Teach Me How to Mommy

So baby Holly Jane is two months old.  It's been a whirlwind.  I feel as though I officially gave birth at the worst time of year.  Not only was she born during a blizzard, but she went home in subzero temperatures and there has been snow, ice and rain to follow it up.  My "big" kids have had snow days, Presidents Days and vacation days making this one loud, messy and busy house. Yet, of course that all means nothing.  Holly is healthy and happy (well before 5pm that is) and I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and I guess that's what this is.   I went into my third trimester thinking that having three was going to be a lot like having two.  It is and it ISN'T.  I kind of figured I had it down after John.  I've had an easy baby and a not-so-easy baby so I know what it's like.  Also, I've been juggling two for three years, how much different could it be to add one? Well here are five things I learned about adding ...

And all of a sudden my "baby" is two . He can have a conversation, he's almost out of diapers and he can tantrum like a champ.  I guess those "emergency bottles" I've been keeping in the back of the cabinet have no use.  The extra pacis hidden in the junk drawer can be thrown away.  All clothes that end in "months" and not "T" can be given away.  My baby is now a boy. He seems fine with the change, it's me that's struggling. I've always been a bit out of my league with him.  His love for trucks, diggers, John Deere and overall destruction has forced me to become a real boy mom.  It might not be what I am used to, but I really "dig" it now. It's been quite a roller coaster ride.  I tend to forget the 10 months of no sleep and focus on the hours and hours and hours of snuggles and love.  But, I guess most of all when I think of John I think of his smile.  Happy Birthday big boy!

Whew!  What a busy weekend! This is as centered as Colin gets... scribbling on the waiver forms.... And yes... that is a Nirvana shirt...  because he's cooler than I am, and that's what rock stars wear! Colleen and I kicked off our Saturday morning with a little Mommy & Me Yoga session!  Our recent guest poster Kelly (you can read her post  here , and check out her blog  here ) invited us to her one day only CT class!  Colleen and I both though, yesss!  Babies and Yoga, what could go wrong..... oh wait.. we don't have babies...  so instead we brought our Toddlers. The other mommies and their gorgeous babies looked ethereal, centered, calm..... They were bonding, Kelly was effortlessly guiding them, and they were all graceful enough to laugh with us (we think) at the crazy kids we brought along.  The other mothers had babies under 5 months old... when they get bigger they will fondly refer to those months as...

On this Lazy Sunday, before I head back to work tomorrow,  I wanted to make special note of my favorite day of vacation! Colleen and I spent our ENTIRE vacation trying to get together.  There were MANY failed attempts and ONE beautiful afternoon finally able to be spent together.  We not only got Lucy and Colin together, but Kristen was home from Houston (my heart felt whole again!), and Alissa was home from Philly for an extended stay!  This afternoon together was the best Christmas present I could have asked for!     All afternoon I felt very happy, very at peace, very warm and fuzzy. My best friends all in one place! Times have changed, the conversations no longer center around boys... They center around homes and babies and fun things we saw on pinterest!  But these are girls I have known my ENTIRE life.  It doesn't matter that two of them live in other states, it doesn't matter that sometimes we can't all be in the same ...