How nice it is to be me again!

(Nor Cal Mommy)

Since Baby Bear was born, Daddy and I haven’t spent much time together alone. I’ve heard over and over from other moms that it’s crucial to being happy. I, like many other moms I’m sure, felt that it was too difficult…getting a babysitter, planning the time away (whether it is dinner out or a weekend away), having the money…the list of excuses goes on and on! We finally did it though! Daddy’s birthday was the perfect “reason” to take this time for ourselves. His mom came to our house for the weekend- yes, I said WEEKEND- and we went on a quick overnight trip to San Francisco!

Leaving was the hard part, but about a half hour into the drive, we were talking and laughing like old times! We arrived around 1 in the afternoon, left our car at the hotel and went out for seafood and a drink. It was so different being out with just the two of us. No highchair, no food fight, no screaming, no clearing the table on one side, and we actually got to eat! We had a wonderful afternoon doing things we used to enjoy…walking all over San Francisco stopping and going whenever we wanted…we began to remember why we started this journey in the first place.

When we got home, Baby Bear hardly seemed to notice we’d left! It was so great to be home and so rejuvenating to have been gone. I was ready to take on Baby Bear, the messy house, the piles of laundry, and the work week ahead! Although it is so hard to get it together sometimes, it is more than worth it to take some time out for you, wouldn’t you agree?!

Teaching My Pre-Schooler that Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees!

(Montana Mommy)

Once Big Sister turned 4 and started getting curious about money, we started to talk to her about it and what happens when we want to spend (or not spend) money.

Back when she was the only child, things were a little bit different. When we ran to Target or some other similar store, she usually got a little surprise (chance to pick something from the dollar section or a very small toy from the toy section). Times have changed! With the arrival of two more siblings, I now stay at home, (I worked part-time when Big Sister turned 1) and purchasing one small toy is a whole different story than purchasing three (not to mention that we don’t have a ton of space for all these toys in the kids’ bedrooms)! That being said, our challenge with Big Sister was how to make her understand that money doesn’t grow on trees- so she can’t always get a toy like she used to, and like she wants to.

The first step I took in breaking this bad habit was to start telling her a few days ahead of time that we would be going to the store soon and that we wouldn’t be buying any toys or clothes for her on that trip-we would be getting just what was on the list. She was distracted enough with her snack that it didn’t really bother her that trip. The next couple of times I did the same thing: Warn her a few days ahead and then again in the car on the way. So far, so good- no fits! Since this started, a year or so ago, it has gone pretty well. When she is really tired, she whines for a toy, but everything can usually be made all better with the chance to pick out her favorite flavor of popsicles for the family!

What has worked for your kids when trying to teach them about money?

No More Sucker!

Upon the advice of my trusted cousin, I decided before Baby Bear was even born, that there would be no more pacifier (better known in our house as “sucker”) after the age of one. After doing some of my own research I found that extended sucker usage can inhibit baby’s language and orthodontic development (just to name a few), but what I was really afraid of was trying to battle an unruly toddler that will remember for days that her mean mommy took away her sucker security. I definitely didn’t want to go through what some of the parents on Supernanny had to go through! This is the process I used and so far (officially two weeks sucker-free!) so good:
Around 10 months, we began only offering Baby Bear the sucker at nap and bed time, although every once in a while she’d find one and start sucking on it during the day
o No issues there as she didn’t seem to even think about it
• As her first birthday approached, I put all the suckers (but one) in a ziplock and put them away. The one I left out, I put on top of a bookcase by her bed so she would only have it at bedtime.
o That made naptime difficult. We were back to crying it out. Thankfully it usually only lasted about five to ten minutes. Then after about a week of that, she began going down for her nap with no fuss. She wasn’t necessarily going right to sleep, but she was quiet!
• About two weeks ago, I was dreading what I knew I had to do…make her sucker-free for good. I chickened out the first two nights, then bit the bullet and put her down with no sucker. I think it hurt me more than her!
o I was feeling so good- I put her down without a sucker and no fuss! I quietly exited the room and waited outside the door expecting to hear her screaming…hmmm…nothing. Wow! This was way easier than I thought. NOT! About five minutes later, she was screaming. Now what? I waited for a few minutes, then re-entered her room, held her for a minute or two, put her back down and quietly exited.
• Here we are exactly two weeks after her first birthday and Baby Bear goes down without a sucker and without a fuss!

Twins, Twins!!

(Montana Mommy)
When we found out we were expecting twins-and that there was one of each sex- my mind began racing with all kinds of questions: Would they look alike? Would they act alike? Would they get along with their older sister? And on and on. For the first few months, they were close in size and DID look a lot alike! Then things started to change… Baby Boy quickly got bigger and bigger, while Baby Girl stayed petite. Then the major personality differences started to emerge!
Baby Boy is very strong-willed and determined, like Big Sister. Baby Girl lets the other two take charge. She plays whatever they want to play and does it how and when they want. The only time she is more opinionated is when she is very tired-but isn’t that true for us all?! I guess I thought they would all be somewhat alike-but boy was I wrong! What was also amazing was how quickly Baby Boy became so interested in typical “boy things” like trucks, garages and fire engines, while the girls stick to typical “girl things” like dolls and purses.
Although they fight like cats and dogs off and on throughout the day, there are also so many amazing times where they hug one another if one is hurt or sad. They also are good about including each other in games they play. Each one takes on a different role, and I am excited to see how that continues throughout the years. As Baby Boy gets bigger than Big Sister, will their roles change at all? Will Baby Girl stay petite and laid-back? I love hearing other moms’ stories about sibling interactions, especially when twins are involved. Want to share?

Now that Baby Bear is one…

(Nor Cal Mommy)
To start the weaning process, we started right off with milk in a sippy cup at lunch time… but that didn’t go over too well. Baby Bear wasn’t used to the milk taste and definitely didn’t want it in a sippy! Ok, Cousin, what do we do? Her suggestion: Change one thing at a time. Duh! Ok formula in the sippy cup at lunch time. Still a no go. Ok, forget the formula!

New routine: Milk in the bottle breakfast, lunch, and dinner, then slowly integrate milk in the sippy cup starting with lunch, then dinner, then breakfast. After a few days, the transition seemed to be going better, although she didn’t drink nearly as much as she usually does. We are now at milk in the bottle in the morning, then milk in the sippy at lunch and dinner. Near success! Woo-hoo! Next is the pacifier weaning…the one I’m most afraid of! Luckily (and maybe not so much) we limit her sucker use to nap and bed time only. Hmmm…will that just take us back to the days of crying it out?

Breaking Up With Diet Soda (Pop)!

(Montana Mommy)

I just recently decided to give up Diet Soda. I used to drink one with lunch every day, and then somehow I started to have one with most dinners too. Not only that, but I found myself allowing my 5 year old to have a sip of it every now and then, which is just not ok with me! She has enough “junk” food in her life, she doesn’t need soda (or pop as some call it) too.

So why did I even feel the need to rid my diet of this stuff?

1) The artificial sweetener-all we hear these days is how controversial the stuff is. I’m sure you have all heard “it might cause cancer” etc. etc. If there is any question about the stuff, I am better off just getting it out of my diet.

2) The super-sweet drink may lead to an overall “sweeter tooth”. I already like chocolate enough; I don’t need to crave it more because I drink diet soda.

3) The caffeine headaches I got when I “skipped” a regular soda time were awful.

4) All that acid can’t be good for my already brittle teeth.

Will I ever get back together with diet soda? Oh, I am sure that from time to time a diet soda will be just what I “need”, but I highly doubt it will ever be a habit again! Now, I just have to get my food intake changed, so I can lose these last ten (give or take) baby pounds…anybody else trying to do the same?

First Birthday!

(Nor Cal Mommy)

Baby Bear’s First Birthday! My house looks like a tornado went through it! Wilted balloons, left over cake, toys and boxes, a pile of new clothes, dishes everywhere…and no energy. It’s 3 in the afternoon and I’ve yet to put on my face! It was fun though. Now it seems as though she’s officially one. Hard to believe…It is truly amazing how much babies change over the first year. And how much she will change over the next year and years to come!

Since before she was born, I told myself (after talking to other mom’s and doing some research), “When this baby turns one, we will wean her off of the bottle and the pacifier (better known in our house as a ‘sucker’).” I didn’t know at the time that they also switch from formula to milk. So here goes nothing! How will we ever get through the days and more importantly the nights?