We had our sprinkle party for little dude last weekend and it was pure magic!

I’m so excited to share some photos from the special day with you! Not because of the beautiful cookies my friend Kristin had made to thoughtfully match the colors of baby boy’s nursery. Not because of the gorgeous balloons that filled the room and made the kids smile. Not because of the stunning roses my husband came home and surprised me with as a little centrepiece for the table. Because of all the love poured into this little celebration…

Let me preface with the fact that I get wildly uncomfortable when people do very thoughtful, kind or generous things for me. I think it’s because throughout my life, it simply hasn’t happened very often. In my relationships (apart from the one I have with my husband), I’ve generally been the spoiler, the gift giver, the checker inner OR there’s been a distance or disconnect that’s kept things relatively surface level. In the short time we’ve lived here, my eyes and heart have opened up to give and receive so much love.

• 

• 

• 

To have a friend and her mom team up with my husband to put together a special day for me and baby boy, determined to ensure I didn’t lift a finger, was an incredible treat. A treat I honestly didn’t know how to verbally express gratitude for on the day, because I have a tendency to avoid letting emotions come out of my eyeballs in real life, despite being quite raw and vulnerable on paper.

So, if you’re reading this Kristin and Stacey… I genuinely cannot thank you enough.

We were supposed to have the “sprinkle” on Sunday, but due to a last minute weather update reporting thunderstorms, we bumped it up to Saturday so a few special folks who were invited weren’t able to make it. It was a tiny gathering, because I was adamant about keeping it low key as it was baby #2 and being spoiled by others isn’t my forte.

That said, IT. WAS. PERFECT.

No stress. No silly games. No extra fluff. Just what we were all there to do… shower this kid with love.

We’ve only been in Tennessee for 10 months and for the first little while we were worried that we wouldn’t find “our people”. You know, the kind of people that would make this beautiful place feel like home. My God, how quickly that tune has changed!

• 

• 

• 

My friend Jana posted a photo on her Instagram the other day, which I was in, talking about her “tribe” and the importance of having one. Having a group of folks that life you up in celebration during good times and pick you up off the floor during tough ones makes a world of difference in this life. Because life is hard. The post was beautiful and I felt honored to be included in that photo, because I consider Jana part of mine and that’s the kind of reciprocated love and openness I always felt my relationships lacking in LA.

Like I said, a few of our chosen Tennessee family members, including Jana, weren’t able to make the sprinkle, but it was still absolutely PERFECT and made our hearts feel so damn full.

My friend Kristin, who put it all together, is like the Disney princess mirror to my rock n’ roller soul. We only met a few months ago and within ten minutes it felt like this chick had been my best friend for ten years. Her kids’ names are typically the first and last words out of my daughter’s mouth on a daily basis because they, too, became instant best buddies. Her husband and Josh have a million things in common, including being incredible dads and could talk each other’s ears off about music all day. Her mom has welcomed me with open arms like a fifth daughter (yes, 5th! She’s a superhero!) and become a surrogate mama bear to us when our own moms haven’t been able to physically be with us so much of the time. Our neighbours have become Bo’s surrogate grandparents. The love that they pour into this kid every day blows my mind and bursts my heart wide open.

We are the luckiest people on the planet to have these wonderful humans in our orb out here in Tennessee.

I truly can’t believe the universe brought us so many gifts in such a short time out here, but we’re endlessly grateful for it. At this baby shower, we laughed and played until we got sweaty and loved and celebrated until we teared up. I know this little one already knows how much love and laughter he’s about to be surrounded with and it’s all because of this beautiful chosen family of ours in Tennessee.

Watch our NEW VLOG to join us at baby boy’s sprinkle party! And if you haven’t already joined our YouTube fam, please do subscribe. Our subscribers have genuinely become extended family to us this past year and we’re so grateful to be sharing our journey with you! xx