The Last Few Months
Hey friends!!
It’s been quite a busy few months since my last blog post. I had a difficult tail end of my pregnancy with gestational hypertension and a stint of bed rest. Baby Cyrus arrived safely though on March 8th via planned c-section. We are all quite smitten and totally surprised by his blonde hair and blue eyes!! He’s four MONTHS old now and continues to delight us every day! We are loving being a family of SEVEN!!
Work-wise things have really taken off with this “little” doula practice of mine. My initial goal for 2022 was to have 10-12 clients and I was prepared for that to be a struggle! I took time off from supporting births during my 3rd trimester and the first 6 weeks after Cyrus was born, but I came back to a joyful explosion of new clients in the spring!! During April and May, I booked up the entire rest of the year with 2-3 Elgin Doula Moms nearly every month! It’s been such an honor to serve my moms and their families during such a monumental season in their lives! I LOVE building relationships throughout their pregnancy with prenatal visits each trimester. It makes supporting their BIRTH day all the more special. I say it all the time, but I’ll say it again… I love my job so much and I am beyond humbled by how God has grown my practice this year!
June and July brought on the new adventure of working towards becoming a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator! Most people know Lamaze for its “hee-hee-hoo” breathing techniques taught years ago, but today they are a modern organization at the forefront of evidence-based childbirth education. I love Lamaze’s emphasis on the Six Healthy Birth Practices and their commitment to keeping childbirth classes really fun! I’m planning to teach three classes this fall before I sit for my LCCE certifying exam in November! I’m so excited to be offering classes for Elgin area families seeking out childbirth education AND connection with other expectant families!
Finally…family-wise we are really enjoying soaking up these beautiful Illinois summer days right now. I’m a born and raised Floridian who happens to adore our Midwest winters, but I’m learning how to live summer to the hilt here! Our family's favorite spots this summer have been Santa’s Village, Bumble Bee Play Cafe, and Dolphin Cove Pool. Most days right now involve one of these options, afternoon popsicles on our front porch, and LOTS of relaxed family movie nights. School is right around the corner it seems, but we are really enjoying this quality time now.
What are YOU up to this summer? If you’ve added a new baby to your family, how are you adjusting? If you’re currently pregnant, what are you doing to prepare for your baby’s arrival this fall or winter?