Seeking Stroller Advice

Starting at the beginning of October, I'll be watching two of my former co-workers' daughters when they go back to work.  So, I'll be home 5 days a week with 3 children under 2.  Well, I guess technically, at first, it will be 3 children under 1.  Needless to say, I think a sturdy double stroller will be an order if I ever hope to get out of the house this school year.  I've done more stroller research than I care to admit and I'm still unsure what kind to get.  Whether we buy used or new, this will probably be our biggest "for baby" purchase and I'm hoping we can make the "right" purchase the first time.

Sooo, anyone who's reading this blog and can chime in with some stroller recommendations, I'd really appreciate it!  My husband would too...the word stroller is currently outlawed from our dinner time conversations : - )

Here's our situation/preferences:

1. We're leaning towards a side by side rather than a tandem stroller because both girls will only be 3 months when I start watching them and I need to be able to take them out right away.  Tandems seem to require that at least one child be able to sit completely upright unless you snap the car seat into the stroller.  I'm dealing with 3 different infant car seats and finding a stroller that accommodates different types seems tricky.  Also, from the testing I've done in stores, tandems seem harder for me to maneuver.  Especially when I'll be wearing the third child.   
2. The seats need to recline a lot. The girls will be tiny.  I don't want them in forced sitting positions with their chins on their chests.  I know most strollers say that you shouldn't use them before 6 months unless you're using a carrier but I'm not taking them out for an all-terrain jog.  I just want them to be comfortable when we're strolling around the neighborhood.  That being said, it would be nice if the seats adjust easily because Alcuin hates being reclined.  
3. Good sunshade is a must.  We live in Phoenix.  Need I say more?
4. It doesn't have to be a jogger, but I'd like it to be.  Adam and I are surprised by how much we've been walking/running/hiking since we've moved to AZ.  I walk/run almost everyday and we probably go on a hike twice a month at least.  The trails here are rocky so I'd like wheels that can take that.  
5. It has to fit in the car.  Obviously, if we're hiking with Alcuin on the weekends.  Or if I ever needed to take all three kids out somewhere (probably never.)  We have a Pontiac Vibe with a hatchback.  
6. We're not (too) afraid of the price tag.  We understand that even if we buy a used stroller, we'll be shelling out the big bucks.  But I'd rather have a solid stroller that I can hold onto for a while rather than a cheap one that constantly needs parts fixed or that we have to upgrade after 1 or 2 years.  

So, if you have a stroller to recommend, please do!  And if there's something you think that I'm not taking into consideration, I'd be happy to know that too.  

Our Visit to PA

We spent the end of June and all of July in Pennsylvania.  It was wonderful.  Besides PA being much less hot (and much more green) than Phoenix, we got to visit with both of our families for several days, took a 4 day trip to Pittsburgh to visit college friends and Alcuin's godparents as well as a few day excursions to see friends in other parts of the state.

Alcuin loved spending time with his grandparents and Adam and I loved the babysitting that the grandparents so eagerly offered : - )  We got to go on 3 dates in the month of July!  I think that fulfills our date quota for the rest of the year...Alcuin also got to spend time with his 2 cousins (ages 5 and 2) and 3 god-siblings (ages 3, 1.5, and 3 mo.) and man, does he love being with other kids!  It's amazing how much happier and less needy he is with other little ones around.  They don't even need to play with him, he just likes to watch them in constant motion.  Alcuin doesn't seem like a Mama's boy (yet!); he exhibits no stranger danger but he HATES being by himself.  One of my biggest frustrations right now is that he seems to need my attention EVERY waking moment of his day.  But at least I can pass him off to anyone without a fuss.  Like today, he played with one of the hygienists for an hour during my dentist appointment.  And then fell asleep in her arms.  The problem is, there isn't usually anyone else during the day until Adam comes home at 5.  I think baby boy needs a puppy so he can chase someone else around the house besides me.

Here are a few pictures from our PA trip:

He loved his oldest cousin, Jaxsen, and Jaxsen was really gentle with him.  He could make Alcuin laugh hysterically just by looking at him.

Hanging with Linus and Dominic and Gregory (below) during our trip to Pittsburgh.

This was the only picture where all three were even close to looking at the camera.  Sorry Gregory!

While in my hometown, we visited some of my favorite childhood haunts such as Merrymead Farm and Friendlys.

With my sister, Emily, at Friendlys.  We used to come here all the time as kids with my grandparents.  The waiter might have smirked at me when I ordered that cone-head sundae.

I love this picture of Alcuin and my dad.

This was taken a few days ago, back in AZ, on Alcuin's 9 month birthday.  I can't believe how big he's getting.  He looks less like a baby and more like a little boy every day. 

 

Please pray for our priests.

Last Wednesday night, there was a break in at our parish.  One of our priests was killed, the other seriously injured.  As of yesterday, he is in critical but stable condition.  We appreciate your prayers for both of them as well as for the people of our parish and for those who committed this grievous crime. 

A Quick Update

Well, we've moved but we won't have the Internet until the end of the summer for various reasons. I'm back to haunting coffee shops for an hour or two while Adam hangs with Alcuin.  Since I don't have too much time, here are a few pictures I snapped of Alcuin and the new place:

Half of our new backyard

One messy house

One messy baby room

One sitting babe in need of haircut

One sitting babe post haircut

Same sitting babe in front of kitchen mirror. 

I'm hoping to update more soon.  We'll be in PA in July and we're super excited to see everyone.  Until then..God Bless and Happy Summer!  For those who don't live in Phoenix, that is. 

0 1/2 Years With Alcuin Charles

Alcuin turned 6 months old yesterday; wow how time flies!  During his well baby check up, he weighed in at 15 lbs, 3 oz (quite a load to cart around).  New accomplishments include chilling in the exersaucer, sitting (sort of), sitting in a highchair at restaurants (all fun and games until you bang your chin on the table), and sampling a few solid foods. 

Here are Alcuin's opinions on the solid foods he's had to date:

1. Piece of banana:  "Fun to squish, nowhere near my mouth, please!"
2. Mashed banana:  "Who'd eat this when you can fling it on the floor?"
3. McDonald's french fry:  "This is more fun to suck on than my pacifier..."
4. Pink plastic spoon from Yogurtland:  "Nom, nom, nom!"

Makes an argument for baby-led weaning.

In other news, we got the keys to our new place last Thursday and we officially move in May 17th!  We're excited for Alcuin to have his own bedroom and right now I'm contemplating making it rather, um, Montessori-inspired?!  We'll see how it goes and I'll certainly post pictures of the process. 

Alleluia, He has risen!

Happy Easter, everyone!

We hope everyone had a blessed Easter Sunday.  Ours was very joyful.  A friend of ours was received into the church and Adam was his sponsor.  I made it to sunrise service for the first time in 10+ years?....one of the unexpected joys of being up with a happy baby at 5:30 am.

Two of our friends got engaged yesterday afternoon despite the groom-to-be losing the engagement ring at Easter vigil the night before.  True story.  It must have fallen out of his pocket at mass but he didn't realize it until he had dropped his lady off at her house after the vigil.  So he returned to the church and combed the parking lot with a flashlight in the wee early hours of Easter morning.  No ring.  So he frantically called the priest as soon as the sun came up and asked if it was in the church.The priest searched the church.  Ring found!  Unfortunately, this was after he proposed.  But I think this story indicates that he will be a devoted husband and she a very gracious wife.  We couldn't be happier for them.  And, of course, they now have the best engagement story to share at parties.

On a side note, one of the two Easter parties we attended yesterday had an Easter egg hunt for grown-ups.  Guess what was inside those eggs?  Little bottles of LIQUOR.  Now those were some eggs worth finding.

Alcuin, while lacking the cognitive maturity and necessary mobility for Easter egg hunts did take delight in his Easter basket (though probably not as much delight as Mommy did in making it for him).  Among a few other treats, he got a wooden rattle that he finds absolutely hilarious though this picture doesn't exactly capture his joy:

His grandma also got him some baby musical instruments which he finds thoroughly entertaining.  The kid does love to shake, rattle, and roll.  But mostly just rattle.  It's adorable but when we start to hear those instruments 24/7 the plan is to ship him off to grandma's.  Instruments and all.


 

My Day with the Pink Panda

Today was spent with a pink panda.  Specifically, this pink panda:

If you're anything like my husband, you're asking: "What the heck is that?"  That is Pink Panda, Alcuin's nebulizer and my new best friend.  Seriously, it feels like I sat with this plastic animal ALL DAY LONG. 

Alcuin's had a mild fever and a nasty cough since last week.  Yesterday I did the typical first-time-parent freakout and took him to the pediatrician.  Because my baby's cough could have been life threatening, ya know?  It wasn't.  But the doctor did recommend a breathing treatment.  "Isn't that a bit excessive?"  I thought to myself.  "What happened to the good old days when you tell me to stick him in the bathroom with hot water running and rub Vicks on his feet?"  Turns out I was wrong.  Nothing stops Alcuin's wheezing like this panda does.  I LOVE IT.

Alcuin loves it too.  The little albuterol addict.  

 So that was my day.  Sitting with this bear, dancing in a steamy bathroom with my little man, and of course, the Vicks.  Now the whole bedroom smells like Vicks.  Adam already hates the white noise machine; I can't imagine he's going to be thrilled about the fumes.  And speaking of Adam, tomorrow we will have dinner together for the first time in a week!  Not exaggerating.  That's what happens when your husband coaches track, acts in the school play and agrees to be someone's sponsor for RCIA.  He's a popular guy and I'm proud of him.  He called tonight from RCIA practice to tell me how excited he is that we will have dinner together tomorrow.  Aww.

But seriously, he needs to come home now.  So I can stop staring at this pink bear and talk to an actual person. 

You probably thought this post was going to be way more exciting than it actually was.  I thought so too when I started writing it.  My apologies.  I'm off to sleep in my vapor-filled bedroom. Goodnight :-) 

Happy 5 Months, Alcuin!

On Sunday, Alcuin turned 5 months old. As far as we can tell, he's pretty much your typical rolling-all-over-the-place, trying-to-put-everything-in-his-mouth five month old. He enjoys watching people eat, sampling utensils, and making loud razzing noises during mass : - ) Relaxing times in the baby gym, swing, and/or bouncy chair were always of short duration with Alcuin but now they are quickly becoming a thing of the past. He's managed to escape out of all three at different times, sometimes rather dangerously:

I ain't sitting here all day folks!

Spring Break Highlights

Adam was on spring break this week and we really enjoyed the time together as a family. Here are some of our highlights: 1. WE'RE RENTING A HOUSE!!! Our lease starts May 15th. Words cannot express how excited I am to have 2 bedrooms, a laundry room, a garage, and best of all: a backyard! With grass. Grass is not a given here in Phoenix so we are blessed. Even better, someone else will be taking care of the grass. The house is less than a five minute walk to school so no more driving Adam back and forth to school with Alcuin screaming in the backseat every time I need the car. May cannot come soon enough! 2. WE'RE ALLOWED TO PAINT INSIDE THE HOUSE! This is the last thing our landlord told us after we signed the contract on Monday. His exact words: "I want you to feel like it's your home. So, you know, if you want to paint the baby's room or living room, just let me know." Adam took one look at my face and said, "Uh oh." He's right. I've spent hours this week looking up nursery ideas on Pinterest. Alcuin will finally have a nursery. Alcuin, as you can see is really excited about this:

And now, no more house highlights, I promise. 3. Adam's birthday was on Wednesday and we celebrated by having some friends over for cake and ice cream. I made my first cake from scratch--red velvet with cream cheese icing--and it actually turned out pretty good! The biggest oops was in the decorating. I wrote "Happy Birthday Adam" in cursive but my cursive m only had two humps. Unfixable. So the cake actually read "Happy Birthday Adan" and then Adam insisted that we add an accent mark over the second a.

It reminds me of the cake Hagrid baked for Harry in the first Harry Potter movie. 4. Last Saturday, we left Alcuin with a babysitter and went to see The Veronica Mars Movie. Veronica Mars is kind of Adam's and my guilty pleasure. Adam watched the series when it was on the CW in high school. The first year we were married we watched all three seasons together and he got me hooked too. The movie was nothing remarkable but we're such die-hard fans, we didn't care. What we thought was really cool was that the director and the show's main star, Kristen Bell, got the movie funded with the Kickstarter website. So the movie was mostly funded by fans of the show. All the stars of the show returned for the movie despite the fact that it was low budget film. Over all, it's been a wonderful week at home with the whole family. We're excited for summer and getting to spend some time with our extended families back in PA.

7 Quick Takes

--- 1 ---

I know these are supposed to be written on Friday but that was just not happening. Plus, some pretty exciting things happened this weekend so I'm glad I'll be able to include them in these quick takes! Today we found out that a house is up for rent in the adorable neighborhood right next to our school. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a yard and it's right across the street from friends of ours. Adam would have a pleasant walk to work and I could have the car all day. The most amazing thing: it's actually in our price range. We had kind of resigned ourselves to being in an apartment for at least another year because renting houses is just so expensive here, especially in the area of the city where we're hoping to live. This house would be amazing if we could get it. Your prayers would be appreciated!

--- 2 ---

On Friday night, Adam attended a fundraising auction for our school. Teachers and parents can bid on everything from gift baskets to vacation packages and all the proceeds go to the school. Prior to the auction, we had been discussing with fellow teachers the possibility of bidding on one of the vacation packages together and dividing the cost between us. We put in a bid for a trip to Mexico and we got it! It includes one week at a villa in some small Mexican town (Adam forgot the name) and we have a year to use it. I'm hoping this small town in near a beach but even if it's not, it will still be cool to go to Mexico.

--- 3 ---

Alcuin had his four month check up on Friday. He weighed in at 13 lbs, 13 oz (25th percentile) and 24" (30th percentile). So he's kind of a squirt but a rolling-talking-shrieking squirt so I'm not at all concerned. I did ask the pediatrician about his lack of naps and he told me that it was probably a personality thing and that I'd be fighting with Alcuin about naps for the next five years. Ugh.

--- 4 ---

We enrolled Alcuin in swim lessons at a local pool and he had his first lesson on Thursday. They're free until he's six months old. He loved it! We were so glad. We're really hoping he takes to the water because with summer temperatures averaging around 110 degrees here, it's important to have a baby who's swimming pool friendly.

--- 5 ---

Ash Wednesday was tough. I'm horrible when it comes to fasting and I wasn't even really fasting, just trying not to snack. Needless to say, that was an epic fail. Wednesdays are also the day when I don't have the car and Adam has play practice until 8 pm. An Alcuin+no naps day is typical. An Alcuin+no naps+no car day is tough. An Alcuin+no naps+no car+no snacks day is unbearable. When Adam did come home on Wednesday night, I threatened to go back to work and put Alcuin in daycare. He wisely kept his mouth shut until my "little moment" passed. Basically that meant he kept his mouth shut until Thursday morning.

--- 6 ---

Adam and I are reading classic children's book together. We just finished Mother Goose and we're currently reading Winnie-the-Pooh. Neither Adam or I read Winnie-the-Pooh as children but we'll definitely be reading it to Alcuin--hopefully prior to him being exposed to the Disney version. Nothing against Disney (anyone who knows Adam or myself knows how much we love Disney) but the movies and their animation don't hold a candle to the books and their original Shepard illustrations. They're just such good stories. Adam remarked that the original pictures aid, rather than replace the child's imagining of the story. I would have to agree.

--- 7 ---

Speaking of Alcuin, it was sometime this week a year ago that we found out we would be having him. Now, a year later, our lives have been completely flipped upside down but we wouldn't have it any other way!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

So we'll try this blogging thing...

I'm back!  Well, that is, if one post 2 years ago that was only read by myself and one other person counts as blogging....I guess it would be more accurate to say I'm just beginning.  

In January, Adam and I stepped into the 21st century and got Internet in our apartment.  I know, first a microwave, now the Internet?!  We're so progressive, it's scary :-)  But, seriously.  We've been married for over 3 years and have never paid for Internet until now.  It's kind of sad actually...but gosh, it makes life so much more convenient.  I've been basking in Internet bliss, Googling every single question that comes to mind.  These days, those questions usually revolve around finding some magic way of getting an almost four month old to nap for more than 20 minutes.  Because that's where my life is right now.  

Speaking of which, we all know the real reason why I'm blogging.  This cutie, patootie right here:

Alcuin Charles

  I'm biased, but you have to admit, that's a darn cute baby.  I mean, check out that hair!  Mommy and Daddy find Alcuin exceptionally cute when he does this

for an extended period of time.