Hapy New Year!

Happy New Year!  

Can I still say that?   It's the end of January...

www.madeinoostvlaanderen.be

Wow!  Hard to believe it's been 4 months since I last "blogged" and what a whirlwind these months have been!  Between the twins walking, sicknesses, the holidays, a trip to Reno/Tahoe and life in general being filled a with a ton of activity it's no wonder they've flown by and I haven't had a moment to write!

I am happy to share that things are finally, after 16+ months of relentlessness, beginning to get a tiny bit easier.  The twins are getting very stable on their feet (and are even working on running), they only nap once a day now for 1.5-2 hours so we are no longer stuck in the house all day and they are consistently sleeping from 6:15-6 rather than 6:15-4:30, 5, 5:30 or 5:45 (it's amazing how much those extra 15-90 minutes makes a difference in your day).  For awhile there I felt like I was about to lose my mind (especially managing two babies in the middle of the night), but I'm happy to say I didn't...well not completely!  Sleep deprivation is no joke!  It is a form of pure torture and I had no idea just how hard it could be to wake up multiples times a night, until I became a mom.  However, now that I've been getting 8-9 hours of sleep a night, for the past few months, I am feeling energized and lively again!

The twins personalities are shining bright!  They are curious, smart, loving and adventurous!  Although they both have these great qualities, their personalities and looks are quite different.  Twin A has blonde hair, light blue eyes and is nice and "fluffy." She always has a smile on her face and is super silly, loves to say "Hi", "Bye"and"Thank you" to people and already has a love for dancing!  She will start swaying back and forth to anything that makes a sound whether it be a song on the stereo, my hubby or I singing or the blender whirling.  It's so freaking funny and cute! Twin B hhas light brown hair, deep blue eyes and is teeny tiny.  She loves to climb on EVERYTHING (which ignites my stress levels), she is a total cuddler and has no problem letting you know when she wants something (I'm really looking forward to when she can make complete sentences rather than grunting and moaning).  When the twins were born they only had a half pound difference, now they are a whopping 3.5 lbs different!! Doesn't sound like much, but in baby weight that's a huge percentage...don't ask, I have no idea exactly what percentage, but my back and arms know it's a big difference.  They definitely have a twin bond that is absolutely beautiful to watch.  When I hand one of them something to eat, often times, she will give it to her sister and then come back for something for herself or if one of them starts saying agua (this is what they say for water) the other one will find a sippy cup and bring it to her.  They rarely fight over toys, which I find amazing since they are always together, and for the most part, they get along really well.  At night, before getting into their cribs, they give each other a kiss goodnight and smile big while doing so.  They truly love each other and it is so sweet to see.

It's a big job and she's so great at it!

Their big sister is doing fantastic!  She is now riding a 16" bike with training wheels and loving it.  Her favorite activities are yoga, dancing, swimming, drawing, bike riding...and taking things from her sisters.  She has her "special" 2 year old moments that continually test my patience and make me wonder where in the world the sweet, little angel I saw first thing in the morning went, but I guess it's all normal and to be expected. It truly is incredible though just how crazy a meltdown can be. I try to be compassionate but OMG can it be hard to deal with!  Often times I wonder, "Why can't she just do what I ask without all this nonsense!" It is pretty amazing to see how I handle these moments.  Every time there's a meltdown, I learn a lot about myself and how I react. Sometimes I have to put her on time-out...after being upset for awhile, she will calm herself down and then let me know when she is feeling better and ready to talk.  She just needs her space to let out her emotions and then she is ready for a hug, a chat, to say sorry and move on.  It amazes me how much closer we become after moments like these and to see the trust building between us. It makes me very happy that she is able to regulate and communicate at such a young age.  She is definitely out numbered by her little sisters, but she is an awesome big sister! Sure, there's lots of whining, crying, lack of sharing, challenging moments and everyday I'm running my ass off, most nights too exhausted to think, but that's not what I feel like writing about right now...lol!

We're off to Jackson Hole, WY (one of my favorite ski resorts) in a few days for a family/fader friends ski trip and my only prayer is that the twins sleep well and do well on our two days of traveling there and back. We're looking forward to lots of snow and fun!  Wish us luck!  I'll share some traveling with twins tips in my next blog!

Wishing you and yours a marvelous, joyful, prosperous, peaceful, adventurous, loving and abundant 2015!

The twins turned 1! ...yesterday!

Naturally, I am posting this a day after the twins first birthday.  I knew it would be late when I started writing it last week, but it is what it is and I'm super excited about making it through the first year!

Woweeee!  I can hardly believe that my sweet, little baby girl twins have turned 1!!.  Oh what a year it has been. Joyful, loving, fun, exhausting beyond all recognition, relentless and quite frankly, the most challenging year of my life, and my husband's too.  I truly had no clue that it would be such an intense roller coaster ride! I assumed it would be challenging, but holy moly, I'm pooped! And in a lot of ways I feel like the ride has only just begun...

When the twins were born, my hubby and I were thrilled, and yet, totally overwhelmed by the thought of having three kiddos under the age two. We were over the moon happy that our family was growing and that all of our girls are healthy, but we were unsure of how our family dynamic would be. We went from having one child, whom we completely doted on, to two more within an instant.  We loved them to pieces, of course, but it was definitely a whole new life we were embarking on.  When we spoke to the pediatrician about being overwhelmed, a week after the girls were born, she said the most wonderful thing, "It's like the story of The Grinch, your heart expands and there is so much more love!  Your heart gets fuller and so does life."  And she was right!  This is exactly how the past year has been! Each day there is more love, more happiness and things get easier...well kind of, it's constantly changing. There are new challenges, of course, and my patience is constantly tested, but the love and laughter is abundant (along with the shrieking) and we absolutely LOVE having 3 little girls to share our life with!  We have adjusted and it is more magnificent and extraordinary then we ever could've imagined.


What I didn't know before my twins were born...

I didn't know just how abundant life could be. I didn't know they would be able to sleep through each others sounds in the night.  That they would constantly play side by side and truly be best friends from the start.  I didn't know that their older sister would be so incredibly loving to them and that she would include them in things that she does.  That she would kiss them out of the blue and that she would be so quick to apologize when she made them cry.  I didn't know that it was possible to be so exhausted and feel such a wide range of emotions in a two minute period.  I didn't know that I was such a strong woman and that after having twins I would feel like I can accomplish most anything.  Or that my hubby and I would grow even closer, after so many challenging moments. I didn't know that people would be so incredibly supportive and ready to help in a days notice.  I didn't know that it was possible to give two babies a bath at the same time, feed two at a time and carry two at a time. I didn't know that my house would be filled with so many sounds and songs!  And that when I went to bed at night I would be more exhausted than humanly possible, but happier than ever.

Soon the girls will be walking.  So far they are taking 5-7 steps without holding on to anything.  I'm excited for them to walk and be able to have a little more independence, and yet, I'm completely terrified to have three toddlers.  I have a strong feeling that there are going to be a lot of battles between all three of my girls when they can all start fending for themselves and pining over the same stuff.  But I'm also banking on them having tons of fun playing together and getting a little more independence for myself.  Right now, I am most grateful that our toddler is fully potty trained, the twins have been sleeping through the night for months and that we are almost done with bottles. These little things make life so much easier and more enjoyable!!

Looking ahead, I am nervous to have two two year olds, at the same time...Ugh!  The thought makes me want to cry, but at least that's still another year away!  For now, I will enjoy each moment and be as present as I possibly can.  I will count my blessings, remember to breathe in the challenging moments (cause God knows there's a lot of them) and enjoy every moment I have with my little angels and super rad hubby!

Minivans definitely aren't cool! But...

I still can't believe I drive a minivan.  It is the one car I thought I would never ever drive.  I dreaded the very idea of such a thing.  Seriously!  I mean talk about an uncool, unattractive car...geez!  But alas, I have 3 under 3 so unless I want to drive a gas guzzling monster, like a suburban, or cram three car seats into the back of a car, this is my only choice.  So, I surrender to this homely car and am grateful that I was able to find one that, as surprise would have it, I absolutely LOVE!  Wait!  What?  LOVE?  Yes, I said it!  I do!  I really really do LOVE my safe, reliable, children toting, 2010 Honda Odyssey minivan.  It is NOT COOL but, I gotta admit, it is one of the best cars I have ever owned and I am grateful for all of it's family friendly features - wow do I sound lame and like a commercial!  From the automatic doors that open with the press of a button and close slowly so I don't have to worry about fingers getting crushed, to the leather seats that clean up easily, to the tv that has helped out tremendously on a road trip with keeping my toddler quiet while her sisters were napping, the great gas mileage and so much more...I'd say this thing takes the cake! You would not believe how easy it is to drive (I feel like I'm driving a coupe).   The cockpit is comfortable and compact which means that most of the time I totally forget that I am driving a minivan at all...until, of course, I get out, look at it and remind myself, "Oh yeah, I drive a minivan! That's why people are constantly cutting in front of me or not letting me into their lane."  Ha! Oh well!

 My heart warms when I'm driving along, by myself, look in the rear view mirror and see three car seats in the back.  It's a dream come true to have a happy and healthy family.  It's more work than I ever thought possible, but I am grateful beyond words.  Of course, my stress levels rise when those seats are filled with screaming, tired children, but that's a whole other story...
 

Along with the things I listed above, here are 7 other reasons why I love it!

1. It seats 8!  When my in-laws come to town we can all fit in it, with my mom, and go places. It's great to be able to take one car.  And one day it will be perfect for carpooling!

2. There are so many different ways to configure the seats.  Nowadays, my toddler rides in the back row and the twins are in the second.  I can sit in the middle, between the twins, and easily give them a bottle.

3. The space in the trunk is deceiving.  It looks small, but in reality I can fit a double and single stroller back there, along with a bunch of other stuff. AND there is a huge storage compartment in the floor behind the drivers seat. 

4. It has so many cup holders, an outlet in the third row (so your passengers can plug their computer in, and get some work done, while you're driving or you can plug your pump in and pump without having to worry about a battery pack), and the seats are very comfy with lots of leg room in the back.

5. There are built in sunshades in the second row doors that cover the windows perfectly and help keep the sun off little faces.

6. Then, there is the fabulous camera feature.  When I go in reverse a screen pops up on my rear view mirror so I can see what is behind me.  The camera is tiny and mounted near the license plate.  This feature is great, especially when I'm backing up in parking lots.  I gotta admit that at first I didn't trust the thing, but now I can't live without it!

7. I bought it used, in 2013, with only 20,000 miles on it.  If you're in the market, and don't want to buy a brand new one, keep your eyes open.  You just might get lucky like I did! 

Oh yeah, one more thing, the new models come with a vacuum in it!  Genius!

You can have your sporty BMW or cool SUV, I'm sticking with my silver minivan!

Faves

I've been keeping a list of my favorite things.  It's a bit of a random list, in no particular order, but my hope is that you might find some or all of these things helpful.  I will start the list here, and then, over time, add to it in the new Faves link above.  Hope some of these help you out!  I can't live without them! 

Sunscreen:

I, like you, don't enjoy a sunburn, and I certainly don't want to see my children suffering from one either.  I have used all sorts of organic, non-toxic sunscreens over the years and have finally found my fave.  I absolutely LOVE Goddess Garden Organics Sunny Kids Broad Spectrum Sunblock.  It's wonderful because most of it's ingredients are organic,  it doesn't burn if it gets in your child's eyes (which for me is huge), it is broad spectrum and the spray makes it easy to apply.  Yes, it's thick but easy to rub in. When I put it on their faces, I squirt it in my hands and then apply it.  Most other organic sunscreens are in a tube and are really thick and difficult to put on.  For us, this one is great because when your toddler is squirming away from you you can spray it on, pin them down and rub it in easier.  It also protects for long periods of time out in the sun.  The only thing is that you will need to reapply after 40 minutes of playing in the water, but I would do that anyway.  You may find mixed reviews online, but, for us, this one wins.  Sunny Kids Organic Sunblock




Dust buster:

 Did you grow up with one of these things?  I did it and I'm bringing it back.  This thing is awesome!  I love this dust buster for so many reasons. It's so great to have for those small little bits of whatever that are on the floor that your crawler is sure to pick up and put in their mouth or for cleaning up the mess they make during meal time.  This dust buster will easily pick up those dry and wet messes.  It's fantastic!
Dust Buster on Amazon





Hair brush:

Check this out ladies and gentlemen with long hair or those that have children with long and/or curly hair that is impossible to brush or comb through!  This brush is ridiculously amazing.  I don't know who came up with the design, as this brush looks like your ordinary brush, but I promise you it is, in fact, extraordinary!  Both my 2 year old daughter and I each have one and we have no tears and are able to brush through wet or dry hair with total ease.  It is truly an incredible hair brush that, I believe, anyone with long/curly hair must own.   The Wet Brush 2 Pack on Amazon

Household wipes:

                             

Have you ever used one of your child's baby wipes to help clean up a mess in your house other than a dirty diaper?  I know I have...at least 100 times!  The only problem with those is that they don't disinfect the way that these do.  I love that they are safe to have in my home with my kiddos running around and they clean up messes quick.  Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface on Amazon

Favorite App for the 1st year:

This app is awesome!  It has been so helpful and the best part is my hubby, mom, the nanny and I all use it from different devises (iPhone, iPad and android) and can log in anytime from anywhere.  It is easy and intuitive!  And it's great for parents of multiples because you can have all your children listed.  It's keeps track of breastfeeding, sleep time, poopy diapers, doctor appointment info, milestones and so much more!  Definitely worth checking out here or download to your phone from the app store.  Baby Connect

Environment and Family Friendly Products:

Norwex is a fantastic company that sells microfiber cloths, floor mops, bath towels and many other products that are environmentally friendly and tough on dirt while toxic free and safe for your home.  My favorite products are the dry/wet mop which is like a swiffer but reusable and more efficient, the glass/mirror cleaning cloth because you only need to use it with water and there are never any streaks left behind, the baby towel/wash clothes because they are super soft and the dust glove because it easily picks up dust and you don't need to use any sort of cleaning solution with it. To learn more you can visit their website Norwex  If you are interested in purchasing, I know a helpful distributor.  Her name is Gloria Bradford and her email address is cleaningforcauses@gmail.com.  She donates all commissions made from purchases to Friends of Joshua Orphan Care in Malawi, Africa. 

Disneyland Tips for Families!

Disneyland Tips

There she goes...our first born...off to the castle that makes us all feel like a child again as soon as we see it!  This magical place where everyone is happy and wonder twinkles in their eyes. This place that is delightful, marvelous and sensational for all!  OMG!!! I really do love Disneyland!!!  I have ever since I was a kid.  Every year, when I was between the ages of 10-13, my mom, and a lucky friend of mine, would load up in the car and head off to this extraordinary theme park.  We would run around from one "Land" to the next without a care in the world.  I loved Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, Tea Cups, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc... but my favorite was Thunder Mountain.  The sound of the roller coaster as it clicked along, climbing it's way to the top of the first drop.  The misters lightly dampening my face and arms as I looked around at the  stalactites and stalagmites that were the setting for this part of the ride.  Feeling excitement for that first drop the coaster train would make.  A drop I experienced many times over the years, but every time was just as exciting as the first. My friends and I had so much fun and loved every minute of being at Disneyland.  Back then Disneyland was $40 per person and was never too crowded!  Oh how times have changed!

I'm a Disneyland lover and naturally, I couldn't wait to take my first born to this special place! The first time we went she was 21 months old and the whole place was decorated for Christmas!  Talk about magical!  It did not disappoint.  It was absolutely beautiful and It's a Small World was so incredible.  They decorated the entire ride with holiday themes true to each country.  It was truly magnificent! 

Being that we live in the so-cal area, we figured it would be best for me and my hubby to get a year long membership.  Especially since the first three years of a child's life are free.  We figured we will go a bunch this year (we've been 3 times since December and plan to go at least 3 more - gotta get our monies worth) and then not go again until the girls are old enough to remember it and big enough to go on all the rides.  It's not cheap, but since I have a little love affair going on with the place, and I had a hunch our little loves would love it too, we decided to go for it. I was right, our first born loved it and I know her sisters will too when we go next month for their first birth day.

The twins were only 3 months old when we left them with their nanny and ventured off to this enchanting theme park.  I was unsure about what I was going to do about pumping, storage of the pump and where I was going to keep the milk. I also wondered how my oldest would do at Disneyland and whether or not she was too young to make it through the day.  Along with these concerns I wondered if the diaper bag/stroller would be safe while we went on rides, how long would the wait times be in the lines, how much food would we need to pack and could my toddler handle waiting in the lines... 

So here are my tips for taking on Disney:

Best times of year to go:  The second week of January (before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday).  The beginning of March (before spring break begins).  The week after Labor Day (when the kids are all back in school). The first or second week of October. The week after Thanksgiving.  Disneyland is decorated for the holidays at this time and is not too crowded.  If you can, go Tues-Thurs to avoid crowds.  I had always heard that a good time to go would be Super Bowl Sunday - it's not! The game doesn't start until the afternoon so people go to Disneyland in the morning.

Baby Care Center: There's a baby care center just off of Main St. by the hot dog stand.  It is awesome.  You can use their high chairs, heat up snacks for your kiddos, breast feed/pump (semi-privately), use a changing table and they even have potties for kiddos that are being potty trained.   You can also bring your own water bottles and fill them up for free. 

First-Aid Station:  If you have any medical supplies with you you can store them at the First-Aid station next door to the baby care center.  I was able to pump at the baby care station and then store my pump at the first-aid station for free!  It was great!The only thing is that you've got to tote your milk around the park with you.  They won't store "food" at the first-aid station.  So, if you decide to pump you need to bring a cooler and ice packs with you.  No big deal.  I just stashed it in the bottom of my daughters stroller.  Or you could always get a locker by the front gates.

Snacks: Bring lots and lots and LOTS of snacks for your kiddos and yourselves.  It is amazing just how much of an appetite you can get from walking around that place..and there is no doubt that your little love is gonna need snacks to get through the day.  Our personal favorites are pb&j's (last time we brought 6 and ate them all), Earth's Best packets, carrot sticks, apples, string cheese, crackers, cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts. Don't forget an ice pack.

Stroller/Diaper Bag: Bring your own stroller and diaper bag but also bring some sort of small purse/fanny pack (I know fanny packs are super duper lame, but you know what I mean about size when I write fanny pack!) to keep your money, phone and important things with you so you don’t have to worry about them potentially being stolen.  I used a small purse I got in Peru.  This way I could leave the diaper bag with the stroller and not carry it on the rides.  It is completely safe to leave your stroller at Disneyland, unattended, for hours on end.  There are cameras EVERYWHERE and staff watching out for you.  Plus, do you really think someone wants your soggy pb&j sandwiches, diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer and whatever other things you're lugging around??  Probably not!

Disneyland Ride App: Definitely download a free Disneyland app so that you know how long the wait time is for popular rides.  This way you can better plan your day.  We used Disneyland Wait Times.  It also tells you the wait times for the most popular rides at California Adventure.

Best Rides for Toddlers and Babies: Lots of the rides at Disneyland are scary for babies and toddlers, even in Fantasyland. Here's a short list of our favorites...
It's a Small World
Peter Pan's Flight 
Winnie the Pooh
Mad Tea Party 
Jungle Cruise
Dumbo

Parade: All of the main characters in the parades are up high so that you can see them, no matter where you are sitting/standing.  So don't worry if you're not up front and center.

After Sunset: Bring Dollar Store Glow stick bracelets, necklaces, wands, etc...  Also, bring a favorite stuffed animal, pajamas/nighttime diaper for you kiddo(s) and a cozy blanket.  Most days are warm at Disneyland, but it cools off at night.  Having these security objects and changing your kiddo(s) into pj's will help them fall asleep on the ride home (if you're not staying at a near by hotel) and make for a smooth transition to bed.

Yes, you can go with a baby! Yes, you can go with toddlers!  Disneyland is designed for children of all ages. Everyone will have fun!

Here we go...

Having 3 kiddos within 18 months of each other has taught me A LOT and totally kicked my booty!  Life is such a blur and most days I'm just barely making it, but all my girls are happy and healthy so I'd say things are going well!  I'm not a professional, and I don't think I'm ahead of the game, AT ALL, but  through the many ups and down of motherhood, so far, I've learned quite a bit and thought it would be fun to share here... 

Credit: Crafty Side of Sandy