Dress 'em Up

I'm not ashamed to admit that my kids wear clothes from consignment sales.  Why not?  They seriously wear them for 3-6 months max, and then they've gotten so stinkin' big that their tummies and ankles are beginning to show.  We go to about 4 sales a season - some on half price day and some on their regular sale days, in order to fill our closets (maybe a little too abundantly).

As these sales begin in the next few weeks, I think back fondly to last year's post - Ten Tips for Kids Consignment Shopping Success and thought it was worth re-posting.

This weekend, I'll actually be co-chairing our Mothers of Multiples spring consignment sale, and once it's totally finished, I'll come up with a list of tips for Consignment Selling Success for when your full closet needs emptied.

Enjoy!

Twin Tip Tuesdays

I have been trying to find time to blog a little more lately and am thinking that having a regularly scheduled post will help me keep with it.  When I thought about why unique thing my blog has to offer the world, I really think our twin experiences are what set us apart from all the other million "mom bloggers" out there.

So here it is - the premier of Twin Tip Tuesdays.  Each Tuesday, I'll share a little something that helped me along the way, a review of a twin pertinent product, or an issue that focuses on twins.  Usually these will apply to everyone else too - especially those of you who continue to say "I don't know how you do it!"  Well now you'll know...

My first Twin Tip Tuesday recommendation is to find a support group.  I know I know - your kids are such a handful that you can hardly get out of the house (stay tuned for next week's tip) but it's really really worth it!

I joined a local "new moms" playdate group probably around when my kids were three months old.  And it wasn't until they were eight months old that I was brave enough to take even one of them out of the house alone to spend some time with other girls.  It was that bad!

And is it a challenge?  Sure... I had one of the other moms tell me "oh I have two kids so I understand" when I was trying to explain.  No offense - but you don't understand.  Your three-year-old can walk on his own, listen to "stay right there" and climb in and out of his booster seat alone.  Mine - not so much.  Having two kids at the very same stage IS very difficult - especially when that stage is one of much reliance on Mom.  My point is, I feel your pain and hesitation.

But once I dived in, and got to know these wonderful girls, I couldn't imagine my days without them.  We're very active on facebook and chat about everything related to motherhood - kids, dinner, husbands, Mother-In-Laws, breastfeeding, diapering, who needs to visit the doctor and who achieved what milestone.  I am especially lucky that almost all of these girls have kids within a year of my twins age so we have a lot in common.

Having mom friends is SO important to have a sounding block.  My mom remembers having kids, but isn't "in the trenches."  My girlfriends who were in my wedding are still very very important to me (love you guys) - but they have their limits to what they want to hear.  Will they watch a video of your little darling dancing?  Absolutely.  Spend a few minutes talking about what the kids are eating lately? Sure.  But going into the gory details of diaper duty and analyzing the details of immunization schedules?  Not their deal.

It's awesome for the kids too.  Brayden and Julie know all about playing with each other, but I never realized how outgoing Julie was until I let her run wild with her playgroup friends.  I've discovered that Brayden adores running with other little boys and just glows like I've never seen him before.  We get out with them once or twice a week, and it's GOOD to leave the house - especially when it gets a little overwhelming being at home.

Finally - it's good for Dad.  How you ask?  Because Mom's Night Outs are the perfect opportunity for him to spend an evening with the pair of wild children and gain a little appreciation for what you might struggle with every day.  This is only my opinion but - they're his kids too... You shouldn't have to "ask him to watch them" just as he doesn't ask you when he makes plans.  Communicate obviously, but I'm a firm believer that twin Dads need a taste of twin chaos from time to time to be reminded what an incredible breed we twin moms are.

My playgroup branched off of babycenter.com so that's a resource to check out as well as meetup.com or MOPS and MOMS.  Find your place and settle in!

Don't forget to check in next week when I share our process for getting out of the house with two.  A wild ride indeed!

So Big...

I laid there in bed tonight, waiting for Brayden to fall asleep, staring at his little toes.  "Little" being the operative word as they are no longer "tiny."  When did this happen?  I have been sorting through last summer's clothes for our upcoming consignment sale and even clothes from nine months ago seem so small.  Everyone says to capture each moment in your heart as these "baby days" are fleeting.  Each day they must grow such a tiny bit that it truly has snuck up on me.

Looking at pictures, I'm shocked at how their faces have changed.  Brayden looks like a little boy already, and Julie's baby face has thinned and become more feminine with her lovely wisps of curl.  It's incredible really.

And while I reminisce over the memory of these tiny beings, I wouldn't replace these days with those days for anything in the world.  Julie has learned to blow kisses and immitate Dan's "evil laugh" (think "mwa-ha-ha-ha").  Brayden's independence is remarkable, but I have to admit that I love the moments where he turns back to me for security.  He adores playing with other boys especially.  Their rambunctious chase just speaks to the boyish spirit within him.  Julie has begun to snuggle which was so unlike the baby she used to be.  Brayden adores his Dad and is so busy putting little people in every hole and crevice.  They both love the dogs.

Yes these days are some of the best.  And so it's been my nightly prayer that I can work to always put them first and not miss a moment.  I'm always busy... I'm a do-er, not a watcher, and sometimes find it difficult to not be in the middle of a project.  Lazy days are just not in my nature.  So staying home I've filled the gap with playdates to plan, consignment sales to coordinate, and GiggleBuzz which certainly keeps me busy preparing for my first upcoming craft show.  It's so easy to focus on my to-do list and forget to sit and play, read, sing and dance with them as much as I should.  Maybe working moms aren't the only ones struggling with balance.

But those tiny toes, now transformed into little feet, remind me how quickly they grow and that I'm blessed to be witness to every moment.

GIVEAWAY from GiggleBuzz!

I've written in the past about how there are SO many things I've wanted to do now that I am home.  And sometimes the choices are overwhelming!  In the past few months, I have really been focusing on my hair bow making, and am excited to finally launch my business - GiggleBuzz!

I've been so busy making lovely little bows and bow ties that I thought it was just about time that I share my newest passion with you.  Here's some of my favorite items!

In honor of our Etsy launch, we are hosting our first ever giveaway and hope that you'll enter!  Just use the rafflecopter widget below, or visit http://bit.ly/T8dRmI.  The winner will receive their choice of prizes! 

Option 1: Any two Adjustable or Clip Bow Ties
Option 2: A Korker Hair Bow, Shamrock Ribbon Clip, and pair of pigtail bows.

You can even enter directly via my facebook page!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends February 8th at 11:59 PM EST. Open to Residents of the US only.  Prizes cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.  Winner will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. Winner have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.  Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone.  I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.

Meet Brayden at One

You've already met Julianna at One so I thought it was about time to tell you more about my sweet Brayden.  He too has come a long way since I wrote about my expectations for him when I was pregnant!  

Brayden Harrison

Nicknames: Bray, Bray-Bray, Brady, Prince Charming, Brady-Boy

Size: Currently wearing 12 months
Favorite Song: Old McDonald
Favorite Food: Grilled Cheese
Favorite Toys: Gymnic Rody Horse, Little People (especially Princess Ariel), VTech Spin & Learn Top, LeapFrog My Pal Scout
Favorite TV Show: Bubble Guppies, YoGabaGaba or Spongebob (not that Mom is too fond of the last one)
Favorite Animal: Giraffe
Vocabulary: Mama, Dada (which has evolved to Da-ee), Nana, Baba, Bap, Uh-Oh
Tickle Spots: Inner Thigh, Right under Ribs

Brayden is a rambunctious, snuggly and hilarious little boy.  He is on the brink of learning to “run” and loves to walk in a room, catch your eye, and run out – only to repeat time after time for minutes on end.  He loves to laugh and has this contagious giggle that not even the most stoic could resist smiling for.  The most random things will get him going – the word “hundred,” a fake sneeze or hiccup, Mom crying hysterically, Dad bumping his head on the chandelier, and “alligator chomps” are some of his favorites about which to laugh. 

A warm, fluffy bed is “his spot” especially snuggled in between his parents.  He can have a conversation with his eyes and is such a little “flirt” when it comes to all the ladies he encounters as we go out.  He surely has his daddy’s charm.

Brayden is intense and at times can have a temper.  It’s obvious that he knows what he wants, and gets frustrated when it doesn't work how he expects.

 

He loves to carry around a balloon, and to pull ribbon off the spools.  He dances to every song he hears – bending his knees and bopping up and down.  His soft voice will sing along to a lullabye or song on tv when he’s getting drowsy.  He loves princess Ariel’s red hair with a passion and we joke that someday he’ll marry a red-head. He is my little Irish imp that stole my heart the moment our eyes met.  I am so incredibly lucky to be his Mom.