These Girls!

Check out these grown up girls coloring and working on projects -

Alphabet Soup!

At our local library

And some photos this morning before I left to work!

No makeup yet, though I wish I had Josie's skin!

The ELF Diet

A friend of mine just posted about being back to pre-baby weight thanks to the ELF Diet. I was curious, being in a bit of a standstill weight loss wise, so I looked it up. My curiosity led to complete frustration after reading a few of these types of posts:

Why does this drive me batty? Because when I look at my diet, I just don't see anywhere else to cut from! I haven't had a flavored drink from Starbucks in at least a year. And in the last 10 years, probably 12 total? On very special occasions. Usually its a dark coffee with milk. No sugar. I haven't had a sugar soda in ages - I did drink sugar soda when pregnant as the better choice over diet, but non-pregnant me goes for the Diet Coke or La Croix, or even just Club Soda.

I eat fruit and veggies all day every day. And bread and butter is reserved for a nice steak dinner out, that happens maybe 4 times a year.  

Ice Cream, Cookies or Brownies? What? Dessert happens once a week, if that. I like to have an apple with peanut butter, and feel guilty about the peanut butter! 

FOUR THOUSAND CALORIES?!?! 4000? How was this lady not 700+ pounds? When I track my calories, I am usually in the 1700 - 2000 range. Sadly, whenever I calculate what I need to go down to to lose weight, the calculators tell me 1400. :( 1400! Guess I should be feeling guilty about that peanut butter. Hah. 

Finally, this lady went from completely sedentary, to walking a mile or two, then walking some 5Ks, with a little running mixed in. Well I am for sure screwed there. I already have a few 5Ks under my belt and hit the gym 3 times a week and try to choose fun activities (pool, park, walks) to do with the girls so we aren't all just sitting around eating. 

Anyway, the ELF diet is simple. E.L.F. stands for "Eat Less, Fatty" and basically rather than going on a special diet program, you just eat less, and especially eat less bad stuff. I guess if you already don't eat bad stuff (ahem, wait, I forgot about the peanut butter), then you just eat less. According to the lady whose blog I screen grabbed from, she lost 40 lbs in 5 months. Well shit, when you eat 4000 calories a day, of course that would be easy to do! 

I honestly don't like the put-down that comes with the name "fatty" - that's not fair. I'm not a fatty. Not by any means. I just don't fit into the clothes I want to wear. 

Welp, after reading that, I just had to vent. While nothing comes of saying "its not fair," sometimes you have to allow yourself to say it. And good for this lady, she probably needed to make a huge life change like this, and I am glad it worked for her. Last night I had a subway sandwich (and not the chicken parm or meatball one, one of the healthy ones, as usual) and went ice skating with my friends. It was really hard, since I haven't been in a while and need to rebuild my confidence, but it was fun, and a reminder of yet another activity that doesn't involve food. Whatever, slowly but surely. 

35 Travel Tips for Infant or Toddler Travel

We traveled to Connecticut with our two infants (11 months old) on the busiest travel day of the year and survived. We are now planning our next trip in October with two toddlers (will it be worse? better?) and I've been referencing our last trip to make our lists. I am also pulling from advice we have gotten from friends and family who have been there/done that!

Our two travel posts are here, and here.

1 - Gate check: You can get check strollers and car seats and they will be there waiting for you at the gate at your destination. Having your stroller through the airport is a fantastic way to free up your arms and contain little one. Especially welcome when we had long hikes at gate changes. My brother works the tarmack at Ottawa airport (YOW) and recommends taking advantage of early boarding - if the baggage handlers aren't rushed, they are less likely to beat up your stuff. Also, secure any small or loose bits, as they are likely to get lost while shuffled in the belly of the plane.

2 - Travel bottles: A friend suggested the Playtex Drop Ins for our travel, so we wouldn't need to sanitize or clean bottles through our flights and our stay. All we needed were 2 bottles and a bunch of drop ins, and it took up so little space. These were a lifesaver when the seat belt light was on and it was time for a bottle feeding. We just ditched the old sleeves in a plastic baggie and popped in new ones and made the bottles.

3 - Pre-measured powdered formula: If you are formula feeding, splurge on some of these little pre-filled packets to make your life easier and more compact. We used these during travel and excursions at our destination. Once you get past security, just buy a large bottle of water to use to make bottles throughout the rest of your travel.

4 - Ship essentials to your destination: We used Amazon to ship diapers, wipes, formula and baby food to our destination. It was all there waiting for us when we arrived. This may be a bit trickier if you aren't staying near or with family, but if you are, then this is a great way to go. Some hotels will happily accept packages for you and have them waiting for you at your arrival.

5 - Use the hotel pack n play: We called way in advance and asked the hotel to put two pack n plays in our room. We not only used these as cribs, but we also brought them with us when we were visiting friends whose homes weren't baby proofed or needed a spot for naps.

6 - If you can, bring your car seat on to the plane: We didn't do this going to Connecticut, our thinking was we would rather have a whole row to use as a couch for all 4 of us. On our way home we did use the third seat we had purchased for the car seat and it was great. It allowed one of us to have our hands free to make bottles, go to the bathroom, etc. while the other held a baby. Better than us both having a baby to control. Also, Josie slept the whole time we were flying, and was very content in her seat.  Note that getting the car seat onto the plane was a hassle, since both our arms were full with babies.

7 - Bring a click-on frame or umbrella stroller: We had a frame stroller on which our car seats clicked on that we brought. I highly recommend that over a bulky stroller PLUS car seats. In the fall, we plan to check our convertible car seats with the ticket desk and use our umbrella strollers through the airport. So much easier to pack in the rental car, plane, hotel room, etc.

8 - Rent your baby needs: There wasn't a baby items rental near us at Christmas, so we didn't do this, but most major cities have a local baby supply rental company that will drop off your needed items at your destination so they are ready for you when you get there, and pick them up after you leave. I have heard nothing but rave reviews for this type of service.

9 - Buy cheap and donate: A friend shipped two portable $20 high chairs to her destination via amazon to use with her twins while on vacation. At the end of her trip, she donated them to charity. You could do this with any reasonably priced baby item.

10 - Get a travel car seat: I have heard many recommendations to buy a light, travel car seat specifically for the trip. This is a great way to avoid potential damage to your nice every day car seats, and having a light version certainly wouldn't hurt! The Cosco Scenera is regularly recommended for this purpose.

11 - Bring a roll of masking tape: Cover the seat with masking tape for your little one to rip off for at least a few minutes of distracted entertainment. Also entertaining: a favorite toy, a few extra plastic cups from the stewardess, hand over the safety guide or in flight magazine, let baby look out the window, bring fully charged ipads, kindles or phones in airplane mode loaded with baby specific games.  And make special exceptions for all day use of a nap/sleep time only items like a lovee and pacifier.

12 - Take advantage of a luggage cart: Some airports allow you to take the luggage cart (the one you get at baggage claim) all the way to the gate! I am going to test this theory in a few weeks, and grab a luggage cart before we even try to make our way through security and the airport.

13 - Take two cars: When we flew for Christmas before the girls turned 1, we had to bring a very bulky stroller, two infant car seats and a ton of luggage that didn't fit in the trunk with everything we had. James drove his car with luggage and parked it at the airport while my sister drove my car with me and the girls in it (plus stroller, carry ons, diaper bags, luggage, etc.) and dropped us off right at the curb of the airport with our car seats.  It was nice to have our car seat bases in the car on drop off and pick up!

14 - Ditch the Base: Infant seats come with a base that we tend to rely on. We were so reliant on the bases that I was planning on packing them and bringing them with me, until I realized there was no way they would fit in our luggage. No need. Watch a few youtube videos on how to install your infant seat into a car without the base, then do that in the rental car. You will get super good at it in no time!

15 - Rely on the kindness of others: If anyone offers to help, seriously consider it. Common sense should prevail - don't leave your kid with a stranger while you use the bathroom - but otherwise, take advantage of all friendly, well meaning offers.

16 - Don't stress: I remember thinking that security would be our worst hurdle - unlike the check in lines and bag check, I couldn't just stand to the side with the girls, we had to go through it together. We also had a massive amount of stuff, and would have to hold babies while loading stuff on and off the conveyor belt. It was tough but we made it. Once we got through security, I let myself relax. I am a believer that the babies can sense your tense mood which will get them nervous and cranky. I even treated myself to a glass of wine on the plane.  

17 - Know you and your baby: a few people wondered why we didn't red-eye it to the East Coast. I know that whenever I fly a red eye, I am worthless the next day. Even if it meant the girls sleeping the whole way, I didn't want to be useless AND in charge of them after no sleep. The girls ended up napping just fine on the way there during the day time, and I didn't feel totally wiped out. You just never know - what if they had been awake the whole night time flight? What works for others may not work for you, so don't stress over ignoring some inapplicable advice.

18 - Keep your documents handy: We brought birth certificates and immunization records for the girls with us, and I had my travel documents as well. I kept them all in a pocket of the diaper bag I could get to even if I had a baby in my arms, instead of deeper in the bag or in my purse. You don't necessarily need documents for domestic travel, but its nice to have them handy just in case, and especially if your lap sitting and need to prove your child is under 2. Also, note, that it does take 6 weeks to get a passport, so look into this early.

19 - Tylenol and Benedryl: First, keeping these first aid items handy is smart to do anyway, just in case. Second, some folks swear by a little Benedryl before a flight to get the baby to sleep. We gave the girls Tylenol in the hopes that that would ease any ear pain for the landings and take off, but may have also had a nice bonus side effect of some good naps.

20 - Liquid on Take Off/Landing: Have a small bottle ready for take off and landing, so baby can suck on something and pop their ears. Just a paci can work as well.

21 - Keep a change of clothes super handy: One of the girls had a leak and needed a change. I had put a diaper, wipes and a change into a ziplock bag, and appreciated simply having to take that out and hand it over to James in this emergency situation.

22 - Bring a change of clothes: Some people recommend bringing a change of clothes in your carry on for mom and dad, too. I would definitely recommend that for any spit ups, pukes, leaks, or even an unexpected layover.

23 - Have two diaper bags: Diaper bags are a "free" carry on, and don't count towards your items. For our longer flights, we had two. I packed one with what we would need in the next few hours that I kept under the seat in front of me, and the other with re-fill items that went in the overhead bin. At the layover, we restocked the one we kept close with items from the back up bag. (diapers, wipes, formula packets and bottle inserts). I also had our emergency layover kit (change of clothes & PJs) in the back up bag.

24 - Have your liquids ready: I had all of our liquids in a ziplock bag ready to pull out at security, including squeeze packs of food, jarred food, medicines, and butt paste. Just having it all ready to go is easier on you when you are in that rush.

25 - Bring a TON of plastic baggies on the plan: Large and small. We used these to contain poopy diaper smells, to throw away any excess liquids (like bottle liners), throw away trash we didn't want the girls getting into, for change kits to bring to the restroom, to store dirty clothes or bibs, to store dirty spoons and open squeeze packs, etc. etc. You think you have enough then you realize how useful they really are. Plastic zip baggies are great for poopy diapers in the hotel room, too.

26 - Bring some baby-proofing with you:  Pack some extra outlet covers for the hotel room. One less thing to worry about in there. Babies seem to know where all of the outlets are and investigate them immediately. They don't take up much room and are a life saver. Other things to consider are door stoppers and finger protectors.

27 - Bring some giant binder clips with you: You can use the clips to string extra blankets or towels around the pack in play in the hotel room to keep it dark and make baby feel more cozy. Also so baby can't stare at you when the baby is supposed to be sleeping and you are watching netflix in the dark on your ipad.

28 - Bring baby's blanket: We used the blanket for everything - as comfort and warmth on the plane, for warmth in the car seat in the cooler climate (since you can't put bulky winter coats on in the car seat), and as their blanket in the pack n play. The hotel pack n plays had just a sheet in them, so we were glad to have a blanket to cover the girls with.

29 - Bring swaddle blankets: We used these in the airport as a spot to sit on for playing (airport carpet is so gross), for feeding so we could clean up any messes, to create a play spot in the hotel room, and as an extra sleep blanket in the hotel. The thin Aiden and Anais ones roll up so small, so they worked out perfectly.

30 - Carry the baby: Some moms swear by using a baby carrier rather than a stroller through the airport. This keeps your hands free, and some airports let you go through security with the carrier on.

31 - Use a car seat roller: Other moms have recommended a car seat roller to use during travel, which helps you move your infant or toddler through the airport. This is perfect for anyone who plans to use the car seat on the plane.

32 - Little Seats: While most restaurants had high chairs, we liked using our Little Seat in the hotel room to feed the girls. They were still doing purees at the time so this worked best. We wont be bringing it to Ottawa as, to our chagrin, the girls actually prefer eating while running around.

33 - Do breakfast in bed: Not necessarily literally, but with toddlers, it is nice to have breakfast done before leaving the room. We stocked up on breakfast bars and kept a container of milk in our hotel room, which allowed us to start the day at a slower pace, rather than running out to find breakfast each day. Also a great way to save money on a meal.

34 - Take n Toss: For toddlers who can't drink out of a cup yet, having a pack of take and toss cups is great for using at restaurants and even in the hotel room. The utensils are good to have on hand too, and there is no fear to lose them since they are all so cheap! They nest, so they are also great for traveling.

35 - Bring a shit ton of wipes with you: You will seriously use these for everything. I like having a pack of them in my purse, in the diaper bag, and in the seat pocket. I especially like my sleek wipes clutch case since it clips to things. Decide how many you will need during your travel day, then throw in an extra pack. Seriously.

Finally, trim the fat: if your carry on or luggage is out of control, its time to look at what you have and decide what you can live without and whether some things can do double duty. Packing light, as long as you have the essentials, is better than over packing and being burdened by too much stuff!

While you were Sleeping

I actually find it comical the amount of stuff James and I do while the girls are sleeping - both night and nap time. 

Generally we eat dinner after they go to bed, so nightly it's clean, cook, wind down with some TV. Sometimes one of us runs out to do errands or goes to meet up with friends. 

Lately James and I have started a new Friday night tradition of watching a movie (we have a lot to catch up on from last year, and some classics on our list) and making a nice from scratch dinner. I've been trying to perfect Tikka Masala so that's been the meal the last few times. In the last few weeks we've watched The Outlaw Josey Whales, Heat, Blood Diamond and Jupiter Ascending. 

Last week during naps we finally unpacked the last of the boxes in the master bedroom, this week I put a decal mural up in the girls' playroom. I've also done the photo galleries during nap time. And next we will be tackling the guest room to make it more comfortable for visitors. It must be weird to be a child and wake up to a different world after what must seem like a short nap. 

That said, we often try to nap, or at least rest, during naps. The girls are so high energy lately that it's physically impossible to make it through the day without a break. 

Josie Jo!

Josie has been going through a huge developmental leap and growth spurt. I wasn't surprised today that she is nearly caught up in weight with Alex, and that she is actually taller. Her face is changing from baby cheeks to little kid cheeks. With her longer hair, she really looks like a toddler. 

She is all of a sudden talking up a storm and stringing words together. She counts to two and can name pretty much everything you point at, and even gets some colors right. If she gets something wrong, she repeats when you correct her. 

Most importantly, this morning while I was changing her she said "I love you" - maybe not the clearest version but man that melted my heart! 

She is also very interesting in dressing herself and doing things on her own. She will let you step in if its in a "help" capacity, but not if it seems like you are taking over from her. She is also deciding when she wants, and doesn't want, things and saying a very cute "no" lately. Even sometimes scolding her sister for doing something they know isn't allowed. (May have to put a stop to that soon!) 

putting a dress on as shorts

ta - da

She is obsessed with the slide, and doesn't ever want to leave the park. She also loves the pool, and this past weekend was really pushing the limits on how deep she could go - needing a little "rescue" at one point when she went too deep (scaring the crap out of me!!). So we hear "slide" and "pool" several times a day, perhaps in the hopes that she hears the answer that yes we are going. 

The girls have decided they love certain TV shows. One of our go-to shows, Daniel Tiger, just added a baby sister. Well Josie is obsessed with the "bee bee" and wants to watch "Danyo" to see the "bee bee." She cries and is so upset when we tune the TV to what Alexandra wants to watch: "Po" (my little ponies), but is learning that we have to compromise at TV time and let Lexie have a turn. (Look, sometimes mom wants to watch her shows, too!). Speaking of bee bee - Josie is very sweet with her baby doll, and holds it and kisses it and feeds her. 

It has been fun to watch Josie leap, lately!! I love getting to know these girls! 

20 month check up!

We had the girls' 20 month check up today. We are a bit off due to a scheduling issue earlier in the year - so this was supposed to be their 18 month. 

Everyone checks out great! 

Dr's office means bonus paci time.

Doctor Micky was very impressed with the girls' language skills, Josie's sentence structures (I have box!) and ambitious words (helicopter and strawberry, only 3 pointers for this girl!). She's happy with their eating habits, weight gain, health, habits, activity, and wellness. 

Alex's band aid over her boo boo - she found more "boo boos" (namely scraped knees) she
moved the band aid onto and asked for more band aids lol.

Dad and Josie - all done!

During Josie's exam, Alex offered up guy to help Josie through it.

Not too much weight gain in the last...year. Alex is weighing 23.8 [47%] pounds and Josie is weighing in at 22.8 [45%] pounds. I honestly don't think my arms could handle too much more than that! Josie has overtaken Alexandra in height - at 33 inches [59%], while Alex is 32.5 [42%]! Right on track for average! 

Vacation: Had to Get Away!

Our little getaway was a huge success. Everything went so well, we only had one evening with cranky girls that sucked, otherwise they were happy and cooperative. I had a great time, I had pina coladas by the pool, swam, played in the sand by the ocean, listened to the waves, dug some holes and built a sand mountain. James even went for a few boogy board runs! 

Josie climbing out of the big hole we dug!

Playing in the sand.

 

That bird took Alex's pretzel. She was not impressed. 

Afternoon nap bed head.

At the marina.

Learning all about TV in bed.

We went for walks, played at a park, ate nice meals and drank nice wine, and enjoyed a gorgeous ocean view from our balcony. The girls seemed to enjoy exploring new places and playing at a new park and running around our balcony and especially eating french fries between dips in the pool. 

Dinner at our resort.

The view from our balcony!

A wedding rehearsal from our balcony.

The only picture of the park I took - not great lol.

We took some selfies our first night there.

Out to Sushi! Josie trying some crab.

The logistics went well. Two things I wont leave home without, that I missed a lot this time, were my flat iron and some outlet covers. For the most part I probably don't need the outlet covers, but the 3 times I did catch Alex in the act of putting her finger in there, it will be worth the peace of mind. My flat iron is allowed to be used on wet hair, basically drying it straight, which is nice when you shower while babies nap and can't use a hair dryer. ;) 

The pack n play set up at the end of the room.

View from the pool area.

I was so happy we brought a ton of breakfast bars and squeeze pouches of apple sauce and yogurt, that is what the girls ate each morning in the room - was totally convenient, saved us a ton of $$ on breakfast and got us on our way faster so we could do the beach and the pool. I brought some giant clips so I could attach blankets and towels along the sides of the pack n play - brilliant! The girls had no problem napping and sleeping with us in the room. 

refueling on french fries. (Josie wearing Alex's swim suit day 2)

And quesadillas.

Alex wanted all of the red tortilla chips.

This resort was made for us. The baby pool area is fantastic - a large pool all only 1.5 feet deep. The girls thought it was hilarious that they could walk through the entire pool. Drinks and food service pool side. Right outside the resort was a very cool age appropriate park with a lot of slides that the girls had fun at. The beach is a short 5 minute walk down the hill (we were smart on day 2 and brought strollers!). Down the other side of the hill was the marina, for fantasy boat shopping and had a few places to eat. Gorgeous views from our room and the resort's amenities were not bad! Its amazing that we were only about an hour and 15 minutes from home, but seriously felt a world away. 

Lunch at Denny's before driving home. Denny's is made for families and kids.
There is something nice about a place that knows to bring milk and kids food
as fast as possible. That is the only issue we had with the resort's restaurant.
How could they be so kid friendly yet miss the mark there?

The girls sitting in boosters. Ack they are growing up so fast!!

Last night I found myself thinking that I can't wait to do this again. That we should make this a tradition, go year after year. But it wont be the same. These girls are growing up so fast that they aren't the same people from one month to the next. Which makes me so grateful that we did this now and took the time to enjoy this version of our little family.