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Spending these summer days with you bb girl are some of my favorite. š (even if your facial expressions say otherwise š¤£) Preganancy + Covid and Maternity Leave + Quarantine were truly some of the hardest days. But the silver lining through this all is the extra special time we get to share as a family of 3 (and Millie and Lambeau). Those midday family walks and lunch breaks full of baby smiles are moments I want to cherish with every ounce of my being. Iām someone who fully believes there is a reason for everything. I know each and every one of us are struggling in some way when it comes to whatās happening in the world right now, but we all have tiny blessings hidden in this chaos. We just have to slow down enough to see it. My tiny blessings today is this handsome #girldad and #mywildgirl What are you slowing down to cherish today?
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Happy first Fatherās Day to the greatest man I know. I loved you the day I met you, but watching you become a daddy to sweet Ellie Jo has made me fall in love with you all over again. Grateful to be your girls forever and always. Thank you for being our knight and shining armor. š
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Maternity leave officially ended for me a few weeks ago and goodness has it been harder than I thought it would be to not spend every minute with my sweet girl. It was extremely important to me to exclusively breastfeed because there is something so special about the bond Ellie and I have during her feedings. I love how time slows down as I gaze down at her and watch as this beautiful girl grows before my very eyes. Iāve tried to soak in every moment and look at every hair on her sweet little head. But now that Iām working 3 days a week, I feel so much mom guilt. No longer am I the only one feeding her. No longer am I right there to experience her āfirstā of many milestones. On the other hand Iām so grateful for a business that helps provide for our family while I work from home part time. Iām so grateful I have the opportunity during my work day to step away from my desk and see my baby girl even if itās for a few minutes. BUT the mom guilt Iām feeling is SOOO real! When Iām being a mama I feel guilt for not working + helping financially for our family.... When Iām working I feel guilt for not being with my baby.... Working mamas I need your advice, how do you get through this mom guilt feeling during the transition from maternity leave to a working mama?
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Just a couple of girls enjoying the sun š Our first of many pool days with my mini me. āļø
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How is my sweet baby girl already 2 months old?! She is the perfect mix of spunk + sass. Sheās got her mamaās expressive frown and her daddyās contagious smile. She loves to kick her feet during tummy time and snuggles like a champ. Bows arenāt really her thing, but weāre trying (mostly for grandma š„°). Her quick change of facial expressions + big girl farts keep us laughing on the daily. Those cheeks. Those lips. That smile. Oh Ellie Jo we are so in love with you. Iām so lucky to be your mama. š
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FINALLY our first garden! Iāve wanted a garden for YEARS! Yet for some reason it just never happened because simply starting something I knew little about (building a raised bed + growing vegetables) felt so daunting. So this year we FINALLY did it by using what we already had. An old shrub used to live in this bed behind the swing so we pulled that baby out and made my dream come true. The thing is sometimes you just have to take baby steps. No we didnāt build our own raised bed + I didnt get to plant all the veggies + fruit I wanted but we started. The point is, if there is that thing youāve always wanted to do, just simply start. It doesnāt have to be as big or elaborate as youāve always wanted, but you will be amazed at how much you learn by simply starting.
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I took this picture a few years ago on a girls trip to Door County + to this day this photo means so much to me. Let me explain. At the time I had just started my business. I was coming off of a very long event and then drove 4 hours up north to start our girls weekend. I was exhausted. We were in the middle of our infertility journey. And mentally, I was in a bad place. At the time, this trip was the last thing I wanted to go on. Instead I wanted to go home and not see anyone for as long as possible (ironic to think that isolation was all I wanted after now being quarantined for 2 months, am I right?) Instead of isolating myself, I went on the trip and surrounded my soul with women who lift me up, a countryside whose views take your breath away, and recharged with early mornings + kayaking. One evening, we took a sunset cruise and my heart was blown wide open by this sunset. It was almost as if God was putting me in that moment to wake me up + remind me everything was gonna be okay. So often I take for granted the power of community. I take for granted the time we get with family + friends. I take for granted how spending time outdoors can refuel my soul. I take for granted simply living in this country. I take for granted the many lives lost who fought to keep us safe. I take for granted how absolutely beautiful life is when we slow down enough to see. This picture reminds me of the many blessings even in the heart ache. Of the moment I realized everything was going to be okay. āļø Times are hard right now. And I know we are all going through our own struggles in the midst of this chaos. But today I pray you can see the beauty in this day. ā¤ļøš Thank you to all the men + women who have fought to keep us safe. My heart aches for those who have fallen. And I never want to forget or take for granted their courage + bravery. šŗšø Happy Memorial Day šŗšø
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Feeling a heart full of so much peace and gratitude on this šŗ Motherās Day. šŗSweet Ellie Jo has given me a WHOLE new appreciation for my own beautiful Mommasita. The work of being a mother is the most selfless, hard + loving work Iāve ever known. And Iām grateful beyond words for a mother/best friend like mine who shows me day in and day out how absolutely amazing it is to be a mama. This day hasnāt always been easy + and I know there are so many hurting and aching today. For those who have lost a mother, are waiting for a babe of their own, have experienced a loss, or are pushing through the postpartum phase of figuring this whole āmotherhoodā thing out, know your are so loved. And you are doing amazing! š
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Ellie Jo my sweet baby girl, how are you already one month old?! Thank you sweet girl for choosing me as your mama. It is such a joy to watch you grow each and every day. There are so many things I never want to forget about our first month together, but these are what stick out the most: šØš»the look on your daddyās face when he saw you for the first time šthe way you kissed me the first time I held you š„±the way you slowly stretch after each and every nap [swipe to the right for the best video ever!] ā£ļøall the noises you make + the one noise in particular that sounds just like an elephantāāEllie the Elephantā š£that once upon a time you were the size of a teddy bear [even if your feet and legs make up the majority of your lengthānever forget, *you got it from your mama yeah yeah your mama*] šthe way you make daddy laugh [+ cry] when you fart on him āØALLLL of your facial expressions š¶š»that piece of āAlfalfaā hair that sticks up in the back just like your daddy š¤ when you dream + smile in your sleep šhow much you love to snuggle + the way you wiggle yourself to the middle of my chest after a good burping š¾ how much Lambeau loves you, is the first one there when you cry + how he waits outside your door and whines while you nap [you two are the best of friends] There are so many ālittleā things I donāt want to ever forget, but baby girl Iām so excited to continue to watch you grow into your own [even if that spunk turns into sass!] We love you out sweet Ellie Jo š
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Iām just going to leave these right here for when I need the reminder that my baby girl was the size of a teddy bear! š And those feet [poor girl] and alfalfa hairrrr! My heart is exploding.