“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
– Helen Keller
Stillness in Anticipation (i.e. waiting to give birth)
The daily checklist doesn’t end (has it ever?). And I have plenty to do: wash sheets, vacuum floors, finish packing a hospital bag, post blogs for work... but really, I am just craving stillness. Though it's still October, I've been thinking of soft snow falling- the...
My little, 5-month-old, mindfulness teacher
My house is clean, babe’s asleep, and there’s a load of laundry tumbling in the dryer. It’s a rainy and cozy Monday, and guess what – I even have my sister, Carol Lynn, over to watch Florence right now! I’ve been thinking more and more about having help with Florence and realizing that the help gives me the beautiful opportunity to be present to my baby.
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Sleepless in Virginia, because sleep training is hard.
As I’ve said before, I had all kinds of expectations of what mothering would be like. For sure I knew my child would be a good sleeper. After all, she’s my child, and I LOVE sleep. Love, love it. Love comfy pajamas, love big, down comforters. Love waking up to coffee… I could go on. Unfortunately, Florence hasn’t yet grasped these favorable aspects of dreamtime. She’s more like her dad that way, I guess.
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PSA: Thank you to all the people who held my baby yesterday
OK, I’ve reached it. I get it now. Mom burnout. Mine is the normal case, where the thought of being somewhere without your baby induces the guilt of a thousand criminals. How could I NOT want to hold this beautiful, beautiful child? It’s the whole, “you had one job” thing. So why am I already burnt out of my one job?
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Cheers to four months of Florence
When I was pregnant, I was a naive believer that 6-weeks post birth, my life would be back to normal. I kept reading that number in my pregnancy apps. Six weeks was when I could start working out again, when all would be healed, and when I could go back to the OBGYN, to hear them say, “You’re doing great. Bye, now.”
By the way, my sister has her own tour right now.
I broke another rule my list of “things I would never do as a parent.” I took my baby to a concert. In my defense, she was really good at both shows, and ohmygosh she’s so cute, so she can get away with anything, right? But most importantly, the show was put on by her auntie, Marie Miller, who grew up in a family of 10, and doesn’t turn her head at baby coos in the middle of a ballad.
One More Newborn Shoot, Because #Florence
Inspired by too many hours on Pinterest and Instagram, I asked Stan to take some day-in-the-life photos with Florence. These little people grow so fast, and I’m still getting used to not being pregnant. I see advertisements for maternity clothes and have to remind myself those baggy-bellied shirts aren’t needed anymore.
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A Newborn Photo Shoot for Florence
Like any good parent who is also a photographer, Stan made a newborn shoot happen while Florence was still a newborn. I don’t have this skill of timeliness, which is why this post is a little late a’posting. But here they finally are.
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Welcome to the World, Florence Eden.
We did it. Florence Eden is here at last! Contractions started 3am on a Thursday and lasted until 12:14 Friday afternoon, when worn and exhausted, I heard someone say, “She’s out.” Before I could process what that meant, a warm, tiny human was in my arms. Cue the ugly cry (I mean me, not her).
I Can’t See My Toes. And Other 3rd Trimester Experiences.
While each stage of pregnancy has given me cause to scroll through pregnancy apps every night wondering what the heck is going on with my body, this third trimester is just strange on a whole new level. First of all, I am typing from my living room, and every inch…
First Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. and DIY Ornaments!
It’s a surreal and special thing – buying your own Christmas tree for your own family home. How big should it be? Should we get a Charlie Brown version, just because it looks like the loneliest tree on the lot (I feel so bad for those poor little guys)? Truthfully, it wasn’t quite as romantic as I had envisioned it all.
Some Everyday Ways of Loving My Husband
It’s Wednesday morning, and I’m surrounded by the fresh leather smell of Frye boots still in the box. They’re a gift from my husband — just because I’m pregnant. He’s so good at loving me, and I just want to pull a Saint Paul and “out do each other in showing affection.”
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5 Pregnancy Symptoms I Never Knew I’d Have
We’re well into the second trimester. It’s a girl. I’m getting big. These are things I do know. What I don’t know is what awkward pregnancy symptom to expect next. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Dear seasoned moms out there, did you ever experience any of the following?
The Gender Reveal Post
Stan wanted to wait to find out the gender of the baby. I wanted to find out right away. So we found out right away. I’m not gonna lie, I kinda thought it was going to be…
Stillness in Anticipation (i.e. waiting to give birth)
The daily checklist doesn’t end (has it ever?). And I have plenty to do: wash sheets, vacuum floors, finish packing a hospital bag, post blogs for work... but really, I am just craving stillness. Though it's still October, I've been thinking of soft snow falling- the...
My little, 5-month-old, mindfulness teacher
My house is clean, babe’s asleep, and there’s a load of laundry tumbling in the dryer. It’s a rainy and cozy Monday, and guess what – I even have my sister, Carol Lynn, over to watch Florence right now! I’ve been thinking more and more about having help with Florence and realizing that the help gives me the beautiful opportunity to be present to my baby.
-1080x675.jpg)
Sleepless in Virginia, because sleep training is hard.
As I’ve said before, I had all kinds of expectations of what mothering would be like. For sure I knew my child would be a good sleeper. After all, she’s my child, and I LOVE sleep. Love, love it. Love comfy pajamas, love big, down comforters. Love waking up to coffee… I could go on. Unfortunately, Florence hasn’t yet grasped these favorable aspects of dreamtime. She’s more like her dad that way, I guess.
.jpg)
PSA: Thank you to all the people who held my baby yesterday
OK, I’ve reached it. I get it now. Mom burnout. Mine is the normal case, where the thought of being somewhere without your baby induces the guilt of a thousand criminals. How could I NOT want to hold this beautiful, beautiful child? It’s the whole, “you had one job” thing. So why am I already burnt out of my one job?
Cheers to four months of Florence
When I was pregnant, I was a naive believer that 6-weeks post birth, my life would be back to normal. I kept reading that number in my pregnancy apps. Six weeks was when I could start working out again, when all would be healed, and when I could go back to the OBGYN, to hear them say, “You’re doing great. Bye, now.”
By the way, my sister has her own tour right now.
I broke another rule my list of “things I would never do as a parent.” I took my baby to a concert. In my defense, she was really good at both shows, and ohmygosh she’s so cute, so she can get away with anything, right? But most importantly, the show was put on by her auntie, Marie Miller, who grew up in a family of 10, and doesn’t turn her head at baby coos in the middle of a ballad.
One More Newborn Shoot, Because #Florence
Inspired by too many hours on Pinterest and Instagram, I asked Stan to take some day-in-the-life photos with Florence. These little people grow so fast, and I’m still getting used to not being pregnant. I see advertisements for maternity clothes and have to remind myself those baggy-bellied shirts aren’t needed anymore.
A Newborn Photo Shoot for Florence
Like any good parent who is also a photographer, Stan made a newborn shoot happen while Florence was still a newborn. I don’t have this skill of timeliness, which is why this post is a little late a’posting. But here they finally are.
Welcome to the World, Florence Eden.
We did it. Florence Eden is here at last! Contractions started 3am on a Thursday and lasted until 12:14 Friday afternoon, when worn and exhausted, I heard someone say, “She’s out.” Before I could process what that meant, a warm, tiny human was in my arms. Cue the ugly cry (I mean me, not her).
I Can’t See My Toes. And Other 3rd Trimester Experiences.
While each stage of pregnancy has given me cause to scroll through pregnancy apps every night wondering what the heck is going on with my body, this third trimester is just strange on a whole new level. First of all, I am typing from my living room, and every inch…
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