v 4 issue 2: Seeing Double

Celebrate the blessed arrival of twins with quality twin baby gift selections. Our article this week comes from a Tot Trends Weekly reader- What to Expect when Having Twins.

Cover by Shannon Holden











1 Milk and cookies, served in a delightful gift wrapping, can be found in an unfamiliar package at Polkadot Platypus. "You can't serve one...without the other", so these snackful onesies make a perfect gift for a set of twins. Come in pink & blue combinations to fit twins of 3-24 months!

2 Send out one of these adorable twin announcements from tiny*prints and add a little squeal-appeal to your great news. The twin girl and boy screaming birth announcements, designed by Petite Alma, can be tweaked to your liking during the ordering process. Change a color, a font, or keep it just like it is! Any which way, we love the look and quality of these prints.

3 Dimples & Dandelions carries this sweet hand-finished 6" x 8" tile which is heat-sealed to ensure a high-quality finish. A beautiful keepsake for the "two peas in a pod" of your life. Made to withstand the test time and to keep the memories alive!

4 Trendy Twin Shop is the place to visit for coordinating couture for twins and their siblings. This adorable Preemie Kimono is available in Blue Lagoon and Tickled Pink. There is nothing like the ease of a gown for quick and easy changes. Available in 5-9 lbs of pure sweetness.

5 Jam-packed full of goodies! My Retro Baby has put together a spectacular collection of onesies & accessories to blast twins off to the moon in style. Everything is packed up in a vintage mini suitcase with astro travel stickers to match. Super news! If you happen to need a gift for triplets....you can add to the pack as needed.

6 For the computer geek dwelling inside most of us nowadays, these copy & paste tees are utterly fabulous. They come in all shapes and sizes for infants & tots alike. Pick from short sleeve, long sleeve, or a onesie! You are sure to be pleased with the comfort and quality at babyslanguage.com.

7 Double dip at The Best Dressed Child for great matching outfits. This cute doggy print can be purchased as a dress, pant set, coverall, or overalls with a shirt. Dress those adorable fraternal twins up in a special combination outfit for a sweet and simple look that works for boys and girls.


This weeks mom tips:
Financial Tip:
As mom always said, turn out the light when you leave a room. This small gesture cuts down on your annual electricity bill.


Cleaning Tip:
Rub glass shower doors with a white vinegar-dampened sponge to remove soap residue.

Organizing Tip:
Get rid of trash. You’ll be amazed at the amount of trash or stuff you never use you have throughout your home. Save time and space by tossing trash and donating usable goods.

Time Saving Tip:
Shop online! Services like Netflix for movies and Shutterflyfor photos can help you minimize running around by accomplishing tasks from home. Set up online payment for your bills to save money on stamps and a trip to the post office.

What to Expect when Having Twins -Things I Wish that I Had Known Before

The attention that I received for expecting twins was simply amazing. My family and friends were shocked and curious about the pregnancy and how the babies would change our lives. I bought all the books that you could think of and read as many articles as I could about expecting multiples. At four months, I found out that I was having daughters. "Life will be even more beautiful when the girls arrive," I said time and time again.

My husband and I took Hypnobirthing classes to prepare me mentally for birthing in hopes to ease any pain.

I delivered my daughters in the winter of 2003. The delivery was hard. I attempted to do my Hypnobirthing, but the pain was unbearable. At 37 weeks, I was induced and given a C-section. I was not even conscious after the delivery because I hemorrhaged. The next days following the birth were blurred and filled with pain. Life was not as I expected it to be.

One week later, we brought home the girls. Why did so many people tell me that their babies slept through the night within the first few days? This did not hold true for us. The first night home, the girls screamed, they cried, we did not sleep. For months we did not sleep. I did not expect this.

There were strategies that helped us cope. Because we bottle fed, we slept the girls in their car-seats. My husband and I alternated feedings during the night so that we could get as much sleep as we could. Having the girls in their car-seats allowed one of us at a time to feed the girls using both hands. The left hand would be used to feed one child, and the right hand to feed the other. I was also put on sleeping medication to help me fall asleep after I fed the girls. The sleep deprivation and hormone changes put me into a Postpartum Depression.

Once or twice a week we were fortunate enough to have family members stay overnight and allow us to get a full night's sleep. I truly feel that if we did not have this support, I would have fallen into a worse state of depression. My mother was also there day in and day out to help care for the twins while my husband was working. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel toward her. My mother is unselfish, gracious, and our light of hope.

I did try to nap when the girls were napping, but thoughts were racing through my mind constantly and I felt that I had to do housework. I do wish I knew now what I didn't know then. The girls are three years old now and it is rare that my house is spotless. I don't worry about it now, and I wish I didn't worry then. It is true; the mess will get cleaned up eventually. It does not matter if you have clutter when you are the verge of self destruction.

The first three years of my daughter's lives are a blur to me now. I can't remember when they turned over for the first time, or when they said their first word. All I know is that I am glad that I didn't give up. They are the most beautiful children I could have been blessed with. As I sit here typing this article, they are walking down the hall hand in hand saying, "We are best friends. Let's pretend that you are the Mommy and I am the baby." They are smart and kind and compassionate. I am proud of my daughters and I am proud of our families. They have helped us day in and day out to mold the girls into what they will become.

Story submitted by Tot Trends Weekly reader Jennifer Rose Hewes. Jennifer is one of our cover photographers as well. View her online portfolio at jenniferrosephotography.org