10 New Year's Resolutions I Wish My Two-Year-Old Twin Toddlers Will Make

1. Master potty training
2. Beat our plain pasta food addiction.
3. Let mommy and daddy use the bathroom in peace.
4. Work on our indoor voices.
5. Stop scribbling on furniture.
6. Sleep / nap more and shorten our bedtime routine. Two bedtime stories and saying good night to the 4 Mickey and Minnie stuffed toys on the bed will do.
7. Learn to share.
8. Keep our toys organized.
9. Stop swallowing the toothpaste. 
10. Let mommy and daddy tie my hair (Audrey) and wipe my face (Antonino) especially when we're outside so they won't be judged as parents.

Think these will hold through to the end of the year? What resolutions do you think should your kids make?

Wanted: A Toddler-Proof Christmas Tree

Audrey and Antonino just love Christmas trees. At home, they demand that we "Turn on tree!" (meaning the lights) even in the morning. Once the lights are turned on, they stare at it for a few seconds then try to grab the branches and ornaments. Yikes! My mom (aka LaMom) suggested that we put up a toddler-proof tree in the twins' playroom so I searched the internet for options. I found a lot of cute ideas but most of them required plenty of DIY tasks that I didn't have enough time for. So imagine my joy when after a few days, LaMom surprised Audrey and Antonino with a kiddie-sized Christmas tree! Actually, it wasn't just any tree. It was the Christmas tree she bought for me when I was 4 years old! She even let me decorate it on my own. I remember putting cotton on the branches because I wanted a winter wonderland-themed tree. How cool is it that now Audrey and Antonino can decorate my kiddie tree?

Happy 2nd Birthday, Audrey and Antonino!

My dear Audrey and Antonino,

Happy 2nd birthday! I can't believe you are two years old. You both came out as tiny 34-weekers who needed to stay in the NICU to grow. Not an ideal start but you quickly showed everyone how strong and determined you were to get out of the NICU right away.

It has been amazing watching both of you grow. When you were just months old, we waited every month for you to hit all those significant first year milestones like crawling, rolling over, babbling, and sitting. Then after your first birthday everything went by at lightning speed. You actually look more like kids now than babies and somehow you know it. You always say "Big geeeel Adee!" (Big girl Audrey) and "Big boy Nino!"

Do's and Don'ts For a Successful C-Section Recovery

Don't lift anything heavier than your baby, keep your incision clean and dry, avoid exercise until you get your OB's go ahead, call your OB if there's swelling in your incision or if you have a fever (even if your incision looks fine). These were the standard reminders given to me almost two years ago when I gave birth to Audrey and Antonino via C-section. But what about laughing post-operation? Even weeks after giving birth, laughing would hurt so bad that I would usually end up crying both tears of joy and genuine tears of pain! So for you fellow C-section mamas out there, here are some post-operation do's and don'ts you won't normally hear.

How To Help Your Wiggly Toddler Sit Still During Dinner Parties

It's holiday season once again. It's that time of the year when we shop for gifts, organize/attend plenty of get togethers, and for parents of toddlers, worry about keeping our kids seated during Noche Buena and all those dinner parties.

Audrey and Antonino will be two years old this Christmas and I sometimes feel like telling them to sit still and behave for an extended meal like Noche Buena is a lot to ask. After all, they're both typical toddlers with short attention spans and plenty of energy. We're lucky that we have family and friends who are more than happy to play with the twins whenever they get restless during gatherings so that Joey and I can finish our meals. But of course, we still have to come prepared with some form of entertainment which is why we're always ready with our bag of tricks. And no, it's not just an expression. We really have a huge bag filled with all sorts of toys and supplies that can keep the twins occupied during parties. So today I'm going to share with you what we usually bring with us along with some things we keep in mind when packing our bag of tricks.