the anastasiya podcast

Ep 2.15 - Baby #2 Is A ...

Matt's back and together we're revealing the gender of baby #2! We take you through our headspace leading up to our 20-week anatomy scan, what changed in having us (me mostly, lol) decide to find out the gender, and how our ultrasound tech intentionally or unintentionally dropped the news at the end of our appointment. We're so grateful for a perfectly healthy baby despite being SO sick this pregnancy and are excited to see Magnolia blossom and bond with her future sibling!

Ep 2.14 - SAHM Week 1: Tick Season, Tantrums & $500/mo on Dog Food??

Week one as an official stay at home mom, and let's just say God knew Mom needed to be home. First day: waking up to not one, but TWO ticks stuck to Magnolia's head. (And we do tick checks like it's our job around here!!) Then a bottle regression out of left field, right when we were SO close to kicking the habit, and then realizing we've been spending $500/month on just our dog's food. Time to audit our life! No time like the present to step into the season I was resisting, but that God was gently nudging me into all along. We get into why our twenties are kind of designed for the chaos we put ourselves through, the flooding of peace that comes when you stop clawing at your old identity and let yourself become who you're meant to be, and why being present for even the hardest moments is starting to feel more like a gift than anything else.

Ep 2.13 - Not All Motherhood Is Created Equal

This week I'm getting into something that has been on my mind for a while: the idea that not all motherhood is created equal, and why that matters. I talk about officially stepping away from my job and what it's taken to fully accept that this is my season to be home, especially with a toddler, a second pregnancy, and some pretty intense solo parenting while Matt was working over 100 hours for multiple weeks in a row. We talk mental load, the notorious laundry pile, the nightly dishes ritual, and giving myself continued grace through all of it. We dive into the social media side of MOM culture… how it starts as a point of connection and relatability, then morphs into quiet, under-the-radar comparison. I found that keeping yourself in a sober mind when it comes to yours & your family unique circumstances is the key to making it out unscathed. I wrap up with a passage in The Magnolia Story by Joana Gains that cracked me wide open - reminding me its my season to trust Gods timing, especially when He’s calling me away from something I really love, but promising me something even better in return. If you’re an empathic cryer- get your tissues ready!

Ep 2.12 - Ladies, Marry The Provider

In this episode, I'm getting real about the season of life Matt and I are in right now: pregnancy, sacrifice, and the kind of teamwork that most people don't show on social media. I want to talk about what it actually means to marry a provider because it's not the "never work a day in your life" fantasy you see online. It's choosing a partner who doesn't take no for an answer, who gets up, & gets after it, day after day after day. And the role of the wife? Showing up just as hard at home. Keeping the house running, the kids/pets covered, and the foundation solid- because a provider needs a partner, not a passenger. I also get into gender disappointment, why I changed my mind about finding out the baby's gender, and the conviction I felt about it after scrolling through my feed one afternoon. Oh yeah, and laundry? It’s still Mt Everest over here!

Ep 2.11 - Who Am I Now? Identity, Motherhood & Letting Go

If you’ve ever felt caught somewhere between who you were and who you’re becoming, this episode is for you. Get comfortable, because I’m diving in about something I think so many new moms feel but don't always say out loud: the emotional tug-of-war between missing who you used to be and realizing you can’t fully step into a new season of life while still trying to hold onto the old one. I’m sharing what this first trimester has really looked like with a 15-month-old, an unexpected hospital visit, and processing the emotions that come with realizing I’ve been holding on to who I used to be instead of fully stepping into who I am becoming. Like always, it’s raw, honest, and personal, and if you’re walking through a season of transition, growth, or uncertainty right now, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone.