#momstrong

You always think you’ll get around to sharing all 4,637,738 pictures you have of your child, but of course life happens and you don’t, and then one day you’re scrolling, and you find THIS picture () , taken almost 3 weeks ago, and realize () your child almost doesn’t look like this anymore, so you hurry to post it because TIME IS FLYING. And crawling. Flying and crawling. Both, both, both.
FYI: we were practicing our dainty hands over here. So you know what I’m having for dessert, right? #ladyfingers
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Oh, and these DARLING knitted booties we’re generously provided by @corrinasshop ✨
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#Motherhood #Photography #SeekTheSimplicity #LiveFolk #MamaHoodMoments #Art #MomBlogger #ArtistsOnInstagram #FlashesOfTheDelight #InteriorDesign #AheadOfTheCurve #LiveAuthentically #BeDeeplyRooted #ChronicIllness #DailyParenting #TheEveryDayProject #Candidchildhood #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #motherhoodrising #momstrong #childhoodunplugged #Writing #WritersOfInstagram #SheReadsTruth #LoveWins #HazelGwenAndMommy

I realized the other day how very few pictures I have of both Hazel and me . . . I have roughly 4 badrillion photos of Hazel, but only about 6 of the two of us, and even fewer with Daddy in them. Like most moms, I assume, I’m always more eager to get pictures of Hazel (because, let’s be honest, showers and make-up are things of the past #momstrong), looking like the radiant Beastie she is, than I am of capturing MY image, when I feel purely beast. Due to multiple chronic illness issues, two-thirds of my hair fell out after Hazel was born, followed by a fierce case of adult acne. Add to that a hefty portion of sleep deprivation, and, well, no… I’m not aching to have my image documented. But a wise woman once told me – thank you, Sister Alyce – that I should be sure to get behind the lens as often as I can, because I will want these pictures, one day, despite how stinky and gray and covered in pimples I might be in them. She’s right of course, damn her.

And besides, if anything, my appearance is a more pure reflection of the me beneath the me; of how Hard I’m Showing Up for my child. It won’t always be this way. I won’t always be here, in this fragile, volatile space where love and desperation mingle and intertwine, two cords of the same rope with which I swing to new heights and occasionally want to hang myself …

So here’s to present over perfect.

Here’s to sacrifice and surrender and to inhabiting EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. Messy and painful and exquisite.

Because they are ours.

Because only we can invite and detain and extract them.

Here’s to bringing our nothing and our everything, to being unabashedly broken and relentlessly loved.

I can’t think of a better day for Love to win than that of Good Friday.

Happy Easter, beloveds.
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#Motherhood #Photography #SeekTheSimplicity #LiveFolk #MamaHoodMoments #Art #MomBlogger #ArtistsOnInstagram #FlashesOfTheDelight #InteriorDesign #AheadOfTheCurve #LiveAuthentically #BeDeeplyRooted #ChronicIllness #DailyParenting #TheEveryDayProject #Candidchildhood #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #motherhoodrising #momstrong #childhoodunplugged #Writing #WritersOfInstagram #SheReadsTruth #LoveWins #goodfriday

After a lovely and FULL weekend, I’m not going to lie, Monday is kicking my butt. I refer to this kind of exhaustion as puke-y tired. You just wander-trudge from room to room, trying not to upchuck on anything hand-wash only. Going to make myself another (5) cup of ☕️ and maybe do a few jumping jacks. Or maybe I’ll just THINK about doing them. Same thing, right? Sure it is.
Anyone else battling puke-y tired?
If so, these should help.
I mean, THAT SMILE.
#goodgriefPickle
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#Motherhood #Photography #SeekTheSimplicity #LiveFolk #MamaHoodMoments #Art #MomBlogger #ArtistsOnInstagram #FlashesOfTheDelight #InteriorDesign #AheadOfTheCurve #LiveAuthentically #BeDeeplyRooted #ChronicIllness #DailyParenting #TheEveryDayProject #Candidchildhood #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #motherhoodrising #momstrong #childhoodunplugged #Writing #WritersOfInstagram #SheReadsTruth #LoveWins #HazelGwenAndMommy

This little Pickle surprised the HECK out of her parents by ROLLING OVER on Sunday. There we were, just having our irregularly scheduled tummy time, expecting her to face plant into the mat as usual, and she goes and does a full 180. What the what!? I suppose she’ll be asking me for the car keys by next week…
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Magical knitted beanie @corrinasshop

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#Motherhood #Photography #SeekTheSimplicity #LiveFolk #MamaHoodMoments #Art #MomBlogger #ArtistsOnInstagram #FlashesOfTheDelight #InteriorDesign #AheadOfTheCurve #LiveAuthentically #BeDeeplyRooted #ChronicIllness #DailyParenting #TheEveryDayProject #Candidchildhood #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #motherhoodrising #momstrong #childhoodunplugged #Writing #WritersOfInstagram #SheReadsTruth #LoveWins #HazelGwenAndMommy

Hi beloveds,

I wanted to check in to let those of you who’ve messaged know that we are still alive and kicking. Emphasis on the kicking.

Oh sisters. Damn.

You know that hashtag #momstrong? I didn’t quite get it until recently. Now I get it.

You see, first, there is simply strong, which is closely followed by warrior - a compilation of Russell Crowe in Gladiator and Gerard Butler in 300. Next, we move on to something akin to Optimus Prime level, which is superseded only by the world-annihilating meteor, whereupon we FINALLY come close enough to get a peek at the very top of the strong tower – MomStrong.

Having spent fifteen years caring for young babies, I knew the monotony and the heart-swelling tenderness in equal measure, yet being a nanny in no way prepared me for motherhood, simply because at the end of the day, you GIVE THE CHILD BACK.

No such thing is possible when it’s your own child - believe me, I’ve looked into it. Multiple times. Although the architecture down yonder has changed, it remains clear Hazel came with just the single one-way ticket.

In all my years rearing babies, I never came upon a child like her. She doesn’t stop. Not even when she is forced to, overtaken by just enough sleep to keep her alive, during which she kicks and flails as though riding an invisible bull.

She sleeps for maybe 30 minutes at a time, which gives me just long enough to down a Power Bar and prepare for the next 2-hour sprint.

It’s insanity, 24/7 insanity.

In full disclosure, I’m a wreck. The other day, after my child had been fed and changed and burped and snuggled (unwillingly) and swaddled, and still would NOT sleep, I removed the heat pack from my throbbing, inflamed fibromyalgic shoulders, and BEAT IT against the banister hard enough to rip the stuffing. No . . not my most graceful moment, though, can we agree it was a win, since it WASN’T the baby?

Hell yeah, we will.

If you’re up for it, share your least graceful moment? Because I think this is how Love Wins.
I’m a mess. A flaming, smoking, boiling hot mess. Though enough of me remains that I remember We Belong To Each Other, that Showing Up is EVERYTHING, and messy and broken is still beautiful.

I promised you some ducking cute photos, didn’t I? Well I THINK these should do. I still can’t believe we took these ourselves. What a bunch of newbies…. BUT, looking at her, my scrumptious Pickle, well it was ALMOST worth the aneurism she gave me. Nothing three margaritas couldn’t fix.
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Oh Hazel, just when I don’t think my heart could possibly contain more love for you, somehow that love grows exponentially. It just GROWS. Gets even bigger so that it feels like I’m drowning and flying all at once. Your smiles, which are just beginning to show up on purpose, are like warm rain, melting away the constant fatigue and muscle aches and monotony. My child… you undo me. UNDO ME. I am beyond smitten with you. Thank you for choosing me to be your Mama.
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#Motherhood #Photography #SeekTheSimplicity #LiveFolk #MamaHoodMoments #Art #MomBlogger #ArtistsOnInstagram #FlashesOfTheDelight #InteriorDesign #AheadOfTheCurve #LiveAuthentically #BeDeeplyRooted #ChronicIllness #DailyParenting #TheEveryDayProject #Candidchildhood #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #motherhoodrising #momstrong #childhoodunplugged #Writing #WritersOfInstagram #SheReadsTruth #LoveWins #HazelGwenAndMommy

How about a little squishy tushy to perk up your Tuesday?
I don’t know about you, but I’ll be having warm buns for lunch.
Also.
A GIANT, back-cracking hug goes out to Aunt Trish @hopeeshandmade for this stunning changing pad cover, made by @iviebabyshop, who has wayyyyy too many cute things for my own good.
Trish, sister, you love on Hazel and me so hard … We’re not really sure what we did to deserve that hard love, but we’re grateful and honored, and in genera just especially glad we get to do life with you. You are warm and decadent, like a hot fudge sundae, and so thoughtful it makes my head spin.
We love you.
Squish on, sisters!
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#Motherhood #Photography #SeekTheSimplicity #LiveFolk #MamaHoodMoments #Art #MomBlogger #ArtistsOnInstagram #FlashesOfTheDelight #InteriorDesign #AheadOfTheCurve #LiveAuthentically #BeDeeplyRooted #ChronicIllness #DailyParenting #TheEveryDayProject #Candidchildhood #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #motherhoodrising #momstrong #childhoodunplugged #Writing #WritersOfInstagram #SheReadsTruth #LoveWins #HazelGwenAndMommy #iviebaby

From Hazel (photographed at 3 weeks old) as interpreted by her Momma:

Thank you @cuddleandkind for my very first stuffed animal! I’ve named her Miss Kitty and she is just purrrrrfect.
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You guys, we are obsessed! These dolls are not only so dang beautiful, they come with a story, and you KNOW how I feel about stories. In a (Hazel) nut shell, each doll sold provides TEN meals to hungry children. TEN MEALS.
We are so honored and grateful to have been given something so precious and worthy. Thank you, Jen and Derek, and the whole Woodgate clan! I have a feeling this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

For more information, visit @cuddleandkind and follow the link.
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#Motherhood #Photography #SeekTheSimplicity #LiveFolk #MamaHoodMoments #Art #MomBlogger #ArtistsOnInstagram #FlashesOfTheDelight #InteriorDesign #AheadOfTheCurve #LiveAuthentically #BeDeeplyRooted #ChronicIllness #DailyParenting #TheEveryDayProject #Candidchildhood #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #motherhoodrising #momstrong #childhoodunplugged #Writing #WritersOfInstagram #SheReadsTruth #LoveWins #HazelGwenAndMommy #CuddleAndKind

Son we have to work together like a team and taking mommy’s panties to sniff her pheromones while her lingerie gets ruined from the massive stretching by stuffing almost 10 inches​ of wide cock into mom’s expensive undergarments and finally cumming all over mother’s fragrant undies so mom can’t wash them without noticing her underwear is coated in her own son’s seed. It’s always way too much semen for a foot of lace butt floss so if you do it immediately b4 she asks for your dirty laundry i gaurantee ur Mom will feel the gooey oozing cum load filling her Victoria’s secret lace with more jizz than it can handle. If you wanna test this out I recommend you own up to it immediately after she asks if that is her “Son’s twisted handywork?” She now picks out the panties for her own son to carpet bomb when he feels the itch to pump cream as mom watches his techniques