HALO SleepSack GIVEAWAY

If you’ve been around the block with us a time or two, you know that we’ve been HUGE fans of  HALO SleepSacks.  You’ve pretty much witnessed our boys grow-up inside these wearable blankets! It seems like once you try them, you become an instant advocate.  We were given 4 SleepSacks by our friend Carrie when the boys were tiny and we never looked back! It’s a product that I recommend to every mom, so why not give one away to a blog reader, Courtesy of HALO?

Not only do I credit Halo SleepSacks for their assistance in keeping my 4 toddlers diapers on during naps, keeping them from climbing out of their cribs (they couldn’t use their toes to climb), and keeping them warm through the night, I loved the extra assurance that I was doing my part to fight SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).  Our preemies were at a higher risk for SIDS, so I followed the safe sleeping tips such as using a firm mattress, not dressing them too warmly to sleep, and removing all soft bedding and toys from their cribs. (Click to find more tips on Safe Sleeping.)

HALO offers a variety of sizes, patterns, and thickness (we used the light cotton in the summer and fleece in the winter) as well as several different lines to choose from including: HALO SleepSacks Swaddles, HALO SleepSack Wearable Blanket On-the-Go, HALO SleepSack Early Walkers, and HALO SleepSacks Organic.

Here’s how you can become the owner of your very own HALO SleepSack:

After checking out the HALO SleepSack Site, leave a comment telling me which Halo SleepSack product is your personal favorite. (Make sure you leave your email address or way of contacting you if you are chosen as the winner.)

For additional entries (separate comment for each):

• Subscribe to my feed or leave me a comment telling me you already subscribe
• Follow me on Twitter (@quatro_mama) and tweet about this giveaway: “I just entered to win a @HaloSleepSack from @quatro_mama: http://bit.ly/2RDqQg”
• Grab our button (right sidebar) and link your blog to ours
• Become a fan of Halo SleepSacks on Facebook

That’s a total of 5 ways to win!  I’ll pick a random winner via Random.org Monday, November 23rd!  

 

The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide: Birth – 12 months

I decided to “wrap up” some of our favorite gifts from each stage into a gift guide for you this Christmas.  I’ll be sharing some tried and true ideas from each stage that we have experienced, as well as some ideas for the upcoming year. Perhaps OUR experience with quadruplets can be an advantage to YOU as a shopper.  Before I begin let’s get the disclaimer out of the way:

Disclaimer: 1. None of these products were given as a promotional opportunity, nor did I receive any $ to write these suggested gift ideas.  2. These are purely my opinions.  They are things that each of my 4 boys have enjoyed, which I think speaks highly of a product if is well-liked by all, and proves durable under the extra use/abuse of quadruplets. 3. These products link to Amazon.com, as an affiliate link.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get on to the good stuff!

1.Hasbro Playskool Step Start Walk 'n Ride ($22.49)

Even after our boys were running they still LOVED this toy.  It really helped them to gain stability and confidence when they were learning to take steps.  It was the first toy out to play with in the morning, and the last one to put away!

2.VTech Slide 'n Learn Storybook ($19.55) 

We inherited this gem of a toy from the McNulty Quads. It was great for car trips and a distraction devise for doctor’s office visits.  The pages have sweet little songs (read: not loud and obnoxious), and movable features to keep little hands busy.

3. Fisher-Price Precious Planet All Around Musical Playtime Gym ($44.00)

Our boys LOVED their gym time.  It was time for them to discover themselves in the mirror, work on rolling over, check out their brothers beside them, and work on hand-eye coordination by batting at the toys…it was an all-around GREAT piece of equipment! 

4. Munchkin Bath Super Scooper Turtle ($24.95)

Once you graduate to the big tub, this is a great way to store the miscellaneous bath toys. You can scoop up the toys and hang to drain.

5.I Love You Through And Through ($8.95)

This was an almost daily read for my babies.  They loved when I acted out the emotions of the pages, and they still enjoy hearing it!

6.Pacific Play Tents See Me 6' Tunnel($26.49)

Playing peek-a-boo, chasing each other, and finding toys through the tunnel passageway was a constant source of entertainment.  Again, it’s another toy that is fun for stages to come.  It’s also space-saving, because it collapses to store!

7.Evenflo ExerSaucer SmartSteps - ABC($85.00)

 

Although the price tag may seem a little steep, I still feel indebted to Evenflo for this product. We used to call it “Disney World in a Chair”, because that’s just how entertaining it was day after day.

8. Halo Innovations SleepSack Wearable Blankets Cotton($22.40)

You might be tired of me singing the praises of Halo SleepSacks, but I can’t say enough about these wonderful wearable blankets!  The zip from top to bottom, so you are guaranteed that they will stay warm through the night.

8.Diapers(Prices Vary by Size and Brand)

It might sound like the most boring gift of the century, but do you know how much the parents of the little “stinker” will LOVE you for this?  Trust me, it’s a winner every time!

9. BABYBJÖRN Soft Bib 2 Pack($17.95)

Would you believe that we are STILL using these bibs for messy meals?  Hundreds of meals later they are unstained and holding strong.  Best part – No laundry!  Just rinse them off in the sink!

10. A High Quality Digital Camera(Prices Vary)

Alright, so it may not be the typical “Baby Christmas Gift”, but they’ll thank you for it later.  Even if you aren’t ready for a DSLR, there are plenty of great point-and-shoot digital cameras that will give you really great quality prints.  Capturing the first year is priceless. My only regret is not having one sooner! 

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I hope this gives you some great ideas for the baby on your list this Christmas season.  There’s something very magical about that 1st Christmas. Even though they won’t remember it, you’re sure to remember it for a lifetime!

What are some things YOU would add to my list?  Keep the ideas flowing in the comment section and stay tuned for The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide: 1–2 Years!

Thanksgiving Eve

The Day Before Thanksgiving and All Through the House….

…While Visions of Turkey, Pumpkin Pie, Rolls, and Football Danced in Their Heads!

Henry approached me whining yesterday, Thinking he was going to complain about a toy he wanted, or how he fell down and had a boo-boo, He cried, “Wanna eat some TURKEY!”. 

Needless to say, we are highly anticipating Thanksgiving 2009. We are busy little beavers around here, getting the house in tip-top shape for our guests, preparing the bird, peeling potatoes, etc. (Is it bad that I’ve considered strapping the boys in their car seats with a movie in the van? Considered. Only considered.)

However, I didn’t want to forget to announce the winner of the Halo SleepSack Giveaway! 

The dudes over at Random.Org picked Comment #61

Congratulations, Lisa!  You will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your new SleepSack. Enjoy some cuddling on us and Halo! =)  

Things That Make Two "Terrific"

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Since we're off at BlogHer, this is a repost from a little earlier this year. I have sooooo much to blog about...like a year's worth of blogging material.  (You can follow me on twitter for more real-time updates.)The boys are LOVING this Quadyssey for sure!  We are soaking up this time as a family and truly enjoying meeting readers and other incredible bloggers!

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Being on the other side of a major illness, has it's way of making things seem much "easier". Through our journey of raising quadruplets, there always seems to be an ebb and flow of challenges and smooth sailing. Although it is subject to change at any moment, we are currently soaking up a less difficult stage. Of course every day has its challenges, discipline, and work, but it seems small in comparison to the load of the last few weeks.

We've been hearing, "Wait 'Til They're Two" since before they were born, and I'm sure there are many difficult days ahead, but we also know that perspective and attitude have an enormous influence on our daily lives. Each day is truly a gift, and as my triplet mama friend explains it so well, "No matter how terrible the day, the good ALWAYS outweighs the bad". We are determined to make TWO TERRIFIC! 

Here's some things we already LOVE about TWO:

The little boy in them is coming out more everyday.

They love to sing and are learning words to songs. Some of their favorites include: The Wheels on the Bus, ABC, The B-I-B-L-E, Old McDonald, Night Night Baby, and Jesus Loves Me. Sweet, sweet little voices.

They are learning to be little helpers. (See video)

They are becoming hilariously good at imitating us (tone of voice, body language, words).

They can climb to the top of our neighborhood play set and slide down the slide.

Their bond of brotherhood has never been stronger.

They understand so much more and can follow simple directions.

They are developing a great sense of humor. (They are gonna need it!)

Their curiosity is fascinating.

They have a better understanding of turn-taking. (But oh do we have a ways to go!)

They can answer a yes/no question with better accuracy, instead of saying "no" to everything.

They are increasingly affectionate and lovable.

Here's some video "proof" of how we are enjoying two.  This was taken before bedtime the other night, which is why they are wearing their sleepsacks. 

(Side note: Sleepsacks are one of my favorite things of all time.  They are wearable blankets, known as "nigh-nights" by our boys, made by Halo. We've been using them since the boys were about 2 months old, after being introduced to them by our friend Carrie. I'm convinced they've kept "stinkies" in their diapers and boys in contained in their cribs, as well as kept them warm.  They reverse zip from top to bottom, and once they figure that out, I plan on having them wear them backwards to hopefully buy us some more time!  (And no, Halo did not pay me to write that - it's just a honest to goodness recommendation!)

Babes in Dreamland

Thanks for all your comments/compliments on the co-bedding post. Many of you have told me how much you loved the picture of Brooks and Clark doing the synchronized thumb sucking. I'll answer a few FAQs that we've gotten from the recent posting....

1. Do the twins suck their thumbs often?
Yes, Clark and Brooks both suck their thumbs ALL the time. They even try to suck their thumbs and the bottle at the SAME time quite often. I know it's a terrible habit to break, but when you have 4 babies, if 2 of them learn to self-soothe by thumb sucking - yippee! Saves Brad or I a trip out of our cozy bed to find a pacifier in the dark for a crying baby in the middle of the night. We'll worry about breaking habits later, anyone know of a good orthodontist? HA!

2. Does anyone else suck their thumbs or take a pacifier?
Isaac is our only one who likes a pacifier much. He gets one when he goes to bed for the night and sometimes at church to keep his delightful squealing muffled a bit. Henry (and really all of them) suck their fingers and hands a lot, but I think that's do to all these TEETH! Clark has one through his gum and one on the way and it looks like Isaac's are just under the surface! Unreal! And in birth order, how about that? Official Tooth Count: 5

3. Do you own four cribs?
Yes, we do own 4 cribs, just have not put them up for space issues, and we have not bought the mattresses yet.

4. What are they wearing?
So glad you asked - one of my FAVORITE baby products out there. Perfect Shower Gift! They are called Sleepsacks. A bit pricey, but money well spent. These are made by Halo. They zip from top to bottom (so the zipper is at their feet instead of in their face) and are basically a wearable blanket that you don't have to worry about coming off in the middle of the night and waking them up. Also reduces the risks of SIDS. Genius!

AND......... because it just continues to be sooooooo precious. I had to post ONE more video of our sweet boys in their cribs. This one is so sweet it about brings me to tears. Makes me melt!

I will be posting some great cereal pictures soon - stay tuned, same great channel.
Until then, sweet dreams from Henry, Brooks, Clark, Isaac, Jen and Brad

Our 1st (and possibly only) Q & A....

First and foremost THANK YOU for your outpouring of encouragement and congratulations through the past week. I'm glad I could share little pieces of our celebration of LIFE with you.....

I've been a bit stumped on how to follow up what has been some of our best blog posts ever (in my humble opinion). I can't possibly beat the 1st Year Video, Cake Pics, or 1st Bday Memories! So I've decided to attempt a Q & A....Hopefully I don't kick myself for it later!

I've selected a FEW questions/comments that I've been getting via comments or email.

Please don't be offended if I didn't choose your specific question. There's probably a variety of reasons why I did not (ie: It was too intrusive, I've answered it before on this blog, I don't know the answer, or because I'm just mean like that -HA!). I also would ask that you refrain from turning this post into a forum of comments/questions that you would never say aloud to your grandmother......(I'm typing this with a smile, but in all seriousness there is some REAL negativity in the air these days in the blogosphere, so I ask that you'd respect our family and keep in mind that our boys will be reading this someday.) I do read every comment, but screening every comment would be much too time consuming. On the other hand, I do like to promote blog interaction....just use some descretion! We'll see how it goes and who knows perhaps we'll turn this in to somewhat routine post?????

Let the Q&A Commence....

~What Artist/Song Titles did you use in the video montage? (-Anonymous)

"All Things New" - Watermark

"Ordinary Miracle" - Sarah McLachlan

"Everything Glorious" - David Crowder Band

~Where do you get a feeding table like you have? (-Stacy, Auntiem)

You can find out more details here, but we researched and found it for the best price (plus free shipping) at http://www.justmultiples.com/ It's our all-round favorite "multiple" product! Yep, Suz, original seats + still room to grow!

~Where did you get your plastic bibs? (- The Donovans)

Baby Bjorn. Love 'em! Rinse 'em off and they're good to go for the next feeding. Best part: no extra laundry!

~Are Brooks and Isaac "the twins"? (-Joan's Musings)

Trust me, I get the "which ones are the twins" question a TON! I'm always tempted to say "they all are!", because truly they are ALL either fraternal or identical twins or to say, "none of them, they're quads!"....but I get it, you want to know who's identical: Brooks and Clark are the 2 peas in 1 pod!

~What color are my kitchen walls? (-Karen)

Glad you like them, but I have trouble remembering the last time I brushed my teeth. I can't recall the paint color from 3 years ago. Sorry. We got it from Porter Paints - hope that narrows it down to a few thousand.

What would you recommend for a Hospital Bed Rest Kit? (-Amanda)

Hmmm...I think I'm better at NICU Kits...maybe my quad sistas could chime in with some great suggestions for this one....Anything homemade is appreciated when your "institutionalized", toe polish, lotion, music, sudoku, a visit????

~Which hospital did we deliver at? (-Dawn)

St. Vincent's Women's. Can't say enough great things about the NICU care we received. Check out the commercial we were featured in on their behalf if you haven't already.....

~How's come our kiddos didn't have to wear cranial bands like Suz's? How did you get them in shape post-birth without them? (-The ever so popular Anonymous)

Without getting too "medi-techno"....Although the boys' heads were quite a mess at birth due to being soooooo cramped inside me, somehow our kids' heads have shaped up remarkably well on their own. (They did use a Halo Pillow in the NICU for Henry's preemie head) However, this does not mean I did or didn't do something right. Simply, our little guys heads were more pliable/soft and more symmetrical. Congrats to the Steece Quads for escaping theirs so quickly!

~How do we tell our boys apart? Do we use bracelets, etc.? (-You guessed it!)

We just know. I wish I could tell you the secret, but I can't really describe it. They seem so distinct to me....Brooks and Clark are the trickiest, but once you're around them for a while you begin to pick up on the little things. Their personalities are all sooooo different as well.