Ebba showed me some pictures she took with her twins. She put these pieces of papers in the photos showing their ages. Now she has them for many months. A very simple idea and one that, you would think, would not be needed. (Of course you'll remember everything about the kids, including what they looked like at every age.)

Ah, not really. I can't remember when Parker started to talk or eat with a fork, or run or anything, let alone what he looked like at various stages. So this tip is a good one for forgetful moms like me.

Twin Tip: Halloween Loaner Program

When I was growing up, my mother would make all of my halloween costumes. Not just mine, actually, but for my sister and brother too. Whether I wanted to be a hobo, a flapper, a chearleader, or a giant pineapple (seriously), she got the material, the patterns, and make it happen.

So although I looked forward to motherhood, I did not look forward to this aspect of it since I can't sew and have no patience. I tried once. I got the sewing machine and all the essentials and made a dog bed. It took forever, was ugly, fell apart, and the making of it involved lots of crying on my part.

Thank god for the Halloween loaner program at TBB. Last year they were tiny little witches (at just 6 weeks only). This year I got the girls the cutest pumpkin costumes. And Parker got a frog costume. All for free. Without any crying. And without using any thread or needles. I'll return them when I'm done. Maybe you can use them next year???

Love those Playgroups

The transition to the stay at home momhood has been hard for me. Not getting up and going to work everyday has been a real doozy. Not seeing people (even people I don't like) every day, is strange.

That's why I'm so glad I have met other twin mom friends through TBB in similar situations. I joined one play group that meets at houses and parks in Oakland and started one with a friend for moms with twins and one other child that meets at houses from Albany to Castro Valley. I look forward to both groups and I value the friends I have made from them.

I'm aware of another group that meets on Fridays (my day with my son), but let me know if you are part of any other group and are open to adding members. I'd love to post these playgroups on the website so others can join in the fun.

Twin Tip: What to Feed Them

Twin mom and chef Leslie created a neat little website to help bored and stumped parents answer the seemingly endless question of what to feed the kids. Her site: menuboom.com has suggestions by age and a place to leave comments if you have an idea, try a suggestion or just want to leave a note.

Give it a try!

Montclair Park

I went to Montclair Park yesterday with my son. We left the girls at home with Dad. Since we had no babies with us, we went to the "big kid" playground only. While we were there, I saw a twin mom I recognized from the garage sale. I couldn't remember her name, but then I saw her kids, two identical over 2 year old boys. It looked like she had family visiting as there was a gaggle of aunt-like women surrounding them, helping them navigate some fairly complex equipment.

I kept looking at her seeing if she would recognize me too. But she didn't. I didn't say anything and after some seriously good climbing and sliding (by my son...not me), we left. I think if I had my twins me with, she would have noticed me. But alone, sitting on the cement bench, not chasing after two similar looking babies, I was just a 'regular' mom. A mom who got to catch her breath and sit for a while.

Twin Tip: Age Labeled Photos

Ebba showed me some pictures she took with her twins. She put these pieces of papers in the photos showing their ages. Now she has them for many months. A very simple idea and one that, you would think, would not be needed. (Of course you'll remember everything about the kids, including what they looked like at every age.)

Ah, not really. I can't remember when Parker started to talk or eat with a fork, or run or anything, let alone what he looked like at various stages. So this tip is a good one for forgetful moms like me.

Twins Everywhere

It feels like I see twins everywhere. I'm not sure if there truly are as many twins as it appears or if I'm suffering from the same thing that inflicted me when I bought my first car in 1989...I saw Red Nissan Sentras everywhere! Or maybe it's just the places I hang out. For example, I saw literally 14 sets us twins at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, five sets at the Zoo, and three sets at the Temescal Farmer's Market.

We mostly just smile to each other, avoiding the questions the rest of the world ask us.

But sometimes we do stop to chat. Recently I've met three twin moms with kids my age that were new to me. I generally know, at least by name, most of the twin moms in the East Bay through TBB. I always find it surprising when this happens. This last time, when there was a mom with twins and an older child, I had to say something.

"I'm surprised I don't know you," I said. "Are you a member of TBB."

"Well, I get some of the emails, but I don't think I'm a member," she replied

She went on, "I was so overwhelmed with the kids for the first year that I really didn't get out much, so I figured I didn't need to join."

After a gave her a presentation on the benefits of TBB, I mentioned our twins and sibling play group that meets on Tuesdays. She said that sounded interesting, but also said her kids were starting a morning program.

And then we both had to get back to wrangling our kids who had taken off in six different directions.