Relaxing

Does this kid know how to relax, or what?  Nothing like hanging out with your 50 closest stuffed friends while enjoying some water.  I'm just happy this kid loves his independent play time!

-Kim

Activity chair fun

Now that the girls are doing better with their assisted sitting, we pulled out an activity chair Ben used to play with.  It's a simple one, just a seat with some toys that circle around it.  We had used it in our bedroom to keep Ben entertained while I got ready in the morning.  (Ah, back in the day when Pat and I had the big bedroom...)  I thought it might work to put one of the girls in it, and then just pull the other close to it while sitting in the bumbo.  That way they could both play with it.  

I brought it upstairs and cleaned it all up.  (It had sat in the basement for over a year, it was bit dusty.)  I sat Sammy in it at first and pulled Ali up in the bumbo.  The girls seemed very interested!  They weren't the only ones who thought the new toy looked pretty cool though. 

The ladies, enjoying the new toy. (Ali left, Sammy right)

Ben took notice and in typical two year old style wanted to play with it too.  He came right over to show the girls how it was played with.  Luckily they were happy to watch him play with their toys.  We're trying to get him to understand that some of these toys are for the babies now, and he is too big for them.  Honestly though if the girls don't seem to mind him playing too we let him.  As long as he is gentle and gives the girls priority with it.

Big brother, showing how the toys work

They love watching him play!

Ben had to wait until after Ali got her turn in the toy.  The girls get first dibs on baby toys.  Ben stayed nearby in case they had any questions.

Ali, contemplating a turtle.

Finally after the girls were done playing we let Ben sit in it.  He is for sure way to big for it!  He wanted the circle tray all the way on, which meant his little legs had to stick straight out.  Even then it barely closed.  He didn't seem to mind though.

Finally, Ben's turn!

It's funny to watch Ben take such an interest in these 'baby' toys.  I understand it, they are things he hasn't seen in a while.  His sisters are getting attention with new things and he wants to be in on the fun.  We try to let him explore the toys as much as possible.  My thought is that letting him play with them will take some of the mystique away and make him realize they aren't that interesting.  Even if he does want to keep playing with them we are trying to teach them that the girls get first go at them.  I am hoping that helps teach him patience and sharing.  I know we will have many a toy battle in our future, so anything we can do now to encourage sharing, or at least not fighting, is a good thing.  And it's really cute to watch all three of them play together!!

-Kim

Happy Birthday, Pat!

Happy Birthday, Pat!!

We love you and are so lucky to have you in our lives. 

Here are some shots of my wonderful husband and the kids' great dad.

We love you so much, Pat!  Happy Birthday!!

-Kim

BFBN: Keeping Cool Outside... Even When It's Unbearable Hot- Guest Post

It's a Babywise Friendly Blog Network trade day!  I'm over at Chronicles of a Babywise Mom with some tips for newborn twins.  I have Emily from The Journey of Parenthood blogging here today!

Summer is here, and fortunately it hasn't gotten too hot yet.  But I know it is coming.  I do not like the heat and humidity of summer.  I hate to sweat.  It's one thing if we are out working out, or at an activity where sweat is expected.  But just randomnly to be out in the middle of the day?  No thank you.  Well, now Ben is two, and kids need to get outside.  I want Ben to be able to go out and enjoy the summer.  I want to teach him and Ali and Sammy to love to play outside.  This means I need to mom up and get us out!  Luckily for me Emily lives in the south and has some awesome beat the heat tips here.  I will for sure be using these this summer!

Be sure to check out the rest of the BFBN to see what they have today!

-Kim

I live in SOUTH Georgia. As in the hottest place on Earth. We are not near an ocean. We do not have cool breezes coming from the water. It's hot. And in the summer? It's unbearable. I know other areas of the country have high summer temps as well, but throw in our insane humidity and I think we win ;)

When summer approaches we see commercials showing family gatherings outside. Bike riding. S'mores. Watermelon eating contests. Every winter we fantasize that maybe this summer it won't be so hot (maybe all that "climate change" stuff will work in our favor!). But every summer we are stuck with the heat! 

Outdoor play is not just important for our vitamin D or for our children to get out of the house and get a break, but it's also important for ourselves. Breathing in fresh air (yes even 100 degree humid air) is refreshing and revitalizing and will help ease the stresses that being a mom brings (especially being a mom who is home with kids all day every day all summer long!). 

Here are some tips for beating the heat so you can enjoy your summer fun:

1. Go Out Early (or Late): Being a Babywise Mom my kids are all in bed right around 7:00 each night and get up right around 7:00 each morning. I've found that if I get out to walk with the kids between 8-9 I can usually beat the heat of the day. We've had luck with not being overly hot when going on family walks after dinner as well (around 6:30) but that's not always possible...and the further into summer we get the less likely it is it'll stay nice around that time. By having outside time scheduled first thing in the morning it makes it easy to prevent getting overly hot AND helps the kids burn off some energy before the day even really gets started! 

2. Go Out OFTEN: I'm a person who doesn't like to sweat. I loathe it. I am also a person who gets sweaty SUPER easily. This is my first summer with the goal of getting outside EVERY SINGLE DAY. And guess what? It doesn't seem as hot to me as usual! I truly believe that by exposing yourself (and your kids!) to the weather every day will help adjust to it. As it slowly warms up, we just adjust to the new temps. #science

3. Have a "Cool Off Supply Box": There are many helpful products to keep cool. Not only do we live in South Georgia, but we also love Disney so I've become pretty knowledgeable in products that help keep you cool in the heat. Going on a family walk? Clip a stroller fan on the stroller for the baby. And for those who can walk? Get a Frogg Togg towel. They are legit game changers! I also recently bought some super cool misting water bottles! Everyone can stay hydrated and cool! 

4. Incorporate Water: We are fortunate to have a pool in our backyard so we swim several times a week. But even when we don't feel like jumping in the big pool I like to have other water type toys handy for my kids to play with outside. They are able to stay cool and have fun and still be outdoors! Water tables are wonderful. Not only for toddlers, but my older kids love ours too! Of course nothing beats jumping through a sprinkler in summer time either :)

5. Popsicles for the WIN: We have really upped our outdoor game this summer and go on walks several times a week. It's not always fun for the kids to walk beside the stroller so we've made it part of our routine to have a popsicle when we get back home. We sit on the back porch (under the fan ha!) and cool off and eat our popsicles. It's amazing how quickly a little popsicle can help cool you off. SO many foods are great frozen (my kids love bananas, blueberries, even apples!) and are easy to take outside as a snack. Even if they thaw out a little they will still be nice and cold and refreshing!

6. Setting Spray: This is a tip just for the moms who may be like me and like to wear makeup even when playing outside in the yard. I'm the mom who has learned if I don't get fully ready for the day before my kids wake up, then it'll never happen. I get up 20-30 min before they do and get ready and part of my routine has been incorporating a setting spray! My makeup will last all day long, even with our outside adventures! 

How do you keep you and your babies stay cool in the summer time? I'm always looking for tips to help beat the summer heat and would love to hear yours!

Today I needed a village

The expression says "It takes a village..."  Today, I needed that village.  I aim to be pretty independent.  I want to take care of myself and my children.  I feel it is my responsibility to take care of my children.  I love that I feel confident taking all three kids out and about by myself.  But every trip does not go perfectly, and today I needed help.

It was a little trip.  We had gone to the park, and we were swinging by Target on the way home.  We needed all sorts of important things like dino nuggets, bananas, and ice cream.  We also needed to order a cake for Pat's birthday.  Let's be real though, the whole trip centered around getting ice cream.  I have taken Ben, Ali, and Sammy to Target on my own many times.  We have it down.  I push the girls in the stroller and Ben walks along with us.  Today though, I wanted to swing by the restroom before we did our shopping.  Ben had been great about leaving the park, and we entered Target without a problem.  Ben wasn't happy about heading towards the restroom; it was not the normal path we took.  He protested a bit, but I didn't think too much of it.  I mean, he's two.  He whines sometimes.  Then he took off.

I had started to maneuver the girls into the family restroom and looked down to encourage Ben in.  And he was gone.  Just like that, he had taken off and was racing down the store.  Ben has taken off in the past.  He had a big running away phase, but that was months ago and he seemed to be over it.  This was the first time he had really taken off in a store and gotten such a lead on me.  I started for him, but grabbed the stroller to bring the girls with me.  I mean, I couldn't just leave them behind.  I don't know about other double strollers, but ours doesn't exactly turn on a dime.  Add to that I was trying to hurry and it just wouldn't move.  I was calling after Ben, but he had turned and run deeper into the store.  Fortunately for me another mother was standing nearby and told me "Go, I'll stand with them."  She had four girls with her, all looking under 10.  I took the chance and tore off after Ben.  I was able to grab him and sprint back to the girls, who were glowing under the attention of this mother and the girls with her.  I thanked her profusely.  She gave me a knowing smile and was off with her crew.

I don't know that woman.  I had never seen her before, and probably will never see her again, but I am so thankful she was there.  I would normally never leave the girls with someone I don't know.  I was stuck though.  I am glad Ben turned to run into the store, but who knows what sort of trouble he would get into.  He could have gotten hurt.  He could have destroyed merchandise we would then have to pay for.  And what about the girls?  They could have been taken or somehow hurt while I ran off after Ben.  This is where it is so hard because there are three of them, and only one of me.  I needed this woman to step in and help out for a minute.  Because of her I could get Ben back in less than 60 seconds.  She got it.  She stood by the girls so they weren't alone, but didn't touch them or move the stroller.  Once I was back she was gone, not needing an explanation or anything more than a heartfelt thank you.

Could I have taken the girls and gotten Ben back by myself?  Probably, but not as efficiently or safely.  It was my fault that Ben took off.  I wasn't watching him closely enough.  True, I had good reason.  It's hard to open a door, move a stroller, and corral a two year old at the same time.  That's no excuse though.  I should have been watching him more closely, but the fact is he got away from me.  And because of another caring mother, nothing bad happened.  I am so lucky and grateful.

Sometimes we need to let others lend a hand.  Sometimes we need the village to help when we drop the ball.  Today I needed that, and I am lucky someone was willing and able to step up.  I hope other mothers don't find themselves in my situation, but knowing toddlers they will.  I hope if I am there I can be that other mother who steps in and says "Go, I'll stand with them."  We need each other out there.

Thank you, stranger at Target.  All three of my babies are home safe tonight.

-Kim

4 month schedule

I know I've only done this baby thing twice, but each time four months has been a bit of a challenge.  The frenzy of the newborn time has passed.  The baby starts to spend more time awake and no longer just sleeps anywhere and everywhere.  Wake times get longer and suddenly we have more time to fill.  This is where I think the schedule gets serious.  And just when I am really wanting to get our routine even more solid, we are hit with sleep regressions, growth spurts, mental leaps, teething...  You get the gist.  It's a busy time!  I remember this being the time with Ben when I was frantically googling sample schedules to figure out what to do with all of this.  I am so happy I have more experience this go around as the girls were already on a decent routine.  It isn't completely perfect.  Babies change and grow so fast at this age it can be hard to keep up!  But it is working for us.  So I thought I would toss my current four month old schedule out there into the interwebs and I hope it helps at least one other mom out!

Sammy and Ali- 4 months old!

(I want to note this is just for the girls.  Ben's schedule weaves around in there too, but that isn't my focus today.)

7:30 am: The girls wake up.  Either I let them finally get up, or I wake them up.  They have their first nursing of the day.  After they eat I get them dressed.  Sometimes we head out shortly after they get up, for playgroup, to go to the park, or some other errand.  Otherwise they get to play with their mobile.

8:50-9am: They head up to their first nap of the day.  It varies in exact time based on what I am doing and how tired the girls seem.  They nap for about two hours.

11am: I wake the girls up.  If they are already awake they can get up as early as 10:45, but I try to keep them in bed til 11.  The girls nurse, and we get ready to head out for our activity of the day.

11:30-1:30pm:  This middle of the day time is where we have the biggest variance.  It is the one time of day we consistently get out and about.  So while the girls could do another set nap during this time, we don't.  If we are home, they get a catnap in their cribs or bouncers.  (And by catnap I mean about half an hour or so.)  If we are out they doze in the car and on the go.  This middle of the day nap is one of the early ones to not be needed anymore, so I have chosen not to stress on it.  It happens if and where it will.  I do try to pay attention to their sleepy cues and give them the chance to rest as they need it.  Beyond that this is when we play, practice sitting up, have tummy time, that sort of thing.

1:30-2pm: More playtime.  If we are out I aim to get home between these times.  This is usually when the girls chill in their bouncers while I get Ben into nap time.

2pm: Another nursing session. The time between feedings gets shorter and shorter as the day goes on.  This is in part because babies tend to just do that.  It also happens so that it works into the rest of the family's activities better.  I have found it easier to feed the girls a little earlier than try to stretch it out and have them fussy from hunger.

2:30-4:30pm: Afternoon nap.  This is my time.  All three kids are in naps.  We don't have a proper eat, play, sleep cycle before this nap, but my goal is to have a time in which all three kiddos are napping.  The timing just didn't work out any other way for this to happen than to feed the girls both before and after this nap.

4:30pm: The girls get up.  They eat again. It is only two and a half hours after they ate, but it works better to feed them early, rather than have them hungry during dinner time.

5-6:45pm: More playing.  The rest of us have dinner.  In the nicer weather we try to get outside a little if we have time.  Otherwise it just family time.  The girls may practice sitting up more and have more tummy time.  This is also a more laid back time where we get to just cuddle them more.

6:45-7pm: Get ready for bed.  The whole family heads upstairs and I nurse the girls while Pat gets Ben through his bedtime routine.  Then we all do prayers together on the big bed and say goodnight.  The exact bedtime varies depending on how long the girls eat.  Usually they are in bed by 7:30, but if they are still eating I'm not going to stop them at a certain time.

9:30pm: Deamfeed and back to bed.  We dropped this feed at 19 weeks.

After the girls go to bed they are pretty good about sleeping through til morning.  We are still dealing with the early wake a little bit, between 5 and 6.  They babble to themselves and each other.  They eventually fall back asleep until the desired wake time, but for a while it was getting to be too much.  Dropping the dreamfeed seems to have really helped them sleep better during this early morning period.  They still wake up once or twice, but they are much better now.  They are quieter and fall back asleep faster.  I think they just need a little time to get all the way past that early wake.

There you go, an average day in the life of a four month old.  Pretty exciting, huh?  ;)  Of course not every day goes perfectly.  Some days we have things like playgroup or appointments that mean we are out during designated nap times.  I love being a second time mom because those things don't throw me as much.  I still try to protect nap times as much as possible.  (Protecting feedings is easy- the girls don't let me miss their meals. :P) I really think consistent eating and sleeping times are so important.  And even at this young age I can see a difference in behavior when the girls are well rested compared to when they haven't had good naps.  They are such happy girls when they have had a chance to sleep!!  It is worth the sacrifices to put their sleep first.  Being a second time mom I also have the benefit of seeing Ben thrive with a consistent routine.  All the work to get naps sorted out it worth it!

I hope this helps some other mom out there, frantically googling like I was a couple of years ago. :)

-Kim

This kid...

... is just a hoot!  This past week he has just been a ton of fun to hang out with.  

He's modeled his hat for me.  He has gotten in to picking out his own shirts, and it is always interesting to see what he goes for.  

He loves to talk to me about everything in the world while in the back seat.  This is at the end of a very interesting drive where we discussed the different Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi characters.  Okay, we mainly recited who they were over and over.  But still, he is a blast to talk to.

Ben pulled out his backpack this week.  He insisted Pat and I put some on too.  We really just hung out wearing them, but he thought it was awesome.

He isn't always into holding still for pictures, but I wrangled him for this one.

Sorry, there isn't really a story to tell with this post.  I just want to remember how much fun he is, right now, June of 2016, 2.75 years old. I am one lucky mom. :)

-Kim