Life + Loving Lately (+ BIG NEWS!)
It’s always a little hard to know where to start when it’s been a while, but like any good friend, I know I can just pick it right back up with you!
Happy spring!!
Here’s A peek me at this very moment:
A rare moment at home without anyone else here. (Praise God for Grammy!)
The door open to the spring air (and pollen — but it’s worth it IMO), sitting in my breakfast nook.
Achey back, happy heart, and a belly full of leftovers (mini meatloaves, mashed potatoes, and cabbage!)
Why an achey back, you ask?
Almost 20 weeks now!
We’re so happy and thankful to be welcoming our third baby this August!
That’s definitely the biggest news around these parts!
In early December, after a few nights feeling really weird during our family trip to Nashville, I decided to take a pregnancy test when we got back home, and I was absolutely elated to see two precious little life lines on that test.
After experiencing miscarriage and infertility, I don’t think I’ll ever get over my body growing a life inside of it. Miraculous. And then, the weeks that follow that are filled with happiness, uncertainty, thinking about it, trying not to think too much about it, and feeling totally disgusting (and being happy about it!)
John and I knew we’d like to try to keep growing our family, and while this season of life is not short of challenges, exhaustion, and inconveniences, it is the season. This is what it looks like to grow a family! It’s usually at a time in life that you’re also paying bigger-than-ever bills, you’re building businesses, and you’re still wanting to connect and be social in your community. It’s a lot! And it’s supposed to be!
As one of my favorite teachers Sally Clarkson often says, the most worthwhile things in life take the most effort!
So while there are many deep breaths imagining what it will be like to have 3 kids 3 and under, I know this truth: my cup runs over. These are the golden days of life. You can’t rewind your kids to be little again. And I do have some agency, a lot of help, and my joy comes from a never-ending source.
We just had our anatomy scan and everything looks healthy! I have a posterior placenta which they will keep an eye on as the pregnancy progresses to ensure it does not grow downwards over the cervix. The ultrasound doc kept saying “you’re still early” and I just kept thinking um… sir… when is the last time you remained pregnant for 18 weeks?! LOL!
17 weeks
19 weeks
In other news:
My little girl Griffin turns 3 in just a few weeks and I’ve been having the best time realizing again how wonderful it is to have a little girl! I can’t wait to celebrate her with her very own Daisy party, complete with tiny flower pot party favors, filled with seed packets and pastel colored nail polishes. I’m sorry to all our little friends moms : ) Here’s the working Pinterest board.
We’ve been slowly but steadily acquiring furniture updates for our home, including a $50 light fixture (from Aldi, of all places) to brighten up our breakfast nook, a set of red and cream checkered arm chairs with matching ottoman (complete with cream piping, the chairs of my 90’s dreams!), and a beautiful small-scale vintage dresser with original mirror for our guest room.
Here’s that cutie light fixture!
I’ve been trying to continue spending time with friends, even though I am absolutely in the stage of motherhood (and pregnancy) in which everything outside of survival can feel, well, hard. I was talking to my friend Selah yesterday about the difference between complaining and honesty, and while there’s a lot of grey and give in there, sometimes it helps to name what you’re feeling with someone. Many things feel hard now, but it’s mostly the lead-up that can feel overwhelming (planning, arranging childcare, prepping food for when I’m gone, staying awake) while the payoff is absolutely worth it!! So fun, life-giving, and a breath of fresh air.
Recently I’ve done play dates with friends from church who have little ones, candle-making in Wake Forest and Art in Bloom at our local art museum with my gal pals, and a podcast recording with my very best friends (it’s hilarious!)
Art in Bloom, which they do every year at the NC Museum of Art
Lots and lots of music! I’ve been recording and prepping to release two more singles, and then my album. This is the point of the process where I feel the weightiness of what it’s going to take (financially, time-wise) to push this thing over the finish line. BUT, every time I create or make steps, it feels right. It doesn’t always feel magical or like rainbows and sparkles, but it feels like I’m doing this at the right time. And my prayer is that I will give this moment the honor it deserves, instead of downplaying or listening to the many true-ish but unkind reasons why this isn’t the right time. If you are reading this, send some love and prayers my way — I would appreciate that so much!
Did you hear the last single? Here’s a link to that!
Isn’t this image from Nancy just gorgeous?! Here’s the story!
Loving LATELY:
MeaLime - every so often, when I’m in a longer stretch of “normal” life, making meals regularly and feeling that push to make consistent healthy meal plans, I re-download the Meal Lime app. It’s totally free, and you can customize the settings to only show recipes that fit your preferences/allergies/etc. You then browse the available recipes and create a meal plan, and the app creates a grocery list based on your plan. It is SO helpful to actually make a meal plan (even if I don’t always do certain meals on certain days, or use my own recipe/twist on one of their meals). The thing I love the most about Meal Lime is that all of the recipes are SIMPLE and healthy. Amen!
In the studio with my best studio pup. We love you forever, Piper <3
Facial Steams at Clean(er) Beauty Shop - What used to be called Trellis is now rebranded to Cleaner Beauty Shop, but it’s the same locations, same owner, and same great products and services! Cleaner is a beauty shop that curates a wide selection of personal products that are ingredient-conscious, weeding out the crappy stuff so I can just go in and shop. Plus, the products they choose actually work, and the staff is SUPER knowledgeable about what might work best on you. Anyhoo, I had accrued some loyalty points and have been using those for regular facial steams. Basically, you sit there, put on a face mask, and let the steam take you away to the daydream of your choice for about 15 minutes. These little time outs have been really life-giving for me amidst busy days and heavy responsibilities.
Our BFF Episode on Nancy’s Podcast - I linked it above but this may be one of my favorite moments over the last couple of months, forged in the soundbites of eternity on this podcast episode (for better or for worse, LOL!) When you get 4 long-time best friends in a room together and record it, it’s hilarious, relatable, teary-eyed, and just fun. Hope you give it a listen!
Songwriting - Being in the studio has been SO fun, and I’ve become addicted, again, to that feeling of getting weird, getting creative, and saying “What if…” with childish excitement! While I wrote most of the songs by myself outside of the studio, there’s still the “writing” process that involves song flow, instrumentation, and production choices, which I LOVE. And while I’ve been doing that, I’ve also been invited to a songwriters group at church, to see what songs we can create as a community, and that has felt amazing. I don’t have much experience writing corporate worship songs, but so far I’m truly enjoying it. It’s a very different brain space, but still flowing out of the same heart.
J Alanes Fine Lingerie Shop - That sounds spicy, but really, it’s bra shopping. Bra shopping is hard, y’all! The older I get the more my needs are very specific, my body is constantly changing due to pregnancy/nursing, and I just want some comfortable bras that aren’t nursing bras that are also pretty. I stopped in J Alanes for the first time in many years and was reminded how much it is worth it to have knowledgable staff that is dedicated to finding the best fit for you. They carry more luxury brands, and I’d 100x over rather touch and try these on in person than order online! I found two beautiful bras that will hopefully take me through pregnancy and will be awaiting me when baby isn’t nursing as frequently.
Better than the Bra Patch, and way better than Aerie/VS!
That’s all for now, folks. Love you, and I hope you’re doing well.
How was your first quarter? Big wins? Sad things? Let me know.
I’ll keep you updated as more music things start coming out!
All my love,
Sam
