Category: Faith

Four Months of Baby Phoenix And Finding A Fresh Perspective

On By Styld by GraceIn Design, Faith, motherhood2 Comments

What can I say? Being a mom is the most beautiful and most challenging thing in the world. One minute your heart feels like it can explode with love and the next you’re filled with worry because you’re not sure if you’re doing anything right. But regardless of all the emotional ups and downs, it’s been such a special season.

The past couple weeks I’ve been holding down the fort all on my own during the day since my hubby went back to work from leave. I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to handle it all. But I managed to cook a few meals, have all bottles ready on time, make my bed everyday, and take a shower in between naps. WOOHOO! I have to admit I love all the 1:1 time I spend with Phoenix. I get to witness all the daily little changes.

He is smart, strong, and fun! He is so observant. Has a strong grip. And wakes up with smiles and giggles.

I can’t believe God made me HIS mommy. His bright eyed stare and happy expressions make my day. He’s my little joy bomb!

In a couple weeks, I go back to work from parental leave. And I am hoping and praying that I can balance being a mom, having a full-time job, and running Styld by Grace. I know I’m not the first or last mom to do this. It’s doable. And I lean on knowing that God will give me the grace for this new season.

My main goal for 2020 was to focus on loving my growing family. And I felt strongly in my heart to give that my full attention during my parental leave. Which meant putting other things on hold. It meant taking a step back from writing and creating for Styld by Grace. And I was so worried this would backfire and cause my progress to take a hit. I was very tempted to ignore that little voice. But I chose to obey the direction God was taking me on.

To my surprise, I have had record views on the blog these past few months. All the time, effort, and content I’ve created throughout the years have not been in vain. I’m so glad that the stuff I’ve been creating throughout the years is standing the test of time. I’m thankful that in following my gut (the Holy Spirit’s guidance), God’s favor and blessing followed.

I’ve also learned a very important lesson about creating and building. It’s not about the quantity. It’s about the quality. Striving to keep up appearances will never pay off. But investing time and effort for the things that really resonate with people and are authentic to who you are, will always pay off.

This little miracle God gave us has put so many things into perspective. I feel incredibly fortunate to have a little family of my own. It has sparked a desire to dig deeper both personally and creatively. And I’m excited to create from a refreshed frame of mind. THANK YOU for being part of all the seasons Styld by Grace has been through. This next chapter will be the best one yet!

Three Months of Baby Phoenix And Coming Out Of The New Mom Fog

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, motherhood2 Comments

Month three for baby Phoenix came with the discovery of his hands, growth overnight as I put away all of his newborn clothes from one day to the next, lots of cooing and adorable smiles, and active sleep–rolling onto his side and moving all over his bassinet.

He’s fiery and passionate which translates to lots of crying. And although some days are really challenging, we hope and pray his passion will change the world and make it a better place.

The three month mark is a big milestone for this mommy too, as it wraps up the “fourth trimester”. I’m definitely feeling better physically and ready to get back to the things I did before starting IVF/getting preggo.

But here’s the catch, that was more than a year ago. And with the new mom fog starting to wear off, I realize that so much has changed. I have changed. What do I like to do now? What do I want to do next?

I’ve learned so much in the past year and while there is so much to share and create, at the same time it feels like there is not much more to say or do.

So what now?

What do I want for our future?
What will life look like with a full-time job, building this creative business, having a new baby, and being a wife?
Do I need to give something up?
Should I quit my job and find something new?
Should I be a stay at home mom?
Who will really be in my corner?
Do I like where my current relationships stand?
How can I make time to grow new friendships?
How am I going to get back in shape?
Should I just buy new stuff that’ll fit my new mom bod?
What do I have to share that’s valuable?
How will Styld by Grace evolve and grow in this new season?

After talking to a couple of my mom friends, they reassured me that these questions, thoughts, feelings, or whatever you want to call them, are completely normal and that they too have felt the same way after becoming a mom.

The greatest thing about seeing a baby grow is just that. Seeing growth every single day. As they discover the world around them, you rediscover it and learn a new perspective. This month, as Phoenix starts to really become aware of the world around him, I become aware of all the potential and growth that’s ahead. It’s exciting, nerve-wrecking, scary, fun, hope-filled, and a challenge worth pursuing.

To the new mom, the recent graduate, the new wife, or anyone going into a new season: there’s so much more ahead than there is behind. Keep asking yourself the hard questions and keep taking the next best step.

Two Months of Baby Phoenix During A Global Pandemic

On By Styld by GraceIn Faith, motherhood, Updates2 Comments

No one could’ve expected these crazy times, right? I’m sure you’re reading this while being home for quite some time. We’ve been staying home since baby Phoenix was born. He was born right before the nation closed due to COVID-19.

Being quarantined while having a newborn has been sweet. We’ve been able to savor every single moment and milestone. But I also have to be honest and admit that it has also been very difficult, as we’ve had to be away from our tribe.

The birth of Phoenix was supposed to be the culmination of a really long and difficult season. We were looking forward to being with family, friends, and enjoying life with our new baby. There’s a bit (actually a lot) of sadness in my heart. What we are living is far from what I had hoped for and envisioned for this season.

I know I’m not the only person who’s experiencing loss during this crisis. And I want to say that our loss is legit. And it’s totally ok to process it. There’s many dreams, plans, and expectations that have been put on hold. And all we hear about is death, stressful statistics, and the pressure to “flatten the curve”.

Despite the loss and pain that we are feeling during this time, we must lean into the voice of truth: God’s word and His promises. On Palm Sunday, as we had church from home, while holding onto our miracle baby, God reminded me of something.

A year ago during this time we were starting IVF. We had NO IDEA if it would work. It was a complete leap of faith. But we beat the odds and have a healthy baby boy in our arms. Even though this season doesn’t look and feel anything like what I hoped it would, I am literally HOLDING living proof of God’s faithfulness.

When I see Phoenix, I see God’s faithfulness. Every day I struggle with fear of what could happen to him. We waited so long, went through such physical and mental hardship, and endured lots of heartache to have him. Anxiety sometimes is inevitable for me. But I remember that he was an impossibility at one point. And somehow, God made a way. His faithfulness saw us through.

As we continue to move forward during these trying times, let’s remember to focus on God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.

What are you HOLDING in your life as living proof of God’s faithfulness today? During really hard moments, return to those and be encouraged that God’s faithfulness is always with you.

And on that note, I’d love to share some baby milestones we are celebrating as Phoenix turns two months.

Month Two of Baby Phoenix:
• He loves music and singing with mommy
• He is smiling more and has the cutest dimple by his chin
• He is outgrowing some of his newborn clothes (bittersweet feeling)
• He is starting to hold his bottle
• He can get his arms out of his swaddle
• He has a fiery personality and the name Phoenix fits him very well 😉

Desert Theme Baby Shower for Baby Phoenix

On By Styld by GraceIn Design, DIY, Faith, Home Decor2 Comments

I’m FINALLY getting to posting pictures of my baby shower, which was a MONTH ago. WOW! Time flies. I’m officially in the “nesting” season but I wanted to be faithful in documenting this miracle’s life.

We decided to have a desert themed baby shower to pay homage to our baby’s name–Phoenix 😉

This day was definitely one I had been dreaming about for a long time.

Actually, I’ve always kinda hated how corny baby showers can be.

But once the desire to have a baby starting growing and then going through a season of infertility, a baby shower become symbolic of a dream becoming a reality.

So life was all about finding cacti for a few months. And I’m STILL subconsciously looking for succulents and cacti without realizing it lol.

We looked for things on amazon, warehouses, Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

We also used a lot of things we already owned and repurposed them.

The books used to add height to decor were library books that we wrapped up with packing paper.

My favorite piece of decor was the cactus we found at Hobby Lobby. It’s the cutest thing ever!

I am incredibly grateful for my family who helped pull this off and made this day extra special.

Special shout out to my sisters and a couple of my closest girlfriends who went the extra mile to celebrate this day!

I’m incredibly grateful for the friends and family in my life who have held me up, encouraged me, and given me so much love in this whole journey.

This baby is loved and cherished so much and that makes this mama beam with joy and pride.

The best part of the entire day was opening gifts with my hubby. He is the best daddy ever already. And I was overjoyed to be experiencing this moment with him. WE ARE GONNA BE PARENTS! HOLY MOLY!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this miracle literally in motion. And I hope this encourages you to see GOD’S faithfulness and to be hopeful in the waiting. And if anything, maybe you found some party decor inspo while you were here 😉

Some funny things that will make us NEVER forget this day:
1. I strolled into the baby shower late without notice, very casually, and so we re-enacted my entrance to be silly.
2. A few of my family members got a stomach bug right after the baby shower and were sick for a couple of days. Surprisingly, I do not get sick.
3. We had tacos for lunch at the baby shower. They were delicious and a major hit!

Kick-Start 2020 With Inspirational Mobile & Desktop Wallpapers

On By Styld by GraceIn Design, FaithLeave a comment

We all need a little inspiration and a little push to get started with our new goals and plans. These wallpapers are meant to help you remember that you CAN do all things through Him who gives you strength.

They’re simple little reminders in pretty, feminine colors, that are easy to look at. I know every time you see them you’ll be encouraged to take the next best step forward.

To download the wallpapers, long press or right click on the images below.

These wallpapers are for personal use only and copyright Styld by Grace. Any redistribution, commercial use, and sale of these wallpapers is strictly prohibited.