mom · mom that makes it happen · moms · moms that make it happen · mothers day ·May 11, 2019

She Calls me Mama

On this Mother's Day weekend, I'm sitting here in a quiet house, sipping coffee, working on this blog post. Oh wait....not quiet anymore. It's 6:30 a.m. and my daughter, Charlie Jo, is like a clock.

I grab her, fix a sippy cup full of whole milk, and sit her by me on the couch as I attempt to keep writing. This used to be possible - typing while she took a bottle - but nope, not any more. We're going on 17 months and the game has changed, yo.

dlkafjdlajfdlkjasdflkajsd - CJ says HI!

As I'm resizing these photos for this post, Charlie Jo points and says "JoJo, Mama, Dada." Well yes, smart girl, that is JoJo - a name her teachers affectionately call her and also a name we call her namesake, my mother-in-law. The girl may get confused one day, but for now, it's the cutest thing I've ever heard.

Rounding up our Moms that Make it Happen Mother's Day blog series, I find myself inspired by Toni, Annie Beth and Victoria. Every year we choose to highlight some mamas around us who we look up to and I always take away something from what they share with us.

Toni inspired me to make memories with Charlie Jo even if right down the road or in your own back yard.
Annie Beth inspired me to put in effort to keep my friendships strong. So now, I'm skyping my two college BFFs on Monday and I'm pumped.
Victoria inspired me to pull out the fancy china and set the table. I used to LOVE doing this with my grandmother on a random Sunday and that is something I want CJ to have memories of too!

As you may have predicted, Annie Claire and I are rounding up this Mother's Day series by taking a stab at the same questions we asked these sweet Moms that Make it Happen.

But first, this....

TELL US ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE “LIFE HACKS” THAT YOU USE ALL THE TIME.

Become a morning person.

I've been a morning person since I can remember. I get my best work done before daylight when I am focused and feeling like no one else in the world is awake yet. Once Charlie Jo came around, I prayed (hard) that she would be a good sleeper and allow me to keep my "waking up before everyone in the house" routine going strong. I know how lucky I am when I say, she's rocked it.

Waking up before she does allows me to get a few things done, sometimes get a run in, and just feel like Chelsey for a minute before I am "mama." It's been critical for my sanity this first year and a half of motherhood while being self employed. It is in the wee hours of the morning I've been able to write social content, post new SoSis products and sometimes fulfill an Amazon cart or Walmart pick-up.

WHAT’S A FAVORITE MEMORY YOU’VE HAD WITH CHARLIE JO THAT YOU’D RECOMMEND TO OTHER MOMS?

Keep in mind, I'm new to this whole motherhood thing, but y'all, CJ is SO MUCH FUN. All of my memories with her are fairly simple, but BIG in my book. One I don't think I'll ever forget is something that happens every morning - she and I put on makeup together.

Ok, now before you judge, please know that I am NOT a makeup kinda gal. If I could not wear it ever and look semi-awake, I would be down. But truth is, it makes me feel more like myself and I keep it very simple (think ready in five minutes kinda simple). Every morning, CJ begs to sit on my lap as I put on my makeup. She has since she could sit up. But these days, I find her facing me, using one of my brushes and mimicking every step in the process. As she grows, I will take this opportunity to tell her how beautiful she is WITHOUT makeup, but for now I love my little parrot sitting right by me.

IF YOU HAD ONE SINGLE TIP/PIECE OF ENCOURAGEMENT YOU COULD GIVE A NEW MOM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Take a deep breath and ask for what you need.

I'm still working on both of those things, but at the end of the day, we have people willing to help around us. Ask for help. Take a minute to pull yourself together and let your partner help. Even if they do things differently than you would, let them do it their way and that is perfectly ok. If it's your first time being a mom (like me) know that you are both new at this and every single step is a learning opportunity. Remind everyone that you are learning together and that's what makes the best moments the sweetest.

DESCRIBE YOUR "MOM STYLE."

Ha, if you ask Annie Claire or anyone on our SoSis team, you'll know that I kind of have a "SoSis uniform" and it often involves something not-so-new to the store (Annie Claire fusses at me often for this). However, any new jeans we get in definitely come home with me because jeans are essential to my day-to-day wardrobe. Fun, but practical tops and flat sandals or sneakers are what I find myself reaching for over and over again. However, I love a statement piece like this fun striped midi skirt and feel very put together when I "get dressed up" in something bright and colorful.