Moments of Musing

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Ways to Beat the Post-Vacation Blues

Filed Under: perspective, positivity //

Vacation is over and we’re back home. Normally, I’d be pretty down about it, chalking it up to the post-vacation blues, but I’m trying my best not to be this time. It almost sounds silly but the vacation blues are real. In fact, over 30 percent of people say they’re sad upon returning home from a trip. (I have a feeling it might even be higher, though.)

I’m not going to talk about why I’d rather be at the beach instead of at my desk today. Instead, I’m choosing to be positive because I wholeheartedly believe my everyday life is just as good as, if not better than, vacation. Chances are yours is, too.

Here are ways you can join me in beating the blues after returning from your next vacation:

1. Celebrate your everyday. Life is a gift. You’re breathing. You’re alive. You have family and friends who love you. A source of income. A routine. Stability. Every day is different and challenges you to grow and develop and prosper. That’s pretty cool, if you ask me. 
2. Look on the bright side: You’re home. I don’t know about you but I miss my bed whenever I’m away. A plus side to vacation being over and going home is getting to sleep in your own bed again. When you wake up, go outside and explore where you are. Love where you live, learn to love it… or move. Life’s too short to be living a constant down in the dumps “what if” kind of life. 
3. Be in good spirits. Cherish your memories. Reflect on your fun trip. Look at, and maybe share, photos of your getaway. (If you didn’t take any, be sure to next time!) Be happy you were able to get away. Be grateful and appreciative. Vacation is a luxury. Period.  
4. Find joy and hold onto it. Maybe it’s your favorite cup of coffee every morning, your photography hobby, a good run, or volunteering for a cause that’s close to your heart. Whatever you find joy in, do that. Live a life you look forward to. Make every day a day to be happy about, to surround yourself with good, to do good and to be good. I have a feeling if you do, you won’t feel the need to escape as much. 
5. Plan your next vacation. It can be one night away to a city nearby or weeks to a city on a whole other continent. The point is we all need to rest and reset sometimes. Give yourself that break and chance to reset again and book that trip! I’m pretty sure you won’t regret it. 😉

The taboo baby blues

Filed Under: motherhood, postpartum //

Last week marked eight months since Sebastian was born. These have been the fastest and absolute best eight months of my life thus far. Thinking back, the very beginning of motherhood was very different than I had imagined it to be. To be honest, I don’t know if I had a particular “picture” of what it’d look like but I certainly know how I expected to feel. And that didn’t really line up with reality for a little while.

Though there is little talk about postpartum depression, in my experience, there is even less about the baby blues. In fact, I didn’t even know what they were until much after I’d experienced them.  

All I know is my baby was one week old and I was hysterically crying…


It felt as though suddenly, I became a mom and I cared about and loved another person so much more than I’ve cared and loved anything and yet, I also didn’t feel so great.

My thoughts were quite irrational and extreme (though never about harming myself or my baby) and my feelings were overwhelming. As I (hysterically) cried after taking the baby’s One Week photos, I turned to my husband and asked him if all the crying I’d been doing was normal.



He asked, “They’re happy tears, right?” 

“Well, yeah,” I replied. 

The truth is they were happy/ sad/ scared/ anxious/ nervous/ elated/ love-filled tears. And there had been lots of them leading up to then and lots that would follow. I was just feeling SO MANY different emotions. 


Love … SO much of it that my heart felt like it could almost burst

Sadness that time was flying so quickly

Frustration with my husband for not parenting the same exact way as me

Shame about having a C-section and having pain during recovery but trying to overcome that pain


Nervousness about how to care for a newborn and how to calm his (what felt constant at times) crying

Awe at the blessing of my baby and getting to be his mom

Anxiety at the thought that I would help shape him into the person he will grow up to be

Fear that I would have little control over his external life forces

Guilt that breastfeeding was such a challenge and that I sort of resented it

Exhaustion due to lack of sleep and food (my appetite was pretty nonexistent for a bit)

Wonder about how I could still live a fun life and complete regret, shame and guilt that I was concerned about this at all (I still feel bad even admitting this)
None of the birth classes we attended, articles I read, or research I did truly prepared me for this new adventure. I had to live it to truly learn it. That wasn’t something I was used to–not being in control or prepared felt foreign. One of the only things I did know was that something just wasn’t right with my emotions–but the weight of them felt foreign, too.

While I was pretty unaware of the “baby blues” and felt isolated in my feelings, they are actually pretty common. According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately 70-80% of all new mothers experience some negative feelings or mood swings after the birth of their child. It is thought to be related to the hormonal changes (they rise higher during pregnancy than any other time in a woman’s life and then plummet after giving birth) we go through during and following childbirth. Other changes, including the amount of adjustment that comes after the birth of a baby, along with sleep disturbance, disruption of “routine”, and emotions from the childbirth experience itself can also contribute to how a new mom feels. 

Speaking about mental health is taboo, it is not much different with this topic. There is still a stigma about feeling sad after having experienced such a beautiful thing–the birth of your baby– and societal pressure to only feel happy about becoming a mom. It is important–and I believe necessary–to have a conversation about this, though. Because juggling all these feelings can be downright scary. I just want all new mamas to know it’s okay to not feel okay; you’ll get through it; and to reach out for help because you’ve got more people in your corner than you probably realize. 

You’re not broken; 

you’ve done nothing wrong; and 

you are not alone.

Thankfully, over time, my emotions seemed to get themselves in check. I started worrying less. My husband and I stopped bickering as much. I became more confident in myself and my ability to be a mom.  Ultimately, I started to feel more like my normal self, just a different version… And I actually like this version more.


***DISCLAIMER: There is a difference between baby blues and postpartum depression. I am not a therapist or doctor nor do I claim to be. This post is comprised of my individual opinions, and not meant to convey professional medical or mental health advice. This post is not about depression or suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know may be suffering from postpartum depression, contact a doctor. If you are having dangerous thoughts, contact help immediately. The  National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1 (800) 273-8255.*** 

Our baby’s Internet presence

Filed Under: Baby L, motherhood //


It’s still kind of bizarre to me that we live in a social-media age. I can only imagine what it will be like in years from now. That being said, I do post to social media regularly (though I still sometimes wish I could delete all accounts, I’d have too much FOMO). When it comes to our baby, however, I do think more deeply about it and I’m much more aware and intentional about what I post. 

Deciding whether to share our child(ren) on the Internet is a rather unique dilemma our generation, and those to come, have to deal with. It’s of little surprise that many parents choose to do so since so much is shared on the World Wide Web. In fact, 92 percent of children have an online presence by age 2. 

My husband and I have chosen to limit our baby’s internet presence. That means while you’ll find photos of him on the Internet, you won’t find many (see just one or two) of him alone publicly. And while you’ll see a posted photo on my Facebook every now and again if you’re my Facebook friend, a few days after it’s posted the album is made private. 

Will our “plan” change as he gets older? Possibly. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, though. For now this what we have and have decided not to share. 

What my husband and I have shared:

• Our baby’s name (post-birth)
• Photos of our baby and us on Instagram; otherwise his face is hidden
• Monthly progress photos (without specific milestones)

What we haven’t shared:
• Birth story
• Body (weight and length) stats 
• My letter to him when I went back to work after maternity leave
• Our baby’s birth weight/length
• Bath time photos
• Naked photos
• Milestone monthly photos 


There are lots of personal reasons parents have when making this decision. Key word: personal. This decision is a very personal one and what my husband and I have decided might not work for you or be what you want to do. That’s fine. It’s our decision and no one else’s, just as your decision is yours and no one else’s. 

We believe most of what we don’t share should be kept private because though he is just a baby, he deserves his privacy, too. Plus, there are too many creeps out there. 

Oh Christmastime, Oh Christmastime

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

This weekend was full of all things Christmasy. Sebastian visited Santa for his first time and did so well. He (unlike Santa…) even smiled for some photos!
We also went Christmas tree and decor shopping. Our tree decor will be red, green and metallics. My husband came up with the color scheme, which I was excited about because I love when he’s in the Christmas spirit with me. 
Don’t let this photo fool you–we didn’t buy a fake tree. I always had a real tree growing up and we’ve decided to stick with that tradition. Nothing beats the look and smell of a real Christmas tree!
When it was time to take our 6-7′ Frasier tree home, we realized it was the first time having one on top of our own car. Last year, we bought ours together with my parents so we piled both trees on top of my dad’s car. 
This week, we’ll decorate our tree and get ready to host friends for a Christmas get together this weekend. Having Sebastian with us this year is an absolute dream come true. We’ve spoken about how much more fun and exciting Christmas would be when we have kids. Even this time before the actual holiday has been so full of joy. 

A second line

Filed Under: Baby L, Marriage, pregnancy //

One year ago, a second line appeared … It was one of the most exciting life moments to date. I felt like I could burst at the seams and telling Tim in special surprise way went right out the window because I couldn’t contain my excitement! My lifelong dream of becoming a mommy was becoming a reality. 

It was one of the best days because it led to our baby boy. I’ve never loved someone so wholeheartedly and fiercely. He’s made our life so much better, so much more whole. 
I am so, so grateful.
When I first looked at these maternity photos all I saw was how much weight I’d gained … Now, I see only beautiful images, some of which are my most favorite photos. 
This was one of the absolute best stages in our life thus far and I’d be remiss not to thank my husband. Through the ups, downs and all-arounds, he’s been by my side. First-time parenting sure isn’t easy but loving you and being a parent with you to our baby boy is. 
Thank you for helping to bring our baby into this world. It’s truly a better place because he’s here.