How to Stay Sane as a Stay-at-home Mom - Part 2: Netflix!

Somebody was having a bad day...

If you're wondering why a new mom to twins needs anything else to occupy her time, please see the Part 1 post! Summary: Newborns are boring!

Moving on.

Now that the boys are a little bit older, and I feel confident in my abilities to carry them up and down the stairs daily, I allow them to come out of their nursery each day to hang out in the living room and kitchen. We have a set of swings, Exersaucers, and a Pack'N Play downstairs as well as some toys so that they can be a part of the family and be within sight while I am cooking, cleaning, Facebooking. Whatever.

I don't know about you, but it drives me crazy to be home in silence all day. I have to have some background noise. We decided a few years ago to cut back on excessive costs - so out of the budget went cable! We now use only Netflix for our television and movie watching needs and it is awesome! For background noise during the day, I turn on a series that I have already watched and just go through the episodes. When I feed the boys, we can sit down on the couch and turn on a different series to work through. It's what works for us!

What am I watching?

1. Breaking Bad - if you haven't seen it, start it IMMEDIATELY. Seriously, it is one of the best series I have ever watched. Ever. As long as you don't mind tons of drugs, violence and numerous profanities. Maybe don't watch it with your kids. 

2. Dexter - Andy and I are currently watching this together. I was afraid to start watching it because I am a sissy and I obviously spend a lot of time home alone. And awake making bottles in a dark kitchen in the middle of the night. It's not so scary, though! (Meh... I'm lying! I'm legitimately a little freaked out after watching some episodes. But it's so good!) I accidentally looked up something on my phone and ended up reading tons of spoilers before I could stop myself... Also, maybe don't watch this with your kids either. 

3. Psych - This one is a classic and we have been watching it for years! We're still not done working through the final season on Netflix which is the final season. Bummer. :-(

4. Grey's Anatomy - Whenever they release a new season of this show on Netflix, I somehow watch the whole thing in about a week. And then I have to wait a whole year for another season. It's been a long time waiting but the next season should be available for me to devour in September! Can't wait!

5. How I Met Your Mother - These episodes are only about 20 minutes long as opposed to the other shows that are about 45-55 minutes long. Perfect amount of time for watching a full episode while feeding the babies, but not long enough for me to leave on as background noise most of the time! This show has a great cast. I may just be a bit biased because I'm a big fan of Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel.

Honorable mentions go out to Family Guy, New Girl, Vampire Diaries, Lost, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, River Monsters, Glee, Parks and Rec, and Orange is the New Black. Wow. I watch a lot of TV.

Next up on my queue: The Walking Dead, Bones, Doctor Who and Burn Notice

Do you have any recommendations for me?

What I Ate Wednesday - Loaded BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

I'm always trying to sneak vegetables into Andy. It's been working out in my favor for years now - some of the time he doesn't even realize it. Sometimes he has a feeling that he's eating vegetables but he doesn't know how I got them in there. Sometimes he can just plain see them. Since he's the pickier eater (I don't like to use that word in this household... the boys WILL NOT be picky eaters. I refuse!) I like to start with a dish that I know he likes. Then I figure out a way to make it healthier - add vegetables, lower the sodium, sneak in some whole grains or Greek yogurt. The usual.

Today I started out with a BBQ Chicken Quesadilla. Can't complain there, right? Well, in getting out the ingredients to make said quesadillas, I came across some fresh foods in the fridge that really needed to be used. I hate it when fresh stuff goes to waste. In essence, this recipe came about as a way to clean out my fridge. But the results were quite delicious. The original quesadilla would have been fine, but I made a gourmet, flavor punched up version that Andy couldn't even complain about. How many vegetables can I fit into one quesadilla? Challenge accepted.

Loaded BBQ Chicken Quesadillas (makes 2)

Ingredients:

• 2 twelve inch flour tortillas
• 1 chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1/4 of a white onion, cut into thin strips
• 1/4 cup of zucchini, shredded or diced into small pieces
• 1 Roma tomato, diced
• 1 jalepeno, finely diced
• Handful (very precise!) of cilantro, roughly chopped
• Favorite BBQ sauce
• 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (could also use pepper jack, Mexican blend, anything really!)
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine

Instructions:

1. Saute chicken, onion and zucchini for about 7 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked and onions have started to brown. Add the tomato, cilantro and jalepeno. Cook until hot.

So many veggies!

2. Divide mixture equally between two tortillas. Add desired amount of BBQ sauce on top. Evenly divide the cheese. Fold in half.

3. Add small amount of butter or margarine to a griddle. Cook quesadilla until golden brown. Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown. Set aside on a plate to cool for a moment before cutting (cheese, sauce and goodness need to set or the fillings will all spill out) Cut in half and enjoy!

Life with Twins - 10 Things I Wish My Friends Knew

This post was featured on No Idea What I'm Doing: A Daddy Blog
by Clint Edwards! Check him out here!

Don't forget to follow Oh.em.gee it's Nikkie on Facebook!

I knew having one baby would change everything in my life. Then we ended up with two babies and I knew things would be even more complicated than I initially thought. Would I have time to keep up with friends? Would I be able to go back to work? Would I even have time to sleep? ( Oh my God, I NEED sleep to function!) Who knows! Turns out, it's apparently not that difficult to juggle everything. But then again, I could just have some very understanding friends.

Here's how having babies changed my life and relationships and the things I desperately want to tell my friends to try to make up for how bad of a friend I've been these past few months - maybe longer since I was a lazy bumpkin toward the end of my pregnancy!

1. I'm physically exhausted. You probably couldn't have guessed, but babies are exhausting. Sometimes they sleep through the night. Sometimes they are up literally all night. And then they have the nerve to require nearly constant care and supervision throughout the day.

2. I'm emotionally exhausted. Sure, blame it on the hormones that supposedly should be getting back to normal by this time. I blame it on the clingy, needy little babies I care for 24/7 along with the husband that I need to keep up a relationship with. A full day of sleep, a month of alone time with my Kindle and some peace and quiet may be enough to re-charge me.

3. My brain is mush. I don't know what day it is. Sometimes I don't even know what month it is. I do, however, know all words to all of the songs on the babies' toys and when they last pooped down to the minute. Having an intellectual conversation with me probably won't happen.

4. I have no idea what's going on in the world. I'm out of tune with reality and couldn't tell you what's going on within my own family let alone current events, celebrity gossip, or anything that has not happened within my house for the life of me. I try really hard to keep up in a conversation that does not relate to babies but I usually fail. Talk to me about anything baby related though and we're good.

6 month baby bump!

5. I really really really do want to spend time with you. We could go out to dinner, play Mario Kart at your house, go shopping, do whatever it is that we used to do... BUT it's so.much.work. It's much easier to stay home for the large majority of the time where I have all of the required baby-caring-for items within reach. Changing a diaper on top of a hot-tub cover on a porch in the middle of the blazing sun is not preferable, but I can try to make it work (and I have!). Trying to get baby to nap in a weird environment without LOTS of crying beforehand? Nope. Nope nope nope.

6. My babies cry. They cry a lot sometimes. And loudly. Taking babies out in public just isn't at the top of my to-do list. At home, I can let them cry and it doesn't bother a single person - you know, since I'm immune to their fussing at this point. You, however, are not and the crying will get to you! It will draw a lot of dirty looks and maybe some rude comments, too.

7. Spur-of-the-moment does not exist. My life revolves around nap times and feeding. I'm pretty much on a 3-hour timed cycle that repeats over and over again. I can plan around this cycle if we have set plans and times but I refuse to risk nap time and fussy babies for last minute plans.

8. I miss you! Being home alone with babies is exhausting, fun, relaxing, irritating, hilarious and lonely. Even though I have 2 little gentlemen with me at all times, I'm still lonely and I miss you and your adult interaction and conversations!

8 month baby bump!

9. I want to be with my babies. I don't want someone to baby sit them so we can go out or so I can have time away from them. They're cool little dudes and I want them with me. Sure, it's cumbersome and tiring now but it will get better and they will probably even get cooler and more hilarious than they already are. 

10. I abso-freaking-lutely cannot wait for you to have your own kids. I want to hug them and squeeze them and call them my squishy. I want to buy them things and buy you things and give you unsolicited advice. I want to cook for you and clean your house while your super preggy and uncomfortable or after you have your probably-adorable bundle of joy. I really hope you have twins - it's not a curse! Best of all, I want to go through all the fun parts of having babies again but without the experience of pregnancy. Oh, and I get to send baby home with you while I get to sleep at night!

Top 10 Baby Items from a Mom of Twins

Follow Oh.em.gee it's Nikkie on Facebook so you never miss a post!

My 3 Awesome Baby Shower Gifts blog post has so far been my most successful post! It's actually one of my favorites as well, so you all have good taste, clearly. Since it was so popular, I decided to take it to the next level - our top 10 favorite baby items. Keep in mind, this is coming from a mom of twins but a lot of this can be applicable to your singleton as well, with just a few minor adjustments - primarily buying just one of something or a single instead of a double. Duh. 

So what are our 10 most favoritest baby items thus far? Let's count back from number 10 to our favorite (SPOILER ALERT: it's the Wubbanubs, still!)

10. Bright Starts Lots of Links: These things are good for pretty much anything in the boys' room. We clip toys to their car seats, swings, jungle tunnel, other toys... they're pretty much always in use. They were the first "toys" the boys were able to play with as well since they are easy for little hands to grasp. Now they just grab them and stuff them in their mouths at every.possible.chance.

9. Gerber Rice/Oatmeal Cereal: If you read my sleep training twins and The Great Controversy posts, you already know why we love this stuff. It's inexpensive. It comes in great flavors. It's helped our babies' tummies stay full throughout the night. Do I really need anymore reasons to love this stuff?

8. Cosco Flat Fold High Chair: These were only $26.00 each! The table top high chairs that I initially wanted were double the price and would not grow with the babies as well so that idea got the boot as soon as I found these. They come in lots of different prints but we purchased two of the Chevron Lime prints and they are super cute and neutral enough to match our kitchen... which also happens to be primarily browns and greens!

The fabric pattern doesn't quite line up... but it doesn't bother me!

7. Munchkin Diaper Change Organizer: I wasn't really sure that I wanted one of these but I figured I would put in on our registry anyway. Now I'm super glad that I did as we use it, oh, all the time. I keep diapers, wipes, lotions, nail clippers, burp clothes, gripe water, binkies, you name it... it's in this organizer and it hangs right next to our changing table. Super convenient. Super inexpensive. This would be a great baby shower gift with some diapers, wipes or bath time items!

6. Graco Classic Connect 30 Infant Car Seat: You have to have a car seat so why not have a cute one? And one that's so easy to put in the car because it just snaps into a base. Considering I have to pack the kids up quite a bit, and there's 2 of them, this car seat saves me so much time that I would spend buckling and strapping car seats in. Now I just put them on the base and the click in place and we go. Easy enough for me!

In real life, it's covered with warning labels and stickers that you can't remove :-(

5. Graco DuoGlider Classic Connect Stroller: This stroller is great in conjunction with the car seats we have - the car seats (once again) just snap into the stroller! So until the babies can sit up without falling to the side - we're still not at that point - it can be used with their car seats. After that it can be used as a regular stroller! They have this in a singleton version too, for you people with the strange phenomena of having just one baby. Weird. 

Boys' first trip to the boardwalk - possibly an Oliver pooping face, too!

4. Baby Einstein 2-in-1 Safari Adventure Gym and Tunnel: If Emmett and Oliver were writing this list, this item would be number one. Actually, there might not be any other items on the list. Except for their Wubbanubs. They love their binks. And their bottles. But this item would still be number one.The plastic rings (see above) clip on to both ends of this and you can hang practically any toy from it for them to kick and bat at. They've been "playing" in this tunnel since about 6 weeks but now they really go crazy for it.

3. Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing: This is not your average baby swing. It's like a super deluxe baby swing on crack. You can just forget all other swings. We purchased one off of a Facebook yard sale group for only $30 and my cousin gave us a hand-me-down one for free. This swing goes in 2 directions, has a mirror-type thing that baby can see his reflection in and a moving mobile. It runs on D batteries but they last a good, long time. The neutral color fits in perfectly with our living room, too!

2. Summer Infant SwaddleMe Swaddlers: Why are these so special? I'm glad you asked! First, they come in adorable colors and patterns but that is only the most superficial reason I loveeee them. They Velcro closed in all the right places so babies really have to work to wiggle out of them. These swaddlers saved me so much time! Even if you are a professional baby swaddler, you still can't beat these. And multiply that by two babies, several times a night and that is a HUGE chunk of time saved. 

They have adorable prints and patterns!

1. Wubbanub: the hug-able pacifier! This is BY FAR my favorite baby item EVER. There is nothing more annoying than giving your baby a pacifier, going downstairs and before your feet even make it to the bottom stair, hearing your baby crying because his bink fell out. Again. And again. And again. Times two, if you have twins-ies! At first, we had to tuck the pacifier into their blankets or arms to help them keep a hold of it, but now at 13 weeks they can hug the stuffed animal themselves. And they come in so. many. animals. We have the blue dinosaur and a patterned monkey. Oh and did I mention??? It is nearly impossible to lose them because they are attached to the stuffed animal!

Oliver could be a Wubbanub model!

Unsure where to start your baby registry list? I would just copy everything from this list straight on to your registry. Seriously. It'll save you time and headaches because there is so much stuff out there to choose from!

You can also set up a baby registry through Amazon.com - so many choices! AND you can put items from other sites on it so everything is all in one place. It's great for putting those precious Etsy finds onto a baby registry - that one thing from Babies R Us - and a lot more choices than just registering through Target alone. Give it a try! (You can also set up birthday/holiday wishlists for yourself and/or baby, too!)

Honorable mentions: Evenflo Exersaucer - Life in the Amazon Triple Fun Saucer, Graco Pack'N Play, Baby Bullet Baby Food Maker, The Baby and Toddler Cookbook, and the Boppy Nursing Pillow

What items would make your top 10?