Twinkie, Inc.

Do you realize that having kids is like running a business - with Mom and Dad as joint CEOs? You need to hire a team, draw up contracts, budget, etc. As someone who hates to procrastinate, I have been busy making preprations for the twins arrival.

1. This past weekend we interviewed two post-partum doulas (or what's sometimes called a "baby nurse") to work with us after the babies are born for a few weeks to try to help me recover and begin to get them on a "schedule." (Ok. I admit that I don't know what I don't know - so some of you more experienced moms can stop laughing now). We scheduled some more interviews for later this month and hope to have made a decision by early August.

2. In our family, it was always assumed that we would go to college. We didn't even question it, as it was as natural to us as brushing our teeth or taking a bath. Fortunately, my parents were able to send us to college and we both graduated debt-free. I hope we can do the same for our children. I looked at some online calculators and it estimates we would have to put $600-$800/month for EACH child to cover the costs. What?! Don't think that's happening - so maybe I will have to lower my expectations.

Last week, we received a nice-sized refund from CCRM / FLC - so we agreed to split it between the kids and open a college savings account for each of them. I found this helpful website - www.savingforcollege.com. Did you know that you can open a plan in your own name now before your children are born and just transfer over the balance later? I am leaning toward a 529 vs. a Coverdell account because there is a $2000 annual limit on the Coverdell account and when the money becomes the property of our children, they don't have to spend it on education.

3. We still need to make an appointment with a lawyer to update our wills. Lots to think about on that front, but at least we have it on our radar.

4. I delegated hiring a pediatrician to my DH. I will go on the interviews he sets up, but fully understand that when I asked him to do this, I relinquished control and need to trust his judgement and support his final decision 100%.

5. Enrolled for Infant CPR - check!

6. I just started taking baby steps into thinking about child care. I feel very strongly that I do not want to put my children into day care. On the other hand, it financially makes sense for me to keep my job (at least part-time if my company is flexible enough to work with me - which I think they will be) - so I have started to think about a nanny. Fortunately, over the past five years I have gotten to know my massage therapist very well. She used to work in a day care center, as well as a nanny for many years. She even took care of a set of four kids where two were twins - so she has lots of experience. She probably needs to update her CPR certification, but we talked about her coming to provide part-time care. I would need to hire someone else to do the days she does massage therapy.

7. I know I need to start thinking about a "birth plan" - but I am not even sure that I know what that is. I know I want to have a c-section and I know that I am all in favor of drugs vs. pain. Other than that, I'm not sure what I need to think about. Help please...

Anything else I am forgetting so far?