Motherhood Archives

Simon’s Birth Story

Simon is here, and obsessed is an understatement. We are all so in love with him, and I don’t think there’s been a moment since he got home where someone hasn’t been holding him. He is pure perfection!

Anyway, I thought I’d sit down and write his birth story down before I forgot any important details.

On August 21, I woke up really exhausted. I chalked it up to pregnancy and tried to power through my day. But, I really don’t think I have EVER felt exhaustion like that. Tyler sent me to bed around 7, and I slept until 7 the next morning.

When I woke up, I noticed some blood when I wiped. I didn’t think much of it and just went on with my day. I took Eloise to school and then went to my OBGYN appointment with Hazel and Poppy. Poppy was TERRIBLE the whole time, and was really clingy to me. When the doctor checked me, I was dilated to a 3 and 50% effaced, which was exciting because I NEVER have any progress until I’m in active labor (usually).

After the appointment, we went to Wendy’s and then headed home to cuddle a lot. Poppy really needed to be close, and I wasn’t complaining!
I told Tyler she was acting like she knew something was about to happen. Then– Contractions started! I didn’t really think much of them, because I was only 36 weeks along. So, I scheduled a manicure and pedicure with Eloise and Hazel as kind of a last little “girls day” before we had a baby in a few weeks.

As I was getting my nails done, contractions picked up and I was pretty sure I was leaking fluids. So, I texted Tyler to meet us at home.

When he got home, contractions started picking up and fluids kept on leaking. So, we frantically rushed to get everyone packed and we headed to take the girls to my sister’s house so we could go get checked at the Hospital.

Once the girls were dropped off, Tyler and I stopped and got McDonald’s because that’s what we always do before a baby! I was too nervous to really eat, though. So, I ate a few fries and called it good!

When we got to the Hospital, not one believed me that I was having contractions or leaking anything. Since I was bleeding, the tests kept coming back inconclusive. They sent me for an ultrasound to check fluid levels, and they were right on the cusp of being normal and needing to deliver. So, they decided to admit me overnight to watch and see if I lost more fluid. Thankfully, my doctor came in and checked me and let the nurses know that I WAS in labor and to just let me labor until morning when he would come back and break my water.

Honestly, the whole night was kind of a blur. I was tired, but couldn’t sleep because I was too nervous and excited. I was worried about what a 36 week baby would be like (the nurses warned me he would need to be watched closely and possibly need NICU time)… But, thanks to my mom, Tyler, sister, and our birth photographer, I somehow made it through the long night.

By the time my doctor came to break my water, I had been up over 24 hours.

Around 6am, it was time to get ready to push! My doctor came in and was getting me all set up and we were all just laughing so hard because my ankles kept bending and my legs were so heavy from the epidural. I kept slipping off the stirrups and (being up so long) I thought everything was just really funny.

So, I was laughing so hard. Which made everyone in the room laugh, too. We really couldn’t get ahold of ourselves and were all just hysterically laughing. Even the doctor and all the NICU nurses and respiratory therapists who were attending the birth (as precaution). My OBGYN told us to just keep laughing, because the laughs were actually pushing the baby out!

At that point, I asked about whether or not he had hair (he did!) which made us all laugh even harder because I had seriously been stressing half the pregnancy about it.

It was amazing to look around the room and see so much JOY. None of us could wipe the smiles off our faces and I was simultaneously laughing at crying at the same time. I couldn’t believe our baby boy was about to be here!

With one big push (and a lot of laughing before hand) he was out!

Our baby boy was finally here. And he was born into so much happiness. He really brought all the sunshine that day!

He was quickly whisked away by the respiratory therapist and they did all their little tests on him next to me. I was dying to hold him, but knew that since he was so early they needed to be extra careful with him.

After what seemed like forever, they told me that they were surprised he didn’t need any interventions and that he looked perfect.

Simon Jack Senneff was born on August 23 at 6:08 am
5 lbs 10 oz, 18 in

Our tiniest babe yet.

He is a champion at eating (despite the warnings from our lactation consultant and nurses), and just the cuddliest little guy ever.

It felt amazing to see the girls meeting him because, finally, our family is complete!

Big thanks to Jackie Stuver Photography for the gorgeous pictures!

Read Eloise’s birth story HERE
Read Hazel’s birth story HERE (and HERE for pics)
Read Poppy’s birth story HERE

Yearly Santa Pictures With the Girls

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One of my favorite yearly traditions is going to FotoFly Santa (NOT sponsored, just really love them) here in Utah, and getting Santa pictures of the girls, and watching Tyler dress up in Santa clothes for the pictures. It is so fun to look back at the pictures each year, and wonder where the heck my little baby girls went.

Seriously, they are SO big now, and so smart. And so beautiful. And, I’m just so proud of the girls they are growing up to be. It is kind of breaking my heart that Hazel will be three (THREE, you guys!) next month–And, let’s not even talk about how Eloise will be turning five in May. Where does time even go!? It’s not fair and breaks my heart on the daily these days!

But anyway– here are this years pictures so I can look back at them next year and sob.

Santa Pictures with Daddy as Santa
Little girls with Santa
The cutest Christmas pregnancy announcement!
Adorable Santa Pictures
Best Pregnancy Announcement

7 Ways to Combat Social Media ‘Mom Funks’ Before They’ve Gone Too Far

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We’ve all been there. Scrolling through Instagram and suddenly, BAM! Out of nowhere comes this perfectly dressed mom of five. You slowly look down at your own attire (pajamas at noon, obviously) and think “my life sucks”. And…Oh no. “I am the worst mom. My kids are watching TV while I’m on my cellphone…I bet Lindsay* never lets her kids watch TV. Plus, I only have two kids which is three less than her… How does she do it!?”

You try to shake the feeling, but it just won’t go away. Especially because you are STILL scrolling on Instagram and up pops Angie’s* newest picture. She is feeding her kids organic something (you’re not sure what it is, but you’re positive it’s healthier than that Lunchable your daughter’s eating), and you think “I am the worst mom. My kids never eat organic because we can’t afford it. Speaking of affording it… I can’t afford anything I want. I bet Angie never even has to budget…”

Feeling worse, you continue to scroll. And, as if you didn’t expect it, there is a picture from Donna*… It has perfect lighting and her kids are doing a really fun craft project. Your kids so happen to be fighting and there’s a lot of screaming going on, and you think “I am the worst mom. My kids never get along long enough for me to take a picture of them. And, they never do art projects because I am so lazy and never plan ahead.”

And, gosh, you guys! The cycle goes on and on and on. The scrolling continues, and you just continue feeling worse and worse. I have been there. Way too many times. And it’s awful! We all know comparison is the thief of joy, but it is so HARD to get out of a social media mom funk once you’re in it.

So, friends…Here are my

7 Ways to Combat Social Media ‘Mom Funks’ Before They’ve Gone Too Far

1. Stop what you are doing!
Maybe this is obvious, but stop scrolling. No matter how badly you think you want to keep reading, it’s important to just close out of the browser (or app) and get your mind off of it. When you feel those negative feelings creeping in, just shut them out immediately…No matter how tempting it may be to keep on scrolling.

2. Take a walk outside.
Sunshine is good for the soul, and it’ll feel great to get your heart rate up. I know that for me, once I feel sunshine on my face, I feel rejuvenated and my mind always ends up in a better place.

3. Think of the things you are good at.
Don’t allow anything negative about yourself to enter your pretty little head. If you feel something negative coming, hurry and turn it around. This can be something as little as “I make great PB&Js” — As long as it is positive.

4. Do something for yourself.
Hide in your closet while eating your secret stash of chocolate. Or get a babysitter and go get your nails done. Just do something for yourself. Take a moment to be selfish because you matter.

5. Do some service.
Getting lost in service will help you quickly forget all your problems, I promise!
One week, I was in such a big funk, and as a last resort, I decided to bring a (different) friend a Diet Coke and a little note each day for a week. It was amazing to me how much helping someone else helped me feel back to my normal self.
Maybe try mowing someone else’s lawn, or baking them cookies! Any random act of kindness will do.

6. Take a nap.
Assuming your kids are asleep as well (or you have a babysitter or someone else to watch them), seriously–Take a nap. Sometimes all you need is just 20 minutes (or 3 hours, if you’re anything like me) to re-charge that mama battery of yours. Sleep cures all!

7. Remember that just because your friend is a really good mom, doesn’t mean you aren’t.
You are both great moms, even if you show it in different ways. In the long run, staying in your PJs all day or not planning extravagant art projects really doesn’t impair your ability to be an awesome mom. You and your friend just mother in different ways — And that’s okay!
Do you have anything else to add to the list? What helps you get out of “mom funks” triggered by social media?

*all names were changed for this post– But they all have for real, cross my heart, happened to me before as I scroll my feed.

They Are Sisters

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It’s in the way they giggle late into the night.

It’s in the way they scatter “you are the best sister ever!” into their ‘top secret’ (but very loud) conversations each day.

It’s in the way they kiss each other’s boo boos, and calm each other’s fears, when even mama can’t.

It’s in the way they fight (and oh, they can fight!), and then softly whisper “I am really really sorry”

It’s in the way they protect each other from scary things, but also encourage each other to be brave.

It’s in the way they laugh with each other, without a care in the world.

It’s in the way they pretend. Using their imaginations to go places none of us ever will be lucky enough to visit.

It’s in the way they hug. Almost always too roughly, with one (or both of them) always ending up on the floor.

It’s in the way they explore together. Picking flowers and catching bugs.

It’s in the way they love each other. Fiercely.