Surviving The First Year: Newborn Products We Love

Products We Can't Live Without by jmjohnson4 on Polyvore

A lot of people ask me what my day looks like—how exactly we handle having two babies at once. And to be honest, I have no idea how we handle it. I'm not sure I've got it all figured out; in fact I know I don't have it all figured out. Some days it's like nothing has changed and we are a seamless unit. Other days, we're firmly on the struggle bus. Like last Wednesday for example.

The biggest thing I tell people that ask questions about this whole shebang called having newborn twins is that I don't know any different. Yes, it's hard for other mothers of singletons to relate, because you only know what it's like to feed one child in the middle of the night or maneuver one infant carrier through a doorframe. I've never done just one. Don't bless my heart when you see me rolling through a door with my double snap'n'go (lifesaver by the way). I don't need it. This is my normal.

But my normal is GREATLY aided by some key products. In fact, there are a few things that I believe 10000% are worth the larger price tag they carry. We are fortunate that I have a large family and two moms that threw me baby showers, so we got a large number of the things I registered for.

One notable thing we didn't get, and had to purchase ourselves was the Baby Brezza Bottle Maker. Y'all. This thing is a gamechanger. Think of it as a formula Keurig: place bottle in slot, push button, have prepared bottle in minutes. I used a coupon and purchased it when Target had a rebate available so that helped shave off some of the sting, but honestly, even if you can't get it on discount, purchase this item. Especially if you have twins. I make at least 12 bottles a day. 12. Mind you, that's with both sleeping through the night. Using the Baby Brezza, I can make all my bottles when I need them, no reheating, mixing or keeping track of anything.

Besides the Baby Keurig, the two other biggest keys to my sanity have been 4moms products: the infant tub and the MamaRoo. 4moms infant tub is more expensive than others, but it has a thermostat build in as well as two drains in the main basin, allowing water to flow out of the tub during the bath. No more sitting in dirty bath water. When you are bathing two babies back to back, that kind of feature is awesome. So worth the $50 price tag, in my opinion.

The MamaRoo is the top product in our home right now. Because, I could make it without the baby Keurig, not that I would want to but I could, and I could just use the sink. I could not survive without the MamaRoo. This spaceship looking contraption is a swing on steroids. It's got like five different patterns it moves in with adjustable speeds as well. Putting my kids in their MamaRoos is like giving me a glass bottle of wine and a box of fluffy puppies after a tough day. It's just incredibly soothing. Two babies means two MamaRoos, and at $250 a piece that's not exactly budget friendly. Luckily, we got ours as a gift from Grandpop Ditz and MarMar, but I have seen MamaRoos at consignment sales and listed on Craigslist, so there are other options. I can't stop gushing about this thing and have steered multiple well meaning grandparents at a metro Atlanta Babies R Us towards this as a gift for their daughter/daughter in law.

Even though my kids are strong and I am lazy, I fully believe in the healing power of a snug swaddle. Enter Summer Infant Velcro SwaddleMe Sack Thing. The three pack is what you need to buy every preggo you know that you are going to her shower and don't want to spend more than $30. The tabs are easy to use and the swaddle stays snug all night long, helping that angel babe of yours stay asleep longer.

We use Dr. Brown's bottles, and have no complaints. Pretty much everyone, including our pediatrician, recommended them to us and I have to say, I like them. They are a total pain in the ass to wash by hand SO.MANY.PIECES. But, we have, knock on wood, not battled colic and the gas seems to be under control.

Same goes for my bib of choice, Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature—recommended to us but more personal choice than anything. I think the rolled neck cuts down on a lot of the would be neck cheese, but otherwise, it's just a drool and spat up milk catcher.

I like the Carter's three-piece sets because boy clothes are surprisingly cuter than I thought they would be. Same goes for jammies, the zippers are so easy! I HATE buying the ones with snaps now.

So that's what I've found works for us nearly four months in. What do you think I missed? What do I need for the next three months?

Birth Announcements

So, birth announcements are supposed to be sent when exactly? When the baby (or in this case babies) in question is around three months? Good, because that's when I got these mailed out. #momfail

The last of these adorable things hit the post office yesterday, so I don't feel guilty sharing them with the internet now. Thanks to the super talented Shelby Berry for designing them and the super talented Kim Box for snapping the pictures. They are honestly perfect. My favorite touch was that the were printed front to back, so each baby had his own side!

Shop Our Closet

Fitz and Alex recently sized out of their preemie and newborn clothing. While I was cleaning out their closets I realized just how much stuff we have. I've saved a few favorites, but I have a lot of stuff that was worn maybe once or twice, some not even at all.

Ever the eternal optimist, I am going to try to sell some of the things that we longer have a use for that are in excellent condition. I listed a few things Wednesday and will continue to list things each day. I didn't realize how time consuming it was to post stuff!

Curious about what we've got? Follow us on Instagram!

Three Months

So, we're going to all pretend like I did the boys two month update already and this ON TIME three month update is just falling right in line.

How is it already January 7th?! It's already been three months to the day with y'all. I'm amazed everyday by what you can do and what I have learned to do. You are both starting to change in ways I never thought I would notice. For example, Fitzy you now love to stare at the squish balls on top of your MamaRoo, and I learned that I can in fact hold your bottles and sleep at the same time. Amazing, right?

I still struggle with taking y'all's picture though.

It's been a big few months for us all. We survived Alex's surgery, Christmas, Momma getting the stomach flu and transitioning from an at-home nanny to going to "school." You both have amazed me in how you've handled everything. I'm so proud of you!!

Alex is not easily amused with getting his picture taken.

You've both started to smile when you hear my voice, your Dad's voice or see either of us. The first time I saw you both smile at me I nearly melted into a puddle. It was the cutest thing.

#heartbreaker

Fitzy, you are still my little Fuss Budget. You love to make as much noise as possible and get realll upset if you think you're missing out on something. I hate hate HATE to admit, but you might have picked this up from me, because I love to just sit with you, your Dad and your brother. You definitely picked it up from your Dad, he has FOMO (fear of missing out) like no one's business. At your two month check up, two weeks late, you weighed in at 10 lbs. 1.9 oz, you're certainly built like your Dad. You're long as well, 23 inches! You’re firmly in size 1 diapers and 0-3/3M clothes. We've recently made the switch and I hate to part with all your newborn stuff!

Sadly, I see this face a lot...

Alex, you my dear have taught me so, so many things in your three little months of life. That's a nice way of saying, damn if you haven't put me through hell kid. I guess that's just practice for when you're learning to drive and play full contact sports and date and go to college and well, be a teenage boy. You're still Squeaks every now and then, but after your surgery you've mellowed. I think you were squeaky because you didn't feel good. You're still our little Shrimpy, though you are quickly catching up. Papa Mark says it'll be no time before you are taking on Fitzy and winning!! You're long and lean, just like me: 22 inches long and 8 lbs. 10.6 oz. In an effort to make Momma's life easier, We switched you out of NB clothes and diapers when it was time to switch your brother. The 0-3/3M clothes are a little big on you, but the length is perfect. The diapers are big-ish but you've got no, and I mean NO, problem showing of your fancy new intestines and filling them up!

Buddy, you have to get better about letting me take your picture!

You are both great eaters and great sleepers. You tease us every now and then with 12 hours of sleep. We were on a three day in a row streak that Fitzgerald broke this morning with a 5am wakeup…You both vaguely like your nighttime bath, hate getting lotioned up, and have lately not particularly cared for being swaddled. The MamaRoos are still the most beloved item in our house, besides our precious doggies.

TOTAL HAMS.

I can't wait to see what happens over the next month.

15 for 2015

via

I recently saw a post on a blog that got me thinking…what exactly are my goals for the new year?

I've never been a huge resolutions/goals person. Maybe that's because I'm lazy? But I always seem to get the things done I want to get done…eventually. So this year I'm going to try something different, you know since I'm someone's mother now I should maybe be more of an adult am going to hold myself accountable for things?

Maybe I should add take pictures with my DSLR camera instead of my old, crappy iPhone to my list?

On January 2, 2014 I had no idea what the year ahead would hold. It's been a helluva ride to say the least. This year I plan to be a little more intentional with my time, enjoy my babies, enjoy my husband and really be present in the moments. I'm usually pretty good about that last one but damn, these days I am TIRED.

"What do you mean your tired? Sleep is for the birds"--My child, probably

So, here goes...

15 for 2015 

Hit the Pure Barre Montgomery 250 Tuck Club…I’m so close! 

Spend another long weekend in Curacao 

Show Fitz and Alex the beach 

Read 15 books 

Take an entire month and not buy a single piece of clothing (or accessory) for myself 

Finally re-decorate our living room 

Update my phone software...my phone's pictures are horrible!

Visit Kimber, Gentry and Saylor at the farm in Pennsylvania 

Go home for Alabama Homecoming 

Write my Nanny once a month 

Try 15 new recipes 

Completely clean out my closet 

Take about a zillion more pictures 

Clean out the storage unit and sell the furniture we are never going to use 

Show Mark Philadelphia and the Porecca family