Surviving January

I have been battling my hair ever since the twins were born. I cut it short thinking that would be easier to maintain. It's not. I grew it out thinking I'd pull it up and look cute. I don't. Finally, I invested in a curling wand. I'm cheap so this took a long time to commit to and a big coupon code helped make the decision. My hair looks like this all the time now and it's so easy. I go to bed with my hair wet. Wake up with it looking like a hot mess, wrap it a few times and bam! beach hair (in January). YESSSSS!

You'll have to believe me, since I'm not big on selfies.



The twins had their birthday party, which is one of my favorite times of the year.

Ryan started his new school. He loves riding a school bus and he's doing amazing.



Read an awesome reminder about the truths of life.



Hosted a little man themed baby shower for one of my dearest friends.

And wrapped up my first full service design client under harper + henry. Loving the work, loving the people I am working for. Life is good. 

Surviving December

{ via }

A good tip for rotating toys in the wake of the holiday aftermath. So doing this.



Listed in the top ten advances in autism research for 2013. I'm okay with clinging to hope.



Because telling people that adding a third child is the end of all things holy is not what they want to hear. And my third kid is kind of amazing. Still hard. I hear having four kids is exponentially easier. You should have a fourth. Let me know how it goes. I'll reevaluate then.

{ via }

This nursery, which bears a lot of similarity to another nursery I love, makes me wish the kids each had their own room so I could create the big girl room I had started to plan for Reese. Their uncoordinated nap schedules, which force someone to wake someone else up every day are also making me wish I had created a different floor plan, but I digress.



Finding out Nantucket Coffee Roasters delivers.



2013 was a year that I struggled with the finality of my baby making days. I don't like decisions about my life being out of my hands. This article, which has little to do with my own personal struggle, had this quote which made me feel less alone.

"It still startles me that people make babies with sex. 

Privately. Easily. Fast. 

Then there's a birth, and no one looks back."

Success doesn't mean you ever stop feeling infertile, even when you feel grateful.

Surviving November

 

Life has been so busy with three kids, the business, world domination, that I was thankful for this reminder to stop feeling guilty about all the things I am not doing, and instead be present for the things I am doing. 

I'm grateful for having met a little nugget named Robby on a recent school tour for Ryan. He was roughly 3 1/2 and cute enough to put in my pocket and take home with me. Little Robby walked up to me, looked me right in the eye and said "who are you?" and then (after being corrected and prompted) properly greeted me with "Hi, I am Robby, what's your name?" He has ASD and he was the first glimpse of the other end of the spectrum I have been given. And he gave me hope.

Chrissy put into words what I've had a hard time digesting. And almost four months post diagnosis I have learned to trust my gut above all else.



Reese learned ballet, sort of. Ryan mastered his use of sign language, furthering his functional language. And Lola rocked standing and dancing, but still can't fall.



I booked myself a makeup lesson in hopes of looking half as stunning Clare Durkin. Is she even human?



Christmas shopping commenced. Thankfully we implemented a new policy -- 1 thing to wear, 1 thing to read, 1 thing to play with -- after last Christmas turned into a mini-Hannukah (8 days of gifts).

And we spent the month really trying to connect as a family, including participating in a holiday photo shoot for a local magazine. Nothing says family-time more than squatting someone else's house while pretending it is a holiday. I can't believe the year is almost over. (Thank god!)

Surviving June

If I'm being honest, I barely survived June. And May too. I don't know if it was a little delayed baby blues or if the exhaustion of having two infants 24/7 was just catching up with me, but holy hell that was a hard few weeks.



I am generally able to keep a positive mental attitude as long as I'm exercising (for me that's about sanity and not skinny). But we started our basement remodel in May and that mixed with a string of very wet weather and I ended up stuck in the house for the better part of 7 weeks. And I went a little BSC. Our vacation gave me time to actually stop and talk to my husband (as opposed to just seeing him sporadically throughout the day and updating him on the kids) and we've worked out some things at home that give me downtime and I'm feeling much better.



Being a mother is the hardest job I've ever had. It's rewarding, but the days can be long, lonely and thankless. No one really tells you about that part. So here I am at the end of the rabbit hole that I fell down and I'm starting to feel a bit like a person again. And, now, onto the list.



1. My Food Processor

It is at least 20 years old. My mom gave it to me when I left for college and at that point she'd had it for as long as I could remember. It's a Hamilton Beach food processor and the model is called Emmie. They don't even make it anymore. But man, the thing is a beast.

Weekly, Joe and I have been taking the kids to the Farmer's Market and I've brought the above list of 6-8 month foods. I buy what I can from the market and whatever isn't in season I skip, thankfully most stage 1 foods are in season right now (a small benefit to having winter babies). So far I've stocked our freezer with peas, carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, and green beans. I'm super excited that stone fruits are almost in season. The white peaches at our Farmer's Market are to die for, I can't wait to make them up for the kids and let them try them in a few weeks.

I had thought I would get a fancy baby food maker or a new food processor. But Emmie is a beast so, until she dies, I'm standing by her side.

2. Beaba Multiportion Baby Food Freezer Tray

I ordered three of these off of Amazon. They make 2 oz (or 1/4 cup) food portions. At night, after the kids go to bed, I make two or three fruits/vegetables at a time, freeze them in these and then in the morning I pop them out of these containers and place them in labeled freezer bags. Then I just wash the containers with the morning bottles. They are super easy to use and clean, and getting food into them and out of them is a breeze.

I've really enjoyed making the kids food, I can't wait until the start regularly eating it. I guess maybe that's because I loved to cook before they were born? But sitting in my kitchen with a cutting board and some pots has really done wonders for me.

3. My Babysitters

I have three girls that watch the kids. One is more of a mother's helper. She's in her early 20's and is a nurse working toward a master's for her NP. She is adorable, loves my babies and fills me in on reality tv, new products that I *have* to have and the latest US Weekly gossip.



My other two are our friend's daughters. Both are in college. They are smiley and kind and full of laughter. And they are so good with the babies.



I've stopped trying to play supermom and realized that even I need a break from my munchkins every now and then. The two college aged girls rotate mornings during the week and they come and play with the babies while I go to the gym. I'm gone an hour, but what a difference an hour makes. I think by the fall, once the babies can sit unassisted and drop their third nap, I'll be comfortable bringing them to the gym's daycare. I tried in April, and I was benefiting, but it was messing them up. Having the girls here to watch them gives me peace of mind (both that they are safe and that I can get some me time) and the babies stay on schedule and get to interact with someone other than their mom. I'm going to be so sad when they leave me in August!

4. Time Warner Cable's Music on Demand

If I listen to the Rainforest Playmat's jungle music one more time I may lose my shit completely. So I've turned off a lot of the music on the kids toys. Unless there is a button you can hit which causes music to play (thereby teaching the babies cause and effect) the sound is gone. Instead, I put on the 80's station on the TV and the kids LOVE it (and so does Mommy). 

I'm getting my fill of 38 Special and Stevie Knicks. Although I've been shocked by how much Milli Vanilli they play. Anywho, the music makes my day and I get to sing and dance with the kids without having the Farmer in the Dell stuck in my head all day. Lifesaver.

Surviving April

1. Koala Baby Sheet Savers

Okay, this photo doesn't really do these things justice. They are basically terry pads that tie to the sides of the crib and the are super absorbent. I'm short, and changing a crib sheet is freaking hard. Especially with all of the untying of bumpers and maneuvering around mobiles. There's a lot of heavy lifting and grunting involved. 

I found these things by accident in BRU a few months ago and they are a total lifesaver. I bought four of them at $7 a pop, and I change them out every day. Now I only have to change the crib sheets once a month or when we have a bottom end blowout. With two reflux babies who spit up 24/7, these things are an amazing sanity saver.

2. Baby Einstein (aka Baby Crack)

My cousin had copied a bunch of Baby Einstein DVD's for me when I was pregnant. I said thank you and put them in my basement with the rest of our baby stuff that I couldn't use yet. Recently, on a trip down there to retrieve paper towels, I knocked over the stack of DVD's and thought "What the heck, let's try one of these..."



*cue the angels singing*



I managed to have 30 minutes of hands free, no parent required entertainment for my kids. That means not only did I get to eat lunch without holding a child, but I actually got to eat lunch. Hallelujah! And I totally don't feel bad putting them in front of Baby Einstein for 30 minutes. It's classical music and colorful pictures. Pretty innocuous. Our favorites are Baby Mozart, Baby Beethoven and (my personal favorite) Baby Bach.

3. Old Navy Flip Flops

The needle finally crept past 40 degrees. In Upstate NY that means get a pedicure and break out the flip flops. And so I did. I had been holding onto a pair of gold flip flops from Guess that were seven years old (yes, gross, I know) but I could never find a pair to replace them. And, seriously, I looked. I found these online, took a chance and ta-da. Cute, comfortable and $12.50. Need I say more?

4. Amazon Prime

Unfortunately for Joe and fortunately for me, I've discovered the ease of shopping with this button. It's dangerous. It makes shopping way too easy. Shopping like I did in the old days - i.e. spring's hottest nail polish color - and shopping for my new life, I'm talking diapers, nipples, wipes. Almost everything available on Amazon is Prime eligible and it's seriously how I've survived my first three months of parenthood, when getting out the door with two kids in the winter hasn't always been possible.

My weekday purchases have all arrived the next day, and I've gotten two day shipping for weekend orders. Between this little button and Amazon Mom coupon codes, my life is so much easier than it could have been. Seriously, how did people survive before the internet?

Surviving February

1. SPANX

Specifically the Super Control Higher Power Brief High-Waisted Panty (quite the name right?). My Cinch got too uncomfortable and was too rigid under my clothes, so I had to retire it. In its place I've been wearing these Spanx and they are a godsend. The key, for me, was buying one size smaller than the packaging said I should wear. I think this is mainly because my extra weight is distributed differently than it would normally be due to the pregnancy. 

I had my 6 week postpartum appointment yesterday and I asked my OB when I'd finally be rid of the fanny pack and he told me the protrusion is my abdominal muscles and not fat. He told me it will take months for the muscle to shrink back, but that my stomach would never be "normal" again because a multiples pregnancy, especially one with multiple placentas, stretches the body beyond reasonable limits. Given that I made it to 38.5 weeks there pretty much is no normal now but a new normal. Hearing that was somewhat disappointing. Thank god for Spanx, I guess!

2. The Fiona

I'm back in the gym and my boobs have turned into weapons of mass destruction. My girlfriend Rebecca, also a breastfeeding, running, new momma informed me about this sports bra. It's pretty affordable (under $30), comfortable, holds the girls snug - which is no easy feat these days, and the velcro adjustments allow me to nurse with it on. Not too shabby.

3. Running and Cycling

{ standing in Schroon Lake after completing my first half marathon }

Right now I'm only able to get away for an hour a week, but what a difference that hour makes. I feel so much more like me than I have in a full year. The first time I left the twins I had a bit of an anxiety attack, completely skipped my cool down and ran every light to get home. But I was SO much happier and calmer when I did get home. I love being a mommy, but it's so good to have a little piece of me back too.

4. Thanks to blog reader Colleen for cluing me into the Total Baby app for iPhone!

I usually have my phone with me when I'm nursing anyway for entertainment and this app has made it so much easier to track feeds, dirty diapers (which I just stopped tracking after their 2 month well baby!), milestones, and naps. Pretty much anything you want to keep track of about your baby, this app organizes. Total life saver for a type-a, sleep deprived mom of twins :)

Surviving January

1. Motrin

You know those Cymbalta commercials (Where does depression hurt? Everywhere. Who does depression hurt? Everyone.) - well we've been spoofing those commercials in our house for the last few months. Where does pregnancy hurt? Everywhere. Who does pregnancy hurt? Everyone. And who knew that parenthood would hurt everywhere and everyone too? I love every second of my new life, but I am SO thankful for Motrin. 

2. The Bachelor

I didn't want to watch this season, let alone be obsessed with it. But obsessed I am. So good. I thought Brad was going to be a total douche given his Bachelor past, but he seems like a genuinely nice guy. Super hot body too, but man his face - no so much. My pick for this season is Emily hands down. My top three are Emily, Ashley S. and Lisa. Everyone always asks me who's Lisa? Exactly, she's this season's sleeper. You just watch.

3. Vanilla Caramel Cream Coffee 

My Starbucks days are over (for now) and I've set up a coffee IV line in the meantime. This flavor is SO good. It makes me love my coffee maker all over again. We have one of those grind and brew coffee makers and even the grinding process smells good. Nom nom nom.

4. Bravado Essential Nursing Tanks

I've already mentioned these once before so I apologize for the repeat endorsement but I freaking love these tanks. I only have one nursing bra and I mostly use it for when I'm pumping (I have the Medela Freestyle and it hooks onto a nursing bra). Otherwise I wear one of these tanks underneath a sweater or a long sleeved shirt or as my pajama top. It's nice because I can nurse without having my belly be exposed and the whole nursing process is much more discreet with this top. And they are so darn comfortable. The bra top is super supportive and I think it fits *better* than the wireless nursing bras I've tried on. 

Eventually I will buy some actual bra bras, but I want to give my ribcage time to shrink again and allow my milk to level out so I'm not investing in more bras that will only fit for a short period of time. I have a whole drawer full of bras that I wore and outgrew over the last ten months. Ask my BFF about these bras, last time she came over I had one on the kitchen table (klassy) and she nearly croaked at the size of it! 

Surviving December

1. Movies On-Demand.

I can't stomach the idea of paying for Netflix and our Red Box movies normally are the suck. So I can somehow justify spending $3.99 a movie to order from my couch. So far this month we've rented The Town (so good! it made my palms sweat!) and Date Night (hysssssterical). Since I pretty much live on the couch these days, and since all of my favorite shows decided to take a 6 week hiatus (yes, I'm talking to you Brothers and Sisters and Grey's Anatomy) I'm loving the On Demand this month. 

2. My new Canon T1i

When I was out camera shopping I went to a local store and told the guy behind the counter exactly what I wanted. He replied with something to the effect of - you're like a housewife that doesn't know how to boil water trying to buy the tools of a chef. I was super pissed and I stormed out of the store.



Well, he was halfway right. Dang dSLRs are not easy things to use out of the box. But I am trying really hard to read the manual (in between reading breastfeeding and sleep method books). And I just ordered the Canon T1i for Dummies book - cause clearly I qualify as a dummy - so I'm hoping that I'll be able to figure out how to take rockstar pictures before the twins are one. If my Christmas pictures were any indication, I have a lot of learning to do. Sigh.

3. Christmas Cards 

If you sent us one, thank you. Joe and I spent Christmas alone this year - we weren't sure if the twins would come early and all of our family lives out of state so having them come to us, then leave and then possibly have to come back to us a few days later didn't make a lot of sense. So Christmas cards were our one connection to the outside world and even though we were alone, we felt so loved. 

4. Starbucks Decaf Eggnog Lattes. 

At 470 calories a pop, this little cup of heaven is something I would have NEVER drank if I wasn't already packing on the lbs. I seriously stop by Starbucks twice a week now for my special treat. In fact, some days it's the only reason I leave the house! Seriously, delish. I asked my local barista when they were taking their seasonal drinks off the menu and he told me just after the new year. Thank god. My ass can't afford for this deliciousness to be a permanent staple (on their menu or in my diet).

Surviving November

1. I was one step away from a ped-egg this month (gross). I think from all of the fluid and swelling that this stage of pregnancy has provided my feet have paid the price. The husband has been generous with the foot rubs and the lotion, but I actually saw my heels (and this was the day AFTER a pedicure) and I freaked. In came bliss to the rescue. Bliss makes some of my favorite all-time products. And while their stuff is pricey, it lasts and lasts and is worth every red cent.

Power up your pedi is a gift pack with bliss' peppermint foot patrol and gel activated "softening socks". You're only supposed to don the socks for 20 minutes, but I leave them on until my feet start to tingle. I figure when my feet are looking scary, every second counts. 

2. My husband. What a trooper this guy has been. Seriously. 

I couldn't have survived this long without him. He does dishes, laundry, vacuums, plays with the dog, keeps the fridge stocked and even brings coupons with him to the grocery store. He hugs me when I'm feeling grody and he holds me tight and cheers me on when I think I can't possibly be *this* pregnant for another second. He's generous with the foot rubs and the back rubs, really if it needs rubbing, he's your guy. And generally speaking, he's my best friend. It doesn't hurt that he's also easy on the eyes. Love you stink. Thanks for everything.

3. Lipton Green Tea with Honey. 

Obsessed. All of the sudden I can't drink coffee and I'm obsessed with tea, go figure. Add more honey and guess what? It just gets better. Yum. 

4. Train. 

My days consist of waking up, eating, doing a household chore, then taking a nap. While I'm doing my chores I listen to my iPod and Train is on constant repeat. We saw them in concert twice this year and it solidified their standing in my heart as my all-time favorite band. There are a few more shows this December near us, but unfortunately they are all sold out. It would make a great story if I could go into labor while being serenaded by Pat Monahan though. It would be even better if he just happened to be singing Mississippi when this all shook down...sigh. 

Surviving October

I survived three days of the Blog Challenge. I guess that makes me blog challenged? It was too much. I don't want to rifle through 30 year old photo albums to find pictures and then sit in my basement with the spiders scanning them in and cropping them. Too much. Who has the time? Not this girl. At least not now. And I cheated and read ahead and some of the topics were things like 'your favorite bible verse'. Now don't get me wrong, I'm no atheist, but Jesus doesn't belong on my blog. You with me?



So back to the old Niki, that writes when she can about whatever she's thinking of at the time. Several of you emailed and/or commented that you were happy I was doing the blog challenge so you could "get to know me". Sorry to disappoint! I'm an open book though, so if you have a question, just ask!



1. I think it's really sweet when people tell me I'm all belly. I really am ALL BELLY. Thirty one and a half pounds of belly. Well, I think I have some boobage in there too. But this thing is massive now. When I sit, my belly rests on my lap. I'm not going to lie, it's as gross as it sounds.

The only shirts that fit me, are comfortable and make me feel cute are the GapMaternity Supersoft Long Sleeve Crewnecks. Because I stick out so much in front most shirts make me look like I have love handles; the side ruching on these hide all the cushion I have for pushin' (you're welcome for the visual). And they're long enough that I'm always covered in the back and the front. No state fair belly hanging out the bottom.

2. Dunkin Donuts Coffee, especially the pumpkin spice.

And not the decaf kind either. Try not to judge me too harshly. My kids are still chunkers and I'm able to function through a "normal" day. I was a Starbucks girl before the twins, but they've voted and seem to demand DD. I aim to please.

3. Glammed up pumpkins. I make Martha's famous glitter pumpkins every year. This year I caught Wild Ink's post on painted pumpkins too; don't mind if I do. 

These are Rebekah's loverly pumpkins. Mine have been up for over a month now, but I haven't had time to take a picture of them. Went to take one this morning and a pumpkin already started to rot and seeped through onto my sideboard. I proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes mumbling expletives and cleaning stripper dust off my furniture. They now have a thicker runner underneath them for added protection. (Yes, I could use funkins but, trust me, they're not as pretty.) 

Anyway, when I'm not swearing at them, I love these pumpkins and if you don't buy your gourds at the grocery store (like I did this year) they last from the beginning of October through Thanksgiving. Double-duty decorating!

4. Cooking Light Magazine

I finally have the energy to cook again and my gag reflex is almost nonexistent these days, so I'm back in the kitchen and so happy to be there. Recipes and reviews to come soon. Last year subscribed to Cooking Light for $7 and it was the best $7 I spent. New things to try every month and almost everything we make is quick, low cal and healthy.  

The husband just had his physical and his bad cholesterol came back high. This makes me not-so-happy. I feel like I've failed as a wife over the last six months when I turned up my nose at the grocery store and 90% of the food we normally eat. I need to keep my honey in tip-top shape so he can live long and prosper. Anyway, if you love being in the kitchen, it's worth a subscription. Unlike most food magazines, nothing in this one is too fancy schmancy and almost everything we make is good!

5. Spinning. I'm back on the bike and it feels so good; I actually feel human again. A little bittersweet because I know I have to give it up again shortly, but right now I'm just pedaling and smiling. 

Before moving to the Capital Region, I taught spinning for about 6 years and I've been on the bike for the last ten. Strangely I never got into road biking, although I'm dying to. Anyway, this exercise is my therapy, it's my sanity and it's my favorite. And I decided to hop on the bike and see how I'd do after a month off, and guess what? I did just fine. I'm super excited to finish up work for good soon and be able to get in there a few times a week rather than just every so often. 

If you've never tried spin, but want to, I can't recommend it enough! In an hour you can push yourself at your own pace, blast up to 1000 calories and completely decompress. L.O.V.E. does not begin to describe how I feel about this class.

Surviving September

1. After wearing maternity jeans, I'm not sure why I ever wore non-maternity jeans. My favorite jeans so far are GapMaternity Demi Panel Long and Lean.

I really think all women should be given at least one pair of feel great pants with an elastic waistband. I have a pair in flare leg and boot cut and both are equally awesome. I wear the ankle length and at 5'3" they are perfect for flats or a short wedge which is all I'm wearing these days anyway. I feel cute in them every time I put them on (no easy feat these days). 

The demi panel is getting a bit annoying now that my belly is getting bigger (it folds a bit when I sit), but I'm happy to have them for those post-partum days where my old jeans don't fit and it's still a snowglobe in Upstate NY. I think having to wear a full panel jean after giving birth would be the death of my ego.

2. Apples

I am eating at least three a day right now. Thank goodness there are farm stands everywhere lately, I'm pretty much able to pull over on a whim and load up my purse on my way to, well...anywhere. The husband and I are hitting up the orchard this weekend for a pick your own spree and I.cannot.wait. All of my favorites are in season now (Macoun, Fuji, Gala and Cortland). Pottery Barn had sliced apples in a pitcher of water in their fall catalog and I'm so trying that as well.

3. I come from a long line of oily people, so I've never experienced dry itchy skin...until now. I'm loving Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Scrub.

It's not super scratchy and irritating on your skin and when you wash it off your skin feels like silk. Plus the smell doesn't make me gag (which happens with a lot of the really scented scrubs and lotions, even before babies). I use it at least once a week, and if the husband is home I can sometimes get in a scrub down twice a week (need help reaching those 'can't see at all places' these days). 

I've had the 12 oz scrub for 6 months and I haven't even used half of it yet, so while it's a bit pricey at $36, it seems to go the distance.

4. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

I'm not usually a make-up wearer. Either I don't have the time or I don't have the patience to be bothered. But lately, I don't leave the house without applying my face. Maybe it's because my face is the only thing I can control the look of these days? I have no idea. Anyway, I've always had a few tried and true products in my teeny, tiny make-up bag and now I remember why I've used the same products for years. 

Bobbi Brown is pretty much all I carry and my daily go-to's are Lip Gloss in Pink Beige, Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Espresso Ink, Blush in Tawny and Extreme Party Mascara in Jet Black (I like this even better than DiorShow!). 

At night I add to it an eye palette from the 2008 Holiday Collection (yup, still have makeup from 2008, don't judge) and I'm all set. Colors in that palette include: Navajo, Cement, Heather Mauve Shimmer Wash and Mahogany.