Shopping Small

Being small business owners ourselves, DH and I try to make an effort to patronize local and small businesses whenever we can.  But honestly, it is difficult and getting more so all the time.  I actually had to look up where to spend our credits for Small Business Saturday last weekend (we ended up at our fave local sushi place and produce market to spend both), since it was not usable online like last year. 

Even though it is super close, Wal-mart is already on the "avoid if at all possible" list and Amazon is working hard to get itself on there too because of their sketchy business practices.  When you have two small kids, online shopping is nothing short of a godsend, but so is the chance to get out of the house once in awhile, even when it is with said children. 

Where we live is adjacent to the largest single retail area in the state (i.e. the mall is somehow/sadly the largest tourist attraction in all of IL.)  While this means that conveniently pretty much every store has an outlet within minutes and many of my faves: Costco (double carts, samples), Whole Foods (underground heated parking), IKEA (dark chocolate, and soon Smaland), Target, Buy Buy Baby, Baby Gap, Anthro, Starbucks, Janie & Jack, etc., etc., it is also heavily dominated by chain stores.  After living in Wellesley (Natick), Brighton (Chestnut Hill), and downtown Chicago, my mom still jokes (only half jokingly) that I choose where to live based on the local shopping.  One of my fave kid's stores is Land of Nod, which started as a small business, but was then bought by Crate and Barrel (a Chicago institution), which the Segals have since sold to a German retail conglomerate.

One of my fave new finds this year has been The Honest Company, which was co-founded by Jessica Alba (probably the least interesting thing about and best thing for marketing the company).  Their stuff (natural and adorable diapers, baby and beauty products, and household cleaners) is not cheap, but it is really nice.  We've been happy with everything we've tried, and we've tried almost everything.  I highly recommend it if you are inclined to such products, shopping small (if not always local), and patronizing responsible companies.

Divali

So skinny, but such a strong girl

And busy, and into everything

Visiting with great G-ma G over Thanksgiving

Don't let the innocent face fool you, she's trouble...

Real life with a sensitive child...

Your questions answered

So, as you may have noticed I'm not the most attentive blogger.  Sorry about that. I spend my days chasing two almost toddlers around (he has started crawling too, and she just pulled up to her feet for the first time today, eek!) and when the days are over I usually feel like they've slipped me a roofie. Lately (meaning over several months) I've gotten questions from folks who either don't leave a reply e-mail address or when I do find a way to reply it gets kicked back and FB is also not letting me send/reply to messages.  Much of this is on my Pinterest site, but no worries, here goes...

Where are the twins' outfits from in their pictures?

Mari's blouse and sweater are from H&M (one of my many fave places to get their clothes, love their organic basics) and her leggings and List's sweater are from Pearls and Popcorn.  His oxford is Polo RL and jeans are Old Navy.  They are sockless since it was 80 degrees.  H&M unfortunately does not offer online shopping, but P&P does.  I got the P&P stuff (among other pretties) late last year for a song from Vente Privee (Amex's deal site), but they are still available (and on sale) on their website.

Are you planning the twins' first birthday party yet?

Yes, in that we have a date (1/5, in an attempt to avoid the holiday madness), location (we've rented the clubhouse to accommodate all those who were vocally disappointed I wasn't able to have a shower), and invites and TY notes (that match their birth announcements)are in hand.  I have picked up some decorations and am working on the food.  Stay tuned...

Where are their cart/highchair covers from?

They are both from Itzy Ritzy, their Ritzy Sitzy covers.  I got them (and everything I'd ever want from their website) when they had a half off sale, so follow them and watch for sales if you don't want to pay full fare.  Another gadget that we find helpful is the Tiny Diner placemat since we've started taking them out more and more and they prefer to feed themselves.

What is your pumping schedule?

Well right now I'm pumping three times a day (first thing in the morning, early afternoon when the kids are napping, and then again before I go to bed).  I dropped the fourth late afternoon pump at about ten months after doing that for several months.  Previously I had pumped up to 5-6 or more times/day, but found that pumping more did not increase my supply or yield, it just resulted in lots of pumping with a smaller yield with each pumping.  They have been on 100% BM for several months, but I have had no extra to freeze.  I used to pump for 20 mins each time, but with my latest issues, I'm stopping at 15 and not sacrificing much if any milk.

How much does all that life insurance cost?

For $2MM/ea. in 20 year term policies through ING our premiums for both of us are roughly $2K/year.  This obviously will vary by person (gender, age, health history), but my share (35 yr. old woman, best rate class) was ~$750.  DH (36 yr old man) is also healthy and had a normal cholesterol level, but since his split of good/bad is a little wacky (which is often hereditary), he is in the next to best rate class and pays more.

As always, feel free to e-mail me at kthappy76@gmail.com for a more prompt response.  Be well and thanks! :)

Six more weeks

I can not believe how close we are to the twins' first birthday.  Their party is scheduled for just after the new year, but the big day is just over a month away.  Oh my goodness...

A sampling from our photo shoot...

We are still plugging along with the pumping schedule, though this last week was a doozy.  Mastitis and bleeding, coming from inside (hello pink milk)

and outside (my nipples might come off completely), don't make for a good way to finish up.  I thought I might have to stop completely over the weekend, but we are still going for now.  I obviously can't speak for those who feed at the breast or only have one mouth to feed, but this breastfeeding thing is certainly not for wimps, that is for sure.  I'm already plotting out what I'll do with all my time when I am done pumping.

I am so happy that it has worked out for us, that I had some milk and pumps (and formula too, so no one starved to death), but I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed it or would happily do it again (but since we are done, I guess that doesn't really count).  Definitely worth it, but not easy that's for sure.  It might be one of my only personal accomplishments from the last ten months.  That and helping me lose all the baby weight (the fifty I gained and another ten for good measure).

And Halloween went great, the kids didn't like their hats (of course the part of their costumes I spent the most time on), but fun was had by all

The complete Paddington, including a suitcase for marmalade.

Now that Mari is mobile, she doesn't want any part of holding still for pictures.  She must be moving at all times.   The smallest and bravest one was Madeline...

 

Waiting

It is ridiculous that I haven't posted in a month, since I have way too much to post about (not the least of which that Mari has been crawling nearly all of that time).  But obviously I've found that my real life (happily) gets in the way of blathering on about life. 

We are waiting (not so) patiently for the pics from our first professional shoot (last week) with the kids since their newborn shoot at the hospital.  I was going to/meant to do them sooner, but it just didn't happen.  Thomas was AMAZING and came very highly recommended by several friends of mine.  Apparently he used to work for Mario Testino, yes, that Mario Testino (that was the post that blew up my blog last year, of course).  It was an amazing day, our last really warm one.  The only problem was Alistair was having some issues and cried during almost the entire shoot, so we'll see what we end up with.  Until then, by yours truly and in their new wagon, which they adore...

I finally took the class, but I still don't take many great pictures with my new DSLR.  Oh well, practice, practice, practice...  Happy Hallows' Eve!

P.S. Thanks to everyone for all the wonderfully sweet things you say about our adorable kids.  Obviously we are completely smitten, but it is now my life's mission to make sure this doesn't go completely to their heads and they think they can skate by. ;)  We can only credit the wizardry of multicultural genetics, which apparently ensures that your kids will be better looking than either of their parents.

Busy Times

We're keeping busy in these early fall days.  After having a house full of all sickies last week, including the kids' first bout w/colds, which thankfully they fared much better than DH and me, I recently also came down with food poisoning, because don't you know when you are BFing twins you need more help losing more weight you don't really need to lose.  Not cool.  So we are trying to claw our way back.

 

The Ryder Cup was literally down the street over the weekend and though I'd wisely passed on tickets to go, we went and visited the course last weekend before the crowds besieged and Team USA choked something awful. The last tournament we went to there was the PGA in 2006, when we took the day off of work to go and watch and then go to get our marriage license.  My a lot has happened since then...

 

In other news...

We recently decided it was way past time to put in our new patio.  We first planned to do this several years ago, since our small deck had limited usefulness, but it just fell by the wayside with all the much more important nonsense we had going on.  Fortunately, we'd done all the research, scoping out of contractors back in '09, so it was a quick revisit with our top pick to get things rolling.  We're having Unilock Hollandstone pavers laid over 400 sq feet.  By having it done now instead in the spring, we negotiated '09 pricing, nixing the 30% increase since then. Yay!

 

This is obviously an entry, but it's the stone (Sierra) and pattern (herringbone with a single border) that we are planning.  Simple.

 

DH built the paver patio at his last place (with a buddy's help) and I come from a long line of DIYers, but we are pretty much an outsourcing bunch of folks now.  If there is massive labor or expertise involved (we're having a concrete Unibase laid under the pavers) or it doesn't matter who does something (like the guy who mows the lawn, cleans the gutters) we pay someone else to do it.  If it were up to DH, I'd hire someone to come help regularly with the kids, so I had more time, but I've yet to give in to that.
 



With the kids, and a sloping driveway, we knew we'd want/need more safe outside space for playing, riding around, etc., plus the obvious benefit of having additional outdoor living/eating area.  It has southern exposure, so I'll probably be shopping for more than just a simple umbrella.  It can get really hot back there.

Our plan is to put a playspace for the kids just beyond the new patio, before our lawn drops off slightly before the rear property line, as all are in direct line of sight from the kitchen window.  I'll try to remember to post some before and after pics when it's all done.

We've also just started acquiring the pieces of our new master bath.  So far, just the new bath tub, surround and fixtures.  I still need to figure out what we are going to do for flooring and the vanity and then ultimately have it all installed.  The bath is 12' by 6' and has a 72" vanity now.  I have to decide if I want to break it up into two smaller vanities and add storage or just go with something simple since we have a good sized closet in there already.

 

Hutton double by RH 

We went to a (not really a) pumpkin "farm" over the weekend hoping to pick some pumpkins, you know because that's what you do at a pumpkin "farm", but not only was it crazy hotter than predicted (apparently we live in FL now), they had miles and miles of prepicked pumpkins.  Now what is the fun in that?  Apparently if you go to their location in the far far exurbs you can pick your own, but not in Barrington (which to most people I know is way beyond anywhere they would ever want to go) since there isn't "enough room".  Barrington is horse country BTW, there is plenty of room.  But they did have enough room for giraffes and camel rides...  Go figure.

I mean what's a pumpkin "farm" without zoo animals, really?

 



So we had to settle for just buying, not picking, the kids some pee-wees of their own

Our kids are crazy smiley, but I think this is one of the only pics I have of them after nine months both in the same picture.  Oh well...  cuties.

If you follow me on Pinterest, which you are by no means obliged to do, you'll see that for Halloween we are planning for the kids to be Paddington Bear and Madeline, this is assuming I finish their outfits.  And I'm starting to plan their first birthday party which will come after our first big family trip over Christmas (likely to Sanibel or someplace similar), again assuming I can manage to get everything done on time.  I like to joke the main thing standing between me and total world domination is my low energy level post mono (and now post bed rest), but we're likely not getting that addressed until after BFing is done.  Happy October!

"There is no perfect,...

...only real life and liars."  -The Life You've Imagined, by Kristina Riggle

One of the most important things I learned many years ago, was that the pursuit of perfection is in fact the surest route to unhappiness. 

 

Why Women Should Stop Trying to Be Perfect

by Debora Spar

 

Happy Weekend!

Nine months old

The kids turned nine months old on Thursday, and for the first time we didn't make their Dr. appt. for their birthday, since even back in June DH had the foresight to make it a four day weekend for us.

They are both rocking up on their knees as of a week ago, though he more enthusiastically, so our lives are about to change and soon.  Both are taking to finger foods like champs, and are complete omnivores so far.

Alistair is up to 19 lbs. and 5 ozs. (25-50%) and is 29 1/2" long (90%), and his head is 46.1 cm (75%).  He is still up 6-0 on his sister in the tooth race and he is delighting everyone with his completely random bouts of giggles.

Marielle is up to 16 lbs. and 11 ozs. (25%) and is 28" long (75%) and her head is 44.9 cm (75%).  Her favorite activities include spinning herself around/doing tummy donuts on the bare floor, doing what appear to be advanced yoga poses and clapping.

They continue to be on all breastmilk (plus solids) for now, so their weights will likely remain on the low end as to grow taller, as breastfed babies tend to have a lighter weight curve than formula fed babies.

They got their first flu shot today and will get the second of the series in three months.  They also got hemoglobin/iron tests (normal) and lead exposure (TBD, but hopefully negative)

They still sleep about 11 hours at night, ~7p-6a, (and have for the last five months or so) and about another three more cumulatively during the day in now two 1-2 hour naps.  They (almost always) love their schedule, which we take pretty seriously, since it keeps them very happy.  If we were deciding our family size based on these two, we'd have another ten.  Though I don't think I could love anyone more.

 I'm not a big fan of hair bows, but I do adore her in it (and she seems to like it too)

Kicking back in his big boy chair 

 Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
Thanks for bringing us along, now we are going to eat your tapas (and they did!) 

 Calm between cries

Pumping some Boppy iron
 

My younger sister came to visit us from NYC over Labor Day weekend, so my next older sister and all the cousins came down to visit too. 

The "strap chewers" watching the big kids play at the playground...

You know what is a bigger freak show gets more stares than twins in a double stroller?  Twins plus four under five in a quad stroller.  We were quite a sight at the zoo and the mall and the pool...  Happy first weekend of autumn!