The Last Night in the Nursery – A Lilac & Sparkle Big Girl Room Makeover
My little girls are growing and while I've entered this wonderful sweet spot where diapers are done and they still love to cuddle, it's difficult to say goodbye to the nursery forever. So I'm dealing with this change by getting excited about a creative project. One that my girls actually helped with while my husband...
My Baby Spent Her First Christmas in the Hospital with RSV
It was December 24th. We were new parents who, only an hour earlier, were debating whether or not to take our new baby to the doctor for what seemed like a bad cold. The worry about being “those parents” who overreacted was quickly replaced with new worry as we barreled towards the downtown Chicago...
Dear Husband, I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Parenting
I’m sorry if I ever let one goodbye or good night pass so steeped in anger, that I didn’t say “I love you”. Because love and gratitude are at the heart of this life we’ve built. You chose me and I chose you and together we chose this life. I’m so grateful for its...
Beyond the Family Photo Session: Insta-Inspired Family Artwork
With holidays on the horizon, family photo sessions are a great way to knock out the Christmas cards and grandparent gifts. But sometimes it’s fun to explore other ways to capture your family at this moment in time. Check out five artful alternatives to the family photo sesh....
The Silver Lining of Being a NICU Mom
A birth not-at-all according to plan can be expected, but a NICU stay was not remotely part of my own mental preparation for labor or this whole parenting gig. And so I went into the dark, mourning over all the unmet expectations I had for new motherhood. ...
7 Signs You’re Ready to Travel With Your Couple Friends
Research has found that couple friendships are an important part of marriage wellbeing. But how do you know whether you are ready to take your couple friendship to the next level and travel together? Here are a few signs your couples trip will be a success. ...
Island Travel Interviews- Caribbean Islands, Take 10 (St. Barts)
Read the full post on MackinawRoad.com. Which Island Will You Be Talking About and Why Did You Choose This Island? Saint Barthélemy. We visited St. Barts on a couples trip celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversaries. Gouverneur Beach How Many Days Would You Recommend Staying on This Island? One week was the perfect amount...
My Boss Called Me Back to the Office a Week After Giving Birth
The question caught me completely off guard. “Well, I guess since she’s still in the hospital, I could come in this week,” I heard myself answer as a lump formed in my throat. My boss had called my cell as my mom and I were driving to visit my newborn daughter in the hospital NICU....
You Should Be In the Picture Too, Mom
What we often forget, as mothers, is that we are part of this captured story. Yes, our kids will treasure the photos with their siblings. They will laugh at their outfits and their awkward stages. I hope mine will smile at the memories. But where will they see their mom in the visual storybook of...
To the Girl in the Belly Bump Photo
I want to tell her so much, because six years seems like both a lifetime and a minute ago, as fresh as it is faded. I can’t tell her everything, though, she has to live it to learn it, but if I could just tell her something, I w...