Taking a little break to spend time with my little family. Be back soon and refreshed.

I feel so nauseous today, craving a quiet solo space to reflect and write about this weekend’s Buffalo NY Climb Out of the Darkness Walk for Postpartum Mental Health 2018 and Buffalo’s first visit from Ashlee Dean Wells of 4th Trimester Bodies Project.

But my life doesn’t include many quiet solitary spaces these days. It includes PBS Kids, getting bagels, then snacks, then a second breakfast (because our small people forget that they are able to grab an apple from the fridge). It includes checking secretly on my “free range” kids in the backyard and making sure the little one isn’t killing the bigger one with a metal shovel. It includes stacked up dishes and laundry and packing for our one and only vacation of the year. It includes sleep deprivation (because even when our little guy stays the night in his own bed, my body doesn’t quite know how to sleep longer than 4 hours anymore)…

I talk about days when they will be able to kayak with us and travel the world, but I know in my heart that when those days come I will crave these mornings, 
when they needed me, 
when their sticky hands tugged at my arm to show me some ugly bug they found in the backyard..

I know that I will miss these days more than I loved or appreciated them when I was going through them...

Okay, maybe only 50% of the time.

I can't believe we have only 9 more days until Buffalo's own 4th Trimester Bodies Project gathering & photo shoot. I feel like I haven't even had two seconds to process what participating in this means to me personally.

If this isn't the right time for you because of the cost or how you feel about it, I totally understand.
If you're ready for the leap and want to share your story, join me.

I'm NEVER going to be ready for this, but I'm jumping anyway.

This is the day after the Climb Out of the Darkness Walk, making this one epic weekend of self-discovery and empowerment.

Here are some specifics:
Each ticket includes general admission to the 4TBP community gathering and photoshoot for 1 adult + children. All adult humans and children of all ages welcomed.
Our gathering/shoot spaces are fully accessible and LGBTQIA+ friendly!
Photographs will be taken of individual parents (with their children if desired) as well as in groups per photographers discretion. Each participant will receive digital copies of their top 3 photographs chosen by the photographer. Additional digitals and prints may be purchased separately.
If you would like your spouse or partner to join you in a photo please select one regular session + on partner add-on.
Individual/Private sessions are also available.
Register today!!

I'm a few more months away from having access to 12 full childfree hours to spend on welcomemama.com....(This also means that my "baby" will be 4. Insert sob.)
I need your help. I want to take welcomemama.com to the next level. I'd love to have your input, your thoughts, and your concerns.
If the survey isn't your thing, please feel free to message me, Lindsay Conley here at Welcome Mama, my personal account or at welcomebuffalomama@gmail.com. As the only consumer-based holistic resource for birth and early parenting in WNY YOUR voice matters.

I was thinking the other day how we should all be allowed to modify our life just like we do our workout.  See my trainer @apexwithsteph is awesome. She has this kick ass boot camp class that I really love.

What I love most about it is that she never makes anyone feel like they're less of a person if they have to make modifications to the routine to survive. 

What if we could crunchy parent just like that? Where survival is paramount, but trying matters too.

What if some days we had hand-picked, homegrown peas in a ball jar and others we had frozen peas in a zip-lock bag or better yet: fudgie's!? What if some days we were modified crunchy and others we were hardcore? Isn't that balance great for our kids to?

I think so.