Of all the stories I’ve held close to my heart in the time it took to get Truett, this one is my favorite. It happened about a year ago now, and as I stare at my sleeping baby, I can’t help but be overwhelmed with gratitude for her life and for the ways God grew me in the season of waiting, trying, and losing other babies before she came along. I also want to be delicate as I tell this story because I know many women find themselves in a similar place, and obviously, I can’t guarantee that the outcome will be the same. We do nothing to deserve or earn our children, and I don’t pretend to know why God sometimes says yes and other times says no. But, her life is one of the clearest reminders to me that God listens, He speaks, and He makes good on His promises.
Read MoreThroughout my pregnancy, almost everyone “warned” me about postpartum, or the fourth trimester, if you will. Most of these warnings were well meaning, and some of them (mostly random followers on Instagram who could have just not spoken up) were fear mongering and drenched in a trauma perspective. I get it - there are some horrific birth and postpartum experiences out there, and many women have valid reasons to carry baggage from their season as a new mom. While I firmly believe that it is important to be prepared for a change in plans or the potential of a rough start to motherhood, I also believe that we need to be careful about the way we speak to new moms about something they haven’t experienced yet, and something that may or may not be full of negative experiences.
Read MoreI’ve always loved reading birth stories because each woman has such a different and beautiful experience. It’s been just over a week since our son, Sullivan Wilder Hill, was born, and it’s important to me to capture his story while it’s fresh in my mind. I’ll start by saying that so many things took me by surprise during my labor and birth, and I hope that sharing an honest look at a natural birth is helpful to those who want to experience a similar miracle.
Read MoreThe first few months of pregnancy dragged by, but the second trimester honestly flew. When I reflect, I guess a lot has happened in the past 14 weeks, but creeping up on the end of this pregnancy definitely seems a bit surreal. I think it’s so important to read posts like this while remembering that everyone’s body and pregnancy journey is so different, but it’s interesting to see how our bodies respond and change, nonetheless.
Read MoreLong before I even wanted to be pregnant, I’ve always enjoyed reading about other people’s pregnancy experiences and how their lives and habits changed because of them. I will say upfront that I do not write this point from the standpoint of being a medical professional, an expert on pregnancy (LOL), or anything of the like. I just wanted to share my first trimester with the world and answer your all’s most asked questions from my Instagram! So, here goes:
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