PreSchools

Preschools...this has to be one of the hardest first decisions. It's the decision that made me feel like a REAL mom. The responsibility was on me to find the very best place to start the education of my twins. No pressure, right?

Well, the decisions get harder as the days go by but as I'm finding out, there are many great preschools out there and it's hard to make a "bad" decision. We are blessed to have many great options here in Columbus and surrounding suburbs.

What to look for in a preschool:

1. Religious based or secular based: Are you looking for a private school that is going to offer a religious base for your child? Many churches offer wonder schooling that also has a Bible class or some type of prayer time. Not all schools that are located within churches are have a Christian basis though so you'll have to ask some questions. For secular based schools, look to community centers, athletic clubs and day care centers.

2. Days/Times: This one is important. Of course the most important purpose of preschool is for your child to be prepared both socially and intellectually for Kindergarten but there are perks for the mom too. It may be the first time you get to the grocery store BY YOURSELF since the twins were born. Oh the luxuries, right? Well, you want to make sure you have enough time to drop the twins off, get to the grocery, drop off groceries at home, and get back to pick up the twins. Not an easy feat! I prefer schools that offer 3 to 3.5 hour programs for this very reason.

3. Location: For 2 years I chose to drive to a different suburb for a good preschool. In the end it was worth it but not in all cases. Consider the location of the school and what surrounds it. Is there a grocery close by? Or maybe you can use that time to hit the athletic club. Consider these as the "best" school may not always be worth a 20 minute drive.

3. Friends: It's always nice to pick a school where your child will know a few children. Even more preferable is to place your child(ren) in a class with kids with whom they will attend elementary school. More mom perks: You'll have a friend to get coffee with on the off chance you don't have a million errands to run. =)

4. Referrals: If you don't know anyone who is currently using your preschool of choice, ask for referrals. Do some research and find out how the school is licensed and how many kids to expect in each class.

There are so many other important issues and this is not an exhaustive list. If you have advice for fellow members (or questions!) feel free to leave a comment below.

Making your own baby food

More and more, moms are starting to make their own baby food. Or at least some of it. With my first, I thought there was no way I had enough time to make food with working full time, a baby and a full time step daughter as well. Aside from mashing up some bananas, I bought all of his food.

When I was pregnant with the twins, though, I read the book Ready or not, here we come by Elizabeth Lyons and in it she had a chapter on making baby food. After reading that chapter, I realized it was not as hard as I thought it was (or that my mind thought it was). Nor as time consuming. I decided I would try it when the twins were the right age, which I did. As it turned out, it really was easy and not too time consuming... and again, I was a full time working mom of four at that point. My point, if you are on the fence, give it a try! If you know you want to do it, below are some resources.

The resource I used the most was the Wholesome Baby Food website. This site has just about everything you could possibly need to know about making baby food and feeding your child - from when and what is appropriate at what ages, nutritional info, how to cook it, recipes, and so much more. I used the "Foods for Babies" tab the most. This is broken in categories (veggies, fruit, grain, etc) and then by food. It will tell you at what age it is best to feed each food item, what is good about that item nutrition wise, the best way to cook it and also give you recipes for mixing different things once they get older (many of these combos I would have never thought of, like avocado/banana mixed, but the twins loved it all). Another thing I found on this site was the use of spices in baby food. I didn't know I could even use spices! But how great is that to 'spice it up' and get their palates ready for what is to come later (you can find the spice info under Tips and Topics, then Introducing Solids, then Spice it up). I really feel as a result, my twins like more flavorful food than my five year old does.

The other resources that I have heard nothing but good things about (though I never used myself) is the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron and Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes (sold through Williams Sonoma).

As far as equipment, you really don't need anything special - though there are tons of products out there marketed specifically for this use. I either baked or steamed all the fruits and veggies I made, so all I used were glass baking pans or my steamer insert in my pots. I used a food processor to puree the baby food, though you can use a blender too (I found the food processor worked better since I was typically making big batches). Since then (long after baby food making times), I found a fruit and veggie strainer attachment that goes on a Kitchen Aid mixer that would work well too (I use it for applesauce now and it's wonderful!). As far as storing, I used ice cube trays and lots of plastic wrap (both of those I researched on the web and contacted the manufacturer directly to verify they were BPA-free). Once the food was frozen, I popped them out of the ice cube trays and into glass pyrex containers which I marked with the name of the food and date made. If you are pushed for space, freezer bags work well too. And that's it as far as the equipment I used.

Though I had my moments of "seriously, this is for the birds" thoughts as I stayed up in the wee hours cooking and pureeing so as to stock up, over all I was and am very glad that I did it. I liked knowing I made it and that I controlled the process and the food quality. I liked having a lot more variety for them and different combos than you can get from jar food. I liked being able to add spices. It was a good experience and one I would do over again in heartbeat.

Posted by Wendy at www.themooressix.blogspot.com

What about you?

Has anyone else made their own baby food? What resources do you recommend? What equipment was invaluable to you? What advice would you give fellow moms who are interested in making their own baby food? Please send us a something to post or just comment below.

Questions?

If you are getting ready to start making your own baby food and have questions, please put it in the comments for us to answer.

Nobody Told Me...

Twins Sweat

This is the one thing no one told me about before having twins. The sweat, oh the sweat. I guess when you think about it, it all starts when you are carrying the babies inside your belly! There are many different sweats that you have as a twins mom.

1) Stand up sit down - This is the sweat that happens when you find yourself on the ground playing with the babies at a comfortable temperature. Next thing you know you have a poopy diaper, so you are up. Change the diaper, crawl back on the ground, then you smell something. You guessed it, up again. Then crawl back on the ground only to realize you have been holding it for an hour now because you did not have a free moment to relieve yourself, so you guessed it, up again.

2) The hustle - You are playing with a baby only to realize you hear a funny gurgling. You quickly search the room for a burp cloth so you can catch whatever it is that comes up.

3) The indoor/ outdoor - This sweat occurs when you are outside in the cold, then go inside someplace and try to get the kids settled. You still have your coat on and cannot help but sweat.

4) Let's get outta here - This one occurs when you decide on a limb to go someplace. You quickly bundle both babies, cage the dogs in the basement, carry the babies to the car. By the time you get into the front seat, you guessed it, sweat.

5) Embarrassed sweat - Everyone has been there. You are in public and you have a screaming baby. You pick them up, get them calmed down and back into their seat. Next thing you know you have another screaming baby. Repeat. Not only are you tired from holding the babies, but you are completely embarrassed. Pretty much immediate sweat.

That about sums up my baby sweats! I am sure you are happy to have read this. Please feel free to add your own. I am guessing my husband loves me just a little bit more right now.


Written by Michele mother of Grady and Gwen 6-29-09
www.kotheclan.blogspot.com

Juggling Multiple Kids and Strollers

Here is one member's experience:


My son was a young 2 when my twins were born. I ended up using a double stroller with a buggy board attached for my oldest to ride on.

Here is where I bought it.

http://www.amazon.com/Lascal-BuggyBoard-Maxi-2d-Black/dp/B000R85BKY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1264016844&sr=8-2
It was $90.

Here is more information on it.
http://www.lascal.se/web/buggyboard-maxi2.aspx

There is a list of strollers on this website that work with it. I ended up getting an Inglesina double stroller (very lightweight) off Craigslist. It wouldn't work with the double Combi stroller I had.

My son loves to ride on the board. It is a bit louder, but so worth it to me. He doesn't want to walk at all now though. It is very easy to take on/off (I'm talking seconds here) if it is just the twins. It is very lightweight too. I thought about the Valco with the extra seat, but this was so much easier, less expensive, and he just likes it so much.


Experience #2:

My second son was also 18 months when our twins were born. We did a few different things on our outings that I'm happy to share with you below.

We got the Combi double stoller when the twins were born -- it's a side by side, fairly lightweight (more of the umbrella stroller style), and we still use it (they are now 2). We've gotten tons of mileage out of it and it actually folds up into "4ths" so we easily keep it in our van always and we've made several airline trips with it as well. It's definitely been worth the money and I don't have trouble getting in through doorways,etc. I do have trouble in some clothing stores that have their racks packed in so tightly that there isn't room for much more than a standing person to walk through but I just try to avoid those stores when I have the kids. I don't typically have problems getting through the main aisles, though.

The only thing you should be aware of is, it does not hold 2 infant seats but it does have shoulder straps along with the lap belts, reclines, and will hold 1 infant seat. Combi does make infant seats to fit in their stroller but even so, only one will fit at a time. Having had 2 boys already going through the infant seat stage, I knew that stage would not last long and my husband and I decided it would be better to just invest in a stroller we liked and would prefer using over the long haul. So, we dealt with the temporary inconvenience of only being able to use the Combi stroller with one infant seat and looking back, it didn't seem that bad.

All that being said, here's what we did on our outings with the boys:

1. Used the Combi stroller with one twin in the infant seat, the other twin in our Bjorn carrier and our 18 month old in the other side of the stroller.

2. Used the Combi stroller with one twin in the infant seat, the other twin out of the infant seat, reclined, and strapped in to the stroller and our 18 month old in a single stroller. I could only manage this if someone was with me and pushing the other stroller (often, my then 5 yr old).

3. We also used our plastic Radio Flyer wagon which worked perfectly with both infant seats placed side by side. The little notch on the bottom of the Graco snug ride seats fit over the edge of the wagon so I felt they were fairly secure. I managed many zoo trips and neighborhood walks on my own this way because I could pull the wagon and push our 18 month old in a stroller at the same time.

It wasn't long before time passed and our 18 month old got to the point of not wanting to be in a stroller anymore and preferred walking on his own (or chasing after his older brother) and I just had the twins in the stroller. I know there are a lot of wonderful choices and some really nice strollers out there, but for us the Combi fit in our budget and we're still very happy with it. Feel free to email me with any additional questions and I'm hoping you'll get some additional input from all the other moms who have also been through this.

“A child is abandoned every 18 seconds.”

Due to some interest in adoption among some members of our club, the CMOTC Blog Moderators asked an adoptive mom to give an account of her experience adopting a little girl from the other side of the world. Hopefully you will find this as enlightening as we did.

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“A child is abandoned every 18 seconds.”

Over two years ago and just hours before I met my daughter, I was given a document that explained where she had been abandoned. In that moment, I was simply grateful she would be in my arms that day. I couldn’t wait to meet the pretty 15 month old who had been given to us by God and her beautiful birth country!

Then, just last week, a kind friend sent me a photo of the place my daughter was found. It was not at all how I had imagined it. It was dangerous! This was no place to leave a baby. My eyes filled with tears. I was not ready for this. That baby girl was not just any baby. She was my beautiful, dancing, singing, graceful and gentle daughter. “How could they leave her THERE?!”

On the day my daughter was born, she went from the warmth and safety of the womb to being left alone and cold on the ground. Why was this a punch in my gut? A mother’s heart has no room for injustice against her child. Sadly, my daughter’s beginning is the story of hundreds of thousands of children.

I was 25 years old when I heard about the problem of abandonment of little girls in a certain country. I knew that my daughter would come from that country, despite the fact that we had to be 30 to adopt. And even though God blessed us with 3 biological children, I knew our other daughter was waiting half the world away. I researched as we waited.

My daughter’s birthparents would probably live in a very poor, rural area. Her birthmother would be heartbroken on the day of her birth. The baby she had carried would not be the hoped-for son. She would not be able to keep a baby girl. The rural areas depend on boys to carry on the work of their fathers, to grow up and care for his elders. Girls grow up, get married and move to care for their husband’s family. And a strictly enforced policy keeps the number of children per family in urban settings to only one, while rural families are allowed two children.

My daughter’s birthparents had very few choices. I am grateful they chose to keep her, not abort or kill her. They could have sold her for money. They didn’t. They risked much as abandoning a child is illegal. I love them for leaving her where she could be found quickly. I am grateful for the “mamas” (what my daughter called her round-the-clock caregivers) who lovingly nurtured her. They had very little to give but, they dearly loved the babies in their care. I can’t help wonder if my dear daughter’s parents hoped she could come to America. I also can’t help but think about how much we have in comparison. We, as Americans, have the resources to make a difference. What are we willing to sacrifice to save a life?

I think this question is nothing new to mothers of multiples. You understand sacrifice. Your lives are packed with love-filled stories of sacrifice of your body, your sleep, your time, your expectations, and sometimes even your sanity for little lives. But I think you understand something more deeply than most people. You know that laying down your life, though tiring, is actually life giving. And really, what do we sacrifice compared to so many birthparents’ sacrifice because of disease, war, child-restricting policies, abusive circumstances, and poverty like we do not like to imagine.

Would you please ask yourself the following questions?

Do you and your spouse share the desire to adopt?

Is there a certain age, race, country that you feel particularly drawn to?

Will your family lend their support?

If any answers are “no”, you need to talk it out with your family. You cannot adopt a child without a mutual desire. There are so many other ways you can help. To name a few: you can give financially to help with a friend’s adoption and, you can sponsor a child through many wonderful organizations.

If your answers are “yes”, please begin your research. Let me assure you: You are never ready for the work it takes. You will not have the resources. You will have to sacrifice. But, I know you get that! The mountains of paperwork, the hoops you must jump through, the emotions, the travel all fades like the pains of childbirth. Nothing can compare you for the day you meet YOUR child.

My precious daughter prays every night and says, “Jesus, thank you for my ‘flamly’.” Honestly, I have never taught her to pray that. I think she deeply understands something I cannot. Even at 3 years old, she knows family is HER gift from God. I hope someday, in spite of her finding place, she will believe something else. I hope she will also understand deeply what the names mean that we chose for her. Everyday at naptime I hold Grace like a baby and look into her black, almond shaped eyes. And when I do, she looks up at me because she knows what Mommy will say. I tell her what those names mean. “Grace, you are our little pearl of grace. You are our precious gift!” And she smiles.

Scientific Link to Autism Identified

Wendy asked me to post this on the CMOTC blog, as it might be relevant to many of us twin moms. I found this article fascinating and scary at the same time:

This article gave me the chills. Seriously. I would like to find more info out about this group and their work. Thought I'd share.

Mixing up some fun and creativity

And maybe some fine motor skills too!

Here are some great recipes for creative (but non-edible) fun!

Flubber*
1 tsp. Borax powder
1 c. water
1/2 c. Elmer's glue
1/2 c. water
food coloring

Mix all together; remove from liquid and form with hands.


Sidewalk chalk*
1/3 c. quick setting plaster of Paris
1 Tbsp. powdered tempera paint
3 Tbsp. water
Glitter (if you want)

You can use toilet paper tubes or muffin pans. Mix everything together. If using toilet paper tubes, tape the end of the tubes. Spoon mixture into the tube or muffin pan; let sit for 45 minutes. Pop out of muffin pan or peel toilet paper tube away. Have fun coloring!


Gooey Goop*
1/2 c. water
2 c. cornstarch
food coloring

In a large bowl, mix together water and cornstarch until smooth. Add food coloring and stir. Play with goop on a plastic covered surface or on a newspaper.


Play dough*
4 c. flour
1 c. salt
4 c. water
4 Tbsp. oil
1/2 c. cream of tarter
Food coloring (optional)

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan. Once thoroughly mixed, you can add food coloring if desired. Cook and stir over low to medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before playing with it. Store in an airtight container or ziploc bag.

Variations: You can add one package of unsweetened powdered Kool-Aid to the play dough to give it color and make it smell delicious (but don't eat it).


Moon Sand*
9 c. colored sand
3 c. cornstarch
2 1/2 c. water

Mix sand and cornstarch. Add water, start with 2 1/4 cups then mix. Continue adding more until your desired consistency. Store in a sealed container and add a few drops of water when you use it again.

Please share some of your favorite crafty recipes!

*obligatory fine print: all recipes are non-edible.