Hello 2025

I’M BACK!!!

Did you miss me?

As expected, life has been hectic with a toddler and a 2.5-month-old during my maternity leave and the holiday season.

I accept that motherhood brings changes. Even though I have experienced postpartum before, I am still going through new changes.

However, I am finding our new routine as a family of 4, and I am starting to feel more comfortable, so here I am again! 🙂 

So what has changed?

The last time I posted here, I shared we were expecting another blessing! 

As summer turned into fall, we welcomed a little girl named Monroe on October 18th. One day, I will share her birth story, but for now, we are thrilled to have a new addition to our family.

Since then, our lives have been busy. We have gone through Monroe’s birth, the end of Matt’s soccer season, Halloween parties, newborn check-ups, Thanksgiving, and hosting Christmas with my family. I have also been baking and cooking healthy meals to stick to our maternity leave budget. All of this while dealing with postpartum challenges and chasing after my toddler.

I want to say how much I love being a mom. This is my second time going through postpartum, and while each day gets a bit easier, it still has its challenges. Soon, I will return to work for three 12-hour shifts. Thinking about work makes me anxious, but I know it’s time to find my way back to it. It’s a bittersweet moment, but I feel very grateful to have had four months off with my children.

I want to give a shout-out to my husband for being my rock and providing incredible support during my maternity leave. I’m truly grateful for him! Both of our families have also been very helpful and supportive. We’ve quickly learned that life doesn’t slow down, especially with our 2-year-old keeping us extremely busy

2 under 2 is NO JOKE.

With that being said, I wanted to take a different approach this year on MP and Me. 

This year, I want to focus on being a working mom of two. I aim to be more present with my kids, improve my mental and physical health, and share moments from our lives with all of you! 

I love the promise of a new year—it’s an opportunity to make changes, big and small; a chance to pursue new goals and dreams; and a fresh chapter in our life stories! 

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday season with their loved ones and is sticking to their New Year’s plans. I want to set goals and intentions for this year. I would like to share some of my “New Year plans.”

1. Prioritize my needs by adding me to “the daily list.”
2. Limit my phone usage and track screen time for better management.
3. Attend Catholic Mass at 7:30 AM on Sundays, aiming for twice a month.
4. Maintain my 5:30 AM workouts/movement, even on workdays.
5. Be more mindful of the food we eat as a family.
6. Spend time outdoors for 20 minutes to 1 hour on cold days, and 1 hour or more on warm days with the kids.

Advice for 2025: As you care for your littles’ meals, sleep, health, and play, keep tabs on yourself too, mama!