A Twins Mom-to-Be Wish List

New Year - New Babies!

I have recently learned of two families I know who are now expecting twins in May and June, so this year is going to a spectacular and memorable year for them for sure.  I'm very excited for them!

So today I am going to focus on what I think every twins' mom should be equipped with before getting home from the hospital and additional items to be on the lookout for after they come home.  I'm also going to explain why.

You won't need double of every kind of toy or piece of equipment, but sometimes 2 of the bigger, every day items might save your sanity.

2 carseat/carriers

This is an obvious one, but if you don't plan ahead you will realize how expensive carseat carriers and the whole combo sets can be!  My advice is to do your research, watch for sales and when family asks what they can buy, you should make sure to ask for assistance with these items, which you'll use every day.

1 twin stroller (different than a double stroller)

There is a "twin" stroller and there is a "double" stroller.  When shopping around, find out if you're looking at  a twins style or a double.  Some brands will say "Twin" stroller, but look closely and see what the real details are and how they will or will not work for twins.  The reason I suggest this is because a true twin stroller will usually have the same size seats for the babies/children and the double stroller usually has one smaller unit and one larger, enabling only one carseat to be clicked in for daily use.  For example, it might be referred to as a 60/40 split.  The bigger kid goes on the 60 side (up to 60 lbs.) and the smaller kid goes on the 40 side (up to 40 lbs.)  In this style you cannot click two baby carseat carriers into it.  That is not what you want to have happen as a mother to twins and you don't want to find out after you fall in love with the style or buy it that it doesn't even work for your needs.  That would be a very expensive mistake!

I personally have 2 twin tandem strollers, which is the type on which the seats are one in front of the other.  I call one my "winter beater" because it's a little older and I'm willing to allow it to get all salted up and dirty from the winter weather and slushy parking lots.  The spring/summer stroller will hopefully stay in clean and "pretty" condition for a few years.  The kind of strollers we have are the Peg Perego Duette and Duette 2.  I was able to find both of these strollers for $100.00 and $150.00 on online classifieds ads.  This is a far cry from the minimum $850.00 for a brand new Peg Duette!! Yikes!

The beauty of the tandem style is that you will more than likely have no problem getting through doctor's office doorways, mall doorways, down aisles in tight stores and so on.  Additionally, you can get tandem brands that allow you to setup the seats in three ways. 1. Both babies facing away from mom/dad 2. Both babies facing mom/dad or 3. Babies facing inwards, looking at each other.  I personally enjoy my twins facing each other so they can interact and keep each other occupied.  I am sure when they are older I will be facing them away from each other on days they are fighting or having tantrums.

When the twins are babies, the tandem stroller will accomodate both infant carseat carriers.

  

You will also become an expert at manoeuvring that sucker in no time!   People will probably stare at you in awe as you come down the mall or hall.  The one thing these tandems don't have is a back up beeper signal, which I really think they should have!  They have them on mini-vans, so why not gigantic strollers too??  You do need room to back up and turn, but with patience you'll figure out how to do it like an expert in no time.

The triple stroller is another story and if you have to go the route of a triple stroller, don't be surprised if you feel like you're on exhibit as onlookers' eyes bug out as you pass by.

**I don't recommend the most current versions of Peg Perego, which have "steering wheels" (see above pic) to move the front wheels.  I used the triple mentioned above of this brand as well, and it was impossible to turn the wheels all the way to make tight turns.  The wheels are only able to turn so far and do not swivel like the older models do.  I really do recommend getting a gently used older model that allows for all of the wheels to turn a full 360 if needed. 

2 High Chairs
I recommend a full sized high chair versus getting the type you attach to a kitchen table or a booster seat.

What I like about the free standing/full sized high chairs are they are spacious for the baby, they have a large tray/eating surface, they have a 5 point harness (at least you should try to get a 5 point harness,) they can recline 2-3 positions, they adjust up or down in height.

The booster seat or table attachment chairs cannot compare to the above.  We used the full sized chairs for our twins' first 17 months.  During that time we could adjust each baby's chair for their specific needs.  For example, one of the twins didn't have very good neck control when he first went into the highchair, so we could recline him to a comfortable position so he wouldn't struggle to drink his bottle.  You can't do that with a booster or attachable chair.  They don't recline.

We have the Fisher Price Rainforest Healthy Care High Chairs and I love them.  They are easy to clean.  The seat cushion comes off very easily and can be thrown in the washer with the harness and hung to dry without losing shape.

4 bassinets
I suggest 2 bassinets in mom and dad's room and 2 on the main floor where you will probably spend most of your time.  This will be a huge time saver for you, as you will not have to run up and down the stairs all day long when they wake or cry.

2 or more playpens
We used one playpen in our household and had an extra playpen at each grandparents' home.  Our twins were able to take their naps in a shared playpen--they didn't need each need a playpen.

1 or 2 swings
I would suggest starting with one swing and seeing if each baby will even like a swing.  I know many babies don't end up enjoying the swing and it becomes a very large dust collector.  We had one swing from our first child and we did end up getting a hand-me-down swing, which was in perfect condition.  Our babies loved the swing.

1 Exersaucer
This is an item, which I didn't see a need for two.  By the time the babies can go into an Exersaucer, they are most likely bigger and a little more independent.  Both babies will not necessarily want to do the exact same thing or even care if they do.  We would usually put one baby in the Exersaucer and the other in the Jumperoo if we needed some free hands time.

1 Jumperoo
See above.

1-2 Tumzees

What is a Tumzee?  It's a fairly new, Canadian product, that is meant for assisting with the development of a baby's upper body strength (shoulders, arms, necks.)  It's an addition to regular tummy time.  Many babies hate being on their tummies during a period when it is very important for their development.  Our babies, given that they were so premature, needed all the help they could get with this area of development.  They spent the majority of their first 3 to 3.5 months on their backs or sides and very rarely on their tummies.  We had a lot of catching up to do and the Tumzee helped.  It can get babies eye level up to the area of their toys dangling off the playmat, for example, and that can begin to interest them in holding their heads up and using their arms to do so.

2 Bumbos

I love the Bumbo! I think it one of the best recent baby inventions!  Since it helps children sit before they are technically at an age they can do it on their own, it is a really big help for preemie babies (as long as they are at a point they can hold their own heads up.)  You can take the Bumbo when you're on the go and easily put it in your trunk and use it at the park for picnics or where ever you won't have a proper high chair.  Until the grandparents were able to get enough high chairs for the twins we would often take at least one Bumbo with us when we visited. The tray you can attach is also a great accessory to have for playtime or eating time.

2 interactive playmats

At first your babies will most likely fit on one playmat together fine, but as they grow it will become more awkward and a fight for the babies to reach for toys they want.  I ended up getting a second playmat when they were obviously too big to share one.

Dozens of receiving blankets
When you think of twin babies think double the spit up, double the mess and double the need for blankets/burp cloths and the like.  You will have much less time for laundry, which is the reason I say you will need dozens of receiving blankets (I didn't use burp cloths--too small.)

4-6 sleepsacs
For example: Back to Sleep or Grobag. Depending where you live, you may want to have the light weight ones and some heavier weight sleepsacs.  It will also depend when the twins are due to be born.  If they will be born spring-summer, then I would suggest having 4 light weight sleepsacs and maybe 2 heavier/bigger ones, which can be grown into in the fall/winter and vice versa.

The Back to Sleep brand in particular offers the choice of being able to bundle the baby.  You can easily put the baby in the sleepsac, zip the baby in, then wrap a matching piece of material around the back and tummy to bundle the baby snug, which secures with some velcro.  This was a nice feature in the early days and a big time saver if you're not good at getting a nice tight bundle on your own with a receiving blanket.  The other bonus is that it can't unravel when the baby shifts and moves about, as a receiving blanket probably would.  If you end up living in a NICU for a while, you'll probably have the process of bundling a baby with a blanket down pat, and the baby will probably be snug as a bug.  Either way the sleepsac is quick and easy and I loved them.

Diapers
Tonnes and tonnes of diapers.  Again, when people begin to ask what can they help you with/buy for your twins on the way or once they've arrived, ask for help with diapers.  Whether the gift is actual boxes of diapers or gift cards to the bulk store or grocery stores/pharmacies.

Bibs...many...many...many!! 

We had about 60 bibs in the early days, especially when they were bottling and learning to eat new foods.

I could go on and on I am sure, but these are the main things I recommend without thinking about it too much. 

Communication in the NICU: The Blue Ivy Incident

If you're not up to date on the news events over the last few days, let me update you: Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby, Blue Ivy is born!  In like a lion and out like a lamb, is a common phrase that seems fitting.  In comes little baby Blue, loud and proud--Divalicious!  She was discharged and made a quiet exit from hospital today.  Her name is splashed all over the news and tabloids, Twitter lit up as soon as Apple's mommy, Gwyneth sent out her very rare tweet that Blue had arrived.

A newly renovated maternity ward just for Blue and mom.  A unit shut down for one lady and her infant and the crew that comes with them. A battalion of security ready to take down the first NICU parent wanting access to their child that happened to dare be born or moved to the same hospital as baby Blue.  A new family trying to shelter their newborn from reality?

It's hard to imagine anyone having the ability or the audacity to attempt to manipulate multiple parents and staff members of a hospital in order to have privacy.  Have you ever heard of pulling the curtain or shutting the door for privacy?  I'm not sure what makes a starlet so much more important than the average Joe and his wife, that a hospital would see it fitting to close a maternity ward and cordon off areas when the Carters wanted to escort family through the corridors or go get some crushed ice in the kitchen.

Another thing that makes no sense is, if the NICU was on the 6th floor of the hospital and Ms. Knowles was labouring and delivering on the 4th floor, why would the Carters' security be hovering around the 6th floor, where they really had no business being? It all sounds fishy...Maybe she was in a high risk delivery room on the 6th floor at the time of delivery? Who knows?

An idealist at heart, I'd like to think that the Carters had the decency and respect to keep to themselves and not worry what was going on outside their labour and delivery room.  I hope they would not put any additional stress on any new mother or father, given that the experience of having a baby is stressful and scary enough, let alone having premature babies or ill babies having to stay in a NICU. 

Unfortunately, I do think there is some truth to the matter.  It sounds like there was a lack of communication, yet again.  It seems only reasonable that the NICU management, the hospital management and anyone that oversees policy and allows this type of situation to take place, would also ensure all those involved are advised and kept in the loop.  If the hospital staff was preparing the details on Friday before Beyonce's grand arrival on Saturday, they had at least 12 hours or so to put up notice in the hospital hallways, by the NICU entrance, in the waiting rooms and anywhere else a piece of paper and tape can be stuck, to inform anyone that cared that there would be some unusual circumstances that may cause certain areas of the hospital to be inaccessible for short periods of time.  The NICU manager could have called a couple of impromptu meetings inside the unit to advise the parents in order to avoid any shock and surprise.

When we had our second NICU stay with our preemie twins, the hospital would post signs as soon as they could if something unusual was expected to happen.  For example, we were advised about 1 week in advance that the floors of the NICU family room were going to be buffed and polished, and therefore we would not have access to the family room for about 12 hours. Something this simple was communicated.  Why?  The NICU management were aware that sudden change or unexpected things can be frustrating for families who are already dealing with a very frustrating and tumultuous time.  Little inconveniences can add up when you feel like your world is falling apart to begin with.

These are the details and the feelings that perhaps the Carter family didn't have the forethought or knowledge to be aware of.  It was the responsibility of hospital management to think like a NICU parent would and think like any mother in labour would and ensure a positive outcome for all.  If the Carter family wanted privacy and discretion, well they certainly failed at that!

Where did communication fail?

The Carters - It seems they didn't ask or care to ask questions about how their presence would impact other families just like themselves or families who are in the hospital under different circumstances.

The Hospital - It seems, like I said, that they didn't paint a very good picture to the Carters as to how their circus would inevitably cause disruption and potential trauma to the families who have unwell children or even the families who had or are having uncomplicated deliveries.  The hospital seems to have made several exceptions to several rules and they should have flipped it back on the Carters when it came to certain situations--such as continuing to allow NICU parents in and out privileges to the NICU as usual.  The families of NICU babies may be experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  A NICU parent's state of mind can be very fragile after experiencing a premature delivery, the loss of a spouse, terrible complications and so on.  So to throw in unnecessary roadblocks to accessing the NICU would only heighten some NICU parents' emotions and potential inability to cope.

The Complainant, Mr. Coulon - It seems, rather than approach the NICU manager or the hospital management or a patient advocate, he approached a news reporter.  Perhaps this was a fatal error on his part, because now he has many people questioning the legitimacy of his claims.  Why wouldn't a ticked off father stomp down the hall to the NICU management office?  Why wouldn't he call the actual hospital security to address the situation? Maybe he wasn't in the right state of mind at first, because really, I would be shocked too if some big security guy approached me and told me I can't get through.  The bottom line is this upset parent chose not to address it with the correct people and made the issue public, thus making his family's hospital stay and the Carters' hospital say one for the record.  After his second block, and time to think about this situation, he should have asked to speak to someone to resolve the situation or hear him out. 

Here I am, way up in Canada, and I can tell you he should have called the Patient Relations Department to speak to a Patient Representative who is available to help resolve any concerns and problems related to care, explain hospital policies and procedures, and answer questions patients/families may have regarding Health Care Proxies.  It is located in the main lobby of the hospital or people can call the department at extension 42095.   Given the fact they are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m and the issue seems to have started on the weekend, his next step could have been to call Ext. 42468 and ask to have the hospital's nursing supervisor on duty paged. I found this information in seconds on the hospital's website...way up here in Canada...

The breakdown or lack of communication always winds up ending with a lot of finger pointing, name calling and failure to accept responsibility.  There is also nothing worse than a complainer who hasn't tried to think of a resolution to the problem or doesn't address it in an appropriate way.  Like I said, I'm an idealist. 

In the long run, it would be nice to see these three parties come together, pose for a picture and shake hands and make peace.  It would also be nice to see Jay-Z donate the proceeds of his new single about his new little bundle of joy to the NICU, which just might need a nice facelift, new equipment or a freshen up too.

Bring on 2012!

2011 is just wrapping up.  It has been a great year, with many highs and only a few lows.  I started my first blog this year and have been having a great time. 

The question, "What was the best part of 2011?" has been flying around and I'd have to say, having my amazing family to spend every day with!  This leads me to my "New Year's Resolutions," which happens to be summed up on an awesome picture I found at a favourite store yesterday...

January 1st, 2012 is the day the twins turn 20 months old, so Happy 20 Months to my boys!  To my family, friends and readers, I hope you have a healthy and happy 2012! Happy New Year!

Christmas Spirit

I am getting this blog post in just under a month since my last posting.  It has been a chaotic month with lots of changes, mostly for the better, but a stressful time.

Now that most of the stress is behind us I can focus on my favourite time of the year. Christmas!  When it comes to Christmas I really do have a lot to be thankful for and I often think of the families that have children in hospital during this time.  I am very glad we didn't have to experience our hospital stays during the Christmas season, as I feel that would have been an even harder period to get through.  The NICU experience is hard enough, but to throw holidays or special times into the mix would be hard.

One thing I do know from speaking to families that delivered babies during the holidays and those that have spent it in the hospital or NICU, is that the hospitals do try to make the experience as positive and special as possible for the families there.

Hospitals always have amazing volunteers and donors sending in monetary gifts, quilts, blankets, baby caps, booties, toys and other special items for the children in the hospitals over the season.  If you have a Christmas baby you are more than likely to receive a little bit of extra special attention because it is often a quieter time on the hospital wards.

I have seen and heard of great things sent into NICUs.  Special care packages for the mom or dad or babies in the hospital.  Cute onesies or hats made by donors.  One very cute onesie I've seen says, "Ho Ho Home please," which I think is too cute.  I've seen some adorable knitted Santa hats made for little preemie or termie babies.  I am confident that a mother seeing one of these cute little items on their baby would feel extremely happy and well-supported by the kindhearted strangers that felt her family needed to feel like it is a special time regardless of the fact they are in the NICU.  I only wish I had an amazing talent like knitting or crocheting, so that I could do something like this.  Maybe one day...when life is less chaotic (will that ever be?)

Today we returned to our twins' first homebase and visited some NICU staff and dropped off a gift for two babies.  We were told they'd probably go to a family with new twins, as there are a couple sets in the unit now, but they may go to two single babies, which is fine with us.  These are the times I wish I had a million bucks (or two) so that I could outfit every deserving, cute little preemie and termie in the NICU and hopefully give their families that boost of support that I know they need.  I think I am concocting a plan in my head already for next year...

Following our NICU visit we got to catch up with some of our "Home away from home" friends, who visited us in their comfy Family Room in the hospital.  It is amazing how such a trying time can bring out new friendships and tight bonds that hopefully will last a lifetime.  During this visit I was talking about our children's amount...or mountain...of toys that continues to grow and grow and how I've asked that friends and family not give the gift of toys for our children's Christmas.  Some people have looked at me like I'm looney or Mrs. Scrooge, but the point I make is that our kids have lots of toys to play with and the money could be better spent elsewhere...whether it's a donation to a NICU, Labour & Delivery ward, an infant development program, centre for child development, family and children's services, etcetera., etcetera. There are lots of great places money or gifts can be directed to.  When we were living at the Ronald McDonald House our family was showered with kind gifts and surprises for our sons and it only seems right that I focus attention on this constant need to ensure that families of today and tomorrow continue to get the support and brighter days because of unexpected, fun surprises during what can be a dark and scary time.

Now is a great time of year to pick a new cause and provide a donation to it.  If you can't afford a monetary donation, you can donate your time, your skills, your hobbies and put your own personal stamp on the way you choose to help out.  The best part is that whatever method you choose there will always be a smiling and thankful person at the other end.  This is what I believe is the meaning of, "Christmas spirit."

Different Shades of Purple

Today is November 17.  It is one of the coldest days in my area of Canada so far and the snow began to fall lightly this morning.

In I went to work, armed with some purple icing covered cupcakes and all decked out in my favourite purple sweater.  In came my colleagues.  Hiding under their winter coats, which have recently been pulled out of the darkness of their closets, were different shades of purple.

We had colours of plum and eggplant, magenta purpley-pink, mauve and even some Barney The Purple Dinosaur purple...and some pink, because that's close to purple, right?? :)

By 9:00 there were several of my colleagues, also my friends, proud to wear purple to support the First World Prematurity Awareness Day.


By about 9:01, there we all were hovering around the kitchen table chowing down on purple coloured cupcakes with baby blue and pink diaper pins adorning them.

By 11:00 as many of my co-worker buddies were rounded up as possible--hard to do when we are scattered throughout the building and doing various things during our busy days--and we posed for a pic.

Through the tough times my family, friends and co-workers stood by me.  My new co-workers who arrived on scene after I made my quick exit from my work duties when my twins arrived 13 weeks early, have come to know my story and support me equally.  It is amazing to have such a support network and I can't say thank you enough.

These are people who went on the rollercoaster with me while my kids were in the NICUs.  My husband and I were sitting in the front seat of the rollercoaster, while my family, friends and colleagues may have been toward the back of the rollercoaster and perhaps not feeling the same impact of the ride, but they were right there for the entire ride with me. Laughing, crying, screaming, praying, hugging and supporting me and my husband until the rollercoaster ride came to a halt.

Then we jumped off that rollercoaster and got right onto a new ride, taking us in the direction of home, which still has many ups and downs, bumps and jolts, but it is where we want to be and it couldn't be more exhilerating!

Not a day goes by that I don't feel thankful for the wonderful work of the neonatologists, the nurses and NICU staff that got us through that ride safe and sound. 

We, as preemie parents, also have to thank organizations like the Linden Fund, here in Ontario, Canada, and the wonderful March of Dimes, that have gone to great lengths to get funding, supports and assistance for premature children and their families.  This can be one of the toughest times a family can face and these types of organizations found all across the world make the "ride" feel a little saner.

Thank you for recognizing and raising prematurity awareness today and every day!

Diaper Backward Spells Repaid...

Diaper backward spells "repaid." Seriously.  I'm being repaid twofold! I must have really put my parents through a lot of crap during my diaper days!

I have been told many a time that as a toddler I used to take off my diapers aftering waking from my naps and would proceed to wipe the poopy ones on bedroom walls at home and the babysitter's.  Oh my! Gross.  I proceeded to teach my younger brother how to carry on the tradition when he was capable.

Talk about karma!  Once the babies were home we were going through about 16-20 diapers a day. It got to the point I was dreaming of diaper change times because that's all it seemed I was doing in the early days.

When it comes down to it, diapers have been a big part of our lives.  I'm not sure that everyone gets excited about the first time a diaper is put on their baby.  I do know that as new parents many are afraid or not sure how to change their baby's first few diapers, but most dive in and figure it out.

When it comes to the NICU experience, a diaper is not always the first thing put on a baby.  Instead it's leads and monitors and sticky tapes, breathing apparatuses and who knows what else? Then the diaper might come.  There may not be a diaper that actually fits this "newborn" baby.



The Stages of Diapers of the Twins: Preemie Small, NB, 1, 2 & currently in 3.
You can see the # "7" written on the Preemie diaper on the left, which I explain in this post.



In all 3 of my cases, my babies were born suddenly and in an ill-prepared hospital without a NICU on site, therefore there were no teeny tiny diapers to put on their tiny new bodies.  In each case, however, the size of the diaper was the least of anyone's worries.

Preemie #1 was transported to an appropriate unit and one of my first memories of him was him spread out on a warming bed in a very big diaper, pretty much swallowing up his lower body and torso.  It was on very loose to avoid irritating his premature skin.

If I thought Preemie #1 was swimming in his first diaper, I was rudely corrected when Preemie #2 and Preemie #3 arrived.  These two were more than 2 pounds less than their big bro.  Finding ourselves in the "wrong" hospital again, they were not equipped with anything less than the standard newborn diapers.

Once the twins arrived at their NICU, on went the tiniest diapers I have ever seen!  Pampers Premature Small.  Wow.  It amazed me that diapers were made this small!  These diapers weigh 7 grams.

How do I know how much a diaper weighs and why do I know this??  Well, in the NICU a baby's bodily functions are monitored every 3 hours or less.  The nurses in the unit will hand write "7" or whatever the weight of each diaper on the front to indicate how much the diaper weighed before the baby did his business in it. 

My Cabbage Patch Kid "Preemie," Circa 1985.
His leg is the same size as my 2 lbs Preemies' diaper!
The "Preemie" is in a NB size diaper rolled up.

Why would we want to weigh the diaper after the baby has worn it?  To be pretty certain that the baby's fluid intake and urine output are balanced.  Bloodwork and other assessments are carried out too in order to monitor the baby's nutrition, but one of the first obvious indicators of  problems appears or does not appear in the diaper.

When it comes to changing a premature or NICU baby's diaper it can be outright terrifying for the parent.  As premature babies' parents we are facing wire leads, tubing, monitors, machines, sticky things, tape, and a fragile baby connected to it all.  We must stand outside the incubator, putting what are most likely gloved hands and arms through two small access holes to be able to work with the baby.  It sucks learning to change a diaper for the first few times for any person or parent, but throw in an incubator and the awkwardness of manoeuvering through all of the wires and the fear of harming the baby and it can be a pretty terrifying, albeit very memorable experience.

Tonight I'm reminiscing about diaper changing for a particularly good reason.  This month is Prematurity Awareness Month in the United States and November 17, 2011 is the First World Prematurity Awareness Day.  A fellow preemie parent is currently working on "40 Diapers. 40 Days," to help create premature birth awareness and raise funds for a NICU in Haiti.  She is painting 40 diapers and taking donations and a silent auction will be held at the end of 40 days.

I know what a scary and trying time the NICU process is, but can only imagine how much more difficult it would be living in a situation where a NICU is not the norm and most likely unattainable for most babies born too soon.

If you can, please visit her site at http://www.thepainteddiaper.com/ and support her along the way.

This Thursday, November 17, please wear purple to show support and help raise Prematurity Awareness!  It's not talked about enough.

Thank you.

Liebster Blog Award

So after a few moments of thinking about it, I confirmed in my head that, yes, it definitely is Wednesday.  I seriously had to think about this for a few minutes and confirmed it by seeing what was on the T.V. tonight.  If Modern Family is on, I know it's Wednesday.  Unfortunately, I didn't actually get to catch the show, as my oldest son was just settling down for the night at the beginning of the show.

So given the fact that it is Wednesday, I considered making this my very first "Wordless Wednesday" post...BUT I figure my opportunities to get on here to blog have been few and far between since getting back into my full time job (aside from my full time job as Mommy,) so I want to make full use of my time...nevermind that it happens to be Wednesday.  My first Wordless Wednesday can wait!

Then I realized I could have a "Wine Down Wednesday," but there is no wine, so I settled for a hot chocolate and a wordy blog.

Way back on October 7, I received a comment from a fellow blogger, Sharon, at http://mammadoitall.blogspot.com/, who let me know she had awarded me with the Liebster Award for bloggers.  She listed me with four other bloggers, as blogs she was enjoying reading and following.  How nice is that?  It really did put a smile on my face to know that a woman in Manhattan, a journalist, was enjoying my writing and passing it on.  So I am going to pass it on now...but it is going to be a two parter (mainly due to lack of time tonight.)

The following blogs are ones I enjoy reading when I get a chance and I hope you'll check them out too.

Changing Diapers and Taking Names at http://findingbrittnemo.blogspot.com/

This blogger hosts Blog Hops, which I love, as do many other bloggers out there.  Blog Hops for those that don't know are intended to help bloggers find other bloggers within their own niche or other interests/hobbies.  She also has a Mom of the Month tab, on which readers can nominate extraordinary moms. Very cool.

Mom is the Only Girl at http://momistheonlygirl@blogspot.com

This is a fun mother, who makes life interesting for her two boys.  It seems like she and her husband set out to teach their boys something new every day in fun and interesting ways.

A Mommy Blog Design Studio at http://www.amommysblogdesignstudio.com/

This is a business, however, I do like her blog posts on the topics of how to make blogs work, especially for all us mommy bloggers out here.  Not only does she provide good information, but she also has fun designs and blog packages that can be purchased.

I'm going to name two more, but not now...it's 11:30 and I am exhausted!