At Solly Baby, we’ve always believed the early years are sacred. Perhaps more than any other season, they’re the years that tend to stretch and refine us, and for our CEO, Nicole, those years are unfolding right now.

From morning snuggles with her four-year-old to middle-of-the-night nursing sessions with her four-month-old (and leading Solly Baby by day), Nicole’s life mirrors the very season our brand was built to support. She’s in the thick of it—balancing board meetings and bedtime, product launches and park dates—and the result is a brand as grounded in real motherhood as it is inspired by it.

In this conversation, we cover a little bit of everything with Nicole, from her two very different birth experiences to watching her toddler become a big sister, and how motherhood shapes the way she leads at Solly.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day starts with lots of snuggles. Ella (my four-year-old)  will crawl into bed with me while I’m nursing Emmy (my four-month-old) and it’s pure heaven. It helps us start off the day connected which I think is so important for the older sibling. Three days a week we drop Ella off at school then I come home, get Emmy down for her nap, and get started on work. The day time is a mix of meetings, head-down work, nursing, and play breaks—working from home is the best gift so I try to spend as much time with the girls as I can. We usually take a walk to the park after work and then I get dinner started. After dinner, we’ll play more then start winding down before my husband and I tag-team bedtime. Once the girls are down, it’s our time to tidy up, relax and get some more work done.

What were your birth experiences like with the girls?

The births were so different from each other but I am blessed that I had beautiful birth experiences with both of my girls. With Ella, I was induced at 41 weeks (on Sept. 29 so that I would have her no later than Sept. 30—my doctor thought it would be so sweet to have her in September since my husband and I are also September babies). I was put on pitocin and labored for 22 hours. I endured 12 hours of back-labor contractions before finally opting for the epidural as much as I didn’t want one. When it came time to deliver, I can only describe it as peaceful and serene. It wasn’t my birth plan but it ended up being perfect.

With Emmy, at 40 weeks and 2 days, my water broke in the middle of the night but I had no contractions. My midwife told me to labor at home until I moved into active labor. I had the most wonderful day. I crawled into bed with Ella in the morning knowing it would be the last time she would be my only baby. We played all day, went to the pool, and I let her paint my belly. It was truly the perfect day…it makes me cry just thinking of how special and perfect it was. 16 hours after my water broke, I finally started having regular, intense contractions and we headed to the hospital. By the time we checked in, my contractions were rapidly progressing and I delivered Emmy fast and furious within 3 hours of starting contractions. Back labor again but completely natural—I’ve never felt more empowered, strong, and feminine.

How does being in the midst of the early years with your own children impact the way you think about and run Solly Baby? 

What a blessing it is to be in the early years of my children’s lives while being at Solly. Experiencing life together with our Solly mamas continually keeps our vision and mission at the forefront of my mind. Ideas are always flowing for how we can best serve our moms—new products, content, support topics, etc. And just as important, it has helped  me to foster a truly family-friendly work environment for our Solly team. We are moms and dads working to support other moms and dads to find comfort, connection, and confidence in these early years of parenthood.

How has your postpartum experience with your second baby differed from your first?

It's been redeeming. I was able to have a natural birth and I am so much more relaxed and calm this go around. As a new mom with my first, I put a lot of pressure on myself and let my perfectionist tendencies get the best of me. It was overwhelming at times and didn’t match the expectations that I had imagined. Knowing I was struggling mentally felt difficult to admit and process. This time around, I’m much more confident and have given myself a lot of grace. It’s been a healing experience for me since I have been able to enjoy it so much more—leaning into the tender moments, soaking up the wonders of a new baby, watching my first become a big sister, and finding my stride as a mom of two.

How has the transition been for Ella from youngest to big sis? What are some ways you’re nurturing your relationship with Ella with a new baby in the mix?

Ella is the best big sister! She is filled with so much love for Emmy and wants to teach her all that she knows and  help with everything. Watching how she interacts with Emmy melts my heart daily. It’s been a major priority of mine to ensure that Ella still gets time with us solo. Sometimes it’s as simple as picking her up from school alone, laughing, and snuggling together while Emmy is napping or planning mommy-daughter dates to get our nails done. I make sure that I give her dedicated time every day. I honestly need it as much as she does!

When do you find yourself reaching for The Soft Carrier vs. The Wrap?

I exclusively used The Wrap for Emmy’s first three months. As a family on the go, it was a true lifesaver. Now that she fits into The Soft Carrier, I use them interchangeably. When she needs a good nap, I’ll tuck her into the wrap. When we’re out and about or if I’m cooking dinner, I’ll use the carrier. I used a lot of different carriers with Ella and I can honestly say that The Soft Carrier is incredible. It is cozy and feels like a structured version of the wrap. 

Where do you find inspiration as a mom?

My girls provide me with endless inspiration. They are so bright and spirited and bold—characteristics that I want to nurture in them. I do a lot of reading to try to continuously better myself as a mom. Instagram and Reddit serve me content nuggets for me to think on how to apply to my life.

What are some things you've been able to delegate as your plate has gotten fuller?

We have a wonderful community here in Idaho. None of our family lives here but our friends are absolute heroes who help at a moment’s notice. We’re also lucky to have a wonderful mother’s helper who is a true godsend. Besides that, I’ve just learned to embrace the hustle and bustle and further enhance my mom multitasking skills. 

Even though you're so invested in and knowledgeable about Solly, did anything surprise or delight you as you used some of the products personally for the first time? 

I used the wrap with my first so I knew how essential it would be as we welcomed our second. Being able to use The Soft Carrier IRL after having developed it for years was like a dream come true! It was everything I was hoping that it would be when we created it - the perfect next step after the wrap. I comment about how much I love the carrier every time I use it. But what surprised me about the carrier was how easy it was to nurse in! During development, I couldn’t experience it firsthand so it was a special moment when I first nursed Emmy in it.

Rapid-fire q’s!
Drink of choice: Strawberry Matcha
Favorite sans-baby activity: Relaxing in some way—either watching a show, taking a walk, or just sitting quietly (while simultaneously looking at pictures of my sweet babies and missing them lol)
Motherhood topic you could talk about forever: Probably sleep. It’s an ever-elusive topic because whatever magical routine works for a blissful night of sleep is usually like striking gold.
Describe motherhood in a song: Welcome to the Jungle, haha! Just kidding. This song is everywhere but I feel like Golden really hits on my mom of two redemption experience.
Go-to snack after you get the kids to bed: Ritz crackers or dark chocolate pretzels. If I need a little something extra, mint oreos.