Welcome to our best blog series, Mom-hood! I am so excited to share the advice, encouragement, and stories of some amazing moms with you. Every guest blogger is not only a mother, but a business-savvy individual who is raising their tribe the best way they know how. I hope this series is not only relatable and inspiring, but offers comfort in knowing that every mother doesn't have it all figured out, and we're all just doing the best we can with what we're given! Thank you so much, Stephanie for sharing with us your thoughts and feelings. I know I can certainly relate to a lot of this on my journey through parenting and I know our readers will, too. Xx Adrianne
Austin and I met when I was 17. We fell in love, got married, moved a bunch of times to a bunch of different states, went to a bunch of different schools and settled near the mountains. We have one little girl Olive, who is 18 Months old and another little girl on the way. We are a little bit of it all. We are crazy, loud, a bit messy with a side of clean. We like structure but then we also like to skip the structure or schedules and just go with the flow of the day. We try our best to embrace every moment. The good, bad, ugly and the completely beautiful ones. Time is a thief and we would be robbing ourselves if we didn't soak up every second.
At first my blog was a way to keep up with our families, then social media became a way to connect with other moms. Then it went on to become a fun way to share life with those moms and people around the world.
This is so hard! There are so many things that are the "best". For me, in this stage right now it would be that Olive loves us. Its not a forced thing anymore, we dont have to say "give me a kiss or papa a hug" she just does it on her own. She loves us because we loved her and that to me is the most beautiful thing about being a mom.
For me our challenges change with each season or stage. One month its sleep regression the next its "how is my child this addicted to nursing" but overall self-doubt. Self-doubt is one of those things I find I'm constantly pushing away. Im constantly trying to overcome it and be confident in the way we parent. Self-doubt also tries to steal your joy and life is to short not to be joyful!
Be confident in your way of mothering, but never afraid to ask for help or change something your doing. Maybe 6 months ago it worked for you to do something but now it doesn't. Dont be ashamed of that. Make the change and move on. You're doing a great job!
When Olive takes her morning nap.. I like to make "second breakfast" its all mine and I dont have to share. It's seriously something that is so silly but I look forward to it so much. I also go to yoga twice a week and get regular pedicures!
My mom taught me that true beauty starts on the inside first. That yes, I may be beautiful on the outside but that its the inside that matters. When it came to character I always thought about inner beauty and its one of those lessons that always stuck with me. I hope to always teach my children that true beauty starts on the inside and to always see the beauty inside others. I think when you stop viewing peoples appearances and start seeing who they really are, you stop judging others so harshly.
So much, this is another hard question. I want them to be happy and safe. But most of all for them to know their identity in Christ.
Im attempting to start a children's clothing line. I get nervous even typing that. So I'm really praying it all works out.
My husband asked me this questions a few weeks ago and I was totally stumped. Honestly, we don't live by any family so if I could have lunch with anyone if would be my mom! Whenever we are together we always get indian food and its something special I think about often.
We are pretty lucky, Olive loves babies and is a very sweet and gentle little girl. Whenever she see's a baby she goes "shh shhh shh" and is always loving on her baby dolls. She doesn't really get jealous when I hold other babies but I do think when she see's me nursing another baby her jealously might develop. For now we tell her theirs a baby in my belly and we practice being gentle to our friends babies. We also tell her that she is going to be a big sister and a great helper. I'm sure their will be challenges and adjustment but we are really hoping to stay positive and make bringing home another baby a positive experience. We are having a homebirth and are debating on having her their with us or bringing her to meet her baby sister once she is born. I've heard a mix of emotions from other moms that some love having their children their so they can bond with the baby and others preferring to wait until the new baby is here.