Mad About Multiples!

Weds NEP Meeting: How To Teach Your Babies To Tell You, "Put Me To Bed!"

  Ahhh...I bet title of this blog post drew you in, but I'll get to that later...

Ok, let's face it, it's not uncommon for twins to experience speech delays. I know my first-born daughter, Naomi, was chatting up a storm at almost 22 months, so I'm very aware that my dynamic duo are are bit behind compared to their singleton peers. It may be due to the fact that their overly-enthusiastic big sister does all the speaking for them (“Mommy, Lilli needs a new diaper!”) , or that they aren't getting enough one-on-one time interaction with me (Preschooler + toddler twins = survival mode). Or perhaps my toddlers can communicate with each other in some kind of secret language, so who needs verbal skills anyway?

However, there is one way to make your life much easier without requiring your little ones to actually be able to “speak” to you and that's by using sign language. As starry-eyed new parents wanting to communicate right away with our first baby, we started signing when she was about 4 months old and by 6 months, Naomi was already signing back the ever-important gesture, “milk”. Over the course of a year, she probably mastered about 80 signs, including many she made up herself. I cannot stress how AWESOME and HELPFUL it is to have a 6 month old baby be able to communicate some basic needs such as “milk”, “eat” and “more”. Signing completely empowered her and from an early age, she learned that she could communicate with us to get her needs met, which definitely reduced frustration levels for all of us! (This means fewer meltdowns since she could tell us when she was hungry, tired, etc. instead of just grunting...or worse, screaming and crying.) As Naomi got older, signing became an amusing way to entertain people, as she would show people how to sign such esoteric things as “penguin” and “shrimp”. It should also be noted, she turned into a major talker, a constant chatterbox (much to my chagrin, especially during long car trips), so don't let anyone tell you that signing causes delayed speech, because that's completely untrue.

Gemini Crickets members: Win a gift basket from Funfoodle!

This contest is now closed. Congrats to Gemini Crickets member Mary Z. for winning the Funfoodle gift basket and thank you for attending tonight's meeting!

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If you're a current Gemini Crickets member, you can win a gift basket from Funfoodle! Just show up at one of our two meetings on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 and enter your name in a drawing to win. (One entry per Gemini Crickets family. Must attend one of the meetings to enter. You may only enter for yourself. Winner will be announced during the general meeting. Sorry, we will not ship - you must pick up the gift basket yourself.)

The Funfoodle gift basket contains 2 measuring cups, 2 measuring spoons, recipes cards and a Funfoodle CD of songs.

Funfoodle classes introduce children (3 - 6 years old) to the world of food via hands on exploration using all of their senses.

New and Expectant Parents Meeting

Baby Signing

Wednesday, October 14th 6:15-7:30pm Saratoga Library

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General Meeting

Sibling Rivalry - Multiples in the School Age Years

Parents Place educator Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet

Wednesday, October 14th 7:30-9pm Saratoga Library

We hope to see you on Wednesday night!

See Related post:  Fun with Food.

Original post to Mad About Multiples.

Ditch the Duct Tape: Redirecting Children's Behavior

The meeting topic, “Redirecting Children's Behavior”, must have implied that there *is* hope out there for dealing with the terrible twos (and threes) and with sibling rivalry, because Gemini Crickets members came out in droves, with 70 anxious-to-learn parents in attendance. On August 19th, the New & Expecting Parents and General Meeting joined forces to bring Etsuko Tsukagoshi, mom to two young boys and a certified Redirecting Children's Behavior course instructor, up from San Diego to discuss age appropriate strategies to keep familial peace - - all so that we, crazy parents of multiples (and then some in a few cases), can create closer connections at home.

Etsuko's normal RCB course is a 12.5 hour program, but she was up to the challenge of whizzing through the highlights, providing participants with an informative overview of the concept of redirection and some important tips on how to get started. If you were unable to convince your in-laws or friends to watch you children (ideally for free), hopefully this summary will explain the definition of redirection, as well provide a few techniques you can try with your kids, in both the areas of the “terrible twos” as discussed in the NEP meeting, and sibling rivalry, which was the topic of the General Meeting.

"Redirecting Children's Behavior", or RCB, is a positive discipline program that incorporates accountability, limits, encouragement, communication and responsibility. With RCB, the role of the parent is to remember that all of our children's' behavior has a purpose and that our job is to investigate and be curious, so as to find out what exactly is behind their actions. Even=2 0the most annoying of behaviors, which include but are not limited to (the following are real-life examples, as provided by GC members): whining, pointing & screaming, hair pulling/fighting/pushing, and the constant yelling of “mine”. Redirecting means to diagnose the misbehavior and then teach the child to get his/her needs met appropriately, so they no longer feel the needs to misbehave. When misbehavior is stopped by distracting the child's attention, it will usually start back up again. Redirecting misbehavior addresses the underlying cause of the misbehavior, not just the symptom! The methods of redirection teach parents how to become calmer and more confident and empowers moms and dads to teach their children to be responsible and cooperative.

Redirecting Children's Behavior with Etsuko Tsukagoshi

On Wednesday, August 19th, Gemini Crickets is please to be hosting Etsuko Tsukagoshi who will be giving a talk about Redirecting Children's Behavior. Here's a Q&A session between Etsuko and her grad school roommate, now New & Expecting Parent's Liason and mom to toddler twins and preschooler, Mari Beal:

Q: So Etsuko, I've vaguely heard of INCAF, and always thought it stood for “ “I'm Nearing Craziness, Accredited to Family”. Apparently, it stands for something else. Can you please tell me more?

A: Here is a little bit of background on International Network for Children and Families (INCAF) and Redirecting Children’s Behavior(RCB): This course is designed by Kathryn Kvols over 30 years ago based on the Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs, one of America's foremost child psychiatrists’ book “Children: The Challenge”. Since it's creation, the International Network for Children and Families (INCAF), created by Kathryn Kvols, has trained and certified over 1000 instructors. My husband and I took the RCB course right before we had our second baby, and were so impressed by this technique that I wanted to master it. I decided to become an instructor, got certified by INCAF, and I have been the teaching program in San Diego since last fall.

Q: Hmmmm...sound like a class that would take take me a year to complete. I mean, have you *seen* my children?

A: It’s a total of 12.5 hours of instruction, and I usually offer it in once a week course for 5 weeks format. In many cases both parents attend the course, which makes lots of sense, but even if one parent is taking the class, the students can see the difference in their household. I also have many clients who live overseas, so I also offer a lot of coaching over the phone.

Bye-Bye Diapers! ...And Music Together! Join us for our General Meeting on Potty Training Multiples and our New & Expectant Parent Meeting for Music Together - Wed, July 1st

Wondering how you will wrangle two or more kids out of diapers and into big kid pants? Be sure not to miss our upcoming General Meeting on potty training multiples on Wednesday, July 1st at 7:30pm at Saratoga Library, with Heidi Emberling - a speaker from the Parents Place. Click here for all the details.

Course Description:
Like many lessons in life, learning to use the toilet is not one that we can really teach children, but there are ways that we can help them teach themselves. This workshop includes information that helps you understand how to set up both an environment and an attitude that will guide and promote your child’s progress. You will learn how consistency with a routine can help your child feel more in control and gain independence.

Course Objectives:
* To recognize signs of readiness in children.
* To discuss the importance of commitment and flexibility in helping children toilet train.
* To help create an environment and attitude that will foster success.
* To discuss how gender and temperament impact toilet training.
* To recognize the external routines that promote internal regulation.
* To discuss the difference between pressuring versus following through.
* To recognize that regression is a natural part of the ongoing process.

We will also be having a New & Expectant Parent Meeting before the potty training meeting (from 6:15pm - 7:30pm) - it will be a fun Music Together class.

New and prospective members are welcome to join and babies are always welcome.

See you there!

Giveaway time at Mad About Multiples - Busy Body Book

  For anyone looking to get organized, the New and Expectant Parent meeting giveaway this month will be a 2009 BusyBodyBook calendar.  Track feeding, diaper, and sleep schedules all in one place (and fashionably to boot)!  See below for details on how to enter the giveaway.

To help put your new organizer to optimum use, join us for the New and Expectant Parents meeting on Thursday April 2 at 6:15 pm to hear sleep consultant Vivan Sonnenberg discuss all things sleep.

From their website:
BusyBodyBook's Weekly GRID format is the easy and efficient solution to every Mom's scheduling chaos! Each family member, with their own personal column, can plan and track their activities while they organize and coordinate with one another "side by side."
See more on the BusyBodyBook site. 

To enter:

We will have one winner in this giveaway and they will be chosen at random.  To enter to win, please leave us a comment below telling us:

What is or has been your biggest sleep challenge and if you overcame it, how?

The giveaway (via comments on this site) will end Thursday, April 2nd at 5:00 p.m. PST. 

For another chance to win:

Come to the meeting on Thursday, April 2nd, at 6:15 p.m. to hear Vivian Sonneberg speak about All Things Sleep for another chance to win!

Join Us for our New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Traveling with Multiples on Wednesday, March 11th

Michelle O., one of Gemini Crickets' New & Expectant Parent Liaisons, tells us a little bit about traveling with her twins in preparation for our upcoming meeting next Wednesday, March 11th at 6:15pm on Traveling With Multiples.

When I sat down to think about what to write about traveling with multiples, two funny stories came to mind.  By funny, I mean the kind of situations twin parents have learned to laugh about, because if we didn’t laugh we’d drown in the pool of our tears or scream like maniacs.  But I digress…

Someone sent me a You Tube video of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and their family walking into an airport in Japan.  A whole slew of people come darting out first. I saw two guys carrying a car seat each, someone with a stroller, and someone pushing a cart of luggage.  Then Brad and Angie come strolling out, each with a child in a baby bjorn, their other kids in tow.  I thought to myself, “how nice to travel with an entourage…lucky %#@^#$!”

Giveaway time at Mad About Multiples - Breastfeeding

We are getting ready for our very informative New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Feeding (Breastfeeding, Bottle Feeding, Pumping, Formula Feeding) next Wednesday, January 14th - breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping, and combinations of all of the above. I know when I was pregnant with twins, it was tough to find twin-specific breastfeeding classes, so this is one not to miss if you are expecting twins or have new twins!

Today, we have some great breastfeeding and bottle feeding items to give away. 

To enter:
We will have one winner in this giveaway that will be chosen by random. To enter to win, please leave a comment below telling us:

What is your biggest feeding struggle (if you have babies) or worry (if you are expecting)?

The giveaway (via comments on this site) will end on Wednesday, Jan 14th at 5:00pm PST.

For another chance to win:
Come to the meeting on Wednesday night for another chance to win! 

The giveaway items are:

"Mama Knows Breast" book by Andi Silverman - From the website: "'Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner's Guide To Breastfeeding' is the fun breastfeeding book. The book that tells you how to start, and even enjoy, breastfeeding. This is the book to buy for your sister, your best friend, your co-worker. It's even got the Lamaze International stamp of approval. So go ahead, buy a copy! No, make that two. Click on this link at Amazon to order yours right now." Disclaimer: while there is some twin-specific information in the book, this is mainly a general information breastfeeding book. Also be sure to check out Andi's blog at www.mamaknowsbreast.com.

MilkScreen - Sometimes, a mom...and especially a mom of  multiples, there may be a special event or a time when you just, well...need a drink! Here's a "simple, two-minute test that detects alcohol in breast milk." If you do have a drink, here's a way for you to actually test to see if its safe to breastfeed your babies (or pump milk to give them later) or if you need to wait longer. Do your reasearch - available on the www.milkscreen-moms.com website - and check it out. Wow. 

Adiri Natural Nurser baby bottle - A bottle shaped like a breast. Really, what more can you say? Well...here's what the website says: "Designed with the help of doctors, moms and lactation consultants, The Adiri™ Natural Nurser™ Ultimate Baby Bottle is soft, safe and simple. With an easy to use and dishwasher safe Fill, Twist and Feed™ system, the only nipple truly shaped like a mother's breast, soft polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free materials, and a unique Petal™ vent that helps reduce colic, the Adiri Natural Nurser enables the ultimate safe bottlefeeding experience."

Best of luck in the giveaway - and happy feeding!

 

Join us for our New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Feeding (Breastfeeding, Bottle Feeding, Pumping, Formula Feeding) next Wednesday, Janaury 14th

Another great meeting is coming up!  Before our General Meeting next week on Preschool, Gemini Crickets' will host our New & Expectant Parents Meeting next Wednesday, January 14th at 6:15pm at Saratoga Library and our topic will be Feeding for Multiples - breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, formula feeding, combinations of the above - we'll cover it all! - (click here for the details).  Xochitl F., one of Gemini Crickets New & Expectant Parent Liaisons and mom of 2-year-old twin boys, joins us today to tell us her "breastfeeding success story: co-experienced by Fox and Wolfgang F. (2-years-old)."

For more breastfeeding stories, see the following past Mad About Multiples posts:

• The First Time I Didn't Log a Poop
• To Nurse or Not To Nurse...That is the Dilemma
• Breastfeeding in the NICU - It Can (or May Not) Be Done

Here is Xochitl's story:

I want to start my nursing experience on a positive note, before I scare or intimidate future breast feeding moms. I want moms to know that I exclusively breast fed both my twins until the age of 13 months and never had to use formula to supplement. So, yes you can do it!!

I previously wrote in my journal about my experience and went back to re-read what I was feeling after realizing I could breast feed both my twins with ease and this is what I had to say, "Nursing my twin boys is the most successful thing I've ever accomplished in my life.  I've never been more proud of myself, because it was work and it was very hard and I pulled through.  Now I want to help other moms be successful and be able to feel the joy of nursing twins."

Staying sane with schedules at the October New & Expectant Parent Meeting

Michelle O., one of Gemini Crickets' fantastic New and Expectant Parent Liaisons, joins us today to talk about our October New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Schedules and our upcoming New & Expectant Parents meeting on Fitness and Nutrition this Wednesday, November 19th (tomorrow!).

On October 9th, thirty-five parents of multiples attended Gemini Crickets' New and Expectant Parent (NEP) meeting to talk about methods of getting multiples on a schedule, with the goal of adding a bit of sanity and consistency to family life.  Three of our NEP liaisons—Xochitl Orona, Karen Herrick and Michele Seaton—briefly reviewed the various philosophies about and approaches to scheduling, including Babywise, The Baby Whisperer, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and Mothering Multiples.  The presenters wanted to leave much of the time for questions and there were many.  The main topic of interest: Sleep!  It’s the holy grail of parents of newborns, particularly parents of multiples.  Parents wanted to know when they could expect their babies to nap longer and when they would sleep through the night.  One woman’s babies were sleeping well at night but napping in only 20 minute increments, and she questioned whether tinkering with the daytime sleep would mess up the good thing she had going at night.  One couple’s daughters were almost there and were wondering how to get the girls from needing a two ounce bottle to get them through the night.  There were more questions than there was time.  There was a lot of back and forth with the presenters, who offered as much personal advise as possible and referred parents to Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child as their favorite sleep reference.  In terms of scheduling, attendees left with a list of tips (happily borrowed from last year’s NEP liaisons).   There is a strong possibility that a future NEP meeting will be devoted to sleep.  We’ll keep you posted.

The topic of the November meeting - coming up tomorrow, Wednesday November 19th, is Fitness and Nutrition (click here for all the details).  Just in time for Thanksgiving!  But seriously, we all know how important good nutrition is both pre- and post-birth, but we also know how hard it is to find the time to focus on mom with newborns around.  Gemini Cricket’s Toni Bloom, a nutritionist and registered dietician, has provided some wonderful handouts for the meeting.  Christy Li will be discussing and demoing some Pi-Yo Play mommy and baby exercises.  And NEP liaison Christine Green will be providing information about StrollerPower.  Blendz is donating yummy food. Be sure to join us! Babies are always welcome, as are prospective Gemini Crickets members.

Join us for the New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Pre- and Post-Natal Fitness and Nutrition - Wednesday November 19th at 6:15pm

Looking for your pre-babies body??? Come join us for an information packed meeting on nutrition and fitness and how to fit it all into our busy lives!    

Our speakers for the evening are:

- Kelly Cornell, who has a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Food Science, and is currently a graduate student working toward her M.S. degree in Holistic Nutrition and certification in Holistic Health Counseling. She plans to begin her health counseling practice early next year. Kelly is a mother to four kids, including 15-year old twins, and has been a health and fitness advocate for more than 20 years.

- Christine Green, one of our NEP Liasons and Mom to 20-month old twins, will discuss her experience with StrollerPower, a local exercise class that allows you to enjoy a workout with your babies in tow!

- Christy Li, from Pi-Yo Play, is a personal trainer who focuses on pre and post-natal fitness. She will discuss and demonstrate her top 15 pre-natal and top 15 post-natal exercises. She will also lead a mini-session of her Pi-Yo Play Mommy & Baby class. So bring your babies! Also, please feel free to bring your exercise bands or tubing so you can join in on the Top 15 exercises and so Christy can check your form.

****We will be serving a healthy dinner courtesy of Blendz.  Yum!****

This event is for expecting and new parents (with babies under about 1 year old). Prospective members and babies are always welcome! Dinner will be served.

Wednesday, Nov 19 at 6:15pm
Saratoga Library
13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-6126

Read more about Gemini Crickets New & Expectant Parents Meetings here.

Original Mad About Multiples post. Learn more about membership with Gemini Crickets Parents of Multiples of Silicon Valley here.

Congratulations to our Winner for the Mad About Multiples Giveaway of the Book "Sleep is for the Weak"!

Congratulations to Raina, the winner of our latest Mad About Multiples giveaway!  Raina told us that "I have twin girls and only one sleeps through the night. Even so, we find the other will sleep more solidly if we give them a snack before bedtime around 7:30." Ah yes - fill 'em up before bed. One of our favorite scheduling tips. We're sure that Raina learned even more about scheduling for twins at our New & Expectant Parent Meeting on Scheduling that we held last week. We'll compile some of those scheduling tips and experiences to share with Gemini Crickets members very soon.

Raina has won a really funny book by "the best of the mommybloggers including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Coulda Shouda, Mom-101, CityMama and more" called "Sleep is for the Weak." It is edited by Rita Arens from Surrender, Dorothy. If you didn't win, make sure you buy a copy of the book and support these great mommybloggers.

From the back of the book: "Each month, more than half a million readers turn to the 25 mommyblogs featured in this collection for advice and a sense of camaraderie, and this anthology brings together their best and brightest essays. Written to be read during the mind-bogglingly short breaks parents get during their busy days, these pieces will help the hip but harried mother remember that 'you are still you.'"

Original Mad About Multiples blog post.

Mad About Multiples GIVEAWAY: "Sleep is for the Weak" book by the best of the mommybloggers

Today, inspired by our upcoming New and Expectant Parents meeting on Schedules next Wednesday, October 8th, we are giving away a really funny book by "the best of the mommybloggers including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Coulda Shouda, Mom-101, CityMama and more" called "Sleep is for the Weak." It is edited by Rita Arens from Surrender, Dorothy - a few of us from Mad About Multiples heard Rita speak this summer about what it took to pull this book together and, let's just say that after reading the book, we're so glad she went to the lengths she did, because it is one of the best mommy books we have ever read. This is honest, funny and real-life writing at its best. It is truly a labor of love - if you don't win, make sure you buy a copy of the book and support these great mommybloggers.

From the back of the book: "Each month, more than half a million readers turn to the 25 mommyblogs featured in this collection for advice and a sense of camaraderie, and this anthology brings together their best and brightest essays. Written to be read during the mind-bogglingly short breaks parents get during their busy days, these pieces will help the hip but harried mother remember that 'you are still you.'"

To enter to win, please leave a comment by Wednesday Oct 8th at noon to this post below telling us:  What is your best scheduling tip for multiples (or singletons!) ...OR if you haven't given birth yet (or are in need of a tip!), what do you want to know most about scheduling for babies.

AND....If you come to the New & Expectant Parent Meeting and/or the General Meeting (a craft workshop - craft ideas to do with your kids) next Wednesday, October 8th, you will be entered to win a second time! See you there!

Note: Unfortunately, we just missed a book signing party that happened last night in Menlo Park, but there is aanother book signing party for Sleep is for the Week tomorrow (Saturday October 4th) at Swig in San Francisco from 5-7 p.m. (561 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102). The party is sponsored by Graco.

Original Mad About Multiples blog post.

How to juggle twins (or more!) as they eat, sleep and play? - Join Gemini Crickets' New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Schedules next Wednesday Oct 8th

Many parents of twins think scheduling is the key to sanity in those newborn days and weeks and months. With more than two babies, keeping track of things can be even more important. 

Michelle O., one of Gemini Crickets' fantastic New and Expectant Parent Liaisons, joins us today to talk about our upcoming New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Schedules next Wednesday, September 8th.

Six years ago when I was pregnant with my first child a friend of mine gave me two parenting books, warning me that each was a little ideological and expressed quite different points of view about parenting. The first was “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding,” published by La Leche League International. The second was “On Becoming Babywise,” by Gary Ezzo. I read them both, of course, as I was gobbling up as much information as I could. Man, my friend was not kidding! These two books couldn’t be more different. My husband and I decided to go with the Babywise approach. It offered structure, sanity, sleeping through the night at 8 weeks, all wrapped up in a nice little package. I highlighted portions of the book, dog eared pages, I was set. Then my son was born. Turns out I wasn’t a Babywise kinda gal after all and before I knew what hit me, I was wearing him, nursing him on demand, and sleeping with him!

Then came news that I was pregnant with twins. Where the heck did I put that Babywise book?  Because now...

{Winners!} In honor of our equipment meeting, it's GIVEAWAY time!

Congratulations to our first winner, Lizzy, and to our second winner, Jane-Rachel!

Confused by the dizzying array of baby gear designed to facilitate the task of raising newborn or infant multiples? Well, we at Mad About Multiples would like to start you off with a couple of products we think will make caring for your multiples a little easier. Yes, that's right, it's GIVEAWAY time once again, and so in honor of our club's very popular Equipment Meeting on September 9th, we'll be giving away two sets of fabulous prizes!

The two sets will include:

Recent Events for Gemini Crickets

If you're a member of Gemini Crickets Parents of Multiples of Silicon Valley, you have no doubt taken part in some of the great events we have had lately:

Field Trip to the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo:
This morning was a field trip to the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo. From their website: The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is a kid's place to think, create and play. All Junior Museum and Zoo exhibits allow children to become physically involved and immerse themselves in the essence of life, to poke, to prod, to pull, to pick up, and to smell. The Zoo is home to more than 50 exotic and native animals, of which at least half are brought into classrooms as part of the Junior Museum and Zoo's science outreach program with local schools. Some of the animals include bobcats, raccoons, jungle bats, hedgehogs, ferrets, snakes, and an owl. 

I went with my 4.5 year old twins and my 2 year old. (My parents came along as well, although it is such a small place, that I could have easily managed it on my own - after all, I took all 3 kids on my own to Children's Fairyland in Oakland a couple of weeks ago and it was just fine.) There were many sets of twins there from Gemini Crickets and even a set of cute baby triplets! What fun! These two cuties wore their Gemini Crickets t-shirts to show off.

Dad's Panel at the New & Expectant Parent (NEP) Meeting:
This is always a lively meeting and this year it did not disappoint! We had three panelists - Dads to 10-month-old-twins, 16-month-old twins and 7-month-old twins (plus a 3-year-old). Christine from the NEP team provides the following summary: The attendees (a group of 25-30) had a lot of good questions--some were around scheduling (should you keep them on the same schedule and how do you do it), feeding the babies (breastfeeding, bottles, etc and how the dads can help when moms are breastfeeding), questions on what the first few months were like, & how to give older kids attention with twin babies at home. A quick highlight of some of the tips that seemed to resonate well with the Dads in the panel were:

• Accept all the help that is offered to you!  Don't turn down any help!
• Outsource wherever possible (house cleaning, self prep dinners, gardner, night nurse)
• Get the babies on the same schedule.  The Panel suggested to wake the other baby when one baby is awake.
• Make changes related to older children before the babies come--such as changing rooms, starting school or day care (so the older child does not associate it with the babies' arrival and can get adjusted to the change)
• Listen to the Dads—they are trying to help!  When they say to take a nap and they will care for the babies, take advantage of the time and take a nap!! 
• Ultimately, do what works for you and your family—it is different for everyone and can involve trial and error to figure out what will work best for you!! 

There is a full list (8 pages!) of the Dad's Tips from this meeting, available to Gemini Crickets members on Big Tent. If you are not a Gemini Crickets member and would like to join, click here to learn more.

Movie Nights to Mama Mia and Sex in the City:

Akemi reports: Ok, so the parking at Santana Row is awful most summer evenings, but after I finally found a place to park, I was happy to be mingling with Gemini Crickets moms and their friends and friends-of-friends. When I arrived, Carla, our movie night planner, was busy greeting everyone as they settled in for drinks under a canopy of oak trees at El Jardin Tequila Bar. We had just enough time to savor our drinks and some appetizers before heading for the movies. At the Sex and the City showing, I didn't talk much, but I enjoyed the night immensely. If not for these movie nights, I don't think I'd ever put aside the time to go out to the movies. Now I can proudly say that I've been to TWO movies this year. That's a huge accomplishment for a mom of twins!

Bocce Ball Social:

Co-President Sally reports: We had a great turn out at our Bocce Ball kick-off social with about 55 members attending, the majority bringing along their partners which is always fun. After a few drinks at the bar & plenty of socializing, the Bocce Ball staff gave us some instruction on how to play the game. Before we could get started, the food was served so we all tucked in to some delicious calamari, bruschetta & anti pasti. The pizzas were devoured and, as is always the case, there were not enough desserts! We took over four courts and all had a very entertaining time, some taking the game more seriously than others...guys!

A sample of our upcoming events include:

• New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Equipment on Tuesday, September 9th at 6:15pm at Saratoga Library - NOTE: prospective members are always welcome to join this meeting for free. Babies are welcome and dinner will be served!
• General Meeting on "Creating Resilient Families" (by Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet from Parents Place on Tuesday, September 9th at 7:30 pm at Saratoga Library
• Fall Family Picnic on September 21st (this is a members-only event - be sure to RSVP today, if you haven't already)

If you're not a member yet, join us today! Even if you can't make events easily (hey, we know how it is!), there is a great support system and network on our Big Tent group. Forum discussions, playgroups, newsletter articles and used clothing and equipment sales are just a few of the other benefits of membership with Gemini Crickets.

What to buy for those babies?! - Join Gemini Crickets' New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Equipment next Tuesday Sept 9th

Infant car seat or convertible?  Tandem or side-by-side stroller?  Which type of bottle?  Which high chairs?   

With so many products and choices on the market these days, preparing for multiples can be a dizzying experience. Come join us to discuss equipment used during the first year. Better yet, come and kick the tires - various equipment will be on hand for attendees to try out.

Amy M., one of Gemini Crickets' fantastic New and Expectant Parent Liaisons, joins us today to talk about our upcoming New & Expectant Parents Meeting on Equipment next Tuesday, September 9th.

When I was newly pregnant, I had visions of wearing my baby:  around the house, around the neighborhood, around town.  Me and the baby, snug as a bug.  And then at week 12, I went in for the Nuchal Translucency Screening Test.  That is when we found out we were having TWO babies, not one, as we had been previously told.  All my visions of Mommy and Me Pilates classes went *poof*.  And wearing the babies?  That was the last thing on my mind.  I was suddenly

Let's Hear From the Dads - Join Gemini Crickets' New & Expectant Parent Meeting on Tuesday, August 12th for the Dad's Panel

Wondering what the Dads have to say about their lives with multiples? How many diapers they have changed since their twins took residence? How do they support Mom during those sleepless nights and endless feedings? Come join us and ask them for yourselves. Many, many Gemini Crickets Dads often come to the New & Expectant Parent Meetings along with their wives (hey - it's a team effort!), but this time they will have the floor. At Gemini Crickets' New & Expectant Parent Meeting on Tuesday, August 12th, we will have a panel of Gemini Crickets Dads ready to relate their tales and offer their advice. Don't miss it. It's always a popular session!

This event is for expecting and new parents (with babies under about 1 year old). Prospective members and babies are always welcome! Dinner will be served.

Tuesday, Aug 12 at 6:15pm
Saratoga Library 
13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-6126

Read more about Gemini Crickets New & Expectant Parents Meetings here.

Original Mad About Multiples post. Learn more about membership with Gemini Crickets Parents of Multiples of Silicon Valley here.

Help & Support

Where to find support and how to ask for help has been a very popular topic of discussion on Big Tent (the Gemini Crickets on-line community). I often see members post questions about where to find a reliable nanny, recommendations for night nurses, au pair agencies and mother's helpers or babysitters. But there are also many questions about how to do it on your own - feedings, shopping, schedules, housework, meals and most recently, how to care for a toddler and newborn twins.  With such a high interest in this topic, our May New & Expecting Parents meeting included three speakers - all of which had experience and expertise on how to find support and how to ask for help during that critical first year of having multiples.  The panel included Jessica Gillan, president of A Nanny Solution, Inc., a nanny placement agency, Elaine Farber, newborn consultant and author with over 25 years experience in multiple birth, and Cheryl M. Wenzel-Nelson, mother of 3 year old boy/girl twins who writes and speaks about the transition to motherhood.  The combined experience of these three women was invaluable. 

Jessica answered many questions from the group about how to hire a nanny, including fees, education, background checks, hours and job duties.  She encouraged parents to never settle when finding adequate childcare and that it's OK to be picky when hiring a nanny.

Baby Proofing Your Home

New and Expecting Parents gathered together in April to hear guest speaker, Martin Simenc from Home Safety Services, give tips and answer questions about baby proofing their homes.  Martin introduced himself and immediately opened it up for questions from the audience.  Boy, were there a lot of great questions! 

Some topics discussed that evening included:

A Panel Of Parents Offer Their Top Tips On Travelling With Twins (Say that three times fast!)

Another wonderful meeting of new and expectant parents! I am always amazed at how large these meetings have gotten. I was a New & Expectant Parents (NEP) Liaison a couple years ago organizing these get-togethers and our meetings were half the current size. It’s fantastic! I guess this is what happens when you finally have a board member focused on advertising the club on popular online mailing lists and discussion groups.

This month’s New & Expectant Parents Meeting focused on travelling with your twins (or more!). A panel of eight parents offered their tried and true tips for making the entire journey doable while saving the sanity of the parents. I love it when we arrange panels of parents for topics like travel. This is a true benefit of membership – parents sharing advice and wisdom with other parents. We were also joined by Kelly Rubingh, an itinerant mom of two, whose Family Travel agency focuses on condo and resort packages in Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean as well as Disney vacations. By the way, the services of a travel agent are free (to you) as they get paid commissions by hotels, airlines, etc for booking portions of your trip.

Photographer Anna Mayer will be at our November New & Expectant Parents Meeting

Gemini Crickets' November New & Expectant Parents meeting will feature professional photographer Anne Mayer. Check out Anna's website & blog. Anna has lots of experience with twins and does fantastic work with pregnancy photos as well.

This event is for expecting and new parents (with babies under about 1 year old). Prospective members and babies are always welcome! Dinner will be served.

Wednesday, November 14 at 6:15pm
Saratoga Library
13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-6126

Read more about our New & Expectant Parents Meetings here.