We didn’t go all out with Quinn and baby toys. We had one bouncer seat and one play mat. Plus a small smattering of various tactile toys and plushies. That was basically it, and that was all we needed. He was super active and determined.
Crawling at 4 months, even though he couldn’t sit-up yet. He would literally prop himself up on his arm when he stopped for a break. Walking at 9 months and into, onto and around everything. He was happy with a stroller walk and a few crackers and I loved being able to keep active.
But it is 100% different now having twins. Not only twins, but twins plus Quinn.
I no longer have plenty of time to spend bathing my little bundle or nursing or anything really.
Everything is done at warp speed in multiples with little to no mom time and smaller doses of one on one mom and baby time.
My time is spend much more intentionally.
The best piece of advice I was given before the twins came was to make a schedule and stick to it.
Well, I want to amend that advice before I pass it along to you.
I would say make a schedule that works for you and then stick to the schedule that works for your babies.
I had this very romanticized vision in my mind that I would have them on identical schedules and it would revolutionize our lives. We would simply do every twice all at once and then have plenty of ‘extra’ time to do other things.
Well reality is dish best served cold. And my reality came with some frozen ice chunks and that nasty freezer burn smell.
So after I got over my romantic notion I quickly came to realize that the twins were really good at telling me what they needed as long as I was willing to listen. And the result is a perfectly off-set schedule that bounces back and forth between the two as needed.
For example, Rhys – our twin boy – was always the first one to wake up in the morning. I would get him up, fed and changed and then Avery – our twin girl – would wake up and I would repeat the process. But recently they’ve switched schedules. Now, Avery wakes up first and Rhys is second.
Whatever schedule you end up on strap in, gear up and enjoy the ride. ‘Cuz its a wild one!
Here are a few items that help us survive…