Our Family of Four: Meet Baby Violet

Meet baby Violet . . . 

Just like that, our family of two multiplied into a family of four. Jake and I are celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary this year. Looking back, I never could have imagined that my life would be this full. We have two of the sweetest little girls to call our own. I’m no gamblin’ man, but I sure do feel like I won the jackpot.

As the saying goes, good things don’t come easy. I’ve gushed about both the triumphs + trials of motherhood before. You can read some of my recent Insta posts here, here or here. Raising little ones is the hardest thing I have ever done. Can you relate? Each day brings it’s own set of challenges, and I’m doing my best to tackle each one. I’m constantly learning, growing and stretching to meet our family’s needs.

I was feeling overwhelmed this week, and my mom passed along some great advice. She said, ‘As long as you keep trying, you’re doing it right. It’s when you stop trying that things aren’t right.’ 

This really resonated with me. I’m a firm believer that there’s no single right way to parent. However, I agree that as long as we all keep trying (in our own ways), we’re being the very best parents, grandparents or caregivers we can be. No matter what, we have to keep trying. Everyday. Every hour. When we look back on how we raised our kids, I think we’ll only regret the times we didn’t try.

What’s the moral of the story? Hang in there, and try each day to be the best you can be. I’m so grateful for the chance I have to be a mom to Mary Jane and Violet. They’re my greatest joys and sometimes my greatest headaches. If I didn’t care, it wouldn’t be so hard. And, that’s the way it should be.

candid snaps at my mom’s house by Gentri Lee