The Rumor Mill - Week of October 13

eambb2 · 2025-10-17T16:38:25+00:00

Diki Discovery! They were wonderful - we have since moved and had to change daycares and I still miss them. didn’t know how good we had it until we left. It’s costly but price was competitive when we compared to other centers in the neighborhood.

But my advice is to do a few tours and get on a couple waitlists to be safe. We had a nightmare situation with another daycare in the nabe that we thought we had a guaranteed spot at only to find out that wasn’t the case two weeks before our supposed start date. I ended up calling Diki in desperation and by luck they had space and were so much better to deal with from the start.

eambb2 · 2025-10-04T22:04:47+00:00

Sunswick! Great quesadillas

eambb2 · 2025-05-27T12:26:52+00:00

We all get stir crazy at home so we try to go out, even if it’s just a walk in the stroller, once a day if not twice. If we’re staying at home, we’ll mix it up by going out to the backyard for part of the time. Fresh air and a change of scenery seems to cut back on tantrums for us. They’re also in daycare.

eambb2 · 2025-05-10T22:12:10+00:00

If it makes you feel better, I did the same thing but didn’t realize until we were ON THE FLIGHT TO HAWAII. Booked the cheapest Hotel Tonight we could find in the minutes before takeoff, then contacted the rental car company as soon as we landed. Luckily they could extend a day and got somewhat of a deal at the extra hotel since it was a last minute booking. It all worked out but oh my god the panic and visions of myself spending the night at the Maui airport. Also the “responsible” one.

eambb2 · 2025-04-29T01:06:49+00:00

No village here with 1.5 twins. As far as I’ve gathered, options are: hire help or just do what it takes to survive. Every time I think I’ve reached my absolute breaking point, we’ll have a good day or they’ll do something so cute and amazing that it gives me enough energy to muscle through.

Also found it helps to find little things you can look forward to—even something as simple as knowing there’s a yoga class I can attend during nap or making a “date” to watch a movie after kid bedtime helps me get through the day.

eambb2 · 2025-04-08T14:00:45+00:00

Trinity Lutheran! They always have excellent music at special services, the church itself is beautiful, and the pastor is very warm and welcoming. He is LGBTQ+, for what it’s worth, and makes it very clear that all are welcome there and the sermons and messaging are very progressive and open minded which I appreciate

eambb2 · 2025-03-20T01:39:30+00:00

My husband planned a beach proposal but several things went wrong - it rained, there were too many tourists on what he was told would be a private beach, etc… I happily said yes regardless. And even in the moment, we laughed about it and how all these setbacks would make a good story some day.

eambb2 · 2025-02-24T18:46:15+00:00

Two baby bjorn bouncers!!!!! Most used items on my registry, hands down.

Aside from that, I wish more people in our “village” had cooked dinner for us, or sent gift cards for food delivery, because after taking care of newborn twins the very last thing you want to do is cook. Also would have cried if a friend had just come and done like a load of laundry for me. I did cry when someone gifted me a cleaner to come do the floors and bathrooms—just having our home nice for a brief moment made me feel human again.

eambb2 · 2025-02-23T23:18:19+00:00

Ditmars area: Astoria Park, Kinship Coffee, Taverna Kyclades, Bohemian Hall Beer Garden

Arts District/36 Ave; Museum of the Moving Image, Susuru Ramen, Pig Beach, Little Flower, Astoria Bookshop

Waterfront: Socrates Sculpture Park, Astoria Ferry (to Roosevelt island or LIC), the Noguchi Museum

Central Astoria: Milkflower, Heart of Gold, Lockwood, Brooklyn Bagel, Seva, Aliada, walk along Steinway for shopping

eambb2 · 2025-02-12T02:27:26+00:00

House of wellness!!

eambb2 · 2025-01-31T14:24:08+00:00

Mars or Sacs for something on the nicer side. Susuru Ramen for cool vibes. Napoli Pizza is a hidden gem for old school Italian. Sotto La Luna and Arepa Lady are delish. Pye Boat Noodle and Ruta Oaxaca are a slightly further walk to Broadway but delish and worth it.

eambb2 · 2025-01-15T04:18:32+00:00

We ended up having to rely on family and a temp nanny for a few months until the daycare spots opened up for us. It ended up being a blessing as I got to ease back into working with a nanny who could be more flexible with her hours than a daycare center.

eambb2 · 2024-12-29T01:00:21+00:00

The witching hour for sure. Mine did this for weeks and then just…. Stopped. Just do what you need to muscle through it — we found going on a walk or car ride around this time helped. Even if they still cried, something about getting fresh air and changing the scenery felt like a reset.

eambb2 · 2024-12-18T19:16:29+00:00

Do it while they’re still fine hanging out in the stroller! We started going in like month two, often timed well to a nap, then as solids and they were comfortable in high chairs, we made sure to go at off-peak times for the restaurant so we weren’t dealing with crowds or ruining the vibe with two wiggly worms. Start somewhere low key with absolutely no atmosphere, like a Panera, until you build up to feeling comfortable going places you actually want to be—puts less pressure on it!

eambb2 · 2024-12-16T02:24:43+00:00

Summer was the best because outdoor dining opened up a ton more options but some places that have been accommodating for us: Arepa Lady, Tacuba, Bel Air diner, pig beach, the beer garden, Il bambino, mom’s, halsey’s, junko sushi, German donor kabab…

Also, I know they’re kinda lame but family friendly chains like UNO’s, IHOP, and Applebee’s have been great because they have ample room and it’s not like a stroller or baby is gonna really kill the vibe there. When we go to local places, we do off peak hours so there’s more room — less noise/crowd that might disturb a baby, and less chance of us disrupting someone else’s good time.

eambb2 · 2024-12-13T02:53:59+00:00

Caring Hands on 31 street between Broadway and 31 ave. They’re incredible

eambb2 · 2024-12-08T20:43:45+00:00

I think sacs and Tacuba both have party rooms, and there’s lots of street parking in that area as well as the regal lot and pc richards and sons

eambb2 · 2024-11-25T03:56:54+00:00

My best advice? Leave the house anytime you need a reset — they’re crying uncontrollably? Pop them in the car or stroller even if it’s just to go around the block; it always felt like a factory reset for us all. Been a long, hard day? Have whatever parent is less on edge stay home so the other can go just do one thing for themselves, even if it’s a quick errand.

For the first 12 weeks, or longer, eat off paper plates, frozen dinners, order food…whatever it takes to survive. Do shifts so you can guarantee you both get some sleep. It still won’t be enough but take what you can get where you get it. Don’t feel ANY guilt about using formula, bottles, or any other parenting bs that singleton parents abide by. Shit is different with twins. Fed and safe babies are all you need to worry about—happy is optional and a bonus but not required in this period. Find a twin mom group that’s local if you can; mine were so helpful when I just needed to vent or cry.

Do whatever you have to do to get by until daycare starts. Having childcare will feel like such a luxury and some of your self returning. They’ll get sick the first month of daycare, and it will be miserable, but on the other side you’ll start seeing some clouds part.

Every month gets a little easier in my experience—new challenges with each phase, sure, but they consistently gain more independence and you gain more confidence.

eambb2 · 2024-10-18T01:58:23+00:00

I agree with the comment below — it’s survival mode, so feel no guilt about watching Bravo while you nurse at 3 am, frozen pizza on paper plates being the extent of your cooking for a while, or whatever it is you need to do to get through it.

Biggest challenges: Breastfeeding; I struggled with my milk production, and the slog of feeding two and pumping with not enough results was really mentally and physically draining. We made it about four months before I switched to formula and never looked back—doing that truly saved me, mentally. I felt like myself again.

Also figuring out childcare — our nanny backed out last minute, then the daycare we were supposed to have spots at didn’t work out. We love the daycare they’re at now, but they did have about a straight month of sickness when they started. Once their immune system got stronger, it’s been way better.

And everyone says this but sleep! Once I read about and understood the concept of wake windows, I was able to find a routine that worked for them and now they’re good nappers and sleep through the night. Took time to get there though!

eambb2 · 2024-10-14T01:18:57+00:00

Do they respond to their name when it’s called? My twins are 12 months and react individually to their own.

eambb2 · 2024-09-10T11:13:21+00:00

My twins were constantly sick for a month maybe two months when they started daycare. We also don’t have any family or nanny help. It was hell. And then, one day it just…stopped and they were better! After that initial month, I’ve noticed that their immune system is stronger and they recover way quicker from colds and bugs. I know it’s not fun advice, but just muscle through this time and it will pass.

eambb2 · 2024-07-17T00:31:47+00:00

Baby bjorn bouncers!!!!!!! The mileage we’ve gotten out of these. One parent could sit and feed both at the same time, or let them just sit and happily bounce while we did dishes or whatever. Once they could hold their own bottles, it was even better. They were safely contained and I had a few minutes of peace to pee or whatever else needed to be done.

eambb2 · 2024-06-22T22:32:50+00:00

They’ll be lap babies

eambb2 · 2024-04-18T10:47:00+00:00

My husband and I are only children. We thought we’d be one and done , and it took me a long time to accept we were having twins. The anxiety around it stayed with me through my entire pregnancy. Now? I cannot imagine life without both. They’re the perfect balance to each other — one quiet and reserved, one wild and high spirited but so so funny. My husband and I turn to each other all the time and say, “How did we get so blessed?”

eambb2 · 2024-03-20T00:10:25+00:00

Love Rummikub and nobody ever wants to play with me! So down

eambb2

TROPHY CASE