Monday, October 29, 2012

Mya and Milani Mondays: Hurricane Sandy, Arts & Crafts

Unfortunately, we are the on the east coast where hurricane Sandy will hit. As my hubby and I are off work, the girls are out of daycare. Rainy days to me equals arts and crafts! I researched last night (while I was doing a paper for school) the kinds of activities that parents can do with 15 month olds. I came across this:

Pudding Paint

What you'll need:
1. Vanilla Pudding
2. Food coloring
3. Clothing you do not mind getting dirty
4. Blanket
5. Paper
6. Plastic or paper plates.

I so happened to have these neon food coloring in my cabinet during the days when I wanted to be baker (among other things).
 Next, I placed vanilla pudding in plastic divider plates and added the food coloring. Only a few drops.
 Placing a blanket that I did not mind getting dirty over the rug, we got to work. It took the girls awhile to figure out that they can place their hand in the pudding. They are still discovering texture.
 Here is Milani starting her art work, but got distracted by Sponge Bob. So, I turned the television off.
 Mya began to work on hers.
 Milani realized that she could eat the paint and got it all over her face.
 The results: Mya's picture.
 Milani's painting.
If you do not mind getting EXTREMELY dirty, this a fun activity to do with your little ones. It exposes them to texture and color and plus it is FUN!

Friday, October 19, 2012

For Moms Friday: Happy 15 Months Mya and Milani

I know. Usually, it's Mya and Milani Mondays, however, their 15 month milestone so happened to fall on For Moms Friday.

Mya


 Hi! I'm Mya and I am 15 months old today with my twin sister Milani. Here is my update:
 Weight: 25lbs

Height: 30 1/2 inches

Teeth: I have 6 teeth now! Four up top and two at the bottom.

Feet: Size 5

Diaper: Size 5

Clothing: 24 months and I think I am ready for 2T (sometimes I can wear 18 months).

 Eating: I have decided to eat table food a little bit more. Cheerios are my favorite. I get cranky when I am not fed first and I start shaking when I see my bottle. I am still a big girl and holding my bottle, even when I am sitting up.

Playing: I still do not like to share and I still take every toy like it is mine from Milani. I get very happy when mommy tells me to clap and I perk up and start clapping.

Walking: I walk with my mommy, but not quite on my own yet. I am a pro with my push toy.

Climbing: Yes, I love to climb on my walker, the couch, the stroller and on my parents!

Fav. TV Shows: It is still Yo Gabba Gabba, but I also like Oswald, Dora, Go Diego Go and Bubble Guppies

 I still do not listen to my parents, and Milani is still my best friend. We love to crawl down the hall together very fast and harrass our dog Snoopy. I love to sing while at Church and go down the pews. I love to talk about anything and when I am deep into playing with my toys, singing makes everything better.
Milani
Hi! I'm Milani and I am 15 months old today with my twin sister Mya. Here is my update:
Weight: 23lbs
Height: 29 1/2 inches
Teeth: I have 5 teeth now. Three at the bottom and two at the top. How did my sister pass me?
Feet: Size 4
Diaper: Size 5
Clothing: 24 months and I think I am ready for 2T. Sometimes, I can get away with wearing 18 months
Eating: I love table food and hate baby food. Anything my parents eat I am all for it. I do not have one favorite food I have several! Matter of fact, anything I eat that is regular food is my favorite!
Playing: I am into placing objects in bowls or anywhere and taking them back out. I love my play kitchen that I unfortunately have to share with my sister. I love to read and now I am into taking stuff and throwing them out of my crib. I enjoy clapping as well.
Walking: I took my first steps a couple of weeks ago. I am standing on my own and I am more confident in my walking and standing abilities.
Fav. TV Show: It is still Yo Gabba Gabba, but I love Sponge Bob!
"I'm good", "ADADA," are my favorite words to speak. I laugh at pretty much anything, especially when it comes to my sister. Yes, I love to harrass Snoopy too and beg for food from my parents
Thats all from Dem Good Time Gurls! See You Next Month!



Thursday, October 18, 2012

Throwback Thursdays: When The Girls Came Home!

I can't believe it is Thursday already! Anyway, it is throwback Thursday where I go back in time when my girls were newborn, or anything that comes to mind that is the past and showcase it. It seems that ever since I had children, I am more of aware of all the mothers that are pregnant or with children. For example, the area in Manhattan, where I work, I see nothing but strollers, pregnant women and my favorite, yup, you guessed it, TWINS! Every time I see newborns, it makes me reminisce of when my girls were that young and the first time I brought them home.

The Story...Summarized Version

I have told this story a thousand times, but, it never gets old. Monday, July 18, 2011, I went to the hospital to start monitoring the girls hearts when the nurse told me that I was having contractions. Now, I was on bedrest for two months already due to my cervix opening at 24 weeks. So, the nurses and my doctor told me that I had to stay overnight. Tuesday, July, 19, 2011, my cervix was 3cm. I was going to deliver at 32 weeks and one day via c-section. At 6PM, Mya was born but she was not breathing so they had to suction some of the liquid out and then five seconds later, she was screaming! She weighed 3lbs 9oz. 6:01PM, Milani was born, screaming! She was not thrilled to be out of the womb early. She weighed 3lbs 1oz. They stayed in the NICU for less a month. They were breathing on their own the next day, all they needed to do was learn how to feed and gain weight.


Mya Came Home First
Then Milani a week later

Together at Last

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

10 Things I Learned: One Year After Having Twins

I usually post about twins on Tuesdays, but because I have been laxed in blogging (my apologies) I decided to post on Wednesday. Wednesday is Words of Wisdom, so in a sense, the topic kind of falls into the category...kind of.

After blogging for quite awhile, I start to run out of ideas for content. I began questioning, what is it that my readers find interesting in my blog? Is it what I write? Is it my twins (of course it is my girls!). I went on one of the twin blogs I read A Day In the Life and one of her posts was the 10 things she learned about raising twins one year later. This topic is way over due, but I think it is one that many would like to know.


Beach Theme First Birthday
The girls turned one on July 19th 2011 and as my fiance and I sat (as we usually do) reminiscing of the beginning of being parents to twins, we couldn't help but come up with the same answers; excited, overjoyed, anger, frustration, stress, sleep deprived, happy, the list went on an on. Not to think highly of myself, but I am really blessed that God chose me to have twins. I am not perfect, I am definitely not a perfect mother (although I would like to think so) but I have learned a lot of lessons through out the way.

1. Do Not Listen To Mothers With Only One Child or Had Children Back to Back: I use to and still receive a lot of comments of mothers who have one child or had children back to back trying to relate with me in regards to raising twins. I hate to say it, although you may THINK having two kids back to back is like having twins, it really isn't. SORRY! Raising twins is very different, it is time consuming and there isn't anything a mother with one child or two children (different ages) could tell you. It is best to seek advice from mothers of multiples. You will be surprise how much similarity there is.

2. Do Not Compare Yourself With Other Mommies: I would get very annoyed at the blogs from other moms of multiples sharing their insights on cooking, activity, while I was about to pull my weave out from Mya staying up half the night. Other moms seemed very calm and collected and here I was during the first few months about to pass out. This also goes back to my lesson 1, I would also compare myself to mothers who had one baby and notice how calm they were. I had to say to myself, they have one baby, they have it so easy. I would even get annoyed when one would write on Facebook or a blog how tired they were with one child. In my head, I would scream "TRY TWO!" Every set of twins are different and I had to stop looking at other parents and focus on my girls. I did get some great advice from mothers of multiples but my family structure is different and I had to do what worked for us.

3. Prioritize: Guess what? Unless you have a maid, that once spotless house is no more. The time you had to do arts and crafts, may have to take a back seat for awhile. Five minute meals and frozen dinners are now your best friend and your spouse has to develop more patience than ever. If a family member wants to help, LET THEM! You are not supermom, you are not going to have it together all the time. Twins take a lot of energy. Just because they are twins, does not mean they do everything in sync. One may start to cry and you have to attend that one and then five minutes later, the other twin needs something. As the girls have gotten older, things have gotten less stressful, however, they are starting to walk....

4. It Is Ok To Cry: The bathroom became my best friend the first few months with the girls. I was a stay at home mom for 10 months and while my fiance was at work, it was just me and the girls. There were times the girls would double team and start crying at the same time. Plenty of times the girls would not go to sleep even though they were exhausted. To regain my composure and not take it out on the girls, I would find a peace of mind in the bathroom and there is where I would cry or yell with the doors closed. Raising twins is tough, it takes a strong woman to do this job, it is not for everyone. Sometimes, while I am feeding one, the other would cry. Who do you go to? Do you stop feeding to attend to the other? It's frustrating, especially when you are home with them by yourself. It is okay to let them cry it out for a little bit, I do not care what the books say. Sometimes they calm down on their own. You are doing a wonderful job, you have a handful, it is not easy.

5. Self-Care Is A Must: If you do not take care of yourself, how are you going to be of any good to the babies who need you? It is very easy to loose yourself when you are raising twins. You began to not care who you look, you are tired and just do not know where you going to find the energy. Some of the tasks on your very long list can wait! If you have help, go take a shower. If your spouse is home after work, let him take care of the babies while you get 20 minutes. Now that the girls are older, it is much easier to get at least 30 minutes to myself.

6. Routine But Be Flexible: Contradicting I know. However, it is good to get the girls on a schedule from feeding to play time to sleep time, however, you do not have to do this everyday because the world does not work on a schedule. The girls are in day care and their schedule there is much different as it at home. On the weekends, I sway off the schedule a little bit. Twins are not robots; sometimes at 11 am and it is time for a meal, they may not be hungry. You do not want to force them to eat because you are on a schedule. Schedules is for your sanity and to make things easier but often times it may not go as plan. It is okay!

7. Trust Your Gut: You will be bombarded with advice from other moms, especially mothers of one child as if they know what is like to raise twins. You know what is best for your twins, you are with them 24/7. Grandparents will be the first to manipulate your mind with stuff, IGNORE. You are the mother, you know what is best.

8. It Does Get Easier...Seriously: I use to role my eyes every time a mother would tell me that. Especially because the mother did not have twins. But, from a mother who is raising twins and is almost out of the storm (only to go back into another, terrible twos), it does get easier and it does get better. Raising newborn twins is probably the worst it can get. Once you get over that, it is really smooth sailing. You are understanding your children more and they are getting to know you better.

9. Cherish the Moments, Do Not Sweat The Small Stuff: Don't worry about the crying and the waking up in the middle of the night. Guess what? This is what we signed up for. There will be moments where you question, what was I thinking? or "I wish I could go back to when it was just my spouse and I for a second," however, twins grow up really fast and when they hit each milestones  and developments, especially if they were born preemies, cherish those moments. Do not sweat the other stuff. Yes, raising twins is stressful, but seeing these blessings that you created, how special they are, how different and yet similar they are, that is what is important. Enjoy everyone "aww's" and questioning when you walk down the street with them (yes, my girls are local celebrities). Most people wish they could have twins (why, I don't know, maybe it is because they have not HAD them), and they are living through you. Answer their questions, embrace them and just enjoy being a mom of twins.


10. Just Because They Are Twins, Does Not Mean They Are Alike: My twins are fraternal and I always thought that in the beginning they would be best friends. Nope. One is very aggressive, the other is laid back. Twin B is developing faster than Twin A. You can't treat each twin the same, sometimes you have to treat them as the individual.

Moms of multiples, you are doing a great job, WE are doing a great job. It does get easier, it does get better, you can seek advice but only you know what works best for you and your twins. Enjoy them!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

31 Day Challenge - Day 4: Throwback Thursdays

Yes, I am back from hibernation! For those who do not know, the 31 day challenge is to blog every single day for 31 days about anything. The point is that you are challenged to blog every day. When I was a stay at home mom, this was not a challenge, this was a part of my day, but now that I am a working and school mom, this is definately a challenge, but I am up for it. I missed day one, two and three, so I will blog every day until November to make up for the days I missed. I decided, in order to organize myself, that I would categorizes for my blogs. Today is throwback Thursdays!

This throwback Thursday is a picture of me while pregnant with Mya and Milani:


Can you guess how many weeks I was?






27 Weeks! The story, my cervix opened 1 cm at 24 weeks and I was placed on bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy. Here I am on the couch in my first apartment in New Jersey, bored! I miss the feeling of the girls moving around my stomach. Post your pregnancy pictures on our facebook page! preemietwinandme!!