Tag: life with two

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Everything Else

Finding Dory

I don’t think we (& by we, I mean Lucy, Zach & I) have been anticipating anything like we have the sequel to Finding Nemo. Finding Nemo was a college weekend de-stressing, chill movie for me then when we got tired of ‘Let It Go’ing 5 times a weekend, we showed L&Z Finding Nemo very early on. We’d fast forward through the traumatic beginning & show them the sweet, poignant story of love between a father & son. Nemo, Marlin, the sharks & my favorite Dude Crush became staple names in our household & “hold my fin” is often said instead of holding hands for busy parks or walkways.

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As soon as we heard the Finding Dory release date, I had it down for June! We shared with Lucy & Zach the trailers & promotion photos, talked about what the new characters names might be & what they might do in the new film. I found Zach two Nemo & Finding Dory tops at Target & pre-ordered Lucy a Finding Dory KPea dress online. We were ready to go when I got the email that we were invited to see Finding Dory in 3D!
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Can you tell they were excited! They ran from poster to display to the aquarium (“Mommy, Nemo AND Dory are in there!”) & I had to corral them just to get into the theater.
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Speaking of, make sure when you go see Finding Dory, you get there a little early as the new animated short film Piper is absolutely precious.

PIPER – Concept Art by Jason Deamer (Production Designer). ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
PIPER – Concept Art by Jason Deamer (Production Designer). ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

I see Lucy & Zach searching for baby sea gulls on our next beach trip!

Glasses on, snacks in hand & we were ready for Dory! I was prepared for a few scary (for 4 year olds) parts of this film & was happily surprised that L & Z were not nervous a single time! A few jokes (as typical for Disney) went over their heads but Finding Dory is definitely in my opinion safe for the preschool age crowd.

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The new characters are darling & funny & perfect mix in with the return of beloved Finding Nemo characters. I might’ve squealed when my favorite guys were back on the big screen. Ellen DeGenereres comes back as the voice of Dory, with Albert Brooks back as Marlin & Nemo voiced by Hayden Rolence.

I asked Lucy & Zach their favorite part & Lucy all week has said Mommy, there were 3 Dorys while Zach corrects her that were were four then LOTS of Dorys! (Bless their hearts, all Blue Tang fish look alike to them 😛 ) Zach says he loved the octopus & Lucy said she also liked the cuddly otters. I loved how they focused this film on Dory’s story- from baby fish, to her meeting Marlin, Finding Nemo & then took them to current with her, Marlin & Nemo in the reef & Dory beginning to recall more of her past & wanting to find her family.

FINDING DORY – Hank is an octopus—or actually a "septopus": he lost a tentacle—along with his sense of humor—somewhere along the way. When Dory finds herself at the Marine Life Institute, a rehabilitation center and aquarium, Hank reluctantly agrees to help her navigate the massive facility. Directed by Andrew Stanton, "Finding Dory" opens on June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
FINDING DORY – Hank is an octopus—or actually a “septopus”: he lost a tentacle—along with his sense of humor—somewhere along the way. When Dory finds herself at the Marine Life Institute, a rehabilitation center and aquarium, Hank reluctantly agrees to help her navigate the massive facility. Directed by Andrew Stanton, “Finding Dory” opens on June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

We picked up the Finding Dory busy book at Costco this week & have been reading more about Hank, Destiny & Bailey & more! These guys had me laughing every time they were on screen.

FINDING DORY – Marlin and Nemo get guidance from a pair of lazy sea lions in an effort to catch up with Dory. Featuring Idris Elba as the voice of Fluke and Dominic West as the voice of Rudder, "Finding Dory" opens on June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
FINDING DORY – Marlin and Nemo get guidance from a pair of lazy sea lions in an effort to catch up with Dory. Featuring Idris Elba as the voice of Fluke and Dominic West as the voice of Rudder, “Finding Dory” opens on June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Of course, we had three seats & at one point all of us were cuddling in my lap. It was a late night for them & they did get a little sleepy but perked up for the end of the film. The story of family & what & who is your family was such a sweet message for me as a parent watching Finding Dory. I hope you go with your kids & enjoy it as much as we did!

Insider tip, stay until the end of the credits for a peek at old Finding Nemo friends too!

Since Lucy is all into coloring these days, here’s a few coloring sheets that will help get your little ones (even more) excited over seeing Finding Dory!

While we did get passing to see Finding Dory early on behalf of Disney Pixar, my review is honest & not persuaded by their kindness.

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Everything Else

Sesame Street LIVE!

The last weekend in May {after an awesome two prior weekends of birthday party fun & a long weekend at OIB with family ~ that I will post about soon}, Lucy & Zach’s minds were a little blown when we went to see Elmo & Abby & friends live!
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We had to buy four tickets, but Lucy was in such awe she wanted to sit in my lap the whole time. Zach bounced from Jason’s lap to his own seat between us to standing up dancing around.

While the kids missed the story line {Abby left her wand behind, Elmo cast a spell to make everyone sing which was fun until it wasn’t}, they loved all the singing & dancing. They thought it was amazing that the characters we have in books & see on TV were right there! And by right there I mean up on stage & just far enough back that L & Z weren’t afraid.
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To attempt to save us money, I brought goldfish & water in my diaper bag & I’d picked up some glow sticks & glow necklaces at the Target $1 section. L & Z thought those were fun & didn’t even seem to notice the other kids’ popcorn, $10 light toys & $20 stuffed animals.

But then during intermission, a guy came out with hundreds of double-sided Elmo & Cookie Monster balloons. Zach literally freaked shouting “Elmo! Balloon!” And we knew out plan to leave Sesame Street Live without souvenirs was foiled. $16 later, we had two over the moon toddlers {& thankfully two weeks later, those two balloons are still surviving}.
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We chose the right timing {1030a show} as we were home in time for lunch & an epic nap!

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Babies Motherhood

Final Breastfeeding Update

I’m calling it. I think my months & months (& months) of breastfeeding two then regularly one are done.

Zach hasn’t consistently nursed in months (March’s end of cosleeping/his crib sleeping & STTN ended our nightly bfing). The last couple months he’s nursed the occasional morning if he’s pulled into our bed, when he’s been home sick or one post-nap nursing session. Last Monday am was what I believe will be my last tandem feed ~ they woke up too early, husband brought them to me in bed when he left for work. And when they both asked for “Mommy?!” I obliged knowing bittersweetly this might be another end of an era. Z cracked me up fumbling a bit as of he’d kinda forgotten how & L acted as if this was a strange treat she wasn’t quite sure about. I thought about fumbling for my phone for a photo but decided to just live in the moment instead.

That evening L nursed on each side for less than a minute before asking for cuddles & bed. Same thing Tuesday, 1 min per side, quick sippy then bed.

No nursing from L for the past week. And this Tuesday night (the eve of her second birthday) as she sauntered on her own down the hall to her crib, she said over her shoulder in response to my asking about her sippy, “no. Finished. Cup. Sink.” Well, ok then.

In one weeks time, she’s gone from a combo of nursing & a sippy cup of organic whole milk before I carry her to bed to being done with pre-bed “mommy time”, sippies & walking herself to her crib!

If you need me, I’m in the corner with my slightly sore, very deflated (yet still rock star because hello 23 mos!) boobs. Both in awed wonder & sadness at the loss of my baby who’s suddenly a growing up toddler.

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Babies Motherhood

Potty Training {times TWO}

Two year ago if you’d asked if I would’ve let alone taken much less shared this photo below I would’ve been somewhat repulsed & laughed out laugh. Who takes photos of their kids’ pee?

Me! The mom who almost cried she was so happy & proud of her daughter’s first peeing on the potty, that’s who. {I’ve also taken – but not shared – multiple poop photos for doctors’ visits.}

After months of L & Z sitting on their little potties before we jump into the bath, Lucy peed {now two Monday nights ago}! She was kinda like oh what happened?! at first then she was so proud of herself as I clapped & shouted & hugged her! Zach jumped into the excitement too before I whisked their lil naked bums into the bath!

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Lucy’s first peepee in potty & proud girl after bath! 🙂

It hasn’t’ happened again since. But we haven’t been pushing potty training ~ just brought them potties in the bathroom that they’ll sit on fully dressed when I pee & then they sit naked before baths. We have potty books we now read & have watched an Elmo Potty DVD. I plan to get more into potty training this summer as they show more interest & successes.

Any potty training times two tips fellow multiples moms?!

Categories
Babies

Merino Kids Toddler Sleep Sack

I think all toddlers thrive on routines. I know mine do. And thus our bedtime routine goes like this almost without exceptions ~ after giving hugs & kisses all around, J & Zach go back to our room for his final pre-bed sippy cup of milk. Lucy & I hang out in the den to get her prepped for bed.

After one last book, L will say “sleep sack” & “mommy time”. Those are her code words for it’s time for her sleep sack & nursing with me. L gets her sack on & she knows it’s almost bedtime. She’s also begun asking for “sippy” cup of milk in between “side” {her word for wanting to nurse on the other breast}.

I’ve talked before {toddler must haves} {Halo sleepsack review} about our love for sleep sacks. And that hasn’t changed even as Lucy’s on the verge of being 2. Daycare does blankets for nap & L has asked for a blanket a time or two during weekend naps, but overnight, we do sleep sacks. While I have loved a fuzzy one for winter in the past, I was thrilled when I was recently contacted by Merino Kids in regards to trying out one of their organic cotton & merino wool toddler sleep sacks.
Merino Kids sleep sack packaging

I chose {& quickly received} their gorgeously packaged sleep sack in Honey Oat. This sleep sack is by far the softest & most luxurious one I’ve ever felt. The light brown is very gender neutral, so if Lucy will share it, Zach will be able to enjoy it too. The weight has been great for winter temps & yet will be light & cool enough to easily take us through spring & summer.

Bedtime Lucy Merino Kids sleep sack
Merino Kids sleep sack on, sippy in hand & paci/baby/bunny close by, Lucy was *ready* for bed!

I ordered the toddler size 2-4 years, so they could grow into this sleep sack. And as you can see, Lucy does have quite a bit of growing room! At this point, it’s a bit hard for her to walk in, but I typically carry my sleepy girl into her crib as well as pick her up and carry her into the den in the mornings as well. The length makes sure she has room to kick & roll in her crib as much as she wants at night.
Morning Lucy Merino Kids sleep sack

The Merino Kids sleep sack design has the zipper going from under the arm to the bottom of the sack all along the side. I really like the way you don’t have to be tugging at a zipper under the babe’s neck for a late night or early morning diaper change.

Merino Kids sleep sack Lucy & paci
check out this cool feature too ~ the Merino Kids sleep sacks are stroller & car seat friendly with the front & back flap for the latches!

I love this sack so much I’d put Lucy in our Merino Kids sleep sack every night if I didn’t occasionally have to wash it. 😛 And speaking of washing, the instructions that came in the pretty package recommended against putting the sleep sack in the dryer. So that’s kinda a bummer as I don’t have a ton of hanging space in my laundry closet. But so far, not drying has meant that this sleep sack doesn’t have any of the unsightly {& itchy} piling that can come with drying cotton fibers.

You can order a Merino Kids sleep sack from their babysleepbags.com link or Amazon where you’ll see that the price is a bit on the higher side, but like many things in life, you pay for superior quality & comfort. And if yours are like my Lucy and wearing a sleep sack on a nightly basis, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of the Merino Kids sacks.

I was provided a Merino Kids sleep sack at no cost to us for purpose of this review. I was not otherwise compensated & my opinions expressed are solely my own