Her: Wow I really don't remember being this tired and unmotivated with my other pregnancies. This is ridiculous.
ME: That's because you are having a girl....lol!
Her: I like that answer :)
Friend #1: Twin girls? What?! ;)
Her: die
Friend #1: Oh thaaaats right, you wanted triplet girls. :D
Her: I mean I don't think I'd like twins :)
Me: Your twin girls can hang with my twin boys......bahahahaha
It went back and forth like that for a bit. Now she doesn't really know what she is having yet or if she is having twins, but it was fun joking back and forth. All the talk of twins did spur me to come up with a list of things I have learned while raising my twin boys. I'm no expert, just a typical mom making my way through life raising my children as best as I know how.
First, NEVER and I mean NEVER buy just one of a certain item. Whether it's a toy, t-shirt, plate, cup, blanket or any other thing you can think of, always buy two of the same thing. It never fails when one wants that plate with the race cars on it, the other wants the same thing. I have just learned that it is easier to have two on hand than to try to reason with a three year old. I'm sure when they get older I won't have to keep buying duplicates, but for the time being I am always on the lookout for those Buy One Get One deals on toddler items.
Second, when it comes to feeding during the first year, I highly recommend investing in a Boppy pillow and a good breast pump (if you are planning to breastfeed). I tried to keep my boys on the same feeding schedule so it didn't feel like I was always feeding. I had a pretty good set-up going for feeding time....one boy would get breast-fed and the other would get a bottle with breast milk. This is where the Boppy came in handy. I could hold one and lay the other in front of me on the pillow. Then the next feeding time I would switch who got the bottle and who didn't. It is possible to breastfeed both at the same time, but let's face it, no matter how much I wanted to be Supermommy, it just wasn't happening for me.
Third, be prepared for separation anxiety. I found that my boys can't go anywhere without the other one in tow. After all they did spend 9 months curled up together inside my womb and it's only natural that they always want to be together. I can't even run to the grocery store with just one of them. It's either they both go or they both stay home with daddy.
Next, potty train at the same time. As soon as one shows signs that he/she is ready, get the other one on board with the plan. I just couldn't see stressing myself and my boys out by dragging the whole process out twice. And besides they learn from each other anyway....
And lastly, my biggest piece of advice would be don't sweat the small stuff. Raising twins shouldn't be an anxiety invoking ordeal. It really isn't any more difficult other than the fact that there are two children and a little more noise.
I absolutely love being a mommy of these handsome 3 year old twin boys!
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