A little Hi, Hello.

Another wretchedly hot fall/summer day in Arizona. (Oh mid-west, hang on for me, I'm coming home!) When it cooled down last evening, Brad and Darby decided to tool around on Darby's Gator. I didn't think I'd come outside to find this, but alas, my husband fits in that car about as well as Darby does.

Brad's currently house hunting and we'll be purchasing our first home by the end of the month. I am crazy excited! I can't wait to finally be able to decorate and to do what I damn well please! I can't wait to have a backyard that the boys and the dogs can run around in! More importantly, I can wait for all this to happen out of Arizona! YAY! I've already got so many ideas for the boys' rooms and I'm anxious to get started. Speaking of the boys:

Daniel with a rare smile. Creighton, chunk-a-monk.

Hangin' on the boppy. Daniel wasn't particularly enjoying tummy time but is waving to the camera in the 2nd shot.

Mr. Bright Eyes, Creighton. Daniel, our little Monkey.

They are getting so damn big! I can barely stand it. What happened to these tiny little 4 lb. babes? Now they're pushing up and rolling over and giggling and smiling, not to mention constantly cooing. *sigh*

Brad called me a few minutes ago about houses and it seems he might have found "the one." The basement needs finished and I would definitely want to put new cabinets in because, holy crap, I don't do the retro look in the kitchen, but it's got everything we want with room to spare. We'll see though. Two more days of hunting left and I don't want to jump on anything the first day.

Granola Mommy

So I'm being a hippy again.

I've decided to go back to cloth diapering like I did with Darby. I don't like it and I really love the idea of taking a poopy diaper off of a bum and chucking it in the Diaper Champ, but the boys' diaper areas are constantly red and I think they've got sensitive skin like their big brother and Daddy. I just don't see another alternative that makes a lot of sense. Thank God I kept all of Darby's cloth diapers. Kissaluvs and Fuzzi Bunz are expensive! Now if I can just find the handful of Snappi's I bought for the pre-folds. Hmm...

In other news, I'm trying desperately to build my milk supply up. It's ridiculous, really. I knew I'd have problems with supply after having my thyroid ablated but I'm starting to get pretty upset by it. I nursed Darby for 15 months (when he was FINALLY ready to wean) and I feel like a failure not being able to solely breastfeed them both without relying on formula part of the time. I haven't tried Goat's Rue yet but I've started taking blessed thistle and fenugreek and drinking mother's milk tea like crazy. If time would allow, I might be able to get some extra pumping sessions in, too. Thank God we're moving back in a few weeks and it won't be a big deal to go to my mother-in-law's and have her help me get the boys back on track. Do you know what a blessing it is to have your mother-in-law employed as a maternity nurse and a certified lactation consultant? It's even nicer that my own mother is a nurse at a family practice. When I finally get my degree, we'll be the trifecta! HA!Anyway, bed is calling my name and I am dreading getting up 5 1/2 hours from now. Sir Darby is getting his molar worked on tomorrow as it cracked due to a malformation. A 3 yr. old on valium and nitrous oxide should be a blast. I'll let you know.

30 Days....

until we move. Can you believe it? In preparation for this insane little adventure we're taking, I've begun mapping out our route (yeah, we're driving. Psycho much?) and getting a list together of things I should probably purchase before the great escape out of Arizona. This is going to be the last road trip we take for awhile I would assume, since you'd have to be nuts to do this for fun with 3 children, so we're definitely going up to the Canyon and definitely taking Route 66 back. I'm so excited despite the daunting task of minding 3 little guys on the road! Route 66 is so historic and has the cutest little towns and shops and diners along it. Even though I despise Rachael Ray, I do get her magazine every month and there was actually a road trip article about Rte. 66 a few issues ago. I'll have to check it out.

So, I'm thinking I'm going to need to buy one of those nifty backseat organizers, a 2nd carrier like our Graco one since that it just so much easier to put on than a Moby wrap, some glass bottles, a car charger for my pump, some travel toys to keep everyone (especially los bebes) engaged, and a few other really random but really-awesome-oh-my-God-I-have-to-have-it necessary.

For instance; Oopsy Daisy No-Rinse Shampoo and Bubble Bath and the Slurp 'n Burp!

The Oopsy Daisy stuff is plant based so you just squirt it on, rub it in, wipe it off, and voila! Clean baby! I figure it will be especially useful for when we're out and about and have to stop somewhere for lunch or whatever and the kids decide to decorate with sweet potatoes and such. I know Darby always thought baby food belonged everywhere except his mouth. The Slurp 'n Burp is especially crazy-cool. I have a Hooter Hider and it's a gorgeous print and has a built in burp rag and yadda yadda but everyone knows what you're doing under it. I don't so much mind people knowing that I'm breastfeeding, but I do like the idea of being a little more discreet. The blatant gawkers that look like they're trying to figure out what's going on under the big tent at the boob circus gets a little old. This travel spoon from One Step Ahead is also pretty wicked. How handy is that?

Advice to new moms

As I peruse other blogs I notice more and more moms buying their brand new babies outfits that are insanely expensive. Why?! Why are you doing that?!?! With our first, we stuck to Carter's and even a few inexpensive Target and Wal-Mart buys here and there because they were what we could afford at the time. Now that Brad's got a great paying job and we make more than enough for me to stay at home, I still rarely buy the boys expensive clothing (save for what they might where for our family pics or something that's too much of a deal to pass up). Besides the spit up factor, there is a much more important reason for doing this. It's called poop, and that fantastically cute and expensive garment you just threw onto your child for the day is going to get sloshed in it by sun down.

Case in point: I have a few cute sleepers that I bought from Old Navy a few weeks ago. Normally, I wouldn't have done it because a.) we turned Darby into such a clothes whore when he was a baby that we have more than enough for quads if we wanted and b.) they're about $5 more expensive than I like to spend. The arm twister was that they were 40% off, adorable, and cheaper than the sleepers I had planned on buying. Now, three of them are still in really good shape. But the lightest colored one (not to mention the cutest one by default since it's covered in monkeys) has since become a baby wipe as of it's very first wearing. Daniel had it on for all of 10 minutes before he pooped up to his neck and doused his brand new jammies. Damn it! There is no getting the mustard yellow breast milk poop stain out of those and thus they are pushed to the back of the drawer and I'm just glad I didn't pay full price for them. RIP cute little monkey jammies. RIP.

Moving!

*sigh*

I knew this would happen. First twins, now moving, and my blog has fallen to the way side. I'm trying! I really am!

Our family has been anxiously awaiting the ok for a transfer back closer to home from this wretched state and we FINALLY got our wish. Unfortunately, we are expected to pack up and move all three children and all three puppy friends in a cross country move in 1 month. Also included in this task is having to find a house to buy and ready to move into by the first of November. Possible? Doubtful. But we're going to try anyway. Ohio, here we come. Ready or not.

Baby Craze

I'm in big trouble.

I, Sarah, have become obsessed. I've become a web stalker.

Why oh why oh why did I have to become aware of Baby Steals, Mama Bargains, and Tottlers?!?!?!?! It's driving me mad!!!!!!

All 3 of these sites bring high quality and fairly expensive products to the table at anywhere from 20% to 80% off! SERIOUSLY. Right now, Mama Bargains has $380 BabyStar crib bedding (flat sheet, crib skirt, and bumper) for $90. This afternoon, they had $30 Miyim organic stuffed animals for $10. Are you doing the "I'm emptying my savings as I read" jig yet? They've also had Timmy and Leslie and Fleurville diaper bags, Red Castle Whizzes, and Sonoma Lavendar sets for Mama's only. I'm wiping away drool daily with this stuff but have yet to make a purchase. I'm waiting for the OMG I HAVE TO HAVE IT product.

Tottlers hasn't impressed me thus far, but I've only seen two of the products they've had to offer. They were mediocre at best (i.e. Dr. Seuss onesies) and for not that much of a price change but I'm hopeful I'll find something on there soon.

Baby Steals, however, got their first order from me this morning after I freaked over the Bumble bags they had up for grabs. I bought this gorgeous set after reading up on it and realizing that I was getting it cheaper by $130 anywhere else on the web. With shipping, it cost me $79and now I can replace my kinda drab Vera bag. Cute and comfy,don't get me wrong, but I've got it in the classic black (before it retired in January) and it just doesn't pop for me. This pretty blue is girly enough for me but not too femme so that it's good for toting around boy stuff. Oh! So cute! Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, it comes with the stroller straps and two snack bags usually sold seperately that are DISHWASHER safe. Mmm Hmm..you heard me. I wish everything was dishwasher safe.

Coffee Obsession and Fall

It's fall which means there is coffee deliciousness all around me. Yeah, we're in Arizona but that doesn't mean I won't enjoy all the flavors of the season in 110 degree weather! It's once again time for pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks! Let the stampede commence! Fall also means delicious new creamer flavors in the grocery. So far, I've collected the pumpkin spice (for those mornings where I just can't get myself out of bed for the Bux) and chocolate mint truffle (to die for, by the way). I'm pretty sure this is why I love fall and winter so much....Or it could be the smell, the caramel apples at the Conner Prairie Apple Store, or the fact is that it always makes me feel goopy and lovey since this is right around the time I met Brad. I am practically beside myself that we're moving back east in time to go to the pumpkin patch and pick apples and enjoy a change in seasons!