Sibling Rivalry

I remember when I young and would fight like cats and dogs with my brother and sister. I especially have memories of fighting with my sister as we got older and were teenagers and young adults. Since I was an only child until I was five, I do not have memories of fighting with siblings when I was really young. However, I see how it can happen with my children. We have several toys that the twins love - a mini shopping cart, a tricycle and a ride-on car that makes noise. Since there is only one of each toy and two babies, there are lots of fights between the kids to use these toys. If one starts using a toy, the other immediately feels the need to use it. Then, they physically try to push each other off the toy so he/she can use it. One of them always gets hurt.
It's hard to teach sharing at 18 months old, yet I'm trying. Do any of you mommas have advice on how to teach sharing and patience? I've been hiding these toys in our bathroom with the door shut to avoid fights.

Odd Behavior for Emmie

As a whole, my children tend to be very even-tempered and happy most of the time. However, lately, Emma has been getting extremely upset for no apparent reason. This has happened several times while we are at the Y and she is in the care of the Kid Care staff. Since they love her and she is normally extremely happy in their care, I'm drawing straws trying to figure out what's going on with her lately. Is it teething? Is it separation anxiety? What's going on?
This is one of those instances where parents feel useless trying to help their kids. I felt this same way recently with Carter when he was trying to walk. The poor guy would take a few steps and then his knees would buckle and he'd fall to the floor. After encouragement, he'd get up and try again but eventually he would get extremely frustrated and start crying. If I could have done something to help strengthen his legs, I would have. 
What ways do you struggle to help your kids? I am curious to know what other mommas have found straining when they are doing everything they can to help their little babies.

Join our Team!!!

I had the pleasure of meeting with the Family Teams Committee for the March for Babies this weekend. We did a lot of planning and the event should be wonderful. Please consider joining our team. Read on to learn more!

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our twins, Emma and Carter, were born at 31 weeks (over two months premature). Both babies were under three pounds and could fit in the palm of your hand. They could not breathe or eat on their own. They could not maintain a normal body temperature or keep their heart rates constant. Yet, with the help of modern medicine and six weeks in the NICU, both babies are now 18 months old and thriving.

Our team is walking in March for Babies on Saturday, April 30th at 9:00 am at Discovery World in downtown Milwaukee because we want to help families just like ours. To help us raise money for the March of Dimes and babies like Emma and Carter, please consider joining our team. It's easy: just click the "join this team button" at the following URL: http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1520743.

We are preparing team t-shirts and banners for the big event. If you personally raise $100, you'll get a team t-shirt. If your business would like to join our team as a corporate sponsor, please let me know and we'll put your logo on our banner and t-shirts. This is great publicity for your business, while also helping a great cause!

We're excited to see you all at the walk, however, if you can't walk with us on April 30th, please help by donating to our team. You can do so right on our page. Thank you for helping us give all babies a healthy start!

Carter

Emma

My Love, My Obession, My Starbucks

Everyone tends to have a vice that they simply can't live without. Mine is an afternoon cup of coffee from Starbucks. I am literally obsessed with the need to have a nice warm cup of mocha, hot chocolate, caramel latte, etc. at about 3ish pretty much everyday. I don't eat much before dinner because I'm on the go with my kids so I look forward to this treat. I have a few other vices (U.S. Weekly, chocolate covered raisins and Real Housewives of ...), but nothing compares to my love of Starbucks. I'd be curious to know what your vices are. What can't you live without???? Please share.

Pure Comedy

As I've mentioned in the past, my children tend to get a little rambunctious at nap time. Their cribs are next to one another so they grab each other, look at each other between the bars, laugh, scream and play nookie swap back and forth with their pacifiers. Unless the kids are extremely tired, it takes them some time to get down to sleep. Today, I put them down for a nap and then went in their room about 20 minutes later to calm them down from their bedtime play. When I walked in, they both looked at me very wide-eyed, Carter said "uh-oh"and then they both laid down quickly in bed. I couldn't help but start to laugh because they are now clearly old enough to know that they are doing something wrong. My life with these kids...pure comedy. 

Thank Heavens for Good Family

On Thursday, my lovely sister, Suzan, is venturing off to Europe for four months to volunteer with an organization called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). She will be working in Italy, Ireland and Spain on organic farms by harvesting crops, planting and just plain getting dirty. She did this last year for several months in Ecuador and is now venturing back to Europe after a six-month stint there two years ago. I am so proud of my sister for all the work that she does for others and how selfless and giving her spirit is. Yet, I really don't want her to leave.


As teenager and young adult, we were at each other's throats. I would go steal her clothes in her room, she'd just go through my stuff to see what she could find, we'd yell, we'd bicker and we wouldn't let up. Now...many years later...next to my husband, she's my greatest confidant in this world. After the babies were born, she took a leave from her job to come nanny for them full time when I went back to work. She is always willing to help out with them when we are in a bind or in the mood for a night on the town. Most importantly, she "loves the poo out of those babies" (as she would say), and they know it. 


I've been very anxious these last few days in anticipation of her leaving and I'm really dreading Thursday when she gets on the plane. This has given me a lot of perspective on how important good family is and how blessed I am to have such great companions in my life. Outside of my sister, my mom also can't get enough of the babes and would go to the end of the Earth for them. Again, they know this because they show her that they love her. So, the big message here today is to never forget how blessed you are to have a great family. After all, one day they may up and move to farm! 

Blizzardfest 2011

The past 48 hours were pretty crazy for many around the country, especially for those in the Midwest who dealt with blizzard-like conditions starting on Tuesday night through much of Wednesday. As a result, most businesses and schools were closed. This gave our family a nice chance to have some fun within the confines of our house. After the babies ate breakfast, I cleaned the house, did some laundry and made some cookies for my husband. He needed these cookies because he ate peanut blossoms (A.K.A. boob cookies) that I had made around Christmas during the last four Packer games. Since we were all out and the Superbowl is this weekend, he requested that I make another batch so that he can continue this tradition. Apparently this will seal a Packer victory. :)

After all this monotony, the kids got a little crazy sliding down our little tikes slide over, and over and over again. It was quite comedic so I've decided to post a short video of their shenanigans. I have to say, my kids are beyond cute and truly loved using this slide. We first started with a crash pad at the base of the slide, but then just gave way to some old fashioned crashing. What a sight; have a look at: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150089698474690&comments

Quirky Kids!

My kids are so nutty; I simply cannot get over it. As they get older, really with each day, they are getting more personality and zest. Here are some of my favorite moments with the little twinks:


- When eating next to one another in their high chairs, Emma will let her food ooze out of her mouth and then laugh. Carter catches on to what she's doing and just belly laughs as he does it too. Though it's messy, it's pretty funny. I try not to laugh, but it's pretty darn hard not to.
- Carter will drop food on the ground, then say, "uh-oh" and then yell, "Baya! Baya!" Our dog's name is Buckley but I think Carter has named him Baya. He likes to throw food on the floor for him and watch me get angry at Buckley for going for the food. Poor dog - "lose lose" situation for that guy.
- Carter will jump on their tricycle and then Emma will push him around the house. Though Carter can move it by himself, she likes to push him. 
- When playing with their big car (red plastic car with the yellow roof - you all know it), Carter will get in through the door but them throw himself out of the window while Emma is trying to crawl in the car through the trunk. 
- Both kids like to give hugs but Emma will give a hug, then give you a snarly look and then slap you in the face. Then she lets out a big laugh. Hilarious little girl, hilarious.
- When changing Carter's diaper, if he passes gas, he'll say "uh-oh" and then just crack up. He thinks that's too funny.
- Carter sits on the lower part of a console table, stands up, starts laughing and then takes a few steps and crashes into the dog's bed. It's his crash pad.
- Emma will chase Carter around our large ottoman just so she can tackle him to the ground. They both crack up intensely until someone gets hurt. Someone always gets hurt.
- Peter and I sing the "Go Pack Go" song for both kids and Carter likes to pump his arm and dance while we're singing it. Emma is embarrassed by the song for some reason and buries her head until it's over.

The list could go on but sharing some of the moments that make me smile throughout the day is my gift to others. I hope they make you smile too. Please share some of the funny moments with your little ones.