Super MoM :: January 2013 :: Shannon Delgado

It pays to have a friend who gets what it takes to be a mother of twins. Shannon was nominated to be our Super MoM of the month by friend and fellow twin mom Deanna Burkett.

Their boy/girl twins were born within 5 days of each other. Deanna told us “Shannon is the one I call when I have a twin question; she just has it all so….together (while I feel like I am constantly pulling my hair out!)… She is a pharmaceutical representative (this requires a LOT of travel and going ALL DAY LONG) but she comes home to take care of the home life with a smile on her face…. She also has a four year old son that she has a fantastic relationship with and that is a big deal because sometimes it’s so easy to get wrapped up in twin life that you can unintentionally lose sight of the other children you might have. Shannon was and is very determined to NEVER let that happen. She makes time with her older son so that he knows he is just as important as the twins are… Because of her fierce determination to rise above and overcome all the challenges life throws at her and her unbending loyalty to those that she loves, I think Shannon Delgado should definitely be nominated as Twiniversity’s Super Mom of the Year (if not sainted!)”

Meet our Twins of the Day: Valerie and Jane

 

 

Happy Holidays and Happy Birthday Valerie and Jane!

Nominated by: Amanda Stephens (mom)

Age: These twinnies turn 6 TODAY!

Home State: CA

What makes your twins rock!

Jane just completed her second 5K (3.1 miles) and Valerie just completed her first.  They love to run with me and I am super proud of them.  They are very sweet and compassionate to others and when they played soccer this season, they were the biggest cheerleaders for the other kids that scored goals.  Both girls are excelling in Kindergarten and can read and write complete sentences already. People ask if they are identical, however they are completely different.  Valerie is Blond with Blue eyes and Jane is brown with brown eyes.  I am so excited to have them since it took us 10 years to get them.  They are also the first girls born into my husbands family in 5 generations.

What is a recent accomplishment?

Both got trophies for soccer and can’t wait to play softball.

What are a few of their favorite things?

Song: California Gurl

TV show: Strawberry shortcake

Book: Green Eggs and Ham

Toy:  Val- Her Blanket, Jane- Marbles, Snoopy’s brother

Animals: Valerie LOVES tigers and Jane likes dogs.

What do they like most about being twins?

They like having someone to play with and they LOVE to go to Grandma and Papa’s and ride in Papa’s Model A “hotrod”

How have they changed you?

I’m trying to be more patient. I now exercise more so that I can be there to see them grow up. I also lost a lot of weight because they push me to be healthier.

What is your #1 tip for twin parents?

Schedule, schedule, schedule. We let them set it, but we kept to it and it saved our sanity.

Happy Birthday Valerie and Jane! We hope you like these gifts we picked out JUST for you from our friends at Safari Ltd.

For tiger loving Valerie: Wild Safari Wildlife White Bengal Tigress. Complete the family with this White Bengal Tigress, slightly shorter than the male White Bengal Tiger. Our Wild Safari® Wildlife collection features some of the most intriguing animals from around the world. Children love the lively colors and textures, making these toys ideal for imaginative play. Collectors appreciate the intricate hand-painted detail, while animal enthusiasts value the lifelike poses created by our professional sculptors. Safari Ltd® has been designing value-priced collectibles for three generations, wowing animal lovers everywhere.

and for dog loving Jane we are sending her a Collie

Our loyal Collie eagerly waits to play, its ears pointed forward in curiosity. Our Best in Show Dogs features some of the world’s most recognizable and beloved canines. The active, friendly poses are professionally sculpted, and the lifelike colors are individually hand painted, so collectors and children alike will be wowed by the realism of these replicas from Safari Ltd® replicas.

BUT WAIT!!! THERE IS MORE!!!! Since it’s the twinnies birthday we have a little extra to throw in. We are sending them a White Bengal Tiger cub and a Collie pup.

Happy Holidays from Our Families to Your Family!

Meet our Twins of the Day: James and Joseph

Happy Holidays from Twiniversity and Safari Ltd.

Meet James and Joseph

Nominated by: Their mom, Tyra Rodrigue

Age: 4

Home State: KS

What makes your twins rock!?

My twins rock because every day I wake up I know they are a blessing. They make me laugh everyday with their awesome imaginations. It amazes me even today how close they are. Don’t get me wrong they fight, but when they get along it’s so great. My James is the oldest by a minute. He is kind, sensitive, and loud. He always wants to be by his brother’s side. Joseph (my little one) is strong, independent, and such a heartbreaker. He is interested in all kinds of animals. He looks out after his older brother all the time. I love that they are not scared of anything and are eager and willing to try new things. They are such great boys.

What is a recent accomplishment?

The boys just finished speech therapy! We have been working hard at that since they were 3. They are doing so much better.

What are some of their favorite things?

Song: There’s a party in my tummy,

TV Show: They love Scooby-Doo!

Toys: Captain America and Hulk

What do they like most about being twins?

They always have someone to talk to and play with.

How have they changed you?

They have defiantly made me have patience and to chill out. Take time out of my day to enjoy the small stuff.

What is your #1 tip for twin parents?

Spend time with each of them separately and ALWAYS let them speak to you separately so they each have a voice!

Thank you James and Joseph for being our Twinnies of the Day! We hope you enjoy these gifts we picked out from Safari Ltd JUST for you!

Luminoculars– These aren’t just any binoculars. This is a Safariology® Luminocular made of durable ABS plastic with 3.5x magnification, a light beam that shines up to 100 feet, and a built in compass. Now explorers can discover more, see farther away, and still find their way home! Luminoculars are available in translucent red, translucent blue, and camouflage. At Safari Ltd®, we believe learning and playing go together, and we have created our Safariology® collection to promote both.  Recommended Ages: 7+All of our products are lead free and thoroughly safety tested

Happy Holidays from our Families to Yours!

Meet our Twins of the Day: Lily and Lilah

Happy Holidays from Twiniversity and Safari Ltd.

Meet Lily and Lilah

Nominated by: Their mom, Tamara Frenya

Age: 4

Home State: CA

What makes your twins rock?!

Lily and Lilah are so energetic and make everyone happy when they are around. They are very talkative and ask question after question trying to learn about everything. The girls play the cutest make-believe games together and are best friends. They have an 8 year old brother, Josh, who they look up to and they all get along pretty well. The girls are enjoying preschool and love to play school at home now to. Even though the girls are identical they are different in their own cute and adorable ways. Lily is silly but very smart. Lilah is sweet and caring.

What is a recent accomplishment?

This week the girls are going to turn 4 and they have been looking forward to this big day. They are so excited for their Halloween party! They are in “big girl” beds now and Lily can even pump the swing all by herself. A hard feat that Lilah is still working on!

Meet our Holiday Twins Sophia and Brianna

Happy Holidays from Twiniversity and Safari Ltd.

Meet Sophia and Brianna

Nominated by: Mom, Denise Gayser

Age: 3

Home State: TX

What makes your twins rock?

The girls are each other’s best friend. I often see one giving up something they were excited to receive because they see that their sister is sad because she wanted it also. And they remember just about everything! The other day, on the way home, Brianna broke out singing Chantilly Lace. I am sure this is something I have sung in the past but could not have been recently. Amazing girls!

What is a recent accomplishment?

Independence in general. They have told me to stay in the house and cook dinner while they go walk over to their friend’s house. Although this is only 3 doors down and I am sure they would be safe, there is no way they are going to do this by themselves and they look at me like I’m impossible for not letting them be more independent. I’m sure next month they will want to drive somewhere by themselves!

What are a few of their favorite things?

Song: Rumor Has It by Adele and De Colores (we are trying to teach them Spanish)

TV show: In the mornings they ask to watch either Giada (food network show) or Mickey Mouse Club House

Books: Brave and Aristocats

Toy: Squeeky (Brianna) or baby doll (Sophia)  They sleep with them. Recently squeeky got lost and it was soo cute to see how upset Brianna was.

What do they like most about being twins?

Always having a playmate.

How have they changed you?

How could they not? But realizing you have two little people watching and listening to every word you say make you much more aware of yourself.

What is your #1 tip for twin parents?

Have FUN.

Sophia and Brianna are our favorite red heads of the season and we hope they enjoy these outstanding gifts from our friends at Safari Ltd.

Domestic Cats Toob: The twelve felines in our Cats TOOB® get along perfectly. Safari Ltd® TOOBS® are collections of individually hand painted miniature replicas featuring vibrant colors, fine, professional sculpting, and accurate detail. They are available in dozens of themes, and each set comes in a reusable acetate tube that snaps open and closed for easy storage. The tube also has a spinning globe on its cap. TOOBS® are perfect for educational projects, traveling, collecting, and imaginative play. The Cats TOOB® contains twelve figures in active poses and lifelike colors, including Balinese, Black and White Shorthair, Gray Tabby Shorthair, Angora, Birman, Norwegian Forest, Siamese, Persian, Egyptian Mau, Bengal, Manx, and Abyssinian. Experience all the fun of cats with no hair to clean up!Storage tube Measures 1.5” W x 13” H x 1.5” D (4 x 33 x 4 cm)Replicas Measure 1.5” to 3” (4 to 7.5 cm)Recommended Ages: 3+All of our products are lead free and thoroughly safety tested.

And a Dogs Toob. Who let the dogs out? You can, with our Dogs TOOB®. Safari Ltd® TOOBS® are collections of individually hand painted miniature replicas featuring vibrant colors, fine, professional sculpting, and accurate detail. They are available in dozens of themes, and each set comes in a reusable acetate tube that snaps open and closed for easy storage. The tube also has a spinning globe on its cap. TOOBS® are perfect for educational projects, traveling, collecting, and imaginative play. The Dogs TOOB® contains twelve figures, including a Beagle, Bulldog, Dalmatian, Boxer, Sheepdog, Saint Bernard, Great Dane, Collie, Golden Retriever, Dachshund Hound, German Shepherd, and Doberman Pincher. All are featured in active poses, ready for playing and exploring.Storage tube Measures 1.5” W x 13” H x 1.5” D (4 x 33 x 4 cm)Replicas Measure 1.5” to 3” (4 to 7.5 cm)Recommended Ages: 3+All of our products are lead free and thoroughly safety tested.

Happy Holidays!

How I Fell Back In Love With My Husband

Kids change you. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes for the worst. Sometimes both.

I really didn’t want kids. But my hubby wanted kids someday. I figured “someday” I would be ready. He wanted two kids, no more and no less. Well a surprise pregnancy made “someday” came quicker than I anticipated. And hubby got his wish of two kids… it was twins!

Six months later our world got turned upside down when our twin boys were born premature; just shy of our 4th year wedding anniversary. While they spent 100 days in the NICU I lived away from home to be near them. We were in survival mode for those days and beyond while we cared for fragile babies. All our focus was on them.

The situation, along with other disasters that took place (when it rains in pours) took its toll on us. We both changed into very different people very quickly. I didn’t know who I was anymore; I didn’t know who he was anymore. I was upset at all the changes I couldn’t control. We had a recipe for disaster. In the midst of it all… I began to fall out of love with my husband.

I was resentful at him for changing and mad at him for not fixing it; there wasn’t a problem from his perspective. It made me angrier that my feelings were not validated. I wanted us to make a plan, agree to changes; but that isn’t how it works, I know that now. I just didn’t know how to fix it. On top of it I felt guilty for the way I was feeling. It seemed so hopeless at the time.

Change is on the horizon-

Just after the boys second birthday my husband and I went on a vacation for 4 days, just the two of us. I really didn’t want to at first; a family vacation is what I had been wanting. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be without the kids for an extended time; also, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be alone with him for that amount of time. What would we talk about? How would we be without the kids as a buffer? But the in-laws offered to watch the kids and you just can’t pass that up! Besides, taking the kids would have just been plain exhausting and it wouldn’t have been much of a vacation. So, the two of us drove to the beach. And the healing began.

I hadn’t gotten a chance to relax in two years. We hadn’t gotten to be a couple in two years. We held hands, we kissed, we embraced… we did a lot of things. A vacation from our life as parents was much needed. I could feel the stress lift and I started to see things clearer. I got to appreciate what I had in front of me and I got to feel appreciated myself.

Over the next few months the healing continued as I embraced the new him, the new me, the new “us.” I was only miserable by insisting he change. I was only miserable to not accept my circumstances and being okay with them. I realized what needed to change was my attitude. Once I realized that… I was able to heal; “we” were able to heal.

When we got back home we made sure to go on monthly date nights to nurture our relationship further. These special nights together have evolved into appreciating “us” every day. I now look forward to alone time with my husband.

Another thing that helped me heal further was getting a project. I started writing right here for Twiniversity. It gave me an outlet to express myself and have something that was “mine” to help me heal as an individual and gain confidence. It surprisingly added an element to my marriage which I didn’t expect. My husband became interested in something I was doing and I had something to add to our conversations instead of just talking about what the boys did that day.

I wanted to share this very personal story to let others know that if you are at the end of your rope, there is hope. Love can be found again. You found it once, and you can find it again. Then when the next big storm hits, you know you can weather it together.

____________________________________

We have another giveaway from Babeland. Today we have a Body Kit to help you connect with your partner by setting the mood with massage oils, candles and more. Check it out here. Enter below for you chance to win. We will pick two winners for this prize.

THIS CONTEST HAS BEEN CLOSED

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Love Your Sexy, Pregnant Self

Written byMary- Staff writer for Babeland

I’ve been somewhat overwhelmed by the number of articles that I have found online about pregnancy and  body image.  I find myself turned off to these articles when I see them because most of them have messaging like, “don’t worry your body will return to normal” or “it’s okay to eat more now that you are pregnant”.  I get it, there is a lot of pressure out there for women to stay skinny and the pregnant body is far from that.  But this kind of messaging creates the image that a pregnant body is not a sexy body.  I must beg to differ.

I have never felt sexier than I do not that I’m pregnant.  From watching my belly grow bigger and bigger to the cleavage that I never thought possible.  Here is my list of the top 10 ways that I’ve enjoyed my sexy body during pregnancy:

1. Maximize the cleavage.  I’ve never had huge boobs and now that I have them I totally want to flaunt them.  It’s probably because they are only temporary so I feel the need to enjoy them while they last.  But whatever the reason, it certainly makes me feel sexy to push up the boobage a little bit to get the most out of what I’ve got.

2. Practice yoga.  It’s not something I did much before my pregnancy but now that I’m pregnant I’m sure to do a little prenatal yoga in the morning to help stretch out my body and make room for baby.  I have found that my prenatal yoga DVD helps me to enjoy my changing body and really be in touch with the changes that my body is going through.

3. And with that, stay present with your body.  I have found myself totally lost in the moment feeling those baby kicks.  Enjoying the moment and the experience that is so unique to my own pregnant body has helped me to stay connected and appreciate the uniqueness that my body is experiencing.

4. Do those kegels.  I hear it (and say it) all the time, the important role of kegel exercises in pushing during labor and healing after pregnancy.  And it’s true.  But there is another good reason to do kegel exercises – pleasure!  I will pop in my smart balls for an hour or two, flex those muscles and feel the pleasure of the exercise.

5. Masturbate often.  Masturbation is always a  great release and has helped me feel really connected to my own body.  Using toys or hands has helped me explore my body and all of its changes during pregnancy.  I have found my clit to be extra sensitive during pregnancy and my nipples respond surprisingly well to stimulation.  Enjoy your changing body – and the more powerful orgasms that you are probably feeling as well.

6. Ask for what you want in the bedroom.  My body has changed and so have the types of stimulation that I enjoy.  Letting my partner know what feels good has given him a sense of pleasure to know what he can do to please my pregnant body.

7. Pamper yourself.  I’ve heard this one a lot too, even before I was pregnant.  Knowing that soon there will be a little one running around taking all of my attention has helped me realize that the time to enjoy myself is now.  Manicures, pedicures, massages – all of these can be a special treat that makes you feel sexy from head to toe.

8. Use pillows as props.  As my body continues to grow throughout the pregnancy I have found that sex gets awkward because I can’t seem to find the right position.  Pillows and wedges have been my savior.  My favorite is the iceberg which is small enough to store under the bed or in the closet but the perfect size for boosting my bum.

9. Buy some sexy lingerie. Sometimes wearing maternity clothes can feel like I’m putting on a garbage bag every day (when am I  going to be able to wear those tight jeans again?).  I have a sexy piece of lingerie that I will slip into any time I need that boost in confidence.  And I don’t just wear it for my partner; who says you can’t clean the house in sexy lingerie?

10. Have that “sex after pregnancy talk”.  This is an important conversation to have and talking about sex can feel just as sexy as having it.  I felt sexy just thinking about all of the ways that we would keep sex alive once the baby comes along.  It’s important to remember how sexy you are and how sexy you will continue to be after giving birth.

One of the most significant things that I have learned during this pregnancy is that how sexy I feel is how sexy others will see me.  While I’ve seen a lot written about how your partner can make you feel sexy during pregnancy, there is a lot to be said for how you can make yourself feel sexy.  No matter how your body is changing – whether it be stretch marks or extra weight gain in the ass and thighs – there is always something sexy about your pregnant body.  Take time and enjoy your sexy, pregnant self!

Today we are giving away a set of Luna Beads kegal balls. This will help not only the birthing process but also in bed. 😉 So enter below for your chance to win!!

*Babeland packaging is discreet. Please enter the address where you wish the prize to be sent to if chosen to be one of our winners.

THE CONTEST HAS ENDED

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Twinnies of the month -Oct 2012- Angeline & Michaela

This months Twinnies of the month are Angeline & Michaela. They just turned one year old and aren’t they as cute as can be? They will receive a special prize from Step2; but first their mom answered some questions for us to help get to know them a bit. Here is what she had to say.

• What makes your twin unique?

They may look identical, but they sure do have different personalities. Angeline is more affectionate and is friendly with anyone. There’s no such thing as ‘stranger anxiety’ for her. Michaela is very musical. She only takes her bottle, if there is music played. She’s also independent, full of emotions, and ‘picky’.

• What milestone have they recently accomplished?

They just took their first steps!

• What are their favorite songs?

They love the ‘alphabet’! We have a 35 month old son who listens to it all the time, so I’m thinking it grew on them as well.

• What is their favorite TV show?

Whatever their older brother is watching. =)

• What is they favorite toy/activity?

Angeline loves the kitchen set or tea cup set, but Michaela loves any toy that plays music.

• How have they changed you?

I’m definitely a lot busier than before. LoL Having 3 little ones under 3 is challenging, but it’s a joy to see them grow each day. I’m really looking forward to the day where all three of them can play together. After having a son as a first, I REALLY REALLY wanted a girl. Well, I was blessed with two and I couldn’t be happier! I’m already looking forward to girls fun night with my twinnies!

These cuties will be reciving the Basic Rhythems Piano for music loving Michaela and the Pastry Chef for kitchen loving Angeline. Thanks to our friends at Step2 for sponsoring our twinnies of the month!!

Cupcakes are all the rage! Mix & match the 5 cupcakes, frosting, ribbons, and cups. Soft, pliable pastry bag with 3 snap-on interchangeable tips. Rotating display stand with holders for cupcakes. Includes small serving tray. Also available in a 2pk

Music to my ears! 8 piano keys play C Octave with no sharps. Purple keys play 3 songs. Molded-in slot holds sheet music. Built-in handle and wide, sturdy base. Includes 2 sheets of color coded music (4 songs)and 3 "AA" batteries. Also available in a 2pk

 

 

We need your Twinnies!!!!!

EXTRA!!! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!

We are excited to tell you that we have some exciting giveaways for the end of this great year!! So we need help to find twinnies to give them to!! What we need you to do is fill out the form below to tell us about your twinnies so that they can get some of these prizes! We will be choosing 24 twinnies (that’s right twenty-four!) to receive prizes and be featured on our website for a day. We will start choosing winners in 2 weeks so get your entries in before then!

What are the prizes you’re asking? We’re going to keep you in suspense about that! (insert evil laugh) But we guarantee that your kids will love them! 🙂 So fill out this form so we can send your twins some prizes!!

These are just a few of this years “Twinnies of the month” winners. The next winner could be your twins!!!

 

 

 

 

*** NOTE: We do not sell or distributed any info that you provide to us here. We will only use this info as stated above.

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*** NOTE: We do not sell or distributed any info that you provide to us here. We will only use this info as stated above.

Game Night Fun!! Giveaways!

Looking for a new game for your next family game night? Then check out Dabble. Looking for something to play in your spare time (yeah right) the check out dabble your phone or tablet.

If you like Scrabble or Boggle, you’ll love Dabble. Dabble is simple yet challenging. It rewards players with quick wits, a large vocabulary, and perfect spelling. The goal of the game is to spell out five separate words with just 20 letters as quickly as possible. The trick is that the five

words must be comprised of a two-letter, three-letter, four-letter, five-letter, and six-letter word and you have to do it in five minutes.

It’s a great learning tool for kids and fun for the entire family (ages 10 and up) or you can play with your friends from you phone or tablet.

We have 3 games AND 3 codes for iPad AND 3 codes for iPhone to giveaway to Twiniversity members this week to add to your family fun! (The app is free to play with your friends on Android app here or the Kindle Fire app here.)

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