Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Traveling with twin toddlers in New Zealand
Lonnie was asked to go out of town this week. He thought the trip might extend though the weekend so he suggested that the kids and I come with him. If you have ever traveled with toddlers you know all the "stuff" that they require, car seats, cribs, highchairs, just to name the large items. But thankfully, here in New Zealand, it seems people think it is quite normal to have children. If fact they do all sorts of things to make it easy to travel with children.
The airline (Air New Zealand) let Lonnie and I sit next to each other on the flight even though we each had a lap child. They also had specail seat belt atachments for lap children. (Similar to the Baby B'air). Shortly after taking our seat the airline attendent brought us several children's books, crayons and paper. Max and Maya were thrilled to have new books to read, we didn't even open our own stash. A few minutes later she brought water and cookies for the babies, later she even brough lollipops and hand wipes. The twins were thrilled.
The car rental agency had car seats waiting for us at the airport. They were even willing to help install them.
The hotel had two pack and plays (travel cots) set up with clean sheets and blankets. They also provided us with two highchairs!
Most importantly, almost all of the hotels that we have stayed in while traveling in New Zealand have at least a mini kitchen and sometimes full kitchens (called self contained units) and a seperate bedroom with a door(called a family unit). This is huge for us because it means Max and Maya are taking good naps and Lonnie and I don't have to go to sleep at 7:30pm. Hooray for the Kiwis!
Oh....and I forgot to mention that when you check into a hotel they always give you a small bottle of milk. I asume the milk is for use in coffee of tea, but it is also very very nice for giving to toddlers.
The airline (Air New Zealand) let Lonnie and I sit next to each other on the flight even though we each had a lap child. They also had specail seat belt atachments for lap children. (Similar to the Baby B'air). Shortly after taking our seat the airline attendent brought us several children's books, crayons and paper. Max and Maya were thrilled to have new books to read, we didn't even open our own stash. A few minutes later she brought water and cookies for the babies, later she even brough lollipops and hand wipes. The twins were thrilled.
The car rental agency had car seats waiting for us at the airport. They were even willing to help install them.
The hotel had two pack and plays (travel cots) set up with clean sheets and blankets. They also provided us with two highchairs!
Most importantly, almost all of the hotels that we have stayed in while traveling in New Zealand have at least a mini kitchen and sometimes full kitchens (called self contained units) and a seperate bedroom with a door(called a family unit). This is huge for us because it means Max and Maya are taking good naps and Lonnie and I don't have to go to sleep at 7:30pm. Hooray for the Kiwis!
Oh....and I forgot to mention that when you check into a hotel they always give you a small bottle of milk. I asume the milk is for use in coffee of tea, but it is also very very nice for giving to toddlers.
Monday, April 26, 2010
kiwi word of the week
Clucky: The desire to have a baby.
American translation: Baby hungry.
Example: Those darling twins make me clucky.
American translation: Baby hungry.
Example: Those darling twins make me clucky.
Friday, April 23, 2010
binky, sus, dummy, the plug, sucky-do, baby mute button
I have a love-hate relationship with the pacifier. I love that they sooth babies (aka...help them sleep longer), but I also love seeing babies smile and babble, both of which are hindered by a pacifier.
When Max and Maya were born I didn't want pacifier use to hinder their ability to breastfeed so I had specific instructions in my birth plan that they were not to be given them in the hospital. So of course, the first time I saw them post c-section, they had pacifiers in their mouths.
Once the babies came home from the NICI I was so grateful for my sister Laura and my mom's help. I don't know what I would have done with out them. But, we were certainly at odds about the pacifier. At one point I gathered up all the pacifiers in the house (which some how magically multiplied) and put them in a plastic bag with the label "TO BE USED ONLY IN CASES OF EMERGENCY". Of course, I often came into the room to find one or both babies with a pacifier in their mouth. My mom would explain, "Max looked like he wanted to suck". Laura was much more brazen (as she tends to be, which I love) and would just roll her eyes and me and put a pacifier into a baby mouth. (It must also be mentioned that my mother-in-law, Patsy, also came to help out with the babies right after their stay in the NICU. While I'm quite certain she thought I was crazy she went along with all my new mother crazy ideas.)
After I was on my own with the babies (during the day, of course between 6pm-7:30am I also had Lonnie's help), I managed to keep them pacifier free for several months. I had been told by my pediatrician, La Leche League and lots of internet research that early introduction of a pacifier can interfere with establishing breasfeeding and I didn't want to risk any more complications.
The problem was that my babies already had problems with establishing breasfeeding. They weren't allowed to breastfeed in the NICU. I'd also had a c-section after my water broke but before I really went into labor, lowering my ability to produce milk. It took us four months of pumping and bottle feeding before Max and Maya finally decided to get their meals at the source. My friend Laurie (also a mother of twins) told me that her doctor told her to give her babies a pacifier to strengthen their suck. At that time I was desperate to do anything to improve their ability to nurse so I decided to give it a try.....and that is how we gave into the pacifier.
We started giving Max and Maya a pacifier during sleep time at about five or six months old. We would also occasionally give them their pacifiers during church or on long car rides. I must admit they were great. The baby fusses, you give them the plug and they calm down....everyone is happy.
The babies will be two years old next month and I am starting to think it is time to give them up
for good. In someways I will really miss them. I love that the moment that Max or Maya receive their pacifier they know it is time to snuggle. I also must admit that I like being able to pull them out when the babies are having a particularly whinny day and I am running out of patience. But I think the time has come. I'm a bit worried about their teeth and I am also worried that I haven't been able to find replacement pacifiers that Maya likes here in New Zealand and her pacifers are starting to get nasty even after various attempts at cleaning them.
Any ideas about how to get rid of pacifiers while maintaining sanity? I've heard about using the pacifier fairy (basically exchanging the pacifier for a toy) but I'm not sure that would work with kids this young.
When Max and Maya were born I didn't want pacifier use to hinder their ability to breastfeed so I had specific instructions in my birth plan that they were not to be given them in the hospital. So of course, the first time I saw them post c-section, they had pacifiers in their mouths.
Once the babies came home from the NICI I was so grateful for my sister Laura and my mom's help. I don't know what I would have done with out them. But, we were certainly at odds about the pacifier. At one point I gathered up all the pacifiers in the house (which some how magically multiplied) and put them in a plastic bag with the label "TO BE USED ONLY IN CASES OF EMERGENCY". Of course, I often came into the room to find one or both babies with a pacifier in their mouth. My mom would explain, "Max looked like he wanted to suck". Laura was much more brazen (as she tends to be, which I love) and would just roll her eyes and me and put a pacifier into a baby mouth. (It must also be mentioned that my mother-in-law, Patsy, also came to help out with the babies right after their stay in the NICU. While I'm quite certain she thought I was crazy she went along with all my new mother crazy ideas.)
After I was on my own with the babies (during the day, of course between 6pm-7:30am I also had Lonnie's help), I managed to keep them pacifier free for several months. I had been told by my pediatrician, La Leche League and lots of internet research that early introduction of a pacifier can interfere with establishing breasfeeding and I didn't want to risk any more complications.
The problem was that my babies already had problems with establishing breasfeeding. They weren't allowed to breastfeed in the NICU. I'd also had a c-section after my water broke but before I really went into labor, lowering my ability to produce milk. It took us four months of pumping and bottle feeding before Max and Maya finally decided to get their meals at the source. My friend Laurie (also a mother of twins) told me that her doctor told her to give her babies a pacifier to strengthen their suck. At that time I was desperate to do anything to improve their ability to nurse so I decided to give it a try.....and that is how we gave into the pacifier.
We started giving Max and Maya a pacifier during sleep time at about five or six months old. We would also occasionally give them their pacifiers during church or on long car rides. I must admit they were great. The baby fusses, you give them the plug and they calm down....everyone is happy.
The babies will be two years old next month and I am starting to think it is time to give them up
for good. In someways I will really miss them. I love that the moment that Max or Maya receive their pacifier they know it is time to snuggle. I also must admit that I like being able to pull them out when the babies are having a particularly whinny day and I am running out of patience. But I think the time has come. I'm a bit worried about their teeth and I am also worried that I haven't been able to find replacement pacifiers that Maya likes here in New Zealand and her pacifers are starting to get nasty even after various attempts at cleaning them.
Any ideas about how to get rid of pacifiers while maintaining sanity? I've heard about using the pacifier fairy (basically exchanging the pacifier for a toy) but I'm not sure that would work with kids this young.
Friday, April 16, 2010
sleeping beauties
There are few things I enjoy more than sneaking into Max and Maya's room to watch them sleep. Today I couldn't help but risk taking their photo. Thankfully they were so tired they didn't even move when the flash went off.
Max has a band-aid on his face because he was scratched by a cat at the park this week. He loves cats and dogs and can't help but kiss them on the face and hug them with both arms. Sometimes this makes the animals a little uncomfortable.
Max sleeps every night with a silky blanket that my great-grandmother Ethel Elliott Hight made for my sister. It somehow ended up at my house and I planned on giving it back to Aimee, but Max claimed it as his own. Max got his middle name from her, his great-great-grandmother.
The sweater Maya is wearing was mine when I was a little girl. I think it was bought in Colombia and worn by all my sisters and nieces. Maya's blankets were made by our friend Susan Combs, back in Katy, TX and my grandmother.
How could they not sleep soundly surrounded by so much love?
Max has a band-aid on his face because he was scratched by a cat at the park this week. He loves cats and dogs and can't help but kiss them on the face and hug them with both arms. Sometimes this makes the animals a little uncomfortable.
Max sleeps every night with a silky blanket that my great-grandmother Ethel Elliott Hight made for my sister. It somehow ended up at my house and I planned on giving it back to Aimee, but Max claimed it as his own. Max got his middle name from her, his great-great-grandmother.
The sweater Maya is wearing was mine when I was a little girl. I think it was bought in Colombia and worn by all my sisters and nieces. Maya's blankets were made by our friend Susan Combs, back in Katy, TX and my grandmother.
How could they not sleep soundly surrounded by so much love?
our kitchen
It is still a work in progress but here are the latest developments on the play kitchen at our house.
Friday, April 9, 2010
play kitchen
So, this is my most recent project, made with a lot of help from my kind neighbor Paul.
I've actually decided to make a couple play kitchens and sell them. I needed a creative outlet. I've bought four tables and I even bought my own jig saw. This specific play kitchen will go up on the New Zealand online auction site Trademe this week.
I've actually decided to make a couple play kitchens and sell them. I needed a creative outlet. I've bought four tables and I even bought my own jig saw. This specific play kitchen will go up on the New Zealand online auction site Trademe this week.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
sunday drive part 2: huia
My apologies to Andy Smith....good thing I didn't promise to not post any more photos of playgrounds next to the beach or beautiful scenery. Don't hate us because our life is beautiful, just join us.
easter
We celebrated Easter a day before our friends and family back in the states. We woke up Easter morning to a beautiful sunny day. The kids looked to eggs in the garden. Our neighbor Gus joined us and all the kids had their first ever egg hunt.
I was excited to find plastic eggs after searching in a couple different stores. I filled them with small toys from around the house....no one seemed to mind.
While I wasn't able to find jelly beans we did have our first taste of Pineapple Lumps...basically pineapple flavored marshmallow eggs covered in chocolate. Max particularly enjoyed them.
On Friday we dyed Easter eggs with food color, which came off on our hands during the egg hunt.
I made pancakes shaped (sort of) like bunnies and eggs which we ate along with some traditional Easter hot cross buns.
I was excited to find plastic eggs after searching in a couple different stores. I filled them with small toys from around the house....no one seemed to mind.
While I wasn't able to find jelly beans we did have our first taste of Pineapple Lumps...basically pineapple flavored marshmallow eggs covered in chocolate. Max particularly enjoyed them.
On Friday we dyed Easter eggs with food color, which came off on our hands during the egg hunt.
I made pancakes shaped (sort of) like bunnies and eggs which we ate along with some traditional Easter hot cross buns.
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