#MomLife is my happy place. Becoming a mom has changed my life in more ways than I can count. I often tell my husband that I don’t feel like my life really began until our daughter was born. Obviously, that’s not the case, and the 34 years of life that I lived before Bella (B.B. was a whole different era) were shaping me into the person I am today. The first time I held my baby in my arms, I felt like I had finally arrived at the chapter I was meant to be in. I felt the same way when Juliana was born. I had this overwhelming feeling of peace, and I knew that my family was complete.

I always knew I wanted to be a mom. I also knew that I wanted to stay home with my kids while they were young if I was able to. This is obviously not a choice that everyone can make, and the lack of support moms in this country receive is honestly shameful, so I realize that my husband and I were very lucky to be able to make this dream a reality. For me, I feel like having young children is such a special time that you only get to experience once in your life, and I wanted to be fully present for as much of it as possible.

When I had my first daughter, Bella, I was a little overly eager not to miss a single moment with her. I started to realize early on that wanting to do everything myself was slowly forming a bit of a prison for myself and my husband. Our babies didn’t even want anyone else to hold them because they were so used to the little cocoon we had created. I think Bella was two and a half when she finally started warming up to the rest of the family (They won her over with presents and candy). But if I could go back I probably wouldn’t even change anything. I absolutely love the baby days, and they really do go by so fast. It may have taken us three years to be able to leave her with a babysitter, but hey, we’re all crazy in our own ways ;).

I learned so much about parenting through basically trial and error (and Google) in the first years with my girls, and I plan to share a lot of my experience here in hopes that they can be helpful to another mom frantically searching Google at 3 AM. From pregnancy to childbirth (which turned out to be C-sections due to my stubborn from day one breech Bella), to breastfeeding, basic baby care, and postpartum depression, I will share all of my experiences. I have also earned my stripes in the toddler and preschool arenas and plan to continue to share everything that I learn along the way that is helpful to me as a parent.

I will also share what I have learned about the importance of self-care as a mom. From making time for yourself (which can mean taking a hot shower or binging a show for a few hours during baby’s nap those first few months), to getting back into exercise and hobbies once things start to settle and become a little more routine, taking time to feel like a human being and not just a mom is a must. Having a support system that you can lean on when times get tough is so essential to keeping your sanity. Whether it’s your partner, your mom, or another mom in the trenches with you, sometimes those ‘venting just so someone will listen and not give you advice’ sessions are what give you the strength to keep going when things get rough.

I cannot emphasize enough how uplifting my girlfriends have been throughout my life, especially on this journey of motherhood. I can clearly remember the first few times I left the house as a new mom to meet a friend for brunch or dinner and drove home thinking, “Wow, I forgot I was this whole person.” I am truly blessed with the most supportive network of amazing, smart, strong, funny, selfless women in my life and I don’t know what I did to deserve them. It’s not easy to find your people, but once you do, hold on to them! I hope this #MomLife section of the blog can be a space to lift each other up, give and get advice, laugh, and be on this journey together. If you’re looking for a mom friend, I’d be honored for it to be me :)