Birmingham
I was born and raised in Lookout Mountain, Georgia (home of Ruby Falls and the Incline-neither of which I have ever been). I left “the mountain” ten years ago to attend Samford for college and fell in love with Birmingham right away. I have always loved how there are so many quaint and picturesque areas of the city, particularly the villages in Mountain Brook and downtown Homewood. The fact that these areas are down the road from everything a larger city has to offer is a major bonus! My freshman year in college I even stumbled across a parade in Homewood while studying at O’Henry’s, and thought I had definitely ended up in a real-life Stars Hollow. Being “quaint” also means that most things aren’t too far away. Growing up on a mountain that took 15 minutes to drive up and down, I have loved being so close to multiple libraries (and their story times!), museums, parks, and friends, and not one, but TWO malls. My family and I enjoy picking out fresh veggies at Pepper Place Market in the fall, getting ice cream at Mountain Brook Creamery, going to the zoo, and exploring our new neighborhood of Bluff Park. I can’t imagine living in a better city!
Moms
Almost three years ago, I became mom to Carter, and he has been my little sidekick ever sense! My husband and I decided before he was born that I would be a stay-at-home mom, which has been my dream job since I was a little girl. However, I had no idea all the sacrifice, exhaustion, and struggle that would come with that title. When I left the hospital with that newborn baby, almost EVERYTHING changed for me: my sleep (saw that one coming), my body (hello, nursing), my diet (again. . . nursing), my time (what’s a sleep schedule?), and my identity. I also had some complications after my c-section that kept me in the hospital for almost two weeks, which made my start to motherhood feel extra rocky. I experienced postpartum depression and anxiety dealing with all the change — definitely something I was not anticipating or imagining as part of my dream job! Over the past three years, though, I have finally settled into motherhood and grown to love this title. I feel so privileged to watch my son learn new things every day and to see the world through his eyes. I love that he is so curious about everything going on around him (even when that means he asks strangers their name and if they want to come over to play), and that I get to answer his million questions a day. We are currently gearing up for a baby sister in December, and I am excited to add some pink, bows, and frill to our train-saturated world!
Blog
Most days, I still feel like a new mom because things are always changing (Can I get an amen?!). I know I have lots to learn, but I have also learned from many mistakes, through trial and error. I have learned the best ways to make it to nap time without losing my sanity, how to find fun things to do in Birmingham that don’t cost me a kidney every time, and that I don’t have to always “have it all together”. I think motherhood can be so much easier (and more fun!) if we moms do this thing together, which is why I am looking forward to sharing my little stay-at-home world and continuing to learn from moms all over the city!
