Hello! My goodness, I don’t know about you, but my 2023 has started (dare I even say it?) so incredible. To be honest, nothing in particular other than it’s like a new wave of fresh air has blown through both personally and in all the things we do as a family. I am just excited for what’s ahead and I don’t even know why fully except that I think God is doing some awesome stuff this year.
Postpartum Ups and Downs
Coco is 5 months old and the postpartum fog is slowly lifting, and I am starting to feel a bit more like myself. To be honest, starting late October/early November I started to really go downhill from postpartum hormones and a few circumstances I just couldn’t control. It’s just true, you can’t deal with things like you normally would when you’re sleep deprived and your body is trying to figure out what normal is both hormonally and psychologically again. It’s just a lot. I am so grateful for our pastors, best friends, parents, and -of course- my amazing husband. We knew things were about a 10/10 not good when I got lost driving my usual route home from dropping off Knox at school. We knew from my experience postpartum with Knox that this is a pretty telling sign for me that something is just not right. We immediately started to rearrange things to help me. I withdrew from some commitments, started on some vitamin regimens, focused on what I was eating a bit more intentionally, and ultimately starting tuning in spiritually to what the Lord wanted to say to me. We had a few breakthroughs in our personal lives, and oddly enough it’s almost like that was what God wanted me to dial in on in the midst of my postpartum anxiety and depression. And once we talked through some things, at one point even with our pastors as “referees”, unity came into our home again and my fog almost immediately began to lift. And while I am not saying I was suffering from PP blues because God wanted me to learn something, I do believe He used it for my good. Also, on that note, married people: Have one couple in your life you trust with your entire marriage. Like, I am serious… somebody you both agree that no matter what they say, it’s right no matter what and they can speak into absolutely ANYTHING. It’s so freeing. Sometimes when Paul and I just cannot see eye to eye on something, we will go sit with our pastors and talk through it in front of them. It’s truly the safest place for us and we’ve done it for 7 years now with the same people. It’s honestly probably in the top 3 best things we have as a couple.
Routines
If you recall, I wrote about how I feel I am meant to focus (perhaps simply REfocus) on my purpose. Saying no to things, rekindling others I have put on the backburner, and really seeing where I am meant to pour into as my days of pregnancy are seemingly behind me and I am stepping into something new as a mom raising 3 babies. I have really settled into a weekly routine that’s been life-changing. My family thrives on routine, and my weekly schedule is at the top of that list. Tuesdays I get 9-3 entirely to myself. I take the kids to my parents’ and I go do errands, hair appointments, work at a coffee shop, reading for fun… whatever I feel like. It’s brought so much life to my week. On Thursdays I am leading a SAHM Bible Study through the Spring and I am really excited about this. Fridays are Donut Friday with Daddy, so I get the morning to do things around the house (I seem to usually have some kind of an appointment for a kid or dog lately on these days.) Whatever you can do to implement a routine that, with a bit of grace as always, stays in place, I promise it will impact you greatly.
Recent Buys and Finds
Lastly, below are just some of my favorite recent buys and finds! A few of them are trending in my LTK shop, so I guess you’re loving them also! You guys are the best and I adore you. xoxoxo
