What's Bringing Me Joy Right Now: Little Things Making Postpartum Sweeter

What's Bringing Me Joy Right Now

We're deep in the newborn bubble over here.

Our days are filled with tiny baby stretches (SO STINKIN’ CUTE), contact naps, sleep deprivation, reheating the same cup of coffee three times, and wondering how in the HECK people are out and about past 7pm at night.

It’s a blessing and life feels really sweet.

The outside world keeps moving, but inside these four walls, our biggest adventures are neighborhood walks (soon with a double stroller!), bedtime stories with Addy, and figuring out how to get everyone fed before someone starts crying...sometimes that's me.

As the busyness of "real life" returns, I've found myself noticing the little things that make this season feel especially good. Some are products we've used every single day. Others are books, routines, or tiny moments I don't want to forget.

So here's what's been bringing me joy lately.

🍅 Our Neglected Tomato Plant

We have completely ignored our cherry tomato plant this summer and YET it has decided to thrive late in the summer months.

Every few days George and Addy head into the backyard with a little bowl and come back inside with handfuls of sweet cherry tomatoes. They've made their way into salads, pasta dishes (homemade sauce?? WHO IS SHE??), and our favorite little appetizers, and every single time I pick them I wonder why we don't grow more vegetables.

🚶‍♀️ Neighborhood Walks with Our Bombi Bēbee Twin v2 Stroller

Our Bombi Bēbee Twin V2 has officially arrived, and family walks are BACK!

This was one of the things I was most excited about once we became a family of four…being able to load up both girls and head out for a neighborhood walk together (once it’s finally cooled off).

We added the Big Wheel Kit & Snack Trays, which make it a smooth ride & perfect for dinner strolls. Because Addy eats best when she’s strapped into something.

It’s starting to become one of our favorite little family routines. Addy eats, Cece rides along, we get out of the house, and everyone gets some fresh air.

☕ Listening to Theo of Golden

I'm only a little way into this audiobook, and it's already made me tear up twice.

If you're looking for your next feel-good read, this one is worth adding to your list.

One thing that makes it even more fun? The author grew up just down the road from Auburn, and rumor has it the coffee shop in the book may have been loosely inspired by Sidetrack in Opelika, which just so happens to be one of my favorite places to grab a coffee.

Whether that's true or not...I choose to believe it.

⭐ Addy's Star Jar

If you saw my Instagram Stories a few weeks ago, you might remember me asking for advice about Addy wandering into our room in the middle of the night.

So many of you suggested some sort of reward system.

Enter... the star jar.

She earns stars for staying in bed until her Hatch light turns green, listening the first time, and helping around the house. She gets SO excited to add another star, and it's shifted our focus toward celebrating the things she's doing well instead of constantly correcting the things she's not.

🎨 The Sweetest Gift for a Big Sister

One of our friends brought Addy a "busy basket" after Cecilia was born.

Can we normalize this becoming a thing?

Everyone thinks about bringing something for the baby (which is always so appreciated), but having something just for the older sibling felt incredibly thoughtful.

Her basket was filled with sparkly washable markers, sticky cubes, mini skateboards, a light-up wand, and other little surprises she could pull out while I was feeding the baby.

It has been such a gift during these newborn weeks.

If you're shopping for a new big sibling, I also rounded up some of our favorite toddler activities [here].

🎬 Our Latest TV Obsession

George and I started watching Ride or Die on Amazon Prime right before Cecilia was born, and somehow managed to finish it during paternity leave.

The premise is wonderfully ridiculous: one best friend is an assassin, the other is a suburban housewife, and together they end up on the wildest adventure imaginable.

Equal parts action, comedy, and heartfelt friendship.

🤍 A Memory Journal

My best friend gifted me a memory journal when Addy was born and I thought it was the most thoughtful gift! I grew up scrapbooking for fun & always kept a diary, so THIS book felt like the perfect way to keep all of our “firsts” fresh (they prompt you with questions, ask you to paste in pictures, etc). I know I’ll look back on Cecilia’s journal and think “thank goodness for these collections of memories!

🎵 The Song We Can't Stop Playing

“Babydoll” by Jamie Miller is all over my feed and such a BOP! I love listening to it with Addy in the car, windows down.

💛 Check-In Texts

Although I feel much more confident postpartum this time around, there are still moments where anxiety sneaks in or the days feel a little isolating.

Every single "How are you doing?" text has meant more than the sender probably realizes.

Motherhood can feel surprisingly lonely sometimes, even when your heart is incredibly full. So this is your reminder that if someone you love recently had a baby, send the text. It means the world!

Little joys! When I’m so tired my eyes start drooping and I’ve bounced my way from here to Timbuktu, these little things make me smile.