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

Ep 2.17 - Finding My Rhythm Again

It's been 4 weeks since I last sat down to record a podcast and that's thanks to our whirlwind of a past month. Pre-recording a few episodes and then disassembling the podcast room to set up a guest room for out-of-state relatives = the catalyst for so many good things, but the podcast took an (unintentional) backseat! Two weddings, a Jack Johnson bucket-list concert, hosting family & friends, great-grandma's birthday, and somehow we ended the month with a mini excavator in our backyard! At 23 weeks pregnant I am reminded once again that you can't pour from an empty cup. If you have a kick-ass day where you crush your to-do list AND THEN some, that's just called borrowing tomorrow's energy, today, and you'll pay for it the next day. There's good news and bad news: the good news is my toddler sleeps in till 9am. The bad news is she goes to bed between 10-11pm and at 1 year old I'm pretty sure that's illegal.Lastly, we dive into a bunch of books I am currently listening to, just finished & are cued up on my Audible. Dave Portnoy, Jessica Simpson, Spencer Pratt, and many more. This season of life has me reaching for stories instead of business books. P.s. If any listeners have any girl name suggestions that pair well with Magnolia, send them our way!

Ep 2.16 - Husbands POV - SAHM

Matt's back for this week's episode and we're talking about the SAHM transition from his side! He shares how he saw this coming way before I did, how we (he) thought through the finances, and what the past month has actually looked like for our family with Mom home and fully present. If this is a season your family is navigating too: we've saved a seat for you!

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!