The Birth of Daphne Jane
This birth was filled with so much laughter and joy. I felt most confident and in control of my ability to release into the birth
Born into Mama’s Hands; Jessica’s Second Homebirth
Jessica is a Christian wife, mother of two, and pediatric occupational therapist with a small hobby farm based in DFW. She has had two home
A quick (ish) pregnancy update
All of a sudden, I’m in my third trimester, and I realize I haven’t done a full pregnancy update in….at all? This is partly
Jessica’s Homebirth as a First Time Mom
Jessica is a Christian wife, mother of two, and pediatric occupational therapist with a small hobby farm based in DFW. She has had two home
Why would you ever want pictures of that: an argument for birth photography
I get the most interesting looks when I say we had a photographer for our births. “Why would you ever want pictures of that?” is
Planning the unplannable: Birth plans and their purpose
I so often hear mamas say “there’s no point in making a birth plan….birth is unpredictable.” Yup! It is. Birth is wild, unpredictable, highly individualized,
Siblings belong at births
For so many older siblings, mom and dad go away for a few days, they come home with this stranger, routines and the status quo
Choosing your Birth Location
“Birth where you’re comfortable” is a great notion, but how much have we really allowed women to explore that idea when the overarching theme of
Choosing your Prenatal Provider
A provider should view you, mama, as the authority and most important person in your birth space. Choosing a provider who disagrees with this philosophy,
To doula or not to doula?
I’m going to start by saying I am a doula, and I have had a doula attend both of my births. Doulas can be wonderful
What’s the deal with ultrasounds?
We’ve all seen the pregnancy announcements with the grainy black-and-white first “picture” of baby held by excited parents-to-be. Most women are offered at minimum an
Pap Smears in Pregnancy: necessary or not?
Last week, we talked about the Cascade of Interventions during labor. This week starts a series about interventions during pregnancy that I believe could easily
Nothing happens in a silo: the Cascade of Interventions
One thing leads to another….and another, and another, and another. Nothing happens in a silo, everything is interconnected, and the domino effect is real! Birth
Your Due Date is Wrong…
…Though to be clear, it’s nearly impossible for it to be right (aka predict the exact day your baby will be born). How did we
The Birth of Eloise Pearl
I’ve sat down many times to write this birth story, but every time I try, I’m filled with some sadness. I get anxious, my heart
Spring Cleaning: Tips to Detox Your Home
Spring is here which means throwing open the windows, getting fresh air, and cleaning the house! This month, I’ve been looking at ways not to
A Husband’s Perspective: Challenge ‘normal’
I am so excited to be posting my first guest post, and I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else! My husband took the time
Reflections on Motherhood
Mama. Mommy. Mom. Mother. Such simple words to describe such a vital role. Becoming a mother changed everything for me. It got me started on
Why I Refused glucola (and what I did instead)
If you’ve been pregnant, you’ve likely had the distinct pleasure of chugging 50 grams of sugar in the form of the infamous glucola drink to
Focusing on Birth
Last weekend, my husband and I had the opportunity to do a birth refresher course with our doula and a few other expecting couples. It
The Big Move
We moved!! When I was five months pregnant with our son, we added a new dog to our family. This pregnancy, we got a new
Woah, we’re halfway there….
And somehow, we’re already halfway through this pregnancy! That is wild to me! This pregnancy is flying by way faster than my first did. Truly,
The Magic of Breastmilk, Pt. 2
“Breast is best.” We hear this all the time, and the fact is, it’s true. (I can literally feel the eyes rolling and the cursing-outs
The Magic of Breastmilk, pt. 1
There are very few substances on earth that I would call magic. I can truly think of only one: breastmilk. While it’s best known as
It’s Been A Week….
Fair warning, this isn’t going to be a post like others on this blog. To be honest, this is more like venting than informative, but
Affiliate Disclosure
What is an affiliate link? Why use them? Some links on my blog will take you to another blog or company that is selling an
Why I Share Our Pregnancy
I remember when I was pregnant with my first, I commented all the time to my husband how I was shocked at how little information
Stay away from mom forums
“What’s the worst part of birth?” I just sat, staring at my screen saddened, angry, frustrated, and annoyed. The internet has done some wonderful things
Surprise! We’re pregnant!
So the cat is out of the bag….we’re pregnant with number 2!!!! As I’m nearing the end of the first trimester, I’m so excited to
Reflections on a Weird, Great Year
It’s no mystery that 2020 was an odd year for all of us. But as I’ve said many times before, the notion that 2020 was
The Truth
When is the last time you fought for something you believed in? Ok, cool, now when is the last time you disagreed with a conversation
A few things for which I’m Grateful
We take Thanksgiving for granted every year. It’s become about food and football rather than actually being thankful for our lives. In 2020 especially, it
All About Control
Do you believe you control your own destiny? Or do external forces control your world? Is life happening to you, or are you happening to
Embracing A Cleaner Life
The other day, I posted a picture of the deodorant I use in my Instagram stories, and I got a lot of questions about it.
A note on Election Day
There was a time in my life that I would have spent all of today attached to three screens (at a minimum) waiting with bated
Unexpected: My Experience Exclusively Pumping
I always planned to nurse my children. I researched how to make it happen, understanding the benefits of breastfeeding and recognizing that many women struggle
Why we cloth diaper
“Hey, babe. We should do cloth diapers.” I didn’t really know how to respond when my husband threw that one my way. Even though we
When your road-warrior husband stops traveling
For many years, my husband traveled Monday through Thursday every week. In one role, it was more like 2 week stretches on the road with
Pandemic Parenting
Pandemic Parenting: A Few Thoughts When all of the lockdowns started, I thought my life wouldn’t change much. I’m a stay at home mom, and
Postpartum Fitness
The first steps back The last thing on your mind after having a baby is getting back into shape, though in today’s “bounce back” culture,
An Active Pregnancy
#makechangesdobetter At the beginning of 2018, I decided to get my act together. I had been doing Crossfit for about two years. While I felt
Why we chose Homebirth
“You’re So Brave” That’s typically the first thing I hear when I tell someone I had a homebirth. No matter how many times I hear
Bringing our son Earthside
Our Story My birth story begins the day before I gave birth to my son. That Thursday, I was 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant,
Why am I starting a blog?
Why Am I Starting A Blog? Simply put, I want to. I’ve resisted this for a LONG time. So much so that out of loving