ed. note: As the end of the school year approaches, and we get geared up for summer let's look back with Amy T. (Mom to two kinders now) as she get's excited for the start of another year of preschool. As a parent in a parent participation preschool, starting school again is not only exciting for my kids, but for me as well! I have been missing the other parents that I have gotten to know so well last year in the 2's class and then I had a chance to meet some new parents during summer school. So this year in the 3's class we will all be together and I can't wait…
Twins
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Most Topular Stories
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Who Loves Preschool More? Me or Them?
Mad About Multiples!14 May 2012 | 12:00 pm -
Last minute thoughts of Mother’s Day
Stories from the Heart11 May 2012 | 3:46 pmMaybe you are celebrating with your children; maybe with your own mother. This day might be a busy day or a quiet day. Perhaps even bittersweet if you are missing your mother or a child (or children). It does not matter how you celebrate or what you do. MOST wishes all mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks to Lisa DiBona, MOST Board member, for this article. When you have multiples, being a Mom can mean days of exhaustion, as well as days of milestones and excitement that only another mother of multiples can understand. It’s a day of homemade cards and gifts, that… -
Names for Twins
About.com Twins & Multiples15 May 2012 | 8:14 amA new list of most popular baby names was recently released. The list tracks the popularity of names based on applicants for Social Security cards in the United States. In addition to baby names for boys and girls, the SSA also issues lists of names for twins....Read Full Post -
Rookie Runners
4tunate14 May 2012 | 10:01 amWe have four more runners in our house. After and during Brad’s mini-marathon training, they’ve been running their hearts out: 3 runs around the block on Sunday, laps around the outside of the house, sprints from one end of the house to another. {If you can’t tell, they look up to their daddy intensely!} We discovered that part of the 500 Festival in Indianapolis during the month of May includes a non-competitive Rookie Run for kids ages 3-12. It took no convincing to sign these band of brothers up for their first race! Of course, their superhero capes gave them an unfair… -
One of my favorite birthday presents "to" the boys
Laura's Mommy Journal15 May 2012 | 8:20 amOn Friday mornings, I volunteer at the boys' school in the library shelving books. I love this for many reasons:I get to watch the video announcements.I get to see what kinds of books kids like to check out, providing me with a list of book ideas for the boys. (Hint: books about animals are wildly popular.)I love creating order out of chaos.It is QUIET. This past Friday while I was there, they announced this month's Celebration Book kids. During the kids' birthday month, parents have the option of donating money to the library to buy books in the name of their kids, aka Celebration Books. It…
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Mad About Multiples!
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Who Loves Preschool More? Me or Them?
14 May 2012 | 12:00 pmed. note: As the end of the school year approaches, and we get geared up for summer let's look back with Amy T. (Mom to two kinders now) as she get's excited for the start of another year of preschool. As a parent in a parent participation preschool, starting school again is not only exciting for my kids, but for me as well! I have been missing the other parents that I have gotten to know so well last year in the 2's class and then I had a chance to meet some new parents during summer school. So this year in the 3's class we will all be together and I can't wait… -
What I Want for Mother's Day *Winner*
2 May 2012 | 6:48 pmBy Valerie Terry Hey! There's an awesome giveaway at the end of this post being offered up by Dishcrawl! Leave a comment to win. I consider myself a lover of food, but when I think to the last actual new restaurant I tried, I feel like someone is going to yank my foodie street cred. We've come to the point where it's not so easy to just go out and try something new. The girls are now at an age where they have opinions. They have likes, dislikes, and it's really bad form to pack them a separate dinner in a cooler so hubby and I can eat where we want. Elise and Stella at… -
Double Click Tuesdays: Spring Picnic
24 Apr 2012 | 12:22 pmGemini Crickets hosted a carnival-themed Spring Picnic this year for our memebers. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon and welcome in the warm South Bay Area weather. Thank you to the hard-working party planning team, we couldn't have fun without you! Custom made Gemini Crickets! Making new friends. Grabbing a cool drink. A sea of bubbles on a beautiful day. -
Baby Gear Essentials for Twins - Strollers
13 Apr 2012 | 11:00 amBy Gabi Scott There are man y, many baby products out in the world, but for an expecting parent of multiples, that world becomes strange and overwhelming really quickly. It seems like products designed specifically for multiples are either fabulous or obscure and sometimes too cumbersome to use. I am sharing some of my experiences here, but as always, do research before buying anything pricey. I search Amazon and mommy discussion forums before buying big items but the best advice I have gotten is when I have stopped other parents and asked their opinion. I have been asked a few times,… -
Sponsored Post: Happy Campers at Camp Galileo
10 Apr 2012 | 7:00 amWith Spring Break over (or just beginning) for many of our school-aged families, parents of busy multiples *might* be wondering if it's too late to sign up for summer camp. While enrollment started last month for this summer, never fear, many camps still have room to spare for one (or two) more. With that in mind, Mad About Multiples and Gemini Crickets is happy to announce that one of our members' favorites, Camp Galileo, is still accepting reservations for their many summer sessions. With a multitude of options for kids entering Kindergarten through eighth grade Camp Galileo has…
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Stories from the Heart
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Last minute thoughts of Mother’s Day
11 May 2012 | 3:46 pmMaybe you are celebrating with your children; maybe with your own mother. This day might be a busy day or a quiet day. Perhaps even bittersweet if you are missing your mother or a child (or children). It does not matter how you celebrate or what you do. MOST wishes all mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks to Lisa DiBona, MOST Board member, for this article. When you have multiples, being a Mom can mean days of exhaustion, as well as days of milestones and excitement that only another mother of multiples can understand. It’s a day of homemade cards and gifts, that… -
MOST eNews May 2012- What makes your Mother’s Day special?
10 May 2012 | 2:18 pmMother’s Day – Happy Mother’s Day MOST Upcoming Events: Family Carnival MOM’s Gathering Preeclampsia Month National Women’s Health Week Hot Forum Topics Stories from the Heart BlogWhat is the MOST unusual Mother’s Day gift you requested or received? Thank you MOST! A mom shares her thanks Happy Mother’s Day We hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day! Whether your children are home with you or not, this day is special! Need a last minute gift? How about a trip to Seattle for MOM? Join us in July for a wonderful MOST Moms Weekend! (Details below) ____________________________ MOST… -
What is the MOST unusual Mother’s Day gift you requested or received?
9 May 2012 | 5:02 pmMaureen Boyle shares her most unusual Mother’s Day gift. And she asked for this gift! What is the most unusual gift you requested or received for Mother’s Day? See related poll: What is best about Mother’s Day? For me the most unusual Mother’s Day gift I requested (and thankfully received) was for all of my children (5 teenagers) and my husband to go to the dermatologist and have a full body check. Aside from May being the month of MOM it is also skin cancer awareness month. This request might seem really crazy to some and somewhat neurotic to others. I can understand… -
Jump Right In! Parenting a Child with Autism
27 Apr 2012 | 2:45 pmJump Right In! Judy Challoner, mom to Nick, Kevin, & Leigh, shares part of a day with her triplets, one with Asperger’s. Links for web resources and MOST articles are at the end. At the beginning of the summer school holidays I took the children (GBB triplets), just 8-years-old, to the pool . It was one of those unbelievable 80 degree Sundays, a perfect day for playing in this big wading pool. Sunscreen, water bottles, towels, toy boats – we were set. No one else was there, unbelievable considering the temperature, and my three were in heaven. After half an hour or so two… -
MOST April 2012 eNews
19 Apr 2012 | 10:35 amApril 2012 National Volunteer Week – Thank You Volunteers! April is ….Multiple Birth Awareness and Autism Awareness Month MOST Mom Gathering – Seattle -Hotel Info MOST Wonderful Family Carnival in June Stories from the Heart blog Hot Topics on the Forums MOST Membership National Volunteer Week This year National Volunteer Week is April 15-21 and MOST gives a big THANKS to all our volunteers! Not only this week, but every week, we are thankful for our many volunteers who reach out to families in their local communities, their state, even across the country. Our volunteers…
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About.com Twins & Multiples
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Names for Twins
15 May 2012 | 8:14 amA new list of most popular baby names was recently released. The list tracks the popularity of names based on applicants for Social Security cards in the United States. In addition to baby names for boys and girls, the SSA also issues lists of names for twins....Read Full Post -
Twins of the Week: Ava and Ashton
8 May 2012 | 8:28 pmPhoto reprinted with permisison of Laura. Meet the Twins of the Week! Ava and Ashton were only two weeks old in this sweet picture. Click to learn more about them....Read Full Post -
New Guinness Record for Most Twins
7 May 2012 | 8:10 pmAn Iowa school claims a new record for "Most Twins in the Same Academic Year in One School." Guinness World Records named Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in Des Moines, Iowa for the distinction. There are 16 sets of twins in the ninth grade; the school has an overall population of 711 students. Five sets of the twins are identical and eleven are fraternal. The previous record was held by Pomperaug High School in Southbury, Connecticut, which has thirteen sets of twins....Read Full Post -
Texas Sextuplets Face Setbacks and Success
3 May 2012 | 8:31 pmA set of sextuplets -- six babies -- born in Texas at the end of April continue to make progress, although one of the babies faces more challenges. Lauren and David Perkins of of Pearland, Texas (near Houston) became parents of sextuplets with the birth of Andrew, Benjamin, Levi, Allison, Caroline and Leah on April 23, 2012. The babies were born at thirty weeks gestation; their weights ranged between 1 pound 10 ounces and 2 pound 15 ounces....Read Full Post -
Premature Birth in the U.S.
3 May 2012 | 5:54 amA new study from the World Health Organization and other groups describes the results of a worldwide study about premature birth, and cited the United States as lagging behind other countries in premature birth rates. The study cites the birth of twins and other multiples as one of the factors for the high rate. Other factors include mothers that are teenagers, older than thirty-five years old, or with obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure.The rate in the United States -- twelve percent, or about one in nine births -- is comparable to countries such as Kenya, Turkey, Thailand, East Timor…
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4tunate
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Rookie Runners
14 May 2012 | 10:01 amWe have four more runners in our house. After and during Brad’s mini-marathon training, they’ve been running their hearts out: 3 runs around the block on Sunday, laps around the outside of the house, sprints from one end of the house to another. {If you can’t tell, they look up to their daddy intensely!} We discovered that part of the 500 Festival in Indianapolis during the month of May includes a non-competitive Rookie Run for kids ages 3-12. It took no convincing to sign these band of brothers up for their first race! Of course, their superhero capes gave them an unfair… -
Motherhood Wanderings…
11 May 2012 | 10:13 amThe approaching Mother’s Day holiday leaves me not only emotional about the awesome privilege of becoming a mother to these four boys, but an overwhelming gratitude for my own mother’s love. Source: notonthehighstreet.com via Anna Cristina on Pinterest Our journey to motherhood was a bumpy one, and my heart aches for those who would rather hide under the covers than face another year without a baby to hold in your arms. Others of you are without your mother on this holiday, and I cannot imagine how hard that must be to muster your way through such grief. Some of you… -
65 Favorite Read-Aloud Books for Boys: Reader’s Choice
10 May 2012 | 10:11 amI asked for you to share your favorite read aloud books for boys and you delivered! Do you know how excited I am to dig into these pages with my four little dudes? I knew I asked the right source! Thank you, Friends! I decided to compile a list with all 65 of our favorites! 1. Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder 2. The Bears of Blue River by Charles Major 3. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary 4. Encyclopedia Brown Series by Donald J. Sobol 5. Sugar Creek Gang Series by Paul Hutchens 6. Jigsaw Jones Mystery Series by James Preller 7. Hank the Cowdog by… -
I Would Run 13.1 Miles, And I Would Run 13.1 More
9 May 2012 | 7:55 amBrad completed his 3rd mini marathon (13.1 miles) over the weekend and we were there to cheer him on the sidelines. It was such a sweet moment finding him among the thousands of runners and seeing the boys faces and his face light up. It was a great emotional and mental encouragement to him at the 6 mile mark. We’re so proud of you, Babes. Running for two hours is no small feat. This is only one of many things that you continue to push through and accomplish. We continue to root you on in all you do! LOVE Your Five Biggest Fans -
Yancy Blog Tour + Giveaway
6 May 2012 | 2:46 pmThere’s not much in this world that melts my heart more than my kids singing their hearts out in worship. Oh how I hope the words on their lips becomes the desire of their hearts! I was introduced to Yancy and Friends through my dear friend Amanda – who looks like her so much it’s almost scary. (She blogs at Impress Your Kids and pretty much blows me away with her passion and creativity.) Anywho, she put together this tour of Yancy’s new album Little Praise Party: Happy Everyday, so that you could hear her heart behind the music and preview the album. How fun is…
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Laura's Mommy Journal
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One of my favorite birthday presents "to" the boys
15 May 2012 | 8:20 amOn Friday mornings, I volunteer at the boys' school in the library shelving books. I love this for many reasons:I get to watch the video announcements.I get to see what kinds of books kids like to check out, providing me with a list of book ideas for the boys. (Hint: books about animals are wildly popular.)I love creating order out of chaos.It is QUIET. This past Friday while I was there, they announced this month's Celebration Book kids. During the kids' birthday month, parents have the option of donating money to the library to buy books in the name of their kids, aka Celebration Books. It… -
Pretty much the life of every parent I know
14 May 2012 | 9:03 amEvery day, I wake up with a list of things to do that is a mile long. If I complete them, there are always more items on the list. Always.Every day, I wake up the world's longest scavenger hunt. Alex needs to return a library book, Nate needs to make cards, don't forget to buy flowers on Wednesday night for teacher appreciation week, did you remember to send in money for the class gift?, where is Jon this week?, I just got back from Target but we need more stuff from Target.Every day, I am not in control of whether it will be a good day or bad day. Sometimes I am in an awesome mood but have… -
This American Life LIVE SHOW
11 May 2012 | 9:35 amLast night, This American Life did a live show in New York and beamed it to movie theaters across the country. I went to see it last night. Now, you all know my love for TAL. My undying love. I have listened to ALL of the episodes (except the last few which Jon and I are saving for our drive to Ohio over Memorial Day weekend). I have seen Ira Glass live. I've watched the TV shows. Over and over, I tell people to listen to the Fear of Sleep episode (361) and the And The Call Was Coming From the Basement (319) episode. I tell people the app is the best $2.99 bargain of all time. I had very high… -
The biggest milestone of them ALL
10 May 2012 | 7:51 amHey do you remember all the check ups from age 12 months to 36 months, where we worried endlessly about Alex's speech? Then the week before the checkup, he would hit the bare minimum to make a milestone, making all that worry completely pointless? Then he would still be behind and we would worry and the week before the next check up, he would hit the milestone again?Age 6 is when you start intervention if there is still nighttime wetness. So of course, after reading endless articles and considering treatment options, as of yesterday, ONE WEEK exactly before Alex turns 6, he is out of night… -
Another letter to my sons
9 May 2012 | 8:14 amDear Nate and Alex,Yesterday we had a very disappointing day in North Carolina. When your dad and I had "We Voted!" stickers last week, we talked with you about the upcoming vote. When we told you people were voting to make it even more illegal (because it is already illegal) for boys to marry boys and girls to marry girls, your sweet beautiful almost 6 year old minds were shocked and upset.I refuse to say anything hateful or negative about the outcome. We are a family who believes in love. We are a family that believes that if you want a pink water bottle, you can have a pink water bottle.
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TwiceBabies Mom
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Giveaways Are Fun, Especially When It Is For Business Cards
9 May 2012 | 9:48 pmHave you been looking for a company that prints business cards for your business or personal use? The old fashioned way of printing business cards or anything else for that matter is just that, old fashioned. Since the advent of the internet, people have been able to use online printing services. There is no need to go to a brick and mortar store and pay a lot of money for a product that can be set up the way you want online and shipped to your business or home in 3 business days. The only company to provide such a service is PrintRunner. PrintRuner was established with little more… -
Family Trip Tips for Parents
7 May 2012 | 9:40 amThe success of a family trip often depends on how content and satisfied your kids are as you travel. On the one hand, kids enjoy going on family vacations. On the other hand, they don’t always behave as well as we’d like when they’re away from home, particularly in the car and on planes. In order to make the trip less stressful for you, there are some things you can do to keep your children’s behavior and moods under control. Here are some helpful tips you might want to consider: Make sure the kids know the rules – The kids know the rules at your house at school, but they may feel… -
TwiceGirlies First Sleepover
22 Apr 2012 | 2:00 pmA couple weeks ago my twins and one of their friends had a sleepover at my home. This was my twins first sleepover and they had a blast. The girls played in my twins bedroom with dolls, having a tea party, going into family room to write draw on easel, play with some more dolls, eat dinner and have snacks. Then I said to the girls, "Would you like a makeover with nail polish?" Well of course they said, "Yes!" So I got out some make and did their faces up. They looked so cute and they loved it. Then I painted their nails in the colors of shock blue and pink. The girls wanted to paint their own… -
It Has Been A While...
20 Apr 2012 | 4:43 pmHello all my readers! It has been a while, almost a month, since I have written. You will have to forgive me, but I have a new job and I love it. I am writing for this company, MinistryPlacement, and love it. The best thing about this job is I am able to write from home. This company is based in Texas and my employer is a pastor as well the Senior Vice President of Stagetic Development for starting up church websites; along with helping churches post jobs and applicants upload resumes. It was very cool how I was hired and I am so blessed to have such an opportunity to work for a… -
Expand'n Gro Your Vegetable Garden and Flowers
26 Mar 2012 | 1:00 amThis is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scotts® for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. Spring time has arrived and the changes of season comes new life. Flowers that have gone dormant over the cold season are now in bloom. This is also the time to grow a vegetable garden. Flowers and vegetable gardens need food to grow. The soil our flowers and vegetables are supposed to grow is, is not longer enough to sustain their growth, beauty and taste. This is why Scott's Expand ‘n Gro™ planting soil will be something you can not live without. It is frustrating when you work so…
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Raising Twins Blog
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Almost 10 weeks pregnant with twins
29 Apr 2012 | 5:15 pmFound out that we were pregnant with fraternal twins at 6.5 weeks. It was quite a shock! My grandma is a twin but other than that no real reasons to increase -
I thought I was miscarrying but was pregnant with twins.
29 Apr 2012 | 5:13 pmI rushed to the hospital two days ago thinking that I was miscarrying. I'm eight weeks pregnant and my doctor was worried about my heavy bleeding. I -
As good as it gets :):) Leap day twins at 37 weeks gestation
29 Apr 2012 | 5:09 pmI found out I was pregnant when I was about 3 months along, for the first time in my life I had a little pudge. From the start I was extremely nervous -
Why I love twins
29 Apr 2012 | 5:02 pmI'm not a parent, in fact, I'm only a teenager. But I am a twin! My name is Hailey, and my fraternal twin brother is Henry. My mother would always tell -
Finding out you're having twins and feeling bad about it.
14 Apr 2012 | 8:24 pmAm I horrible for feeling this way?! Depressed, disappointed, overwhelmed. etc I really just need to vent, and any kind comments from those who understand
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Twin Pregnancy Blog
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May 15, 30 Weeks With Identical Twin Girls
15 May 2012 | 9:59 am30 weeks along with my identical twin girls. Been having a few painful Braxton Hicks contractions and leg cramps but happy to have come this far along. -
May 15, 28 Weeks
15 May 2012 | 9:51 amThis was taken at 28.5 weeks. The babies have taken over my entire abdomen. I can't imagine how big I'll be in a month?!? Can't wait to meet them -
May 15, I Just Love My Sissy.....
15 May 2012 | 9:47 amAva and Ashia just can't get enough of each other. TwoCute™ Twins Photo Contest - May 2012 Entr -
May 13, Brotherly Love
13 May 2012 | 11:16 amTwoCute™ Twins Photo Contest - May 2012 Entry -
May 13, Cowgirl Twisters (twin sisters)
13 May 2012 | 11:15 amWe adopted the twins at age 6. They are 9 years old in this photo, they are currently 10. TwoCute™ Twins Photo Contest - May 2012 Entry
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And Twins make 5! - A Mommy Blog
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Enjoy Life Cookies (at home, at Disney World, & aboard the Disney Dream Cruise Ship!)
15 May 2012 | 9:35 amShortly before leaving for our recent Disney World and Disney Cruise Trip, we were sent all four flavors of the New Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies to sample. With two out of five kids having various food allergies, we have become loyal fans of Enjoy Life products and were thrilled to get the chance to try their latest cookie offerings. Read More >>Copyright © 2009-2012 - Stephanie Manner Wagner (Author and Owner of And Twins make 5!) - A Mommy Blog. -
Our Disney Dream Cruise: All Aboard for Day 1
14 May 2012 | 5:12 pmWe arrived home Sunday evening from our 3 day cruise aboard the beautiful Disney Dream Cruise Ship. Our time aboard the cruise ship was the perfect follow up to our family's 4 day Disney World Adventure. It provided a bit of downtime for hubby and I, some playtime for our 3.5 year old twins, and some fun with peers for our older kids. Combine that with good food, excellent theatrical presentations, well done cabin accommodations, and a bit of Disney magic to get a great time for everyone in our group. In fact, we all unanimously agreed we'd go on a 7 day Disney Cruise in a… -
Comfy Clothes Styled for Dressier Occasions: Maisonette Children's Clothing
14 May 2012 | 2:22 pmMy twin 3.5 year old boys are definitely opinionated about their apparel. The current chant is that they want "something" on their shirt. Plain won't do, both boys want a fun character or cool design. The problem being, when it comes to occasions requiring a collared shirt and long pants such as our recent vacation abord the Disney Dream, most of the classier boy options are fairly dry. Khaki's and a solid golf shirt sound familiar? Read More >>Copyright © 2009-2012 - Stephanie Manner Wagner (Author and Owner of And Twins make 5!) - A Mommy Blog. -
SwimZip: Easy On & Easy Off UV+ Swim Protection Shirts
14 May 2012 | 1:48 pmWe've just returned from our Disney vacation which included 3 days aboard the Disney Dream Cruise Ship. Needless to say it involved a lot of fun in the sun both at the beach in the Bahamas and at the pool aboard the ship. Read More >>Copyright © 2009-2012 - Stephanie Manner Wagner (Author and Owner of And Twins make 5!) - A Mommy Blog. -
For Our Chicago Readers: White Sox Family Field Day June 16th
11 May 2012 | 12:00 amWhite Sox are holding a Family Field Day on June 16th. Families can come out and play catch in the outfield, visit dugouts, pose at home plate, much more. This is an event for kids and for parents who want to act and feel like kids again. Tickets are $30/adult and $12/child. Mother's or Father’s Day Gift? Click here to learn more and buy tickets. Copyright © 2009-2012 - Stephanie Manner Wagner (Author and Owner of And Twins make 5!) - A Mommy Blog.
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Goddess in Progress
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Helping Girl and Ring Barrier
13 May 2012 | 8:36 pmIt’s not that I really wanted to set my alarm for 5:45am on Mother’s Day. Hell, I don’t want to set it for that hour on any day, much less the day I am supposedly allowed to stay in bed and be lavished with attention (which has yet to happen in my 5 Mother’s Days to date). But hey, if it means seeing my sister-in-law get married, I’ll do it. Alright, so the hour was a little ridiculous – I had never before heard of a wedding at 8:00 on a Sunday morning. But the weather was lovely, the location was beautiful, and the event could not be beat. In part to give… -
This is where you belong
8 May 2012 | 4:45 pmOne year ago, today, Ellie came home. It feels like yesterday, it feels like forever ago. I remember it entirely too well, and yet I look back on that time with disbelief, wondering how on earth I did it. When she was in the hospital, I swore I’d throw a big party when she came home. That party never happened. There was so much stress, so much uncertainty when she came home. Obviously we were glad, but we still didn’t feel much like celebrating. Even now, if I start thinking too much about last year, I burst into tears. One of her doctors has recommended that she do a sleep study… -
Hide your valuables
12 Apr 2012 | 1:03 pmMark it. At exactly thirteen-and-a-half months, Ellie has started crawling. Just like that, she figured it out. Milestones like these always amaze me – one minute she can’t crawl, the next minute she can. Hell, when she was a newborn in the hospital, a significant part of me wondered if she would ever be able to crawl, period. And now, she can. Of course, nothing really happens that suddenly. She’d been up on her knees and rocking for the last two months. She’s been pushing herself backwards (and getting stuck under furniture) for a while. In the last week or two, she… -
The White Belt
11 Apr 2012 | 8:13 pmEight weeks into karate, Daniel has earned his first new belt – no longer the beginner red, he now has his white belt. Among the many reasons I love his karate program, one is that the progression to each belt is delightfully clear. Each kid has a paper in his or her folder that lists the skills they need to complete. Once a week, they are allowed to earn a star for the next skill on their sheet. For the white belt, they were pretty basic stances and blocks. But he also needed to know how to count to 10 in Japanese, as well as know the name of his karate school. On the one hand, it… -
Photo Fun
6 Apr 2012 | 7:43 amOf all the goals I laid out for myself in January, the one I’ve stuck to the best so far is my Project 365. Nearly 100 days into the year, and I have at least one photo from every day. I didn’t set any other requirements for this project, other than taking at least one photo every single day. On the one hand, this has been made so much easier by the quality of the camera in my iPhone (as well as my addiction to Instagram). I always have my phone within reach, so I can snap away any time. On the other hand, it makes me lazy when it comes to carrying around my DSLR and taking…
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I'm Living Proof that God Has a Sense of Humor
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Tooth Fairy Fail
9 May 2012 | 6:30 amLandon lost his very first tooth a few days ago. He was super excited about his impending visit from the Tooth Fairy. "When will she come get my tooth?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear. I responded, "Tonight! Make sure to leave it under your pillow, okay?" Nodding his head, he clutched the ziploc bag, in which his tiny baby tooth was enclosed tightly, to his body. "Hmmm, I wonder how much money she'll leave me?" he wondered. I answered, "Well, I'm pretty sure the going rate is $5.00 for your first tooth!" "$5.00!!!" he exclaimed, his brown eyes twinkling with obvious glee. "Oh… -
The Moment a Mother is Born
7 May 2012 | 9:31 amIf someone were to ask you to describe that exact moment when motherhood felt real for you, would you be able to recall it vividly? Maybe it was the minute you saw your baby on ultrasound....perhaps it was the first time you held your precious newborn in your arms. Or, quite possibly, it might have taken longer than you expected for it to finally sink in. I am a mother. I created life. I am responsible for another human being, other than myself. When did motherhood truly feel real for you? That very question was posed to me recently by one of my favorite bloggers (and fellow twin… -
Pouring My Heart Out...What I Hope My Kids Remember
25 Apr 2012 | 12:39 pmAs I sit on the couch in the family room watching my children engage in a fun game of hide and seek, I'm reeling from the fact that another school year has come and gone. Time goes by quickly, so they say. The days are long but the years are short....yet another saying that rings true. I'm deep in thought, wondering which childhood memories from this past school year, they will recall with fondness...which ones they will remember with sadness, perhaps even bitterness. As a mother, I hope I'm doing right by them, even though I struggle every waking moment wondering if I'm merely creating… -
I got a visit from the Fairy Hobmother...and you could too!
19 Apr 2012 | 12:47 pmImage Source Just a couple days ago, I was having a particularly rough day with the kids. Oh hell, who am I kidding? Every day is a particularly rough day with the kids. Because there are four of them and one or two of them is bound to be in a crappy mood for one reason or another...usually over something so silly it makes me want to stab myself in the eyeball with a germ-infested 22-gauge needle. Instead of wasting what very few brain cells I have left by yelling at them (and let's face it...even yelling at them doesn't really work), I decided to go out back and tend to my vegetables… -
Getting to the Core of Your Child's Education
16 Apr 2012 | 11:09 amGuest post written by Jenna Smith. For more information on this kind of post, please read my disclosure statement. Recently, the majority of states adopted a new set of education standards called the Common Core Standards. Essentially, these standards outline the fundamental educational skills that we feel American children should grasp by the end of their public school tenure. These standards cover all children from kindergarten through high school. There are two primary focuses of the Common Core Standards, Math common core state standards and English Language…
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Preemie Twins Blog
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Guest Post: How to Build a Positive Relationship with Your Daughter
14 May 2012 | 11:21 amA relationship requires you to nurture it with care and understanding. The same holds true for a mother-daughter relationship as well. This relationship needs even more effort as there are always problems pertaining to the space which parents are willing to give to the child. Mothers may want to exercise their authority while daughters may turn rebellious. A balance is needed indeed. Let’s see how women can go about ensuring that they share an amiable relationship with their daughters. 1. Give them space This is often a very contentious issue. Mothers feel the need to guide their… -
6 Ways to Save Money on Twins Costs
9 May 2012 | 4:26 pmDid you just recently find out that you’re pregnant with twins? If so, that only means you’re twice as blessed but have to have twice as much. Though everyone makes a newborn baby out to be the most expensive thing, there are plenty of ways to cut on their costs. In order to save money on the cost of your twins, consider a few of these tips: Try to breastfeed your babies. One of the most expensive parts of having a baby is paying for all their formula. Just like us, they need to eat on a regular basis, and their formula can be rather pricey. If you can, try to breastfeed both of your… -
Buy Stuff for Baby Now and Pay Later
4 May 2012 | 7:30 amGraco Pack N Play only $13.99/month Find out you’re having twins so now need double the baby stuff? Or was your baby born too soon and you weren’t prepared? Or maybe you’re just running a tad low on cash this month and need to get the baby nursery done? Here are my top two picks of places to buy baby gear now and pay later. Fingerhut – No down payment required and includes everything for baby including car seats, strollers, nursery furniture, high chairs, baby monitors, baby swings, baby bouncers, pack ‘n plays, playpens and more. Gettington – 3 payment options and… -
5 Creative Baby Shower Gifts
30 Apr 2012 | 11:18 amA baby shower is a wonderful tradition where the mother-to-be gets gifts for both her and the baby. There are many types of baby shower gifts that seem to show up all the time like baby clothes, diapers and baby books, but what if you want something more creative? Here are five creative baby shower gifts that are sure to please the mother-to-be: Diaper Cake Diapers are a traditional baby shower gift that can turn into a very creative option if you do it a bit differently and present it in the form of a Diaper cake. No, this isn’t the kind of cake that you eat, it is actually a gift made of… -
Three safe and affordable car seats not to be missed
25 Apr 2012 | 11:17 amWhether you are only tooling around town to park play dates and to the grocery store, or traveling hours away to visit the grandparents, having the right car seat can mean the difference between a pleasant drive and a hair-pulling, crying-induced anxiety attack. With baby in back and Mommy or Daddy way up front in the driver’s seat – and not exactly within arm’s reach – parents need to feel confident that their little one is safely secure and content. The last thing any parent wants is to have a child in the car seat in the back seat who screams or cries during the entire ride…
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Dad's Guide to Twins
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How to Encourage Individuality in Your Twins
9 May 2012 | 10:01 amAs a parent of twins, you recognize that your twins are individuals and you want to help them develop their individuality. Here are some ways to encourage individuality in your twins: Treat Them As Individuals Encouraging individuality in your twins starts with how you treat them. Call each twin individually by name and avoid always grouping them as a pair. For example, are you always calling out “let’s go twins” or “let’s go girls”? When activity is truly optional, avoid forcing one twin to do what the other is doing. Granted, you’ll need to make a… -
Surviving the Haze of the First Year – Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Episode 8
4 May 2012 | 11:01 amThe first year with twins is a big challenge. In the 8th episode of the Dad’s Guide to Twins podcast, I discuss why the first year with twins will put you in a constant foggy haze and what you can do to survive. Show Notes I start with a question from a couple who wanted to know when (at how many weeks) they should expect their twins to be delivered. Listen to the podcast to see what how you can overcome the challenges of a foggy and mind-numbing first year with twins. What factors make the first year so hard Specific things to look for that may make your first year even harder What you… -
Visiting Disneyland with Twins
2 May 2012 | 10:01 amWe recently took our second trip to Disneyland with our family. The last time we went, our twin girls were 10 months old. This time they are nearly 4 years old. If you are planning a trip to Disneyland with your twins, here’s some things to remember to make your vacation great. Kid-Friendly Rides Many rides at Disneyland are kid friendly, even when the twins are very small. Be aware that even if height requirements are met, some rides need an adult to ride with the child until they are at least 7 years old. An Adult for Each Twin We saw a set of triplets who were probably about 5 years… -
Should Twins Sleep in the Parent’s Room?
25 Apr 2012 | 11:01 amShould your twins sleep in your room when they come home from the hospital? The answer depends on several factors. Benefits of Having Infant Twins Sleep in the Parents’ Room You may consider having your infant twins sleep in your room for several months. Twin parents will sometimes use a bassinet or Pack-n-Play in their room to sleep the twins. These temporary sleeping quarters won’t last forever, but they will serve you and your twin babies for some time. There are some advantages of sleeping twins in your room: Easy to access – When your twins are in your room, you… -
Tips for Twin Well-Baby Checkups – Dad’s Guide to Twins Podcast Episode 7
20 Apr 2012 | 11:01 amSurviving all those doctor visits with infant twins is a challenge. In this seventh episode of the Dad’s Guide to Twins podcast, I discuss how to best handle those well-baby checkups with your twins. Show Notes I start with a question from Ben on how to get both twins (by himself) from his condo into the car without leaving one alone outside. Listen to the podcast to see how to best handle well-baby checkups with your twins. What to expect from all those frequent doctor visits with infant twins Why you need more than one adult to go with the babies to the doctor’s office Why you…
