Am I in the Amazing Race for Preggos?

You'd think, with all the 'stuff' we've already had to deal with, that at the very least, I could get my home in order. You'd THINK.


I feel like thee must be hidden cameras and a host in the background of my life tuning in at all time to listen to my ideas for what we need, following me around from store to store, and each time I head in one direction, the producers are calling ahead to the store to remove items from their shelves, place out of stock stickers on their hooks or otherwise trip me up with lack of service or lack of product to fit my needs. Then, as I somewhat contentedly pull into my parking spot, struggle to get out of the car without groaning, and waddle toward the front doors, the host voiceover must say something along the lines of "We've placed another roadblock in her path. With her babies due very soon, and her house in shambles, let's see how she handles this latest setback..."

No well, my friends, not well. Patience is wearing extremely thin these days. As of Friday, I will be at 33 weeks. Yes, that's still 7 weeks to term for a normal pregnancy, but folks...nothin' about this pregnancy has been normal.

Oh, and although the drywallers were supposed to be here taping and mudding today, of COURSE they were on another job and didn't show. Of course. Each day that passes, I grind my teeth down further and look at the chaos around me with growing anxiety. I hate living like this!

Sorry, sorry...what brought this on? The discovery of the best way to hang the nursery photos, and trips to three separate stores to get the number of hanging apparati necessary. Got enough to hang about 30% at one store, then ran out, and the other stores are out of stock. Just like the floating shelves I wanted were out of stock at IKEA, and just like the backup floating shelves I wanted at Home Depot were out of stock. And the list goes on. Sigh.

But I'll get over it, and in the meantime, I am sure I won't win the race, 'cause I just don't have the disposition right now, but once they edit the footage, it'll be a highly amusing show, to be sure. Once I find out who's producing the show and when it will air, I will let you know when to tune in...

It all starts here...Ready, set, GO!

So yeah...it almost feels like this week is when the pregnancy was all of a sudden 'legitimate' and we hit the ground running.  We have an immense amount to do, but more than that...to learn!  Tomorrow marks our first of three multiple birthing classes, and ready or not (especially for my husband), we're gonna be exposed to all sorts of new things - and likely images - and all of a sudden, it's going to be very REAL, you know?  It's friggin' exciting...

Also, we've decided on a number of items for the babies - our little girls - and are entirely confused over many other decisions to be made. That is where my mommy friends and readers will hopefully weigh in.  You will see that I have added a tab here on this blog called the wish list that is, essentially, going to act as a 'registry in progress', starting out as a list of what we THINK we want, transition based on feedback into final decisions as to the list of must haves, and then become the 'official' registry.  So...baby mommas out there, sharpen your editing skills and help a girl out!

Hoping to get a number of items up on the list tonight, but please feel MORE than free to make suggestions for this hapless new mommy to be of twins in advance of the lists - any help is welcomed, and links to the products you are recommending are even better!

Things to keep in mind:

• We have a small home with limited storage, but we are having twins.  How the heck can we avoid getting two of everything, and where are there opportunities to pick up 2, 3 and 4-in-one convertible items
• Although I hate pink, I know we will put pink physically ON the little ladies, however the nursery will be decorated in white with white furniture and bright, saturated coloured photos and hopefully blankets, crib sheets etc. If you know where I can get crib sheets n stuff that isn't pastel and filled with little cartoon characters, let me know!
• We know what stroller we want and what car seats we want, but the rest is up for debate.  Please debate - it will help us be certain of what we want!

So yeah.  New carpets are now on order, paints have been researched and will be purchased soon, and ya know...stuff is happening!

Time CANNOT move fast enough!

How do you even describe your excitement when you know that in less than 4 days, you might find out the gendre of your twins?  Girls? Boys? One of each? 

ARGH - I can't WAIT!

Today was such a great day.  Our garden is looking amazing, and our first 'discovery' trip to the baby shop (KiddyTown on St. Laurent - highly recommend) garnered quick and informed decisions on what baby seats we want, what playpen we'd like to get, and most importantly...we found an incredible double stroller option that sets to rest all my to-ing and fray-ing about what the hell to get!

So what are we getting (in case other Mom's are reading and need this info)?

The stroller - The City Select from Baby Jogger
The car seats - Graco Snug Ride 35
The playpen - Graco Pack & Play (can't find exact one online - but you get the picture - has the high adjustment, the change tray etc...)

Now...onto furniture - two cribs and likely one big dresser with a change tray/pad option etc...suggestions welcome - cheap but awesome is best...and modern.  None of this traditional turns into a wooden bedframe stuff....

Oh GAWD ... three days away.  So COOL!

When did you find out? Did you wait, or find out and why? What was it like and what was your reaction?

And the panic starts to set in

So much to do.  Oh my gawd.  So much to buy, paint, renovate!  Started a little group to help try share info as we research where the heck to buy the best items for twins.  It's not so straightforward, ya know?  We don't need a cool stroller, we need a crazy tank of a system that is gonna work for two!  We don't need a playpen, we need a full-on baby station for the main floor so that we don't have to drag two babies up and down the stairs constantly for changes!

And yes, at 17 weeks, I am almost 1/2 way to the normal delivery time for twins, so Momma is getting a bit antsy!

Time to get busy!

Got suggestions?  Know great resources?  In the Ottawa area and expecting (or already have) twins?  Let me know here!!!

Shopping GOLD!

All the ladies will understand this.

There are days when we trudge out to the shopping malls, with a mental list of the 'I really need's and everything is wrong.  So wrong that your ego takes a beating and each and every attempt to find something flattering or fun fails miserably and you quit the mall at closing time having picked up something for someone else, or some sort of accessory just to make you feel a little less like a torn-down, used-up and misshapen.

And then there are days of shopping GOLD, like I experienced yesterday.  The kind of day when you even find MORE than one bra that fits, which is like some sorta freaky miracle.  A CHOICE of bras to buy? Really? Is someone playing a trick? 

But seriously.  I had to put multiple pieces back yesterday because I could have come home with a new wardrobe - everything I tried on looked great and it was hard not to go overboard.  Talk about energizing!

What did I end up with?  Well, a pair of those cool new ortho runners for $6 (used a credit note), two free tops from Winners (used a gift card), pair of pinstripe dress pants and bra at 40% off (second item on sale), and at the final shop, I put back about half my choices but came away with two pairs of pants and another 4 tops - for only $200. 

Crazy good shopping day and days ahead where I feel good because I look good.  Win-win situations rock.

What's the best deal you've gotten lately, or the best success you've had? Got pix? (my camera lense is wrecked, so none from me....)

Shopping as therapy

So, will spending $14,000 on kitchen upgrades help me through all this? Hey, we'll see! Met with Home Depot tonight to discuss how I can keep from either a) pulling all my hair out due to the headache I get when I look at my old kitchen, which is overrun with things we can't find places for or b) setting a bomb for distruction as a way of just 'taking care of it'...

So yeah...new, shiny granite and a little cool storage as therapy for a broken heart? Might work, right?

Worth a bloody try, I say!

Sundays, Sunshine and Shopping

What a great day! Found some clothes for both hanging out and heading to work, which I desperately needed, and while getting there, had the sunroof open and the music on, and loved every minute of it. Now I have BBQ burgers to look forward to - have I mentioned that I have a wicked husband (albeit a hungover one)?

I wish this day could go on for a full week or more. I wish I wish I wish. But just 'cause I wish it, doesn't make it so, does it?

Shopping as a balm to sooth...

Okay. Stepping out to look for furniture, buy a new rug, make changes to the home. Love it. LOVE. IT.

I know a lot of people don't love shopping, but I do, and boy, can it ever make you forget a bad mood or something in your life you don't want to think about. So here's to the soothing medicine that is shopping, people! Yay for new stuff! (Thank god I have a bit of control over it, or else there'd be trouble!)