Saturday, March 31, 2012

Shop Till You Drop

Spring means sunshine, green blooming flowers, and apparently (in Western Pennsylvania at least) consignment shopping.

Before having kids, I'd heard of these sales - but barely.  An acquaintance of an acquaintance worked at one, and I'd catch a fleeting glimpse of a yard sign advertising a sale at intersection.  We had thrown around the idea of visiting one of these sales while I was pregnant, but decided it was way too close to our vacation to bother.  If I'd only known then what I know now!

I've seen blog posts on other sites about consignment shopping, and wile I'm certainly no veteran to the experience, and some tips for new shoppers.

We visited five sales over the past two weeks, and have fully stocked up on equipment, toys, clothes and accessories to last us into the fall.  For just around $300, I have outfitted both babies with almost all of their non-consumable needs for the next 6 months.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Some of my favorite buys were:
Step 2 Wagon: $6
Brand new Swimsuit from Gymboree: $4
Brand new hat from Gymboree: $3
Ralph Lauren Khaki Pants for Brayden: $2
2 Bumbo Seats + 1 Tray: $35 total
2 Exersaucers in excellent condition: $40 total
Searsucker Dress for Julie for Preakness: $6
Little Einstein DVDs: $2-3 each
Little People Play Sets: $4-6 each



We may NEVER shop retail again.

Stay tuned for when I reveal my "Top 10 Tips for Kids Consignment Success!"

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Julie and Brayden Update: 3 Months




Feedings:  Babies are still drinking about 4 ounces of milk, about every three hours during the day and go about 5-7 hours without milk overnight.  We do one formula bottle every night and I am pumping around every 6 hours.  The midnight bottle still gets about 1 T of rice cereal.  In general, not much has changed with their feeding in the past month, except that Julie occasionally seems to forget how to drink.  She has seemed to stopped with the projectile split-up, which is super.

Daytime: Babes are spending more and more time awake during the day.  This is good for babies, but tough for Mamma.  They’re both pretty pleasant and seem to finally have realized that there’s a second baby in their midst.  Brayden has liked to be held quite a bit lately, and we’re getting better at pacifying them both.  Both babies have discovered their hands, and are able to gnaw on their fingers for a little self soothing.  Favorite toys include the Swing, the Play Gym, the crib animation toy, the Winkle and the Glow Seahorses.  Babies also just got Bumbo seats, have been introduced to their Sophie the Giraffes, and Wubbanubs.   We typically feed around Midnight, 6:00 am, 9 am, noon, 3, 6, and 9.  

Nighttime:  This is the biggest change to report!  Both babies are sleeping in their cribs almost full time.  They are able to be put down while awake, and put themselves to sleep after eating.  The babes rarely wake up in the middle of the night, and are even able to share a crib without disturbing each other.  What HUGE strides we have made this month!

Schedule:  While there’s still not a whole lot of a schedule, we’re getting a little more regular with patterns.  Here’s where we currently stand:
6:30 a.m. – 4 oz bottle, then back to sleep
9 a.m. – 2-3 oz of milk, then back to sleep (Mamma stays up and cleans)
Noon – 4 oz bottle and start the day
3 p.m. – 4 oz bottle and a nap
6 p.m. – 4 oz bottle
9 p.m. – 4 oz bottle (Julie typically crashes in her swing at this point)
11:30 p.m. – Bottle and Bedtime
12:15 a.m. – SLEEP

Outings and Events:  Leaving the house has been made easier with my extension in times between pumping.  I feel like we can leave for more than a three hour stretch!  We have gone to the museum, multiple trips to the grocery store, Grammy’s House, multiple consignment sales and Grove City.  Apparently my babies love to shop because they typically sleep through the entire experience without a peep.  I am one lucky mamma!

Milestones:  Babies are much better at “self soothing” during the night and can put themselves to sleep.  They’ve both discovered their hands and use it instead of a pacifier frequently.  Both seem to have more purposeful smiling, when you enter the room and talk to them.  We’ve begun to outgrow our 0-3 months clothes and fit nicely into 3-6 month outfits.  Brayden’s hair has grown back almost completely!  Julie loves to play in the bathtub and kicks like crazy to splash her mommy.  We’ll often leave her legs uncovered which she loves to give her kicks.  We’re finally getting past the “colic” stage and hopefully by next month will be done with nightly crying sessions completely.   

Monday, March 26, 2012

Twin Tips: Baby Clothes Inventory Sheet

If there's one skill I can proudly share my abilities for, it's process development.  In my former professional experience, I loved nothing more than figuring out how to make something more efficient.  I love to consider all the options, and come up with a streamlined process that makes things easier for myself and all involved.

Now as a stay-at-home mom with twins, my "job" is caring for them around the clock, and there's definitely room for process development and improvements!  As I go along this journey, I'd like to share my "twin tips" that seem to make things work a little more smoothly for me.  For twin moms - try them out for yourself.  For moms of singletons - many will work for you as well.   For those of you who aren't moms, these little ideas might answer the question "how on earth do you do it?" that I get asked ever so frequently.

First up, the Baby Clothes Inventory Sheet.

Long ago in a time that now seems very far away, I was a planner.  My friends picked on me relentlessly about how I had "control issues" and tried to plan life to the most minuscule detail.  The birth of my twins has broken the planner in me mercilessly.  I finally gave up after creating a google spreadsheet (linked to a form document, accessible from my Droid) that tracked my ounces pumped, times and amounts consumed, and "outputs" of my twins.  One document I created during my time as a planner - and now being resurrected for use during my consignment shopping - was my Baby Clothes Inventory.

It's amazing the sheer amount of STUFF that twins need.  One unique challenge for mothers of multiples (boy/girl especially) is that it all becomes a blur when considering the amounts you have in what size, for what gender.  For example, it seemed like I had a TON of fuzzy sleepers.  And I did - but they were all in size newborn for Julie (hand me downs from a friend) and in size 0-3 months for Brayden (which we'd purchased because he was expected to be a big baby).  Had I not had my handy Baby Clothes Inventory spreadsheet,  I would have been out of luck and left struggling when Julie quickly outgrew her clothes.

Now, I am using my inventory to assist with consignment shopping, in order to help plan for the future while snagging great deals.  Download my Baby Clothes Inventory template HERE.

A few notes of use about this document:

  • You can't edit it in Google Documents.  To download a usable copy,  go to "File" (under the title) and   then "Download" which will start the download of the Microsoft Excel file.
  • The spreadsheet is designed for Boy/Girl twins with a column for N (Neutral) especially helpful for things like yellow newborn clothes and the sort.
  • Each item tallies at each size level.  This total is the total number of Boy+Girl+Neutral.  This will prove that yes, indeed, you have a TON of fuzzy sleepers.  
If anyone is interested in this and has a tough time with excel, please feel free to email me and I'd be glad to make changes for you if needed.  

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Wiggle Butt

We don't know how she did it - but Julie scooched her little self over to be next to Brayden this morning. What a lovely sight to wake up to. Brayden didn't even seem to mind. :-)


Saturday, March 24, 2012

Perfectly Painted Pretty Little Piggies

"This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home.  This little piggy had roast beef..."

Julie and I have been playing this game for a few weeks now, and she's just starting to giggle and smile as she feels the tickle on her toes.  And her toes are of course - perfectly adorable.  But my years of fantasizing about all the girlie things my daughter and I will do have gotten the best of me, and those tiny little toes are just a bit too tempting to resist.  I couldn't help it - they had to be painted.

I waited until she was three months old, I didn't want to be unreasonable of course!  And yes, my mother has warned me that babies put everything in their mouths - including their toes.  Considering this, I figured it was important to go in search of a baby friendly nail polish as my personal fave OPI was chalk full of toxins and chemicals certainly not toe-sucking friendly.

When I came across Piggy Paint I thought I may have found exactly what I was looking for.  A great variety of colors, reasonable prices, and (most importantly) baby safe.  Their slogan is "natural as mud," and the paint contains no toxins or harsh chemicals.  It's biodegradable and water soluble making it eco-friendly.  It's so gentle, it will come off with rubbing alcohol, and is unlikely to stain carpets.

I gave it a try and loved the results!  We ordered both paint, remover and a paint pen, which made painting teensy tiny toenails a breeze.  The color had great saturation and looked super after a few coats.

Here's what I picked:

The Cuddles and Kisses Gift Set
Angel Kisses Paint Pen


For our first pedicure attempt we used the Angel Kisses Paint Pen and I think Julie loves it!  Here she is today checking out her own fabulous feet.


Perfectly Pink Piggies

I'm totally a fan and can't wait to continue the fun of showing off her pretty paint job throughout the summer. Next time Julie and I play "this little piggy" - that last little pig will finally have something to cry "wheeeee" about on his way home.



This review is not endorsed, or encouraged by Piggy Paint nor was I compensated in any manor for my opinions.


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Mamma's of Multiples




Tonight I attended my very first "North Pittsburgh Mothers of Multiples" meeting and had a lovely time.  Usually, it seems like it's more effort and stress than it's worth to get out of the house.  The stress doesn't balance out the stress relief of going out.  Tonight was different though.  It was totally worth going out.

So I've been thinking about joining since I was pregnant, but I was working, and waddling and it just didn't seem like it'd be the best time to go.  I figured since we're now out of the pure chaos stage, it was time to get to it.  So I took a shower, put dinner in the crock pot and was on my way.  My wonderful hubby even knew how much I needed the break, so he came home at 5:00 and my sister came over to give Dan some "back up" while I was gone.  Yes, someday he'll need to know how to manage them himself.  That day has not yet come yet.

At the meeting, I got to know a few of the Moms and asked lots of questions about their experiences.  The more I read other twin mom blogs and meet other mothers of twins, I realize how rare the fact that I delivered at 38 weeks really is.  So many of these moms had to experience the heartbreak of NICU life, and I am so truly blessed to have had my sweet babes come home exactly 60 hour after their birth.  God is so so good...

What do mothers of multiples do at such meetings?  Apparently, have fun and relax.  Of course on occasion, I'm sure they do much more important serious things like discuss sibling rivalry and twin developmental stages, but tonight's meeting was just some much needed fun.  We decorated cup cakes!  Here's a few that we made...

Mum's the Word Cupcakes
Mum Cupcakes

Made these tonight!
Sunflower Cupcakes

So super fun and I was actually proud of my creative capabilities for once!  I came home refreshed and actually eager to hold, feed and snuggle my little ones.  And the best surprise of all - my incredible hubby cleaned my mess up while I was gone and now, I feel like I'm not drowning underneath the chore list.  He really is the best.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Irish Eyes







Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Coleman Babes!

Friday, March 9, 2012

It's like they discovered America...

"Oh my gosh - they're twins!"  It's a phrase I hear more times than I can count when we go out to the store.  Other variations include "you have twins" and "there's two of them!"  And I can't help it - I'm a snark.  Deep down I'd like to sarcastically reply "Really???  I had no idea!"  It's like they've discovered America and are declaring my babies "twins" for the very first time.  Then they go on to gush about how lucky we are, how adorable the babies are, and how it's perfect that we have one of each.

And it's not that I don't appreciate the compliments. I know the little old ladies are just excited to see babies, and two babies are of course, even better.  It's just that sometimes, I feel like we're such a scene with the huge double stroller, the huge diaper bag, and potentially two wailing tots.  I recognize that it's unusual to see twins - about 3% of all births, but my guess is less likely in Western Pennsylvania due to some social factors.

Part of the challenge is that in all social exchanges, you're almost expected to match the mood and emotional tone of the person with which you're speaking.  When they're all thrilled and cutsie wootsie, it's tough to put on a big smile and be super cheerful up to eight times in a single craft store - when you're just trying to pick out some ribbon.  Maybe I'm just not a people person.

See for me, I've come to realize that I don't even see them as twins.  I have so much time with them individually, that I see them as my beautiful Julianna, and my incredible Brayden.  They are so much their own people, and not at all "one half of a whole pair."

Then there are the people who are so personal.  "A girl and a boy - perfect!  Now you can be done!"  I am pretty confident that we want more kids.  And does that mean Dan's family growing up was incomplete because they had three boys?  And they want to know how much they weighed, how far along I was when we delivered - and almost seem disappointed when I tell them that they were pretty normal weights and that I lasted 38 weeks.  It just seems a little too much for me, standing in the checkout line, discussing this with my sales associate.  The attention is just so uninvited.

Yesterday we went to the museum, and my brother was carrying Brayden in the Baby Bjorn and my sister had Julianna.  These two ladies came right up and started congratulating them on their babies.  Awkward for them - yes.  Secretly though, I was standing by gleeful that I was able to avoid the conversation myself.  It leaves me wondering, would they have walked up to any family with a single baby, and gushed in amazement over their child and asked all sorts of questions.  Perhaps they would.  And maybe I should be the one to try it some day.  I'll walk right up to some unsuspecting new parent and exclaim "oh my gosh - you have a singleton!"  They'll look at me like I'm some crazy woman, and I'll walk away smiling knowing that at least I got a little revenge.


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Wubba-what?

We've been struggling with getting the babies to sleep in their cribs - even for short periods - so that eventually, they can sleep there through the night.  With mom's anticipated departure set for the end of March, we need to figure out a way for us to handle our pair overnight - alone.  Right now that's a terrifying prospect.

So a challenge in crib sleeping has been that the binkies we use ALWAYS fall out of the babies' mouths, and as soon as they do, the sirens go off.  When I first came home from the hospital, this was CONSTANT before we began current strategies, and I felt like I was doing sit ups with my c-section incision in terrible pain.  So we started shifts, co-sleeping, yadda yadda yadda until we've arrived where we have now.  So somewhere in my online travels, I saw the recommendation of the wubbanub.

What's a wubbanub you ask?  It's a pacifier holder, with an adorable baby safe stuffed animal on the end, which props the soothie pacifier into the mouth.  We could find no where local that sold them here in Pittsburgh, so we ordered from amazon and boy are they cute!  It's taken a while for the babies to get used to them, (and Julie's not quite got the hang of hers) but they do seem to love the softness of these sweet critters.  Brayden's wubbanub is a giraffe, and Julie's is a cutsie caterpillar.  So far, we wouldn't say that these have been "miracle workers" as a good swift swing of brayden's arms and the giraffe will be tossed across the crib.  There has been improvement though, and they do seem to smile and look at the contrast quite a big.  Now if we could keep Duncan and Layla away from the temptation of claiming the wubbanubs for themselves!


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