Bucket List - McKenzie Sue Makes

I love that we have a day to celebrate motherhood

I love that we have a day to celebrate motherhood and the God-given nurturers that have blessed our life. And if you really think about it, there is an infinite amount of women who have influenced our lives because of the mothers that came before them and then before them. The number of late night feedings and diaper changes, listening ears and wise advice - the unconditional love is uncountable and infinite: from great-great-great grandmas to mothers to siblings to neighbors and friends. I just imagine a web of mothers connecting from all sides and time. How many amazing women have touched my life and mine theirs without us even knowing? In this video there are over 40 women connected to me: Sabrina, Marcy, Marlene, Norma Jean, Norma Dawn, Mary, Marie, Olive, Jo, Lucy, Nannie Opal, Jennie, Eula, Clara, Mary Jane, Alice, Charlotte, Willie, Bessie, Sarah, Nina, Annie, Ermina, Christian’s, Poline, Hannah, Alice May, Clara, Carrie, Sydney, Vanessa, Lissa, Drew, Amber, Alyssa, Mimi, Lucy, Annee, Mary, Samantha. The list goes on and on and on and on, showing how this life actually is a continuum of our heavenly eternal life. Connected by mothers - the most beautiful kind of celestial glue. ✨

We blessed Juniper Fay this weekend and we are so

We blessed Juniper Fay this weekend and we are so grateful for this sweet little spirit who has already blessed our lives an overabundant amount. She is as perfect as can be and I cannot tell you how much she feels just right for our family. God is so good! Happy Sunday ✨ ——— I started knitting this blessing dress before we even knew we were having a girl and it is something I will treasure forever - the dress itself as an heirloom, but also I will cherish the hours and hours of time I spent sitting and knitting and thinking about this sweet baby (and previous babies) I have had the opportunity to carry into this world and the privilege to steward their sweet souls in companionship with Ryan. Just like knitting this dress, faithful parenthood happens one stitch at a time. It sure is tiring and repetitive and tedious, but it’s always always worth it. Tons of mistakes are made along the way, but you can put in the work to fix those mistakes and continue on with persistent diligence. And in the end, all your hard work is stitched together into a beautiful masterpiece with God’s fingerprints covered throughout — because there is no way to take part in something as beautiful and joyful as raising a child without having His divine love and revelatory guidance helping you along the way. ✨

Things I want to remember about little Miss Junie

Things I want to remember about little Miss Junie at one week old: she loves her hands by her face and hates being naked. She gets hiccups every 3-4 hours—exactly like she did in the womb. Her funny newborn faces, like crossing her eyes, puts Hazel into a full on giggle fit. 😂 With how fast she was born, she would choke and gag up lots of mucus and it was scary to watch, but she got it all out within the first few days. After night 2 and 3 of having her days and nights switched and cluster feeding, she quickly got on an amazing night schedule where 4 hours on the dot she needs to be fed. Or more like I’m so ready for her to eat that I make her nurse every 4 hours 🤱🏼😮‍💨. Try as I might she has started refusing to nurse on one side and I’m still trying to figure out why. But overall she does amazing with my fast supply and was already back at her birth weight at her first pediatrician apt! Our family is over the moon in love and it has been incredible watching the older two love on her. James will come and give her head kisses and that is about the extent of his interaction with her but Hazel is in full-blown mini mama mode and will set up a diaper station at just the slightest mention of a dirty diaper on my part. She picks out her clothes each day and night, burps her back, plays peek a boo, brushes her hair, and asks to hold her often. We love you lil June bug! #juniperfaygrew

Juniper Fay really wanted to share a birthday with

Juniper Fay really wanted to share a birthday with our wedding anniversary and boy did she make that happen! Water broke while picking up my mom at the airport and from the first contraction to a baby in my arms was only 3 hours. 🤯🥰 Talk about the best anniversary gift ever! I couldn’t have dreamed up a more amazing natural birth and we felt God’s protection and many tender mercies pouring down on us all day. Junie is the perfect addition to our family and I can’t wait to get to know her sweet spirit even more! Born 6:07 PM | 7 lbs 14 oz | 19 inch

In the in-between. Waiting these last few days is

In the in-between. Waiting these last few days is excruciatingly exhausting. Someone sent me an article that talks about this place of in-between. And what we don't have is a reverence or a full understanding of the vulnerability and openness a woman experiences during this time. Our language and culture somewhat fails us - which explains why this time is so complicated and tricky (and easy to get frustrated about). “But whether we recognize it or not, these last days of pregnancy are a distinct biologic and psychological event, essential to the birth of a mother.” As I’m sure you can tell by following me, I am a deeply religious/spiritual person. I truly believe that the God-given gift to carry and bring life into this world is one of, if not the greatest gift God has given. This article talks about how during labor, “a woman must go to the place between this world and the next, to that thin membrane between here and there. To the place where life comes from, to the mystery, in order to reach over to bring forth the child that is hers.” This is exactly the feeling I am seeking, the portal between the veil that will stretch my body and mind - my entire soul - which will bring forth a new little soul I have the privilege to love and steward over during this lifetime. I can’t wait to meet you and feel those closely around you at that passage of in-between, little baby girl ✨

Just waiting for little girl to arrive soon 💕.

Just waiting for little girl to arrive soon 💕. Although this is my third it feels like a whole new experience since my plans are to go unmedicated/natural. All my thoughts about this choice won’t fit on one Instagram post - but essentially these words sum it up. Trust in the process This pain is purposeful power that will bring me my baby Inhale peace, exhale fear Angels and ancestors are around about me and will bear me up Heaven is close Baby & I are doing this together My body knows exactly what to do I have a God-given gift to birth I will allow my instincts to take over when it is time Birth is (one of the most) ultimate acts of love Both primal and spiritual are needed I can trust in the power that peace, angels, and heaven are exactly given when it is needed. ✨

James didn’t make it 10 minutes into church so I

James didn’t make it 10 minutes into church so I’m glad Ryan got this shot as we walked out the door. 😉 Happy Easter, what an amazing life we all get to live because HE Lives! Doesn’t mean everything is always rainbows and butterflies but because of Jesus Christ — his teachings, sacrifice, atonement, death, and resurrection — we can find deeper purpose in our hardships, strive to live that holy law of love that He does, understand through His example how to surrender to God’s will, and know we will all get to live again with our loved ones forever. So grateful for this special Easter season our little family got to celebrate for a full month! It really did make the whole season special; Hazel soaked in much more than I had ever anticipated. My absolute favorite part of today was watching Hazel decide by herself to bring and pass out her little lavender flowers to every single person she saw, sharing her contagious smile and light twinkling in her eyes. ✨