{Reflection Blog} This Episode Has Been Sitting With Me

Reflection on: Mariela De Santiago | The Second Baby Playbook: Postpartum Recovery, Sibling Prep, and Everything We Wish We Knew

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Guys, I've been holding onto this one.

When Mariela and I recorded this conversation, I had quietly hoped that by the time it aired, I'd be pregnant with baby number two — able to share alongside it what we were planning, what we were hoping for, what was coming next for our family. A parallel story, told in real time.

That's not where we are.

But here's what I've learned about life: it doesn't wait for the timing you planned. It just keeps moving. And you can either

white-knuckle your way through the waiting, or you can use it.

I'm choosing to use it.

Pouring Into Myself While We Wait

For the past several months, I've been quietly doing the work of settling — physically, emotionally, and in my business. Not because I have it all figured out. But because I know that the version of me I want to bring into a second pregnancy, a second postpartum, a bigger family — she deserves to be built intentionally, not assembled in a hurry.

That's looked like a lot of small, consistent things.

I started using the Calm app at night to help me actually wind down instead of lying in bed with my brain running at full speed. Sleep has always been something I prioritize, but truly restful sleep has always been challenging for me (hello, dreamers!), and this has been one of the simplest shifts I've made. When everyone is in bed and asleep for the night, I cue up a sleep story or meditation - simply to allow my brain to stop, relax, and rest. Frankly, some nights are better than others, but like anything - it's a great practice to start and continue to go back to.

I've been getting back to yoga - this has been huge for me. I love yoga. In the past, it was either too cost prohibitive, or I was prioritizing weightlifting, or both - but I'm in a life space where I can back to it and I'm so grateful to add this into my mornings after school drop off. Sometimes my intention is to get in touch with my body, sometimes it's to get in touch with my brain, and other times - I just need to force myself to prioritize my wellbeing and get my ass moving.

I've also started working with a personal trainer — specifically focused on building core strength. This has been a challenging area for me as I became a mom. It's no longer my favorite way to move my body, but I know I have to do it. Not for aesthetics, not to push through anything, but to actually rebuild a foundation. And on that note: I'm starting with a pelvic floor therapist soon. If you've had a baby or an extended labor, you likely know why. General discomfort, core function, peeing when I don't intend to, the whole 9 — but now she's getting the full attention she deserves.

These things feel small on paper. But together, they add up to something that feels a lot like care. And I think that's the through line in this episode, in Mariela's story, and in mine right now — learning to give yourself what you need before you reach the point of running on empty.

Simplifying the Business So It Can Grow

The other place I've been doing quiet, intentional work is in Collabs Creative.

I've been taking a really honest look at alignment — who I'm working with, what projects I'm saying yes to, and whether I'm trying to help people I'm genuinely the right fit for. There's a version of me that says 'yes' because I want to help, because I can see what someone needs, because it feels wrong to turn away work. But fitting a square peg into a round hole doesn't serve anyone — not me, not the client. So I've been getting more honest about where I can do my best work and saying no, kindly and firmly, to everything else.

I've also taken two leaps that felt both financially and emotionally significant: hiring team members and bringing on an intern. For anyone who runs a small business, you know what I mean when I say that "letting go" isn't just a practical decision — it's a personal one. It requires trusting other people with something you've built. But this season is asking me to build something that doesn't depend entirely on me, and that starts with investing in the right people.

The work I'm choosing right now is work that fits the season we're in as a business. Not the work that's available, or the work that comes from fear of saying no — the work that actually belongs here.

If you're a small business owner or creative in the market for grassroots digital marketing - check us out at www.collabscreative.com

Hopeful, Not Waiting

I don't know what spring holds for our family - but I feel like whatever it's going to look like, will feel right. We are still hopeful, still open, but what I've realized is that hope doesn't have to be something you just sit with passively. It can be actionable, it can be restful, and it can feel right.

So that's what this season has been: preparation. Rest. Alignment.

Whether a new addition is coming soon or not, I know that the shifts we're making as a family — slowing down, choosing what matters, protecting our energy — are going to matter regardless.

We're building something more thoughtful. More sustainable. More us.

And this conversation with Mariela reminded me why all of that matters. Because the second time around — in whatever form that takes — I want to do it differently.

Whether you're expecting your second, thinking about it, or somewhere in your own waiting season right now — I hope this one meets you where you are.

It met me exactly where I needed it.

🎙️ Listen to my full conversation with Mariela De Santiago on the Mama Making Podcast: Mariela De Santiago | The Second Baby Playbook: Postpartum Recovery, Sibling Prep, and Everything We Wish We Knew— streaming now wherever you listen to podcasts.