Your first lake visit

Dearest Little Men,

We are back from our adventure in the woods! Your Ga flew to Philadelphia last week, and we (Susan, Craig, Jack, Alex, Ga & Blue) drove to the family lake cottage near Scranton where we met Grammy & Grampy (aka, my mom & dad).  Packing for this adventure was quite the feat: you're currently on a blend of pumped breastmilk & formula (which I insist be made with filtered water), and eat a various combinations of  baby oatmeal, Greek yogurt, baby food, Cheerios, and Gerber baby puffs.  You spend your days crawling, in playpens, bouncers, highchairs, car-seats, and baby carriers.  You go through several outfits a day plus bibs, socks, diapers and pacifiers which are suited for various occasions. You require baths and toys and lullabies, and not a thing was forgotten.  In short, try not mock your Mom's anal retentive lists when you're older, as it's part of the reason you survived your twin-hood!

On a more sentimental note, growing up, my “Mom-mom and Pop-pop’s” cottage in the Poconos was my favorite place in the world. As my dad/your “Grampy” was career Army, we were always moving (Virginia to Albany to Germany to West Point to Kansas to Albany to West Point…) and this was the one, permanent place in my childhood. 

As a little girl, I remember spending summers there with my mom and brothers when we lived in Germany, and visits every summer since then.  When I was doing my graduate work in Binghamton, your dad and I would visit my Mom-mom & Pop-pop at least once a month where she taught me what it meant to be a hostess (as meals and beverages miraculously appeared and disappeared) and we took many long walks along the neighboring dirt roads.  I lived with them my last months of teaching at SUNY (before joining your dad in Philadelphia) and I lived there solitarily for part of the summer of 2011 to finish my dissertation.  Mom-mom passed away in 2008 and Pop-pop is in a retirement home, but they will always be present at the beautiful haven they built along Stern’s lake.

Last Saturday, when you were being watched over by your dad and grandparents, I took a gentle walk along familiar dusty lanes and was tempted to tell my Mom-mom all of my worries and plans and how I am enamored with motherhood.  I miss her often, but it helps that 1/8 of who you are is thanks to her and this will continue long after me!

Our June visit was a bit chilly, and it rained, but you both liked looking out over the lake, Alex even spotting a deer across the waters through the den window.  Good eye little man! Jack seemed more enlivened by our walks (with each of you strapped to a parent) while Alex was MUCH more comfortable in the rowboat than his twin.  Jack, I tried to hand you to your father for a picture of you  in your blue lifevest, and you wailed, as if to say, “If I’m going to be in this contraption against my will, I demand to be held by my mother!”  We will see if you’re more interested in the canoe next visit!

LESSON #3: Treasure this place and embrace it as a part of your own history.  Enjoy time with no computers, poor cell reception and no cable.  I hope you always delight in watching a dog sprint leash-less down the dirt driveway, feeling the grass on your bare feet, and studying the leaves being tickled by the wind—you did this visit!