It's not a surprise to me that motherhood is challenging. I expected it to be a stretching experience. 😁 But parenting effectively through all of these seasons with littles can be such a fluid thing that I'm constantly finding myself regaining my footing! Can anyone else relate? It seems like one second, I'm thrilled with a parenting strategy that works so well with my 3-year-old, and then a minute later, before I have the chance to become prideful, I find my fearless 1-year-old son … [Read more...]
The Little Things Add Up
Parenting: where the little things add up. "It's the little things." I've loved that phrase for years. I've loved the intentionality of it - the push to focus on small joys in your life. But oh, how I have been learning how "the little things" in parenting add up over time. It's the moments of belly laughter with my daughter over a goofy picture book. It's the comfort I can offer my baby boy through a cuddle or a prompt diaper change. 😁 It's the consistency I strive for in my discipline and … [Read more...]
My Postpartum Favorites The Second Time Around
I love this kind of blog post. I always find it interesting to read what other moms have found helpful (or even essential!) with their kids. Of course, you have to evaluate for yourself what will work best for your own family, but my hope is that my sharing these products with you will be both useful and encouraging! There are great items out there that can make the postpartum season even more enjoyable and workable. First, a quick note on this postpartum experience with Soren. As you might … [Read more...]
A New Kind of Golden Hour
If you've been following my blog for a while, then you might remember all of the sunset photos I would post when I first moved here to rural, small-town Minnesota. This was over five years ago! I was in awe of the endless horizon, the sea of fields around me in every direction, the expanse of the sky above me. It honestly blew me away. I've always been quick to turn to thoughts of worship when it comes to natural beauty around me. It's just an inclination that many of us have. We look at the … [Read more...]
My Favorite Baby Products (Months 6-9)
One of my favorite things to read as I was preparing for Sophie's arrival last fall was any kind of blog post with baby product recommendations from real moms. I feel like a lot of ads pop up on Facebook (or in your inbox!) for new parents, with every company vying for your attention! It's really hard to know what's out there, and what's actually helpful. (This is something that's been getting on my nerves a lot lately; we have so, so many choices at our fingertips, and there are so many … [Read more...]
55 Must-Have Books For Your Child’s Library
Friends, I am so, SO excited about this post! I've been thinking about it for a long time now, but I just had to collect all the information and double-check things first before sharing it all with you! If you don't know already, Bjorn and I are HUGE fans of books and reading. I always thought I loved to read a lot, until I met my husband. Bjorn is probably the most busy person I know, but also the most productive lifelong learner I know. He's always intentional with his time and despite all … [Read more...]
Friendship in Marriage (After Having a Baby)
My husband Bjorn and I are best friends. And there's weight behind those words. This is my personal opinion, but I think that some people whisk their way into marriage without evaluating the question of, Can I truly do daily life with this person? It seems that so many people love "how he makes me feel" or how in love they feel - expressing how constantly exciting and dramatically uplifting it is for them to be in love! That's all wonderful, in a way...but I don't think we should overlook the … [Read more...]
9 Things That Tell Me My Husband Will Be An Amazing Father
This Father's Day was a fun one! We spent time yesterday with several important fathers in our family, including Bjorn's two grandfathers. Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it up to my parents' place to wish my own dad a happy Father's Day, but we are no less grateful or thankful for him and his influence in our lives. Dads are great! Fathers have an incredible impact in this world. Their presence, decisions, demeanors, and love (or withholding of it) affect children and families so much … [Read more...]