Confessions of a Twin Mom

Caillou Treehouse Giveaway!

2011-12-21T11:12:00.000-05:00

There's a Caillou Treehouse Giveaway over at The Mommy Files.... my twins are OBSESSED with Caillou, so this is a great opportunity!

Long time away but.... our baby girl is here! Avery Victoria :)

2011-08-16T11:41:00.001-04:00

Our baby girl came via c section almost 2 weeks ago- at about 38 weeks gestation! A FULL term baby- so different for us. Not to mention- it's weird having another girl in the house. She's waking up now- but I wanted to update on here to let you all know she is here!

Really terrible with updates lately, so here goes.

2011-06-17T11:15:00.000-04:00

I have been ~~very~~ extremely tired in this pregnancy. After a slew of tests on my blood, hormone levels, etc- everything came back normal. That is until my 28 week glucose screen. I failed my 1 hour, and then proceeded to fail my 3 hour GTT 3 days later. So this pregnancy- I am now dealing with gestational diabetes. It's not fun, and it's a bit challenging.

I'm getting used to testing my blood sugar, and now I have medications to add to the mix, and 3 doctors appts a week until I deliver! That seems crazy to me. I'm busier than ever trying to get my kids to their appts, and me to mine- with one vehicle in the household and my husband working full time.

Needless to say, I haven't been on the computer as much and I am trying to figure out ways to deal with this mess of appointments and the financial ramifications of being seen 3x a week.

On a happier note, I am now 31 weeks, and will be having the baby around 38 weeks. So not too much further to go! It's a little strange being pregnant this long- I didn't make it this far with my twins. Hoping to be updating soon, but you may not see my posts for a while again. Until next time- take care of yourself and your families!

Very, very tired.

2011-04-07T15:23:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a little time to post today because I feel that I need to update more often. I am extremely exhausted lately- 21 weeks pregnant now and chasing after 21 month old twins. It's a little bit of craziness around here!

We are currently house hunting and hoping to close on a house in July- just mere weeks before my due date. We're looking at back up rentals in the area in case that doesn't happen, as our current place is not nearly big enough.

I've been stocking up on "fluff" (cloth diapers) for our daughter. It's so crazy- much more fun to buy cute girly diapers. She now has a stash that should last us for at least the first 8-9 months size wise. It's strange to me as we started cloth diapering when the boys were about that age, not from the beginning.

We are currently in the process of starting potty training with them, I feel like they are getting more and more ready to use the potty. They're learning how to dress themselves, and know very well how to undress themselves. They are growing so big and so fast- I can't believe they're not actual babies anymore. They'll always be my "babies" though!

Anyways thanks for following, and I will hopefully post another update soon.

We're having a little GIRL!

2011-03-28T13:25:00.000-04:00

I had my ultrasound about a week ago- and there she was! A perfect, singleton, little GIRL! With two boys it's nice to have the change up. First thing we did was go shopping after we found out, it's going to be so strange to have a baby girl. We are very happy, and over the moon. I'm a little terrified of taking care of a newborn and toddler twins, but I think we will find a way.

Sorry for such a short post, but I'm really busy these days :)

Big ultrasound next week!

2011-03-14T20:04:00.000-04:00

I'm a little over 17 weeks with my 3rd baby. We're finding out the gender in a little over a week! It's exciting, scary, and filled with hope. I've been crafting (sewing and crocheting) and cleaning like a mad woman. Nesting is kicking in full force! I'm washing dishes, scrubbing counters, cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming- just cleaning everything I see. The boys are now 20 months- time is flying by so fast! They'll be 25 months when this new little bub arrives, I'm wondering what it will be like caring for 3. I'm sure it's going to be an intense new challenge!

We just got a new car last week- - I had posted a while back about needing a new car, and not being able to get financing- well a few months of working on our credit we got financing!! I'm very happy, we now have a reliable safe vehicle to drive our children around in. Next step- working on getting a house. I'd love to stop saying "bye bye" to our rent money every month and seeing nothing from it (no homeownership, just money leaking out like a faucet). This is an exciting step in our lives, and I am loving it!

Well, it's time to get the little monkeys to bed, so I'm off. Hopefully will post an update soon.

Getting up, dusting myself off

2011-03-01T14:07:00.000-05:00

I'm finally to the point in my pregnancy (just over 15 weeks) where I am beginning to regain my energy. I am able to do a little more in terms of housework, and don't feel the need to lay down or sit all day long. I had been getting a near-constant ticking in my left eye that had been bothering me, and I'm pretty sure it was due to me being absolutely exhausted.

At the stage we are in our life with our family growing, my husband and I decided it was time to start thinking about and looking at houses. We need to move when our lease is up (1 week +/- before my scheduled c-section!) because we need more room with the baby coming. I don't want to be stuck in this tiny house for one more year! We're living in less than 1,000 sf as it is- I don't think I can do it much longer, let alone with 3 kids. Hoping that we'll be able to get the financing we need to get a home that fits our need that we can afford.

I have also been looking for work at home opportunities, trying to supplement our income. Mostly until now it has been Swagbucks and paid surveys which pay very little. I applied for a freelance writing position, but didn't get it. Applied for a few other legitimate ones, but at this point I don't have that much hope. Hopefully things will pick up again soon!

On a happier note- the twins are getting so big- I am constantly amazed at the things they learn from us, how much their language and dexterity has grown. Yesterday, I asked one of my sons, "Do you want some water?" and usually, he'll shake his head "no" or reach out to me. Instead, he said loud and clearly, "Juice!". I stood there in shock. He doesn't know that many words, and he isn't the more verbal twin. I am so proud of him- but he is growing up way too fast

Bright Starts Giveaway over at Mom to bed by 8!

2011-02-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

Mom to bed by 8 is hosting a fantastic giveaway on her blog! It's a Bright Starts Ingenuity Sleep Easy play yard. They are great to have when you have a small baby or very young toddler- for sleep and play! Ends 3/18, enter here.

Yay! Having a good day :)

2011-02-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

Today I am assembling a new floor steamer I purchased from Amazon. With two little boys, I worry about using harsh chemicals, let alone the time consuming nature of a bucket and mop and allowing the floor to dry.

A little over a year ago, we purchased our first steam mom, the Shark mop. It worked fairly well, but I really dislike dealing with velcro on the pads, and the staining not coming out of the microfiber in the wash. It was working fine until recently, when I slightly overfilled it, figured it was ok, because I've done it a time or two. This time, not so much. I plugged it in for the preheat, and I heard a big crack and boom noise, and steam started escaping around the water chamber. Ooops. The Shark is now dead.

I didn't do any research before buying the Shark, I just happened to be looking for a new vacuum cleaner at Wal-Mart and saw the shark for around $60, so I decided to give it a go. This time around, I did a little more research and checked reviews and ratings. I decided to go with the Eureka EnviroSteamer this time around, because it had great reviews and features (high steam temp, non microfiber cleaning pads) that I loved. I'm hoping this holds up longer and works well for us. I really don't enjoy mopping the floor, but filling a steam mop with water and plugging it in is so much easier for us.

Along with the new steam mop, I ordered Toy Story 3 on DVD for my boys (paid only $8.99!!) to complete our collection with all 3 of the series. Several months back, we cut back from our "economy" cable package that was around $30 a month to a very basic package with local channels only. So with tv, we have very limited options when it comes to tv programming. We've been using Netflix for over a year with our Xbox360, and it's the only reason we were able to comfortable cut down our cable bill. Lately though, I've been really tired from staying up late (10:30 pm and later) just to catch our "shows" on tv as they air opposed to trying to watch it on a small laptop screen at a later date.

With all of that in mind, today we decided to take the plunge and order a Roku XD. It's the midline model, but it's capable of streaming Hulu Plus to your tv (yipee!!) so we can now catch up on our shows without having to stay up late just to catch them. We had it sent overnight through Amazon, so it will be here tomorrow. I was thinking we'd go out to buy it opposed to wait for shipping, but I actually SAVED $16 dollars by ordering it online. What a crock! lol.

Either way, I am excited to wash the floors today, watch Toy Story 3 with my children this weekend, and catch up on some tv with the Roku with my husband this weekend. It feels like a great day- did I mention it was 48 degrees out??? It's February! I am just in a great mood today.

***This is an opinion post, a regular posting as any of my others. This was not a review post, I was not compensated or hired in any way by any company. The opinions expressed are 100% my own, and not prompted or compensated.***

Happy Valentine's Day & Update

2011-02-14T18:39:00.000-05:00

It's been a little over a month since I last posted. I've been a little scattered lately, and not feeling too well, so my posts have been declining. Hopefully that will start to get better soon! I now have 10 followers, and that is exciting! I remember having just my husband and 1 other follower. 10 is a good start!

Saturday was a crazy day for us. While we were getting the tires on our car replaced, we decided to take the boys for their very first haircut (19 months old!) They did amazing! No crying, not even a whole lot of wiggling. I was so proud of them yet very sad to see their beautiful soft hair get cut off. I did save a lock of each of their hair so that I could put it into their baby books. I'm so proud of my big boys!

Today I am 13 weeks pregnant with our third child! We're really excited about this baby. I heard the heartbeat a week ago and it was AMAZING. I can't wait to meet the little guy or gal growing in there! As excited as I am though, I feel really sluggish and not so good. Tired, but happy.

With Valentine's Day being today, I decided to make a special treat for the kids and my hubby. Red velvet cake from scratch (icing too!), along with cooking a nice dinner and cleaning the house up nicely. Also working on a Valentine for Daddy from his boys.

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Funny thing is I started this post at probably about 10 am. It's now 6:40 pm, and I'm really not surprised that it's taken this long, lol. Between household chores, child care, and trying to bake a cake, I'm amazed I've gotten this much of the post written. Have a great Valentine's Day night all!

Took some time off!

2011-01-03T22:58:00.000-05:00

With the holidays and the tornado that comes with it, I took some time off to spend with my husband while he had time off as well. We had a great holiday, and a great new year's eve/day.

I've been extremely nauseous (and exhausted) so staying on the computer for any amount of time is difficult lately. The kids have been doing wonderful going to bed in a reasonable time frame lately, which I love. The more sleep they get, the more sleep I get.

I'm trying to win and buying more diapers to get a really good stash going, I don't really have enough for a full 2 days of diapering the twins, and doing laundry daily is pretty difficult in this house. I've ordered some Econobum covers and prefolds, and a few more Smartipants diapers. Should bring my stash where I would like it to be, without breaking the bank. I've been really digging the few good prefolds I have because they don't get stinky like the microfiber. I am getting tired of soaking my dipes all the time.

Hopefully tomorrow I will wake up with tons of energy, I need to do a good sweep through of the house. I never imagined having 2 toddlers would be harder to have the house stay clean than when I had two newborns up every 2-3 hours. I got more sleep then as well!

Now I am hoping that with my magical Swagbucks earnings will buy me a carpet shampooer- because my guys think it's funny to open up a sippy of milk onto the rug. I keep hoping that things will get easier- and I'm hoping my kids learn to play nice with their sippies.

Christmas Eve!

2010-12-24T22:12:00.000-05:00

Today was pretty fantastic. Had the family up here, had some good food and opened a ton of presents. I got the three things I wanted most this year and I am very thankful. What are they you say? A winter coat (I haven't owned one in a few years), a better cell phone (got for free!), and a Keurig coffee maker. I'm not as materialistic as I was when I was a kid, but among the other bunches of stuff the kids, myself, and my husband got I am so happy it was mainly clothing and things we needed. My mom does "stocking stuffers" every year with toiletries, which saves me money and time by not having to go out and buy any for a while.

Overall, the kids had an awesome day, and took a nice long nap after everyone left (it was wayyyy overdue) and went to bed fairly easily tonight. They have lots more presents to open and play with from Mommy, Daddy and Santa. The house looks like a tornado blew through, but it was still an amazing day and totally worth it.

I don't think tomorrow can even top it, and if it's even half as good I'll be happy.

29 diapers is giving out the motherload today!!!

2010-12-24T17:50:00.000-05:00

The blog 29 diapers has been gracious enough to put on a 29 days of Christmas giveaway, and tonight they are giving a great deal of products (everything from each of the 29 days to one person!) It's a fantastic prize and I hope that many people will head over here to win. It's really an amazing deal, so if you take a few minutes it's definitely worth a shot at winning!

It's crunch time!!!

2010-12-23T11:45:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we will be having 7 people up here in my tiny house. I still have tons of cleaning to do, but I can't do anything "noisy" right now, because the twins are finally napping and I don't want to ruin their much needed rest (cranky little teethers).

I feel a little overwhelmed- we just found out we're expecting again (#3 and possibly #4) and I am completely exhausted. Does anyone out there have any tips on caring for the household and children while dealing with pregnancy discomforts? I am seriously exhausted and feel like I could hibernate all winter long.

I think I will do some baking for tomorrow when hubs gets home. I have found it really difficult to bake during the day because the boys need my attention so much, and it's hard to safely "contain" them as they learned to tip over the superyard XT and can climb right out of their pack and play.

Hoping that I can rest this weekend after the holidays are over... Mommy needs a break!

Only an hour left, but 29 diapers is giving away some Epicential products, so what are you waiting for?!?!

2010-12-22T23:05:00.000-05:00

Head over to 29 Diapers blog, please read the official rules and enter the giveaway correctly. Low entries, great natural products!

Finally finished with the crocheted scarf and hat for Mom :)

2010-12-20T13:32:00.002-05:00

It's hard to tell from a cell phone picture, but this is a lovely dark violet color. My mom is a bus driver, so I wanted her to have something warm and soft for Christmas this year. Altogether the project took me maybe 5 hours to complete, and I am happy with the results!

I still have more gifts to wrap, and a couple more people to shop for. Hopefully I will be done with the stress and million things to do soon.

Dinner is in the Crock Pot, a beef stew I prepped last night loaded with veggies and leftover steak pieces- yum!

Thankful for my bed :)

2010-12-19T23:34:00.000-05:00

I just finished watching the Patriots game with my husband... and boy am I glad it's about bed time. I am really exhausted this time of year, all the stress in putting together the holidays is something still very new to me. Hoping to get some rest tonight because I surely could use it. Have been working on a crochet project for my mom for Christmas... hopefully will have pictures up soon! For now, it's time for me to have a much needed date with my pillow.

Thanks, Mail Carrier is giving away a Bissell Steam & Sweep!

2010-12-12T20:40:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the generosity of Bissell, Thanks, Mail Carrier has reviewed and is giving away a Bissell Steam & Sweep! Go here now for rules and to enter.

Peanut Butter Blossoms!

2010-12-12T20:29:00.002-05:00

Today is kind of blah (massive amounts of rain and grey skies all day) and we had no sweets in the house- so I baked up some yummy Hershey's Peanut Butter Blossoms cookies! They are so yummy, and I haven't had them since I was a kid.

Weekends (especially Sundays) are the only times I can usually bake because I am chasing after two active toddlers. I absolutely love, love, love simple quick homemade recipes.

Don't have many followers but... Need your help!

2010-12-10T14:41:00.000-05:00

I don't ask for things often, but my family really needs a new car. Our car was inspected only to find that the 11 year old clunker has over $1K in repairs and is a ticking time bomb. I have entered to win a car for a deserving family, so I hope that anyone who comes across this will take the time to vote. Only takes a few seconds of your time.

Help us by voting!

Migraine, migraine go away...

2010-12-07T21:51:00.000-05:00

Molars, molars, molars. Tormenting my poor little guys. They each have 3-4 of them coming up at once, only 2 have broken the gums so far.

They scream, and throw tantrums and we cuddle, soothe, give pain relievers and Orajel. It's horrible to watch them to go through this, and there is nothing more I can do for them.

It's also giving me terrible migraines to deal with the high pitched screams and tantrums... I am hoping this phase passes soon.

Jeep Stroller Giveaway!

2010-12-06T11:07:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Mail Carrier is giving away a Kolcraft Jeep Wrangler Twin Stroller thanks to Kolcraft. So head there now and enter to win!

Kolcraft Contours Giveaway!

2010-12-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

A Mom's Balancing Act is generously giving away a Kolcraft Contours stroller to one lucky reader, I suggest you check it out!

September already?

2010-09-07T10:15:00.000-04:00

I am a little happy and a little sad that September is here already. While I will miss the summery beach walks and the swimming, I will NOT miss the tourists. Plain and simple, they are irritating. Traffic, beach crowding, jacked up summer prices in stores, not a fan.

Yesterday my husband and I got an iced apple cider from Dunkin' Donuts, man that thing was tasty! I love the taste and smells of fall- cool crisp air, apples, cinnamon, pumpkin- sensory heaven. I also am excited to get the boys' Halloween costumes this year. As cute as they were last year, at a few months old we certainly weren't out trick or treating.

We're back on track cloth diapering-wise, and that is awesome. My grandmother and aunt got to see what a modern cloth diaper looks like (compared to what they used) and they were amazed. My grandmother was impressed with how functional and attractive they are. Cloth diapers FTW, lol. I love the boys in cloth, and we plan on CDing our third and possibly fourth child as well.

Anyways, that was a quick update, I'm sure there will be more at some point later on.

Annoyed today.

2010-08-18T22:33:00.000-04:00

I feel really, really stressed out and upset lately. I'm annoyed with myself, because I ran out of the proper detergent for my cloth diapers (mail ordered because it's cheaper) my boys have had to endure disposables (and some rashes) for 2 days. I feel like I failed.

I also have a lot to do with my Mothers of Multiples group, and I have a sad feeling people will bail on me that were supposed to help.

Our landlords dropped off our new lease which I am quite annoyed with, and because of my failure to save money over the past several months we are unable to leave, instead having to sign on for another year.

On a brighter note, my husband is pretty much a shoo in for a new promotion, which will more than DOUBLE his pay. So, we can pay our debt down to nothing in this next year we are stuck here, and save money to put down on a house. I am tired of pouring $1K every month down the drain on renting a place simply because it's convenient to my husband's work.

I'm stressed, I'm tired, I'm a ~~mom~~ tired TWIN mom. Hopefully things will look up some more SOON, I'm not sure I can handle financial, teething, and general stress much longer.

I am bad at this!

2010-08-13T15:55:00.000-04:00

I almost never update, so I'm thinking I'm not really a super blogger. I've been keeping busy this summer taking care of my toddler twins who turned 1 in July. I can't even believe how big they have gotten!

We're still cloth diapering, which was one of the best decisions we ever made. I've gotten really into it, and now love the cuter diapers! We now have MORE than enough diapers, and are doing it full time. Yay!

I've picked up my crocheting again, and I am considering making some cute items. Slippers, bags, baby items, etc. I love crocheting and knitting. I also picked up sewing, and constructed my first pocket diaper! It works SO well, and I am going to make a 2nd diaper.

I have also embarked on a weight-loss journey with my best friend... I would like to be seen in a bikini next summer! Let's hope we don't let each other fail.

Twin Mom Brain, and an update

2010-06-30T21:13:00.000-04:00

Ok, so keeping up with this thing (and remembering to post!) has been difficult. With the weather getting nicer, and being out of my home a lot, I don't seem to have the time. I do enjoy blogging, because I can express my viewpoints freely without backlash from stubborn people threatened by "change". I'm just plagued by a chronic case of "twin mom brain". Forgive me, I'm ill.

I have discovered I truly love cloth diapering my boys. We've been successfully cloth diapering them full time for a month and a half. We've found our preferences, and products to make cloth diapering easy. It doesn't hurt that I have a supportive husband who learned to cloth with me. He even rinses the "mess" off them when necessary. I do love that man.

I should do a role-call of my stash. I have been slowly acquiring cloth diapers from multiple online boutiques, shops and even Target. It's about time I made a list :-)

3 Thirsties Size 2 Duo Wraps- Aplix closure
1 Thirsties Size 2 Duo Wrap- Snap closure
4 Bummis Medium Super Whisper Wraps
1 Bummis Small Super Whisper Wrap
2 Kushies Taffeta Wraps (for when I run out of my clean "good wraps")
1 dozen Green Mountain Diapers two-sided wipes
1 dozen wipes I cut from an old receiving blanket
1 Tweedle Bugs One Size Pocket Diaper
2 dozen BumGenius! Stay Dry Diaper Doublers
4 BumGenius! 3.0 AIO-Large
2 Bum Genius 3.0 AIO- Medium
2 dozen Gerber Prefold Diapers
1 dozen Gerber birdseye flat fold diapers
5 Green Mountain Diapers Preemie Prefolds (used as diaper doublers)
6 Snappi fasteners
1 Planet Wise Diaper Pail liner in Seaspray (I LOVE this color and pail liner)

Have had/used:
Imse Vimse Flushable Diaper liners
Bummis Biosoft flushable diaper liners
Baby Bits Wipes Solution bits (purchased from Mom's Milk Boutique)

Waiting on:
Shinies Pocket Diaper

So, my list is finally in front of me. I thought I had more, but I guess that I don't. It must be all the bulk of 2 dozen prefolds and the diaper doublers! I would like to get some more pocket diapers though, I really like the stay dry effect of fleece and suede cloth. Don't get me wrong, I love my Thirsties and my Bummis, but I would love to have some pre- stuffed pocket dipes for easy changes when the babies are fussy. My BumGenius AIO's are currently an overnight diaper only. They work wonderfully, and if I could afford it, I would use them exclusively just for how convenient they are and how well they work. I'm also looking into supporting WAHMs (work at home moms) by buying hand made dipes on Etsy. Haven't found one I love yet though, I continue my search.

And with that note, this post has taken me 2 hours with the interruptions I face. It is time for this tired mama to go to BED.

Soleil 100 Days Sweeps

2010-06-10T09:16:00.000-04:00

Soleil 100 Days: "There are thousands of fun, sharable prizes in the BIC® Soleil® 100 Days of Sunshine promotion. Join now! www.FeelTheSoleil.com"

http://www.100daysofsunshine.com

Long weekend! Now to get back to blogging....

2010-06-01T13:46:00.000-04:00

This weekend started out with lots of promise and the excitement of an extra day to sleep in, however Saturday one of my sons spiked a fever of 102 and we had a trip to the emergency room, due to his not eating and high fever. Poor little guy has an ear infection, and is still a little miserable from the weekend. He got better enough yesterday for us to head to a Memorial Day Parade, and to the beach for a little bit. Both of my boys had their first play time in the sand, and both tried to eat it. So, that part of the trip was a slight failure. The weekend was long, and mostly uneventful. There were a few scary poop blow outs, but I guess that's what I get for having all of my cloth diapers in the wash!

Today, after a couple of days of no mail, I open the mailbox and my face lights up like a 5 year old opening birthday presents. I love getting my orders online like the one today from Mom's Milk Boutique, where I got 2 rolls of diaper liners by Bummis. I was so excited they were here, I was about to run out of the ones I'd been using before, the Imse Vimse brand. I feel like a kid diving face first into an awesome birthday cake. That was the best thing in the mailbox. I also received my samples of the new Pantene from Vocalpoint. If you aren't a member of Vocalpoint, I highly recommend it. You get all sorts of free samples, coupons, and sometimes even free full sized products just for being a member. You can't beat a free membership either!

I am a junkie for free products, especially for useful ones. I like free samples of many products as well- lately I have gotten travel-sized bottles of shampoo, body wash, conditioner, and little bars of soap. I shouldn't have to buy anything for traveling any time soon!

After this weekend though, I am still a little tired. If only it had been a whole week.

Amazing weather!

2010-05-26T14:17:00.001-04:00

If I had been told it was going to be between 85-90 degrees in Maine in MAY, I would have called that person a liar. But here we are, day two of scorching heat which is only made hotter by the insane coastal humidity.

Today is definitely the day we are breaking out the new baby pool. Loading the kids up with sunscreen, and into the pool they go!

The Budget Mommy is giving away a Thirsties Duo Diaper!

2010-05-21T20:32:00.000-04:00

Head on over to The Budget Mommy's page and enter the contest before June 4th, 2010. The competition is sponsored by Earth Angels Diaper Co so head on over to their site and see what they have to offer!

Single Mama is giving away a Little Nurslings Nursing/ Teething Necklace!

2010-05-20T11:09:00.000-04:00

Single Mama's blog is hosting a giveaway of a Little Nurslings Nursing/ Teething necklace. It's made of natural unfinished wood, so no worries of lead paint (or any paint for that matter) ending up in baby's mouth.

With teething twins, I need something on me that they can chew on. It's also a necklace, and I haven't been able to wear one in months. It's a win for me, a win for my boys. Head on over TODAY to enter Single Mama's giveaway. It ends TODAY.

A beautiful day!

2010-05-20T08:54:00.000-04:00

The pouring rain has stopped, and we're supposed to have a nice 81 degree day to dry us out! Wonderful!!

I plan to take the twins for a walk (after doing diaper laundry, of course), in our Graco Duoglider Stroller in Brentwood. It's been such a lifesaver to have a double stroller that is durable and still makes it's way around store aisles. We plan to also get a side by side stroller, but for outdoor use. Double strollers can be the savior of shopping trips, and I plan to continue use in stores even after they begin to walk.

For now, while the diapers dry, I will scour the blogs I follow for great deals. A few of the great blogs I follow:

-Freebies 4 Mom- One of my favorites. Always find great free samples (0r full size!) products, great shopping deals, and she hosts awesome giveaways.

-The Budget Mommy- Also many, many great deals. Tons of great shopping deals!

- The Frugal Girls- Many great tips on freebies and affordable living. Worth a look!

- The Diaper Pin- Reviews of cloth diapers and deals on them around the web

- Natural Baby Giveaways- Compiles giveaways across the web from several sites. Tons of great babywearing and cloth diapering giveaways!

This is just a sampling, at some point I will compile all the great blogs I follow, but this is a great way to get started!

You can also follow me on Twitter. Tweet me your great finds and I will RT or post them on here.

Bum Genius (by CottonBabies) you are my hero!

2010-05-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

We've been successfully cloth diapering the twins for a couple weeks now. Except at night. We have two heavy wetters, who end up leaking no matter what types of measures we take with prefold diapers and covers. They end up waking early, soaked in urine, cranky, and I have an extra load of laundry to clean. Fun? I think not. So until last night, we had been using disposables at night, if only to save their sheets and a couple of outfits.

Yesterday I was checking my mail, and my order of 2 Bum Genius Deluxe 3.0 All-in-one diapers (Cotton Babies) came. I immediately loved how soft the interior was and got it thrown into the washer. I had also ordered 12 microfiber diaper doublers which also got thrown in. I was very excited to try them out!

Late afternoon, I added a doubler into the pocket on the diaper, because I wasn't entirely convinced the diaper would hold 12 ounces of fluid (a full can of soda!). When the boys woke up after sleeping 10 hours, they were dry as a bone. I was amazed! Finally, we have a night time diaper. Not only were they dry on the outside, the interior of the diaper felt dry to the touch, much like a disposable. Just yet another great perk!

I honestly can't say anything but good things about the Bum Genius, and I wish I had gone that route from the start! It's the easiest form of a cloth diaper, but with greater convenience comes a higher price tag. I am expecting two more in the mail very soon, fortunately I ordered a size up, because they won't be fitting in these ones much longer.

The reason I ordered them in the first place is all the amazing deals you can find through the retailers at DiaperShops.com. I used online coupon codes to get 2 free Bum Genius 3.0 All-in-one diapers. Really can't go wrong with free! All I had to do was buy $10 worth of accessories. Which I needed. Deals like this one don't pop up every day, but if you follow them on Facebook or on Twitter, they publish them when they become available. I love how much technology can save you some money, and keep you up to date with advances in cloth diapering.

I was reading a story earlier this morning about Pampers and their recent string of issues. Here's a wonderful fact-based article on Cloth vs Disposable diapering. I found it very informative and learned a lot that I was unaware of!

Cloth Diaper Report Pampers Article

Mr. Sun where are you hiding?

2010-05-19T09:42:00.001-04:00

Today I woke up to pouring rain. So much for taking the twins out for a walk, it's torrential outside. Instead lots of naps, cuddles, and the power flickering on and off.

The sun has been out the past few days, with summer-like weather. It's been wonderful, especially after a long New England harsh winter. I've become very sensitive to cold and snow, and even after growing up in New England, I hate the winter. Maybe it's because I spent the last few years before this winter living briefly in San Diego, CA, and then in Georgia. I got spoiled with mild winters and warmth. I feel like I have lost my thick New England skin, because I've seen how nice a winter without snow can be!

This blog I believe will truly help the boredom I face here at home, and the silence when my children are sleeping. It's a nice break from laundry, dishes, and household chores. Don't get me wrong, I love being a stay at home mom with my ever-so-smiley babies, but it's nice to have an outlet and interaction with people over the age of one, even if only online.

Ode to My Husband

2010-05-18T21:41:00.000-04:00

Most men have a hard time dealing with poop diapers, or simply getting actively involved in the care of a baby. Let alone two babies- at once.

The reason for this Ode to My Husband tonight is because he is simply amazing with the babies and helping out with their care and cleaning of their messes.

He was and is still on board with the cloth diapering. He usually gags and gags at the horrendous smell of poop, but never complains. He learned how to put the diapers on, and doesn't complain about the extra steps. He's a champ about it.

He gets up in the middle of the night with a cranky baby or two when they occasionally wake now. When they were really little, he would be up at night doing feedings as much as myself.

He wakes up with them early on weekends while allowing me to sleep, without complaint- and allows me to rest. I love him for that.

He's truly a dedicated and amazing father.

I just wanted to make a post dedicated to him- because without his patience, love and understanding- I would be miserable and completely exhausted 24/7. He's truly my other half!

Being "Green" & Cloth Diapering

2010-05-18T17:22:00.000-04:00

"Green" is a term that is used so loosely these days many think they are being "green" by changing one aspect of their lives to a more eco-friendly solution, but I have come to learn it takes many changes before you even have the slightest impact.

We made most of the important switches not long before the birth of our sons. I was thinking about how all these chemicals and substances can't be good for a growing fetus. So we made changes.

Here's a simple sample list of what you can do to help the environment:

1) Switch all of your cleaning products to more safe and eco-friendly alternatives.

This one seems like it would cost a fortune, but we actually save money this way. We purchase concentrated versions of cleaning products and laundry detergents, making shopping trips for them much less often. Less packaging, We buy many Method, Seventh Generation, and Biokleen products, which are easily available in most retail stores, for a competitive price. Baking soda has become a staple in this house, for deodorizing the diaper pail and cleaning. At about 50 cents a box, you really can't go wrong. We also no longer use aerosol room freshening sprays. Bad for your lungs (we have allergies and asthma in the house) and bad for the environment. There is a wonderful product called "Breathin' Easy" by BabyGanics that smells amazing and has a non-aerosol pump. Lavender and Vanilla scented, this one's You can find it here: http://www.babyganics.com/Air_Freshener_Lavender_Breathin_Easy

2) Eat less meat, buy organically, and locally whenever possible.

Meat production uses valuable resources such as grains and vegetables. Producing meat causes greenhouse gasses simply from the fuel used to kill them, transport them, etc. Buy locally and organically when possible, and try to make a few meatless meals per week. Beans are an excellent source of protein.

3) Recycle, recycle, recycle!

Every bit of paper, cardboard, glass, and metal you separate and recycle in a proper facility is one less thing in the landfills. Recycled materials also cut costs on the production of new materials, and trees cut down for the production of paper. Many cities and towns have recycling facilities that have a low yearly cost or even free! You'll be buying less trash bags, putting less trash in the landfills, and possibly save money on garbage pickup!

4) Cloth diapering your children, and cutting down other waste

After having issues with a current popular name brand of disposable diapers, and reading about the environmental damage (landfills) disposable diapers cause, the sheer cost- we decided to make the switch to cloth. We've been going "green" for the past year and a half now, which can be an utterly confusing nightmare- but cloth diapers seemed like it would cut down our garbage put in the landfills immensely, especially with twins!
Before switching from disposables, I did a lot of research on cloth diapering. When I was pregnant, I thought "Yuck!". I have a very weak stomach and even the smell of poop will send me into an all out vomit fest. But cloth diapering has changed drastically in the past 15-20 years. While some still do, it's no longer necessary to dunk, scrape and spray your poop diapers in the toilet. They make very thin biodegradable (read: flushable) liners you place on top of the diaper that catches most if not all of the poop, so you don't have it on the diaper. The days of pull on jumbo plastic covers and pins are also a thing of the past (unless you choose that method). They make super cute all in one diapers which go on and come off like a disposable, covers that fasten like a disposable, and cloth diapers that don't require pins to be used. There is a device called a Snappi that can fasten prefold diapers, no pins involved! They are also not difficult to wash, as long as you have your own washer and dryer. Disposable diapers can take 200-500 years to break down, in normal conditions. A landfill makes breaking down nearly impossible. With nearly all babies in disposables, that is a lot of diapers not breaking down in our landfills!
Breastfeeding. I know it's a heated issue, and not always possible. Even breastfeeding a little while saves money, and cuts down on formula use, which also takes a toll on the environment to produce.
If you are formula feeding though, there are several products designed to make it oh-so-convenient and easy. Products like these include disposable nipples, one time ready to feed formula bottles, disposable bibs- all of these are wasteful packaging, and tossing them just adds to the landfills. If you plan ahead, and organize, you can have ready to go reusable bottles, clean bibs, and water with you. It's not always super easy, but it will save you a lot of money, and you'll be doing something positive for the environment.
Filter your baby's (and your own) drinking water. Easy to accomplish- a filter that attaches to your faucet or a pitcher with a filter are wonderful. Clean water, with out the waste of packaging.

5) Buy organic- Google the "Clean 15" and the "Dirty Dozen"

Besides yucky pesticides, organic produce is shown to have higher nutritional content.

6) Turn off the lights! (Conserve electricity)

Conserve electricity whenever possible. Open the blinds, open the curtains. Let natural sunlight brighten your house. Saves you money, and saves energy!
Shut off the tv/ computer and go for a walk, or play a board game with family. Multiple benefits!
Don't leave lights on in a room you're not in.

7) Take "Navy showers"

I remember as a kid growing up with 2 siblings that we had to take "Navy showers". Get a water saving shower head (less flow, with a shut off pin). When you get in the shower, get wet and shut the water off. Shampoo, soap up, and turn the water back on to rinse. You can do this a few times to wash your face, condition your hair, etc. You'll be saving electricity (heating water) and water. You still get just as clean, and it's much better for the earth.

8) Buy recycled furniture. Saves $ and helps the environment (trees, waste, etc)

9) If you are a regular Starbucks drinker like myself, bring in your own reusable mug or
iced coffee tumbler. You save money, and another cup stays out of the landfill- win win!

10) Get all your bills electronically- most utilities provide this service. Cut down on paper waste!

11) Reusable shopping bags. Some retailers offer money off a purchase per bag, some don't.
Either way, you're saving some plastic bags from ending up in the landfill, and reusable bags
are much stronger.

These are just a hand full of ways to be "green" but also save some "green". We have found these to be ways we can live with, and don't feel "cheated". I hope this post in some way helps people be a little more conscious of the environmental impact of their decisions. Knowledge is power!

Welcome to my perfectly chaotic life!

2010-05-18T16:49:00.000-04:00

My name is Samantha, I'm a mom of 10 month old twins. I started this blog after seeing so many blogs lately that expressed how others live day to day life, I wanted one of my own.

What you will find here- stories of my ever changing adventures in raising twins, and learning the ins and outs of cloth diapering them, and making the ever-so-confusing transition to being "green".

You'll find random ways to save money, free samples, and links to coupons occasionally. I'll do my best to post the awesome deals I find from day to day.

So welcome, hope you enjoy following me, and I hope that I can make you laugh, cry, or save you some money!!