How do you keep your marriage strong when you're navigating the beautiful, exhausting chaos of raising little ones?

In this final chapter of our interview with Addy, we chat about adjusting to parenthood as a couple. Whether you and your partner work completely opposite schedules like Addy and Brandon, or you are together 24/7 working remotely like Drew and me, it is entirely possible to avoid "roommate syndrome" and intentionally reconnect.

We share our favorite low-cost date night ideas, the importance of raw communication (yes, even talking to your husband about milk blebs), and why stepping back to let dads find their own parenting rhythm is helpful for building a solid team.

We also open up about the spiritual transformation of motherhood and how being "sufficiently overwhelmed" allows us to sufficiently rely on the Savior.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

Beating Roommate Syndrome: Practical ways to prioritize connection when your spouse works long hours or is in school, and how to define "us time" after the kids are in bed.

Redefining Date Night: Why you don't need to spend money to date your spouse. We discuss walking to the mailbox and using the "We're Not Really Strangers" game to update your "love maps" and rediscover who your partner is becoming.

Becoming a Parenting Team: How to handle mom guilt and overstimulation by letting your husband step in, and why it's vital to let dads parent their own way without micromanaging.

The Spiritual Shift of Motherhood: Viewing our toddlers as perfect children of God who are just learning, and how relying on Jesus Christ and the Atonement transforms our daily frustrations into moments of grace.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Want my exclusive Postpartum Resource List? I recently curated a list of postpartum resources for a friend and want to share it with you! Send me a DM on Instagram, shoot me an email, or text me directly to get the link.

Check out the general postpartum support links in my Linktree, https://linktr.ee/themommaslounge

We're Not Really Strangers (Couples/Relationship Edition) – The game Drew and I played in the backyard for a free, deep-connection date night!

Connect with Addy:

Instagram: @learnwithaddy

Podcast: Listen to Learning From Our Mistakes Pod wherever you get your podcasts.

Connect with The Momma's Lounge:

If you loved this 3-part series, please share this episode with a friend and leave us a review!

Send an email at themommaslounge@gmail.com

Weekly Challenge: Think of a fellow momma right now, send her a text, tell her you love her, and ask how you can help her this week!

I am back with Chapter 2 of my conversation with Addy! Addy and I dive right into adjusting to motherhood—specifically, the mental and physical transition of having two under two.

Going from one child to two is a completely different ballgame, and Addy opens up about the feelings of being “outnumbered,” the mental battles of the early postpartum weeks, and how she learned to navigate the chaos.

We talk about the stigma around asking for help, how to have compassion for moms who are genuinely not loving motherhood right now, and the reality of postpartum recovery. Whether you’re currently in the thick of it, pregnant with your second, or just need to hear that you aren't alone, this episode is a reminder that you can do this.

Key Takeaways & Topics Covered:

The Reality of Two Under Two: Addy shares her honest experience adjusting to life with two littles, and how to survive when you feel outnumbered.

The Power of Asking for Help: Why it is so hard for mothers to ask for help, how to accept it even if you are feeling like a burden, and a sneak peek at a new planner I am working on to help moms coordinate their support village!

Compassion for the Struggle: Discussing the Reddit threads of moms who hate motherhood—how we can create safe, non-judgmental spaces for moms to vent and feel appreciated for their thankless work.

Taking Care of Your Body Postpartum: Rejecting the toxic "bounce back" culture. Addy and I share what we are actually doing to move our bodies in a healthy way (from her morning walks and yoga to my return to the swimming pool).

Dividing Your Attention: Realizing that the way you parented your first child won't be the same way you parent your second—and why it’s okay if one baby has to cry for a minute while you help the other.

A Word of Encouragement: Addy’s heartfelt advice to moms who are currently pregnant with their second baby and feeling terrified.

Quotes to Remember:

"It’s okay to get help. It takes you out of isolation, you get restful time, and you become a better mother."

"You are only one person. You can do the best you can, but you can't expect yourself to duplicate."

"Just as we want to go serve people, we need to help others have the opportunity to serve."

Connect With Me:

Listen to Chapter 1:

https://youtu.be/X04Gz4rMG2A?si=6gAUM__HsMppj2cL

Follow on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/themommaslounge/ @themommaslounge

Share Your Story: Are you a mom who has struggled to love motherhood? I would love to talk to you and understand your experience better. I want to create a safe space to talk about it on the podcast, so please send me a message!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review! It helps other mamas find the community here at The Momma's Lounge.

Welcome to Chapter 1 of our three-part interview series with Addy! In this episode of The Momma’s Lounge, Addy opens up about her two wildly different birth stories—welcoming her daughter Eliza and her son Joshua just 13 months apart.

We discuss the challenges of being pressured into an early induction for high blood pressure, the physical and emotional realities of pushing for three hours versus seven minutes, and how holistic approaches (like acupuncture and "witches brew") played a massive role in her second labor. We also touch on the power of placenta encapsulation for postpartum mental health and finding time for your own hobbies while raising babies.

In This Episode, We Cover:

03:05 Intro & catching up: Navigating 2 under 2 while balancing a husband in full-time work and school.

05:00 Entering the "Grandma Era": Finding yourself in motherhood through crafting, audiobooks, and taking mental breaks.

08:10 Eliza’s Birth Story: White coat syndrome, advocating for yourself during a frustrating 37-week induction, and surviving a 3-hour pushing marathon.

14:30 Joshua’s Birth Story: Prodromal labor, maternal acupuncture, the "witches brew," and a lightning-fast 7-minute delivery!

18:45 Postpartum Healing: Why Addy swears by placenta encapsulation for stabilizing hormones and avoiding the baby blues.

24:20 Preparing for next week: A sneak peek into Chapter 2 (adjusting to two under two and avoiding roommate syndrome in your marriage).

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Follow Addy on Instagram: @LearnWithAddy for practical mom tips and easy meals.

Listen to Addy’s Podcast: Learning From Our Mistakes Pod (Available wherever you listen to podcasts!)

Book Recommendation: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Doula Shoutout: Rachel Fike (If you are in the Wyoming area and looking for an incredible doula, email us at themommaslounge@gmail.com to get connected!)

Connect With Us! If you thought of a momma while you were listening today, go ahead and give her a text to tell her you've been thinking of her.

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, or click follow on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss Chapter 2 next week!

Follow along on Instagram: @TheMommasLounge