Thea's Diagnosis

William's Syndrome affects 1 in 10,000 people.

I realized I haven't shared much publicly about Thea's journey. Up until now, I don't think I was ready to share much, so I'm going to try and back up a bit.

When Thea was born, she was born with a heart murmur (in her case, a narrowing of the heart's valve). Heart murmurs are not uncommon, and even I had one as a baby and it corrected itself. After having it examined, the cardiologist informed us that when there is a heart "defect" there may be a genetic change that causes it. He gave us the option to have some genetic testing done to see if this would be true for Thea.

Although we had hoped that this would not be the case, we had suspicions that something might be underlying.

About a month ago, after months of waiting, we received the results from her bloodwork and Thea was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called William's Syndrome. A condition that occurs at birth and is commonly characterized by cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, learning challenges, physical differences, but also highly social personalities.

When I got the call about Thea's diagnosis, honestly, I was devastated. Although part of me was waiting for this bomb to drop for months, the anticipation didn't soften the blow. Emily Pearl Kingsley expresses this journey of learning your child has a disability so beautifully in "Welcome to Holland".

As a parent, you want the best for your kids. You hope that they grow up with the same (or better) opportunities that you had. It broke my heart knowing that Thea might not have these same opportunities. I mourned the loss of the future I had envisioned for her. She might not go to a regular school, be able to play sports, she may not have the same career opportunities, she may not get married, have kids, or even be able to live independently. It was hard to accept that she will live with some limitations. 

Although the love I have for Thea has not changed, I worry how others will treat her or how they will look at her. I pray that God will protect her tender heart from hurt and bring loving friends into her life. 

All of these thoughts still come and go in waves.

For now, we don't know which characteristics of WS she will exhibit, or to what degree. Only time will tell. In the meantime, we continue to do our best to help her meet milestones while working alongside a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and other health care professionals. We are fortunate to receive her diagnosis at a young age, so that we can determine the areas where she needs extra support and start working on them early.

I know that this diagnosis is not the end of Thea's story, but rather the beginning of a different story. It's not necessarily any less exciting, fulfilling or adventurous than the one we had thought, it's just different. 

Overall, Thea is doing great. She is still our sweet girl. She is so content, easy going, and has made so much progress in developing her skills. She might not grow as quickly as other babies her age, but that just means more cuddles for me. Her brother and sister love her just the same, and that makes my mama heart happy. There is no doubt that she will be a little ray of sunshine to those around her. 

A few words from Jesse
I remember a conversation I had with a friend and colleague of mine a number of years ago, before either of us had kids. We were working together in a home where we supported people who experience disabilities. We both still do that actually. The conversation was about whether we were worried about having kids with disabilities and if God had put us there to prepare us for if we someday had to raise our own child who had a disability.

We concluded that it shouldn't be something to fear, and that we would determine to be the best dads we could be, whatever the case. At the time, I felt we had settled the matter confidently and with spiritual maturity. It was perhaps over-simplified, but something I now need to apply. And maybe a simple foundation is best.

With each of our first two children, my radar for the atypical was always pinging about every little thing. I tried to suppress it but I thought certain traits and habits looked like autism or some kind of cognitive delay. It would kind of dissipate over time as I realized our kids were hitting milestones and seemingly enjoying life. It was fear that was circumstantially mitigated but not really dealt with...and probably more common than I thought.

Between our second child and Thea, I entered a time in which my faith was stripped down a bit, my perception of God was challenged and I found myself wondering about His goodness and interest in my meager affairs, or anyone's for that matter. Again, these are probably common developments for people, but the conclusions we land on shape our future and should be given some thought. As this was taking place, I lost my father suddenly and unexpectedly. At the time I was able to be strong when I needed to be but since have felt rather depleted and fragile. Perhaps due to natural physiological reasons, perhaps for the others as well, regardless, I notice it.

It has created an interesting time for Thea to enter the picture. More specifically I guess it’s an interesting time to learn about her diagnosis. It’s a struggle for me to say “diagnosis” to be honest. Language is a funny thing, always progressing and eventually offending...sometimes I really care about the semantics of disability ...right now though I just want to love my little girl and figure out how to describe things later.

I think the point I’m trying to get to is that I feel broken enough to accept the news, the “diagnosis”. I don’t feel like fighting it, denying it or even praying about it to be perfectly honest. Maybe that sounds like giving up but it feels more like trust. Somehow I’m learning to trust God’s goodness even in disappointment or just simply when things are not as I anticipated.

I’ll conclude with trying to summarize some swirling thoughts:

I love Thea, I think she is so sweet and cute. I’m grateful that despite some challenges with mobility and potentially cognitive ability, one of the main traits of Williams Syndrome is being very friendly, empathetic and social.

 I’m thankful that our family and friends first were introduced to Thea without any type of “syndrome” attached. She was just Thea.

I believe that she can have a great life, an enviable life even. I believe that there will be lots of opportunity for her to pursue her interests and dreams. We will just need to put the work in to equip her for success...perhaps different measures but is that not what we would do for Averie and Remi as well? Or any other parent for their children regardless of need.


Thea has her whole life ahead of her, I don’t need to have everything figured out right now. I just want to disembark well from this new harbor.

Grace

Photography | Jessica Rediker

I remember when it was just her and I on mat leave. When I had one perfect little baby. I remember watching her sleep during the day. Taking her to the mall, her sitting in the stroller, staring up at me, watching my every move. I forget sometimes that I won't get those moments back. I fear that I won't remember them one day. 

I remember thinking that she is just so sweet and innocent, I don't want to ever hurt her. And now, here we are. I find myself losing my patience and thinking the worst. There are moments when she just wants to spend time with me, and I just want my space...and I feel guilty for that. 

But every day is a chance to start again. We are not defined by our mistakes or missed opportunities. There are things that I wish I could have done differently, or that I could take back. I'm not perfect, but there is grace. It is there with me in my coming and going...everyday. When I sleep and when I wake. My past is for yesterday and my present shapes the future. Today, I choose grace.

RENO REVEAL

Jesse and I bought our first rental property back in October 2017 (you can read more about that here) but we never shared the final reveal. Well, here it is! It took about two months, a lot of hours, a lot of driving back-and-forth, a lot of helping hands, stress, blood, sweat and tears, but we're so glad to say that the renos on our first rental property are done.

It definitely wasn't an easy task, but I'm so proud of Jesse! While working his full time job, he was driving forty-five minutes to the rental house (most days), working late into the night, managing all the projects and communicating with trades people. This was also our first reno project, so it was a huge learning process for both of us.
As this was a rental property, our goal was to keep costs low so that when we had renters, we would have a positive cash flow. We did our best to purchase supplies on clearance, second hand, or price match where we could. We also did most of the work ourselves (with the help of family), with the exception of the plumbing and roof work which we had contracted out. Jesse did most of the labour, liaised with contractors and handled the numbers. I managed the interior design and helped with labour as babysitting was available. 

KITCHEN:
In the kitchen, we painted the walls, built an open shelf to visually balance the cupboards, refinished the cupboards, added hardware, and replaced the sink, counter, backsplash and floors. We also installed a range hood over the stove and replaced the existing fridge.

Where we saved money:
Kept the existing cupboards, but just repainted them and added hardware. The backsplash was on clearance (we got the last few boxes). The fridge was second hand, but barely used.

DINING ROOM:

The fresh paint, fireplace and new ceiling were the biggest changes in this room. It's amazing what a little bit of paint can do. In place of a fireplace, there was a dated gas heater which vented out the side of the house by the driveway. The vent would get incredibly hot and was a major hazard. We replaced it with a gas fireplace which was more visually appealing and didn't vent out the side of the driveway.

We replaced the popcorn ceilings with wood slats and gave it a white wash. 

Where we saved money:

We did all the painting, installed the ceiling and built the frame for the fireplace ourselves.

BATHROOM:
Unfortunately, we didn't get too many before photos of the bathroom. I think we were too eager to start demos. So when I tell you what it used to look like, you'll just have to take my word for it. 

We gave the room some fresh paint, redid the shower by replacing the tub and adding a surround. We also updated all the hardware in the shower, redid the floors, and replaced the vanity.

Where we saved money:
We did all the labour ourselves (except for the plumbing), kept the existing toilet and light fixture. We kept the mirror above the vanity and just repainted the frame.

 

We have some great tenants who have been renting the place since we completed the renovations in December 2017. So far, our first experience as landlords has been a positive one and we look forward to acquiring a second rental property in the future.

Special thanks:

To our friends Mike and Sean for drywall and bathroom help, and Karl for help with the electrical.
Jesse's sister, Judy, and mom, for painting, cleaning and babysitting.
My dad for help with the plumbing, drywall, and framing the fireplace.
Jesse's dad for help with the ceiling, painting, and bathroom.
A huge thank you to Jesse's sister, Vicki, who seemed to be there all the time and would work hard most evenings after we had left.

THEA AVONLEA: MY BIRTH STORY

First of all, I want to say a BIG thank you for all of your love and congratulations that you sent our way after we announced the arrival of Thea. Although I wish I could have responded to all of you, as you can imagine, life has been a little cray-cray lately. But please know that we appreciated how you were all celebrating her birth with us.

Being pregnant while also parenting two small kids definitely kept me on my feet. Most days I was feeling great, with the exception of some minor aches and pains (nothing a massage couldn't fix). The only symptom I found extremely challenging (emotionally speaking) was the acne I got. My whole chin area was covered, you may not have been able to notice from photos, I got pretty good at hiding it with makeup, but it was BAD. It was the worse I've had in my life, including when I was a teenager. I am still trying to heal the scaring that has resulted from it. But I will say, after having Thea, my skin is so MUCH better.

The Thursday before Thea was born, I had a midwife appointment. At this point I was 37 weeks pregnant, so still not expecting the baby to arrive for another 3 weeks (give or take). I remember my midwife specifically asking me if I was going far for Christmas, which was alarming since Thea wasn't due to arrive until January 6th. Although both Averie and Remi were 4/5 days early, I didn't expect this baby to be that much earlier.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I was praying that I wouldn't have the baby in the midst of my Christmas celebrations. I didn't want them to have a Christmas birthday and have to get those birthday/christmas combo gifts, plus, I  didn't want to miss out on all the parties and food. A selfish request I know, but COME ON, it happens once a year.

Sunday, December 23rd our church had a Christmas potluck and right after the service we all worked to turn the room into a banquet space. I chipped in by moving decor and chairs around the room. I'm not one who easily sits back while things need to be done, I like to keep busy. However, Jesse wasn't happy that I was moving furniture (even if it was just chairs) but despite his efforts to get me to sit down, I kept going.

I do have to say, with both the other kids, I went into labour immediately after some sort of social gathering. So there was a reason for Jesse's concern and a very real possibility it could induce labour.

That night, after both kids were in bed, around 11pm, I went to lie down and felt the same little twitch in my lower torso that I had felt when I went into labour the other two times. Then, 5 seconds later, it was followed by a gush of fluid. I managed to leap out of bed before any leaking happened in bed (gotta save the mattress). At the time, Jesse was downstairs playing video games, so I called his phone (didn't want to yell and wake the kids) and this is how that convo went:

Me: Guess what just happened?
Jesse: Your water broke?
Me: Yup.
Jesse: Are you kidding?
Me: No! Why would I joke about that?! Can you come up here and bring me a towel?!
Friend listening in gaming headphones: Did I just hear that correctly?


Even after 2 (now 3) pregnancies, he's still shocked every time my water breaks. Haha.

After cleaning myself up, and calling the midwife, my sister (who was going to come to the hospital) and dad (to watch the kids), in true procrastinator style, I raced around my room to finish packing my hospital bag. At this point, didn't even have the carseat or bassinet! My sister ended up bringing those over with her when she arrived that night.

Around 11:30pm the midwife showed up to check me and let me know that I was 2cm dilated and said to give her a call once things had progressed. I was still in shock that this was happening 2 WEEKS EARLY and that it meant we were going to have a Christmas Eve baby!

By 2am we left the house and headed for the hospital. I was super disappointed when we got to triage and my midwife told me that I was only 3cm dilated. I felt like I was in store for a long night and that freaked me out.

Although I wasn't that far along, she knew that my history showed my pregnancies usually progress quite quickly, so they admitted me anyways.

Once in the hospital room (3am), I asked my midwife for tips on speeding things along. I was already tired and eager to get the pushing done while I still had some energy. Haha. I did a lot of walking and bouncing on a yoga ball which I felt progressed things quicker than when I was just lying in bed in triage.

Around 4am I felt the baby drop significantly and told Jesse and my sister (who were in the room). My midwife had left the room at that moment to collect supplies for the birth. Once she came back in the room, I shouted that I could feel the baby coming and I needed to push. At this point, I was still fully clothed and leaning beside the bed. She wanted me to get on the bed but I said in a panic that I couldn't move and that someone was going to have to take my clothes off. They quickly undressed me and hoisted me onto the bed, with the next contraction I automatically started pushing. The MW was still waiting for her partner to arrive for the birth and asked me to stop pushing and instead just breathe through the contractions. Ya, you try not pushing through a contraction like that. At this point, my body was just doing what it had to to birth this baby and I felt like I had no control. I felt like it was impossible to just breathe through the contraction but I hyperventilated and yelled my way through it.

I heard the midwife call the front desk and request a nurse come to assist with the delivery IMMEDIATELY. It was clear that there wasn't going to be any time for the other MW to arrive. With the next push, Thea was here! They placed her on my chest but because she arrived so quickly, she swallowed a bunch of fluid, and her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, she had stopped breathing momentarily. I said a prayer for her as they wisked her away to clear her lungs. It all happened so fast that I forgot to check to see if the baby was a boy or girl. I yelled over to the nurse clearing Thea's lungs and she let us know that we had a healthy baby girl.

By 6am, all the paperwork had been completed, Thea was doing well, and we were told we could either stay or go home. Normally, I would've suggested we stay and sleep at the hospital - without two small kids running around, it's almost like a hotel stay. But the room we were in had nowhere for Jesse to sleep, so we opted to just head home and sleep in our comfy bed.

It's really crazy that you can pop out a baby, and end up at home all in the same day. But yet, here we are, adjusting life as a family of FIVE.

Thea Avonlea Schultz
December 24th, 2018 | 4:32am | 6lbs 2oz

 

We Bought a House!

I can't believe I'm actually saying this...but we BOUGHT A HOUSE...another one! Earlier this year, Jesse and I sat down and evaluated what we wanted our financial future to look like.

If you know Jesse, you know he loves to talk finances, investments, mutual funds...anything to do with money.

During our planning, we made a goal to procure our first investment property this year. We spent the past few months watching the housing market and getting our realtors to scan the area for us, for the perfect starter property. After several months of searching during a crazy time in the real estate market, we finally found the perfect property.

In July we put in an offer on this house, but it was rejected. We re-evaluated our goals, finances, cost of the house, and the area, and we felt that we couldn't justify paying more for the property. Disappointed, we moved on.

Jesse had a hunch that it wouldn't be the last that we saw this property...and he was right. In August, the owners of the home reached out to us, and agreed to accept our original offer. 

We got the keys at the end of September and we're now in the full-swing of renos. It's pretty exciting to pick out paint colours, flooring, tiles and countertops. Jesse's been learning a ton about renos and has done the majority of the work himself along with the help of family.

We can't say 'thank you' enough to our family who has been pitching in with renos, meals and babysitting. So excited to see the final result and welcome out new (first) tenants in December.

Stay tuned for more on this journey!

Raising a 'girl boss'

Lipstick: LipSense | Photos: Jessica Rediker

A year ago, I decided to start a new business venture dabbling in the world of cosmetic sales - an industry I NEVER thought I would get into. I have never felt like sales (or cosmetics) were my forte. In fact, I have always despised working in sales. But when I tried the products, and saw the results, I knew that I had to share them with everyone I knew.

Since starting on this new venture, I've had to push myself to meet people, start conversations, put myself out there, set goals, and overcome many insecurities. I'm amazed that I can look back at where I was, even just a year ago, and see a huge difference in my self-confidence and perseverance. 

I'm at a point in my life right now, where I feel like I know what I want, and I want to work to achieve those things. It wasn't until I came to this place, that I realized that I wanted my daughter to experience those same things. I want her to know now, from a young age, that there are going to be challenges, there are going to be things that won't feel comfortable, but that doesn't mean that you can't overcome those obstacles. In fact, when you do overcome them, and come out on the other side, you will be better for it!

You will be stronger, wiser, and braver.

If you asked me today, what advice I'd like to pass onto my daughter, here's what I'd tell her:

1. Set goals, dream dreams, make plans, learn everything you can, be coachable, find others who are doing those things well and learn from them! 

2. Listen only to those you trust, those who believe in you, and those who are doing the same things as you, and listen to their advice. Let go of the words from those who don't understand what you're doing, those who haven't tried, and those who you don't know. 

3. Remember your priorities in life, God and family, and let everything else fall into place around them.

4. Take time for yourself, know when to quit, and call it a day. 

5. Try something new and don't be afraid to fail. Learn from your mistakes and try again. 

6. Don't wait around for perfection. The only way you'll get better, is by doing, not waiting.

7. Accept the possibility that you may be seeing yourself from a warped perspective, and when others are saying you're doing a great job - it's the truth!

5 Ways to Ring in the New Year with Kids

Photo Credit

Christmas has become so much more crazy, busy and fun now that I have kids. But when New Year's Eve rolls around, I'm pooped. The thought of getting dressed up, going out and leaving the kids with a sitter until the wee hours of the morning isn't really something that I have the energy for. But instead of sitting at home and staring at that party dress in my closet, I decided to make plans for something to look forward to at home on NYE. Just because I'm choosing to be at home with my little family, doesn't mean that it has to feel like every other day.

Because, let's be honest, sometimes when you're at home with the kids all-day-every-day, you need to break up the monotony.

So if you're like me, and you're ok with living up the new year at home, here are some ideas to make it a bit more special for you {and the kids}.

1. Create a pretend countdown for the kids | If your kids are too young to stay up until midnight, or you're trying to avoid a meltdown before the new year, do a pretend countdown. Set a timer, turn the clocks forward, or just countdown from 10 right before bedtime. If you're feeling like a party animal, you can even bring out the noise makers and confetti.

2. Play some games | This was a tradition when I was a kid. Turn off the TV and pull out the board games...they probably don't get played enough anyways (they don't at my house).  

3. Set the scene | If you want it to feel like a party, it's all about the environment...create the scene. Blow up some balloons (kids love balloons), hang a banner or some streamers or make some party hats. 

4. Party food | Because Christmas and New Year's are so close together, you're bound to have an abundance of treats lying around. Take some of those treats you were given for Christmas and tuck them away until NYE. To even out the sugar intake, you can also make a fruit salad, veggie platter or cheese and cracker spread. 

As for beverages, I like to purchase something special for the adults as well as the kids. I also get those little plastic wine glasses, because it really doesn't matter what you put in them, they're instantly fun for the kids.

5. The after party | When the kids (finally) go to bed, the parents' after party begins. For everyone, this looks differently. For me, it's probably going to consist of eating snacks I've been hiding from the kids and watching a movie that isn't animated. 

Got any other 'stay at home party' ideas? I'd love to hear them.

7 Things I've Learnt in 7 Years of Marriage

Well, here we are...we've made it to year #7 of marriage. In 7 years, we've: traveled to 8 countries, completed school, changed jobs, bought a house and had two babies. 

In celebration of my 7 year anniversary, to Jesse, here are 7 things I've learnt in 7 years of marriage:

1. We receive love in different ways. My "love language" is quality time. I love to just hang around with Jesse, watch TV, go out to eat, go shopping together or chat before we go to sleep. Jesse, on the other hand, loves when I do something special for him (ex. make his lunch for work).

2.  Pick your battles. Not every battle is worth fighting and not everything needs to be addressed in the same day. 

3. Fight the good fight. In 7 years, we've had many disagreements. It's a normal part of life to have disagreements. We're two people with different opinions, living life in close proximity - fights are going to happen. But I've learnt that our fights don't have to be full blown, yelling, slamming doors, pointing fingers, storming off, silent treatment, type of fights. There are ways to disagree without dishonouring the other person.

4. I can't look to my husband to find my self-worth. I have to be a whole person to meet with another person. Not two fractured people filling in the gaps for each other. 

5. It's ok to ask for help. I used to think that admitting to others that we are having a hard time working through something in our marriage was a sign of weakness, but I've come to realize it is actually a strength. 

6. We both recharge in different ways. Life gets crazy busy - especially with kids - sometimes, we just need to have time to ourselves to recharge. I find that I feel alive again when I spend time with friends or Jesse. Jesse on the other hand, needs to be alone. 

7. "Marriage is a work in progress and you have to work at it to make it progress."

If you're curious to see what we're really like in person, head over to my FB page and check out our live video: 7 Years Q & A (click here). I will warn you, it's live, which means anything could happen. 

4 Products for the Modern Baby

Things have changed a lot in the baby market since I was a kid. Gone are the days of the teddy and duck prints and everything primary coloured. These are the days of the modern baby. Yes, we {parents} still have baby items cluttered all over our homes - but now, they have style. But not only that, they're safer, softer, cleaner.

I recently had the opportunity of reviewing four items that are topping the {modern} baby lists. Each one different from the next, but all of them make my life as a mom a little easier and less worrisome. 

1. Dockatot

Dockatot is a multi-functional lounger, co-sleeper and play-time lounger. When Remi was smaller, we used the "Deluxe" size (0-8 months) for co-seeping and lounging around. It gave me peace of mind knowing that he could sleep next to me, without the fear of squishing him while we slept. Because it's made of all natural, 100% cotton, and is breathable - I could sleep better knowing he was completely safe in his little pod.

Now that Remi's older, we've graduated him to the "Grand" size which is designed for ages 9-36 months. Most of our house has laminate floors, so the Dockatot gives him a cushioned spot to play. The Grand is also helpful in transitioning from crib to "big boy bed". Yet, another "mom fear" - rolling out of the bed in the middle of the night.

As a girl with Scandanavian roots, I appreciate the simplistic Swedish design and versatility of the Dockatot. I'm all about multifunctional items!

Get $5 OFF using this affiliate link.

2. Finn + Emma

Finn + Emma produces garments made with GOTS certified cotton and non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes. I like that Remi's shirt has a modern design, but it's also safe for his sensitive skin. 

I'm a sucker for wooden toys. Finn + Emma's wooden toys are made from untreated Indian hardwood, finished with vegetable seed wax and filled with little beans. The totem pole design reminds me of my vacations out in British Columbia; it's a toy for Remi, and a memory for me.

Enjoy 15% off using this affiliate link.

3. Milestone Baby Photo Cards

Milestone Cards make it easy for me to document Remi's big moments. He's my second baby...and I'll be honest...sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with documenting his first year. These photo cards simplify it for me. All I have to do is place the Milestone Card next him and take a photo. I can even upload the photo to IG and print them in a photo book later on. Easy-peasy!

4. Lorena Canals Rugs

Loren Canals Rugs have made my mom life just a little bit easier. Their rugs and cushions are handmade, all natural and MACHINE WASHABLE. With two small kids in the house, things get dirty - fast. I no longer have to fear light coloured rugs, the kids can play on it, eat on it and then I can just throw it into the wash. One less thing that they can destroy.

Have a question about one of the products featured in this post? Leave me a comment, I'd be happy to help you navigate the daunting world of baby products.

1. Dockatot | Grand Dock | Pristine White, $5 OFF using this affiliate link

2. Finn + Emma | Short Bodysuit | Anchor, Wooden Teething Rattle | Totem Pole, 15% OFF using this affiliate link

3. Milestone Baby Photo Cards | Limited Edition

4. Lorena Canals Rugs | Lace Beige

Photography | Jessica Rediker

Disclosure: All items were gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. The words expressed in this blog post are mine, and mine alone. 

From Baby to Little Girl

When we found out we were having Averie, I felt so blessed. I had been praying and hoping that one day I could experience those mother-daughter bonding moments with my own daughter. I couldn't wait to buy her all those cute, little, mini-me clothes, braid her hair, have mother-daughter dates and enjoy little cuddle moments with her. 

Averie will be three in a couple of weeks, and I can't believe that time has gone by this quickly. This little baby of mine has grown into a little girl before my eyes. She's beautiful, goofy and, at times, sassy. She loves to play rough - pillow fights, pushing, wrestling and climbing - but she's also a little mama. She will cuddle her dolls and animals, feed them, sing to them, and tuck them into bed. She's my little tender-heart. If she feels concerned, she will ask you - in her sweet little voice, "What's wrong? Don't be sad.".

Happy birthday my little flower pixie! Let's enjoy this next year together before you're off to school (I can't think about it).

To celebrate my baby blossoming into a little girl, we had a floral themed photo shoot. This too was a mother-daughter activity that was on my prenatal wish list before Averie was born. 

Post in collaboration with Julie's Elegant Crafts (floral crowns)

Photography | Jessica Rediker

 

Finding A Blance

It's hard to believe that I am more than halfway through my maternity leave. Time has gone by even quicker the second time around. Now that I have two kids at home, I find myself jumping from one thing to the next. I feed one, then the other one wants food; just when I finish cleaning one mess, another one is made; when one is napping, the other wakes up; it's all a new set of challenges. But those challenges have given me a new set of skills. I've said it before, but it's true, becoming a mother has shown me that I'm capable of so much more than I thought I was. I'm getting so good at this mom gig that I can take care of the kids, clean the house AND still find some time for my hobbies (sometimes). To me, that is a major win. 

Since (finally) feeling like I'm getting into the groove of parenting, I've felt so much more alive. I am able to play with my kids (without distraction) and feel like I have so much more to offer them. I've also found that my patience and grace can stretch farther when I've been able to achieve a good family-time/me-time balance. 

I found that I was able to feel more balanced when I changed my attitude and outlook on life. Easier said than done - I know. It's been a process to change old mindsets, it's something I have to continually work on. But I have been able to see the fruit of it in the way I interact with my family and in managing my stress levels. Here are some tips that have helped me get out of my grumpy funk and stay positive:

- Get enough sleep. I know that this isn't always possible, especially depending on what age your kids are. My suggestions is, be wise with how you manage your time. It's so tempting (and easy) to spend countless hours watching Netflix once the kids have (finally) gone to bed. Instead, set a time limit and get to bed at a normal hour. You'll feel better in the morning and your kids will thank you. No one wants to deal with a grumpy mama bear.

- Do things for yourself that bring you LIFE. When you do find time for yourself, take a break from binge watching your favourite show and do something that makes you feel good (ex. make a craft, do a workout, hang out with some fiends, read a book, take a bath). I find that TV can be entertaining, but when I've spent countless hours watching it I tend to feel a bit like zombie. In the end, I didn't really achieve much except for some blood shot eyes.

- Find something to be thankful for everyday. I read a quote one day and it stuck with me, "Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day". Find that "something good" in your day. Life can get crazy, but as I remind myself to think positively on a daily basis, it becomes easier to adopt a positive mindset.

If you're finding mom life overwhelming, I hope that these simple tips can help you feel a bit more grounded. On another note, if you've got some other tips that have helped you find some balance in your life - please share! 

Photos | Jessica Rediker