Holy COW! I have a toddler and newborn TWINS!: Baby Essentials

Holy COW! I have a toddler and newborn TWINS!: Baby Essentials: Having twins means having a lot of baby things!  A friend that is pregnant asked me what my favorite must haves are for entertaining the twi...

Baby Essentials

Having twins means having a lot of baby things!  A friend that is pregnant asked me what my favorite must haves are for entertaining the twins.  Since I have to constantly rotate the "activities" throughout the day I have more than a couple favorites so I'll share our experiences with you and give a review of each item.

Pack and Play:
We have it set up in the living room, because let's admit it, life goes on around you in spite of baby and sometimes it is just convenient to lay baby down to nap in the pack and play so you can catch up on last night's shows or get a little bit of housework done.  It also makes for a great place to change diapers and keep a "changing station" set up in the area of the house in which you will spend most of your time.  I know, you spend all of that time/energy/money getting the nursery just right and you most likely only go in there at night...unless it is equipped with a television and mini-fridge.  That would be cool. 

Lay and Play floor mat:
Olivia LOVES her lay and play time on our jungle themed mat.  She cooes and talks to her hanging toys for extended amounts of time each day.  She is very content to lay and stare at her toys and as of late, grab them, jingle them, and occasionally chew on them.  William will only tolerate it for so long, as he prefers to sit up in the "jump-jump" or bumbo seat.  He has acid reflux so upright positions suit him better.

Swing:
Great for rocking a baby to sleep when you don't have the energy to walk around the house anymore.  It has several settings and sound options to soothe baby and is great for moving around the house so baby can still see you as you get things done.  Great place to put baby so you can take a quick shower (you know, the one you might only get every three days in the beginning!).

Bouncer:
I'm laughing out loud as I type this, as we call ours the "poop chair," as we get poop diapers and a lot of times, blow outs every time we put one of the twins in our bouncer.  I assume it is because it allows them to chill in the reclined position it puts them in.  Ours sits in front of our television and serves as a great place to put one baby while mommy nurses the other...Big brother sits next to them and provides entertainment too. 

Jumper/Saucer:
William LOVES to "jump-jump" in the jumper at our house and the saucer at Grammy's house when we visit.  I know that Olivia will too once she gains strength and starts enjoying sitting up more.  This is a must have at or around the four/five month mark.  It allows baby to sit up and play and "jump" which will strengthen their legs for crawling and eventually walking.  Make sure you use something underneath it if they aren't "tall" enough to reach the floor on its lowest setting.  You don't want their legs to dangle, as it could reduce circulation in their legs causing discomfort. 

Rockin' Play Sleeper:
Awesome!  We love that it collapses and is light so we can take it anywhere! When our son, Cameron was a baby, it went everywhere with us (friends/family houses, great for hotels, and even the beach (because who want their infant sleeping on the ground or in the sand?).  We often use this in the kitchen to allow one of the twins to lay in it by our table so we can use our foot to rock baby while we eat dinner...using two hands!  This rarely happens without this life-saving product!

The Mother of all baby products I've seen so far is the 4Moms MamaRoo:
We borrowed this electronic mega chair from a friend who swears by it for comforting a fussy/colicky baby.  It mimics the movements of mama with a rocking motion, offers a car motion, wave motion, and more.  It also provides sounds to help sooth baby.  It comes with a higher price point, but if it provides mama with a little bit of sanity, it just might be worth investing in!

Things I can do while holding a baby:

I even amaze myself sometimes at what one can learn to do while holding a baby.  Here is a list of the things I accomplished just this week alone.  I'm sure I have done more, but these are the ones I recollect from recent days:

1. Go to the bathroom
2. Unload and put away groceries
3. Cook an entire meal (yes, I put the baby down long enough to put things in and pull things out of the oven!)
4. Clean kitchen floor (Woohoo for Swiffer!)
5. Wipe down counter tops (bathroom and kitchen)
6. Pick up toys
7. Put on make-up (sans eyeliner)
8. Make a king sized bed
9. Make a cheese sandwich and cut it into squares (NOT triangles!) for a four year old
10. Dust the living room furniture
11. Fold/Roll towels
12. Sort dirty laundry
13. Change out laundry (washer to dryer, dryer to couch, and hamper to washer~ yes, it takes forever)
14. Send an email
15. Run a bath for a four year old complete with bubbles...then drain the tub and start over because he doesn't want bubbles...(it was one of those days when it wasn't worth the battle~he won that one)

Impressive Results!

I promise this will be the only time I make a shameless plug for these amazing products!  I have to admit, that even though I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the products for my face, I was skeptical about the results that I would have using them on my stretch marks, especially after twins!

Here is my picture (remember, I JUST HAD TWINS!~also ignore the indention from my pants that runs across my stomach in these pictures!):

These are the products I'm using: Microdermabrasion paste, Night Renewing Serum, and the AmpMD Roller

Click Picture for direct link to purchase these products!

What I've noticed so far, after just three uses: My stretch marks aren't as dark (red/pink in color) as they were and they appear smaller.  My skin is getting more taught because of the night renewing serum and by using the microdermabrasion paste, my skin is softer (no dead skin cells hanging around!).  The roller allows the products to penetrate deeper into the skin which means FASTER results that are always guaranteed with Rodan + Fields.

I will be coming back to this post in about a month after more regular use of these products with an updated picture to show improvement.  If you are pregnant (whether a singleton or multiples) I highly suggest you go ahead and invest in these products.  If you have recently had a baby (or babies) this is a must have system and I'd love to see your before and after results!  Anyone who becomes a new Preferred Customer (PC) with me by August 31, 2014 will receive a FREE product from me ($20-$24 value) or be reimbursed for their one time PC perk registration ($19.95).  What does a PC get you ask?  FREE shipping and 10% off of every purchase!  You will also be able to get in on exclusive deals for Rodan + Fields PCs!  It is a win/win!  Want more information about our products or the business?  Visit my website and contact me today! www.ccarlyle.myrandf.com

Fitness for New Moms!

I spent way too much time exploring the internet last night to find the latest fad in fitness for women who have recently had babies.  I decided that I would have to filter through so many websites and information that it would only end in my being more stressed and less likely to get up and get moving.  The fact that I spent so much time "googling" is proof enough right?

I decided to start my own amazon store that is specific to what I am looking into to get back into shape. I will try several workouts, meal plans, etc. and discuss my experiences and findings so that YOU won't have to!  Here is a link to some of my favorite finds so far! 

http://astore.amazon.com/wwwfitnessf0a-20



See y'all soon!!

4 months

William and Olivia had their four month check up this morning complete with two shots and an orally administered vaccination.  William weighs in at 12 lbs. 10 oz. while Olivia is 12 lbs. 3 oz.  They are both measuring at 23 1/2 inches long.  They have grown so much since birth and are both healthy.  William does have a classic case of acid reflux but it is nothing this mama can't handle! 

We were sad to say goodbye to our pediatrician, as he is retiring to stay home with his wife who is suffering from M.S.  Cameron was excited to present him with a gift as we saw him for the last time.  We will miss him but know that we will be blessed by another great doctor soon, as we've yet to be disappointed with our pediatric group.    We realized how agonizingly hard it is for a four year old to "hang out" at the doctor's office while his siblings are being checked.  Not even the ipad was enough to keep him occupied!  He wanted to "help" and "watch" everything, including the shots, which he was grateful not to be getting himself.  In the future, he will have to stay home with Grammy or be dropped off at a friend's house for a couple hours. 

Losing weight after twins...

One of the things people constantly told me when I announced that I was having twins was that my body would never be the same.  Not even half way through my pregnancy I had people asking me if I was saving for a tummy tuck (as they touched my rapidly growing belly and with little laugh that says "I'm joking but I'm not joking!").  As you can imagine, this DOES NOT make the list of "things every pregnant woman wants to hear!"  Of course I took all of the precautions that are recommended during any pregnancy to prevent and/or reduce the stretch marks.  I slathered on the lotion several times a day, I drank a lot of water, I got as much sleep as I could, and ate well (No, I didn't eat for three.  I ate for one and just slightly increased my calorie intake each day.  I took vitamins.  I rarely overindulged in things that aren't good for me.).  I gained the same amount with the twins that I did when I was pregnant with Cameron.  I will admit, I am luckier than most, as I mostly grew out with both pregnancies. 

I invested in the "belly band" to wear the day after delivery.  I received one from the hospital too.  I constantly asked my husband if he'd still find me attractive if I kept on a few extra pounds and had a few extra stretch marks.  I let other people freak me out about my own body!  No Bueno!  So I decided to let things be.  My stretch marks are reminders of what I did to bring three beautiful children into this world.  My mama pooch may never be the six pack it once was, but it doesn't make me any less of a woman, wife, or mother.  It does not define me.  God chose me to raise these three blessings and I'm not ashamed of the marks left behind. 

With this all being said, I have managed to lose a lot of the weight naturally and people look at me with shocked expressions when they see me (I've actually been looked up and down by complete strangers that see me at the mall pushing my twins and probably think I'm the nanny).  I am not a gym buff and have only been four times since delivering the twins.  I continue to eat well and I'm nursing (which burns a ton of calories!).  I have no "secret" weapon or regimen.  My days/schedules aren't consistent enough to be on a diet or have an exercise routine.  I tried...it lasted for about a week and a half (Plexus Slim~great stuff!  I had a lot more energy, but I couldn't keep up with it...maybe in another month or so when we're on a schedule).  Here is a picture (believe me: I look better with my clothes ON! lol!):

Notice I still have a pooch.  That's okay though.  All I have to do is look into the faces of my children to be reminded of how blessed I am to be a mother and that there was once a time when I thought it wasn't a possibility for me at all! GOD is good all of the time!!

Sleep escapes me...

I went two nights with little to no sleep this week because the twins are in beginning stages of teething and therefor cranky and congested.  The one night I thought I'd be able to catch some zzz's insomnia struck and I only slept for about an hour.  What's up with that?  Insomnia should know better than to knock on the door of a mom with infants!  Surely there is some unwritten rule about it right? 

Last night, William slept from 9pm until 5:30am!! Celebration right?  Except that I am a mom of twins.  Olivia dear decided she would go down at her normal 8pm, wake at 2am in need of a pacifier and again at 3am wanting to nurse.  She too would wake at 5:30am.  Mind you, hubby is already gone for work at this time.  So while nursing one, the other is "stuck" entertaining themselves in their crib (which usually means wailing until big brother Cameron wakes up to join in on the party).  So now, I'm sleep deprived, one twin is nursing, one is crying, and our four year old is balled up on the floor crying because he wants me to hold him...Have mercy!  I need to grow two more sets of arms.  Or get cloned.  They still do that right?

Right now, as I type this, EVERYONE in my house is asleep.  It's 2pm on Friday and even my hubby is home taking a nap.  I try to lay down to do the same...I kid you not, just as I begin to drift off, a baby cries out and I jump up to go check on them.  I put the pacifier in their mouth and they drift back off into dream land.  I try to lay down again, and I think about the laundry that needs to be changed out so I don't have to wash the load in the washer for a third time.  I go to open the dryer, and the clothes are a wrinkled mess.  I start it again.  I hope I hear the buzzer go off this next time...
I decide to lay on the couch (change of scenery and hey, I just might hear the dryer) and the other twin cries out.  Argh!  I lay on the nursery floor with a pillow and blanket. Now I have to pee.  Forget it.  It. Is. Not. Happening.  Ever.

Is 2:30 too early to start drinking? LOL!

It's a good thing they are so CUTE!!!

Whine for Wine

I have a high tolerance for the whine of my children most nights...this is wine for MY whine that I'm talking about.  Some evenings I'm so tired that I feel compelled to whine about my lack of sleep, my stench from lack of a shower, and my dirty house.  Then I remind myself that all three of my children are BLESSINGS from GOD.  I know there are women out there that would love to have such reasons to whine about...So I figured I should exchange my whine for some wine once in a while and sit and count my blessings instead of complain.  I've only indulged a couple of times so far, as my tolerance for adult beverages isn't the same as it used to be.  I used to brag about my hollow leg!  I also used to go out several times a week and show up to work bright eyed and bushy tailed without missing a beat.  That was in my twenties.  Now that I'm approaching my forties (quicker than I'd like to admit) I'm too tired to open a bottle of wine most nights.  LOL! 

I'm SO doing a Mickey and Minnie first birthday party!  Planning the party will drive me to drink... :)

17 things I've learned in the 17 weeks the twins have been here:

1. I can go approximately three days without a shower.
2. I lose twice as much sleep as I did with my singleton (Cameron).  Who needs sleep anyway?
3. I don't mind getting pooped on.  I mean a full on blow-out! It happens about three times per week (Thank you Olivia.).
4.  It is NOT more convenient to nurse.  My entire day must be scheduled around their feeding schedule.  This gives me small windows of time to get things done (shower, clean house, do laundry, grocery shop, go to the gym, etc.).
5.  Getting out in public only causes more anxiety than staying at home with cabin fever.  I swear, if one more person asks me if my BOY/GIRL twins are identical...
6. I really do feel like I'm packing the whole house to take the twins anywhere. 
7.  It is okay to take only one twin with you to run errands (William is a much better car rider than Olivia because of this~daddy prefers Olivia stay home with him and Cameron, as she is the mellow/easy one! lol!).
8.  Hair brush?  What's that?  Have I even brushed my teeth today? Hmmm...
9.  I will NEVER get a chance to go to the bathroom without an interruption again...ever.
10. My normally very well behaved four year old can be up to no good when it gets quiet...He can also serve himself marshmallows for breakfast.
11. Mommies don't get naps often.  If I do manage one, it is usually in a very uncomfortable position in a chair or on the couch.  I will wake up feeling like I'd been run over by a MAC truck. 
12.  Not all diapers are created equal.  I have tried at least six brands.  I still haven't found the perfect diaper for the twins.  They all seem to leak.  They don't trap in the poop.  They don't change themselves.
13.  My house will forever be cleaner yesterday than it is today.
14.  The days seem long but the months fly by. How is this possible?
15.  Acid Reflux SUCKS.  I'll say it again. ACID. REFLUX. SUCKS.  Poor William...
16.  I will never eat a hot/warm meal again (or at least for another 18 years)...or be able to eat without a) holding a baby b) feeding a baby or c) listening to a baby scream their head off while I try to shovel cold food into my mouth.
and finally,
17. My life will never be the same.  Twice the blessings, Twice the fun.  GOD is good ALL OF THE TIME!

Holy COW this is hard to keep up with!

I knew that starting a blog would mean I'd have to actually find time to myself to sit down and actually blog on a regular basis and knew it might be wishful thinking.  Now that we are in somewhat of a routine, I hope to get some computer time more frequently uninterrupted. Ha!  I can't even remember the last time I had five minutes alone in the bathroom with out fingers peaking at me from under the door or a small voice asking me what I'm doing.  He seems to think he HAS to know exactly what I'm doing and whether I'm just peeing or going poop too.  Try explaining to your four year old what privacy is and he'll just use it against you.  YOU won't actually get any...that's right.  When Cameron was "taking care of business" yesterday, I asked him if he was done and ready for me to help him wipe.  "Mom, I need privacy.  I'll call you when I'm ready.  Just wait."  What?  "When do I get privacy?" I asked him.  "Never" was his response.  Thanks buddy.  I love you too.

I have kept a running list of topics/ideas to blog about so I will be back tracking quite a bit to get those published.  In the meantime, here is just a brief update, as I haven't been on here in weeks (since I turned in my work laptop and haven't been able to sit on the couch and blog) and want to get everyone up to speed.  The twins are 15 weeks old now and growing fast.  Some days are better than others and some nights allow me 5-6 hours straight of sleep, while others have me up every hour or two.  I continue to nurse and have slimmed down significantly because of the calories burned (YAY for that!).  I started going to the gym last week and wow, I'm out of shape!  Walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes or doing 3 miles on a stationary bike have me breathing heavy and my heart rate up.  It is hard to believe that I grew up playing soccer considering I can't even jog for five minutes without wanting to throw in the towel right now.  I know it will get better but in the meantime, I will need to find extra motivation to get my butt out of the house to go on a regular basis.

I am now officially a stay at home mom! #SAHM woohoo!  Robert got a new job and very soon after that, a promotion and raise. I resigned shortly after returning to work in May and though it was bittersweet, I'm excited about staying home with the twins and Cameron (only one more year until Kinder!). We are going to try it out for a year and see how things go. I will register as a sub in the district so that I can work if needed or if I need a mental break and a change of pace (I know this will happen at some point and I've been told it is normal, so we'll see).  My mom still comes over (Thank GOD for her!) Monday- Friday and I love not only her help, but her company.  It is nice to have adult conversations and get a shower every once in a while too!  I think I'm in the same outfit for the third day now...It is time to remedy that.  I'm checking in on the twins and hitting the shower now!  I'll sign off for now, but intend to sit down and get some blogs done over the next few days!  Whew!

Twins' First 4th of July!

Cameron went with daddy to the fire station today!