My Greatest Fear during my Pregnancy after Loss

As Maternal Mental Health Week comes to a close, I feel compelled to share a piece of my journey that I’ve kept mostly private—my greatest fear during my pregnancy after loss— in order to help raise awareness. This is #RealMotherhood, and there is #NoShame. Photo by Katie Donovan I’ve suffered from mental illness [...]

Patrick’s Spot: How We Created a Space in our Home for our Child who Died

Last week I spent some time with Pregnancy After Loss Support's founder, Lindsey Henke. At lunch before she dropped me off at the airport, we were chatting about our first born children--our stillbirths. She asked if Patrick was buried or cremated. I'm always a little defensive about this topic. I know we made the right [...]

Making Holiday Magic after Loss

I've been talking a lot about the magic of the holiday season this year. I feel it in me, and I see it in my daughter's eyes. Each night, she opens her Advent present so carefully, so expectantly, so delightfully. It's precious. I want to bottle these moments. But, if I was to be really [...]

By |2017-12-20T16:39:54-04:00December 12th, 2017|Family, Grieving, Parenting, Parenting After Loss, Patrick, Stitch|0 Comments

So, You’re Having a Baby: What do You Really Need?

*Photograph by Margaret Belanger Last week, Stitch and I rode the elevator with a very frazzled pregnant mama. She asked how old Stitch was. After I replied she said her babe needed to cook a little longer. Since I had that opening, I asked when she was due. "Three weeks," she replied. "I [...]

By |2018-06-24T20:31:56-04:00November 12th, 2017|Parenting, Parenting After Loss, Pregnancy After Loss|0 Comments

Two Words that Help me Keep my Sanity as a Parent: Developmentally Appropriate

Going places with my 20-month-old has started being much more of a process. She is choosing her own clothes and shoes, and she knows what she wants--even if it's to wear white dress shoes to the park. Before we can leave, she needs to choose a book and stuffie to bring with her in the [...]

By |2017-10-23T15:06:42-04:00October 23rd, 2017|Just Life, Parenting, Parenting After Loss|0 Comments

Tips for using Favorite Things to Encourage Early Language Development: Rainbows

The first stop in our favorite things series is rainbows. In the world of pregnancy loss and pregnancy after loss, rainbows signify the baby born after a loss: the rainbow after the storm of loss and grief. I didn't really embrace the whole "rainbow baby" thing while we were pregnant with Stitch, but this spring [...]

Parenting Joy: Her First Steps

Hold the presses! Our Halloween Favorite Things series will return tomorrow. Today we need to pause and celebrate. STITCH TOOK HER FIRST STEPS!!!! Ahem. Nope. Let me shout it again: STITCH TOOK HER FIRST STEPS!!!! Our 19.5-month-old little love has lagged in her gross motor development, and we broke down and had her evaluated by [...]

By |2017-10-10T17:15:47-04:00October 10th, 2017|Family, Parenting, Parenting After Loss, Stitch|0 Comments

Dear Mama, please don’t put your car seat in the shopping cart seat

Dear Fellow Mama in the Grocery Store, Please know I am coming from a place of love and concern. I don't share this photo lightly, and I definitely don't share it to shame. I tried to make sure to remove as many identifying factors as I could. And I totally wanted to steal your Oreos [...]

By |2018-01-14T13:20:27-04:00September 12th, 2017|Family, Parenting, Parenting After Loss|0 Comments

Getting Real about Toddler Sleep

The clock on my phone reads 11:18 AM. My daughter just fell asleep for her nap, and I brewed my third cup of coffee so far today. As I sip it, I want to get real with you about toddler sleep, at least in our house. If you can relate, grab a cup of coffee [...]

By |2018-01-14T13:25:00-04:00September 7th, 2017|Family, Parenting, Parenting After Loss, Stitch|0 Comments

Documenting Motherhood: I am a Courageous Mama

I take a lot of pictures of my daughter. I'm actually not sure I want to know exactly how many iPhone photos I've taken of her since she was born. I send pictures to Daddy and the grandparents during the day. I take photos of her wearing clothes or playing with toys that were gifted [...]

By |2017-09-04T22:53:19-04:00June 28th, 2017|Our Story, Parenting After Loss|0 Comments
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