Pause Pages: Presence, Playdates, and Making the Most of Where We Are
a monthly care package of thoughts, faves, and little joys — plus some prompts for a little mom self-care woven into your day.
Welcome to the monthly roundup! Think of this as a little care package of all the things I’ve been loving, thinking about, and obsessing over lately — books, baby stuff, articles, and random life joys that deserve a shoutout. It’s also a time to pause, reflect, and nurture yourself — a little mom self-care woven into your day.
June Intention: Be HERE.
Last month was very full. Finalized my book cover design yay!, unexpected house reno chaos that is draining my soul, and now figuring out where to move our things temporarily… and where to live while our new house is under construction.
We have to move out of our current home in less than two months, and I have zero idea what will happen between now and then. It’s a bit daunting, and I also feel a little bitter that all of this limbo/displacement is somedays taking me out of the moment of the sweetest fleeting years of my daughter’s toddler years.
So obviously, that doesn’t feel great. And at the same time, I am trying to have compassion for myself, because this is not a normal chapter in our life… we are problem-solving our way through things I hope no one ever has to encounter. But, our days continue to pass us by and I don’t want to look back and feel like I missed out.
Therefore, despite all of the uncertainty surrounding us, I’m giving it my best effort this month to really drop into the moment. I’m locking in the playdates, saying yes to spontaneous hangs, and making as many memories with our community here before we go.
We are also having a small goodbye gathering that we’re calling Twoodles, Austin! (Because we’ll also celebrate our daughter turning two!)
If you want to hear more about how I’m tightening the ropes on my phone boundaries to be even more present, you can read here:
💭 Prompts to Ponder:
Where in your days are you physically present but mentally elsewhere? What would it look like to actually arrive?
Is there a chapter you’re already grieving a little — even before it’s over? What’s one way to honor it while it’s still here?
What does “the best of you” look like right now — and who or what deserves more of it?
Reflection: 22 months into motherhood
Keira is starting to put two or three words together! It’s so exciting. “Mama, more straw(berries).”
She also wants to help with everything, and I adore it! I am in the camp of doing household chores together while she’s awake, since I use her nap time to either work or rest. I love that we can do dishes together, pack a moving box, fold laundry — she stays occupied longer now and I actually get things done. The other day she just started picking up clothes off the floor in our room and putting them by the laundry bin in the closet. I love how she sees something that needs to be done and just does it without being asked. 🤩
Sleep is okay. Still on two naps most days, wakes 3-5 times a night, and waking up for the day at 6am which I’ll take. Better than 5am. Other than that, not a significant improvement but not feeling like a zombie either.
And you know, just experiencing a lot of emotions that my baby is growing up so fast! We are leaving her very first home, but she also has spent 25% of her life traveling, which is not a small chunk!
Becoming a mom has been the hardest and most magical experience of my life, and I feel so lucky that it’s really just the beginning.
Life Lately: things worth sharing
Crackers from Sourdough Project — it’s a local Austin brand, and it tastes so good. You can really taste the tangy sourdough flavor we all know an dlove. Our favorite crackers. Ingredients are so simple: Sourdough starter, organically grown heritage wheat, organic extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. Keira approved, too!
Guidecraft Kitchen Flex Tower — Okay FINALLY. I can actually recommend a toddler tower without caveats. This thing is sturdy, safe, and it has a permanent spot in our kitchen. My daughter is absolutely WILD up there (we are forever working on “calm body,” bless), and it has not wobbled once. If you’ve been on the fence, this one I feel good about sharing with you.
Fullwell Prenatal — I researched prenatals extensively before I started taking them the first time around, and I’m back on them now as we start thinking about trying sometime next year! I just ordered the new stick packs, because I have a hard time pumping myself up to swallow 8 pills. *P.S. This is not medical advice.
Purity Coffee Sachets — My friend gifted me two boxes and I actually enjoy it! You steep them like a tea bag, which makes it super convenient if your goal is “caffeinate me, quick!”.
This pirate song — I don’t know what it is, but The Wellerman sea shanty on spotify’s “not annoying toddler music” playlist is a bop! The three of us now randomly break out into it around the house. But, also I saw this post on Reddit and some may beg to differ. 🤣
What I Wrote About This Month
Want access? Paid subscribers get all of this plus the Mom Group Chat.
🍵 Also from me: Slow Brew Sunday — Every Sunday morning, I share reflections, intentions for the week, and things I’m currently loving. If you like the vibe here but want something less motherhood-specific, it’s for you.
✨ Got any topic requests or questions? Let me know in the comments!
See you next month, mamas!
You Might Also Enjoy:
🫶🏼 read more slow & thoughtful reflections here
☁️ browse my favorite cozy tools & resources here
💌 come say hi in our mom group chat
Hi! Who makes the pink toddler helmet?!