My top ten tips for two under two

I know I am far from the first person to have two babies under two years of age.  For those of you who are parents of an only child or not parents yet, this might not make sense to you at all.  It might seem easy to take care of two young children all day (and all night).  It might look like I have it pulled together.  I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I don't.  However, I have learned a lot over the past six weeks and I thought I might share some of my knowledge--so here goes.  My top ten tips for two under two:
10)  Accept help when it's offered.  DO NOT TRY TO BE SUPERWOMAN.  It will only make you crazy.
9)  Wear your (newest) baby.  You will need the extra hands.
8) Don't be afraid to use the television as a babysitter in the short term.  We love PBS 'round these parts.
7) Eat your Wheaties.  Seriously, don't forget to feed YOURSELF. It's really easy to do when you've fed 3 mouths before your own sees so much as a crumb.  Usually it takes us 2 hours to get the morning routine completed.  Thank you PBS for your help.
6) Sleep when you can.  You will learn to survive on far less than you ever thought you could.  It's different than it was in college--you're not as young as you were.  You're also a lot less hungover.  So it evens out.
5) Take a deep breath and count to 10, and when that doesn't work, shut yourself in the hall closet and don't come out until you're certain you're not going to smack your toddler from here to South Africa.  Kidding aside, use your anger management skills.
4) Have a glass of wine.  Before noon if you have to.
3) Try not to take your frustrations out on your spouse.  I mean, I certainly would NEVER do this, but asking, "What's WRONG with you? WHY can't you FOLLOW SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS???" and storming off never goes over well. 
2)  Keep your expectations low--of yourself, of your toddler, and of your sweet new little baby.  This is a huge adjustment, and you need to give yourselves time to adapt.  'Simple' tasks like grocery shopping will take you all morning from start to finish. And you will be pooped. And you will have probably cleaned up 4 poops.  Having 2 under 2 really is pooptastic. (so sorry, I could not resist)
And finally, my number one tip for surviving having 2 kids under 2 is=
1) Don't forget to ENJOY this wonderful, happy, amazing, chaotic, crazy time in your life.  It's a blur of diaper changes, poop explosions, huge toddler emotions, never ending laundry, your highest highs and your lowest lows.  Being a parent isn't easy.  But it is pretty fantastic.

Fall Consignment Shopping

As many of you know, I LOVE congsignment sales!  There are a few baby and kid's sales that happen in my area twice a year.  You can find excellent deals on items that are in like new condition and help the environment by saving these items from going into landfills.  You may be able to find cheaper items at garage sales, but what I like most about these sales is the items are-most of the time--already inspected.  It isn't very often that you'll find a stained or ripped item at a consignment sale.  Oh, and the toys work!  It is possible to find items like this at garage sales, but in my experience there is a lot more time, effort, and DIGGING involved! My favorite is the Indy Kids Consignment sale.  It is going on in just a couple of weeks--September 16th-18th.  One of the blogs I follow, INGoodCents is hosting a giveaway for presale tickets to this event. I am very excited about the possibility of getting to shop the presale! If you are in the area and interested, go to her site and sign up!

The other two sales I like to check out are the Whale of a Sale and Just Between Friends.  The Whale of a Sale has probably what I would consider the most high-end items--and also the highest prices!  I still love it though.  The JBF sale tends to have items that are not inspected as closely, so just be sure to inspect them yourself and I'm sure you'll find a great deal!

diaper sewing diva

I finally did it! I finally made the diaper I have been thinking about and talking about making for months.  It turned out pretty cute!  It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be, either.  Except for sewing the elastic into the seem allowance. that part was hard! Hopefully, after I wash it and dry it it will still look somewhat like this LOL! 

I think one of the things I am most excited about are the snaps and my new snap pliers.  I had read that snap pliers were not appropriate for plastic snaps, and that you really needed a snap press.  This is not entirely true.  KAM snaps makes an excellent product that is a fraction of the cost of a snap press (around $100, the pliers are $27!!) and they worked great.  I read the instructions, tried a snap out on a a scrap piece of fabric and voila! It was SO easy. I am very impressed.  If I can do it, trust me, anyone can!

I can't wait to try Staci's new diaper! I will have to report back and let you all know how it works!

Nesting

After months of batting a big fat zero in the home cleanliness department, I am finally getting into the swing of cleaning again!  Once Staci started pulling herslef along, it became almost impossible for me to keep up with this house.  I just wasn't sure how to manage her and clean--especially because I do try to limit her television watching.  I don't think TV is bad necessarily, but I do think she will learn more and be more active if the TV is off.  This week, however, she has watched way more than I approve of.  That is because Mama has been BUSY!  Monday, I spent nearly the entire day decluttering, trimmed the bushes, shined the kitchen sink, hung the second curtain rod up in Staci's room (so we could have blackout curtans and her pretty curtains up at the same time) and cleaned up the toys in both play areas.  That doesn't sound like much, but it took me most of the day. 

Yesterday I didn't get much done around the house because Staci and I spent the entire day out and about with Grandma E checking out her soon-to-be new home and area of town!

Today, I vacuumed the entire house, steam-cleaned the living room carpet, had friends over and went for a nice long walk, did 2 loads of laundry, cleaned all 3 toilets, and steam-mopped the kitchen floor.  Wow, when I write it all out it sure doesn't sound like that much, but I only sat down during nap time!

I think the big motivator for me in finally starting to get our house in shape is that Max and I are considering getting our house on the market and looking for a new home closer to his work.  More on that in the next post!

How do you DO it?!

Since having a baby, our house has become increasingly neglected.  Increasingly more disorganized.  Increasingly more, well, just plain dirty. *hangs head in shame*  Seriously though, I can not find the motivation to keep our house 'company ready'.  And I have a sixth sense things are only going to get worse! I have talked about starting FLYLady on here before, and I did start it.  I never made it past the first week. 

I've been like that with a few things in my life. The diving team, my college major... but mostly when I decide to do something I jump in with both feet.  I guess that's why I'm struggling with this so much. I just can't seem to commit myself to a daily routine. 

Which brings me to the title of this post--how do you do it?  How do you keep the house clean while wrangling a toddler who instantly unfolds what you just folded, pulls out what you just put away, dumps things all over the floor, and then wants to read a story?  I am at a loss!

My New Year's is Finally Starting!

I have been avoiding this post for only one reason: I am a little bit lazy. And distracted. And over-tired. You get the drift.  But as January draws to a close, I am beginning to feel antsy to get started.  My new year's resolution is to begin the Fly Lady program (for the five-hundred-and-eighty-sixth time) and actually stick with it!

For those of you that have never heard of it, go and check out http://www.flylady.net/.  It's a step-by-baby-step program to get lazies easily distracted people, like me, into a routine of keeping the house clean and orderly.  I honestly thought that once I had my own place I would keep it clean.  I moved off to college and that didn't happen.  Then I thought when I wasn't working or in school full time THEN I could keep up with house work.  Nope.  The house really benefited from the nesting phase of pregnancy, but since I gave birth this house has taken a beating.  I'm so overwhelmed with the clutter it puts me in a bad mood.  I don't want that anymore! I don't want to rush around cleaning before people come over so I'm not embarrassed at the state of my house.  I'm sick of fur-tumble weeds.  I'm tired of not knowing where anything is.  It's time to get busy!

Step one of the Fly Lady program is to shine your kitchen sink.  I did this today, and at potentially great peril to my cat I'll have you know--he smelled mysteriously like bleach water at one point today.  So, you can see I'm dedicated. 

In proof I'm posting a picture!  Here is my nice, shiny sink!

Tomorrow's step is to get dressed to lace up shoes.  There are some days  I don't even get out of my pj's, so this is a good step for me!  I probably won't take a picture, so you'll just have to trust me.  That and keep the sink clean.  Wish me luck!

Just had to share

I did not come up with this cartoon, but I wanted to share!  Before breasfeeding my daughter, I always thought I would be discreet while breastfeeding in public.  The more I have to hastle with the stupid cover, the more I feel the urge to ditch it and just not care.  It's just a boob people, seriously! If more women breastfeed without covers in public, it will become commonplace and not so taboo.  So, please, I urge you, if you are a breastfeeding mom, throw caution to the wind and feed your baby without a cover!  Breastfeeding truly is a beautiful thing.  It's not something to be shunned, breastfeeding should be celebrated.

So, what is it that you DO?

This is quite possibly one of the most difficult questions for me to answer.  I find myself saying things like, "oh, I'm JUST a mom" or "I stay at home with my kid".  The problem with statements like these is that unless you have been a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM)--and wife, you truly do not understand how difficult it can be.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what I do.  I feel like all the schooling I've had and the life experiences I've been blessed with have prepared me for this moment. 

Without my undergraduate degree, I would not have a developmental psych, class under my belt, nor would I be able to help Staci learn musical instruments such as the piano and classical guitar--which I wouldn't have had the opportunity to learn had it not been for college.  Also, I'm quite versed in the theory of ballet--even if my technique is amateur at best, and can explain what terms (French terms) mean in English.  So, if she does decide she likes dance and sticks with it, I can explain that 'pique' means 'to prick' and 'port de bras' means 'carriage of the arms'. 

My graduate degree in social work has helped me in many areas of my life.  It has enhanced my interpersonal skills by making me more understanding and more open minded.  Most importantly, it taught me how to research.  I wrote lots of research papers in undergrad, but I truly learned the art of research in grad school.  As a mom, it has helped me research when the best time (and way) to introduce solids, find anwers to my breastfeeding questions, find answers to help us overcome our sleep deprivation, and has taught me that reaching out to others in a time of need is crucial. 

As Staci's mom, I'm her nurse. I'm her main source of food, fun, comfort, and care.  It's my job to ensure that, when the time comes, she's ready for kindergarten.  It's my job to make sure she feels loved.  It's my job to teach her how to eat food so that when she is three she's not still on puree's.  I'm her personal chef, her maid, and apparently responsible for helping her fall asleep (this I did not choose, but I will do it with pride). 

I write this because I often find myself frustrated that I spent (wasted) so much time, energy, and money on schooling.  Our society puts so much emphasis on going to college, yet most of the jobs you can get from a liberal arts degree don't pay a penny more than a job obtained with a high school diploma.  This is not true across the board obviously, but as a high school student I was led to believe that college would solve all my problems and not to worry about student loan debt because it would easily be paid off.  56k later I'm a SAHM who, many times, would gladly trade in my diplomas to have that debt erased.  This is when I must remind myself that without these experiences, I would not be who I am today.  And, to be honest, I like me!  So, in celebration of SAHM's everywhere, I wanted to leave you all with an email I received.  I did not write this but I think it is very accurate!

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office,

Was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.


She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder,
'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'


'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.
'I'm a Mom.'


'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,
'housewife' covers it,'
Said the recorder emphatically.


I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
In the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
Efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'
'What is your occupation?' she probed.


What made me say it? I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
'I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
Looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words..
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.


'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,
'just what you do in your field?'


Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
'I have a continuing program of research,
(what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
And already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers
And the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'


There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
Completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.


As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
Testing out a new vocal pattern.


I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more
Distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'
Motherhood!
What a glorious career!


Especially when there's a title on the door.


--auther unknown

Turning 27 at the Indy Zoo!

Today is a landmark day.  I turn 27 today.  I'm not sure what it is about 27 that is so much older than 26, but I've officially moved into my 'upper' 20's.  I am making it a personal rule to soak in every last moment of my 20's, and enjoy them to the fullest. In honor of this, a good friend from my natural birthing class, Becky, took us to the zoo today!  We had a blast!  We started off at the dolphin show. (check the video banner at the right for a short, like 2 second vid of the dolphins flipping!!)

After, we took a short break to nurse the babes and do some diaper changes.  We made our way through, stopping tor some fun pics along the way.

My favorite part of the day was probably getting up close and personal with this elephant!  I love elephants, I just think they are amazing creatures!  We got to see this one cross his legs, touch his nose (to his nose, LOL) shake his head, and then we got to 'pet' her!  I had never been that close to an elephant before.  very cool!

Thanks Becky for a wonderful birthday out and a fun trip to the zoo!

Max came home and treated me to dinner out (we NEVER go out to eat, I could probably count on one hand how many times we've been to a sit down resteraunt this year) and then to a DQ treat.  I'd turn 27 every day if I got to have days like this!