By Valentina Pollard of Just Breathe

My Top 10 Must-Haves: The First 3 Months

Daphne and Poppy are now 3 months old! I cannot believe it. They have been home from the NICU for longer than they were there…and the days are flying by (although some more smoothly than others). During this time there have been some items that have made our lives much, much easier. I have listed my very favorite must-haves below. Please note that this list is made with twins in mind. Of course, it applies to all babies (just don’t buy as much if you have one baby instead of two…or buy more if you have three or four)!

 10. Baby Trend Double Snap N Go Stroller. Confession: We have three double strollers. Two parents. Two babies. Three double strollers. I am a bit stroller obsessed. We have the Bob Duallie (haven’t used just yet since the girls are not big enough to run with yet). And we have the Bumbleride Indie Twin (Love it for neighborhood walks and leisurely strolls, but not the most practical for everyday errands and such). At the advice of another twin mom, I bought the Snap N Go…I didn’t want to – after all it is plastic and pretty ugly. But wow this thing is so easy to use when I am out alone with the girls and easy to maneuver with one hand (leaving the other to shop with…). Ugly or not, the easy and cheap Double Snap N Go is an absolute must have.

 9. Chicco Keyfit 30 car seats. These car seats are approved for preemies 4 pounds and bigger. We first bought Graco carseats with a pattern that I loved. The NICU had us return them to buy the Chicco. The girls both passed their car seat tests, they are lightweight and easy to carry two at a time…love them. We lost one of the seat pad inserts (still a mystery where it ended up!), so I called Chicco to order another one. For $12 they sent me a replacement and it arrived in 2 days! Great customer service. Buy them!

 8. Fisher-Price Newborn Rock & Play Sleeper. Two of them in your bedroom…critically necessary for the first three months (and counting!). We each have one sleeper next to each of us and the girls are now sleeping in them up to 8 hours each night. These keep them on an incline, reduce reflux and are easy to move around the house for impromptu napping. Must have. Period. Must. Best money you will spend.

 7. Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing – My Little Lamb. The big one. The girls rotate using this when one is feeding and the other is fussy. They are HUGE and expensive, so we only bought one, but baby is it worth it. They love it. Immediately calms whichever one is in it, which is great because if you are feeding the other one or changing one, etc. you cannot attend to both at the same time. If we had tons of room we would probably buy a second one, but our house is small!

 6. The Miracle Blanket. Get one for each baby you have. They will not want to share and you will greatly benefit from having two sleeping babies! It is the best swaddle. As bragged about above, both girls are sleeping up to 8 hours at night…but only when we swaddle them with this particular swaddle. A good swaddle is huge for a preemie (which most twins are) because it mimics the womb. I like my babies swaddled. And I like them swaddled tight.

 5. Medela Symphony breast pump. I rented mine from a local store. Many hospitals rent them as well. If you are pumping for twins, don’t mess around with the pumps you can buy at a store – they are no where near powerful enough for how much milk you will need to produce and how quickly you will need to produce it!

4. Moby wrap. I am wrap obsessed. Chances are, if you stop by my house I am wearing one if not two babies. All. The. Time. I have bought three other wraps, but I keep coming back to the Moby. People say it is hard to use or that there is too much fabric. Bull. It is fabulous. I can now tie it without using a mirror and the girls love it. In fact, Daphne is asleep in it now while I am writing this!

 3. Graco Sweet Slumber Sound Machine. Small, portable and plays multiple sounds. We moved ours to the master bedroom and keep it on all the time. I prefer the rain and bird sounds. Puts the girls to sleep and I really believe it helps them relax at night. On a whim, I put this on our registry and am so glad I did. It was an awesome gift to receive and one of the most useful so far.

 2. Diaper Genie II Elite Diaper Disposal System. I’ll admit: I have talked a lot of trash about diaper genies in the past (pun totally intended). But with two babies (or for that matter any amount of baby(ies)!) and all the dirty diapers they produce (sorry, but I only use disposable diapers…much praise to those of you who are more eco-conscious than I am, but over my dead body am I scrapping poo into a toilet…yack)…must. have. Our house smells great at all times.

 1. California Baby Calendula Cream.  Nature’s First-Aid! As the description states, California Baby Calendula Cream is excellent for use on general diaper area, cradle cap, on cuts and scrapes, and may be used on face and body for extra-dry or sensitive skin. Botanically based, our light and fluffy Calendula Cream contains the active ingredient of Calendula, which has been used to heal the skin for centuries. California Baby Calendula Cream offers deep hydration, absorbs completely, and leaves skin feeling satiny smooth. I’ve been using it on both girls’ sweet faces at night (and mine too!) as part of our bedtime routine and on any little scratches (from those pesky finger nails that grow like weeds), etc. If I notice a scratch on one of the girl’s faces I immediately apply some cream and – ta da! – the scratch literally disappears by the next morning. It smells like heaven, is lightweight and the girls and I love it. You will too.

What am I missing out on? Any suggestions of must-haves for the next 3 months?

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More about our Booty Blogger:

Valentina Vassallo Pollard started …just breathe… in May 2010 when, after many months, she found herself still holding her breath in hopes of a positive pregnancy test. After a year and a half long journey through the trenches of infertility, she is now living her very own happy ending beginning – a successful first round of IVF resulting in a healthy pregnancy with twin girls. Valentina is busy adjusting to the wonderful world of mommyhood with the arrival of her girls, now three months old. She is passionate about spreading the word about infertility treatments and the options available to families. She writes about her experiences, hopes, dreams and shopping binges (now mostly baby related) on her blog – www.just-breathe-blog.blogspot.com. Valentina lives in Austin, Texas with her very handsome (and patient) husband, Blake.

by Vanessa Rough of Silly Eagle Books

Moms To Be: fall fashion

Confession: I miss shopping in the maternity section.

I know, I know. I’m supposed to be glad to have my wardrobe back, to be able to shop in my favorite stores again, and to not require excessive amounts of fabric to cover my belly. And I am, but there is something about the maternity section that still calls to me.

Maybe it’s the fact that there are far fewer choices when it comes to maternity clothes. I like that there are only three long-sleeved shirts to choose from in the Liz Lange section in Target. I like that I know exactly which shapes fit my pregnant body best. I like how darn cute all that stuff is.

And while I do miss the maternity shopping experience, I’m not quite ready to be pregnant again. So the next best thing is sharing some of my favorite fall maternity finds with you.

Kimono Wrap sweater from Gap

 Chevron stripe stop from Old Navy

Twill Pants from Motherhood Maternity

Maxi dress from Motherhood Maternity

Trench coat from Target

Do you have any favorite online maternity shops?

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More about our Booty Blogger:

Vanessa is the mother of two beautiful girls–Juliet and Lucia. Before she was a mom, she spent her days teaching a little bit of English and a lot more “please be quiet” to high school students and her nights…wait for it…SLEEPING. Now her days are spent reading books, crafting, and chasing the cat around the house while her nights are filled with significantly less sleep and a lot more “please be quiet.” She writes about children’s books, crafting, and learning activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers at Silly Eagle Books.

3 Hot New Baby Products

1. Sticky Bellies- remembering to take your BooBear’s monthly photos are one thing and then actually going back and remembering how OLD they were when you took them is a whole different thing:) Thankfully one mama felt your pain and created these adorable stickable decals that say how old baby is! Stick ‘em on, take the pic and your babies age will be forever ingrained. They make FABULOUS shower gifts too and there are Sticky Bellies for you preggos and your monthly pics too!

2. Babiators- there is a real life fighter pilot (along with some other cool peops) behind these glasses. They are the all important sunglasses for the little ones in your life. Did you know that kiddos actually need to wear sunglasses even more than we do? Yep, it’s because they don’t have any pigment in their eyeballs to protect them from harmful rays. These guys are stylish and durable and they are now on our site as a recommended registry item/purchase.

3. Charlie by Timi & Leslie. These diaper bags are beyond cool. They offer everything you need in a diaper bag PLUS they are uber stylish and nice on the eyes. As for the prices tag, they’re in the $200 range. Which may cause some of you to start pitting out. However. For a bag that can be used long after you need a diaper bag, you could justify the expense. Or just add it to your babylist registry and hope someone splurges for you! They are a new addition to our Fashionista Mama diaper bag recommendation.

by Vanessa of Silly Eagle Books

Nursery Design by Numbers

Numbers are becoming a big trend in both baby names and room decor. And while there are many beautiful options to purchase (aren’t there always?) This is a trend that is fairly easy for anyone (even non-crafty types) to pull off. To start out, decide if you want to display meaningful numbers (significant dates, members of family, ages, etc) or if you just want to go with what appeals to you visually. Once you know which numbers you want to incorporate into your nursery design, try these ideas.

• Visit the local hardware store and check out their house number options. You can find several different styles and finishes that can be combined to create your own custom wall art. Attach them to a board or wall, frame them, or even screw them onto a piece of furniture such as a dresser drawer or changing table. Don’t see what you like at the Home Depot? Try online retailers such as Design Within Reach and Seattle Luxe.

• Search your bookshelves or secondhand book stores for vintage or modern counting books. Frame a few of your favorites or use Mod Podge to create a canvas collage. If you don’t want to destroy a book for the sake of art, you can try simply displaying the books by leaning them on a picture ledge. I love these cool counting board books. And when your baby is old enough, you have something educational and beautiful to read together.

• Look for vintage flashcards to use as wall art. Like this one. I found it here.

• Use a stencil and paint numbers onto your walls or take the easy way and purchase vinyl wall numbers like these black and white ones or these colorful ones.

• Walls aren’t the only place to add numbers, buy this numbered pillow case or try your hand at creating your own with some foam stamps and fabric paint.

Need some more ideas? Just search for “numbers” on pinterest for more inspiration.

What about you? Which numbers would you incorporate into your baby’s room?

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About our Booty Blogger:

Vanessa is the mother of two beautiful girls–Juliet and Lucia. Before she was a mom, she spent her days teaching a little bit of English and a lot more “please be quiet” to high school students and her nights…wait for it…SLEEPING. Now her days are spent reading books, crafting, and chasing the cat around the house while her nights are filled with significantly less sleep and a lot more “please be quiet.” She writes about children’s books, crafting, and learning activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers at Silly Eagle Books.

by Sarah Blight, Founder of Your Baby Booty

Babywearing Rocks. Literally.

Why are we (US residents) the last to pick up on the age old secrets of babydom?

I love technology… a lot… but somehow our technocentric lives have cut us out of the loop of sage baby wisdom that has worked long before technology was the mainstay in our lives.

For example, did you know that in the rest of the world babies’ cries are measured in minutes? For us, in the US of A, we measure them in hours! Hours! The rest of the world doesn’t tolerate their babies crying for hours on end, so why should we? What’s the secret to soothing and calming baby that we’re not privy to?

Let me ask you a question:

Do you wear your baby?

Well, let’s see. If you were pregnant and gave birth to your child, you wore him or her on the inside of your body for (let’s just round up and call it a year, shall we?).  That counts as baby wearing for sure.

If your children came to you by way of adoption then I’m sure you wore your heart for adoption and your child on your sleeves  during the entire, paperwork intensive experience. That counts as babywearing.

But we’re not really talking either of these scenarios, we’re talking about babywearing on your person.

After I first had our son, I wasn’t sure what a baby carrier was exactly. I was confused between infant car seats, baby bouncers, baby swings and then a baby carrier? Whaaa?  I finally realized that if I ever had hopes of doing anything around the house again, I needed to figure out a way to strap baby to me- {light bulb moment…oh! So THAT’s what those are for!}  Call me a bit dense, but it did take me awhile to realize that the SleepyWrap and the Ergo were all ways to let your little one be held by you, hands-free.

Bliss.

Research shows that babywearing has many benefits for your baby (and baby’s parents too!):

1. Babies are smarter- all those neurons are firing and connections are being made because the baby is close to you and soaking up all that is around you. Conversely, you can shield your baby from being overly stimulated, protecting their developing nervous system.

2. Babies cry less-check out the National Geographic Channel or simply do an image search for mothers and babies in different countries. The vast majority of the world’s mothers, wear their babies. Anthropologists have found that those babies are happier and cry less. If you’re like most women, the very sound of your baby crying is like nails on a chalkboard, or mosquitos buzzing around your earlobes all while your milk is leaking from your boobs. Sooo this is very, very good news for us all.

3. Babies become better organized- All you super organized people are LOVING this one aren’t you? Dr. Sears recommends parents wear their babies for an additional 9 months after birth. Imagine as a new baby the culture shock of being out of the womb and being by yourself in a lonely bassinet or bouncy seat, away from the cozy confines of mama’s womb. When you wear your baby, they are soothed by the rhythm of your walk (and probably think- this is familiar!), your voice, your heartbeat and the closeness to you. This helps them organize or regulate their systems.

Okay, are you a convert? Or do you need more proof?

4. It’s a good work out for you- finding time to exercise and get back in shape after baby is difficult, strapping on your baby to do housework or spend time with friends, or chase your other kiddos is a great way to get exercise and have super important bonding time with baby.

5. It’s inexpensive- Baby carriers often times cost less than expensive strollers or swings or bouncy seats and slings are even less expensive and a great way to wear baby. There were some safety issues in the news about slings but not all slings are created equal. This is a great resource to see how to wear slings correctly and what NOT to buy with regards to slings.

So go for it mama (and papas!!), wear your baby long and proud. Baby will cry less and flourish from the closeness. You will look back on your time and wonder how it went by so quickly and will long for those days of babywearing again.

Sources-

Dr. Sears

The Natural Child Project

Good article here.

Excerpt from a research article.

*photo credit- the eye candy in the pic up there? Yep, that’s Steve (Mr. YourBabyBooty) with our bro-in-law.

by Melissa of The Expectant Life

Your Body During Pregnancy

Standing in the grocery store line last week, I couldn’t help but be assaulted by notice the magazine headlines clamoring for my attention: “10 Tips to Get a Hot Body Now;” “Swimsuits That Slim You Instantly;” “Four kids, no time, this body…find out how she does it.;” “How to Get the Body of Your Favorite Celeb;” “5 cellulite fixes that actually work;” “The trick to getting rid of your double chin;” “Down 35 lbs and already rockin’ a bikini bod just 5 weeks after giving birth.”

I wanted to burn them all, the magazines that is, not because I wouldn’t love to have the body of a celebrity or lose my double chin, but because I tire of the messages our culture sends to women about their bodies. Messages like, you have to be skinny to be sexy, you’ll only be desired for your outward beauty, you’re identity is in how you look, and on and on they go. They’re sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant, but either way they tend to leave women feeling dissatisfied with their bodies and under constant pressure to look a certain way.

I’m very much for healthy eating, being fit and in shape, and taking care of your body. But I’m also for balance, accepting the body you’ve been given, and rockin’ what you got! The journey to have a healthy body image has been life-long for me. And not long after I hit my stride as I rolled into my 30’s, feeling really comfortable in my own skin, did I get pregnant. At first, there wasn’t much of a physical change, at least outwardly. Yet the hormones kicked in immediately, ‘the girls’ began to ache, and my tummy began to rebel. And shortly thereafter, the visible signs appeared as my belly began to burgeon, along with other parts of me that unexpectedly burgeoned too! For me, it was my backside, my bum, my derriere, whatever you want to call it. When I’m preggo, it grows at approximately the same pace as my belly. Perhaps it’s attempting to even things out, so as to keep me balanced, or at least that’s what I tell myself anyway!

Every woman is different and thus, the shape that a pregnancy takes varies from body to body. The one certainty is that your body will change when you’re pregnant. How do you handle this change? Some women welcome it completely, taking great comfort and joy in the fact that this ever expanding body is growing another human being. But many women I’ve talked to experience mixed feelings, the comfort and joy mentioned above, meshed with a struggle to love their widening, softening, and ever growing body.

An even greater challenge for many women, me included, is that of embracing our bodies which are forever changed once we’ve pushed out that bowling ball-sized bundle of love. No one warned me that I would still look pregnant AFTER I gave birth! I remember having a friend come to visit me in the hospital the day that my son was born. I was in the bathroom when she arrived and as I came out, I felt the need to warn her, “I swear I gave birth today, but I still look pregnant!” This not to mention that I was incredibly swollen EVERYWHERE due to the IV that had to be pumped through me for 45 hours. I look back at pictures of me with my family, shortly after Ben’s birth, and let’s just say, it’s hard for me to see myself in that state.

I immediately loved my sweet baby boy more than I ever thought I could love someone who wasn’t my husband, but I struggled to accept all the jiggle in places I never knew could jiggle and that I weighed more than I ever had in my life even though I was sans baby in the belly. But through the years, I’ve come to realize that body image or how I feel about my body is really a matter of perception and attitude. I know women who at 39 weeks pregnant, if you looked at them from the backside, you wouldn’t be able to tell they were pregnant. And those same women slid back into their size 2 skinny jeans just days after giving birth. Yet, in talking with some of those women, they too, identified parts of their bodies with which they were dissatisfied. As someone who will NEVER don a pair of skinny jeans (due to calves that are about the same size as my thighs, ok not quite, but you get the picture), I initially thought to myself, ‘but how in the world could you be dissatisfied with your body when you look like THAT?’ But I was quickly reminded that no matter our shape or size, we as women can always find parts of our bodies that we don’t like, often times much more easily than we can identify the parts we’re happy with. All too often, I think we waste a lot of energy being mad at our bodies, rather than making friends with them.

Long before my baby-making days, in effort to ‘make friends with my body,’ I began asking myself this question from time to time, “Right now, is your body a stranger, enemy, or friend?” I began to explore my views and beliefs towards my body and where those were coming from. I found that many of my beliefs came from what culture was telling me I was supposed to look like rather than what my preferences were or what made me feel good.

After giving birth, I desperately needed to revisit the stranger, enemy, or friend question. I also realized that I needed to spend some time reflecting on the awesome feats my body had just pulled off. As I did, I began to thank my body. It may sound corny, but sometimes a little heart to heart, or rather heart to thighs dialogue is necessary for me. And as I listen to my body, and sit in awe of everything my body does for me on a daily basis, I am filled with gratitude, able to more easily accept my not-so-favorite-parts.

So, if this hits home for you in any way, I’ll leave you with a few questions and thoughts to ponder:

1. Right now, do you see your body as a stranger, enemy, or friend?

2. What attitude do you have towards your body today? Positive or negative? Grateful or disparaging?

3. Make a list of the amazing things your body has done for you today. Perhaps you could start with the fact that your body woke up this morning breathing!

4. What have you done to love your body today? Maybe start with thinking about what things you could actually do to love your body. Here are a few that I like: feeding it healthy foods, exercise, warm bath

5. Think of something that makes you feel beautiful, not beautiful in the “so and so told me I totally rock those jeans” kind of beautiful, but something that makes you feel beautiful inside and out.  For me, it’s going for a hike or a run, somewhere in nature. Something about the sun shining on my face, the wind blowing in my hair, and my body carrying me up a hill leaves me feeling strong and beautiful. Whatever it is for you, DO IT!

6. What does it look like for you to accept what you’re not and embrace all that you are, when it comes to your body?

As my second pregnancy ensues, it once again is debatable as to whether the baby is growing in my belly or my bum, but I’m in a much better place this time around to be friends with my burgeoning backside. I’m choosing to treat my body right, eating healthy and exercising, and I feel good. Everyday, I make it a practice to thank my body for its willingness to undergo such duress, so as to grant me with another beautiful family member to love. After all, we only have one body, so I say, love the one you’re with!

*credit

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more about our Booty Blogger:

Melissa lives, works, and plays outside of Denver, Colorado with her husband, son, and ultra-sweet but ultra-needy Golden Retriever, Samaya. She is a mostly stay-at-home mama to her bundle of boy, Ben, and when she’s not wiping up drool or playing peek-a-boo with her son, she works part-time in her private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Melissa’s latest challenge is that of attempting to juggle the four main hats she sports, those of wife, mother, friend, and therapist. She views life as a journey and considers her life’s work to be that of walking alongside people on the journey, whether it’s her hubby, son, friends, or clients. And she is a strong believer in living life to the fullest, which for her involves playing in the great outdoors every chance she gets. When given a spare couple of hours, she can be found running, biking, hiking, skiing, and backpacking in her backyard, aka the Rocky Mountains. Aside from active pursuits, creating and writing are essential to Melissa’s life. She likens writing to using a pair of binoculars, allowing her to focus in on the beauty that lies in the messiness of the mundane. You can find more of Melissa’s writing on her blog, The Expectant Life.

by Vanessa of Silly Eagle Books

Exercise and Pregnancy: gettin’ in the pool

Athletic is the last word I (or anyone else) would use to describe myself. However, in my childhood and in the late 90′s, I actually spent many an hour in the pool. Not just splashing around, but wearing a Speedo and doing laps. Lots of them. I was pretty much on a swim team from 8th grade until my senior year in college. And although I was never very fast (kind of a key factor in the whole race situation), I did learn how to enjoy a good water workout.

During both my pregnancies, I found myself in our neighborhood pool almost every evening during the summer months. And not surprisingly, it did me a lot of good. Here are a few reasons why you should try it for yourself.

1. You can’t fall.

As any pregnant woman will tell you, balance becomes a challenge once the baby bump starts to pop out. Even in the early months, you suddenly find yourself falling forward, leaning sideways, and generally wobbling about. I swear off step-stools at around month three for fear of toppling off. The nice thing about swimming or walking in a pool is that the water surrounds you, cradles you, and keeps you upright. And even if you do lose your balance in there, it’s no big deal because you’ll just sink softly into the water.

2. You lose weight.

Not literally (I’m not advocating weight-loss while pregnant!), but you feel as if you have lost all the baby weight. The force that usually pulls your belly downward is suddenly and refreshingly gone. You can hop and dance and feel like your old self in the water. Not only do you lose weight, but your older children do as well. If you have a 20+ pound child who still likes to be held, pool time is the perfect time to do it. You can hold her in your arms like the old days and she will feel as light as a feather. I enjoyed holding my three year old in the pool this past summer when I was eight months pregnant. She loved having some time in my arms again, too.

3. You can buy a swim suit that you will grow into.

Usually buying a swim suit is one of the most painful tasks of the year because it involves high hopes that I will lose some weight in order to fit into a certain suit. Buying a maternity suit is exactly the opposite. Instead of buying small and hoping I’ll fit eventually, I buy big and expect to fill it out! Glorious. (Here’s an especially cute one.)

4. You can hide the bump.

I know it’s fun to show off the baby bump, but there are times when I just want to hide it and get a break from the running commentary from random strangers. If you stand in the pool near the wall or sit on the steps with a submerged belly, you look like any other woman in the pool and you can get a short respite from people rubbing your belly, telling you that you are definitely having a boy (even though you are definitely having a girl), and other annoying and unsolicited advice. Of course, once you step out, people will feel prompted to say things like, “Wow! You must be due any day now!” (Actually, I have six months left.) “Twins, right?” (Wrong.), and the every popular “Snack time, again?” (Yes. Yes, it is.)

5. You can relieve joint pressure.

My hip joints always ache when I’m pregnant and swimming is one of the few ways I’ve found to get a little relief. Slow easy laps with plenty of breaks always seems to loosen up my joints and get me back to a less painful place for a few hours. It’s also nice for working out some of that lower back pressure.

6. You can cool off.

Am I the only one who feels like I’m stuck inside an oven for nine months while pregnant? If you are unlucky enough to go through four months of 100+ degree days while pregnant, then jumping in the pool may be the only way to get a little relief from the heat. Water–especially cool water–is always good for taking the body temp down a few degrees.

And of course, there are the exercise benefits of swimming which you are probably already familiar with. You can get your heart rate up, improve your flexibility, posture, muscle tone, etc. Plus, you get to wear goggles.

And don’t forget those cute maternity swim suits.

*credit

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More about our Booty Blogger:

Vanessa is the mother of two beautiful girls–Juliet and Lucia. Before she was a mom, she spent her days teaching a little bit of English and a lot more “please be quiet” to high school students and her nights…wait for it…SLEEPING. Now her days are spent reading books, crafting, and chasing the cat around the house while her nights are filled with significantly less sleep and a lot more “please be quiet.” She writes about children’s books, crafting, and learning activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers at Silly Eagle Books.

by Valentina Pollard of …just breathe

Pregnancy with Twins: the unexpected twists & turns

Oh goodness, there are many. I remember my IVF doctor saying that his preference is to help a woman achieve a healthy singleton pregnancy. I asked, a little embarrassed about my naivety, why not help her with a healthy twin pregnancy? And quickly followed with saying that both Blake and I were aware of the risks and complications and were prepared to face them. We discussed the option of a transferring one, lone embryo (which he felt due to my younger age and health would be successful)… which I quickly shot down. NO way! Not after what we have been through to get to this point. I had trusted way too many “perfect” months leading to IUIs that were timed perfectly with multiple fabulous follicles – the “this is it!” months that were not. No way was I going to go through IVF and then electing to only transfer one embryo. (Of course, I knew that in situations of hyperstimulation, etc. that might be medically necessary.) We agreed then that if everything looked optimal and there were no risks to me in doing so, we would plan on transferring two embryos. That was late October, 2010.

The weeks flew by. Shots measured. Shots administered (ouch). Prayers. So many. My dreams were literally multi-hour prayers in which I would wake up with tears on my pillow. Equal parts at peace and terrified of what was ahead. Finally, the week of Thanksgiving came – the week of the egg retrieval. What had been a model IVF cycle took a bit of a detour. My wonderful follicles started wimping out a bit and our truthful and very empowering doctor gave us the talk about it being our choice if we move forward with the egg retrieval. That, at that point, we might not get nearly the amount of follicles hoped for. In fact, from the maturity levels it looked as though only five – if we were lucky – would be mature enough to try to fertilize. This was crushing – after all, we had seen better growth from my follicles in IUI cycles that were much less medicated. All of us were baffled.

I remember the strength Blake had. I felt – for the first time in the long, winding road of infertility – almost defeated. I asked Blake to make the decision because I was too emotional to do it. And, there were so many factors to consider (if we go through with the surgery and do not get enough follicles, we might have to start over but would then be pushed back for potentially a few months while my body recovered…and the out-of-pocket money that would be lost…and, well, I am sure you can imagine all the what-ifs…). We plunged forward: Blake said with such confidence that this was our time to become parents; that he could feel it.

The retrieval was amazing. We ended up with some sneaky mature eggs hiding in small follicles, for a total of seven mature eggs. All seven – 100% of the eggs – fertilized with ICSI! We were all amazed, our doctor included, and he praised our brave decision to move forward and said he could have never predicted that kind of success. By the end of the five day wait, we still had five beautiful, perfectly graded embryos. On the transfer day, they chose the strongest two to transfer back into my body. And then we waited.

Soon thereafter, in the first week of December, our lives changed forever. We were finally – FINALLY – pregnant. We celebrated, telling everyone who would listen (I am a bit of an open book, so while I can easily keep others’ secrets sacred, my own are just kind of put out there…). And we finally – FINALLY – cried tears of joy rather than tears of heartbreak. From that first discovery, this pregnancy has been a dream. No significant set-backs, illnesses, worrisome reports. Nothing. Two healthy baby girls who regularly kick and poke at one another in ways that move my belly all over the place.

Bliss.

Until this week, which as I write this, is my 32^nd week of pregnancy. What I thought would be another routine doctor’s appointment, in which I hold my breath until I see hearts beating, then smile and hold back tears (because surely they are tired of seeing me squeal and cry at every single appointment!) quickly spun out of control. In all this time, of hoping and praying for two healthy babies, I never once thought to hope and pray for myself. And, now it appears that I have developed pretty severe preeclampsia – a condition in which multiple factors, most notably, extremely high blood pressure and elevated protein in your urine (look it up: I am no doctor and therefore do not want to be the one educating anyone, but this is very serious!) are indicative of potentially life threatening issues for the mama.

Over the course of just a few days, my numbers have quickly started heading into that dangerous territory. We are not there quite yet, so the steroid shots have been administered – which help my babies’ lungs quickly develop in the event of preterm delivery – but we face the music tomorrow morning when we have to check into the hospital. Best case scenario is that the levels are progressing slower than expected (which might get us through the weekend). Realistically, though, we were told to be prepared for having babies as soon as tomorrow. Because of the condition’s effects on me (and, so you know, physically I feel great so there are not necessarily any outward symptoms) we will be forced to bring these babies, who are doing so well and snuggled in so nicely, into the world much earlier than planned. (The only way to treat preeclampsia, at the level mine is progressing to, is to deliver the placentas since they are the culprit…and therefore the babies must be delivered, too.)

I have dreamed of seeing the sweet faces of my little blossoming flower babies for so long. Much longer than they have even been growing inside me. But, I need more time. They need more time. And it just doesn’t look like we have it on our side. By the time this is read, I expect that I will actually be a mama to babies whose faces I will well know. And, if so, it will definitely start out a bit differently than hoped for – they will be spending some quality time in the NICU and I will have a potentially very difficult recovery ahead. But, if these girls – my precious Poppy Camille and darling Daphne Rose – are anything like their parents, they are fighters, too. And we will all be okay.

~written in the wee hours of June 23^rd, 2011

* Update*  Poppy Camille and Daphne Rose have arrived- weighing 3lbs 1oz and 4lbs respectively. The Pollard family is doing well! Click here to read their latest update.

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More About Our Booty Blogger:

Valentina Vassallo Pollard started …just breathe… in May 2010 when, after many months, she found herself still holding her breath in hopes of a positive pregnancy test. After a year and a half long journey through the trenches of infertility, she is now living her very own happy ending beginning – a successful first round of IVF resulting in a healthy pregnancy with twin girls. Currently in her third trimester, Valentina is focusing on trying to stay focused at work, decorating her nest for Poppy Camille and Daphne Rose (set to make their debut this summer!) and spreading the word about infertility treatments and the options available to families. She writes about her experiences, hopes, dreams and shopping binges (now mostly baby related) on her blog – www.just-breathe-blog.blogspot.com. Valentina lives in Austin, Texas with her very handsome (and patient) husband, Blake.

Fashionista Mama Basics:

The Miracle Blanket. When you get home from the hospital, please have one of these waiting for you. Most of us commoners can never manage to master the art of swaddling (as they show you in the hospital or birthing center). This will make you an expert every time.

Monte Vola Wingback Glider.  This glider will fit in any room, not just your nursery. Its sleek and contemporary lines don’t really scream BABY which makes it a nice, unobtrusive addition to your home.

Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper. There is nothing more fashionable than sleep. With this sweet bed attached to yours, you will be conveniently located next to sleeping baby when they suddenly rouse for their night-time feedings. Plus you can use it as a traditional play yard when they aren’t so tiny any more.

Nest Dexter Diaper Bag. This bag is pretty genius. It looks like a fashionable ole’ handbag but functions like a diaper bag with cool features like a diaper changing pad and removable lining (for the inevitable spill).

Chicco Keyfit 22. This infant car seat has some of the highest safety and usability ratings. And that, my mamas, is what it’s all about. Use this until your baby reaches 22 pounds and then you’ll need to buy a bigger seat. Don’t sweat it though, most one-year olds may barely be 20 pounds, so you’ve got some time, unless you have tall genes.

Sleepy Wrap Organic. You actually won’t need a stroller right away, in fact, your baby will most likely be a lot happier if they are close to you, all bundled up. It reminds them of their cozy living conditions in your womb. Grab this Sleepy Wrap and strap on baby. You will be happy you have tw0-free hands and baby will be happy (and sleepy) too.

Petunia Pickle Bottom Bodysuit. Especially if you’re having a baby girl, you probably have tons of cute outfit options just waiting to adorn your little bundle of joy. In all honesty though, for the first month or so, you’ll probably want to stick with the basic bodysuit- do not fear- Petunia Pickle Bottom has these super cute options for the little ladies. They add that stylish flair without the hassle of pants, tops that will have to be changed frequently due to poopsplosions from your little fashionista in training.

By Vanessa of Silly Eagle Books

Nursery Trend: Maps

I love maps and map-inspired decor, so it only follows that I’m pretty excited about all the maps popping up in nurseries these days. If you are looking for some fun ways to add a little map-related charm to your baby’s room, here are some ideas to consider.

Decals are everywhere these days, why not try a map? I like this one from   UrbanWalls in black, but it comes in several other color options.

The chalkboard trend is also hot right now; it makes sense to mix it with maps. I  love  the world map, but the individual state maps would be fun also. This would also be fun in a few years when your baby is able to use chalk and can draw on it–bring   on the geography lessons!

I like the idea of finding an old frame at goodwill to showcase one of these charming   vintage maps as wall art.

Embroidered state art? Yes, please.

I’m pretty sure I could DIY this with an old atlas and some Mod Podge, but if not, there are several beautiful light switch plate covers available on etsy.

I’ve had my eye on these beautiful map pillows for awhile. These felt state pillows        are also fun.

And lastly, I love these whimsical pieces from Art on Globes.

Do you have any favorite maps or map-inspired decor to share?

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More about our Booty Blogger:

Vanessa is the mother of two beautiful girls–Juliet and Lucia. Before she was a mom, she spent her days teaching a little bit of English and a lot more “please be quiet” to high school students and her nights…wait for it…SLEEPING. Now her days are spent reading books, crafting, and chasing the cat around the house while her nights are filled with significantly less sleep and a lot more “please be quiet.” She writes about children’s books, crafting, and learning activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers at Silly Eagle Books.