Come on, ride the train!

Man, Master D is crazy about trains. He has never actually been on one, unless subways count, but he cannot get enough of locomotives.

Master D turned 2 in September and became the proud owner of a train table. He has his own room here, but it suffered from lack of use because it harbors his own bed ["No!"], books ["In Mommy's bed!"], and his clothes and diapers ["Bad!"]. About a week before his birthday, I finally hit the Craigslist jackpot that rewarded me for months of pushing the refresh button on the baby + kids For Sale page. A Thomas train table, in a neighboring town, for $100. I was prepared to pay at least twice that for a nice set, but this one had it all - even the battery-operated engines that drag the trains around the tracks all by themselves. It has tons of track, so we could make a bunch of different designs, but it takes so long to build one that actually stands up to a toddler that the tracks might as well be permanent. It came with 20 trains, and a really cute table that looks great in Master D's room.

The good news is that it keeps Master D busy for a long time - sometimes long enough for me to get dressed in peace, and his poor bedroom is less lonely. The bad news is that it has not diminished his enthusiasm for other train tables, which means we still can't get in and out of Barnes and Noble in less than an hour.

Happy Halloween!

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As Halloween approaches I can't help but reminisce about the wonderful Halloween party we had last year. It was a time when all of us mamas were together. I remember bumping into Mama N on the way to the party and strolling Master R and Miss L in their puppy and cow costumes to the Thursday playgroup festivities. We have that great group photo with all of our little ones in their first Halloween costumes. It was one of those moments that caused me to pause and appreciate all of the amazing friendships we had formed over the year. I think I will always remember that day together quite vividly as Halloween approaches every year.

This year we decided that Miss L would be a bumblebee since she loves to see the bees buzzing around the flowering rosemary bush in the front of our house. As you can see by the photo above, Miss L could not wait to wear her bee costume.

Today we had a neighborhood Halloween party just a few blocks away at our local park. I was so happy that I could go with Mister T and Miss L. We brought a blanket so I could lay down and adhere to my bed rest regimen. It was so nice to see Miss L enjoying the festivities and for me to get some fresh air. Miss L enjoyed decorating pumpkins with felt stickers and watching a puppet show. There was a deejay on hand to play festive tunes, such as Thriller, Ghostbusters and the Addams Family theme song. There were bouncy houses, bubbles and balloons. My favorite party treat was the canvas bag that everyone took home to use for trick or treating. They are meant to be colored with pens so Miss L and I will have an extra craft to work on this week.

I can't wait to hear from the mamas about all their masters' Halloween costumes and the Thursday playgroup festivities. I wish we could be there with you!

Why does colic feel like an admission of defeat?

Master L is a colicky baby. There, I've said it.

I don't know why "colic" feels like a bad word to me, that to admit it and say it out loud, seems like some kind of failure, like there's something I could be doing to prevent it, if only I was a better mom or had more patience. Mister R has been saying it for weeks as he carries around inconsolable Master L for hours on end. I've been saying that he's just a baby and babies cry, that Master A was like this, but it's much worse. Most babies don't stay up for 6-9 hours at a time and require that they be held the whole time and still scream.

Of course some of you mamas have thought he seems so good- at playgroup if I wear him- he's usually passed out- but that's only because I'm wearing him. Part of the reason I haven't been in a rush for a double stroller is that I know he'll never sleep in it for more than a minute.

So why have I argued with Mister R about this- when he called him colicky? Calling him a terrorist was fine by me but "colicky" was unacceptable. Today, when I got home from work and my parents watched the boys for a few hours, my mom said he cried for three hours. She compared him to my nephew who had horrible colic and it finally hit me that Master L really is colicky.

I think I just don't want my precious baby to be labeled as a bad baby- like saying it now will make it stick with him always. I know that part of the reason I haven't been in a rush to get some help is that I'm afraid someone else won't be able to handle him. I love him to pieces and it's hard for me to keep the patience to deal with his crying jags. My parents love him and found it very tough. I feel like to deal with him- I could only have someone there who loves him or I may come home to no baby!

Master L is 9 1/2 weeks now- why has it taken me so long to admit it- it really is quite ridiculous? Why do I feel like it's an admission of defeat?

Powder in a can

Wee Go Baby Bottle, Source: www.babygreenguide.com

I have decided that I should have formula on hand just in case I need it for the twins to supplement breastfeeding. Deep down inside I don't want to use it, but I want to be prepared. I realize that I may need to supplement for the twins' weight gain or for my own sanity so someone else can give them a bottle while I try to get some sleep. Given my challenges with breastfeeding one child I want to be a little more flexible and prepared.

I have no idea how to start comparing different formula brands and ingredients. How do I know which one is safe and healthy? How can I get over looking at it as a processed food?

I am hoping the mamas can help me with some suggestions and advice!

The daily struggle

So- it's been eight weeks since Master L came into my life. I can't believe how much has changed- how little sleep I get, how it's more than double the work, but how much my heart has expanded.

First, I want to thank everyone for their support with breastfeeding. I'm proud to stay that I'm still going strong and intend to continue. It was very hard initially- for me it really took about five weeks before I realized that it wasn't killing me, that I wasn't cooling down my boob with gel pads, or using my prosthetic nipple (nipple shield). I know I whined a lot initially and asked lots of dumb questions (thanks especially Mama N), but I made it over the hurdle. Before, I couldn't imagine whipping out my boob in public- but now I don't even think about it. I hope to make it six months, but who knows, maybe I'll go further. Maybe I'll even be one of the moms we saw on Dateline nursing their seven year old :) Just stop me if you see me carrying around a re-born doll.

Having two has been a struggle, it's hard when you want to be not Supermom- but just a good mom- and you are pulled in all directions. Master L is a more difficult baby than Master A was, and chasing Master A around as well has been challenging. I still haven't gotten help and I'm trying to manage the boys and work. Simple things like preparing dinner become a battle (I must say my CSA forces me to cook and avoid take out for weeks I did initially with Master A) or picking up around the apartment. Some days I feel lucky to have just survived the day. There were a few weeks when I was so exhausted I wasn't making much sense in talking to the mamas, I'd forget things like strapping Master A into his stroller, or dropping my mail down the mail chute. I'm just thankful that there is no camera in my apartment as I sit on my computer working, making calls with Master L sucking on my boob. If I get a shower by 1 p.m., I consider it a success. I went a bit nuts planning Master L's baby naming, but now that it's done, I'm feeling some pressure gone. Luckily, work for me is pretty slow. I must say I do enjoy the one afternoon a week I get into the office. It's a bit of a break. This past week, Master A has starting acting up- reverting back to throwing food on the floor, more tantrums, whining for tons of milk and now stealing Master L's paci and popping it in his mouth (we bought completely different ones for Master L and initally he just handed them to me). It's been very frustrating and I know I just have to stay firm and wait it out. I hate spending half the day fighting with him and saying "No".

What I have learned over the past two months, which is very hard for me, is I may not be able to do it all with a newborn and toddler. The books for two book clubs may not be read, I may not knit as much and just stare at the boob tube at night and everything doesn't have to be done immediately. I worried initially that I wasn't spending enough time with Master A, now I worry that I don't do as much for Master L, that there aren't as many pictures, that his birth announcements didn't make it out fast enough. There have been days my hormones kick in and I am so upset that I'm not doing enough. I do think I have to remember that this is in my head and that they are boys and will not care about any of these things. Some days will be good, some will be hideous, but I'm sure it will be like that for the next 18 years ... or next 20 years if Mister R has his way and there's a third. I was watching Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Kate was talking about how sad it was that the little ones were all in school already. It does go by so fast. How is Master A already approaching two. So please, when I tell you that I'm taking on another outlandish project, remind me to slow down.

Right now I'm watching Master A walk around with my pants around his neck as a giant scarf, carrying a bag of yarn and dancing. I think I'm going to get off the computer and go dance. I may not have gone back and edited this- but I think you'll forgive me.

Hello navel! I've missed you

Six weeks post baby and half the weight gone. I've become reacquainted with my belly button and some of my regular clothes. However that was the easy weight and the next half isn't going to be quite so easy.

Having been given the all clear by my doctor last week we went for our first family run on the weekend. It was a moment I have been waiting for for 10.5 months. My double jogging stroller was my first purchase when I found out about pregnancy number 2. I'd enjoyed my morning runs with Master R along the Hudson River and couldn't wait to start again. My single jogger was left in the caring hands of Mama A (I hope you're using it!).

When we moved back to London the main criteria for a house was proximity to a large park so I could jog. We're right near Victoria Park, one of London's best kept secrets. At one stage deer roamed free but now it's just a huge park with great running paths and gardens.

Mr M and I were a little concerned about Master T's head wobbling around too much but we secured it with blankets and did a few test runs and he seemed very content nestled into the side of the seat.

The last time I went for a run was December '08 so I wasn't expecting much. However I surprised myself, and Mr M, by running the full planned distance of approximately 6kms/4 miles. I did feel it the next day though.

Both boys loved it. Master R loves looking at the ducks and "eich", abbreviated German for squirrels, which we have to acknowledge every time he sees one. Master T just slept. Let's hope it continues because I still have quite a few lbs to lose!

Great Greens!

It pains me to say that Master X is not a great eater. As a lover and skilled preparer of food, I had these delusions that he would become something of a gourmand. (You know the old saying about what happens when you assume something.) As a new eater, he was open to all sorts of concoctions... lentils, salmon, you name it. As a toddler, his sad repertoire consists of (organic, of course) baked chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, pizza, turkey meatballs, and sometimes, hot dogs. Veggie-wise, he'll eat peas, Dr. Praeger's spinach cakes, sweet potato and french fries. He won't touch spinach if it's not in a 'cake' or tomato if it's not 'sauce' or 'ketchup.' He won't even put a carrot in his mouth, despite the fact that orange is his favorite color.

I try new things continually, but they are often spit out (with an indignant gag, like I've fed him cat litter) or simply dismissed with a "No, Mommy!" He would eat his weight in fruit, if he could, and enjoys crackers, yogurt, and of course, any kind of dessert item, especially those with icing. When I expressed my concern, the pediatrician simply stated that he eats four more vegetables than some kids... if you count a fried potato as a veggie, which I sort of don't. Being a strict vegetarian for the past ten years, I'm a little perplexed. I'm not despairing though, because I'm hopeful he'll broaden his horizons as he gets older, but for the meantime, I'm just hoping he gets the right nutrients.

That's where this post comes in. I've made a surprising discovery.

When Mister B and I were dating, his mother, a well-meaning chiropractor, suggested that I try this powdered greens drink - Greens First - that she had begun to use. I agreed to try it out of respect, but really had very little interest. For one thing, I was a raw foods vegetarian (think fruit, raw veggies and nuts) at the time, and got plenty of green produce in my diet. Additionally, after trying everything on the market, I pretty much knew what we all know: greens drinks SUCK. They're gritty, taste like grass, and leave a terrible aftertaste. (Don't even get me started on wheatgrass.) So I drank it and was pleasantly surprised, shocked even. It was delicious. She left us a canister and returned to Seattle and I became a temporary devotee of the stuff, even convincing Mister B to drink it. (Like Master X, Mister B cannot be forced to do anything, nor does he have much patience for 'healthy' things I spring on him.) Every morning at six a.m., I made the drinks while he walked the dog... and then the canister ran out and I got out of the habit.

Fast forward to this summer. I'm exhausted from chasing Master X around the beach all day, and pretty aware that my pregnancy diet is heavy on the barbeque chips and light on energy enhancing 'superfoods.' So I called my MIL, confirmed that there were no pregnancy contraindications and asked her to ship me some greens. It arrived and I began a daily regimen of mixing it with water, shaking it up, and enjoying the benefits of the forty-nine superfoods and organic fruits and veggies it provides. Sometimes, I drink it in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon... it all depends on when I'm feeling sluggish these days.

But here's the point. Master X is obsessed with it. At first I thought it was just the enjoyment of shaking the container, and I fully expected him to spit his first sip out. Instead, he asked for more. Now we drink it every day. We call it "Mommy's milkshake," and he sucks it down like I've just given him a chocolate milkshake. (Now I am not saying that it tastes anything like a chocolate milkshake.) In the picture I'm posting, he's actually standing at the front door of our apartment, cornered after he took mine and tried to run away with it.

So if any of you Mamas are looking for an energy boost, or think you or your kiddos could use some additional veggies or cell-enriching antioxidants, I think this is a great solution. (It's only available online, so I can give you some of mine if you're interested.) It even works in smoothies, or with protein powder.

And there's one thing you can trust... if it's passed the strict tastebud regulations of both Mister B and Master X, it can't be bad.

A scarflet for great auntie

This scarflet was a very quick knit. So quick that it could easily be knit in a day. I wanted to knit something for my great auntie's birthday, which she now shares with Miss L. This year she turned 89 and I was so happy that we were able to all celebrate together.

The pattern for this scarflet was very poorly written so I added a lot of notes on Ravelry to give more specific instructions so that the stitches match up properly.

I chose to knit it with some lavender yarn that I've had stashed away for years (from my initial knitting class on the upper westside five years ago) since purple is one of my great auntie's favorite colors. I decided that it needed a little more detail so I found a lovely mother of pearl button to sew on for decoration only.

Halibut and Spinach

The other night I decided to cook a bit more than usual. I had halibut and spinach but wanted to do something more exciting than broil the fish so I went to epicurious.com and plugged in halibut and spinach and this is what I found. I used small potatoes because it is what I had from CSA that week and just layered them on the front and back of the fish (no skin) pressing with parchment paper and carefully turning them in the pan. Check out this recipe at:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Potato-Wrapped-Halibut-with-Sauteed-Spinach-351544

This leads me to thinking about the closing of Gourmet Magazine. It is extremely sad news in the culinary world I am told. I was sad to hear because I had just started receiving it in the mail (as a replacement for Domino closing). I liked it much more than Domino, really looked forward to its arrival and left me wondering why had I resisted this magazine in the past? Well, among other reasons logging on to epicurious is just far easier than thumbing through magazines at 8 PM on a tuesday night and it is free. I guess I am part of the problem (although epicurious IS the creation of Conde Nast) or perhaps just the new wave of instant information seekers. I did just buy a Kindle and love it, for the most part.

Just some thoughts as I sit relaxed on my computer with no kiddies around to stop me.
Happy cooking!

Southern Hospitality

When arriving in Tennessee a few days ago I noticed a sign as I entered the ladies room. It said "Nursing Station". I did a double take, kept walking and as I turned the corner here is what I saw. How nice I thought. Then I thought how prudish are these southerners to be sending the message that breast feeding should be done in the restroom, not in public. What do you think?
I actually think it is a nice thing to have and the restrooms where quite clean.

www.coyoteinsight.blogspot.com

Her Genes, My Belly

I will come out and say that I am “infertile,” though this term feels overly strong, given that I am also a parent of a child who undeniably has Mama’s dimples. Modern medicine really makes you scratch your head. But it is thanks to the miracles of science that in 2007, we conceived our little guy from IVF, and today, that Mister A and I have found ourselves in an unexpectedly intimate situation with a nubile 22 year-old.

Yes, in our case it will take three to have a baby (and of course you ladies, our “urban village,” to help once the having part is done!). We are using an egg donor, and sometime next month we should be entering into the final phase of my now-epic quest for a sequel to Master K.

I remember exactly how the doctor first brought it up. It was in between failures number two and three, and I was in for a consult on what next to do, and he gently probed for my “feelings” about using an egg donor. It was the strangest thing. I had no feelings, because I’d never really thought about it, beyond having seen somewhat sketchy advertisements for donors in the backs of magazines and in the odd movie theater. I remember answering that I was “pro” the right to do it, as if someone had asked me about abortion, and with that same sense of remove one has for concepts that you’ve only ever read about and not experienced.

After failure three, the topic was renewed. Mister A and I had talks. He was so, so reluctant to let go of the idea of our next baby coming from my genes. Against the doc’s advice, we proceeded with a doomed IVF number four. After that, hubby shook his head and went online to research the latest cutting-edge reproductive technology for women such as myself whose eggs, for whatever infuriating reason, are older than she is in years. He came back from his studies, hair askew, and said we could fly to China, where they apparently are experimenting in using donor ovum that has been scooped out and refilled with the mother’s genetic material. Now I love a twice-baked potato as much as the next gal, but there’s a limit to my efforts at getting my own bun in this oven.

And so. I phoned the donor services lady, and overnight my gmail account became swamped with profiles and childhood photos of women seeking to donate their eggs (“donate” is a funny term, given the $8000 fee, plus $2000 more to the email-mad aforementioned service). I felt like a I’d finally entered into the Match.com world I’d just managed to avoid in my dating years. Piled up in my in-box were several brown-haired, brown-eyed duds who looked nothing like me, and a few head-scratchers (including one woman who, with apparent sincerity, described her ethnic origins as “25% Bohemian”). The majority of donors were crazy tall (many cash-poor models and actresses). Many were Eastern European. Not very many came across as intelligent or funny, top criteria from a risk-averse couple not wishing to gamble on nature vs. nurture.

Finally I found my gal who, at 5’ 5”, was the shortest, with myriad intellectual interests, a huge smile, what looked to be great silky dark-blonde hair around the age of 11, and a decidedly wacky streak (listing both Black Flag and Patsy Cline among her musical “favorites”). She and her family have a very clean and fortunate health background. After she went for initial testing at my doctor's, the nurse called me to say that she was funny and enthusiastic, and looked a lot like me (though one suspects this is always the reassuring report).

In we go next week to see the doctor and firm up the schedule for our “joint cycle.” So I’m now, with an ironic head-shake, popping the birth control pill every morning in order to be synced up with my anonymous gal-pal. I hope the eventual child(ren) of this scientific threesome is indeed intelligent, since he/she/they will need the wherewithal to fathom all that led up to creation day…

I will report again, Mamas!

Baby Block Cake

Since I wasn't cooking for Master L's baby naming, I thought I would make a cake. I looked online and found a beautiful sheet cake with baby blocks covered in fondant with the baby's name on it. I decided that never mind the fact that I had a newborn and toddler in house, I was going to make this cake. Mister R reminded me how frustrated I was working with fondant on Master A's first birthday Curious George cupcakes, but I couldn't be deterred.

My first obstacle was going to be creating the block shapes. In looking at the cakes online, I was doubtful as whether I could cut a larger cake into squares that wouldn't fall apart and make perfect cubes. After much searching online, I found one 3x3 pan by Fat Daddio through Amazon and ordered some white fondant and pastel colored as well. (I wasn't crazy enough to dye my own fondant). Thankfully, I ordered the white fondant in 80 0z not 8- or I would have run out. I was planning on just using a 9x13 pan, but a few days before the baking was to begin, I became nervous that it wouldn't be enough for 16 adults and several cake eating kids. Forgetting that there would be four cubes that could be cut into four pieces each, I decided I needed a sheet cake. This was the night before baking and it was too late to order online. I did see one at Bed, Bath & Beyond online, but after going to the store, I learned it was not available in the tri-state area- only online. After panic set in and Mister R talked me and my hormones down, I decided to double the 9x13 cakes with a layer of icing in the middle.

The next morning, with Master A in his booster seat watching the action and crying Master L hanging on me in his sling I began baking. I'm not sure why I didn't wait for Master A to take his nap, but I had only had about four hours of sleep and the brain wasn't functioning properly. I had decided to use the Magnolia vanilla cake recipe that everyone seemed to love for cupcakes for Mama V and Miss L's farewell party (another mama friend gave me the Cook's Illustrated best vanilla cake recipe but since Gristede's did not have cake flour that morning - I could not bear another trip to Whole Foods). I knew I would need to triple the recipe but instead of doing it in batches, I just started throwing triple the ingredients in. It was more butter than I had ever seen. Nothing blended well and it took forever to get the wet ingredients to mix properly. By then, I realized my error and broke the rest of the dry ingredients to two equal parts. This required math and Mama N knows how much I enjoy doing math to figure out my knitting so this slowed me down a bit.

Finally, I put the first 9x13 pan in the oven along with a block. Both boys were asleep at this point, and out of the kitchen. Not thinking, I filled the block to the rim. After 10 minutes I checked the block, thinking it would cook faster but it didn't. After another 10 minutes, while mixing the rest of the ingredients and multitasking and making a call to UPS, I see a thick layer of smoke gathering in the kitchen. Frantically, I throw the phone and open the oven to see the block bubbling over and a mess at the bottom. Smoke kept pouring out of the oven. A few months ago, while Mister R was cooking bacon without a cookie sheet underneath to catch the grease, the stove caught on fire. Mister R was able to get it out just as six maintenance men in our building charged in the apartment. I had visions of this happening again. I cleaned up the mess and managed to prevent more smoke from forming, but the fog lingered in the apartment all day. Needless to say, that block didn't work out very well. Once I cut off its muffin top that formed, the whole block crumbled. I was in a panic that this mold wouldn't work and I'd have no blocks.

Baking took all day as I didn't really think about the fact that I needed to let the pans completely cool before removing and restarting the process. The rest of the blocks came out fine (filled only halfway) but after starting at about 10 am- the last one came out when Mister R walked in the door around 6 pm. I was not happy. I froze the cake for a few hours and then iced the cake (requiring another 10 pm run to Gristede's by Mister R for more confectioner's sugar). The large cakes were thicker than expected but I was afraid to shave too much off the top. I knew it was going to be a very tall cake. I froze the cake overnight and mentally prepared to work with the fondant.

Mister R helped roll out the fondant to cover the cake and blocks. When I watch the Ace of Cakes or Cake Boss, they just cover it and it seems to smooth nicely. However, when I tried to do it, I couldn't get the corners to smooth neatly. It was lumpy, cracked and created folds. I also didn't have a lot of extra pastel fondant and was initially afraid it wouldn't cover. Mister R was losing patience with me and we just covered the cakes. If I tried this again, I would read more about how to handle fondant at the corners and not end up with wrinkles. I cut out letters for Master L's name and then it was time to head out for a well needed break at Master K and Master L's 2nd birthday party.

Later that night, I decided I was going to decorate the other sides of the blocks. On one side I put Master L's birth date 8/16/09, weight and length, another side the word Baby (which I didn't realize was backwards on the finished product) and then for fun (yes I was actually having fun now) some designs, moon and stars, a bottle, a pacifier, a beach ball, heart, and my favorite- a bootie. By this time it was after midnight and I needed to get some sleep before the big day.

It really was a much bigger project than I expected. I probably spent about 12 hours on the cake (some time- just cooking time). I would recommend just using a sheet cake or one layer and possibly getting additional block pans to cut down on bake time. Also, not everyone loves the taste of fondant, so I might have just iced it and not used fondant on the base of the cake, just the cubes. Thankfully, for all the work, it was a big hit. The guests all seemed to be impressed with the look and taste of it. I ended up with two blocks and about half a cake left so I brought the cake to the park and some mamas got a treat for the afternoon as well. It's been four days and we are still eating cake!

Homemade playdough

Lately I've been thinking of creative ways to entertain Miss L at home. I'd much prefer arts and crafts to television, although I will admit that Miss L and I do watch Curious George on PBS on a regular basis.

Here are some of the ways we spend a morning or afternoon at home:

1. I set up a playlist on my iPod with Music Together, Baby Loves Jazz, Lisa Loeb, They Might Be Giants and Dan Zanes songs. I play the music and dump a ton of musical instruments on the floor and Miss L dances and plays the instruments while I sing along to the songs. I've also found that she loves Latin pop music so I created a separate playlist with Juanes, Julieta Venega, Laura Pausina and Lenine.

2. We set up crafts at her little play table. We use crayons, easel paper, construction paper, toddler scissors, toddler glue and yarn scraps. As I mentioned to Mama V sometimes we have a finished object, and oftentimes it gets taken apart by Miss L a few minutes later. I try to focus on the act of crafting rather than having something finished, especially with the short attention span of a toddler.

3. Small puzzles have been great. Miss L has a box that contains four puzzles with each puzzle only containing four pieces. This makes it less frustrating for Miss L and more likely that we can finish it and then talk about what is in the puzzle picture. The Melissa & Doug wooden puzzles are great too. Miss L's favorite puzzle right now is a farm animal puzzle that has mom and baby animals.

4. Recently we received a recipe for homemade playdough from Miss L's yoga/art class. This is wonderful to mold into different shapes. You can use cookie cutters or stamp molds with it too. Here is the recipe:

1 cup flour
1 cup water

1/2 cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 tablespoons oil

Food coloring (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a pot. Cook over low heat until thickened. Cool, knead and have fun!

I am wondering if you have any other creative activities for home!

Nanny Poppins

Source: www.godutchbaby.blogspot.com

With all of this bedrest and waiting for the twins arrival, I have decided that it is time to staff up the household.

As many of you mamas know, I tend to be a little timid about finding help, but it is time to realize that I need it. Over the last two weeks I have dedicated my time laying in bed to finding the right help for our family. Mister T and my parents have been and will be a tremendous help but I can't ask them to do everything.

The first thing I did was hire a housekeeper. This has helped tremendously. Even before bedrest I quickly realized that scrubbing a tub was not very doable or safe for a pregnant woman. Our neighbors recommended a wonderful housekeeper who now comes in weekly to clean and do the laundry. She has also offered to run errands which will come in very handy when the twins arrive.

The second thing I did was hire a mother's helper for Miss L. This was a hard thing for me to do because I still want to do everything for Miss L. But my mental will cannot outmatch my physical limitations right now. I was very nervous to find the right person that would care for Miss L with the same focus and attention that I do. I was reluctant to use a random mothers board posting for a recommendation. Then I remembered that Mama N had spoken with other mothers in the neighborhood when she was looking for help back when we were neighbors. I followed in her footsteps and sent out emails to the mothers I had met here in SF over the last couple of months.

I found a lovely British nanny who started today and will be helping us two mornings a week. I expect that we will ask her to help more as we get closer to the twins arrival. What really made me feel comfortable, and excited, to have her help us was seeing Miss L's immediate response to her. When she stopped by for an initial visit a couple of weeks ago, Miss L ran right up to her and engaged her in playing. Miss L showed off her dance moves and giggled the entire time. And after just meeting her once for a couple of hours, Miss L already asks for her by name each day and pretends to call her on the phone. I have heard it often, and now I understand that it just clicks and you know it.

Next on the list is a postpartum doula. I interviewed two doulas based on recommendations from my prenatal swim instructor who also is a labor doula. I just hired my doula today. She will come for her first visit the day we come home from the hospital and then will come to help a few days a week for the first two months. Mostly I am looking for breastfeeding support and an extra set of hands as I learn how to care for two little ones at once. I found someone who is warm and nurturing and also very positive and upbeat, which I think will help tremendously in those first few sleep-deprived weeks. Miss L also enjoyed meeting her and wanted to show her all of her toys, which I thought was a good sign. Having a doula will also help me find little bits of time that I can share alone with Miss L even if it is just to read one story together.

While I found the beginning of this process of finding help to be daunting and scary, I am feeling really good about my decisions as the pieces start to fall into place.

On a side note, I also found a great CSA, Farm Fresh to You, that delivers farm-fresh fruit and vegetables to your door once a week. We received our first box of goodies this week and I was very pleased with the variety and quality, including grapes, beets, tomatoes, lettuce, chard, potatoes and peppers. Each box includes a note from the farm and sample recipes. It's not as fun as strolling over to Provisions with all of you for the summer CSA, but it is a great way to keep my kitchen stocked with fresh fruit and veggies.

In-flight refueling

Mama, Master R and Master T in-flight refueling.

For weeks before the birth of Master T I had a recurring nightmare. Each time I was in the park trying to breastfeed the new baby while Master R bolted towards the busy road. I just didn't know how I was going to cope with a newborn's frequent feeding demands and the high energy of Master R.

A couple of weeks ago I was running late for an appointment and Master T was screaming for food. So I maneuvered the baby Bjorn, lifted my top, lowered Master T's head and he started sucking. Problem solved! He suckled away and we made it to the appointment on time.

Mr M has called it in-flight refueling. Since then many of Master T's feeds are done this way. I even worked a full day at London Fashion Weekend while feeding my hungry babe. Only one woman asked me if my baby was sleeping or feeding.

I'd read about it on HRPMamas forum and I had seen a mother doing it in Tribeca once but can't believe that I didn't try it with Master R. It saves so much time. No more stopping for feeds, just feed on the go. I highly recommend it if you haven't done it before.