That’s how many weeks I am. And nearly how many pounds I’ve gained with this pregnancy too. Everything I eat seems to stick to me and I have an unmistakable bump now.
Can we just talk about the boobs for a minute? I have swelled from a shriveled A-cup to a tender C-cup in the span of two months. It’s amazing how the female body accommodates and morphs with pregnancy.
There was someone else on the deck who didn’t feel like missing out on the morning photo shoot:
I also have a question for any moms with two kids. Double stroller: yea or nay? I already have a single Graco stroller that our infant car seat clicks into. I found that I used that a lot when Avelyn was a baby; I liked being able to take her out of the car without having to wake her if she had fallen asleep in her seat. We also have a single jogging stroller (Chariot Cavalier) which is great, but I am wondering if it would be good to shell out the bucks for a stroller that would hold Avelyn and her (hopefully) brother. I don’t think I want a typical double stroller that is either super long or really wide. I like the idea of the Phil and Ted’s e3 which has a baby seat underneath.
My friend Tamara has this stroller and aside from the fact that’s she’s cool and beautiful and makes carting two kids around look like a breeze, she let me steer the stroller once and it maneuvered like a dream. It’s about $500 (eep) but she said that it’s been her lifesaver and the thing that has made it possible for her to get out of the house with two kids. So…any advice or thoughts? Or someone with a brand new Phil and Ted’s stroller just collecting dust in her garage that she feels like donating to me?
45 Comments
we had a son last Jan and our two year old needed to ride still- we bought a Sit and Stand- it was affordable and works! It is heavy though- I use a Mclaren and took a bit of getting used to- but it works great and Finn loves it now at 3 going on 4! You look great!
A friend of mine and my sister-in-law have the phil & ted and they love it. I’d go double stroller forsure.
Ebay!
We always did single stroller and backpack or carrier. I would say if a double stroller is an option, you should probably take it, although they way we worked it wasn’t the absolute worst.
I just got a Valco Baby Trimode Jogger stroller for two. I got the toddler attachment. Haven’t had the second bambino yet, but I am quite excited about my purchase.
http://www.valcobaby.com/2006/toddler.htm
Having twins, I would say YES to having a double stroller. Your children will be close enough in age that you will not be able to rely on Avelyn walking. I have the graco duoglider, which also steer easily, would accomodate your carseat (which I agree is necessary for the infant stage) and folds up quite easily. It’s also not much bigger than many single strollers, when folded.
I’ve seen the stroller you’ve pictured around, but I’ve always wondered- wouldn’t the bottom kid HATE being down there? I know with the duoglider, the seats are “stadium” so both kids can see easily. I think being able to take in the surroundings is key to keeping kids happy in a stroller for long.
So, clearly, my vote would be the duoglider.
Aww..what a cute belly…
Double strollers are awsome..I have had a front and back double stroller, double jogging stroller and a sit and stand..The jogger is nice for lots of walking..but hard in stores as its side by side..I really liked my graco front and back was really nice, mine was easy to move around…and i really really liked the sit and stand for kids of differnt ages,.. it was easy to put a baby in the front..and alot of them you can still stick the car seat in the front..and it was easy for the older one to sit and stand on the back for the older..plus every once in awhile i could get 3 kids on it if needed..with one in the front..one sitting on the back and one standing…but the two in the back always had to get along..because the one sitting would have the one that was standings bumb in there face…lol..I also found it wasnt as bulky when it came to folding it
I opted for the side by side double jogger when Delaney was 2 and Avery was a baby. I figured I would be walking with the stroller outdoors more than shopping in stores. I used a shopping cart in the mall. $500.00 is alot of money considering Avelyn in another year or so may want nothing to do with riding. My single jogger has had the most use out of any stroller I had. Plus didn’t you just get a cool new sling??
You look awesome! So does that little girl of yours – so stylin’! I like the idea of a double stroller…That one looks so neat!
The Phil and Ted’s is on sale right now for $399 at rightstart.com. If you buy it there, they’re throwing in the jump seat (a $100 value) for free.
And you look ADORABLE.
I hate you skinny thighs.
I used a double stroller quite a bit myself and was really glad to have it, although not until my second child was nearly one. Before that I used a front or backpack and the original stroller for my older son. The other thing to think of is just how fast time flies and how short a time you may be using a stroller. If there are local used stroller possibilities such as Craig’s list, consignment stores, etc. that’s an awfully good way to go.
i got my double stroller back in the days before the good ones…i had a GIANT front to back $800 peg perego tender xl. and i hated it…so therefore never used it. and forced my 20 month old to walk everywhere. ha!
You look awesome!!
Two is the way to go, we even added a third to ours….so much easier and you don’t have to run after a toddler or pack one on your hip.
I say get the double! It’ll be one of those things that once you have it’ll be a major lifesaver when you are out. I’m sure Avelyn will love the little hidden seat. Those ones are awesome! GET it!
This is my first baby, so I’m sure it’s a little different but I’m at 13.5 ish weeks and I just noticed how different I am from two weeks ago. You look super cute in that dress/shirt combo!
I’m cheap so I did the whole baby-in-a-sling-plus-one-in-a-stroller thing. Then the older one (2 in April) got used to sitting on top of the stroller and the baby was in his car seat in the stroller. Now the older one mostly walks and the baby rides. When the older one gets tired he can sit on the stroller.
A double stroller would make things much easier, depending on how well your daughter walks and how patient you are. Note: little kids walk very very very very slowly.
Hey Amanda,
Glen and I got a Phil and Teds e3 from a store here in Richmond. If they still have the same deal we got the stroller, second seat, bunting bag, and two rain covers (single and double) all for 400.00.
I know Steve has family down here. It’s the e3, not the sport but all that means is that the handle is not as adjustable, you actually take off the handle and turn it over to get a higher handle as opposed to the newer model which is push button adjustable.
It was the best deal for a phil and teds in the lower mainland. At a store call Westcoast kids, they have a website but it’s just a title page and they don’t give out prices over the phone. I can check for you though. Or Heather can.
So far I love it, we got the apple green one. The deal only applies to orange or green strollers.
It’s so easy to steer, I can do it with one hand, better for chasing a kid or drinking a coffee.
Let me know if you want me to check it out for you.
We sold our two other strollers on craigslist so we could save a bit more on the price of the stroller but I think it was totally worth it.
Just email me if you want one.
I have a Dreamer Design double stroller. Love that thing to pieces – it has stood up to every element. We live in Vermont and I took the kids out for a 4 mile walk nearly every day last winter, and the spring, summer, and fall seasons too. I also love it in deep, deep ways because it helped me lose 50 pounds in four months – after I had my second child… Pretty much priceless! Priceless to me but 300 dollars to the store I bought it from. Not too shabby nowadays.
-Andrea
can’t give you any advice since I only have the one little Stinker…but just wanted to tell you that i love the bump!
Phil & Ted’s rock. Maybe you could look on Ebay? I scored mine used on Ebay for $200 just a couple months ago :)
Phil and Ted’s is the absolute best! My sister has one, and I had some minor stroller envy (I don’t think they had them quite yet when we were looking). Personally, I am not a fan of the double long, or the double wide. Can you say AWKWARD?!?
That being said, I never really felt the need for a double stroller — either that means we didn’t get out much or… we didn’t get out much. The times that I needed it we just used a MEC backpack and our stroller, or some kind of baby carrier and the stroller. Then, when she got older, Sarah wanted to walk more (we just made Sarah walk). But, living where you do, you probably will be walking more than we did, so the double would be useful. If you did go with the Phil and Ted’s (or something like it) I’m sure you would get a long life out of it, and probably would be able to sell it in the end if you wanted to.
I refuse to go for a double stroller, but I saw that exact stroller in use today and it looked fantastic.
GET THE DOUBLE STROLLER. I could not have done anything without mine.
Also? You look AMAZING. Cannot wait to see that baby bump tomorrow!
I have missed you, my friend :)
Awwww….gee thanks…Anyways, you know my opinion…go for the double stroller! That way we can strap down our crazy kids and go for walks (and shopping, of course)! Avelyn may start to like walking on her own soon, but honestly there are a lot of times that you still want to strap the older kid down just to keep them from running wild in the mall or bolting across the road!
Well I’m terribly cheap so this is what I’m thinking:
baby #2 is not due until Sept. right? Therefore you use your cool sling for a couple of months and then it’s the grand old Canadian winter. How much strolling are you going to be doing over Nov-March?
Therefore you can wait until next spring and that’ll give you time to see how Avelyn is and you can shell out the big bucks then.
Just being thrifty.
Those Phil & Ted ones are AWESOME, but to my knowledge you can’t clip an infant carseat into the front of it… so you’d always be removing baby and it’s not very convenient. Maybe I’m wrong though, I didn’t look into it too terribly closely.
I bought a sit and stand stroller which was a nice change from a traditional double stroller. And when we were at the mall last night, we pulled up to a regular double stroller that DIDN’T have an infant car seat attached to it (ours does) and ours was still shorter than theirs. It’s not super duper terrific in the steering department but it works and it’s navigat-able. (Yes, it’s a word. :P)
I got it on eBay because the only one I could find here I didn’t like. The one I have is made by Baby Trend, they have a website. I ended up getting a really great deal for it and the matching carseat on eBay (I heart eBay!) … if you look for it there look for the seller named “xtremediecast” or something to that effect. That’s who I bought it from and they were great. Although, do buy it with plenty of time before baby is coming – ours got held up a customs for a whole month(!!!).
Sorry for the novel. Hope it’s helpful! P.S. You look great! :)
Do not buy a double stroller that seats the children side by side. You will not fit through doors. Dismantling a stroller while hanging onto a baby and trying to keep a toddler from running into traffic just to get the stroller inside the bus or the store is not cool. Not cool at all.
Our friends who have a 4 yr old and 2 year old just have a single Graco stroller and, I kid you not, the older kid RIDES IN THE BASKET – he thinks is great fun! I guess it was his idea when the baby was still little and he still thinks it’s really cool. Now that they told me about it I seem to see this everywhere – just today at the mall I was pointing it out to my husband and I swear we saw at least 5 families doing this like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Maybe not per manufactures recommendation, buy cheaper than a new stroller – and just think, you can use that $500 towards a new mini van!
I had a double stroller – a side by side jogging stroller (and no, I didn’t jog, just shuffled along) – but it saved my life and sanity many many times. I could pop the 2 1/2 year old and baby into it and go for walks anywhere anytime. Although side by sides are generally not so good in stores. I guess it depends on where you would use a stroller the most – outside or inside. But definitely don’t plan on carrying one child while the other uses a stroller, or having the older one walk all the time. Being able to strap them both into something so they are safe, can’t run away, and are under control when you need them to be in ONE place is worth $500. In my experience, of course! And hey, unless there are a lot of things you really need for the new baby, maybe family members would consider putting in some money for a double stroller of some sort. Okay, and the “shriveled A’s” is killling me!! I’m still mourning the loss of my C’s after the last kid!
I don’t have two kids, I don’t even have the first one yet (I’m due in less than one week), but we bought a Phil and Ted’s stroller. We haven’t actually put a baby in it yet, but we are very happy with our purchase because of the way it handles, and the fact that it fold s up really easily and very compact for a jogging stroller. We decided on this one because of the fact that it could convert to a double stroller. We tested lots of different strollers and ultimately found this to be the best one in its price range. I would give this one two thumbs up.
Just reading someone else’s comment, I thought that I should add that this stroller does offer an attachment that you can buy that you can clip a car seat into. However I don’t know if it only works when one child is in it or if you can do it with the double seating. Something to ask a sales rep about.
Toys R US has a similar stoller for $189. There is a standard stroller seat that can accomodate an infant car seat and behind it, facing the other way- facing you, is the other ‘toddler’ seat. A cheaper option, but I do like those strollers.
We’ve decided to buy the Phil ‘n Teds, but then our two will be even closer together than your two (under two years for us) so I think I’m going to need it. Walking was my key to losing the baby weight last time so there’s no way I’m not having a double stroller this time!
we have a phil & teds and loooove it! i only have one baby, not two, but i’m so happy we purchased this stroller. the thing will turn on a dime and is so easy to collapse and prop back up again, and it’s really lightweight. i can’t sing its praises enough!
I just got the Phil & Ted’s Sport. The toddler seat doesn’t have to go underneath – it can also go on top when the baby is a newborn. Personally, I LOVE this stroller. Yes it’s expensive but SO WORTH IT. I had a GRACO and I could say many things about it – none of them good so I won’t even bother.
I promise, you will LOVE this stroller. I asked many other parents who own one if they like it and none of them had any complaints. Also, their toddlers didn’t seem to mind the seat being underneath. It also has many great add-ons – saddle bags and such. Oh and it folds down really flat – I was so shocked at how small it was collapsed!
I considered a sit and stand but decided not to because let’s face it – it’s really hard to get a screaming toddler (having a tantrum) to sit still there if they really don’t want to. Oh and they can’t nap in a sit and stand.
Good luck with your decision.
Get the Phil & Ted’s! 2 years later & I still love mine. Then you can resell it for 75% of what you paid for it!
I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old and we LOVE our double stroller. Whichever model you choose, you won’t regret getting a double. I would also recommend a sling. Shopping becomes difficult because when you have a toddler and a baby in your shopping cart, where exactly do you put the groceries? I use my sling (I have a moby wrap which is super comfortable) for the baby when I’m grocery shopping and put the toddler in the cart. Good luck!
clearly the 13lbs went to your boobs because I don’t see it anywhere else. You look great Firecake. Although not so cakey anymore. My boobs didn’t blow till 2nd trimester this time….but the blue roadmap of veins is in full affect. I think this time I could nagivate from my house to yours on my left boob. Sweet and convenient huh? You look tremendous. I wish I had your long legs to pull off the long shirt and jeans look. I just look like someone jumped on my head and squished me if my shirt it too long.
So glad you asked about this, I have read all your comments which I never take the time to do to start some research too. Such a huge investment so you want to get the right thing for you money. So thanks. Yes..I owe you an email…I WILL do it this week…but only because you buttered me up calling me a poop smear. This is why I love you more than others!!!! tee hee
I have two. My oldest is 2.5 and my youngest is three months. Something I found out IMMEDIETLY is that trying to carry a two year old when he gets tired and cranky while holding a car seat was hard. Sure you can sometimes take a stroller but times like the grocery store, or running into grab lunch or something, its just very hard. So I bought (errrm grandma bought) a Moby (www.mobywrap.com) AND I LOVE IT. I put it on before I leave, if the baby does startle when I take him out, he passes out instantly when I put him back in, and sleeps the whole entire time he is in it. PLUS I can totally nurse with out anyone knowing I’m doing it. An example, we were recently at a huge indoor childrens play place and I was nursing my son, my very pregnant friend who was interested in the Moby said, hey later can you show me how you nurse in it, and I replied, sure I’m nursing now, she didn’t even know! Not to mention the baby is snug enough that I can bend down and get groceries on the bottom shelf at the store and I don’t feel weird walking away from my cart, also when my oldest throws a fit out somewhere I can easily pic him up and carry him with both arms and not worry about the bulky car seat!
sorry for writing a book, I just discovered this time around, the whole taking the car seat thing was not for me at all!!!!!!!
I’m trying to comment on your stinky shoe post but it won’t let me. Anyway Old Navy sells these things called NOT SOCKS, they are made for shoes just like that, they only cover just enough foot to avoid smell but you can’t see em at all.
IMHO Avelyn is going to be in the stage where she does not want to ride in the stroller at all and she is probably going to try to be this *little big sister* all of a sudden and will despise being in the stroller.
You definitely want to strap down the 2 year old while dealing with the little baby. The double strollers I had were behemoth frustrating contraptions, though. That Phil and Ted stroller looks like the ticket.
I have the Phil & Ted’s and LOVE it! Also, you do not need to buy an attachment for the infant car seat. It just sits on top of the stroller (bumper bar?) and its very stable. However,the seat does need to be a little reclined for the car seat to sit on top so i don’t know how that would affect the second seat at the back? Definitely go to a store and check it out – but then i ordered mine online at modern baby barn and it shipped very quickly. My sister in law has a ‘double wide’ Mountain Buggy and I HATED pushing it when I tried it out. It was SO heavy and we couldn’t go in 99% of the stores we wanted to because the thing wouldn’t get through the door. I think i would lose my mind if I had to deal with that every time I wanted to get out the door (IF i could get out the door with it!!)
I always thought Avelyn looked like Steve, but in that first picture of you, you totally have her eyes. (Well, vice versa…)
Also, whenever I see those double strollers with one kid under/behind, I always feel like the second kid is getting the shaft because the view sucks.
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