my home....are you with me?

Are You Going to Have Anymore?

Recently, I have been asked the question, "Are you going to have anymore children?" It seems lately this has been asked of me more and more. I guess since the girls are almost three years old it is a good time for us to be thinking about it. Or at least everyone else thinks so.

I have several friends and family members who are having #3. This is the most children anyone in my life have. Three is a good number although I suspect several of my friends may go for more children. They are good, patient parents and if God blesses it, I am sure they will happily make room for more.

I grew up with two old brothers so I came from a family of three children. Three makes sense to me. Twindada grew up with one older brother, so two's company for him. Before our girls were born, we joked about how many we would have. When we were trying to get pregnant, we wanted a big family. Our version of big was possibly five kiddos. When we were finally carrying the twins, we joked that we would just get pregnant with another set of twins and have four kids. Once the girls were born, we said we would prefer NOT to have another set of twins and who knows what the future brings. (Translation: We were shell shocked and why in the world would we want to do this all over again? Fertility treatment, roller coaster pregnancy, hospitalization, bed rest, NICU time, first three months, next 9 months, next 1 1/2 years....)

Crazy!!

They are so much hard work! They take over your world! They are the reason I toss and turn, worrying about them, praying for them and obsessing over their well being! They have multiplied the number of gray hairs on my head by 50! They want me to pull my hair out!!

Guess what? I love it.

Guess what? I couldn't imagine it any other way.

Guess what? Maybe there is room for more.

Now, I am not making any announcements. Our world has been turned upside down this year with the loss of a job and other challenges. This is certainly not the right time for us, but maybe, just maybe that one day God will bless us with more.

I am over thinking about how hard the beginning was because frankly all that hard work is so worth it. When my girls smiled at me for the first time, it was amazing. When my girls started saying "Dada" it warmed my heart. When the girls started walking, I was proud (and scared).

Now the girls are absorbing everything. They are singing, playing pretend instruments, learning, wanting to do things for themselves. I am in awe how my 2 little preemies have turned into 2 amazing little independent girls who are happy and have a love of all things they come into contact with everyday.

When I eavesdrop on them having a conversation with each other, it is so sweet. I love to hear them giggling with each other and I love when they melt in my arms. I love how they want to do everything by themselves, "I want to do it myself!" and when they need me, they come sweetly saying, "Mommy, do it..."

All of this reminds me how wonderful it is to be a mother. And when I think about my beautiful little girls, I know that if God gave me enough love for two babies in a single moment, there may just be enough room for more.

Only time will tell.

Is It Really Double?

I heard a lot when I was carrying twins that we were in for twice the work - twice the diapers, twice the bottles, twice the baths...well, twice the everything. People would say, "It is like having one baby, but double the work." This seemed logical to me because I was carrying two children and that made perfect sense.

Then I gave birth to twins and brought them home from the hospital.

It was during those first three months that I decided that all of these people had no idea what they were talking about. All those people who appropriately spaced out their children so they were able to enjoy each of them individually. Yeah, those people, you know who you are...:)

I remember the first three months were filled with various emotions. I was thrilled that both Peanut & Jelly Bean were healthy and doing great. That was the blessing. I was thrilled because I was the mother of two beautiful little girls which was a huge surprise the day they were born. I was thrilled because my dream of being a mother had finally come true and that God blessed my prayers. No complaints from this twinmama, I am blessed! However, the first three months were also the roughest three months of my life. I was sleep deprived beyond imagine. I was overwhelmed beyond imagine. I was hormonal beyond imagine. I was confused...well, beyond imagine.

The work involved with caring for twin infants is well beyond double the work. Yes, there are double the diapers, bottles and clothing, but it is more than that. No one speaks about the "third" child known as "inconvenience, logistical nightmare and do-overs". Let me explain...

I remember watching my friends who could easily transport their sweet little mobile baby wherever they went. Want to go to the store? No problem! Grab the baby and pack the diaper bag and off you go! Want ME, a mother of twins, to go to the store? Okay, let me grab both babies, hold on, they are getting heavy in their car seats and the diaper bag is crammed full, you know, at least 2 sets of clothes, diapers, 2 sippy cups...wait a minute, I can't carry both car seats and the diaper bag to the car, so I need to take each one to the door and then come back and oh no, Peanut just spit up on her outfit...wait a minute, let me change her, but wait Jelly Bean is already in the car. So I go back and get Jelly Bean because I am paranoid and don't want her alone for more than a minute and then I finally change Peanut and go to put her in the car, but wait! Jelly Bean just pooped in her diaper. Crap. Yeah, that's what's in there alright. Go back for Peanut to bring her back in the house. Change Jelly Bean. I am really tired now. You know, sleep deprivation, right? FORGET IT!! I will just call twindada and have him pick up a pizza for dinner...

It's is more than double the work. It takes some time to figure out how to manage all of the demands, the logistics and emotions that make up the twin life. Each new stage presents new challenges, but it is also amazing how twin parents (and other multiple parents) are able to overcome each hurdle. I figured out how to plan my time better. I learned to not sweat the spit ups and unexpected diaper changes. I learned to recognize that this is hard work and that it is okay to ask for help. I learned that "this too shall pass" and once it is over, I will miss it. And even as hard as those first three months were, I would love to hold my 4 lb twin preemies one more time.

Potty Training Lessons This Mama Has Learned the Hard Way

We have been attempting to potty train for the past few months. I say "attempting" because some weeks I am ready to give it a go while other weeks I cower in the corner rocking back and forth. Two little girls are in charge of our financial, mental, physical and emotional well being. This twinfamily needs to free up some funds, know what I am saying? Time for two little bottoms to air out and proclaim "big girl status"! Time for this twinmama to get a break once in a while instead of being up to my elbows in dirty diapers! Time for our trash to only need emptied a couple times a week instead of everyday! Yet every time there is a massive puddle on the floor or I am dodging turds right and left on the carpet, I immediately retreat.

Danger! Danger! Toxic materials! Call in the HazMat team! We have a CODE RED, people!

And I think these brilliant little girls know that they hold the cards. They know they control how long this is going to go on. They know they have us by our throats and won't let go until we cry uncle.

I will win. I must win. They are very smart...good gene pool, what can I say? Heh, heh...But there is one thing they don't have...

GOOGLE! Yep, I am going to shameless scour the Internet for every single tidbit, advice and downright evil tactic to get these little girls to go running for the potty. I will keep you posted.

So, while I think of new ways to beat them at their own game, here are my lessons learned. (Notice I said, MY lessons learned. The girls' list would be much shorter.)

1. Never assume because you have done everything at the same time since your twins were born that this time will be the same. Peanut is interested in potty training. Jelly Bean is absolutely not.

2. Never send your child to time out when they are only wearing panties and are potty training. They have a secret weapon and they will use it. And you will spend more time cleaning up the mess than they did in time out.

3. Never assume that all "currency" works the same for all children. Some may like stickers, some may like M&M's.

4. Never assume that "currency" will keep its value indefinitely. Peanut has bored of stickers, so we switched to M&M's. I fear that she is boring of these, too...

5. Never switch to training pants such as Huggies Pull Ups if they are waaay cuter than their other diapers. Pretty pink Pull Ups with princesses on them will not make them want to wear panties any time soon. They will happily go pee and poo in these pretty training pants. No, they don't care about the blasted hearts or butterflies that disappear. They are smart enough to know when this happens, mommy is going to put a new Pull Up on them. Poof! There are more butterflies and hearts!

6. Never assume once your child tells you that she has to go potty for an entire day that she will keep this up.

7. Never assume that your child will care if you tell her she will be a "big girl" if she goes potty in the toilet. Some are completely happy being a baby and have no plans to change that. Why should they do all the work, when there is someone available to wipe their butt for them?

8. Never assume that children will be disgusted by poop and pee as you are. Puddles are puddles and all are fun to splash in.

9. Never assume because your child wakes up dry after nap time, tells you that she needs a diaper change, and if you don't get to her fast enough she strips, that she is ready for potty training. She is clearly messing with your head.

10. Never assume that just because most of your family and friends potty trained their children before the age of 2 that there is something wrong with your child. After all, that stubbornness had to come from somewhere...

The New Parents Guide

Planning for a new baby or wanting new loot for your little one? Check out The New Parents Guide. The site is filled with baby and toddler products, family friendly resorts around the world, articles and much more!

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Do you like to earn Paypal money?

Hey folks! Long time, no posts. I have been working a lot to support my family during these tough times, so my free time is pretty much zilch. I am chained to my laptop when the girls are napping, but I don't get to do a lot of surfing or blogging. I am trying to peak in on everyone else's blogs as much as I can. Bare with me, I miss you all.

I recently came across some sites that are little ways to earn extra cash and they all pay into Paypal! For just a small amount of time daily, you can view ads and websites and get paid for it. These are called "Paid Per Click" or PPC sites if you would like to know the lingo. You will certainly not make enough money to pay the mortgage payment, but if you want to tuck away a few dollars here and there into your Paypal account in time for Christmas, well, it could help. I don't think of it as a "paycheck", but more like discounts or coupons next time you want to purchase something online. (It is cash, not actual coupons so you can use it on anything.)

For instance, if you decide to purchase a gift for your spouse and the gift costs $50, many sites will allow you to use your Paypal account to purchase. So, if over the last five months, you managed to tuck away $30, then that money could be applied to the purchase and then you will only owe the additional $20 (plus shipping, etc.) It can come in handy and all for very little time commitment. Here are some sites below and in full disclosure, Yes, I do get referral fees for everyone who signs up under me. (And if you sign up you can sign up others under you.)

http://www.trekadvertising.com/refer.asp?ref=14674

http://www.youdata.com/join/twinmama

There are others out there, but I want to do some more research on others before I pass them along. I do not ever want to recommend something that isn't worth it! Also, both of the above are just viewing websites, nothing else. The only recommendation that I have is to clear your cookies on your computer every night and have a good anti-virus. I haven't had a problem, but it is best to be as safe as possible.

Well, I hope this helps someone or someone you all know! Wishing you all the best!

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