Two Months of Cherry Jo: How Our Family Became Complete (and Why I Can't Stop Taking Selfies)

Okay, you guys. I'm just gonna be real with you, like always. It's only been two months since our sweet little Cherry Jo came into the world, and I'm still just… reeling. In the best way possible, obviously. Like, I honestly can't even remember what life was like before her. It feels like she's always been here, always been a part of us, completing our little family in a way I didn't even know was possible until she arrived. My heart is just so full, it's actually kinda crazy. I just took these selfies with her – literally, like, five minutes ago – and I had to share them right away bc she's just so freakin perfect. I mean, look at her!! My little angel. :,)

You know, when you're pregnant with your first, then your second, you have all these ideas of what your family will look like. And then with your third, it's like… you kinda just trust the universe, right? You know it's gonna be wild, it's gonna be loud, and it's gonna be full of so much love. But nothing, and I mean nothing, prepares you for that moment when you hold that new baby in your arms and it just clicks. That feeling of 'this is it, this is exactly what we needed.' That's Cherry Jo for us. She just fits. Like a missing piece I didn't even know was missing until she was here. It's truly heaven on earth fr.

The Sweet Chaos of Three Girls

Adding a third kiddo to the mix is definitely an adventure, I'm not gonna lie. Stella and Ozzy are obsessed with their baby sister, which is the sweetest thing to witness. Stella, my little helper, is always wanting to hold her, sing to her, or just stare at her little face. And Ozzy, well, Ozzy is Ozzy hahah. She's got her own brand of love, which usually involves very enthusiastic (and sometimes a little too loud) kisses and wanting to share all her toys, even the ones Cherry Jo can't even hold yet. It's pure chaos sometimes, but it's our chaos, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Tanner is just the best dad, watching him with all three of our girls just makes my heart melt. He's such a hands-on partner and seeing him with Cherry Jo, it's just… everything. He's my rock, always.

I remember when I was pregnant with Cherry, I had moments of 'how are we going to do this?' Like, seriously, how do you juggle three tiny humans? Two hands, three kids, you know? But honestly, you just do. Your heart just expands, your capacity for love and patience (mostly patience, hahah) just grows. And you learn to embrace the mess, the sleepless nights, the constant demands, bc it's all part of this beautiful, fleeting journey. Every single day is a new memory being made, and I'm just trying to soak it all in, even the hard parts. Especially the hard parts, bc those are usually the ones that make you laugh later.

Finding Our Rhythm (Sort Of)

I feel like with each baby, you kinda have to relearn everything, right? Even though this is my third, it's still a whole new dance. Cherry has her own little personality already, and we're just figuring out her cues, her likes, her dislikes. She's a pretty chill baby, ngl, which is a blessing. But those newborn weeks are always a blur, no matter how many times you do it. The late-night feedings, the constant diaper changes, the 'is she breathing?' checks – it's all part of the package. And then suddenly, you blink, and two months have passed. Two months! It feels like yesterday she was just this tiny little bundle, and now she's already starting to smile and coo and interact with the world. It's wild how fast it goes.

We're slowly but surely finding our new rhythm as a family of five. It's not always perfect, and there are definitely days where I feel like I'm running on fumes, powered by iced coffee and pure love. But then I look at all three of my girls, and I see Tanner being the amazing dad and husband he is, and I just know this is exactly where I'm meant to be. This is my life, and it's beautiful. It's messy, it's loud, it's sometimes overwhelming, but it's beautiful. And I'm just so grateful for every single second of it.

Why I Can't Stop Taking Selfies (and Why You Shouldn't Either!)

Okay, so let's talk about the selfies. You guys know I love a good selfie, but with Cherry? It's on a whole other level. I literally cannot stop. Every time she's awake and looking at me, or she gives me a little smirk, or she's just peacefully sleeping on my chest, I grab my phone. I know, I know, 'live in the moment, Lo!' And I do, I promise! But I also want to capture these moments. These tiny, fleeting, precious moments that I know are going to fly by way too fast. My mom always told me to take all the pictures, bc you'll never regret having too many. And she's so right. She raised me as a single mom, and she always made sure we had photos to look back on, even if they were just blurry disposable camera shots. Those memories are priceless.

These selfies aren't just for me, though. They're for us. For Stella and Ozzy to look back on when they're older and remember how tiny their baby sister was. For Tanner and me to reminisce about these early days when our family felt brand new again. And honestly, they're for Cherry too. So she can see how much she was loved and adored from the very beginning. So many times, as moms, we're the ones behind the camera, capturing everyone else. But it's important to be in the frame too. To show up, even if you have spit-up on your shirt or haven't brushed your hair in a day (guilty!). Those are the real moments, and those are the ones that matter. So if you're a new mom, or any mom, please, take the selfie. Take all the selfies. You won't regret it. You're beautiful, your baby is beautiful, and your love story deserves to be documented. :,)

Embracing the Journey, One Day at a Time

It's funny, you know? You spend so much time preparing for a baby – the nursery, the clothes, the endless lists. But nothing truly prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster. The overwhelming love that hits you like a tidal wave. The moments of pure joy mixed with moments of exhaustion and doubt. It's all part of the journey. And I'm learning to just embrace it, one day at a time. Some days are harder than others, some days I feel like I'm nailing it, and some days I'm just surviving. And that's okay. That's real life. That's motherhood. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Cherry Jo, my sweet girl, thank you for completing our family. Thank you for bringing even more light and love into our home. You are so loved, so cherished, and so perfect. I couldn't imagine our family without you. My heart is yours, always. And yes, I will continue to take a million selfies with you, even if Tanner rolls his eyes hahah. Love you guys sm! ❤