Our first set of twins argue over a toy, our two-year-old demands a snack (again), and our second set of twins are smiling and cooing at me as I write this… so bear with me. With five children joining our family in just 3.5 years, our lives are loud, messy, chaotic—and completely full of love. Every day is an adventure, and I wouldn’t trade a single moment.
It all started one chilly November day in 2015. I packed up my camera gear to photograph a wedding, thinking it would be just another Saturday behind the lens. Little did I know, I would meet the bride’s brother, the man who would become the love of my life. I whispered to my assistant, “The bride’s brother is pretty cute,” completely unaware that this casual comment would mark the beginning of our story.
Our love story unfolded quickly and beautifully. We were engaged just nine months after meeting and married only four months later. One month before our wedding, we closed on our first home—a small fixer-upper farmhouse we lovingly called our “little box.” Its square shape and cozy charm made it feel full of potential, and we dreamed of filling it with laughter, love, and eventually children. Just one month after our blissful Florida destination wedding, we learned that our family was about to grow—by two! We were expecting not one, but TWO honeymoon babies. Our joy was doubled when we discovered we were having twin girls, Rosalie and Eloise.
Austin poured his heart into transforming our little farmhouse, turning every dream I had into reality. By November 2017, after a smooth pregnancy, our girls arrived and our home truly became a home. The first year with twins is a whirlwind, a blur of feeding schedules, sleepless nights, and endless diapers. For me, it was also a time of emotional turbulence. I struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety, confronting the darkest moments of my life while also marveling at its profound beauty. Motherhood taught me early on how conflicting emotions can coexist—how heartbreak and joy can live in the very same moment.
With love and support from family and friends, I found my footing, and shortly after Rosalie and Eloise’s first birthday, we received more joyful news. Our family was growing again! This time, a single baby. Cordelia, our little Coco, arrived in October 2019 and filled our home with new energy, love, and laughter. Watching Rose and Elle step into their roles as big sisters remains one of my greatest joys. Experiencing motherhood a second time felt different—more calm, more confident, and deeply rewarding. Coco’s early months felt blissful, a gentle redemption after the challenges I faced with my first postpartum experience.
Then came the pandemic. Like so many families, we were forced to pause, reevaluate, and consider what was most important. We made the bold decision to sell our beloved little farmhouse and pursue our dream: building a “barndominium” on the land where Austin grew up. It was not a choice we made lightly. We had invested so much love and effort into our first home, but this new chapter felt right. Austin threw himself into learning every detail about the build, determined to make our dream home a reality—almost entirely with his own hands.
And then—record scratch—in October 2020, we discovered we were expecting again.
When the sonographer asked, “Are those happy tears or…?” I could barely speak through my sobs. “Happy,” I managed, as she handed me a tissue. As soon as I saw the screen, I knew—it was twins. AGAIN. Two perfect little beans. My heart swelled with a mix of joy, disbelief, and a touch of fear. I wanted to tell Austin immediately but decided to wait. I wanted to share the news in person, and I also needed a moment to process it myself.
That evening, after work, he asked how the appointment went. Nervously, I said, “Fine.” Sensing my hesitation, he asked, “Fine…? Does everything look okay?” I smiled and replied, “Yep, everything’s great,” and then he jokingly said, “Just one baby, right?” I handed him the ultrasound picture. He stared at it, then at me, then back at it again… and finally just shook his head. It’s a moment I replay over and over, and it still makes me laugh. Our second set of twins just turned five months old, and we are still in a state of grateful disbelief. Having Rosalie and Eloise felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience—and here we were, doubly blessed.
The rest of the pregnancy had a few minor complications, but everything went beautifully. At 38 weeks in June 2021, I experienced the unmedicated labor I had hoped for, welcoming our sweet boys into the world peacefully. Their calm, gentle personalities felt like a gift, as if they knew they were babies four and five and wanted to make life just a little easier for all of us.
I’ll never pretend life with five children under four is easy. There are loud, demanding, exhausting days. But even on the hardest days, the chaos is filled with love. Hard doesn’t always mean bad, and good things rarely come without effort. Our family is proof that joy, love, and resilience can coexist—even in the messiest, most unpredictable moments.
