Baby Proofing

We were really lucky that we moved when the girls were about 7 months old (yes, it has been a year since we moved into our gorgeous home!) and took the opportunity to baby proof as we moved in. Ok, that may have been the ONLY lucky thing about moving with two infants!

When we moved in, we designated rooms that would be NOT baby proofed, and outfitted them with door knob covers so that toddlers could not easily open those rooms. We also got some knob ties for the kitchen, so the girls can't get into the cabinets. At the time, I had searched for something for the sliding closet doors and didn't find anything, so we had  been using some weights and pieces of the foam matts to keep the girls out of them (not perfect but it worked). 

The one room that I have been putting off baby proofing, oddly, is the nursery. The sliding door was left untouched and the girls' dresser not baby proofed. We usually just bring them in there to change them and put them down for naps or bed time, so it was just our policy to keep the door closed when the room was not in use. 

Finally, a few things have come up as things that needed some care. Like the faucet in the tub that the girls are now fascinated with, and seem to always want to play around - I was worried the girls would wack their little heads on its sharp edges.  Josie also has an obsession with closing doors, so we had to find something to stick on the doors so she can't close any fingers in there, her own or Alex's.  

I still have a few things I want to take care of in their room, for example leaving the monitor chord hanging within reach isn't great, especially with Alex wrapping things around her neck (she is mimicking purses and necklaces). I'd also like to secure the furniture to the walls, so any future unsupervised climbing, especially when they move to real beds, doesn't result in any injuries.

Our number one goal with products is to find things that are not permanent, don't require drilling into walls or furniture, are applied easily, and wont damage surfaces. Its a tall order, but can be done! Although I suspect we will have to drill the girls' dresser to the wall. 

In the meantime, here is some of the stuff we got, that is working wonders. 

Munchkin brand Drawer clips - they stick on with some 3M adhesive, so you can remove it later. The lock
releases when you push down on the top and bottom buttons. Click here to buy them. 

This is as open as the drawer can get - while they can still pinch fingers in there, so its not perfect,
this is better than finding all of their clothes on the floor. The design of the drawer made it hard to
attach these to allow NO opening at all.

Not sure where these were last year when I was searching for a product to keep our sliding closet doors closed,
but these are perfect. They lock open, keeping both sides from being able to move, then you can unlock them and use the
closet as needed. Just lock them back up when done. Super easy to use! Click here to buy them.

Josie was really annoyed by these locks at first! (Note the package says you can get away with just one per door, but I thought I would just use two per door as they weren't expensive and I want the additional protection from strong babies!) These are also applied with 3M tape, so easy to remove later. By the way, for removal of 3M tape, I recommend using a hair dryer to soften the adhesive, then removing. Then use a product like GooGone to remove any residue.

Alex (unhappily) posing with our cabinet door locks. These are great and I was so happy my mother in law approved of their looks! Click here to buy them. They are really sweet looking, easy to use,
and are made in the USA by the physically and mentally disabled ! 

A really soft, understated faucet cover for the bathtub. Let me tell you how hard it is to find something NICE for the bathtub faucet. Why does baby proof need to be synonymous with hideous cartoony designs? Its not like we want to attract the babies to the unsafe item, right? Finally came across this one and was sold. Click here to buy. 

                              

Here are the little door safety guys I found. They were super cheap on Amazon (click here to buy) a pack of 7 was $5. When not needed on the lip of the door, you can stick them on the door knob. We have also outfitted some doors with door stops, to keep them open.

The doorknob covers are these guys - you can see one in action on the laundry room/bar room in the next picture (purchase here):

And we set up our baby play yard as a gate around our TV Stand, and little foam corners for the coffee table. 

Catching Up! Bounce House Parties and an Update

Here are some photos from a Bounce House Birthday Party we attended. The girls refused to nap early, and were pretty darn tired. Josie was really jumpy and not really enjoying anything fun until we were there a while, but turned around once she got into it.

Alex chose, and put on, this bow all by herself, and left it on for the whole party!

This is me trying to get a cute picture of them dressed so cute! Nope.

 

I was really impressed with how EXCITED Alexandra was to go down the big scary slides (even my heart was racing!) and throw balls around in the bigger bounce house and climb onto platforms and bounce off the walls. She is one brave cookie!!

Family photo, thanks to Kenchy!

I learned, though, that parents of children who need attention in bounce houses (i.e. before they are old enough to go it alone) should wear sports clothing and perhaps even a jogging bra. I was in jeans and was sweating to death, and not comfortable enough to move around and really get in there with the girls!

At the end of the party - looking pretty tired!! 

And cake-face-y

Just a quick update on the girls: they have really started talking up a STORM this past week. My goodness! So much talking and telling stories! Josie is over her short period of fear and jumpiness - she is a bit clingy still, but isn't busting out into tears at the slightest noise. I do notice a GIANT tooth coming in, so I wonder if that is part of it. 

The word of the week is "NO" and they are both saying it constantly. We are trying to just say yes, but its not working. They say it so sweetly, too, that its hard to really dislike it too much ;) 

At our last swim class, the instructor had us parents blow bubbles in the water, with the idea that the kids would do it soon themselves. Well all week the girls are blowing bubbles anywhere they can - in the tub, water glass, water table, you name it. I can't wait to take them to class again soon so they can do it in the pool!! 

On our way to swimming!

Alex is finally saying "Ma" and using it in context to refer to me. Josie, yesterday, said Mama clear as day but was pointing at two men on tv...so. Hmm. The girls are looking for people when they aren't home now - they go and knock on the guest room door looking for "Da" and will knock on closed doors looking for people. Their knocks are very cute with their tiny fists!! 

We also have them eating yogurt with a spoon now, almost with no mess! I am pretty excited about the food possibilities this opens up! 

I have a few more blog posts in the works, including a travel tips guide, and an update on Grandma Barbara's recent visit. Trying to catch up with so much going on!! 

Lazy Sunday

So at the end of the day yesterday I was feeling like I had really wasted a Sunday and been a lazy bum. I have to admit, I watched a LOT of TV yesterday - basically I got caught up in the newly released season of Pretty Little Liars and watched like 8 episodes in a row. Maybe not 8, but it was a lot. 

But when I really thought about it, it wasn't that lazy. And being reminded to make a list of "dids" instead of "to dos" I set about making a mental note of everything we did yesterday:

At brunch I was attacked by a double "up" with little arms and fingers reaching up into the air.
What else can I do about that? The double hold. 

Why I don't bother taking weekly photos anymore

1 - Met friends for brunch. This is #1 because I am always proud of us when we get the girls out and we eat out places. Its not easy, and takes us like, 45 minutes to prep to leave the house! 

2 - Fixed my closet AND hung my clothes back up. My closet dowel broke off the wall, so my clothes have been on a chair in my room. No longer!! Not to mention, Josie hung out with me in the closet while I did this. Bonus points for anything involving a baby. 

She took the cell phone I was playing with!!!!

(moments later) She took the cell phone I was playing with!!!!

3 - Organized the junk drawer. That seems like an oxymoron, but you gotta throw away those expired coupons to make way for more coupons that will eventually expire. And charging devices for phones you no longer own.

4 - Organized our mortgage paperwork. I've had all of this in multiple piles in various places around the house for almost a year now. Finally got it into the filing cabinet.

5 - Did two loads of laundry. Extra points since Josie and Alex "helped fold" - meaning, they unfolded stuff I had just folded and put it back in the basket because they were being helpful. :) so sweet. Eventually I moved the folded clothes piles onto the counter out of reach.

Josie was in a bad way after nap time - collapsing in
tears on mom was all she really wanted to do. Teeth I think.

6 - Washed the windows and stainless steel surfaces. OK to be fair I have to do this daily because these spots are where the girls put their little hands the most. AND they love to help me with this task - I spray a spot and give them each a paper towel and they wipe. So minus points for me? 

7 - Emptied the dishwasher. Daily task. Not exciting. Would be more rewarding with a dishwasher that did a better job at actually cleaning dishes. :| Also scrubbed some pans with steel wool. 

8 - Made breakfast and dinner. Made the girls breakfast and dinner. And a million snacks. 

9 - General neatening: Put our things away, picked up toys. Another daily task, but this time it had a purpose - to find Paci #2!! Paci #2 was never found, so girlfriend had to sleep with just ONE paci. She did great though! 

10 - Gave the girls a bath. Seems harmless but this can get really hairy if one decides bath time is over way sooner than the other, or, you know, someone pees. :S Best case scenario the pee is in the tub. 

More love for the Brezza!

The Crocket Family Blog gets a nod at Bubba Baby! Watch our product review for the Baby Brezza, about 1/3 down the page, here!

Not only is the Brezza a MUST HAVE for twin parents, I would highly recommend it to any parents who are going to make formula part of their feeding plan. No one wants to measure powder and water and deal with bottle warmers at 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and/or 6 a.m., whether you have a crying baby in your arms or not, and this magnificent Keurig for Babies takes all of the hassle and guesswork out of that!

Yes, you can buy pre-made formula. However, powdered is so much cheaper and the cost of the Brezza is still a cost savings over pre-made. Also, powdered is less thick, and doesn't stain. I noticed the girls' tummies handled the powdered way better than the pre-made stuff.

No, Brezza is not paying me. Maybe they should be? ;)

Happy Fourth and Happy 18 Months!

The girls are 18 months old now. They are babbling like crazy and even saying a few words. Both of them say "no" and in the appropriate context. Same with "up." Frankly I am kind of over "up" and having to carry them, since the alternative is ignoring the "up" request and having a crying baby holding your legs. I try to remind myself that one day I wont be able to carry them at all. It helps a little, but still. 

These two characters!

I keep calling them the babies, which I guess I shouldn't as they aren't babies anymore. We have a friend due with a baby on January 6, which makes me realize that their baby will be two years younger than ours - TWO YEARS. How is that possible?! 

Alex and Josie have kind of stopped growing, well they are getting a bit taller, but for the first time ever I had to buy more clothes of the size that they have been in forever because they have destroyed the clothes they had. Until now they grew out of clothes before items were too gross to be seen in public. Oh well, can't complain about having to buy cute girly outfits! 

The girls are also randomly picky. Today they will devour the BBQ chicken and watermelon you give them. Tomorrow, that gets thrown on the floor with a forceful "NO." Today, NO CHEESE. But tomorrow, give me all of that cheese. Josie loves pasta, picks out the meatballs. Alex loves meatballs, picks out the pasta. No one likes vegetables, even covered in melted cheese. How the heck is a cook supposed to work with that? Its frustrating. I sometimes feel like I should just skip the meal prep and clean up and throw food directly in the trash. Unless its a squeeze pouch - then its devoured in 10 seconds with cries for "MORE" after its gone. Or a banana - bananas are always a hit. 

Watermelon = vampire baby

We had a very fun Fourth of July. James and I are insane and, when it looked like nothing was going on on the 4th, we decided to throw a party. We had friends bring food and we were surrounded by tons of love, lovely people, happy times, baby pools, water balloons, and squirt guns, toddlers having fun and getting messy, good eats and drinks, s'mores, a fire pit, and a tree top view of some fireworks (sorta, if you looked really hard.) Either people are just being nice or everyone actually had fun. 

Set up!

Water balloons!

Photo credit: Kenchy

Photo credit: Kenchy

Photo credit: Kenchy

Hanging with mom

Later in the evening

S'mores

I was commenting to someone - a year ago I would have NEVER ever thought I would throw a party this year. And surely, I would not have thought it would go so well. But the girls were having a blast playing in the yard during set up and clean up, and now that I can cook and clean while they are awake, its really no problem. We also took them grocery shopping with us for supplies and they were awesome.

Having small children is a bit like being benched. We are slowly getting off the sidelines as the girls get a bit older and their abilities and needs change. Its fun to be getting back in the game - though the game is a bit different than it was before!