5 FAQs….
In an effort to save myself some repetitive email and comment responses, here’s a few answers to my recent Top 5 FAQs:
1. "How in the world do you keep you house "spotless"?"
I got this one several times after posting these pictures last week and it made me laugh audibly. You’ve GOT to be kidding me! Maybe I should have posted a picture like this one instead:
There is that better? Personally, I do function better with order, structure, and cleanliness. I don’t feel like organization is optional in a higher-order multiples family, but I’ve learned post-quads that I HAVE to let some things go. I still have about 1 1/2 rooms full of boxes from our move. My list of things to clean, organize, fix, etc. is unreasonably long. However, there are some days that I feel like if my boys were changed, fed 3 meals, and asleep for the night, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! My list will still be there in the morning, right?
2. "Did you find ever find a leak-proof sippy cup?"
Did Ponce de Leon ever find the Fountain of Youth? =) However, we’ve settled for the closest thing to leak-proof with the Playtex Sipsters after trying almost every sippy on the planet. They only leak when pounded upside down, or when thrown forcefully 3 feet onto a hard surface. Reasonable price, not too many parts to clean, durable, easy to use and if it can withstand 4 boys, that makes it a winner in my book!
3. "I’d like to email you, but I don’t want to leave my email on the comment section for the entire world to see…Could you post your email?"
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to hear from you. Sometimes when I’m blogging I wonder who’s on the other side of my computer screen, so it’s always a treat to read a personal email from a "reader". Please do not take it personally if it takes me a few days (or sometimes longer) to get back with you. I often procrastinate returning emails – working on that one! Our blog email is quatro_mama {at} yahoo {dot} com
Checking my inbox now to see if you’ve written!
4. Do "the twins" (Clark and Brooks) still share a crib?
No. Sniff. Sniff.
Around the time of our move, I decided to make the switch to one nap versus two. Aaggh! What a transition! In an effort to get the boys to sleep and not party the entire nap, we reluctantly assembled the 4th and final crib that had been collecting dust in our garage for 18 months. Shortly after the nap separation, we took our trip to Michigan and used the Pea Pod Tents (each of them sleep in their own individual tent). We brought the sniffles home with us from Michigan, so they remained separated through the illness. After that, we realized that they were sleeping fine by their lonesomes. Thus, putting them back together would be only to satisfy our need for the cuteness, rather than their need for security or comfort.
So after 18 months of co-bedding, we are finally a 4 crib family.
Here’s what our temporary nursery looks like with the 4 cribs set up; It actually came out looking less crammed then I expected.
For sake of the cuteness, here’s some sweet pictures we use to remind us of such precious times:
5. How do you get the watermark on your pictures?
I’ve been trying out a blogging s
oftware called Live Writer (it’s free!) that allows you add watermarks to your pictures. Yes, I know that people are smart enough to remove it if they want to steal our pictures, but it takes a little more effort than right clicking and clicking save. People can break in your house even with the door locked, but you still lock your doors, right? It’s precautionary.
Jen and Brad,
You are amazing parents who are an inspiration to many. I love each post and wait for the next to arrive. Your sweet boys are lucky to have you as parents. I love how you have found the sippy that works and your look on life.
Thanks for sharing a clip of your lives!
~Elyse~
Thanks for the FAQ’s that was neat! We use Nuby sippies but every mommy brags about the playtex. Looks like I need to get some and see what the fuss is all about, lol.
Love the co-bedding pics, adorable.
i just pretty much love your family!
Hi! Fellow infertility couple eagerly awaiting the rest of your post about your travel down the infertility road =o) I find it comforting to hear the stories of successful couples that are going down the same road that i am. We aren’t too far from you either. We are in Louisville, Ky. I also work in the NICU as a nurse, so i just love your blog =o)
Great answer post! I had a few of these questions myself.
Do you know of a “Live Writer” for the MAC ? Congrats on the transition to individual sleeping!
Joan~ Sac,A
those little tents are so awesome!
i love the pics of the boys sleeping together, my twins slept in the same crib for a while too and i loved it. I had to seperate that early tho-about 5 months i think cuz my boy was waking up my girl.
thanks so much for the tip on livewriter jen! i have been looking for an easy way to watermark my images…this rocks! thank you, thank you!
Jen, can you ever get enough of sleeping babies? I have taken many of the trips sleeping and I find myself in the nursery still just watching them still having a hard time that they are really my babies. Great post and after your sippy post I also bought the Playtex and have the same observation as you.
Thanks for sharing all the great pictures of your family. You truly are 4-tunate. God bless.
Awwww…I forgot about those pictures of the boys co-sleeping. They are SO adorable.
I’ve been wondering about the watermarks too and if it took much work to do that. Might have to check Live Writer out. I also like the new format of the blog with the 3 columns. Nice!
What a milestone…18 months of co-bedding! I’m impressed. They always looked so sweet cuddling up. My two only co-bed for 2 or 3 months I think until they started waking each other up and bothering one another.
I left you an award on my blog…check it out!
Hi. I absolutely love your blog and follow quite frequently. Your boys are adorable. I have bggb quads who are a few months younger than yours. I am throwing around going from 2 naps to 1. What kind of a schedule do you follow? Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Melissa
Your boys are so adorable!
The pictures of co-sleeping are precious! I’m going to check out the Live Writer, Ive been thinking about watermarking the pictures. Thanks for the link!
Jen~ I just emailed you… introducing myself…Did you happen to check your inbox and notice? 🙂 ha.
Heidi Carrico
I stumbled upon your blog this past weekend. In every spare minute since then I have read all of your entries. What a sweet precious family. I also have four wonderful little boys…although not born at the same time. They range in ages from 9 to 8 months. Keep posting. I have added your family to my favorites! Gotta love boys!
Ok Ok I am one of those darn people who HAD to know how you keep your home SO neat!!
I looked back at those shots where the boys are on their chairs and it still looks pretty neat and tidy!
Well done to you 😉
I am right now (except for this brief break…) going through wardrobes trying to cull and donate and consolidate so two boys can fit all their stuff into one wardrobe….another question then….do you have seperate clothes for each child or is it one in all in????
The photos of your twins sleeping warmed my heart I am expecting my identical boys in a few more months….I just thought they were gorgeous shots….cannot wait to be taking some of my own.
Thanks
Susan :):)