Visit with Papu and Yaya (Steph's Dad and Stepmom)

My Dad and Stepmom came to visit us from California this past week. While they were here we dubbed them Papu (Dad) and Yaya (Karen) to distinguish them from Grandma and Grandpa (Steve's parents) and Gram (my Mom).

One of the highlights of the week was getting out and going mall walking. For all of you Californians, the reason why we're going mall walking is not to go shopping, but to keep the babies warm while we walk - it snowed here yesterday and is way too cold out for our babies!!! Going mall walking requires a few things:

1. A really big mall like the Natick Mall - about a 20 minute drive from our house.


2. A focus on mall walking - not mall shopping. Sophia and Ethan like to go-go-go, so if you stop to shop you have to expect them to say something about it!


3. Good timing - Unless you want to feed the babies in the mall, you need to time your outing so that the babies eat right before you leave and plan that they'll eat right when you get home. Bring two bottles just in case (but hope you don't need use them).


4. Flexibility - Letting go, relaxing, and enjoying the experience for what it is. The goal of everything we do now is to focus on the babies and have fun. I've noticed that when my personal goals begin to compete with that (e.g. actually walking, sleeping, eating, etc.) instead of fitting into the babies' schedule, we all end up a little frustrated and cranky. It is hard at times to make it a win-win situation...

I went mall walking by myself for the first time before Papu and Yaya arrived. It went relatively well - Sophia woke up and wanted to be held but was easily soothed. I also used the double snap-n-go - the carseats just snap into the stroller base, and off you go. No transfer from car seat to stroller required. We walked for about an hour straight and then went home. I've been without exercise since August and it felt so great to really move!!!

Because we had 4 adults and 2 babies during our outing with Yaya and Papu, we decided to break out our fancier Peg Perego stroller and give it a whirl. After a quick stop at Sears to look at upright freezers, a diaper change for Sophia, a coffee break for the grown-ups, a diaper change for Ethan, and lunch for the babies we finally did get some good, uninteruppted walking in. Yay! :)

Yaya, Papu, Sophia, Ethan, and our mack truck of a stroller at the Natick Mall for Mall walking (and some mall shopping)!

Ethan, Papu, Yaya, and Sophia
Papu admires Ethan...

Sophia with Yaya

Sophia and Yaya giggle about Sophia's old-fashioned bonnet

Sophia stretches for the frog...

Playtime for Ethan...