Teach Me How to Mommy

I found out I was pregnant on a Sunday afternoon in May.  Instead of screaming from the rooftops that I was carrying my third child I kept it to myself.  It took two weeks to even tell my husband,  here's why: 1. Having your first is so exciting, having your second is expected - the third?  Who has three kids these days? 2.  Is it ever the right time?  I was nervous my husband wouldn't think so... 3.  I didn't want to overshadow other pregnancies (specifically my brother and sister in-law who will be having their FIRST baby two weeks before us - wooo-hooo)! 4.  I had a co-worker tell me (while I was pregnant, but he didn't know) that the world was not set up for families of five (cars, restaurants, vacations, college tuition).  He has a point, woops! 5.  By saying it out loud I often admit (through nervous laughter, strange sentences and awkward eye movement) that I am so, so nervous about this one. Yet, I know by putting it here...

Last week, an amazing photographer sent me the photos from the photo shoot Amy and I did a few days prior.  I teared up, then I showed my husband.  He said, "wow, these look professional."  That's because they are - sometimes I wonder what he's doing when I am talking... Rewind. Amy and I don't do professional photographs.  There are a lot of reasons why, (maybe none that are actually worthy).  We have Iphones and take pictures of our kids EVERY day.  Professional photos can be expensive.  Also (and sorry) but the ones we see streaming on Facebook often seem staged, weird, unrealistic (all while, yes, being beautiful).  But, once you start how do you stop?  Do you do them every year?  Wait, it's holiday we should get our pictures taken!  A new baby?  Better line up the photographer.  First tooth?  Call her up! Yet, when a childhood friend offered to update our Teachmehow website with some new pics, we conceded...

This is a quick review in case you ever thought of traveling to the Dinosaur Place in Montville, CT.  Long story short, regardless of the travel, price and heat, this place is still worth it. When Jerry gets home every night the first question he asks is, "Which adventure did Mom take you on today?"  Shortly after, he states that he wishes he could be there.  Even though I Snapchat all our adventures for him he still gets pangs of jealousy.  Understood - I'm exhausted but it's for all the right reasons. So this weekend we took the kids to the movies for the first time ever.  The experience was great, but the movie kind of sucked.  Cars 3?  I guess I should've seen 1 & 2.  There was a lot of talking in it - you know like the cars talk to each other a lot.  I kept waiting for the great music - there was none!  Give me Trolls! So on Sunday we thought we would keep the adventures going.  We received a gift card two years ago (...

Can you find Colin?  I don't think we had enough "stuff. While Colleen and her family headed north to Maine, the Hayes' headed North to Cranberry Lake.  We weren't headed as far away (the GPS says it only takes 5 hours), it took a full 7 hours each way, we were still far enough to leave our "normal" life behind. Lots of extra hands, lots of beer, lots of food, and lots of late night family fun made for a long overdue weekend of amazing-ness.  This was our first family vacation since Colin was born (other than short RI weekends), we we tried to enjoy every moment of crisp, clean, Adirondack air. We packed our car LITERALLY to the brim an drove off into the sunset and when we came home, we were refreshed, and I was ready to tackle SUMMER! There is NO service in Wanakena, and while we did have a bit of WIFI in one house.... who needs it when you have lake views, and snacks!  I did make sure to send Colleen some pictures while we were there.... but...

Vacations with toddlers aren't really vacations.   This will end up positive, I promise.   But back to the start.  Preparing, packing, traveling and then living on vacation is no joke.  Challenging?  Yes.  Worth it....  For the second year in a row, Jerry and I have traveled to Maine to spend time at his Pepere's lake house.  Along with us come many members of extended family.  The kitchen table is always full of cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  Every bed is full and so are the couches.  Shoes don't have a rightful home, but laughs, beer and memories certainly do. So even though it takes nine plus hours in the car to get there, once you're there it's magic.  Limited internet, surplus of trees, off-road vehicles and lake walks.  Magic. Even better?  Plenty of 20-somethings, grandparents and teens who don't see my children as much as I do.  To them, most things they do are cute.  T...