Birmingham
I, unfortunately, did not spend my childhood in Alabama, but I got down here as fast as I could! My dad’s job relocated my family from Ohio to Alabama the summer before I left for college. I was committed to a university in Ohio for the fall, and spent that summer in my family’s new home: Birmingham. I was enamored with this city; it completely captured my heart. I resolved to graduate college early so I could be closer to moving down to Alabama myself.
My husband and I made the move somewhat on a whim after two years of marriage. We had a few-month stint in Birmingham before moving to Tuscaloosa, where I worked at The University of Alabama in the Early Childhood field for a few years. We moved back to Birmingham in 2018 before welcoming our first baby. Moving to Alabama was one of the greatest decisions we have ever made; it completely changed my life. I love how there is always something new and exciting going on in Birmingham, and also how there are ample opportunities and space to just simply get to “be”.
Mom
Motherhood did not come easy for me. We endured two and a half years of infertility before our blessing, Nora Jo, came into our lives. It was a shorter journey to get pregnant with our second child, Simon, because I worked with a reproductive endocrinologist due to my history and conditions. Mothering in the scope of infertility has always given me a unique perspective, especially on those particularly long-feeling days as a stay-at-home mom.
Nora Jo and Simon make every day exciting in a new way, and I’m constantly overwhelmed with gratitude to get to be their mom. Something I learned early on (but not early enough) is that not every day is good, but there IS good in every day. I love how just when I think I’m starting to figure it all out, everything changes on a dime again. This used to stress me out in the beginning (and still does sometimes!) but, wow, how it fulfills and excites me to be learning and growing constantly.
Collective
Mom life is a great life, but it’s not without challenges. otherhood is challenging no matter “how” you mother; we all need to stick together. I think one of the most shocking things I have learned about motherhood is how isolating it can feel; I have had to establish my own community to help me be the best version of myself every day. I am so grateful for the many types of community I do have, both online and locally.
I’ve been a reader of BMC for years (before becoming a mom, even!) and am thrilled to get to lend my voice to this wonderful resource for mamas. I am passionate about reclaiming postpartum, how to be a mom of big kids, celebrating our “mom bods,” navigating life as a mom with a chronic disease (Type 1 diabetic over here), and many other areas that I cannot wait to share with you. I am so excited to continue to learn and grow alongside you!
