Irish Twins Momma's Babybook

Let's Go Giants!

2013-05-23T06:47:00.001-07:00

The girls got their first baseball at the San Francisco Giants game earlier this week. And daddy bought them their first Giants hats, of course in pink and purple.

Mini Me's

2013-05-16T20:31:00.001-07:00

Melts my heart (before I've cleaned up their mess and saw the broken hangers) that the girls love to dress up in my clothes. They sure know me to a tee with my scarves! And glasses.

So long work break

2013-05-13T09:20:00.001-07:00

Hello! I've been gone for a very long time. Working, being a wife, mommy, etc. are all exhausting and I couldn't find an ounce of energy or time to blog.

Blah, blah, blah. I'm back! (Crickets?!) Oh well.

Happy New Year! Happy Easter! Happy Mother's Day!

I'm lucky that we found a wonderful preschool for the girls to attend while my husband and I are at work!

For Mother's Day, they had a tea with strawberry shortcake and milk. A reading of "Love You Forever" which I held back tears; and a lovely gift of a post it note pad and a Q&A of how skinny they really think I am. ;)

Cheers to the holiday season!

2012-11-30T19:43:00.001-08:00

Christmas tree picking is more fun with a 3- and 4- year old.

Happy holidays to all!

'Lucy in the sky with diamonds'

2012-11-06T08:05:00.001-08:00

Our sweet black lab, Lucy, lost her fun, youthful, playful, tennis ball fetching, bone chewing, life a week and a half ago.

The cancer got her. The tumor in her neck regrew itself around her.

But she was happy til the morning we had to say good-bye. Her tail still tapped happily on the floor. Her eyes were still full of love.

That girl, in true Lucy fashion, wouldn't put her head down in my lap until all of her "crackers and escargo" (liver treats dipped in wet puppy food) from the vet were gone.

I miss her like crazy. It's silly to say you miss a dog. But I do. She was my first baby. She was my dog. She was my best friend. And she was by my side through everything in the last 8 1/2 years. New jobs, getting engaged, graduating from college, married, two babies, new house, etc. And through the tough, hard times. She was right by my side. And that's what is tough... I had to say good bye to someone that just loved.

She was the best. Everyone has their own best, but she was the best. Everyone loved her and she loved them.

Enjoy all that heaven is, Lucy. Running, fetching until you can't, treats, biscuits, everything. Because you deserve it.

Tricky tricky time!

2012-11-01T09:26:00.001-07:00

Halloween was fun. We braved the sprinkles and went up and down our long street and had a blast!

Ava was Silvermist, who for those that don't know, is Tinkerbell's blue fairy friend. Emma wanted to be Strawberry Shortcake again and I think she rocked it better than last year!

We went to a few fun Halloween events where the girls wore their 'official' costumes and another where Ava was Alice in Wonderland and Emma was a slice of pizza. (She wasn't thrilled about the pizza thing until she realized she was itchy and could run and jump!)

Hope everyone had a fun and safe night last night!

Newness

2012-10-24T09:22:00.001-07:00

I have great and exciting news. I am trading in my SAHM shoes for working mama shoes!

I have been offered a position with a medical organization that I have been trying to get into for ten years! To say I'm excited, is a big, fat understatement. ;)

I became a SAHM in January because my previous employer changed their company policy in regard to medical insurance benefits (which affected me negatively). It has been a big gift to stay-at-home with my girls and I'm ever so grateful to my husband for allowing me to do so (working harder and more).

And it's time. The girls need preschool and new friends. They need a good, structured environment, and I'm ready for some adult conversation!

So as you can imagine we have been touring, hunting, and interviewing different local preschools. Which has been fun, yet hard. Ava has been exploring each new school and Emma sticks by my side. It's a huge adjustment for everyone, but it is time.

Ack! Happy October!

2012-10-17T09:13:00.001-07:00

It's been a while!!!

Happy October and happy fall, my fellow blogger friends!

I won't complain how life has thrown us curveballs or how insane it has been. But I will leave you with a pumpkin patch photo. :)

My husband took the girls to a great pumpkin patch an hour away. It has a corn maze, tons of pumpkins from their own fields, train rides, a scarecrow contest and ride, and much more! I love going every year, but couldn't make it since I attended a burial service for my dear cousin.

Are you ready for Halloween?! What are your kids going to be??

Ava is going to be Silvermist, the blue fairy from Tinkerbell's crew ($10 score at Target!) and Emma is going to be Strawberry Shortcake again.

Sweet Pea preemie and newborn clothing exchange

2012-09-30T18:40:00.001-07:00

Ava was a preemie. She barely fit into her preemie clothes when she was born. And what mom thinks to buy or even wash the newborn, let alone, preemie clothes from the baby shower?

Well, a great organization that I follow and support is hosting its first preemie and newborn clothing exchange. Interested? You can send gently used clothing to:

Sweet Pea Exchange
86 Hanover Avenue
Pawtucket RI 02861

Disneyland in 12 hours with tots

2012-09-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

Disneyland! I waited my whole life to go to Disneyland with my own kids. And people are right, Disneyland with your kids is awesome!

There's something more magical in the air..... The atmosphere is more magical, even the air smells better.

I'm here to say that despite what numerous authors on the internet say, you can do Disneyland in one day.... with two kids under 3 years old. You can! I promise! It just takes some planning, a lot of snacks, and a lot of patience!

My top 10 ways to do Disneyland in a day:

1. Get to the park early with a full belly of breakfast. Grab breakfast in your hotels' lobby, at Denny's which us right across the street, or pack a brown bag.

2. Pack lots of snacks in your stroller in a backpack. And over pack! Bring twice the amount, because as you wait for rides, to meet princesses for parades, you will hear 'I'm hungry!' Make sure you have at least one snack that has some sort of fruit in it.

3. Bring refillable water bottles. There are a couple of water fountains throughout the park.

4. Pick up a map. Plan the day around things like shows and parades for some down time for the tots. It will be nice to sit for everyone and to watch the entertainment. Then you can scope out the bathrooms, water fountains,etc.

5. Bring a stroller. Even if you don't use one in normal life. You will be thankful to yourself. It's a place to put the snacks, tired kids and treasures you buy along the way.

6. Go with the flow of what your child wants to do. Even though you may want to meet Rapunzel and may have to wait 75+ minutes in line to see her long mane, but does your child really want to see her?!

7. The Princess Faire is really worth the hour plus wait. There are three princesses waiting happily to spend a minute or three with your child. You can take as many pictures and video as you would like without seeing the pressure of a long line. It's precious one-on-one time with the real deal. Same with Pixie Hollow to meet the fairies and Tinkerbell.

8. Make sure each child eats and has a rest period during the day. Snacking and eating sweets is fun, but real food keeps little bodies going and non-cranky. A rest period of a show or a meal in a restaurant could be ideal, but so could a stop at a bench or watching the little ducks right outside of Frontier Land.

9. Fast passes are available to all guests and could be used to go on rides that are very popular at a shorter wait time. Just remember to hang onto everyone's tickets. Also, there's a system in place for both parents to ride a favorite ride even with little kids.

10. Have fun! Remember you don't have to do EVERYTHING that day. There's a lifetime to make another trip to Disneyland in the future. And it keeps the magic alive for the next trip and something to look forward to!

New chapter

2012-09-03T16:55:00.002-07:00

You may have noticed, but I have posted a brand new chapter in my header called, Disneyland Money Saving Tips. We live in the Bay Area of California and have been to Disneyland a handful of times. Recently, we visited with our girls and I will soon write a new post about how we did it with two toddlers, under the age of 3, in ONE day! If you are in need any advice for Disney World, please visit one of my favorite bloggers, Jodie at It's All Good in Mommyhood. She has a whole chapter dedicated to advice about saving money in Disney World.

Family portraits that made us famous

2012-08-31T00:44:00.001-07:00

Was it the funny eyes? My frizzy hair? Or the cute moments captured of our girls?

I want to direct you to a fabulous photographer in the East Bay part of the Bay Area. It's a husband and wife team, Julie and Luke, and Julie is just wonderful!

Check out how she made our little family a little famous on her cute blog, by clicking over to Julie and Luke Photography.

First day of joyschool

2012-08-28T17:46:00.001-07:00

So we have decided to save the money we don't really have for preschool and teach the girls at home. I know that preschool is important for structure, socialization, and to get ready for school. But I think our set up will do just great! The girls did attend a home day care/preschool so I feel they learned so much there in regards to playing, sharing and songs I don't even know.

I'm excited! And so are the girls. As of today they love calling me "teacher."

I printed out work sheets that look a lot like the ones our preschool/day care used and will start with the alphabet. We are apart of a great playgroup that meets weekly.

And to give myself more confidence, I did get a special certification in early childhood education. So I got this. If I'm going to be home, I must make the most of these precious toddler and preschool moments. And those will be teaching my girls.

When I grow up....

2012-08-10T10:08:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday, Ava and Emma!

2012-07-27T10:21:00.001-07:00

Today is the day!

Happy 4th birthday to you, Ava!

Happy 3rd birthday to you, Emma!

Now to eat ice cream at breakfast, thank you Black Bear Diner. :) Pick up stuff for their party. Shop. Eat birthday cake! And snuggle my girls. Oh and stalk the Sprout channel to see if their birthday message pops up!

Love/Hate Link up

2012-07-25T10:54:00.001-07:00

Hello! Here for a quick post... Life has been a little, um, crazy?! Girls birthday is in two sleeps, party in four.

Lucy had surgery yesterday. So my love/hates are as follows:

I LOVE you Lucy.
I HATE that you had to have surgery yesterday.

I LOVE your vet, Lucy.
I HATE that the tumor she took out was the size of a softball.

I LOVE that we found a vet hospital that has been so loving and understanding (and affordable!).
I HATE that you still have the cancer that entered your lymph nodes.

I LOVE you Lucy.

Photos by A&E

2012-07-18T10:46:00.001-07:00

Enjoy! I think they've finally mastered 'keep your finger off the lense.'

Unwritten rule

2012-07-11T12:58:00.001-07:00

Isn't it written somewhere, or unwritten, that you only go down slides, not up?

I know, I know. I'm a square like the yard duty lady.

But really....

Love/Hate Link Up

2012-07-11T12:45:00.001-07:00

I love summertime.
I hate the 100+ degree heat.

I love my girls and how smart little girls they are growing into.
I hate that they aren't babies anymore. I hate that their little cubby little thighs are gone.

I appreciate the $1 movies local theaters are providing.
I hate that we had to leave two theaters today because they were sold out.
I love Redbox for saving the day.

I love connecting with old friends ...especially ones that share their free zoo passes.
I hate that we don't get to catch up the entire time, while we chase our littles around.

Want to play along? Visit Noel at Beautiful Life here.

Letters to my Pets Link up (July)

2012-07-01T10:23:00.001-07:00

Dear Sabath,

Hi little buddy. Please stop throwing your fur everywhere. Thanks.

And I will protect you from the fireworks. I'll make sure you stay inside. But please don't hide under Emma's bed. She is sometimes impossible to get to sleep...and last night you were the cause!

Love,
Your fur mom

Dear Lucy,

Thank you for hanging in there despite the recent diagnosis. I'm still so heartbroken over it, but so happy you are feeling good and acting like your 8 1/2 year old puppy self.

Love,
Your fur mommy

Linking up with Noel at Beautiful Life. Want play along, you have all month!

Flashback, goodie, I found of Lucy and Ava when she was .... One? Right after Emma was born.

Rockers

2012-06-27T19:36:00.001-07:00

My girls rocked out. Check 'em out! We went hiking on Mt. Diablo in its 'city' called "Rock City."

I only almost had a heart attack a couple of times. They were pros and I was so proud!

Love/Hate Link up

2012-06-27T16:45:00.001-07:00

I'm linking up this week once again for my free therapy session with Noel at Beautiful Life. Want to join, visit her. It will make you happy!

I LOVE the naptime after a long playdate at the park with great friends.
I HATE that the girls will be up late because of said nap.

I LOVE my friends.
I HATE that we can't see each other everyday.

I LOVE that my girls get to have a lot of toys.
I HATE that it creates such a mess ... In seconds.

Tots

2012-06-24T13:16:00.001-07:00

I'm much more cheesy nowadays. My girls' birthday is a month away. They are growing up. They are getting big. And will be in school before I know it. I am reminded how much this time is important with them now because of these things.

The cuddling. The hugs. The pleas for "just mommy."

I'm loving it.

But what tests my nerves is the whining. The fussiness of of an almost 4 year old. The stubborn almost 3 year old.

Is it just me? Or do I have zero patience? Do my neighbors think I'm crazy?!

My note to myself is to enjoy these days. Enjoy the frustrating and joyous moments with my girls.

Love/Hate link up

2012-06-20T09:48:00.001-07:00

Hiya! It's another post in the love/hate link up with Noel at Beautiful Life. If you would like to join, visit her here.

I LOVE a clean house.
I HATE cleaning it in hot weather (sweating at 9:30 a.m., no thanks.)

I LOVE taking the girls to the public pool in their new cute suits, with new pink googles, to cool off.
I HATE the big, splashy kids in the kiddie area.

I LOVE days off with my husband.
I HATE the eve of his first day back.

I LOVE my dog.
I HATE that she won't stop shedding.

Where's the Love? Wednesday

2012-06-20T09:40:00.001-07:00

The LOVE is in my home. In the backyard. In the water. And in......summer, summer, summertime!!!

Happy summer, everyone!

Want to share the love with Abby at Akers of Love, click here!