Spaghetti Taco's

If you have young girls you might know what spaghetti taco's are.  M&M loved to watch iCarly on the Nickelodeon channel, and so did I, but don't tell.  Well, on iCarly Spencer (the big brother) would make his famous spaghetti taco's for dinner quite often.  It is nothing special and exactly what it sounds like, spaghetti in a taco shell.  We haven't had cable in quite some time and m&m had been talking about iCarly and the infamous spaghetti taco's a lot recently.  I decided to surprise them and make them for dinner.  I even googled it to make sure I was going to make them right, in case there was something I didn't know about spaghetti taco's.  I even went on icarly's website and it said to make spaghetti with meat sauce and put in a taco shell.  Okay then.

Peter took the girls on a walk to go hunting for rocks and I cooked up some spaghetti and heated some taco shells in the oven.  And this is what we ended up with.

Melanie filling her taco shell

Mia filling up her taco shell

Doesn't it just look delish?!

I think they were afraid to try them because they were eating the cheese bread first and they never do that.

I finally had to tell them to "take a bite already"!

I don't think we will be having them again anytime soon, but it is a memory that we won't forget.

My Stroller Quest Continued

Because the City Select was so expensive I decided to try and find a different option.  I test drove the Graco Quattro Duo 

And then I tried the Kolcraft Contours.  I was actually fairly impressed with both of the strollers.  The Graco seems to have improved a lot in the last 5 years.  It was very easy to push one-handed and was smaller than most doubles.  As for the Kolcraft Contours, I think I would have purchased this stroller but it was a beast to lift.  It had most of the same features that I loved about the City Select plus it offered a parent console, toddler handles and a huge basket.  The stroller was very heave though and I knew it would be hard for me to deal with loading and unloading it.  It was also very long, but maneuvered quite well.  I think I would have purchased this stroller if it wasn't for the weight, but I kept in mind as a reasonable option.

I still couldn't decide what to do about this whole stroller decision.  Mostly it was because I couldn't decide between a tandem and a side by side.  I loved both for different reasons and if I were wealthy I would just by both options.  I would have a tandem to keep in the car for trips to the mall and stores.  I would then keep a side-by-side at home for walks around town and trips to the park.  I actually thought I would do that and looked closer at side-by-side's.  This is what brought me to the Baby Jogger City Mini.

I really don't have anything negative to say about this stroller.  It is lightweight, pushes like a dream and folds in a snap.  Peter and I went to USA Baby to try it out and loved it.  It fit the babes well and neither one of us could find anything we didn't like.  The only problem was that no stores in the area carried it in the colors we liked.  My options were grey and green or grey and orange, yuck.  I wanted the black or red and both of those options would have to be ordered and the red was out 2-months for availability.  Darn it!

I should mention that while we were at USA Baby we test drove the new Chicco Cortina Together.

and the Zooper Tango (it was on clearance)

I had been eyeing the Chicco for some time now as it seemed like a great stroller and a good option for us.  The price was reasonable and it would take both of our Chicco Keyfit Carseats.  I was so excited to see that the store actually had two in store to try out.  I plopped our babes in while in the carseats and took it for a stroll around the store.  I liked it and was thinking of buying it and forgetting all about the City Mini, but then I decided to test it out without the carseats in it and didn't like it much at all.  Basically, I was comparing it to the Graco because it was close in price and I would choose the Graco over the Chicco and this is why: 

• 
  
  The Chicco's fabric was not very plush and the fabric on the seats looked thin.
• 
  
  The fold on the Chicco seemed awkward and a little more difficult than the Graco's
• 
  
  The second seat hood on both options were pathetic and I wasn't even sure why they were even on there since they weren't going to do anything to block out the sun.  The main hoods on both were decent.

I really wanted to like the Zooper Tango as well.  To say I loved my Zooper Boogie is an understatement, but this Zooper was not so super.  It was on clearance and so I thought I could try to love it, but even at the clearance price it wasn't worth the money.  It seemed rickety and things were already breaking and coming off of it in the store.  I did like that it came with accessories like the rain cover and UV cover, but those weren't going to do me any good once the hood fell off, and it was close to falling off already.

I went home empty handed, but I was coming closer to a decision.  Once at home I checked online stores to see if anyone had the mini in stock in the color I liked and I checked Ebay to see what deals I could find on there.  I did see that there were several Baby Jogger City Elite's on Ebay for around the same price as the City Mini and thought of getting that.  I forgot to mention above that the only thing that I didn't like about the Mini is that it didn't have an adjustable handle bar and it felt a little high for me.  The City Elite did have an adjustable handle bar, a parent console, forever-air wheels and a hand brake like the City Select.  Of course, to my disappointment I realized that the 2009 City Elite's that I was looking at on Ebay did not have the hand brake or the forever-air tires.  Poo! 

In the middle of this all I purchased a Maclaren Twin Rally from someone on Craigslist for $40 and was so excited to get it.  Like I said previously, I loved my Maclaren Volo and so I thought I would be happy with the twin rally.  Not so much.  I got it home and cleaned it up and washed the reversible seat liners in the wash.  Everything was ready to go.

I put the babes in and quickly realized that this stroller was not going to work for us.  It says that the stroller is suitable for birth and up, but I don't agree with that at all.  I had the seats fully reclined, the harness and straps adjusted correctly and my babes looked like they were going to fall right off the end of the seat.  The harness straps couldn't be height adjusted either so they ran down the sides of their faces, very uncomfortable for them.  I walked to the bus stop to pick up M&M from school with the babes in the Maclaren since I already had them ready to go and I started to hate it even more.  I know this is not an all-terrain stroller, but it couldn't even handle the bumps in the sidewalk.  My babes were feeling every bump along the way and with the way they fit in the stroller they were about ready to bounce right out of there.  I gave it a few more tries with the seats at different angles and using blankets to try and support them better, but I just wasn't happy with it.  I am sure it would be a great stroller for toddlers over 1, but not any younger than that.  I sold it on craigslist last week.  In fact, I have sold all my strollers to try and save up for whatever I decide to get. 

p.s.  I think it will be the City Select

My Name is Amy and I am a Baby Gear Whore

I think they should have a support group for women addicted to baby gear.  I can't be the only one that obsessively reads up on everything for their babies and children before buying, can I?  It's not that I am a snob, well maybe a little, but that if I am going to pay for something (baby gear isn't cheap) then I want to make darn sure that I am buying something I will love and won't regret down the road.  I read about the product on the manufacturers website, I then read opinions on as many different sites that I can find, I will look it up in consumer reports, check in with all of my fellow Moms and then I head to the store to get a feel for it in person.  Sometimes I will go back to the store quite a few times.

Ever since I found out we were having twins I have been searching for the perfect stroller.  I love strollers in a way you cannot imagine.  I have owned a Graco travel system, Graco DuoGlider, Graco Citilite, Maclaren Volo, Zooper Boogie, Peg Perego Triplette (2 of them), Burly D'Lite (2 of them), a full-sized Combi, and a Peg Perego Pliko.  I may have missed a few but you get the picture.  I started my search of the perfect double stroller with the Bumbleride Indie Twin, Maclaren Twin Techno and the Zooper Tango.   I was going to go with the Maclaren without testing it because I loved the Volo so much and because it would be more affordable for us, but I had to go into the store and try it out.  That is when my best laid plans went down the tube.

I went to Baby On Grand in St. Paul with the intention of trying out the Bumbleride Indie Twin and the Maclaren Twin Techno and there in the corner was this beautiful white stroller I had never seen before.  I took a look at the Bumbleride and quickly decided that it was not going to be coming home with me.  I loved the Bumbleride Flyer, but the indie was heave and bulky when folded.  I must explain that I am short, lack arm muscles and have had 2 back surgeries, so I need something I can lift without requiring a 3rd back surgery.  I then grabbed the Maclaren for a quick look and decided it just wasn't doing it for me.  The colors it came in this year were blah and for the money it just wasn't that great.  I finally asked the saleswoman what that "neat" looking stroller in the corner was. (yep, I used the word neat).  She brought it over and said it was a great stroller and I would love it.  She didn't know how right she was.  It was gorgeous for starters, in its brilliant diamond white color and it was a tandem that wasn't as heavy as a bus.  It had a simple fold and could be easily taken apart to make it much easier to load and unload from the car.  I asked her what it was and she said it was the Baby Jogger City Select.  How had I never heard of this brand before?  How did I miss this stroller in my endless searches?  And how can I get it?  I was in love with it and was going to have to convince my husband that THIS was the stroller for us.

I was told it was in a high demand and I would have to order it if I wanted it and may have to wait to get the color I wanted.  Well, I was going to have to wait a long time regardless because that stroller was expensive.

I came home and told Peter all about it and his eyes started to glaze over.  I explained all the reasons that this was the ultimate stroller:

1. It is a tandem which makes it much easier to navigate in stores.  Sure, you can get through doorways with a side by side, but you can't always navigate around the clothing racks once you get through those doors. 

2.  It didn't take a muscle man to turn this tandem stroller.

3.  Everything on the stroller is adjustable.  The hood can move up to give additional room.  The foot rests also expand down a bit for when they are older. 

4.  The seats can sit every which way, both forward, both rear, towards each other, etc.

5.  Hand operated brake so you don't have to reach under with your toe and scuff the top of your shoes unlocking the brake.

6.  Huge "bubble" hoods to keep those babes safe from the sun.

7.  Magnetic closures on the hood windows.  You won't startle your baby with the ripping sound of Velcro.

8.  Telescoping handle that is perfect when dealing with a shorty like me and super tall husband.

9.  The fold.  You can fold it with the seats on in one simple step or you can quickly remove the seats and fold the chassis to make it more manageable and lighter for someone like me who isn't supposed to lift a lot of weight.

10.  Forever air tires that don't need to be filled and you don't have to worry about leaks or punctures.

I know there are a lot more features and accessories, but the above 10 are my favorites.

and to be fair these are the things I am not so fond of:

1.  The hood seems to come detached quite easily

2.  Baby Jogger makes you buy the second seat kit before you can add a second car seat attachment or bassinet.  The company can't even keep up with the demand that is out there right now so I think it would be safe to offer the brackets without the second seat.  I think they will still make a profit.

A Great Sunday Morning

I was up at 6am to pump as usual, had my cup of coffee and then went upstairs to help feed the babes.  I really enjoy the weekend morning when Peter and I can sit in bed and hang out with the twins.  It is so wonderful to be able to give them our undivided attention and just about the time the twins have had enough, the big girls wake-up and come join us in bed.

This morning Phoebe really noticed Avery and was smiling, cooing and giggling at her sister.  I was a glimpse of the future, of them being friends and playing with each other.  I am so excited to see this more and more in the days to come.

After the babes had their fill of playtime with us we came downstairs and wreaked havoc on the kitchen.  Peter made omelette's for the girls and himself (I am allergic to eggs).  The girls and I made banana muffins.  The girls each mushed up some bananas and took turns pouring in ingredients and stirring the batter.  Then they used the cookie scoop to fill the muffin pan.  (someday I will blog about how much I love cookie scoops and how versatile they are).  Peter is checking on the muffins as we speak.  I hope they will be good!

I hope the rest of the day will be just as wonderful as our morning!

Wondering What To Do With That Extra Breast Milk You Have?

Well wonder no more!!

1. Breast Milk Butter

In a freshly cleaned jar, preferably sterile, add the breastmilk.
Screw the lid on tight and shake furiously until you have butter.

2. There are quite a few here: http://www.landmilkhoney.com/recipanr.htm

3. Maybe you can try to make cheese: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/nurse_made_JQlMRBr5ZgO6iD07AX83MJ

4. Cottage Cheese Anyone?

COTTAGE CHEESE

16 cups milk (breastmilk)
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk
1 cup buttermilk
Salt, to taste


Pour the milk into a 6 quart stainless steel pot. Stir in the dry milk. Set the pot into a larger pot, double boiler fashion, filling the larger pot with enough water to come up the side of the smaller pot about 1/2 of the way.

Get the milk to 86°F: turn the heat on under the larger pot for 2 or 3 minutes, stirring the milk slowly. Then turn off the heat, not stirring and wait a few minutes. Check the temperature, and if it is not warm enough repeat the procedure. Add the buttermilk to the milk. Stir well. By covering the pot and checking the temperature a few times, hold the temperature at 86°F for 12 hours. This allows the curd to form. The curd should be custard like.

Cut the curd into 1/2" pieces. Allow the cut curd to set for about 30 minutes to allow more of the whey to separate, keeping the temperature at 86°F. Then slowly begin to cook the curd until the temperature reaches 100°F. Use the same method of heating as before.

Don't hurry the process; it should take about 30 minutes.

Stir gently once in awhile for even heating and to prevent the curd from sticking together. This will also allow you to cut up any oversize curd. As the temperature rises, it will require more frequent stirring as it firms and separates from the whey. Remove curds from the heat as soon as they firm and reach the desired temperature.

Line a large colander with 2 layers of clean cheese cloth. Using a measuring cup, scoop out the curd into the colander. Allow to drain for several minutes, then rinse curd by immersing the cheese cloth and curd in lukewarm water. Allow to drain for several more minutes. Place drained curd into a large bowl. Sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of salt and mix with hands to blend evenly. Put into a covered container and chill. When cool, taste for salt and add if needed. You'll get about 1 1/2 pounds.



'They' say you can use breast milk in place of cow's milk for everything, you can even make soap with it.  Who knew?  Maybe I need to start making some "Mommy's Milk Soap" to make some money :)

Siblings, Seedlings, and Saplings

My daughter, Melanie, brought home a 'sibling' the other day.  At least that is what she told Peter and me when we met her at the bus stop last week.  I asked her if she meant "sapling" and she said "NO, I brought home a sibling".  I told her that she did indeed come home with her sibling, her sister Mia.  She got a little frustrated with me and reached into her plastic bag and pulled out a little tiny pine tree.  Peter read the note sent home with it and said it was a "seedling" so we straightened it out and Mel called it a seedling for about two hours.  This morning she informed me that she was planting her 'sibling' and then called her Grandma and told her she was planting her 'sibling' as well.

I love her little mixed up words and have a hard time correcting them because it makes me smile every time I hear them.  For example:

She calls nail polish pail nolish.
She calls her pony tails tony pails
She was bit by a stray cat once and we were worried about rabies.  She now tells people that she was bitten by a cat, but the cat didn't have 'the gravies'. 

Got Guilt?

I belong to a great Moms of Multiples group and someone the other day asked about twin guilt.  She wanted to know if she was the only one who felt guilty about not being able to give each twin enough attention throughout the day.  I wanted to scream through the universe that she was not alone in her guilt. 

At one of my post-natal check-ups my Ob/Gyn asked me if it was really that hard with twins.  Did it suck at times?  Did we get any sleep?  (I love my Ob because is down to earth and I am sure she asked us these questions because she knows we would tell her the nitty gritty truth)  My answer to her was that it did suck, alot, but for me it wasn't the lack of sleep or constant business that made it that way, it was the guilt.  It was the pure longing and wishing that I could somehow grow another set of arms so I could hold both my babies at the same time and as much as I wanted to.  That my body ached deep down to the core of me to be able to do this.  I hated having to feed one baby and then immediately put her down to feed the next one.  I wanted to be able to sit and cuddle up in their warmness and delicious baby smell.  I wanted to be able to swoop down and pick them both up and be able to carry them around when they were upset instead of taking turns.  I wanted to be able to spend a lazy day just cuddling on the couch, memorizing their tiny faces, letting them fall asleep in my arms and awaken still in cradled on my lap.

So yes, there is a lot of guilt.  I know it matters more to me than to them.  I know they aren't watching the clock and keeping track of who I have spent more time with.  I do it though.  Just yesterday I held Phoebe for 45-minutes and then switched and held Avery for 45- minutes.  In the NICU I would separate my breast milk exactly even for each girl so it was fair.  The nurse at one point asked me if I was separating the breast milk on purpose or if it was just coming out that way.   I told her I did it on purpose because I felt guilty if one got more than the other.  She just smiled at me and said that they would make sure it was evenly distributed and that I didn't have to go through the work.  She said that Moms carry around enough guilt and stress the way it was.

So I try my best to be fair and give them all the love and hugs I can, but I also try to remind myself that no one is keeping track and I need to relax and enjoy them.  I also need to take care of myself so I am rested and recharged to be able to take care of my family.