::stroller junkyard::

Our living room entry hall has become a stroller junkyard. At the moment, we have four different working strollers lined up--and we really only use ONE everyday.

What's even worse? I RE-PURCHASED the Phil & Teds Vibe stroller for the twins because I can't seem to find a better double stroller for everyday use. See my previous post "return to sender." I still don't like the terribly sensitive brake button. But I do like the fact that it folds easily (once I figured out how!) and that it is even lighter than the Maclaren Twin Triumph (an umbrella stroller). I LOVE the fact that it is easily cleanable -- just wipe it down with baby wipe at the end of the day and it is nice and clean for the next day.

I took all three kids to the zoo with the Mountain Buggy Double last week. O stood on the detachable Buggy Board Maxi and the twins hung out happily in their comfy seats. The big clunker successfully negotiated bumpy sidewalks without much fuss.

As for O's Bugaboo Chameleon -- I just haven't gotten up the courage to get rid of it. She is almost too big for it, but the sentimental value is priceless.

::hit-n-run::

Since I haven't posted for a long time, I thought I'd do a 'hit-n-run'. Hope you are well and enjoying the summer!

Nice to have:
1. Hunter rubber boots for toddlers/youths.
2. Safety 1st HD video monitor.
3. Mutsy booster seat for dining with mum and dad.
4. Snack Taxi reusable snack pouches.
5. Maxi Cosi Rodi XR toddler car seat (converts into booster).
6. Pkolino kids furniture.
7. Offi capsule chair.
8. Skip Hop Tubby tub toy organizer.
9. SoMi Baby sleepsack.
10. Ollie & Lime baby bedding and sleepsack.
11. Zid Zid Kid backpacks.
12. Crewcuts brand by J Crew.

::urban baby bonnets::

As part of the preparation for our beach holiday, I've been searching high and low for cool, modern hats for the children. I looove hats by Kik Kid, but not many U.S. stores sell them.

After days of research (you'd think I have all this time on my hands!), I found Mod Bonnets by Urban Baby Bonnets. These handmade hats are Colette Palamar's modern interpretation of the Victorian baby bonnet. Each bonnet comprises of two complimentary graphic patterns and it is completely reversible. Two hats for the price of one!

They are not only adorable but functional as well -- the wide brim offers significant protection from the sun. The soft, breezy cotton fabric is breathable and comfortable. Even our Miss C, who hates hats just like her older sister, will wear the bonnet without complaint. Colette also offers ski bonnets (lined with fleece) and other hand sewn baby items.

To order a bonnet, just visit Colette's Etsy site. I chatted online with her about making a custom bonnet for O. She was super patient and very accommodating. She guided me through fabric choices and size selection. She even expedited my order by working through the weekend and sending the bonnets overnight. So great!

In order to choose the right size, measure your child's head at its widest dimension. I had the twins monthly doc records on hand, so it made size selection easy. However, I would recommend getting the next size up for two reasons--1) the cotton fabric shrinks a little after a wash and 2) a larger size allows for longer wear.

Thanks again, Collete, for your wonderful creations!

::boodalee::

Hello again! O and the twins have kept me busy :-)

When O turned two years of age, we asked her pediatrician if we should switch her to a toddler bed. He said, emphatically, 'No!' He advised us to keep O in her crib for a little longer so that we don't have to deal with a wandering toddler in the middle of the night while we are trying to feed twin babies.

Now that C1and C2 are six months of age, we are going to try to convert her Nurseryworks crib into a toddler bed. While trolling the various online home decor stores for toddler bedding, I stumbled upon bedding and other kids products made by Boodalee.

I actually bought a Boodalee pillow for the twins' nursery last year; I just never thought to research the brand. The vivid graphic patterns on the bedding is modern yet kid-friendly. Your toddler will love it! Too bad they don't have a fish theme for O :-(

::monkeying around::

Special Edition Bugaboo canvas tailored fabric by Paul Frank...need I say more?!

::tee-rrific::

Now that warmer weather is finally upon us, I am again on the prowl for boy's clothes for C1. After digging out O's old baby clothes, I feel a little embarrassed about how much she has. Lucky C2, she gets to inherit some really nice summer dresses.

After hours of serious research (yeah, I have nothing better to do!), I found a couple of brands that are worth checking out.

Glug makes bold graphic tees that are so delicious. Wonderboy makes layered tees that are super graphic but not cutesy. Both brands are a little more expensive than the Daily Tea range from Tea Collection, but the color combinations are a little better (IMO).

Also check out Speesees, a company that believes strongly in fair trade and organic fabrics. The clothes are very colorful (hard to come by with organic fabrics) and whimsical. The prance jumper just cracks me up! This brand is less expensive than Kate Quinn Organics and a little more fun and less classic.

::the perfect wool::

Uncle A sent the kids hand-made wool knits in the mail a couple of weeks ago. One of his friends from the "Phantom of the Opera" show on Broadway, Angie, knitted these incredible garments out of a merino wool yarn called Koigu.

The yarn is the perfect wool for kids clothing because it is treated so that it can be washed and dried in the machine. The scales of the fiber are fixed down so that it does not shrink and is not scratchy at all. Even Miss C, who hates most hats, wears it without complaint.

When the yarn is washed, it stretches out and when put in the dryer, it snaps back to the original size. To make the garment larger, you take it out of the washer and let it dry flat. This means the garments can be worn for more than one season. Ingenious!

Kudos to Angie for the incomparable craftsmanship, and big hugs and kisses to Uncle A for the thoughtful gifts :-)

::return to sender::

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about the Phil & Teds Vibe. The stroller is the more stylish version of their classic in-line (tandem) strollers. Since the twins are only 3 months of age, we didn't start using them until a couple of weeks ago. That's when the troubles began.

First, the braking system on the Vibe is much easier to access than the other P&T models. TOO EASY. In fact, all you have to do is lightly run a finger over the red brake button on the center of the handle bar and the whole stroller halts to a stop. Incredibly dangerous on a downhill trip!!! The twins have been jerked forward way too many times for me to count. I may be clumsy, but they just make it way too easy for me to hit that brake by accident.

I tried to return the stroller to the store today. First, they couldn't decide whether I could return it or not. Granted, the stroller was purchased in October, but I haven't used it until a couple of weeks ago. They have a satisfaction guarantee--and I'm NOT satisfied. They then tried talking to the P&T distributor, Regal Lager, to get a return authorization. That was denied. The distributor maintains that the breaking system is not a hazard and would not take responsibility for it. Finally, the store manager returned the stroller for store credit. It's a good thing I buy formula and diapers every two weeks. The GIANT store credit can come in handy. They even matched the prices I was getting on Diapers.com. Not a bad save on their part.

As a replacement, I bought the Mountain Buggy Urban Elite--from ANOTHER store. It is a side-by-side stroller--with four 12" wheels-- that can still easily fit through standard doorways. I wish I had researched this stroller earlier, because they offer carry cots/bassinetts to fit onto the stroller frame for the younger babies. For twins, you can either buy two separate cots or one larger twin cot. For a baby and a toddler, you buy just one cot and leave the other seat alone. Since this New Zealand brand just filed for bankruptcy in January, there are great deals to be had. I bought the top of the line model for 40% off retail price. My hope is that someone buys the brand and continues to make accessories and parts for it. We'll see!

::is this the magic potion::

Is this the magic potion I have been dreaming about? Since the arrival of the twins, the beagles have not been getting their baths regularly. So during a trip to the Kiehl's store the other day, I picked up the chamomile-infused Spary-n-Play Cleansing Spritz in a desperate attempt to keep the hounds somewhat odor-free.

Let me tell you, that is some amazing stuff. You spray it on (generously) massage it into their fur and skin and then wipe it off with a towel. Voila! You have clean and fresh dogs again. Of course this is only a temporary fix between regular baths, but boy is it awesome!

Another amazing Kiehl's product is the Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Since I am constantly washing my hands and sanitizing bottles, my hands are a dried up mess--my cracked knuckles all have bloody "smiles" on them. Scary. The Kiehl's hand salve not only treats my incredibly dry skin, it also absorbs nicely. No greasy residue and no perfume-y fragrance. The ladies at the nail salon would be proud.

::boy oh boy::

O's old clothes are now being worn by her little sister, C2. Unfortunately, little man C1 doesn't have quite as many options. There's the unisex onesie here and there, but nothing that's worth mentioning.

There are some good brands out there that make nice pieces for boys, without making them look like little prepsters. Tea Collection, for example, makes graphic cotton separates that can be mixed and matched. The Daily Tea Collection is perfect for everyday wear and tear.

Another brand is Appaman. The graphic tees and onesies are "street-worthy" and not cutesie. Both brands also offer girl clothes that are sweet and easy to wear.