The Parcon Dealership

When my wife and I started dating....way back when....I remember meeting her family for the first time.  No one forgets the initial family meet and greet.  I certainly did not forget.  My wife's older brother used intimidation tactics by standing at the top of the stairs, and like cyclopes, burned a hole in me by staring directly at me...not letting me out of his sight.  As if he knew telepathy, I could hear him in my mind, "You better not lay one finger on my sister...or else...."  Or else he'd probably split my in half because I was warned he knew TKD.  Her father, on the other hand, didn't want to be bothered as he was watching movies on the TV but offered me some snacks.

Well much time has passed and over the years, I remember the Parcon family having many....many cars.  I lost count and forgot all the models that drove in and out of the driveway.  Even to this day, they have many, many cars.   I think each man in the house owns at least 3 cars but that's a good thing because maybe...just maybe.... they will be willing to donate one to their son in law?

A car to a man, is precious.  We have relationships with our cars like we have with our girlfriends, or wives.  Just like girls love shopping, guys like their cars so when I suggested to my wife... 
      
 "Do you think your Dad would give up a car for his son in law and daughter, who are having twins?"
"I'll have to talk to him.  You know he loves his cars."
"I know but hopefully he'll feel sorry for us 'cause we have to haul twins and a dog in a Corolla."
"Out of the 3 cars, which one do you think he'll give us?"
"Maybe the 97 Rav 4....for sure not the 99 4 Runner....and he just got the 98 Pathfinder...."   
"I'll talk to him."

3 big cars.  My father in law surely doesn't want to keep 3 cars does he?  The gas alone would kill him and he mostly drives alone.  Keeping my fingers crossed, my wife tells her father as he drives us to breakfast.   

"Daddy, I'm pregnant." 
"Oh, that's good.  You guys are old enough now and....it's the right time," He responds.
"And Daddy, there something else...."
"What?  What something else...."
"We're having twins......so we need a car from you."
"Two?  No....oh my God.  Does Mom know?"

Over breakfast, Mr. Parcon graciously gives up, from his "dealership", the 1998 Chilkoot Pathfinder.  We thanked him immensely.  Actually we should also thank my wife's Uncle who was the original owner.  At least now we will have space to haul the family around because I just couldn't see it happening in a Corolla....I can hear the Corolla now

"You're giving me up for a Nissan?  How dare you.  I gave you 10K, problem free  kms this year and this is how you treat me?"
"Sorry Corolla, I just wanted a car with my junk in her trunk.  Know what I'm saying?"

The stroller to fit the need

I think we may have a stroller winner....   Ok, I agree Toys R US, Sears etc....wasn't the best place to look for strollers.  Hey rookie mistake right? So I went to Dearborn on Doncaster.  Customer service, way better!

So hear me out first before booing and throwing the stones.  With twins, some of the factors to think about include, size, tandem or side by side, cost, weight and style.  We are leaning towards Baby Trend's Twin Snap and Go.





If you've never seen one before, you might be like, "where are the seats?"  Well, this isn't exactly a conventional stroller.  It's a frame that allows you to put infant car seats on it.  This is definitely light because it's just a frame.  It costs approx. 100 bucks new but we could probably find a used one for even cheaper and in good condition.  This will also be able to fit thru doors and into the back of our trunk.  Honestly, I'm not sure how often we'll be transporting the babies in a stroller but I know we'll have them in their infant seats a lot in the beginning.  Transferring the infant car seat from the car to the stroller should be fairly easy and we don't have to wake them up.  The bad part is, the snap and go only lasts as long the infant car seat.  At that point, we can look for a "real" stroller when they are bigger and when we have some $$$ hopefully.

So why not start off with a conventional twin stroller right away?  I haven't seen one I really like yet.  That's from a design and engineering stand point.    Don't even mention Bugaboo Donkey unless they have a leasing option.  Stroll Air Duo seems to be the best one I like but so expensive at $899.  Most of the twin strollers can't accomodate two infant car seats side by side. Some can fit only one seat.  If they do fit two, they are at least 30" wide.  When folded, it is massive and heavy!  Some also need an extra bar just so the infant seats can fit and lock.  Each bar...50 bucks extra.  City Mini double might be another good one but I don't think it can convert to a travel system. 

Ugghhhh....it's confusing...trust me....but it's mainly because there isn't many twin strollers I can get my hands on.  Maybe at the Baby Show they'll have them?  I can't believe I'm talking all this baby stuff.   

Can't hide it anymore

Well, the news is out, family and friends are happy and we don't have to go hiding our baby books under the sofa ....or hide the pre-natal pills away....we're officially pregnant...well she is.

I thank everyone who congratulated us.  It's a happy time, yet also a time of not knowing.  Reading books can help, but it doesn't hit you until the twins are actually out.  So what to do in the next 4-6 months before the two babies arrive?

Well, what ever you wanted to do, you better do it now.  What ever home improvement project you wanted to get done, better get on that now.  This blog, I bet you, will be collecting dust after September, because when you become a parent, it's a lifetime job.

Thanks for everyone's great wishes, keep you guys posted.

This is really happening

At about 12 weeks, I was finally able to see my first ultrasound of the babies.  I didn't know what to expect, how they would look....etc.

When I first saw the babies, a sigh of relief....at least there are not aliens in there.  Sorry, I just have bad images of the aliens chest bursting scene.  But seriously though, it's pretty amazing because inside the womb, you can see the structure of the head, and the little limbs...a nose....We got to take some pictures of the babies home.

Here they are:

I think I stared at these images for 10 mins straight like an idiot while my wife was getting her blood work done.  "There are really two in there..."  I had to keep repeating it to myself.  Up to this day, I forget sometimes there are twins.  I mean, it's been me and my wife for so long, it's hard to imagine our family doubling in size..but it is....and that means I better step up my game.