Endurance.
This year I intend to acknowledge how this season of motherhood is hard. That being a present wife and mother while working to raise FOUR strong, kind, and faithful young men is challenging. That I will have to get incredibly clear on where my priorities need to be, and shift accordingly.
Their home.
I hope when they think of home, they think of love. That home becomes a place in their hearts where love bursts at the seams of these four walls, and for each individual within it.
Restoring balance.
My gut was telling me there was a better way; a more natural path towards inner peace that I was ready to walk down. And I found it in the most unlikely of places; with CBD.
Four Questions.
It’s about so much more than just sitting still and eating your food. It’s about family. It’s about faith. Communication. Gratitude. Nourishment. Home.
A Legacy of Love.
I believe I’m leaving behind a lasting impression of love; an imprint on these three souls that will reverberate for generations.
Our Birth Story
Theodore Boone Stoltzfus was born on March 2, 2022 on the day of the new moon. But this isn’t just a story about the birth of a beautiful baby boy. It’s a story of a mother claiming her power; strength she didn’t know existed within her.
What’s in a name?
I agonized for the entire 40+ weeks of my pregnancy over Theodore’s name. Maybe it was because he is our third, or because he is our rainbow baby.. but I knew he deserved a name that reflected the tremendous journey which led us to him.
The Forty Day Difference
During my previous pregnancies I was hyper-focused on finalizing every last nursery detail and ensuring we had the right number of swaddles and sleepers. This time around, I knew my priorities had to shift towards my recovery and a strong support system.
What to say instead
As a mom of three boys, I’ve heard it all. And my top recommendation when commenting on a mom’s bump, or her babies, is to simply focus on the person, not the body; how mama feels vs. how she (or her family) looks.
Hospital Bag Essentials
As I approach my third birthing experience, I feel like I’ve learned a thing or two about what items can help make the experience a little more calm and comfortable. I hope this list helps as you prepare to meet the new love of your life!
My view from the drivers seat.
Speaking up, standing firm, remaining curious, and truly wanting to feel better as naturally as possible has led me down such a powerful path.
The perfect pregnancy.
I’m not sure if there has ever been a single teacher better for me than pregnancy as it relates to body image, relinquishing control, slowing down, and enjoying the journey… it has taught me so much…
Letting go.
I find it so ironic how a need for some semblance of control would ultimately lead me down a path of relinquishing all of my control. And I mean all of it. I have had no choice over the past few months but to begin letting go.
What moms really need postpartum…
As much as I love cute onesies and picture perfect nursery décor, there is so much more that moms truly need to flourish as we enter an entirely new chapter.
Embrace it all.
Fully embracing 2022 means embracing my life as it is, not as it used to be (or how I once thought it should be).
Faith over Fear.
Many have seen a glimpse into what my life is like, but most have not witnessed the experiences that have, at times, truly shaken me to my core…the same ones that have also been the catalyst to lead me back to a place I’d long forgotten - my faith.
2021 Small Shop Gift Guide
Shopping small is more important than ever before, so I carefully curated a list of my favorite gifts (most are from mama/family owned companies) for everyone on your list!