Weekending

Another weekend in the books, and another weekend of no sleep. Our baby girls are going through a bit of a growth spurt coupled with teething which means little to no sleep in the Butler household. Brutal. It started Saturday night and we are still going strong. The girls usually sleep until 3:30 am and then Avery will wake up up to three times after that until 5:30 am. That is doable. This waking up from 11:30 pm every hour or so is killing us. Sleep babies, sleep.

But other than that, we had a pretty good weekend. Friday I got a ton of errands done. I even managed to donate old clothes that have been sitting in a bag for months. Friday night we took the girls to Granite Street Eatery for a dinner outside. The girls were oh'd and awe'd over and we got to soak in a nice summer fall evening in.

Saturday was game day. We went to brunch, I hit the grocery story and we got ready to go to the game. Sans girls! We were able to tailgate and enjoy adult conversation. So amazing having a babysitter. Plus it was really hot. And we got cute updates of the girls the entire time. See.

Miss B (my not so little flower girl) and her grandma stopped over to see the girls and our babysitter

This momma enjoying her day date to the Pack game

The Pack won (such a change from last week), it was a gorgeous day and we got to catch up with some great friends.

Sunday we wanted a change of pace, so we headed to Lake Tahoe for the day. Tahoe City specifically. It was warm, but not warm enough to go to the beach with the girls. So we just walked the bike path in Tahoe City, took the girls to the park for their very first swing experience, had a late lunch while watching football at the local brewery and headed back home in time for the Niners game. 

My family was even dressed for the occassion.

Sutton LOVED the swing (she's wearing her Kaepernick jersey)

Avery was a super happy baby here. Loving the swing!

Look how gorgeous Tahoe was on Sunday

Sunday evening was spent watching the Niners lose, making a late dinner (after the girls went to bed) and going to bed early.

How was your weekend? Please send some positive sleep juju our way since our little ladies seem to be protesting sleeping. Thanks!

Oh Hey, Friday

We survived another week lovelies.

Today I am linking up with Karli at September Farm.

One. We have another home football game this weekend. And after last weeks burtal loss (we handed over the cannon to be painted the ugly UNLV red), we need a big W. What makes this game even better is we are actually tailgating BECAUSE we have a babysitter! We usually show up to the tailgate for about an hour to say hi to friends at different tailgates and then make our way inside to feed the girls. But this time, my "like a kid sister" is watching the girls for us. Thank you so much Kristalei.

Two. Fall decided to hide out for another weekend so it is going to be HOT this weekend. Highs call for 85 this weekend which means we can sneak in one last beach day Sunday. I can't wait to have my butt in the sand, toes in Lake Tahoe and build a sand castle with my little ladies.

Three. Baby head wraps. I could buy them all for the girls. I have been searching for the perfect ones for our upcoming family photos. I think I found two very cute ones. I found them at the cutest etsy shop, Urbanstylekids and I can't wait to see my girls in them. Here is one of the head wraps I bought, in a bigger size because my girls have larger heads (above 90%).

 head wrap

Four. I am in search of some fall candles. I struck out last week at Target (the shelves were almost empty), so I need your help in finding the best smells. I have some free time after work (woohoo) and I want to pick up a couple. Recommendations please?

sweet pumpkin candle

Five. Halloween costumes. I can't find anything I want the girls to be for Halloween. Sure they probably won't go trick or treating, but we may go to a party and I am sure they will have a dress up day at daycare. Should I get them a costume on amazon, go to a local second hand store or just put them in a Halloween onesie? I know I would regret it later on if we didn't have the "baby's first Halloween" pictures, so I want to do something. Suggestions? Ideas for costumes? Where to get these that don't cost an arm or a leg and something the girls can wear most of the day to daycare?  

I hope you all have a good weekend.

A Whole Bunch of Randomness

I am in a bit of a dazed state right now. My husband left to Vegas on a business trip (only a day), but it was at the butt crack of dawn. He flew out at 5:30 this morning. I did the same flight two weeks ago. Guess it's a mini payback.

But I am at a loss of putting together a coherent and organized post today. So I thought I would just go with a bunch of random thoughts/ideas/things.

One. I received my Stitch Fix box Monday night and I haven't even opened it. And I have to make my decisions by tomorrow. Guess I will be trying on clothes late tonight after the ladies go to sleep. And my husband has his softball game tonight, so I won't have anyone to help me make decisions (not that he really likes to help).

Two. Speaking of that, I survived getting myself, the girls and my pup ready for the day. I woke up a bit early, got myself completely ready, prepped the girls bottles, fed them, fed my pup, cleaned up the house a bit, changed the girls diapers and clothes and made it out the door with a little extra time. And we didn't have any blowouts this morning. Big win for me. And I even had time to sneak through the Starbucks drive thru before going to work.

Now everyone let's cross our fingers my girls are sweet angels for me tonight. As I said above, my husband is going straight from the airport to his game, so I won't see him until late tonight and I am on mommy duty all evening (hoping for lots of snuggles).

Three. Fall left the building here and we are back into the 80s here. As in a high of 86 on Saturday at the Pack game. Blah. So glad we got a babysitter for the girls, so they don't have to sit in the hot sun all game. I want my rain back (it was so rainy and Fall like last weekend) so I can bust out my hunter boots again please.

Four. My hair is finally experiencing the dreaded post pregnancy hair loss. Since I cut back on pumping and stopped altogether, my bathroom floor is disgusting. I am sweeping that thing several times a week now (sometimes just using my hand, gross, but don't judge). I got my hair done on Tuesday night and my stylist mentioned it. She said I have lots of baby hairs on the front, top, left side. Ugh, I know and I can't even cover them. Does anyone have any advice or products to use while my hair grows out? Anything from brushes to shampoos to hair styles, lay it on me please.

Five. I am also in a recipe rut at home. We have been cooking a ton at home (meaning I have been cooking) and I need some fresh new recipes to try. We love crockpot ideas, fall warm cozy meals, easy weeknight meals and seasonal stuff. Send me some of your favorite recipes please.

Six. The girls have a new teacher at daycare and so far we love her. We love how organized she is, how engaging she is, how sweet she is, how attentive she is and the list goes on. She has already been doing arts and crafts with the girls, working on them crawling, standing and trying to walk, working on talking, playing and being social with the other kids.

We were so worried about a new teacher because we loved their old one, Heather. She knew the girls. She was the only one who could swaddle them and get them to nap. She could tell them apart, she working with them on their milestones and gave us an informative update on the girls everyday. But I am happy to say that Brittany is amazing. So far, we love her and so do the girls.

And that's about all I have right now. So please send me your recipes and hair tips. Happy Thursday All!

Journey to a New Phone

Does it ever feel like all your expenses come at once? Fun ones (vacations), awful ones (taxes) and even boring ones (car maintenance). It so feels that way in my life right now. Guess it is the change of season.

I am in desperate need of a new cell phone. Mine is so wonky lately. I don't receive all my text messages, some of the ones I do get come hours late, my phone freezes quite often, doesn't hold a charge and is so slow. I have taken such good care of my phone because I knew I wouldn't be getting a new one for awhile. Last year when the iPhone 6 came out, I wanted it, but with the girls coming a few months later, I knew it wasn't in the cards. Plus my phone was working just fine.

I have an iPhone 5, so it is not THAT old, but it has some wear and tear on it. I may have drown my phone in breast milk a few times and dropped it countless times, but it is still ok.

So now I am faced with the should I get the new iPhone 6s? It takes better pictures which is great for on the go with the girls, it will be faster, I can get my messages, etc. But it is so much money.

And I just dropped $429 on a snowboard pass. Did I need it? Nope. Did I want it? Yes I did. Now please snow so it doesn't go to waste.

And we just purchased our flights to Mexico for April. It wasn't too pricey since we used miles, but even with the girls flying on our laps, you get taken by the taxes. Ugh. So many taxes coming back from Mexico. But it will be worth it to see the girls meet their great great aunt.

And the list goes on. I won't bore you with all the awful and boring expenses.

So I need some people to help me out here. Apparently there is a new program that most carriers are offering. AT&T offers the Next plan and it seems like a leasing plan. Pay for your phone over x installments and a few months before it is finished you can upgrade. Or you can buy the phone outright, but you pay a higher monthly fee for smartphone access (what the what? I don't pay this now), a higher activation fee and such. Basically from my minimal research it will cost the same monthly if I do the lease program (that's what I am calling it) as it would to buy it outright right now. What are the benefits of each? Do you still keep your phone after the "lease" is up? Or do you have to trade it in? If you keep it, do you pay more like you would for a car lease?

Help me out here. I need people with experience so I make the best decision.

She is quite pretty in rose gold

Weekending

Remember that fun trip I was to have at Target Friday afternoon? Well it didn't go exactly as planned. I looked around for a double seated cart, no luck, so I brought the girls in their stroller and grabbed a hand basket. I started making my way through the store. First stop, baby stuff. I couldn't find any toy sanitizing wipes or pacifier clips. But I got a huge box of diapers. And oh what fun it was to lug that thing around in my hands while pushing the stroller.

Next up, was looking for some fall candles, Halloween decorations and costumes. This is about the time Sutton started to have a fit. She didn't want to be in the stroller anymore. So I pulled her out and put the diapers in her place. All was ok (imagine carrying a baby and pushing a large stroller through Target) until I could smell poop. Little Miss pooped in her diaper and wasn't happy about it. I had to scrap my plans of anything Halloween and get to the check out fast (because I had to get these diapers). She calmed down enough for me to pay, strap her into her carseat and try to make my way to Starbucks where there was a line of 7 people. Dang, no delicious latte for me.

But I needed to make one more stop to get Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and Mac Naked Lunch Eye Shadow. I hoped and prayed the girls would be good for this. I bolted in the store, grabbed what I needed and checked out. Then I headed to the bathroom to change Sutton's diaper. All was better, but it was enough stress for the afternoon.

We headed home to meet up with R and go to Food Truck Friday. Sorry no pictures. I was too caught up in eating all the yummy food, hanging out with my babies on a blanket picnic style and mean grilling some dumb woman. We brought the girls in their stroller and we were walking around trying to figure out what to eat. The girls were very happy and everything was going well. We pass this husband and wife who had a baby in a carrier (front). She not so quietly told her husband that she was so glad that she didn't have twins. What a bitch. Yes I am glad she didn't have twins because it takes a special couple to raise them, love them and be grateful for them. It irked me all evening, but we still had a great time.

Saturday we went to breakfast and then got ready to go to the tailgate and Pack football game. We were set to play UNLV (our rival) for the cannon (which was blue and ours).

Sutton driving (pretending) mommy's car at the tailgate.

Tailgating with the babies

Bad news. Pack lost (second home game loss in a row to UNLV) and the cannon goes back to Vegas in red. Ugh. Worst news ever.

 Mommy and Sutton selfie toward the end of the game

The girls did pretty well most of the game. Avery was a champ and Sutton did really well until the last quarter. Then she was hungry and mad that the Pack was losing. We finished the game from the end zone area and bolted home. It started to rain hard and we needed to nurse our wounds, scotch style (for mommy and daddy only of course).

Sunday we had brunch with my in-laws and then they watched the girls so we could run some errands. So much easier to get errands done without the girls. But of course every errand had to do with the girls minus Home Depot where we got winter fertilizer (oh so fun). 

I was feeling under the weather all day yesterday due to lack of sleep (the girls didn't sleep well all weekend), a nauseous feeling all day, weaning and a new birth control. Or at least I hope. Please don't let me be getting sick. 

So we watched the Niners lose (big surprise), watched more football and had some Mexican food for dinner. And we were asleep by 9 pm. Glamorous life I tell you. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Except maybe more sleep.

How was your weekend?

Finally Friday

It's finally Friday again! That makes my heart feel so good. Plus we got a bunch of much needed rain yesterday. It's finally starting to feel like Fall!

Today I am linking up with Karli.

One. Last night was my last time pumping. It left me feeling sad, happy, bittersweet, but more than anything accomplished. I pumped for twins for just over 9 months. I am so proud of myself for sticking it out when I had countless clogs, low supply, mastitis, a breast abscess, surgery from my abscess, pumping at work, pumping in the car, pumping while traveling, pumping while my babies cried, getting up several times a night to pump and the list goes on. It has been a very rewarding experience, but I am very excited to get my boobs back. No more nursing bras!

I have a bit of a freezer stash to continue to give my girls milk a few more times, but then they will be exclusively formula fed. I had a goal of three months, then six, seven and so forth. I made it to nine and I couldn't be more proud.

Two. Rain. It is finally feeling like Fall in the Reno/Tahoe area. We had been hovering around the high 80s for the last few weeks with a sprinkle of 90s and I was waiting for the Fall weather to break out the sweaters, boots and scarves. So excited. And just in time for my Pearl and Monroe sweater to show up tomorrow.

Three. Sutton got her first tooth this week too! Avery got hers Monday and Sutton's was in by Wednesday. So happy. And it justifies their crazy evening behavior. But I think Avery's second bottom one is coming in now. Let's get both in and have happier babies this weekend please.

Four. Target run. I get to go to Target today and I am pretty excited. I have seen lots of blogs with Fall favorites from Target and I can't wait to get my hands on some. I will have the girls in tow just like we used to while I was on maternity leave. We need some baby stuff and a few other things, but I am sure I will end up with way more than I planned (and I can't wait). Target has a Starbucks in it and I need one while shopping around. Should I try the Toasted Graham Latte or stick with the Pumpkin Spice Latte? Has anyone tried the Toasted Graham Latte?

Toasted Graham Latte

Five. We are trying out a new swaddle system after seeing how much the girls have grown. The girls like the comfort of the swaddle blankets (we still semi swaddle them during naps with their Aden and Anais blankets), but like their hands free. Plus they roll, turn onto their stomach and sleep on their sides throughout the night, so we needed something else. We were using the Merlin Magic Sleepsuits for the last several months and loved them. But they recommend transitioning out when they start rolling. Well we started using them when they could roll, but they didn't do it as much as night. Now they prefer to sleep on their sides and move a ton at night. Plus they grew out of the 3 - 6 month (or up to 16 pounds).

Enter in the Zipadee-Zip. We have had a few people recommend them. They give the comfort of being swaddled or in the womb, but they can roll in them, sleep in them, grab their pacis, etc. It basically acts like a swaddle, but with so much more freedom. We are hoping they work out for our girls and can be used for a long time. After we have tried them for a week or two, I will let you know how it goes. Below are the ones we purchased.

 Elephants and Owls

A Late Weekend (Again)

Another week that I failed to do a weekend update on time. Monday I forgot my phone at home, so I didn't have any photos to post (and you can't do a post without photos, right?). Tuesday I worked in Reno all day and didn't have a chance to write a post that day. Yesterday I had to write about my baby girls turning 9 months because I was already a day late on that, and now it is Thursday. It feels weird to write a weekend update when we are about to start a new weekend. Anyways...here we go.

Last Thursday I headed out to the Bay Area for work and I received this little gem from my husband while I was gone.

I missed them so much and I was only gone overnight.

I went to Pluto's Restaurant for lunch while in Palo Alto and had this delicious salad. This place is so good. We need one in Reno or Carson. You pick between a few lettuces and over 50 salad toppings. Loved this.

Mixed greens with edamame, corn, roasted red peppers, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, peas and carrots with a balsamic dressing.

I flew home Friday evening and got home just in time to see my girls and put them to bed. At least I got to see them.

Saturday we watched football, ran errands (Total Wine, Lucky Jeans, Petco and the grocery store) and hung out.

 Saturday morning selfie session with Sutton

Sunday we headed to one of our favorite places, Graeagle. We wanted to get away for the day and a trip to Graeagle is just what we needed. We went to the local shops and bought a few things, had ice cream at Buckaroo Chocolates, relaxed in the park and went to The Brewing Lair to enjoy a beer and people watch. Always an amazing time.

 Blair beer at The Brewing Lair

Then we went home to watch the awful Niners game. We recorded it, so we could start it late and ended up fast forwarding through a bunch of it since it was so bad. Awful, horrible game. So sad to see the Niners fall like that. Kap threw two pick sixes and another two interceptions?! And the receivers looked like garbage too. Ugh so utterly disappointed in them. This could be a tough year for us Niner fans.

We made dinner that evening and did the normal Sunday evening routine of getting the girls ready for daycare the next day.

How was your weekend? And do you have any eventful plans this weekend?