Some paths to parenthood are carefully planned. Others unfold in ways no one could predict.
For this Nashville-based mother of three, the path to parenthood began with heartbreak, detoured through uncertainty, and ultimately became something far more expansive than she ever dreamed. After navigating infertility and making the thoughtful decision to pursue adoption, she expected a long wait. Instead, within the span of two years, she welcomed not one, not two, but three babies into her family—each arrival carrying its own story, its own surprises, and its own kind of grace.
We sat down with her to talk about infertility, open adoption, unexpected postpartum depression as an adoptive mother, and the miraculous journey that turned an empty nursery into a home overflowing with little ones.
Let's start with the basics: Who's in your family, what fills your days, and what does life look like right now with three little ones under two?
We live in Nashville, Tennessee as a family of five; me, my husband, and our three adopted littles aged two and under. I was a full-time songwriter before becoming a mother and now I am with my children full-time! My husband is a business owner in the finance world. Our life is the most beautiful kind of chaos! We spend a lot of time at home, but love hosting as much as possible and having people over to do life with.
You've shared that becoming a mother was something you'd dreamed about since you were 11 years old. Can you tell us a little about the road that led you to adoption, and what that season of infertility looked like for you both?
A year into marriage, we found out that my husband was unable to have children due to a rare genetic condition. The next 18 months were filled with a lot of grief, mourning, and reimagining what our path to parenthood would look like. With a lot of prayer, we thoughtfully made the decision to pursue adoption. We wanted to make sure we felt called to it and not pursue it to fix the wound of infertility. Taking plenty of time to really grieve what we thought our journey would look like helped prepare our hearts for what it ended up being!
After expecting your adoption journey to take about a year, you were approved in just seven weeks—and then your family continued to grow in ways you never anticipated. Can you walk us through the whirlwind story of welcoming all three of your children?
Our story was definitely unexpected! We filled out our first piece of paperwork in October 2023, and were under the impression that it would be at least 3-6 months before we were approved to even be considered. Over the next six weeks, we kept getting calls from every official that somehow we were already approved. There were clearances that were supposed to take two months that took two weeks, things that were supposed to take six months that took four weeks. It was truly miraculous. We were cleared by February, we were matched within weeks, and welcomed home our son in May 2024! A few months later, we were contacted by his birth mother that she was expecting again and when our son was 11 months old, we welcomed home his sister. We anticipated this might be the end of our journey because two under one is a lot to manage! But a few months ago we were called about another Birth mother who had still not chosen a family for her son. They really thought we could be a good match for her. She chose us within a couple of hours and we welcomed home our third child on May 1st (our daughter‘s birthday!)
Looking back, what were some of the emotions that surprised you most throughout the adoption process and those early months of becoming a mother?
I have heard adoption described as a birthday, funeral, and wedding all in one. I think that’s the best way to capture the emotions you feel throughout the process. We have the privilege of having open adoptions and connection with our birth mothers, so we have gotten to be alongside them as they work through their choice for adoption. With that comes sadness, but also overwhelming joy at the privilege of becoming a parent. Then there’s the celebration of a new life that has been born. It has been an overwhelming, but extremely beautiful and redemptive journey.
You've become a mother to three children in a very short amount of time. What has been the most beautiful part of this season? And what's been the hardest?
The most beautiful part is watching my children develop and grow together. Our hope is that they are all best friends, love one another deeply and can grow up thankful to have siblings so close in age. It’s also been helpful to see how fast things change with one and then the other! It makes the hard seasons not so daunting when you’ve just watched your other child change quickly!
The hardest part is doing our best to ensure each child gets the attention and care that we want them to. It takes a lot of maneuvering between my husband and I to make sure that every week there’s plenty of one-on-one time with each child, and they feel really attended to individually, but also together as a family!
While your path to motherhood looked different, many adoptive parents describe experiencing their own version of postpartum. What has that transition into motherhood felt like for you emotionally, mentally, and physically?
I didn’t know this until a few months into motherhood that adoptive moms can experience postpartum depression and anxiety. By the three month visit for my oldest son, I was saying and feeling things that I couldn’t understand. Our doctor told me that I was experiencing postpartum depression. She explained to me that because my body did not have the physical preparation for motherhood (growing the baby) my brain was in overdrive because of such an overnight change. It was trying to make sure I was nurturing and caring for this child. Meanwhile, my body was shutting down because it was overwhelmed with the emotions and neurological change! So I experienced a lot of depression with my first born that was not anticipated. Through the help of doctors, my husband and friends, I was able to get pulled out of that and enjoy every aspect of motherhood from that point forward! I’m very thankful that I have not experienced anything like that with our last two children. I can only give credit to the support system around me and being really aware of the signs! I used to feel an extreme amount of shame at the beginning of my motherhood journey. So many negative thoughts like “I’m just an adoptive mom and I don’t have the right to experience postpartum.” It was lonely and overwhelming for a long time. But through vulnerable conversations and new friendships with other adoptive moms, I’ve experienced so much grace and realized ALL moms take time adjusting.
Three babies under two is no small feat! What are some of the practical ways you and your husband keep your family running day-to-day? Any routines, systems, or sanity-saving tips you've come to rely on?
I swear by our nap schedules. They allow me the space to have one on one time with each child at different times throughout the day. I do a ton of babywearing with our newborn and that helps me have flexibility to be on the go chasing after my little ones!
Adoption is often portrayed as a simple happy ending, but it's also incredibly layered and emotional. What do you wish more people understood about adoption and adoptive families?
I wish people wouldn’t jump to extremes. Plenty of people demonize adoption, while others forget the complexities of it altogether. There are so many hearts involved and it takes a village to make sure that everybody is supported properly, whether that’s the biological families or the adoptive families. But it can truly be so redemptive. We have wonderful relationships with our children’s birth mothers and I am so grateful for that.
How do you honor and celebrate your children's birth stories while also creating your own family story together?
For starters, they will ALWAYS know their story. We will never keep from them how they came to be with us. The bravery and strength of their birth mothers. The prayers we all prayed separately and together. Our goal is to make sure they know that every step of the way was paved by love. Their birth mothers, in love, chose to trust their life to someone else to raise. And we, in love, welcomed them with open arms. We want them to be proud of their story and never feel ashamed for being adopted.
Looking back at the version of yourself who was navigating infertility and wondering what motherhood might look like, what would you tell her? And what are you most excited about as you look ahead to the next few years with your growing family?
I would tell her to wait and see what God had planned. I would tell her that the empty crib would one day be filled. I would tell her that there would be a day that she looks back, breathes a sigh of relief, and understands why she had to go through all that she did. The pain of infertility pales in comparison to the purposefulness of being an adoptive mother to my three beautiful children. I would do it all over again.
I am so excited to get to create a home where my children feel loved, cared for, and cherished. I’m excited to create memories big and small. Whether that’s baking a cake on a random Tuesday afternoon, snuggling late into the night, taking them to the beach for the first time. I cannot wait to see them grow into who they’re meant to be, and learn to love one another deeply along the way.
Rapid-fire q's!
One thing always within arm's reach right now: My water bottle! Have to stay hydrated chasing around these babies
Something saving your life in the newborn stage: Solly Wrap! haha it’s on my body all day every day
Most-used baby item these days: Burp cloths!!
Current motherhood survival snack: Beef tallow potato chips
Last thing you ordered online: A new dress for the summer
One thing that's making life easier with three littles: Sleep schedules
Current comfort entertainment: The Toast podcast
Favorite room in your house right now: Baby boy’s nursery
Most-played song in your home lately: River of Grace by Christy Nockels
One word that describes life right now: Miraculous
