You Get What You Pay For

Recently we began using our mamasan to also do some childcare a couple of days a week.  Since that happened, people have had no problem asking how much we're paying her and then voicing their opinion on it.  For the record, we pay her $10.00/hour for all three kids and I think it's a pretty good deal (especially considering that when I return she's usually washed bottles, made beds, and done three loads of laundry!).  A lot of people have expressed that "she's expensive," or "she's banking!"... There are a few things I don't skimp on because I think you really get what you pay for with these particular things.  Here are some of those things:

Childcare - I'm comfortable paying more and knowing my children are properly cared for.  With newborns, I'm not looking for a deal.

Shoes - Bad shoes give blisters

Paper products - facial tissue, toilet tissue, paper towels... Quilted Northern Ultra rocks, plus they support Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Diapers - Luvs and the Walmart brand have betrayed us before and it's been ugly.  Some people have good luck, but those people aren't us.

Jeans - There's really no legitimate reason, other than I like them better and they fit well.

There are probably a few other things, but these are the main ones that came to mind.  We're all allowed a few indulgences.  Mine aren't too exciting - toilet paper and diapers?  What do you not skimp on? 

That's A Keeper

Here are some out-takes from our little photo shoot the other day.  I took no less than 20 pictures of the three of them sitting on the couch.  The funniest part is that no matter how many pictures I snapped, at least one of the babies couldn't take their eyes off that stinkin' ceiling fan!  So, finally, I moved myself under the fan to see if that would work.  By then, however, Adam had totally lost interest.  I can't blame him.  Here is the progression:

Adam: 1  Babies: 0

Adam: 0  Babies: 1

Adam: 1  Babies: 1

Adam: 1/2  Babies: 0  Ceiling Fan: 2

Adam: 1/4  Babies: 0

Adam: 1/2  Babies: 0  Damn Fan.

Now I've moved.  Adam: 1/2  Babies: 1/2 each

0.  We're totally losing Adam.  Really, we can only ask so much.

Totally bored.

Now he's grabbing their arms.  Crap.  What's he going to do?

And, we're done.

After we calmed Audie down, we took some of just the twins.  Anaya is 100% female.  Watch:

Him:  "Get her away from me.  She's pinching me on the back!  She's about to do something."

Her:  "Look how cute I am, all innocent and everything.  Don't pay attention to him.  He doesn't know what he's talking about."

Him:  "Wait.  What's she trying to do now?  Is anybody watching this??"

Her:  "Don't listen to him, just look at me.  I'm so cute!"

Him:  "I tried to tell you people!  She's moving in for the kill!"

Her:  "What?  I didn't do it!  I don't even have teeth!"

Now we're really done.  Seriously, that little girl cracks me up.  Something tells me these two boys better get tough real fast, 'cause she's a-comin'!  They won't even know what hit 'em.  That's my girl ;-) 

 

French Toast + Three Months

Since it's Monday, I won't let the babies steal Adam's thunder.  Here's a little ditty:  Saturday night we decided to have breakfast for dinner - French toast.  Adam loves to help me out in the kitchen and he (vaguely) remembered how we made it last time.  Since Alan was going to make it this time, Adam told him the recipe.  It started like this:  "Daddy first you have some cheese sauce and some eggs..."  I can only gather that when the yolks broke, he thought it looked like cheese sauce.  Besides that, he was spot-on with the instructions!  Maybe we have a future chef on our hands?  It can be a back-up if the whole "workitecht" thing doesn't work out ;-)

In other news:  Anaya and Audie are three months old!!  Mom left a week ago and we've been struggling, I'm not gonna lie.  But, we're finding our footing and I think everyone's going to make it.  Overall, they are happier babies than a month ago.  Anaya plays a lot and smiles and sticks her tongue out at us.  She's definitely a girl, though, and she beats up on her brother any chance she gets.  And if she loses her paci, she'll reach over and knock his out, too.  If she can't have it, no one can!  Audie has started to come around as well, but he's still a little spoiled from Grandma.  He'll have to be the baby we wear all the time, so I hope I'm wearing my Japanese sling correctly.  The instructions were in Kanji, so I'm not sure...Audie doesn't seem to be complaining, so I guess that will have to do.  We snapped a few pictures on their three-month birthday and even managed to get Adam in some.  There will absolutely have to be a blog tomorrow (or the next day) with some of the out-takes.  Here are some cuties, though:

Babies watching the Spurs kick some Dallas A$% - they were really upset about the missing bottle holders on the Boppy pillows:

Big Brother with the babies:

Just the babies:

My personal favorite:

'Til next time - mwah!

50/50

I'll take half the credit for this.  I'll allow the other half to go to his Mom.  Any way you cut it, it's another reason I married him - he's not afraid to rock the Bjorn while vacuuming ;-)