Elaine Best

As I scrolled through my photos I realized this photo from Hanukkah is the only one I have of the three of us—and probably the only one that has ever been taken. Even though neither of us are picture people, I didn’t think we would make it to our baby’s fifth month of life without a photo together. 😂 • I know I’m not the first to say 2020 brought so many unexpected things with it. For all of us it has been a year of surprises. This also rings true for me. I’ve missed seeing my friends and my family. I’ve missed eating at restaurants. I’ve even missed going to work a little bit (but only just a little). However, I am also surprised at how much I will miss the year itself. #unpopularopinion, for sure, but let me explain. For me personally, in my own little corner of this world, 2020 has been my best year. I removed things my life that didn’t serve me anymore, like debt and possessions, and removed myself from people and situations that did not bring me happiness. And in 2020 I had a baby. A really wonderful, beautiful, inspiring tabula rasa of a person. I’m chalking it up to the crazy hormones and lack of sleep, but I have cried so many times since she was born. From overwhelm and not knowing what to do or how to help her or myself, from feeling like my heart would burst through my chest because of how much I love her. • So I get it. 2020 was not for everyone. Not with its uncertainties, stresses, or mourning. Here’s to hoping that the next calendar year brings a rejuvenation to all those who need it, in whatever form that means. 🥂🍾🎊 • • • • #newyearseve #goodbye2020 #hello2021 #jan1 #dec31

This little thing is 5 months old today! She was very grumpy when she saw friends and family over the weekend, but here’s proof she isn’t always so moody. • • • • #georgiamaya #babymayo #5monthsold #nicugrad #ourlittlepreemie #squirrelgirl #girlmom #35weekspreemie #babiesofinstagram #babyspam

tfw a book pulls you toward it at the right time and place 🙌🏼 Connect by @ilchilee was absolutely vital for me to get out of my postpartum funk. My review is up on my blog - link in bio • • • • #pinealgland #pinealglandmeditation #pinealglandactivation #meditationtipsforbeginners #deepbreathing #mindfulmoment #breatheout #calmyourmind #awakenedsoul #quietmind #staypresent #healthythoughts #nurtureyourself #powerofthought #bookreviewblog #ontheblognow

That feeling when you find the perfect postnatal vitamin is E V E R Y T H I N G. 🙌🏼 And it’s especially nice when probiotics are included too. • If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that pregnancy took a lot out of me. I completely believe I can’t be the best mother or wife my family deserves unless I feel good, which is where these @maryruthorganics Probiotic Postnatal+ capsules come in. Some of the good stuff inside: 🍼 Ashwagandha and ginger (galactagogues) to increase breast milk production 🤘🏼Ferrochel Iron to help replenish those iron stores (I was anemic during my third trimester, so yes to iron for me please!) 💪🏼 Probiotic blend of 54 billion CFU live cultures for good gut health • • • • #maryruthpartner #postnatalfitness #postnatalvitamins #guthealth #momlifeunfiltered

It’s been a couple days since we said goodbye to our sweet Jelly. All pets are special, but she was one of a kind. Her transformation with us was incredible. She was originally supposed to be a trap and release cat, but the shelter staff saw how docile she could be. However, when we brought her home, she hid for days, not letting us touch her. It was obvious she was a stray up to that point. Adam was upset we had adopted a cat who wanted nothing to do with us, so we adopted a third. 😂 But eventually, Jelly blossomed; she slept on my head at night and woke me up constantly with her sandpaper tongue on my face. She would let her hold her for hours and carry her around the house, licking and biting my face the whole time. And she was excellent with Maya, even with all the whisker tugs Maya was all too happy to give. Jelly loved Maya so much we had to shut our bedroom door at night so Jelly wouldn’t share Maya’s bed and smother her. 😂 I miss her beyond a reasonable amount, but what she gave us was worth every ounce of this heartbreak. • • • • #catsofinstagram #bestmeow #cat_features #excellent_cats #cutepetclub #bestcats_oftheworld #petstagram #instacat_meows #topcatphoto #my_loving_pet #meow_beauties #a_world_of_cats #elegant_cats #weeklyfluff #catloversclub #catbaby #jelly #catsofig #adoptdontshop #catlady #catsofinsta #catsoninstagram

So very happy to bid goodbye to November. I was in a funk all month, then the last few days really took a downward turn. But the changing of the calendar month was a nice reminder that while my November might have sucked, the rest of 2020 brought me more joy than sadness. My plan is finish out the year with just as much joy. 💫 • • • • #hellodecember #newmonth #givemewinter #happydecember #tistheseason #newpost #december1st #decembervibes #christmasiscoming🎄

Happy Halloween from my tiny demon! She wanted to be a bat, but she isn’t big enough for the costume. 😂🦇 • Fun fact: This onesie was made at Mayo’s baby shower held by my other half @mel_kumarie, just 4 DAYS before Mayo vacated the premises. • • • • #happyhalloween #halloween2020 #babysfirsthalloween #georgiamaya #babiesofinstagram #mumsofinstagram #firsthalloween #babygirl #3monthsold #mamarazzi #discoverunder5k #ohheymama #mommyblogger #motherhoodsimplified #motherhoodunplugged

Sometimes I still look at Mayo and think it’s so weird that she’s a person who once grew inside my body. Birthing and bodies are such wild things, man. Today #ontheblog I’m sharing Baby Mayo’s birth story. If you didn’t know, she was born via emergency C-section five weeks earlier than expected. Since she’s our first baby (we’ve lovingly referred to her as our test subject), we have faced a serious learning curve, but she has been worth every moment of the experience. • • • • #changinglaines #baltimoreblogger #marylandblogger #filipinoblogger #lifestyleblogger #discoverunder5k #blogger #lifestylebloggers #lifestyleblog #linkinprofile #lblogger #baltimorebloggers #bloggerlife #pinaybloggers #mommybloggers #birthstory #firsttimemom #emergencycsection #csectionbirth #csectionmama #julybaby #motherhoodinsquares #marylandmoms #girlmama

It’s funny how memories work. Two people can share the same memory and have completely different feelings. • My relationship with my father has always been complicated, the foundation shaky at best. He visited Maya and me for the first time a few days ago. I watched him hold my daughter, a tiny little person whose face is identical to my own, patting her back and speaking in a low soothing tone. He told her, “I have lots of sweet stories about your mommy. When she was little she used to say to me, ‘Go for a walk, go for a walk.’” As he told her about some of the silly “landmarks” I loved during our neighborhood walks, I almost cried for my small girlself. I remembered my landmarks well, but I more clearly remembered one day asking him for a walk and him saying sharply, bitingly, “No. We’re not going for a walk. That’s all you ever want to do and today I don’t want to.” His angry reaction was one I didn’t understand. I thought he liked our walks. I never asked him for a walk after that, and mode than 25 years later that memory still smarts. • So Maya, my baby one, you’re still learning simple things, like how to hold your head up on your own, but when you can talk, please don’t be afraid to ask for walks. Even on the coldest, rainiest days, I promise to at least take you on a stroll around the yard. • • • • #firsttimemom #sahm #sahmmomlife #thisismotherhood #newmomthoughts #emotionalawareness #emotionalhealing #emotionalwellbeing #rightthewrongs #sahmlife #girlmom #girlmomlife

I drove a most familiar route today. A 20 minute route I know like the back of my hand. A route I can drive without needing my contacts or glasses because of something akin to muscle memory. A route I drove many early Saturday mornings and most Thanksgivings in the last eight years. I drove this route for the last time today. I handed my coworker my key to the building, cleaned out my desk. I took down all the funny memes printed and hung up in my space by @jeffritzmann. I made my way around the room saying my goodbyes. And then I left the building sad to leave behind people I genuinely care about, but knowing ultimately that this is the best decision for me and my family. So here’s to new beginnings with endless possibilities ahead. • • • • #newchapter #newbeginnings #startanew #freshstart #believeinyourself #sahmlife #keepmovingforward #changeisgood #sahm #stayathomemom #mommylife #newmom #mompreneur #girlmom #momsofinstagram #anythingispossible

I never thought I would be the one to post a video of a smiling baby, but here we are. 🙃 • The other day Adam held Maya while I slowly crept to her face, covering mine with my hands. As I got closer I started waving some of my fingers around like tentacles. It sounds creepy, but she loved it (surprise, I’m raising a baby creepo like me! 😂). Adam looked at me and said, “I guess this is what babies do to completely normal adults.” Yes, husband, I guess it is. 🤣 • • • • #smilingbaby #georgiamaya #11weeks #girlmama #thisismamahood #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodunplugged #letthembelittle #honestmotherhood #documentlife #our_everyday_moments #simplychildren #bestofmom #momsofinstagram #dailyparenting #dailybaby #babiesofinstagram #babybubbles #pardonmymomvoice

And so it begins 🍂🍁 • (Keep swiping to see the laziest boy.) • • • • #dailywalk #dogsofinstagram #bestmorebuffet #autumnwalk #fallenleaves #hyggelifestyle #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #petitejoys #theartofslowliving #seekthesimplicity #morningslikethese #dogscorner #makemoments #bestwoof #rescuedog #darlingmovement #flashesofdelight