3 months 3 weeks and a day

Wow, I can't believe how quickly the past almost 4 months have flown. Time seemed to stand still for the last few months of my pregnancy and now it is just whizzing by. I've just been cleaning out thier drawers and tossing all of the clothes that they have grown out of. I brought the 3-6 month box in from the garage and those clothes don't seem so huge anymore. Euan and I are really loving this stage. The girls can finally interact with us and are so much fun. They smile whenever they see you and it doesn't take much to make them giggle. They can grab things with thier hands and pull them up to thier mouth. They can roll over from their belly to their backs sometimes and they do a lot of leg lifts. We seem to have our schedule down and it has made life really great and so much easier. However, they have seemed to regress in the night sleeping department and are waking up more than ever. In fact they woke up 3 times last night! 1st at 11:45, then at 4:30 and then 6:20. The last one probably doesn't count as waking up at night but it sure felt like night to me! Hopefully that phase will pass quickly.

We are getting ready for our big trip to Scotland. Deciding what to pack has been a bit of a challenge since we aren't sure what the weather will be like. Apparently it has been pretty cold lately. It may be a shock for them coming from Sacramento. We are a bit nervous about the flight but luckily we will have bassinets. The problem is that in order to get a bassinet, you have to have an isle seat. Therefore, Euan and I both have isle seats with 3 people between us. They have no idea what they are in for.

I start school again as soon as we return from Scotland on August 4. It is going to be a bit crazy, but I'm sure we will manage. The problem we foresee right now is that we haven't given the girls bottles in ages. Euan will have to give them each a bottle while I'm at work, so we need to get them used to it again. I actually ordered a bottle online today called the Adiri Nurser. It is shaped like a breast and apparently feels like one as well. Hopefully it works and it won't be too embarrassing to use in public.

Just to make things interesting we've decided to put our house on the market while we are in Scotland. That way our realtor can show it while we are away and we won't have to worry about keeping it clean and showing it around the babies' schedule. We are hoping to get what we paid for it and then rent for a while to save some money. It would be so nice not to have to pay our huge mortgage. We could maybe even find a rental with a bit of space!

DIAPER ADDICT!

Ok I admit I got a bit carried away with buying cloth diapers. There are worse things to be addicted to however, and when they are so cute, it is difficult not to want to try them all! I got interested in cloth diapering when my neighbor, Sarah, told me about Fuzzi Bunz. She was using them for her daughter and she loved them. She said they were so easy and washing them wasn't too big of a hassle. There was no rinsing of poo involved and it was so much cheaper then disposables. Plus they were super cute. of course, I started doing my research and found that this cloth diapering was big business. First of all, there were so many different kinds and they weren't cheap! In fact, some sell for $33 each! Of course, I turned to the same place I always turn when I want to buy something that is expensive.... Craigslist. This might seem gross- used diapers, but all you have to do is wash them and they are as good as new. I'm not talking about the kind Grandma used. No, the new generation of cloth diapers are easy to use and very fun. My favorites right now are Kissaluvs. They are a fluffy fitted diaper that you put a cover over. You don't have to wash the cover every time, just when it starts to smell or gets soiled. You can get cute covers as well. I love the wool covers, and actually knitted one myself! The Fuzzi Bunz leaked at first because of the girls' skinny legs, but as they get chubbier, they fit better and better. For nighttime, we use Bumgenius. They have gone 12 hours with no leaks! Fuzzi Bunz and Bumgenius are pocket diapers. Which means that you can stuff as many absorbant pads as needed inside the pocket of the diaper. They make all in ones as well that I have yet to try. I do have to do an extra load of laundry a day, but I don't mind. I always hang them out to dry too, but you don't have to, the dryer works just fine. You do have to buy special detergent which is a bit of a pain. Otherwise any soap residue that is left behind will react with the pee and smell really bad or cause the diaper to wick and then leak. However, once you have the detergent, it's a breeze.

We have quite a large diaper stash. Besides the Kissaluvs, Fuzzi Bunz and Bumgenius', we also rotate in some Little Beetles, which are fitted diapers that are made from beautiful organic velour and seem almost too soft and pretty to use. We have Haute Pockets, which we've had a few leaks with, and Blueberrys, which are great but pricey. You've got to love all the great names.

There are so many benefits to cloth diapering. Of course, it is better for the environment. I know some people say it isn't because it wastes water but that sounds an awful lot like an argument for using paper plates rather than real ones, and none of us would do that. Another benefit of cloth is less diaper rash. My girls haven't had a rash yet. Also, they say that potty training comes earlier because the babies can actually feel when they are wet. A huge benefit is the money saved. Although diapers are expensive to buy in the beginning, if you get them used, you can save a lot and then sell them again when your child grows out of them, or reuse them on your future children. I'd say that the number one benefit for me is that I actually enjoy changing diapers. And you may not believe it, but Euan does too.

For more information about cloth diapering go to http://www.diaperpin.com/

Goodbye Daisy

I've always hated it when people give up their dogs after they have kids. The dog starts out as the center of their world- usually he has a spot in the house (sometimes in the bed), a spot in the car, and a spot on the couch until baby shows up. All of a sudden everyone's best friend has a new spot in the back yard staring in the sliding glass window wondering what happened. I stupidly decided I needed a dog when I was a few months pregnant. I was supposed to be walking every day and a dog would make me do it. She did. We found Daisy at the pound in October. We couldn't believe our luck to have found a Border Terrier at the pound. Euan grew up with Border Terriers as they are a Scottish breed, and his mom actually has one now. Daisy was adorable, energetic and loved to go for walks. After watching The Dog Whisperer religiously for a few weeks, I thought I could definitely handle a little Border Terrier. I remember bringing her home thinking how mellow she was- she was recovering from her spaying surgery. Boy was I surprised the next day when I got out the leash and she started jumping up and down as high as my shoulder. She pulled me to the car and refused to ride anywhere except on my lap. She was cute, but we decided we needed some help. We spent a fortune on a trainer that comes to your house and teaches you and the dog. I promised Euan that I would definitely reinforce her training and work with Daisy every day. And I did, until my pregnancy progressed and I didn't feel like chasing her when she got up from her down stay. Those walks that we were supposed to go on every day became too difficult for me and we began to frequent the dog park instead. The cats were completely pissed off. She was worth it though. She was so cute and everyone wanted to know what breed she was. However, once the babies were born things got harder. Suddenly our small house seemed miniscule, and Daisy following me from room to room just wasn't working. I was afraid she would scratch one of the babies when she jumped up, and there was no way I could put the babies anywere near the floor. Not that she wasn't good around them, she was, she just had a tendency of getting very excited. When she chewed up her collar, her bark collar, 5 of Euan's socks and my brand new flip-flops over the course of two days, I decided I just didn't need one more baby in the house. After a lot of deliberation, and several changes of heart, we finally decided to start looking for a new home for her. We knew that we couldn't give her to just anyone; It had to be a family with a lot of time and energy. We found it! Actually Quincy found them. Her friend and teaching partner happened to want a dog and she had two teenage boys with lots of energy! It was love at first site. They came and got her a week ago. It was sad to say goodbye, in fact I tear up whenever I think about it, but I know that she will be happier there. I just got an update today and it is all good news. Her new family loves her, she went on vacation with them this weekend and was the belle of the ball. I'm glad she is somebody's baby again. I'm sad that the girls won't know Daisy, but we have our house back. The girls now have a rug on the floor to play on. I'm still mad at myself for getting a dog in the first place but at least there is a happy ending.

Happy Father's Day!

We love you Dad!

Pictures for Dad

We love and miss you, Dad!

Breastfeeding Twins

When I first saw a picture of a twin mom breastfeeding I remember feeling a mixture of shock and awe. It looked so difficult, almost freakish. Many of my friends had just had babies when I found out I was having twins and the stories of their breastfeeding challenges left me more then a little nervous and doubtful that I would be able to pull off the double feeding. However, I had also heard that feeding both twins at the same time was the only way to ensure that you would have any time for other things like sleeping. Therefore, I was determined to at least try double breastfeeding. It wasn't easy at first. In the hospital, breastfeeding was the reason for a couple of major breakdowns. The babies just didn't seem to know what to do, and neither did I. Luckily there were a few different lactation consultants in our hospital. It turns out that not all lactation consulatants are created equally. The first one had us using a tube attached to my breast to drip formula through. What a waste of time! As if breastfeeding isn't hard enough without attaching a tube to your nipple! (The SNS system has helped lots of moms it just didn't work for me.) She also said not to try feeding both at the same time until I was an expert. Good thing I didn't listen. I knew I wanted them both on the same schedule asap, so from the beginning I tried to attach them both at the same time. During those early days I was also supplementing with formula and was so worried about how much food they were getting. It is funny that I can hardly remember that now. It is only 3 months later, and I am definitely a breastfeeding pro. I'm so happy that I went with my gut and breastfed both babies at the same time. It makes life much easier now. I'm not sure exactly how breastfeeding both will go as my babies grow, but I know that if it can be done, I will do it.

Isla Can Roll Over!

We miss Daddy!

The girls and I drove up to Humboldt yesterday. We left at 2:00 and didn't arrive until close to 10:00! We had to stop twice to feed and twice for gas. This trip wasn't quite as easy as the last one. Isla didn't want to stay asleep. We are glad to be here. We are staying at Kristi's beautiful new house. The girls and I have taken over Alex's room. We brought our bassinets, bouncy seats, changing pad and lots of clothes! We are even trying to stick to cloth diapers while we are here.

So far we have just been trying to maintain our schedule. Last night was pretty rough. Fiona didn't feel like sleeping, so slept with me most of the night. I'm hoping after a day of regular naps, things will go better tonight. Kristi and co are at Alex's baseball game, but I decided to stay here and try to keep our schedule. Plus it is really windy out today, so taking the girls to the game wasn't much of an option. I made the mistake of not bringing the Snap-n-go stroller, so don't have anything to use with car seats. I'm not sure what I was thinking. We wish Dad could have come with us, but I guess someone has to stay home and make some money. We love you Dad!

Best Babies Ever!

They slept through the night!!! They went to bed last night at 8:45 and didn't wake up until 4:50! That is 8 hours of sweet, sweet, uninterrupted sleep! Isla wouldn't even have woken up. We had to wake her up to eat with her sister. This is what we have been dreaming about since the days of waking up every three hours. My fingers are crossed for more of these nights to come. I feel very well rested!

I Got a BOB!

After doing all of my double stroller research -ok those of you that have asked if I'm beginning to get bored not working, there's your answer- I came to the quick conclusion that the only strollers worth having are the coveted Mountian Buggy Urban Double (MBUD by those in the loop) or the ever popular Bob. Since I'm cheap and love a deal, there is no way I was going to fork out the $500 for a new one of these, so that left me one option...Craigslist. Two weeks of checking daily and I was rewarded with my prize. A Bob Duallie for ....guess how much....lower...lower....yep $50! OK it does have a bit of wear but it is so light and works perfectly. However, I started to go out at 7:00 to take the girls for a run and the sun was directly in their faces. I had to order the sunshield for $60 and then the cupholder for $20 so it isn't really a $50 stroller any more but I'm happy! It couldn't have come at a better time as Douglas's wedding is two months away and trying on dresses motivated me to RUN!

Bloggin'

Well, here goes... We have been twin parents now for 11 weeks and 4 days. I'd be lying if I said we've loved every minute but I'd say it's safe to say we've loved most minutes. Fiona and Isla are definitely the highlight of our lives these days.
I'm going to use this space as a place to record thoughts, happenings, raves, obsessions and possibly a few rants mostly centered around new twin parenthood. I may even get Euan to post a few as well.
To begin with, I remember discussing being a parent to twins before they got here with a friend who would like to remain anonymous . She said, "It can't be exponentially more difficult- I mean you'd be doing all the same things with one kid, you just have to do it twice." (or something to that effect) I'm here to tell you she was wrong. The difficulty in the beginning is exponential. Euan calls it "two for the price of four." However, I'm also here to tell you that it gets easier. It must or I wouldn't have time to be writing a blog! And, of course, it is so worth it!