My Peas and Our Pod

A Porcupine Named Fluffy

The Day the Crayons Quit

Giraffes Can't Dance

Campbell

Lucas

So my little teeny babies somehow became 4 month olds and by the way, I'm a whole week late on that one.  They turned 4 months on June 9th but it's a little busy here at the ranch.  As Mike's first Father's Day approaches, I can't help but to think how lucky we are to have him.  He's a wonderful hands-on dad who makes sure me and the boys always feel loved and have anything we need.  The boys light up when they see him and Daddy coming home from work is one of their favorite times of day(aside from meal time, obviously Cam loves to eat).  Happy first Father's Day bubbie, we love you!

One thing I have found hard to get used to is how many people stare at you when you are pushing a double stroller through a public place.  No matter where I go, I command attention.  And although it is sweet how many people want to ask you questions and talk with you, it takes patience.  I have found some remedies to make getting out easier but what I stress to you is you MUST get out.  You need to get used to the stares and that you can do this mama!  And what's even better is you can do it alone, with no help, I promise!  Here are some things I've learned over the past few months.


Covers, covers, covers. Every one loves a baby and you've got two.  You are a sweet old lady magnet.  But you do not want people to have direct access to your babies because eww germs.  I invested in pretty covers almost immediately and I keep the boys covered when we are out.  Now I will warn you, there will be people who approach and do not even ask and up goes our Milk Snob cover.  But for the most part, the cover acts as a deterrent.  Milk Snob covers are my recommendation because they come in the cutest patterns and they're protective while also being breathable.


Learn early.  As soon as the boys came home from the hospital, I was determined to get out of the house by myself.  When the boys were about 3 weeks old and Mike was still working from home, I made my decision that it was time.  I packed the diaper bag with all of our necessities and I set out for the mall(about 5 minutes down the road).  Mike called an hour later to check on me because he was sure I would need help at some point.  But I didn't.  If I couldn't figure out how to unfold the stroller or get the car seat out of the car, I just took a deep breath and tried again.  You will always have a moment when you need to step back and breath through it so learn early.  Now I'm a pro and have a routine for loading them.  Stroller out first, then the diaper bag and my coffee, calmest twin at the time in the back, fussier twin in the front, close all doors and we're off.

Mommy hooks.  Mommy hooks will become your second best friend(your first is coffee, no maybe wine, no maybe hand sanitizer).  If I'm heading to Target or the grocery store, I will make sure to bring reusable shopping bags.  You put your reusable bags on your mommy hook, load your items into the bag and then there is no need for a shopping cart or basket! Buy yours here!

Mommy hooks & reusable bags

Plan. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT try to go to more than two places in one trip out where you have to unload and reload your twins.  First, it's a lot on you but it also disrupts them if they're napping and you will end up in the middle of a meltdown in Target.  Make your list of your errands in the morning and plan in which order you will hit each place.  Businesses such as dry cleaners or tailors may be willing to run your items out to the car if you call and ask.  Switch to a pharmacy that has a drive-thru lane.  Go to a grocery store that has mommy with small children parking.

Happy adventuring with your nuggets!

Remember to follow us on insta @mypeasandourpod and snapchat @skryzzz!

Visiting our new house

This week has been CRAZY busy.  We closed on our new house last week so demo began and it's basically down to the studs.  We are still in the process of selling our current house so I have learned how to keep the place spotless at all times which is not an easy task when you have 4 month old twins.  The week was also full of celebrations.  Over the weekend, we went out to dinner and a bar for dancing for one of my best friend's and Mike's birthdays.  We ended up at the bar where Mike and I met almost 7 years ago!  The school year is drawing to a close and even though I only taught for half of it, I ventured to our end of the year happy hour with the boys to see all of my friends and toast to another year in the books.  I'm already starting to wrap my head around going back in August and everything I need to get done to have a successful year with my new group of kiddos.  Campbell had a hearing screening that, thankfully, he passed.  And not to toot my horn but I managed to go to the doctor with both boys solo for the first time. And we did great.  Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Early riser from nap, first to play with the new toys

The birthday girl

Another day, another test

DIY mani/pedi: Gel Top Coat. Funny Bunny. Sunday Funday

To get a peek into our daily adventures, follow us on Instagram @mypeasandourpod

Sunday Brunch

You know when something happens that makes you feel SUPER old?  Yeah that happened as we watched my little baby sister graduate from college this past weekend.  I still remember when we met her at the hospital and the time I accidentally dropped her in her Pack and Play when she was just a few months old.  Good thing that fall didn't kill too many brain cells.  She wants to be an Occupational Therapist and still has a year left of graduate school.  She is going to do amazing things, she's so great at what she does already and has such a passion for her work.  Cheers to you Becca and to your bright future!

The graduate

We love our high chairs, I swear

The cutest pineapple keychain on the keys to our new house

Obsessed with white tulips these days

It was February 9th.  A Tuesday.  Every Tuesday and Friday for the past few weeks we had been seeing our Maternal Fetal doctor to do a non-stress test.  Today was like any other Tuesday except we were going to see the babies' growth since 32 weeks.  These had become my favorite days.  Mike and I would grab coffee and I would waddle into my appointment.  We would sit through the non-stress test with Mike making jokes the entire time and giving me updates on what the monitor said because it sat behind me.  We would chit chat with the nurses about the babies' room or if we had twins in our family.  We'd usually go out to lunch after and then take a nap in the afternoon.  The morning of February 9th, it was very cold and lightly snowing so I reluctantly put on my Uggs and we called Mike's mom telling her to stay home because we were both nervous about the road conditions.  We'd call after with an update on their growth.

We started the 35 week non-stress test and surprisingly both boys passed.  This is unusual with twins, especially mine, because one will kick or wiggle the monitor off.  We headed into our formal ultrasound to see how the boys measured up.  The tech always checked them quickly on Tuesdays and Fridays but today we were measuring for growth as well.    Campbell looked great but he refused to show us his face.  He was difficult towards the end, he was done with the poking and prodding that occurred so regularly.  Next up Luke.  The tech rolled over Luke who had positioned himself early on up in my ribs folded in half with his feet near his head.   She laughed and said "Well it looks like you'll be having the boys today!"  My head jerked to my left to look at Mike whose face was in shock.  "What do you mean?  Are you sure?" I asked frantically.  I hadn't even packed my hospital bag, it was on my to-do list for that week.  The tech couldn't find a pocket of fluid big enough in Luke's sack but she said the doctor would make the decision.  As soon as she left, I started crying.  I was excited to meet my babies but I wasn't ready.  I didn't have their pictures hung in their room, Turbo was at doggie daycare for his Tuesday visit, and did I mention I hadn't packed a hospital bag!  Our doctor came in a few minutes later with a very somber look on her face.  She has a sarcastic jokey personality so this wasn't making me feel any better.  "Well it looks like you're having your babies today!"  "Ok so I'll run home and grab my hospital bag(I was obsessed with the hospital bag, I know) and get the dog to.." She stopped me.  "Stephanie you need to walk over to the hospital right now, someone else will have to get the bag and take care of the dog.  You need to call your family.  Baby B has no fluid left in his sack and we aren't sure why.  He also really hasn't grown since week 32."  I didn't hear much after that, just a laundry list of disabilities and disorders that she was pretty sure we had avoided.  There was no option of what kind of birth I would be having.  Dr. Delaney would be meeting us in the maternity ward and I would be prepped for a C-section.  

It all happened so fast.  Our families showed up and we figured out our arrangements for the next few days.  Mike told work he officially wouldn't be available for awhile and we called our closest friends to let them know today was the day.  I was taken into the OR without Mike at first so I could get numbed from the chest down and he could scrub in.  I had an unbelievable team taking care of me.  It felt like an eternity until Mike finally walked in and sat down beside my head.    Every part of it did feel like an out of body experience.  There was a mirror angled down from the ceiling across the room and I remember seeing our reflection but refusing to believe that it was us.  We couldn't already be here, about to have two little baby boys.  Dr. Delaney warned us that because of the C-section, the boys may not cry but not to be worried.  But then I heard it, a little scream and they lifted Campbell up over the curtain.  I've never felt the way I did the first time I saw him.  Then exactly one minute later, Mike heard "Well that explains it, the little guy tied a knot in his umbilical cord" and the teeniest little baby was lifted over the curtain. I saw Lukey for the first time and felt the rush of emotion again. Mike relayed what he heard our doctor say but I couldn't comprehend the humungous bullet we just dodged.

Campbell 5 lbs 6 oz

The day the boys were born, I saw them for a total of maybe 15 minutes.  They were taken out of the operating room almost immediately after birth, laying cozily next to each other in an incubator.  I was wheeled to the NICU in a hospital bed about an hour later to visit with my teeny guys.  The first time I touched them, I was allowed to hold them for a few minutes.  I could do skin to skin for a little with each but we all needed our rest.  They needed to be in their heated beds with many wires attached to monitors, keeping a close eye on their vitals.  Before we left, I kissed my hands and laid one on each of their heads.  I had to say goodbye for the night.  I could come back in the morning the nurses reassured me but for now Campbell and Luke needed to sleep and I needed to start pumping.

Lucas 4 lbs 7 oz

I didn't know it yet but we were about to embark on quite the journey in the NICU.  Learning the ins and outs of NICU babies and what that entails.  But at that moment, as we were taken to postpartum, we were happy.  Mike and I were finally Dad and Mom.