Faith. Women. Empowerment.

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I wore a sports bra under my button up shirt today.
Our family went out to the subdivision where our house is being built this afternoon and did a walk through of the floor plan we chose for our home— so I wanted to look, presentable—at minimum.
I had every intention of working out when we got home, had dinner, got the babes baths and to bed. I’m a morning workout lover but our current schedule is not ideal so night time is when it works.
Then, at dinner, I broke down…
And now that the dust has settled from that, I am letting the feelings congregate into their respective corners and pouring it out—out of me, so it can breathe—and hopefully let others know, if you’re feeling this way—
3 things—
You ARE enough …
You WILL be okay.
This is JUST a season.

I am 5 months PP with our second baby.
That baby was terribly sick for almost 8 days last week and hasn’t slept well since.
My husband started working third shift last night, so after a full happy Sunday with the family, he drove his no-sleep, self to work and worked all night… then came home and watched our two children so I could get an emergency adjustment at my chiropractors office….
I pinched a nerve in my neck on Saturday night and Thanks to an amazing Chiropractic clinic, I’m hopefully on the mend but have to go again tomorrow.

Currently when my husband leaves for work at 9:30 pm—I don’t have help through the night, if the kids don’t sleep, mom doesn’t sleep.
I started working out at 3 months PP this time around, I was not working out post-first baby until around the 6 month mark.
My body, second time around PP, is not the same as the first—so that means very hard, painful cycles until things get “back to normal”—in my OBs words.
Oh, and my skin is freaking out like I’m twelve years old again.
^^^^ Helllllo, mom/postpartum life 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ll say this now, this post is NOT looking for “ hang in there momma, you can do it, stay strong” comments, while those are all very kind words for a PP mom, I have my village and we all encourage one another, constantly!

This is FOR moms, this is FOR the women who are out there struggling…

1. Momma, You ARE enough— for the mom whose exhausted but thinks if she fights sleep and gets just one more task in today, she can finally rest—No! You need to rest NOW. You ARE enough, regardless of the amount of laundry you fold, the dishes you clean, the floors that get vacuumed—you ARE enough!
2. Momma, You WILL be OK— if you did NOT make use of that sports bra, it will be OK. If you did NOT get makeup on today, you WILL be okay. If your summer clothes are looking small because you’re not exactly the size you were the summer pre-baby, you WILL be okay.

What I realize now from pushing myself back into a fitness routine sooner than I was ready for mentally, is this— small steps are steps too!
Yesterday I drank my water intake goal, I stuck to a clean eating diet, (something my husband and I both agreed was the first step for 30 days, then after that, we can eliminate certain foods to test how our bodies react)
I stretched and did what I could do with a neck that has a pinched nerve.
Those are all steps in the direction of a healthier version of myself for today!
Consistency in taking small steps and in showing up for yourself IS essential for you to be OK.
So just keep showing up, whatever that looks like for YOU.

3. This is JUST a season, your babies will sleep through the night one day, your babies will not need around the clock diaper changes or scheduled nap times. You and your partner will get time together again that doesn’t involve half listening, half watching that your toddler doesn’t jump off of some tall piece of furniture. This season is NOT easy and you are in the thick of it.
   Please remember—This too shall pass and once it does, your babies will need YOU, their momma, to have been true to herself so that she can show her babies what that looks like and how to treat yourself when you are in a hard season.
   They will have their own storms and seasons and they will need strength to battle them all. Mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally.

So dry your eyes momma, awake at 2:45am with a crying baby and a bottle warmer taking too long.

I see you—the one who so desperately wants to get back to a version of herself that she recognizes.
I see her—that version of you that still exists—
so GIVE yourself the grace that this season requires.

Stop letting society tell you that you’re behind the curve if you don’t bounce back to yourself 100%, 3 months after giving birth to a human being. What took you 10 months to grow and nourish and give life to, that body deserves grace. She did this sacrificial, beautiful thing and SHE deserves a moment. So when life doesn’t look 100% together and on track at times, remember, this is just a season.

You are seen momma, you are loved.
So love yourself.
In all of your forms! 🤍🌻