Looking Up More

Words & Photography
by Shelby Goodman

I met eyes with the little old ladies who wanted to peek at my baby. I didn’t hurry on to my next thing, instead I asked them about their babies. Cause you know what, I hope someone will do the same for me when I’m a little old lady trying to catch a peek into young motherhood again.

I went out running errands with just Graham today and I realized that just having one child with me (who was asleep half the time) allowed me to look up more. I slowed down and smiled at strangers. I met eyes with the little old ladies who wanted to peek at my baby. I didn’t hurry on to my next thing, instead I asked them about their babies. Cause you know what, I hope someone will do the same for me when I’m a little old lady trying to catch a peek into young motherhood again. And I’ll be able to lovingly recall the way my babies smiled with their whole face when they looked at me.

Forever My Love Language

Words & Photography
by Cici Wonger



Making summery desserts to ward off
this crappy weather is my current delusion.
But feeding ones I care for most
is forever my love language.

In The Midst Of The Juggle

Words & Photography
by Kari Jensen





Her eyes get heavy from waiting ever so patiently for her mother to finish up a few work-related things. She quietly flips through the pages as her mother busily taps on the keyboard in the other room. Eyes getting more heavy, she curls up with a blanket to rest her head. Her mother finishes her work only now to see that her baby is peacefully sleeping, holding onto the book she was supposed to read to her.

Guilt fills her mother’s heart as she watches her peaceful baby sleeping, waiting for her....⠀

Eyes getting more heavy, she curls up with a blanket to rest her head. Her mother finishes her work only now to see that her baby is peacefully sleeping, holding onto the book she was supposed to read to her.

We have days where the balls seem to drop no matter how carefully I juggle them. Guilt. Shame. Disappointment come knocking and it’s all in how I chose to greet them that will shape the moments that follow.⠀

To all the mamas, dads, foster parents, grandparents, caregivers: be gentle on your heart in the midst of the juggle. Know that you are enough. That you’re doing your best. That you are what they need even when you feel like you have failed them in the moment. ⠀

...She rises from her peaceful sleep, mother greets her with a smile. A kiss. An "I love you so much", and cuddles next to her to start reading the books her baby carefully selected hours ago for story time. ⠀

Newborn Days Of Motherhood

Words & Photography
by Carrie Huseman



A napping baby, much-needed shower,
new cookbook, and fresh daffodils.
Simple joys in these newborn days of motherhood.

Great-Grandmother's Apple Cake Recipe

Words & Photography
by Melanie Lionello



My Great-grandmother’s apple cake. I found this recipe in her handwritten notes included in her recipe book which was printed in 1895. It cost a shilling, which in today’s money is around $8, and was printed by Angus & Robertson on Castlereagh St. in Sydney - quite a well-known book shop here in Australia.

The cooking instructions simply said to "bake in a moderate oven until ready". This makes me laugh a little because nowadays recipes are so specific and must be to-the-minute accurate.

The cooking instructions simply said to "bake in a moderate oven until ready". This makes me laugh a little because nowadays recipes are so specific and must be to-the-minute accurate. That skill of just knowing when something is ready and how exactly to cook it is pretty rare, and something that I’ve always tried to learn how to do from my grandparents and parents.

Do you have any old family recipes like this? Or do you write recipes like this, with just a few simple and basic instructions? My notebook is full of them, and then I eventually translate them into proper, concise and measured recipes so you guys can make them too.