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Hello readers! It’s been a couple of weeks since I last posted for Jonas’ second birthday. Since then I’ve had help off and on with the transition into life with two kids at home. Thank goodness my husband had time off, my mom stocked my freezer with fallbacks, and my in-laws have helped with my toddler! Technically, I had a brief stint with the “two under two” thing, but nothing has gotten easier since Jonas turned two. Haha! Speaking of easier (and this is me talking without having spent a significant amount of time on my own with these munchkins), the transition hasn’t been asRead More →

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Today my little man turned two! And even though he has definitely hit the terrible twos, he’s still one of my finest accomplishments—and delights. Speaking of delights, here are some of his! Jonas loves anything mechanical. One day this week we were watching a YouTube video of a kid taking apart a nerf gun (don’t ask…) and Jonas was intent on what he was doing. He loves parts and pieces and putting things together. Not to mention taking things apart. And breaking stuff. I digress… He loves wheels, hammers, and trying to “pick locks” with Bobby pins. No, that’s not a joke. He has theRead More →

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Hello readers! If you’ve been reading between the lines of my posts the last few months, you’ll know we’ve been expecting a new addition to the family. And he has arrived! Welcome to the world little Shepherd Grayson! Shep was born at 1:35pm on February 22, 2018 weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz. at 20 inches long. He has blue eyes and dark brown hair. We are so excited to announce his arrival and ask for your prayers as we adjust to this transition! Any advice from moms of multiples out there? I’m not sure how I’ve survived having even just one all this time! ThisRead More →

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Dear SAHM, Do you feel alone a lot of the time? Do you have the urge to get out of the house, but opt to stay put because it’s just too difficult to get out with small children? Here’s one for you independent introverts (like myself): Do you feel like a nuisance constantly bugging your small collection of friends with play date proposals–sometimes at their house?? You’re in good company because I feel totally isolated a lot of the time. I tend to stay put when it would be better to get out because it is just so stressful to take a toddler ANYWHERE. I’m stillRead More →

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Anyone who has been married longer than a week knows that marriage is hard work. It takes a lot of care and maintenance to keep all the aspects of this complex institution running smoothly. And sometimes, even with tremendous effort, things can be bumpy. Storms come, complacency sets in, temptations rise, and selfishness erodes. That’s why I try to set goals for my marriage every year. This June, my husband and I will have been married for 5 years. For some of you seasoned couples out there, 5 years is chump change! No argument there! Nevertheless, I’m proud to look back on 5 years andRead More →

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In my last post on this topic, In Defense of the SAHM, Pt. I, I briefly discussed the idea that SAHMs are “privileged” in their ability to stay home. I wanted to take time to explore this a little more in-depth. Whether intentionally or subconsciously, this is a straw man constructed by those with no single-income household experience. I’ve heard it said many times that SAHMs are privileged to have husbands with well-enough paying jobs to allow them their permanent leave from the workforce. Perhaps some do, but many do not. Inability to Afford Vs. Living Above Your Means I know there are some peopleRead More →

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In: Maternity, Motherhood, Parenting & Family
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Hello Readers! So, the last time I posted was May 16th of this year. WHERE have I been all this time? Well, 3 months of that I was barely surviving life with a toddler and morning (read: ALL DAY) sickness… Because we are adding another one of these tots to our family! I thought morning sickness was hard when I could just lay around nursing myself with no one else to worry about. Nope. Morning sickness with a toddler: 10x worse. The other 2 months.. I guess I’ve just been trying to figure out how to get my life back together. I’m so happy toRead More →

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In: Homemaking, Life & Style, Motherhood, Parenting & Family
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A recent debate regarding my choice to be a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) has compelled me to construct a defense of my vocation. Or, rather, an apologetic. I have been loosely accused of being inflexible, lacking gratitude, living an unapologetically privileged lifestyle, not being a team player, making my husband shoulder an unbearable burden alone, and, heck, just flat out selfishness. My friend whom the conversation took place with is a working mom with strong beliefs in her choice and I respect that. We agreed to disagree and not let our point of divergence affect our relationship. In light of that, I took these criticisms as a jumpingRead More →

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It may seem like I write a lot about the negatives of motherhood, and maybe that’s true; using words like “monotony,” “anxiety,” and “isolation.” But for good reason! There are some mornings I find myself scrolling through Instagram feeling totally defeated just because everyone else seems to have it together. I know it’s not true–even I put my best foot forward on social media–but somehow I still let myself believe I’m the only one struggling. So why am I being a downer highlighting the negatives? Well, I’m not. Do you really need one more voice telling you how well I’m getting along while you struggle? I just want to beRead More →

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A common number I keep reading on the web is that about 10% of women experience postpartum anxiety and/or depression. This statistic sometimes includes a speculative clause that that number is probably higher, but many women don’t realize what they’re going through is normal and, therefore, don’t report it. Instead, they “white knuckle it” (as a friend of mine put it) alone for months or sometimes years at a time. Despite being a highly emotional person my entire life, I had utmost confidence that I wouldn’t be one of those weak 10-percenters. My confidence was undergirded by the fact that I had a natural birth (whichRead More →