Let's do this!

Rest can come in so many different forms. For me, it was taking a step back from working in Social Media and Marketing and spending time with my daughter at home.

 Social Media, branding, and marketing is something I have enjoyed calling a career for eight years. It all started when I was in college and I realized a hole in the industry. I began to do research on Social Media and what businesses needed to make their platforms run smoothly. I began by freelancing for companies in the UK. As my career developed I worked for one of the largest talent agencies in Los Angeles, The Wall Group. I learned so much about the industry and grew my knowledge of Social Media and Public Relations. Fast forward two years, I landed a job in Stockton, CA as a Social Media Director. This company became family to me and I had the honor of building an incredible Social Media Department.

After two years of working as a Social Media Director, I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl, Sawyer,  while on maternity leave I decided being home with my daughter in these early years was important to me. When taking a step back from the “social media world” for a year it’s allowed me to remember what I love most about social media management. I’ve been able to research and see social media from a different perspective. In my time working at an agency I focused on what brands and companies are doing in social media. I’ve been able to learn more about tools that can help entrepreneurs and small businesses brand and plan out their social media content. Social Media has changed and stayed the same in so many ways over the past year and I can’t wait to help bring these tools to new clients!

A lot of what I did as a Social Media Director was spending hours and hours analyzing, planning, and then delegating to my team. I started to lose sight of the importance of research and just stepping back to see how the industry is evolving. I’ve always known rest is important, taking this step back, I believe it has prepared me to take on social media as a freelancer in a whole new way. I am excited to get back to helping businesses I believe in, grow and flourish through social media, visual branding, and marketing.

It’s great to say, I’M BACK!

Pink Blush | My Version of The Mom Uniform

Being a new mom I don't really dress up as much as I did pre-Sawyer. Everything is all about function and basically anything that won't get ruined easily if she spits up or bites because of teething. This kimono from PinkBlush has become a favorite of mine since it makes my "mom uniform" look really cool. PinkBlush has incredible maternity clothes that you can wear long after baby is here! Also, this little girl is getting so close to crawling. I've become more and more aware lately that my house is not "baby proofed" so if you have any suggestions that don't require me to completely redecorate send them my way!

Sawyer- 3 Months

Little monkey is three months old today! She's growing and changing every day. We love seeing her grow into her personality. I can't believe she's already three months old. Stop growing!

Life Lately.`

Normally around this time of year I'm reflecting on the past year and writing down hope for the New Year. So much has happened this year it feels like two years in one! With a newborn everything tends to turn into a blur of changing diapers, nursing, and naps. So I decided to write about life lately. 

• Sawyer was born November 4th.

• I'm now a stay at home mom.

• My camera roll is full of pictures of Sawyer.

• Sawyer smiles and can hold her head up! Where has time gone?! Stop growing!

• I'm still adjusting to new mom life and am constantly googling things I don't know.

• Still waiting for baby Cooper Faison to join the baby party. Hurry up!

• I've recently developed a graham cracker obsession.

• We're now Costco members thanks to my in-laws!

• Sawyer naps (sometimes) in her crib but not at night yet. Soon!

• Instead of spending my mornings in an office I spend them eating oatmeal and reading the Bible out loud to Sawyer. Only way she let's me get through my She Reads Truth study plan.

• I've been learning to rejoice in life's little victories.

Family of Three

It felt like we all have had a cold the whole month of December. I had just gotten over my cold when Sawyer got sick, then Aaron got sick. We wanted to get family photos done for our families for Christmas and we wanted to capture our family of three now that Sawyer was one month old. I had missed church that morning because Sawyer was still a little sniffly. We got ourselves ready and met Aaron and our friends in Downtown Stockton to take some quick photos. Even though the week prior seemed to be a blur of suctioning her nose it was a lot of fun taking our first family photos. Our friend Erik Johansson did such a great job. We love them so much.

Indescribable Joy

She will be 7 weeks old tomorrow and it feels like it was yesterday that I was pregnant and wondering when she would be here. 

It was a Thursday morning and I met my husband for my OB appointment. Hoping for some changing in my body that hinted at labor but at the same time it super hopeful. I've heard so many stories of women being at 3 cm dilated for weeks. WEEKS!  Well, at this appointment there was still no change. My doctor seemed convinced I wouldn't make it to Monday. I was scheduled to be induced due to having Gestational Diabetes through the end of my pregnancy. 

I went home feeling so worn out from just going to the doctor so I decided to take a nap. As I tried to nap I felt what I thought were Braxton hicks contractions. I had been feeling them for weeks. They made it difficult to get a good nap in because they were so uncomfortable. My husband came home for lunch and as we were talking about his day so far at the office I was having trouble concentrating. The contractions seemed more frequent than usual and sharp. I jokingly told him "you might be taking me to the hospital tonight". We both kind of laughed. 

Fast forward a few hours of me timing my contractions and texting all of my pregnant and new mom friends asking if I was crazy to think I was in labor. When I realized my contractions had been 3-5 min apart for 3 hours I decided to take a shower, blow dry my hair (I know super weird), double check the hospital bag, and make our bed. 

I was trying to hold off on going to the hospital until my husband came home from work. The contractions felt serious enough to call him around 4pm. I vaguely remember saying on the phone, "hey can you wrap up what you're doing and come home to drive me to the hospital?"  It was such a weird thing to say. I was convinced I was just over reacting and would just be sent home right away. As I waited for Aaron to come home I just sat in our room trying to soak up the last minutes of our family of two. If I was in labor, in the matter of days our home would be filled with the three of us. 

Aaron came home (a tad frantic yet calm). He said to me, "it's go time?" We packed up the car and drove to the hospital. As soon as we got there they had me change into a gown, monitor my contractions, and check my cervix. I was there maybe 45 min and they sent me home. I was so embarrassed. They said since I wasn't dilated more than I was that morning I wasn't considered to be in labor. They said my contractions are what they need to be and it could be a few hours before I was actually in labor, or it could be in the morning. 

My mom had already been on her way and met us at our house with fried chicken, and mashed potatoes for dinner. I know definitely not something I should have been eating with Gestational Diabetes but I needed food! As I sat there eatingmy contractions continued to get worse. I was home for maybe 2 hours before we decided to go back to the hospital. I was now certain I was in labor. I could barely walk every time I had a contraction. 

As soon as we got to the hospital they checked to see if I was dilated. I went from 3cm to 5cm in just the 2 hours I was home. The nurse told me I wasn't going home and my baby is on it's way. I was so terrified but so ready to meet Sawyer I'd do anything to get her out. I was moved to my delivery room and as soon as I got there requested an epidural. I probably asked for it 15 times just to remind them I wanted it. I know myself and my body and an epidural was something I had been planning for and desperately wanting. The interesting thing about labor with and epidural it felt like it was mostly just waiting for my body to change and dilate. That doesn't necessarily mean no pain, let me be clear about that. I was clicking my epidural medicine button every chance they allowed me to. My water finally broke around 2am from turning over in bed and the nurse said "it's only a matter of hours now". 

It wasn't until 7am when they called my doctor in to deliver Sawyer. He came in and told me, "I'm the coach and you're the quarter back. I'll coach you through the whole thing. " His goal was to have shorter amount of time pushing so I wouldn't get tired to fast. So I had to wait until I felt like I absolutely had to push. Finally, I got to that point in labor and it was time to go. In delivery with me  was Aaron and my mom. I really can't describe how incredible Aaron was during delivery. He encouraged me the whole time, while my mom cheered me on as best as they knew how in those moments. He held one of my legs while a nurse held the other. At one point I remember them telling me they could see the top of her head with all of her crazy hair I'd soon see for myself. It motivated me to keep pushing. I so badly wanted to see my little girl. On Friday, November 4th at 9:27 am Sawyer entered the world. Before I knew it she was being placed on my chest and I could hear her let out a loud scream. Instantly tears poured down my face. Feeling a indescribable joy I never thought was possible and felt relieved she was finally here. It was in those moments I felt the joy like God originally intended for us. Before sin and shame entered the world, just joy. 

They removed her from my chest to clean her up while I would be then getting stitches (gross and painful I'll spare you the details). When I got her back I nursed her for the first time and she latched right away. More tears. She was beautiful and perfect in every way. 

Pregnancy Update- 19 Weeks

Officially 19 weeks as of Saturday! Holy moly! We’re are basically half way done. I seriously can’t believe how fast time is flying. Carrying a child is such a unique experience that continues to challenge me on a daily basis. I’ve been trying to soak up this season of life as much as a I can and not miss it. These past couple weeks being in my second trimester have been amazing compared to the nausea the first trimester brought. I’ve been trying to take on small projects around the house to prepare the transition of what is now the office/ guest room into the nursery. Aaron picks fun at me saying I am “nesting”. I refused to admit it at first. But now I’m embracing the fact that I am nesting and trying to make room for Baby Running. Now that we are in week 19, we are getting closer to finding out the gender of the baby. Early on in the pregnancy I was convinced it was a girl. However, in the past week or so I have been having this feeling it’s a boy. It’ll be fun to find out for certain at our appointment on June 23rd (if the baby cooperates). I’m looking forward to finding out the gender and being able to find out who God has planned to enter our lives. I can’t wait to be able to call the baby by name rather than “Baby Running”. I have been able to feel the baby kick more and more everyday. It’s such a strange yet comforting feeling. I’ve become such a light sleeper that when the baby kicks all night I am up all night trying to sleep through the kicks. I’ve noticed the baby kicks more when I drink my iced water or some sugar. Every time I drink cold water I just smile because I feel like it’s our own little game we are playing with each other. As much aches and nausea pregnancy brings I can whole heartedly say those baby kicks make it so worth it.

Pregnancy Update- 16 Weeks

Officially 16 weeks pregnant and finally starting to feel less nauseous (with the exception of Saturday) and a little more like myself. It’s strange as soon as I reached week 13 or 14 of pregnancy it seemed like a fog was lifted and I could see things a little more clearly. I was no longer feeling like my brain was two steps behind every time I talk. I finally can feel my energy getting better. Wanting to organize our whole house to start making room for baby Running. Another amazing thing about week 16 is.. I can feel the baby moving around in there and it’s the most comforting feeling (and a little weird too). 

Things I am looking forward to:

• finding out the gender

• registering for gender specific items

• feeling less nauseous

• organizing and starting to get the house ready to make room for baby stuff

• Decorating the nursery

• being able to eat more food!

• figuring out how to dress with a growing belly

Pregnancy Update- 15 Weeks

It’s strange to think about how we are already in the second week on my second trimester. Baby is growing and so am I! I didn’t gain much weight in my first trimester due to constant state of nausea. Food is starting to taste and sounds better and better with each day. We had an ultrasound a few weeks ago and it was the first time we were able to hear the heartbeat and see baby move around. It was so surreal seeing baby do flips in my stomach and squirm a ton. I think I got more emotional seeing the baby move around and flip over than hearing the heart. It made me realize the baby is already developing it’s own personality and doing things on it’s own. We will be having another doctor's visit on May 26th and I’ll be almost 17 weeks by then. Hoping at our next ultrasound we will be able to find out what we will be having.