1) A Break From Blogging

I posted a few weeks back that I’d be stepping back from blogging as regularly and it’s been almost a month since I posted.  After more than two years of blogging multiple times weekly it was a strange feeling to not even open up my WordPress dashboard for almost a month.  But if I’m being honest, it was mostly just freeing.  I totally took the pressure off myself to do anything productive during nap-time and aside from preparation for classes in my new job (see below), I’ve done a ton of reading, yoga, and other things that are good for my heart.  This slowness feels right for our family right now and I am so grateful for God leading me in that direction! I missed y’all though and writing a little update felt right.

[Read more…]

What a fun few weeks it’s been! With a birthday, some fun new milestones for Caleb, and a new job for me, it’s been an exciting few weeks in the English household.

1) A Walking Baby

Ladies and gents, we have a WALKER! Woot! Caleb has been pulling up on furniture and cruising for a few months but he finally took his first steps last week.  After only a week he is already so steady on his feet and loves walking around our house holding random objects and waving his hands in the air.  It’s pretty much adorable how proud he is of himself and my heart about explodes when he walks toward me with outreached hands and the biggest grin on his little face.  Watching him grow is the BEST!

[Read more…]

When I started blogging over two years ago, I was so excited to make this space my own.  I had big dreams of it growing into an online community that would encourage and inspire women. Knowing that we would soon start a family, I also envisioned the blog being a potential source of income for us.  I spent hours and hours designing my site, reading hundreds of articles on how to grow your blog and social media, joining link parties (are these even still a thing?!), visiting other bloggers’ sites and trying to build relationships with them, and so much more.  For the most part, it accomplished what I was hoping for!

I saw my social media and readership begin to grow, even if not in viral ways.  I developed a community of faithful readers whose comments and perspectives still challenge me and bring me joy to this day.   I saw my page-views increase, especially as a few posts gained traction on Pinterest.  I had a few successful sponsored posts that earned us some money and felt consistent with my vision for the blog.

When we had Caleb over a year ago, I was so excited to quit my job and spend my days taking care of him and blogging.  But where I thought my passion for my blog would grow with motherhood, it’s surprisingly done the opposite.

[Read more…]

Almost 1.5 years after my hubby qualified for the Boston Marathon, we all headed to Boston this past weekend so he could make his goal of actually running one of the world’s most famous marathons a reality.  Words can’t express how proud of I am of him for how hard he trained and how dedicated he was to reaching his goals for the race.  More on that later though!

[Read more…]

I don’t have five fun thoughts or stories with pictures for this week because if I’m being honest, it kind of rocked our world.  On Monday I headed back to work to teach a friend’s maternity leave for 6-7 weeks.  I teach German at four different middle school buildings, traveling from school to school throughout the day.  Caleb is staying with my sister-in-law so Jordan drops him off in the mornings (bright and early around 7) and I pick him up in the afternoons.  The arrangements really couldn’t be better but man…we are only a week in and I already feel SO frazzled! How do you working moms do it?

[Read more…]

It feels like spring has sprung here in KC and we are so excited for all that lies ahead in the next few months! Here are a few updates from our last few weeks.

1) Soaking In My Time At Home

I start back to work on Monday and I’m both nervous and excited.  I’m excited to see what it’s like to be back in the classroom surrounded by other gronwups, but I’m also pretty nervous about missing Caleb and adjusting to this new routine.  I’m sure I’ll write more about that as it all starts to unfold but for now, I’m trying to soak in every minute with my kiddo.  I love the slowness of our days at home and will definitely miss it.  Even if all we do is play with sticky notes to pass the time until naptime, I love this kid and watching him grow is a beautiful thing.

Seriously, how could I not miss this sweet face?

[Read more…]

Since I’ll be heading back to work for 6-7 weeks starting in late March, we are soaking in the last few weeks of “normal” before we adjust to a new routine with both of us working for a while.  Thankfully we’ve had lots of sweet time together these past two weeks!

1) A Practice Day Back To Work

Like I just mentioned, I’m heading back to work to teach a friend of mine’s middle school German classes while she’s on maternity leave.  It’s at the same buildings in the same district where I used to teach and I’m excited to be back at my old stomping grounds.  I had my shadow day with the teacher I’m subbing for to talk about lesson plans and all that good stuff and it made me both nervous and excited to get back into the routine of working.  It was kind of a whirlwind getting Caleb and myself ready for the day and I definitely missed him.  I’m curious how I’ll like this short stretch back to work but I know it’s already giving me so much respect for you working mamas!

[Read more…]