♥ Mama 2 Multiples ♥

Buggy Love Giveaway Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Name: Anne Nack Facebook
Email: calgrl76@hotmail.com SEND EMAIL
Option: Vote for Me
Extra Info:

Time: Mon May 21 2012 00:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Congratulations Anne!!

Anne has 48 hours to reply to my email and claim her prize or I will be forced to choose a different winner. Thanks to all for entering and following my blog!

Hulabye Happy Changer Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:20:00 +0000

Anyone that has a baby knows how much of a struggle it can be to change their diaper. It's not so much a struggle for newborns, but once they hit 4-6 months, it's war since they have discovered they can move and no longer want to be stopped to get their diaper changed anymore.

Enter Hulabye Happy Changer!

From their website:

"Changing time became a wrestling match that, more often than not, resulted in an ill-applied diaper, a frustrated mom, an unhappy baby and a changing table in need of a hazmat cleanup. After searching stores and the Internet, Erin was unable to find a single device that could hold her wiggly infant still long enough to change her diaper.

Knowing exactly what she was looking for, Erin sketched a pattern on her daughter’s craft table paper, got out the sewing machine and got to work. She was beyond happy to discover that the original Happy Changer™ not only kept her daughter from rolling over on the changing pad, it seemed to take away the urge to roll at all (most of the time!)

That very first prototype survived many months with Erin’s daughter and went on to serve tours of diaper duty with two other families. With her second daughter finally off to preschool in 2011, Erin decided to make the Happy Changer™ available to the diapering masses, forming Hulabye, LLC, a company dedicated to making parenting as joyful and hassle-free as possible."

For my review, I received a flannel print Hulabye Happy Changer in the blue/green/brown polka dot pattern.

I unfortunately don't have any photos of Mason using the Hulabye Happy Changer because I never got a chance before our camera broke. :-( But it has had a permanent spot on our changing table pad ever since it arrived back in February and has seen a TON of use in that short amount of time!

The Happy Changer truly does make changing time easier! I was skeptical of how well it would work at first. But it is so easy! The Happy Changer simply attaches to the changing pad cover. Your wrap it around the pad and it velcros underneath and stays put very tightly.

Next, you lay your baby down on the changing pad like normal, and put one of their arms through each side of the vest, in the specific arm holes.

There are two velcro spots, an inner and then a wider, tighter one. First your velcros the inner closure, and then the outer closure to gentrly restrain your little wiggler!

Voila! After securing the Hulabye Happy Changer, you can change your baby quickly but efficiently without the struggle, the poorly secured diaper, the screaming baby, and no disarray.

I love the overall concept of the Hulabye Happy Changer, and it truly does work. At first, I thought Mason might scream and fuss when he figured out he couldn't crawl away from me anymore, but he is fine and so distracted by the Hulabye that he doesn't even notice I am changing him!

The Hulabye's come in a variety of fabrics and prints, and are soft, cuddly, and cozy, so baby isn't uncomfortable. There are no sizes with the Hulabye Happy Changer; One size fits all! It's machine washable for those accidents and nasty stains, or the occasional leaky diarrhea. The changer stays put right on the changing table at all times, so there is no need to fool around with digging it out and attaching it to the changing pad every single time you need to change a diaper. It's so convenient, easy to use, and a definite must have for every mom out there!

Hulabye Happy Changer comes highly recommended from this mama!

Purchase It: You can purchase the Hulabye Happy Changer from Hulabye's website.

WIN IT: ONE lucky reader of Mama 2 Multiples is going to WIN a flannel Happy Changer of their choice! To enter, simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Four Years Ago Today....

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Tue, 29 May 2012 02:57:00 +0000

......Our lives changed with 2 little lines.

It was on this day in 2008 that we started the ride of our lives.

It had been our second month on Clomid, to help us conceive. I had tested mid day the day before and been disappointed with a BFN...or, as we know it in trying to conceive language, a big fat negative, so I wasn't expecting much. A few things had started to play with my mind as far as symptoms went, but I pushed them to the back of m mind because I didn't want to get my hopes up and be let down with another negative. I figured if I didn't expect or hope for anything, then the disappointment wouldn't be as much of a surprise or a let down like all of the other months.

I went to bed the night before, determined to hold my pee alllll night long and pee on another test first thing the next morning. I got up at 6 and took the test, then laid back down in bed to wait the 3 minutes. I went back to check the test exactly 3 minutes later and at first glance, figured it was negative, as usual. I picked the test stick up to get a close look, one last time, before throwing it out, and that's when I saw it. The faintest hint of a line that I saw just as the light hit it the right way. But I still didn't know....I still wasn't sure. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me! I woke Frank up, and he said he could see it (and he wasn't even in a well lit room!), and told me to let it sit for a few more minutes. I did, and when I looked a couple of minutes later, it was still VERY VERY faint, but definitely there.

We were PREGNANT!!

Another test taken the next day came out a little bit darker (That's the photo you see above...sorry for the awful, awful quality. My camera at that time was a cheap dollar store special!).

A couple of weeks later, and we were surprised with the news that we were expecting TWINS!

Fast forward 3 years later, and here we are, with the 2 more amazing, beautiful, smart, talented, crazy, funny, loving, sweet, warm hearted children we could ever ask for. They have brought so much to our lives, and have changed us so much, in ways they will never know. I never thought, back when that test turned positive that fateful May day, that it would lead us to where we are today, and I am ever so thankful for the blessings bestowed on us with Connor & Merasia.

Wholesale Halloween Costumes Review

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Tue, 29 May 2012 02:25:00 +0000

I have had the great opportunity to work with a few different Halloween costume sites over the past year or so on reviews and giveaways, and it never gets old! I LOVE Halloween and picking out costumes, especially now that we have children. It's even MORE fun! I start planning the kids' Halloween costumes for the following year the day after Halloween!

This year, we went with a Cat in the Hat theme for costumes, and Wholesale Halloween Costumes have an array of Cat in the Hat costumes to meet my needs!

This year, Connor and Merasia are going to be Thing 1 and Thing 2, and Mason is going to be the Cat in the Hat. Super cute theme, huh?!

For this review, I received the Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat infant costume.

I can't wait to get Mason in this costume!! I was worried it would be thin and not too warm, and that the material may feel a little cheap, because it looked that way in the photo. But, I was very, very pleasantly surprised when the costume arrived!

This costume is nice and soft and not too heavy but not too thin, so it will be perfect and keep Mason warm, which is important with the unpredictable weather here in Vermont. That makes choosing Halloween costumes so difficult at times, but there won't be any worries this year!

The Cat in the Hat costume comes with everything you need...the body suit itself, the hat, and the bow tie! It's a complete costume!

I am so excited for Halloween this year, thanks to the wonderful people over at Wholesale Halloween Costumes for their amazing variety of costumes, and even more amazing quality of costumes and accessories!

To purchase the costume seen here and many others, visit Wholesale Halloween Costumes today!

**DISCLAIMER** I received the above product(s) from Wholesale Halloween Costumes free of charge in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received. However, all opinions are strictly my own.

Twisted Orchid/Mad Style Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:50:00 +0000

In case anyone hasn't noticed, I tend to be a bit of a girly girl, at times. And along with that, comes a love for accessories, purses, and things of that nature. That's where Twisted Orchid comes in. Twisted Orchid specializes in chic purses and handbags, and all at a great value. From their website:

"Twisted Orchid is a premium shopping destination for stylishly chic purses and handbags. From the pages of People Style Watch to Lucky, Elle and Oprah,trendspotters and fashion provocateurs alike are buzzing about our incredible selection. Based in Chicago, it is our committment to supply fashion-savvy women with must-have styles at a great value. Our attention to quality and detail is high, so rest assured you will be impressed with the glamour and luxury that is a cornerstone of every Twisted Orchid Handbag and accessory. So whether you're an accessory gal who wants to test out a trend before deciding on a big splurge, or you're a fashionistawho prefers to shop for fabulous steals - Twisted has the right piece just for you.
And with our secure online shopping, guaranteed delivery, and 30-day hassle free returns, buying from Twisted Orchid is convenient and absolutely risk free!"

For my review, I received the Caviar Floral Envelope Wallet.

This is definitely not your every day wallet. It's not very kid friendly if they got a hold of it (which they often do!), and is a little too formal to use everyday. It's more the type of wallet you would use on a date night or any fun night out with just the hubs and I.

This wallet is definitely very beautiful. The intricate details, beading, and artistic detail of this wallet are truly amazing! It's obvious a lot of work went into making this design and the wallet itself.

Though there are not many compartments inside the wallet, there is still plenty of room for the important items such as money, credit/debit cards, and your I.D.

I love this wallet and it gets plenty of use, even though our nights out alone may be rare. ;-)

Purchase It: You can purchase products from Twisted Orchid at their website.

WIN IT: ONE lucky reader of Mama 2 Multiples is going to WIN an item of their choice up to a value of $75.00! To enter simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

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(18+ CONTENT) EdenFantasys: Your One Stop Adult Shop!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:30:00 +0000

EdenFantasys is an online adult shop that features an array of adult toys, games, costumes, lingerie, books, videos, and so much more!

I did a review for them a while ago, and reviewed Jenna Jameson's autobiography. It was a must read! With that said, while on my search for the perfect book to review at that time, I saw first hand the array and selection of books EdenFantasys has. I am a book worm, and love a good read, and EdenFantasys has every type of (adult) book you could imagine, and something for everyone.

I also love the selection of beauty and body products EdenFantasys offers. They have facial skin care products, lubes, massage oils, make up, and fragrances. SO many to choose from!

Every mother likes to feel wanted by her husband or significant other, and lingerie is the perfect way to help us exhausted mamas feel sexy again, if even for a little while. EdenFantasys has some wonderful selections of lingerie, and something for all body types, shapes, and sizes!

Of course along with all of these things, EdenFantasys is well known for their sex toys. There is something for everyone in that department as well!

While the selection of products is impressive, the prices are very reasonable too. You just can't beat it!

Red Tulip Boutique Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Like any typical girl, I love handbags and purses. There is just something about getting a new purse, and the excitement and thought that goes into re organizing all of your things into a brand new, clean, cozy new purse or handbag.

I stumbled upon Amy's Red Tulip Boutique, and hours later found myself still pouring through the variety of products she has to offer, especially the handbags and wallets. I loved every single one I saw!

From her website:

"I am an online retailer of all things bling for you and your home! You will also find some goodies for little girls and the men in your life. I have things for a Cowgirl or a City Girl to help her stand out in a crowd!

I have been in sales for over 10 years. I've sold radio ads,services for a trucking company, and worked in retail in my parents gift store & custom picture framing shop. I've spent the last 5 years as a real estate agent. I know what good customer service is and strive to give excellent service to my customers. I have a wide selection and great prices! Please let me know if you need help with anything."

I found so many handbags and wallets I wanted, but there were a lot of other products that stuck out to me too, that I just love!

I love this wood sign that says "Motherhood ain't for sissies"....it is so true!

I need this for my own home!

I have recently really got into the animal print theme, and Amy has some ADORABLE zebra print flip flops, oven mitts, and cleaning gloves!

I want all of these! I wear gloves for some heavy duty cleaning, and for doing dishes every night. Everyone laughs at me, but it's not just because I hate dealing with the mess and old food of dishes, but my hands are SO dry, and my skin gets dried out very, very easily, especially when in water all the time, like every night (and sometimes more than once a day) for dishes and washing sippy cups and bottles, etc. How cute would it be to wash dishes in style with these amazing pink zebra print gloves?? I am in LOVE!

For my review, I was sent the Amarillo Bling Bag.

(Please excuse the photo below....as you all know, I am without a camera right now, and this is a stock photo of the purse, and the only one available, and becomes blurry and distorted when I try to enlarge it. Sorry!)

I was surprised at just how "blingy" this bag was when I received it. But, if you know me, you know that's just my style sometimes!

There is a LOT of room inside this purse, which is great because I usually have a lot of stuff to carry, and always carry other certain items "just in case" and with this bag, there is always plenty of space and compartments. I also love the cell phone pockets on the ends of the bag. I am always looking for a convenient place to stash my cell besides in my pocket, or when I wear pants that don't have pockets.

The quality of this bag is also so amazing. It's very strong and durable, and I also love the color on the outside and inside. It's dark, and therefore doesn't show stains as easily, and that's important with little ones!

The gemstones, beading, and belt buckle closure are some of my other favorite features of this bag.

I could not be any happier with this product, and highly recommend Amy's shop to all of my friends and family!

Purchase it: You can purchase the purse seen here, and many other products at Amy's online store, Red Tulip Boutique.

WIN IT: ONE lucky reader of Mama 2 Multiples is going to win a $25 gift certificate to Red Tulip Boutique to spend as they wish! To enter, simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Journal 10 WINNER!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:04:00 +0000

Tracy Awalt Juliano Facebook
Email: ohsopetite1@yahoo.comSEND EMAIL
Option: Tweet About the Giveaway
Extra Info: https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F%23!%2FTracyJuliano%2Fstatus%2F202794608361619456

Time: Wed May 16 2012 00:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Congratulations Tracy! Tracy has 48 hours to reply to my email and claim her prize, or I will be forced to choose a different winner. Thanks to all for entering and following my blog! :-)

Sunday Pool Party with Des and Vie!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:02:00 +0000

As you may have caught me mentioning my recent dance show this past weekend, you know that consumed most of my week last week. Des and I were glad to have it done and over with. It was amazing, and so fun for me to get back out on that stage, but it was also very stressful with rehearsals and nerves, etc. so when it was over, we were relieved. Saturday's show was in the afternoon. Frank found a new fishing buddy...my 15 year old nephew Jesse! They did that all morning Saturday while I hung at home with the kids. Des and Violet came over around noon and we decided to go to her house and let the kids run around in the pool a little bit since it was so hot out. They had a blast, but by the time we got there and they played for a few minutes, it was just about time for us to go, which was a big bummer for the kids! We promised them we would have a pool party Sunday though, and when Sunday came, we followed through on that promise!

Sunday came, and we lounged around in the morning, and then packed bathing suits and snacks and other necessities and went to Des's house. The kids jumped right in Vie's little pool and slid down the water slide over and over again. I even got in on that fun and went down the slide once or twice. Mason even got in the pool, even though the water was freezing! It felt sooo good though in the 90 degree weather!

After we played in the pool and hung out for a while, we broke out the Slip and Slide! I had never been on a slip and slide before, and I never knew what I was missing! The kids were a little afraid of it at first, but they warmed up to it and ran over it a few times and when the sprinkler part of it was turned off, they did have a blast running up and down and sliding on it.

Frank went on the slip and slide, and even helped Mason experience it. He cried a little at first (after he was done sliding) but then got up and crawled away and was happy as could be! :-)

It was am amazing, fun filled day and CHEAP! No gas money to travel hours away to commercial water parks that have nothing for the kids, or over crowded and expensive. And the best part, was spending time with special people. :-) I'll end this post with some pictures from our day!

Merasia's Best Friend!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:33:00 +0000

I love having friends with children the same age, or close to the same age, as our twins. It makes for fun play dates and cute memories.

Our friend Des got pregnant several months before we found out we were expecting twins. We have been friends for 7ish years now, but had a falling out and didn't speak for a couple of years at the time Des was pregnant with her daughter Violet. We reconnected last year, and have pretty much been inseparable ever since. Our kids absolutely ADORE Violet, but the thing that struck us and Des the most when we started hanging out again, was how much Violet and Merasia look alike!

Every time we all go somewhere, we get comments from friends and family, or even complete strangers, on how much the girls look alike. It's definitely funny that we were such close friends, both got pregnant around the same time, are parents now, and our daughters so closely resemble each other. Maybe it was meant to be that way for some reason....

These girls just LOVE each other!

They share each other's clothes and shoes, and whatever one says or does, the other is sure to follow!

Sometimes they fight...over toys, games to play, songs to sing, and so on and so forth. But at the end of the day, they are still besties.

They are about as close as sisters....Merasia affectionately calls Violet, Vie. Or Vie-Vie. It's the sweetest thing!

Along with sharing clothes and toys, they also share many secrets, I'm sure.

The bring out the divas and sexy mama's in each other....

I just loved them, and seeing them together melts my heart. They love each other so much, they ask for each other when they aren't together, and never want to be apart or leave when they are together. They are such best friends now, and I hope they follow in their mama's foot steps and stay that way forever....

Mason, Mason, Mason!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:56:00 +0000

It's been a while since I have done any updates on the kiddos, so I figured it was about time. I have been slacking terribly lately with this blog, but I better get on the ball because classes start soon for summer semester, and I definitely won't have much time then! The truth is, I hate updating my blog right now with my camera broken and the new one not here yet, because I love including photos with my posts but don't have any to share at the moment!

Aaannnnyyyyway!

Mason is 14 months old and I can barely believe it! He has changed so much! I know I keep saying that, and everyone says the same thing about their children, but it really is true!

Mason as a newborn:

Mason at 6 months old:

Mason at a year old:

And, finally, Mason at 14 months:

It's so hard to keep track of what he is doing these days! For one, he is a full blown walking baby now! He took his first steps at 9 or 10 months old, and then started taking more and more steps around 12-13 months old, and now walks more than he crawls, and insists on walking everywhere! He is the cutest little thing toddling all around the house and outside!

Mason has so many words! He says hi, mama, dada, more, milk, ball, uh oh, night night, no, yeah, yes, love you, bye bye, hair, hat, pat pat pat, yay, Logan (our neighbor's baby's name) and his newest word is Connor! He loves to say "Hi Connor" and hear Connor say hi back. He gets a big smile on his face and giggles!

Mason is a very happy and playful baby. He loves to play with cars and trucks, and just recently discovered the cupboards that he can reach, that happen to have super fun and noisy pots, pans, and bowls in them. I have mixed feelings on this new discovery.....

He LOVES to be outside! He walks all over our driveway and the grass, and especially loves to play in the sandbox with his big brother and big sister. He eats most of the sand he plays with, but that's fine. It's all a part of him learning about the world around him, so we let him explore all he wants! After all...it all comes out in his poop. ;-) The other day, we got back home from running errands and I got Connor and Merasia down for their nap. Mason wasn't quite ready for his nap, so we were just playing in the living room. He went over to the window and starting patting on it, saying "Uh, uh, uh!" I asked him what he wanted and he put on his sun hat, walked over to the door, grabbed the door handle, looked at me, and did the same "Uh, uh, uhhhh!" noise. He was telling me he wanted to go outside! This was the first time h did this, and it was too cute to say no! Well, I did say no at first, and told him we would go out when Connor and Merasia woke up, but that was not good enough for him. I ended up taking him out to check the mail with me, and that satisfied him...until we got back inside. But to his credit, he was getting tired, so anything was going to upset him at that point. I put him down for a nap, and that helped.

Mason is just so animated and funny. He loves attention and is a little ham! He loves to do silly things and he knows when he is being silly. He looks to us or anyone else around when he is being a comedian, to get the laugh and attention he is looking for. He keeps us cracking up all day!

He loves, loves, LOVES to eat, and is not very picky with food, although peanut butter and jelly and cheese are definitely not favorites.

He sleeps much better at night too. He usually naps twice a day, and sleeps all night, most of the time, but he does love his warm milk when he wakes up at night or right before bed.

He can't stand his baths anymore, and screams and grabs at me to get him out as soon as we put him in the tub. He will get over this soon, though. He loves water otherwise, when HE can control when or if he gets in it himself.

It's so amazing to see the difference between having twins, and having a single baby at a time, and I will never get tired of seeing it and experiencing all that we are blessed with.

Dance and Other Things

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Life is busy and exciting lately!

I love being busy, and it's a good kind of busy, which is even better.

First off, Frank has been amazing lately. Well, he's always amazing, but he is specifically extra amazing lately. ;-)

With Frank having weekends off, we can get out and do more things together as a family, and it's so nice! A couple weeks ago we had our good friend Des and her daughter spend the night, and then went to some events going on in town. Face painting, a petting zoo, and other fun things, and ended the night with a BBQ at Des and Violet's house. Our children are such good friends with Violet. They love her to death, and she loves them right back...maybe even more. ;-) When we aren't together, they are always asking for her and Des, it's so sweet.

Last week, we went to an event called Kids Day. It was just me, hubs, and our kiddos but it was so much fun and we needed a nice, good, family day. The event was only $1 to get in to, and there were a ton of activities that were free after paying admission. It was about an hour away from us, near the water front of Lake Champlain, and it was a gorgeous day! The kids ran around and played and wanted to go on some rides, but we decided to do one better and go on a real train ride! I had never been on a train before, and of course the kids never had either. Tickets for the train were very cheap, and it was an hour ride. Though our camera is still broken, I did take a couple pictures with my cell phone and Des was able to upload them for me online to share from her phone.

My boys didn't feel like picture taking, but hey...they are cute, regardless! ;-)

Can I just stop and say how flipping adorable Merasia and her daddy are in this pic??! I love seeing my little girl so in love with her daddy....

We also saw a parade, which the kids loved. There were gymnasts in the parade doing their flips and tumbles and tricks, and Merasia started trying to copy them and was doing somersaults all over the grass. Then whenever a band marched by playing their instruments, Connor and Merasia would start marching in place too. And of course they had to dance every time they heard any music!

After the parade and while we were waiting for the train ride, we went to the water and the kids played with the ducks, dipped their feet in the water, and ate some ice cream. After the train ride, we stopped for some lunch, and made our way back to the car. It had been a long day! When we got back home, we discovered we were back in town in time for a friend's birthday party at a nearby pizza place, so we grabbed a present and went to that. Our neighbor's daughter, Asialynn, turned 2 last week and her party was last Saturday, and the kids loved playing with her and other kids and just having fun and eating cake. After spending an hour there, we went to a BBQ with my (adopted) mom, sister, and my nieces and nephew. We were all overly exhausted at the end of that day, but it was well worth it!

Mother's Day was very low key. Frank took care of the kids most of the day for me. I only changed 1 or 2 diapers the whole day, and for us, that's a miracle! ;-) He played with the kids a lot to keep them busy and out of my hair, and offered for me to go shopping by myself, but I decided not to. I know, I'm crazy! But, it was nice anyway, and I don't regret it.

This week has been full of dance rehearsals for mama! I have danced ever since I could walk, and in my teenage years, took numerous hip hop dance classes. It was a great outlet for me for a lot of things going on in my life at that time, and the joy I got from performing was unimaginable by anyone not on that stage. It's something I can't put into words. I recently started dance class again back in January. It was an adult hip hop class, and with the same teacher I had when I was a teenager, so I was very comfortable and excited for this experience. Of course, I talked Des into take the class too, and being her first dance class EVER, she did amazing!! Now, our show is tomorrow night. I am excited and nervous. I am excited just because...it's exciting! I'm nervous because it has been 5 years since I have performed or danced. But we had our first rehearsal on the big stage last night, and it felt good to be back out there, and a little weird. I am sure it will all come back to me by tomorrow night. Tonight we have a full dress and make up rehearsal on stage, and the show is tomorrow night and Saturday afternoon. I am looking forward to getting out there, doing what I love, and sharing that with all of my friends and family. There are a couple family members who can't make the show for scheduling conflicts, but there are many friends and family members going, and to them, I thank them for showing their love and support for me! I know who I can count on for love and support, and that is the most important. :-)

And, finally, to end this amazing week, the twins' preschool teacher has offered to babysit for us whenever we need or want it, so we are taking her up on that offer this Saturday, and going out dancing with Des (and hopefully her boyfriend!!) to a nearby club that my hubby's best friend DJ's at! It has been a few months since we have been out, so it is well deserved and overdue, and we are greatly looking forward to it.

So, a busy few weeks, and they are only going to continue to get busier as the weather continues to be nice, and dance ends and settles down for the season, and the beach opens. I can't wait for all this summer has in store for us and our family...

Life is SO good.

P.S. I'd love to add some new photos to this post, but our new camera has not yet arrived...in due time... ;-)

Buggy Love Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:07:00 +0000

Late last summer we purchased a new travel system (car seat and stroller) for Mason. We found it on Craigs List, but it was only used a handful of times, an in excellent brand new condition, and for half the price, so we could not go wrong. Because it was in such excellent condition when we got it, I wanted to keep it that way, especially since we will still gt a lot more use out of it for Mason, and baby number 4, whenever he or she decides to arrive, will get a lot of use from it as well.

I discovered Buggy Love, and was definitely intrigued and wanted to try it out.

From their website:

"Why BuggyLOVE? In response to the blatant industry “green washing” and prevalent, misleading labeling practices, BuggyLOVE has chosen to refuse the use of logos on our labels that have nothing to do with the authentic, sustainable principals of organic growing and processing methodologies.

So, when someone legitimately asks us if our products are “organic”, we believe they are asking us a very important question. We believe that you are asking if we participate in the “green wash” marketing game. The answer is a simple NO…and we never will. We have a responsibility as business owners, and as parents to speak the truth.

BuggyLOVE does not take this responsibility lightly. Unlike “Natural” products, we will not compromise on the quality of any of our ingredients or substitute them for cheaper chemicals in order to lower costs or improve margins. Additionally, unlike most of our competitors, we will never use the potentially carcinogenic preservatives parabens or sulfates in any of our organic products. We dedicate ourselves to maintaining the highest ethical standards as we continue to evolve our own organic and environmental footprint."

For my review, I received the BuggyLove Organic Stroller Cleaning Kit.

Included in this kit are 4 different cleaners, all with different uses for the variety of cleaning needs and maintenance a stroller requires.

The first I used is the PolishLove, which is a spray designed to get rid of dirt and grime on the stroller frame and wheels. The frame was probably the worse part of the stroller. There was caked on milk, food, scuff marks, and other mysterious stains that I dare not imagine where they came from. But all of that was gone in seconds with a quick spray of PolishLove, and a quick and easy wipe down!

FabricLove is designed to get rid of formula, milk, and other fabric stains. I put the fabric part of our stroller in the washer, but there were a couple spots afterwards that still needed a little scrubbing, so I used the FabricLove for those parts, and it looks nice and bright and brand new! I also used the FabricLove on the fabric that goes over the basket that is under the stroller. This was very, very stained, but it came clean very easily and quickly when I used the FabricLove on it.

WheelLove gets rid of squeaky wheels, but we haven't had that issue yet, so that has yet to be put to use. I am sure it works just as good as the rest of the products though and this is such a handy item to include in a kit like this.

The last thing I used from this kit was the all over FreshLove, which is basically a fabric refresher. The citrus and rosy smell is so yummy (for my nose, not my stomach!) and leaves the stroller smelling fresh, new, and most of all, clean.

All in all, I was NOT disappointed with any of the products in this cleaning kit. All of them worked wonderfully, and our stroller looks brand new and beautiful and clean just like when we got it, or just like it came from the store!

I also love, love, LOVE that all of these cleaning products are organic and 100% safe and natural. No harsh smells or chemicals to irritate little skin or little noses.

And the other good part is, cleaning the stroller for the first time didn't take nearly as much product as I expected, so there is a TON left over for the next time I need to clean it. :-)

Purchase It: You can purchase BuggyLove's Organic Stroller Cleaning Kit at their website here or at Buy Buy Baby's website.

WIN IT: ONE lucky reader of Mama 2 Multiples is going to WIN the organic stroller cleaning kit reviewed in this post! To enter, simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hot Mama Hand Bags/Maranda Lee Designs WINNER!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:20:00 +0000

Name: Ashley Reynolds Facebook
Email: reynoldsmommy@gmail.comSEND EMAIL
Option: "Like" the Blog Post
Extra Info:

Time: Fri Apr 27 2012 00:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Congratulations Ashley!!

Ashley has 48 hours to reply to my email and claim her prize, or I will be forced to choose a different winner. Thanks to everyone for entering and following! :-)

Mom 4 Life/Babylegs Giveaway WINNER!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Name: Anne Nack Facebook
Email: calgrl76@hotmail.com SEND EMAIL
Option: Subscribe via Email
Extra Info:

Time: Thu Apr 26 2012 00:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Congratulations Anne! Anne has 48 hours to reply to my email and claim her prize or I will be forced to choose another winner. Thanks to all for entering and following! :-)

I Miss My Old Life...

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:12:00 +0000

It's not secret that your life changes drastically when you have a child. When you are a parent of multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) it's more different than any other parent could ever have imagined. I have so many friends that have only had one baby at a time, and yet they still think their life and the changes they have seen or made are the same as ours with multiples. Well, here's a reality check: It's Not.

It's very, very different. I can't quite explain it, but just trust me on this. It's something nobody will truly understand until they have multiples themselves.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my old life. Don't get me wrong; I would never trade our children for anything in this world. No amount of money, no material items, and no chance to go back to my old life could ever make me want to trade in what I have now. But, it's completely normal to want that old life back.

We had such a good thing going then. We hardly fought, as there was less stress. We could pick up and go anywhere and do anything, whenever we wanted. We had more income with my working, and more money left every week so that was less stressful as well. We had nice, quiet dinners together, stayed up late watching movies or hanging out with friends, snuggled all night or got intimate more regularly, slept in late on the mornings we didn't need to get up for work, and just enjoyed each other's company.

We knew things would change some when we decided to venture into the world of starting a family. We just didn't know how certain things would change, or how drastically things would change, simply due to how many babies we were having at once.

The twins have added thousands of dollars to our yearly expenses, and tons more stress to our marriage. Any relationship is work; add twins, triplets, or more to that equation, and the work multiples by 100. Seriously. Having twins has taken a tremendous toll on us as individuals, and us as a couple.

I miss my husband. I'm sure he misses his wife. I miss lying around on rainy Sunday mornings. I miss not worrying about 2 or 3 other little lives. I miss staying up late together. I miss snuggling. I miss date nights. I miss quiet dinner times. I miss our intimacy. I miss our old relationship.

Again, don't think I regret having my children or the life I have now. I have so many more different things in life now and things to be extra thankful for, and having children is something we both wanted. But that doesn't mean we aren't human and that doesn't mean we don't have feelings and yearn for aspects of our old life, before children, back.

The divorce rate for parents of twins (or triplets, quadruplets, etc.) is three times higher than the rate for parents of single pregnancy babies, or couples with no children, simply because of how much more changes and stress there are with 2 (or 3, 4, 5 or 6) babies at a time. I never got married with the idea of getting divorced some day, but the reality of every marriage, is that there are times when things may not be they way they used to be for whatever reason. I don't care how long you know someone before you get married; When you exchange rings and vows and you sign that paper, everything changes. You can know somebody for your entire life, from the day you are born, and get married and think everything is going to be easy peasy and great since you know everything there is to know about each other or you have grown up together.

Wrong.

I can't seem to explain it, but everything changes with marriage, regardless of circumstances. So, though I set out in marriage completely turned off from divorce, I have since changed my mind on that a bit, and understand that there are some reasons for divorce that may arise later in a marriage, and the truth is...that is okay.

Change happens; Divorce happens. Many people who won't let themselves believe in change or divorce say "well if you believe in that, then you shouldn't have gotten married."

To that, I say bull crap. That's like saying if we miss the lives we had and things we did before we had children, then we shouldn't have had children. It's ridiculous.

The cold hard truth is people and things change, and how are we supposed to know that when we enter into things such as marriage? We can't. So why continue living a lie and hiding from it for years, and being unhappy? Face the facts, and be okay with them.

People change as the years go by. People find themselves, who they truly are, and decide what and who it is in life that they truly love. People change, and grow...and the sad reality is, some people grow apart.

Many things contribute to this, and one of the most common is having children, and the toll it takes on any relationship.

Let me stress that this is not what is happening with us. But it's a truth that a lot of people in our position don't want to face or realize. Just as things happen, things change, and people change. And that is okay.

Just as it's okay for me to miss my old life before children, but still thank God every second of every day for blessing us with the children we do have and the life we have today.

I Lost It.

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:34:00 +0000

In them getting older, wiser, and exploring their personalities and the world around them, the twins have been testing my patience more and more. And yesterday, Merasia pushed me to my breaking point.

Monday's are a little crazy as it is. For starters, it's Monday. That's bad enough right? Secondly, it's hubs first day back to work after being home with us for 2 days in a row, so the kids miss daddy and don't completely understand why he isn't here with us for a third day. Mornings are a busy, hectic time in our home, and on Monday's, lunch is moved up a little earlier, as we have to be at the twins' speech therapy appointment for noon, and getting out of the house on time with 3 kids is never an easy feat. But, that wasn't even the issue this Monday. It was when we came back from speech therapy that this mama boiled over. The kids were over tired as it was, and were already whining over something or other...or at least in the early stages of a meltdown. When we did finally get home, I got Mason down for a nap since he fell asleep in the van. I got Connor out of his car seat and in the house and Merasia was giving me an issue getting out of her car seat and out of the van. I could tell then that it was going to be a little rough. I did manage to get her in the house and was beyond ready for the quiet of nap time so my patience was short at that time. Connor cooperated and got in bed, but Merasia was anything but cooperative. I forget what completely set her off or the trouble she was giving me, but it did involve the potty at one point. In fact, that's where the majority of our power struggle took place.

(Meltdowns at this age were so much easier to deal with than they are now):

She cried and screamed. I yelled and was a little rough. Not hurtful, but rough. If she said she had to potty and then I said okay, she'd say no and refuse. And this would go on and on until I grabbed her, took her pants off, ripped her underwear off her little toosh, and plopped her on the potty. Not very gently either. And this resulted in more crying and screaming from her. And rebellion. Other words were said (I can't recall them now, but they were not nice and not calm), and these were followed by more cries, screams, and red faced tears. And I even broke down and cried a little. And then, just as soon as it had happened, it all ended and we were done. I got her dressed, hugged, her apologized, wiped her tears, and got her tucked in to bed for nap time.

And then, sitting on the couch thinking about Merasia's sad, scared, red, tear stained face, I literally felt my heart break. I felt completely and utterly awful. I put myself in Merasia's shoes and tried to imagine how she must have felt and what she must have been thinking the whole time I was yelling and being mean. I can't help but think she must have been wondering where her mommy was, because this crazy woman in front of her was definitely not her happy, loving mama.

I think she may have forgotten by the time she woke up from her nap. But, I can't know for certain. And I know her love is unconditional and she loves me no matter what, but that doesn't make me feel any better. No amount of extra hugs or snuggles, extra kisses or I love you's can take away how I acted, and it breaks my heart and bring tears to my eyes every time I think back to it. I know these mommy moments are normal, and they happen to everyone, and it's okay and blah, blah, blah. But I just can't get over it.

I am just glad it's over and hope it never happens again. Or, at least not to the level that it did yesterday.

However, I can't help but erase that moment from my mind when we have days like this:

Journal 10 Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Because Time Flies - record them now and build a memoir to treasure.

When I was pregnant with the twins, I started a journal. I wrote about my pregnancy, their birth, and after they were born, I kept writing and adding to it every now and then, and still do to this day. When they are 18, I will give them their journals to look back on and read about their birth and their childhood and all of those special memories.

With my love of writing and keeping journals, I was excited to get the opportunity to review a Journal 10+ when I was offered the chance.

From their website:

"From a child's first words to his or her first soccer goal. From a best friend's engagement news to a grandchild's graduation. Special memories deserve to be saved, remembered and celebrated. WithJournal 10+, you can record daily events and remembrances for up to 11 years, keep track of birthday & anniversaries, set goals and so much more.
In a perfect world your memories would record and organize themselves.

In the real world Journal 10+ helps you capture and treasure all the special moments of your life.

Just scribble down a few sentences each day and, before you know it, you have a decade of memories and observations at your fingertips! Each "daily page" of the Journal 10+ offers room to write about one day - March 6th, say - every time it comes around from 2010 to 2020 (start any time in 2010). What fun to compare what was happening in your life on any given day as the years go by. The subject matter is totally up to you...record what you do or how you feel, what you eat or what you read, financial data or medical notes, local weather or world events - be creative! This convenient personal volume also offers sections for long-range planning, monthly overviews, addresses and phone numbers, and special dates. Bound in a durable leatherette cover, this unique diary will quickly become a treasured possession."

I love the concept of this journal! As soon as I got it, I started using it. I recorded a quick entry about our Valentine's Day, Mason's birthday, the day Merasia got sent home from daycare early sick, and got lots of snuggles. I love that I'm not pressured to write a big long journal entry that I don't have time to write, that I can just write quick memories throughout the days.

The other thing I love about this journal, is that it's good for 10 years! I won't need another journal until 2022!

It's so very organized, and very easy to follow and keep track of dates, times, years, entries, etc. The calendar included on the inside is also very helpful and a great feature.

The ribbon makes marking where you left off in recording entries easy as well.

If I need to record an entry that is longer than normal, there are extra full pages to use, so I will never run out of room!

The address and phone book is very handy, too. I am always losing track of people and numbers and addresses and when I really need them most, I know right where to find them now that I have the Journal 10!

Purchase it: You can purchase the Journal 10 here.

WIN it: ONE lucky reader of Mama 2 Multiples is going to WIN a Journal 10+ like the one I reviewed and seen on their website! To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

(If my camera wasn't broken I could include photos of mine in action!) :-(

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dale and Thomas Popcorn Giveaway Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Name: Kelly Nicholson Facebook
Email: ky.nicholson@yahoo.comSEND EMAIL
Option: "Like" Dale and Thomas on Facebook
Extra Info:

Time: Sun Apr 22 2012 00:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Congratulations Kelly!! Kelly has 48 hours to reply to my email and claim her prize or I will be forced to choose a different winner. Thanks to all who entered and for following! :-)

Olive Kids Personalized Growth Chart WINNER!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Name: Ashley
Email: ashleyalger13@yahoo.comSEND EMAIL
Option: Leave a Blog Post Comment
Extra Info:

Time: Thu Apr 19 2012 00:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Congratulations Ashley!! Ashley has 48 hours to reply to my email and claim her prize or I will be forced to choose a different winner! Thanks to all for entering and following! :-)

My Cruise Adventure & $50 Target Gift Card

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:21:00 +0000

Upon stumbling on a recent giveaway on a friend's blog, Keenly Kristin, I was inspired to share my own story of a cruise experience I had as a teenager. I lived with my Godmother and her husband, who later became my parents when they adopted me, when I was 15 until 18 years old. Several months after moving in with them, she announced we were going on a cruise. I was SO excited!

We cruised with Carnival cruise lines, on their ship Carnival Spirit. It was such an amazing experience! I was 15 and had NEVER left the state of Vermont! We flew to Miami to board the ship, cruised the Carribean, and stopped at 3 different ports: St. Maarten, Barbados, and Martinique. In St. Maarten we lounged on the beach, in Barbados we took a submarine ride all the way to the bottom of the ocean floor, and in Martinique we took a tour of the Rainforest and Dole banana plantation. It was such an amazing experience and life changing for a 15 year old. I learned a lot, and had tremendous fun. There was so much to do ON the ship too. There was food available 24 hours a night, beautiful formal restaurants, room service, spectacular shows every night, and so many various activities during the day too. Not to mention, the pool and the views from the deck from our rooms. More times than I can count we watched dolphins swimming along with our ship, or the sun rising or setting on the horizon. We met some amazing people, and have so many amazing and unforgettable memories. I would give anything to go back and do it all over again. Maybe some day....

And if I do ever get the chance to do it again, I will turn to Cruise Web to help me find the best deal and plan the best cruise with the best cruise line.

Would you like to win a $50 Target gift card? Enter the giveaway I just entered by following the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maranda Lee/Hot Mama Hand Bags Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:47:00 +0000

Every mama loves hand bags, but when you become a mom, it's not always easy to find the "perfect" hand bag to fit all of your growing needs, and be stylish at the same time. I found Maranda's amazing Etsy shop recently, and it was love at first sight.

With so many bags to choose from, it wasn't easy to decide, but on thing was for sure....no matter which one I ended up choosing, it would meet all of my busy mom needs and beyond.

I finally settled on the large Emma bag in the Ironworks pattern, with polka dot fabric on the inside lining.

I could not wait to get this bag, and was nowhere near disappointed when I finally received it. First of all, I wanted the darker pattern because of the obvious reason.....things get messy quick with kids!

The fabric is very very durable and strong, and the strap is adjustable to a few different lengths, which makes it easy to use for anybody. Inside there are 3 "open" pockets (no zipper or snap enclosure), 3 elastic open pockets, as well as a clip for pacifiers, keys, etc. The bag itself has a snap closure to keep contents from falling out, yet everything is still easily accessible.

There is SO much room inside! I can easily carry diapers and wipes in the wider elastic pocket, sippy cups in the others, my wallet, check book, snacks for the kids, cell phone, camera, and even after all of that, there is still tons of room to spare!

Lately, I have been using this bag as my dance bag. I have hip hop dance every Friday night, and I throw my wallet, keys, checkbook, cell phone, water bottle, dance shoes, and a change of clothes in this bag, and there is plenty of room...and it's way cute and stylish to carry around. And the compliments I have received are endless.

I wish I could include photos here for you to see, but if you have read any of my other more recent posts, you know my camera is broken. :-( So, when that is finally replaced, I will post pics!

All in all, I am so happy with this bag, and in the short time I have had it, it has already gotten so much great use, and will continue to do so. If you are looking for a roomy, stylish, chic bag, Hot Mama Handbags is the way to go!

Purchase it: You can purchase this bag and many others at Maranda's website.

WIN IT: ONE lucky reader of Mama 2 Multiples is going to WIN a large Emma messenger bag like the one in this post, but in the Morning Glory pattern seen here:

To enter, simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Section!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:33:00 +0000

Check out the new section in the sidebar of my blog. It's a list of some sites and other materials I recommend checking out and playing around with. The first on the list is Cookie, a website full of free educational games for children of all ages! There are games that help children learn to count, do basic math skills, fun and easy games like tic tac toe, the alphabet, and so much more! Along with games, there are also stories and videos to read and watch and have fun with. I highly recommend this website, and am happy to feature it on my blog, an as the first on the list in the new section of links worth checking out. :-)

Baby Legs Review & Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:47:00 +0000

When Connor and Merasia were a little over a year old, I had the opportunity to review a set of BabyLegs for each of them. I absolutely LOVED them, and recently, got the opportunity to review another set of BabyLegs from Mom 4 Life. I was so excited to try them out for Mason, and again for the older kids, since Merasia is really into dressing up and at the time I received the BabyLegs for review, Merasia was in dance class, and I thought they would be super duper cute for her to wear and dance in.

For my review, I received 3 pairs of BabyLeg warmers in the unisex White Burst pattern.

I thought the pattern was slightly girly, but it was the only pattern available for review, so I went with it. And I also knew that every time one twin has something, the other wants it, no matter the color or design or what it is, so I knew seeing his sister with the legwarmers would make Connor want some too. I was so excited to break these out of their packaging and try them out! I tried them on Connor on a day when we were just hanging out at home. At the time I reviewed these, we were working on potty training. The Babylegs came in handy, since they are easier then dealing with pulling pants up and down every time the twins had to potty. Connor liked them at first, but soon tired of them and didn't care for them anymore. Merasia LOVED hers, of course. I knew she would!

How cute does she look in her BabyLegs??

Mason is also super adorable in his pair! We take full advantage of our BabyLegs on days when we are bumming around the house and having a lazy day, or on laundry day. ;-)

Paired with a simple onesie, an outfit is complete!

Mason was mastering crawling when we first received the legwarmers for review, so this was perfect timing to help protect and cushion his sensitive little knees!

Not only are these legwarmers cute and a great idea, but they are oh-so-soft and stretchy, so they fit all sizes/ages! They come in an array of colors and patterns to choose from. They can make an outfit, complete an outfit, or serve entirely different purposes, such as arm/hand warmers, tights for under a skirt or dress, dance class attire, or for other sports, such as soccer. So many uses for such a simple item!

Purchase It: You can purchase these and other BabyLegs legwarmers at Mom 4 Life's website!

WIN IT: ONE lucky reader of Mama 2 Multiples is going to WIN the same pair of BabyLegs reviewed in this post. To enter, simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Mason Post!

noreply@blogger.com (Blake) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:24:00 +0000

My monkey boy is growing up so fast!

Let me start off by saying I was going to wait to write an update post until I could post photos to go along with it. My camera is broken right now, and I'm having serious withdrawals. So, pics will have to wait, but the update can't. ;-)

Mason is an official walker. He isn't walking all over the place, but he takes 2-6 steps in between furniture or people, or just in an open room. He will pull himself up to stand, and then just turn around and walk until he loses his balance and falls down, or something gets in his way and trips him up. He is so cute toddling around like he does!

He also has so many words! He says da da, daddy, mama, hi, bye bye, night night, yeah, no, love you, jenn, hair, more, and a few others that I can't think of right now. When he gets mad, wants attention, or sees food that he wants, he makes a yelling/squawking noise. It's annoying, but cute at the same time. :-)

He is such an active baby! He crawls all over the place when he isn't trying to walk, and he is one FAST boy! His newest accomplishment is his yoga pose he just mastered. He does "downward facing dog" ALL the time now and let me tell you...it is the CUTEST thing in the WORLD! I can't wait to get my camera working again and get some photos of it...it's priceless!

He still enjoys eating....a lot. There isn't anything this boy won't eat! He recently discovered m&m's and can't get enough of them...when we let him have them or he sneaks them...somehow. ;-)

He also recently tried watermelon and absolutely LOVED it! That's definitely a new favorite for him!

Mason is a very happy baby. He is always smiling and laughing and content.

He gets fussy or cries when he gets hungry, wants some milk, or is over tired. And speaking of being tired...he is *finally* sleeping through the night! I can't complain too much!

I just can't believe how much he has grown and developed in such a short time. It's amazing for me, because I have had it both ways with my children. I had preemies with the twins, so I had the chance to see how they developed at certain points in their life, and when they hit certain milestones and other things. With Mason, he had an extra 6 weeks to cook in mama's belly (he was a week late!), so he had plenty of time to grow nice and strong and mature, and he is just a perfect textbook baby. He has hit every milestone right when "the books" or "the professionals" say milestones should be hit, or he has mastered them before the time frame to expect them to be met. He does so much more and has so many more words at 13 months than the twins had at even 18 months. It's amazing to see the contrast and to see the differences in each. It's an understatement to say how rewarding it has been to see the twins develop into the little people they are today, and to see Mason develop and grow into the little man he is today, and I can't wait for the next several months and see how must more all 3 of my children grow and change in different ways.