I was recently asked about my story and if I could pass one thing on to my children, what would it be? Without hesitation, I said, it would be a work ethic built around resilience.
That one word, resilience, has been the cornerstone of my life, and I want it to be a foundation for all my children throughout their lives as well.
I was born to two high schoolers who fell in love a little too early. Raised in a small town in poor conditions, I watched my dad work 60 hours a week to put food on the table and saw my mom work part-time while raising three little boys. She eventually worked her way through college and became a nurse, and then a nurse practitioner long after I had moved on.
In high school, my dad started his own company, but due to a skimming accountant, the IRS shut him down. Without hesitation, he got a job and paid every penny he owed to the IRS and his business vendors. My dad could have quit, but he did not.
I watched both my parents demonstrate a tremendous work ethic built around getting back up and finding a way. That’s resilience.
In my own life, I’ve worked hard and achieved dreams I never thought possible. But my own version of resilience—demonstrated to my children—is personal. In 2011, my wife and my sons’ mom, was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She had no symptoms. There were no signs. In 36 hours, our entire world changed.
I spent the next five months with her while caring for our boys as she went through treatment. Most of it was experimental and produced no positive result. And on the exact day she was dismissed from MD Anderson Cancer Center and told to go home—there was no hope left—I was diagnosed with stage 2-3 renal cancer.
Knowing she needed me and knowing my children and family needed me, I did not do chemotherapy as recommended. I simply had the doctors open me up and remove the tumor, kidney, and anything else that looked bad.
I walked out of the hospital after 19 hours to be with my wife and my boys. She made it six more days, with her family, and me, by her side until the end.
Without question, that was the saddest day of my life and in the lives of my children.
But when looking back on it, I am proud of the fact that I was able to, if not forced to, demonstrate extreme resilience. Nine years later, my children are doing great and are super achievers in their own right. I’ve also chosen to move on with my life and have created a beautiful, blended family with a wonderful woman and mother. My children and her children are close, and my deceased wife’s family have totally embraced us all with complete love.
You see, resilience is not just about getting back up after getting knocked down. Resilience is also about getting up, finding a new path, and moving forward to ultimately achieve your goals and dreams. That is the true lesson I learned, and one that I hope I’ve demonstrated and given to my children.
James' life is the American dream in a nutshell. Born to teenage parents in Laurel, MS & faced with a future working in one of the town's two factories, James chose to change his fate and forge his own path–to become a wildly successful entrepreneur.
We’re big fans of all things American Girl and now you have a new way to immerse yourself in the world of the characters: American Girl Vacations! Brought to you by Academic Travel Abroad, you can travel to Hawaii and enter the life of Nanea, or New York and step back in time with Rebecca. The trips span 6-7 days and are packed with activities and experiences sure to delight your doll lover.
Rebecca’s New York trip is scheduled for December in New York City. In your six days, you’ll join a sewing class to learn about the Jewish principle of mitzvah, see The Nutcracker live and explore the Museum of Moving image at a private after-hours party. You’ll also get to try some of the city’s iconic eats, like sandwiches at Katz’s Delicatessen and frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity III. All accommodations are included, in this case, a stay at a four-star hotel in Manhattan. And a professional on-site host will help you make the most of your time in the Big Apple.
Nanea’s Hawaii trip is also slated for December in Oahu. Scheduled for seven days, you’ll get to learn the art of hula dancing, care for pups at the humane society and enjoy a private tour of Pearl Harbor. You can try your hand at making shave ice, explore a rain forest and enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches. Don’t forget the luau celebration! You’ll stay at a four-star hotel on Waikiki Beach and also be treated to a professional on-site host.
Space for both trips is limited to 25, but if you miss the first two there are more to come! The trips have flexible cancelation policies and enlist a professional travel team to help with questions regarding flights, extra accommodations and COVID-19 protocols. It will definitely be a Christmas to remember!
Can you believe we are already Halfway to Halloween? With the spooky season on the horizon, Walt Disney World is gearing up with a new event guaranteed to become a fan fave.
Soon you’ll be able to grab tickets to Disney After Hours BOO BASH, a ticketed experience that will take place on select nights from Aug. 10 to Oct. 31 2020. From 9 p.m. to midnight, park goers can enjoy character sightings, spooky decor, lighting, music and treats, plus special performances by the Cadaver Dans.
All guests can come in costume for this special event and stock up on plenty of candy. While everyone can come dressed up, guests older than 14 will have to skip the masks. Well, costume masks, that is. All guests will be required to wear approved face coverings during the event.
Tickets will go on sale in June. Guests of select Walt Disney Resort hotels will have an an early purchase window available to guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. For all the details, click here.
I always wanted to have kids, I always dreamed of being a mother and having a family one day, but the reality versus the vision of motherhood and family life are so drastically different it is kind of comical.
Here are a few pros and cons from my experience as a first time mom, so please read very carefully if you are thinking about venturing down this path of parenthood!
I would like to start by saying that my mom always used to tell me that God erases your “memory” of the pregnancy and the first years of having child, because if you remembered no one would ever expand their family or recommend it. I would always laugh at her and tell her she was crazy, but I now know that this is true. The conversation has come up in our family about having another child (not now, but just in the future), and I literally already think I have forgotten how hard the pregnancy was and how hard those first few months are, but am definitely still on the fence. (maybe he hasn’t erased mine yet)
Thankfully for this article, I remember enough to share some insight.
The reality of becoming a parent is that it is REALLY FREAKING HARD! So the “cons” or downsides are just realities that aren’t necessarily cons, just realities you must accept as a part of the process and be good to go with it. I will start with the cons and finish with the pros so we an end on a positive note.
I will be speaking from a women’s point of view, as many of the cons of becoming a mother simply come from just the physiological hardships of bearing a child.
For some pregnancy is bliss, you glow, you have infinite bounds of light and excitement in anticipation for your beloved baby. You relish in the anticipation and love the process of putting together the nursery, picking out names and watching your body transform.
The reality of pregnancy for many is pure exhaustion. I could barely function in the early months, my face broke out, my back felt like it broke, I gained 70 pounds (YES 70!!!) 40 in the first three months. I was an emotional wreck. No wine and really no wine for like a year cause the first three months are so exhausting having a glass of wine is just pointless. Did I say my back hurt? I mean the last month walking became unbearable and I was placed on bed rest.
Breastfeeding, one of the hardest things I have ever done! I support all women no matter what they choose – breastfeeding or formula, but I did give breastfeeding a try. The beautiful pictures you see of women breastfeeding their child and the connection and nutrition factors sold me, until every time I breastfed I sat there sobbing because of the excruciating pain I was in. My boobs had quadrupled in size and nipples were cracked and often times bleeding. About a month in I found out my daughter had an upper tongue tie, so I just ended up pumping for the next few months. Which again is another experience, I could have gone without.
Just reminiscing about how painful my c-section recovery was and how much pain my back and breasts were in makes me want to cringe. I can’t speak to actual labor, but I can imagine from what I have seen and heard that it is likely just as painful as the following days/weeks were for me since I had to have a cesarean. I think the hardest part about the pregnancy and preparing for parenthood is you can read up and plan, but sometimes things just happen differently. I prepared for natural labor, not a c-section, but I should have done some more research. Not going to lie when the Dr. said we were going to have to have a c-section after 32 hours of labor, I was relieved.
From my point of view as far as the pregnancy and the first few months are concerned there can’t be many cons from a man’s point of view. I mean besides the fact they have to support their wife throughout all of the above. Once the baby is born though, I would love to hear pros/cons from a man’s point of view, cause that is where your role as dad really kicks in high gear! Once you get through the physical hardships of pregnancy, breastfeeding woes and survive the first few months on literally ZERO sleep, you have a moment where you look down at your beautiful baby and you just sigh in awe. You and your partner have created a human being and it is the most amazing feeling that you will ever have in your whole entire life. There is nothing like it. Period.
Here are some of the Pros.
Once it becomes yours, your world just changes, your views change and everything that once mattered just honestly doesn’t matter as much as your son or daughter. As hard as everything was/is, I would still have another one, because having a child and literally birthing another human being is one of the most amazing and rewarding things anyone can do. Once the physical speed bumps of the pregnancy subside, be prepared to not sleep for likely the next five years (so I have heard), prepare to be spit up on, thrown up on, hit, bitten, hair pulled, pooped and peed on and the list of “cons” could continue, but the moment that child falls asleep on your chest or looks into your eyes all of those experiences all of a sudden become worth it.
Seeing the first smile, hearing the first laugh, watching your baby mold into a little human and seeing the facial features develop and seeing you or your partner in him or her, there is just nothing that you could have experienced previously to understand what that feels like.
I sometimes just stare at my daughter and it literally brings me to tears because she just makes living and life so much better. I had a purpose before in life, but now I REALLY have a purpose, I have someone counting on me. You honestly begin to hold yourself to a higher standard in life, the way you act or react becomes different because someone is watching you.
To me the reward of having a child and all the moments and life changing feelings and experiences you go through as a parent (mom and / or a dad) make the sacrifices / “cons” beyond worth it. My daughter is about to turn one this weekend. So I guess you would have to ask me in a few years if I feel the same! But my gut feeling says that the love and the bond will just continue to grow.
So my advice is the PROS definitely outweigh the CONS if you want to have a child, but make sure to ask lots of questions to other parents / Drs, talk with your partner and get on the same page with roles and responsibilities and support each other. At the end of the day, the hard part about parenting isn’t necessarily keeping your baby alive (although very important!) – it is the stress on your relationship, finding yourself and getting your life back together and re-creating a new life as a family. So I think if you can prepare not only for raising a child, but what you want your family dynamic to be – you will be GREAT!
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You may have a laundry list of questions that have popped up in the hours and days since your little one entered the world, or you may not have any and might be unsure what questions to ask. Either way, we’ve got you covered with topics and questions to ask a pediatrician at your first visit to get the most out of your appointment.
Pro tip: Keep a list of questions on your phone for easy access at the pediatrician’s appointment. And no concerns are too small or unimportant to ask. These experts are there to partner with you in your baby’s health and development. So ask away!
Food
1. How much should my baby be feeding?
2. How long should each feeding take?
3. How often should my baby take a bottle or breastfeed?
4. If using formula: What’s the best formula for my child?
5. If breastfeeding: Do I need a lactation consultant? If so, any recommendations?
6. Any tips on nipple care for breastfeeding?
7. Is it okay to pump and breastfeed at the same time?
Digestion
1. After eating, the baby seems gassy or upset. What should we do?
2. Our baby seems to spit up a lot after eating. Could it be reflux?
3. Any techniques to burping our baby that would be helpful?
4. Where should my baby sleep, and how can we make sure it’s safe?
Diapers
1. How many wet diapers should my baby have each day?
2. How many dirty diapers should my baby have each day?
3. What color and consistency poop should we be looking for?
Weight
1. It looks like our baby has lost weight since birth; is this a concern? Why or why not?
2. If it is a concern, what should we be doing differently?
Vaccines
1. When are the baby’s first vaccines?
2. What side effects can we expect after vaccinations? How should we comfort our baby?
3. How often will baby be scheduled to receive vaccines?
4. Can we discuss specific vaccines and any risk factors to consider?
5. Can we request specific vaccine brands?
6. Is it possible to spread out the vaccines to different appointments? Is it advisable?
Umbilical Cord
1. How long will it take for the cord to fall off?
2. How should we be taking care of the area around the cord?
Circumcision
1. What are the risks and benefits of circumcision?
2. When do you typically do the circumcision?
3. What can we expect after the procedure?
Bath Time
1. How often should we bathe our baby?
2. Where is the safest place to bathe our baby?
3. Any tips on products to use to avoid rashes or irritation?
4. Is lotion recommended after bath time?
Development
1. When should we start tummy time?
2. Why is tummy time important?
3. What things should we be looking for developmentally right now?
Extra Help
1. If we have a concern after office hours, what number do we call?
2. Is a doctor or nurse available for tele-health consultations after hours? If so, how do we access that service?
A Note About New Moms & Mental Health
Women experience a dramatic drop in hormones after giving birth, so it is completely normal to feel out of whack in those first days, weeks and months after having a baby. Sometimes these are simply baby blues that pass as time goes by, but more intense feelings may be postpartum depression and could be dangerous for you and your baby. This happens to many women and is something you should discuss with your OBGYN. While this isn’t a pediatrician concern, it is very important to be in tune with your feelings and emotions during this newborn period and to ask for help when you need it.
Editor’s Note: Here at Red Tricycle, we respect and celebrate every mom’s feeding journey. Bottle? Boob? It doesn’t matter—we believe fed is best. Our Spoke Contributor Network is inclusive and open to all parenting journeys—yours, too!
Mama’s, let’s be honest, breastfeeding is hard enough! In my mind, my milk would come in on time and my baby girl would latch…. it would be magical like you hear. Ha! Wrong. From the moment my birth went in a way different direction than I anticipated, the more I realized everything I thought motherhood would be, just wasn’t. It was super tiring and emotionally draining from the beginning. It was super hard and nothing for me came easy… including breastfeeding.
After 42 hours of labor and winding up in an unexpected c-section, I was more tired than I could of ever possibly imagined and Amelia didn’t latch. Then I found out my milk was late. 10 days to be exact. Who knew your milk can be late? No one talks about this! So I started to pump to help force my milk in and hope she would latch.
This vision of me breastfeeding and creating a magical bond was not happening. I could barely move from my c-section and all the labor I endured before the surgery. I had no energy and could barely hold my new baby girl. I felt defeated. I felt like a failure as a new mom. I kept trying and trying, and she wouldn’t latch, and my milk was still not coming in. So I continued to pump just enough to get colostrum, and my husband would feed her with a little doppler.
We continued skin to skin and all the techniques to encourage breastfeeding. Finally, at 10 days or so, my milk came in…and wow, did I feel it. That was so painful in itself! However, at that point, I didn’t care about the pain, my milk was in! I thought she was going to latch because I now had milk! Wrong again! And now I had fully engorged breasts and latching wasn’t happening—at all! I was in a new kind of pain. I still couldn’t believe she wasn’t latching.
I finally reached out to my doula and midwife who told me it was completely normal, that only 3-percent of babies latch from birth. After having a birth nowhere near what I expected or wanted, I was determined to be able to breastfeed. So I began reaching out to the resources from my birth team. In came a lactation specialist from Goldilacts who showed me how to line up her hips and lips, to try to make it easier to nurse. She encouraged me, told me it was completely normal, and I was doing a great job! I didn’t feel like it though. I even had the boppy pillow with me at all times to try to position myself and her easier and still nothing was happening over and over! I just kept crying and crying and thought this can’t be the start of my motherhood journey.
I started researching and going online, looking at stories about moms trying to breastfeed, and honestly, I didn’t feel that much support. Regardless, I was determined, so I continued to do skin-to-skin, even if it meant she would just scream the whole time and maybe get a little drop. I was still pumping to make sure she was getting enough milk and gaining weight. So I knew she was safe as I continued to want and try to nurse. Finally, she latched a few weeks or so later; which honestly felt like an eternity!
Then came the judgment. If I nursed in public, women and men would stare at me, and I would end up trying to hide myself under covers or find a corner to disappear and feel ashamed. WTF! I finally got her to latch, and now I’m hiding it! This seems so backwards when I should be celebrating this huge milestone. On top of the fact, for me, this still wasn’t magical. I was still in quite a bit of pain—my nipples were torn up and bloody, rough, sore and inflamed, but I was doing it regardless.
After a few months, we were in somewhat of a rhythm. She was getting milk and was happy, so I was happy. Fast forward to 18 months into this journey that I never thought I would be still be breastfeeding, and here we are!! It’s pure magic! She’s thriving, and I love the bonding! We nurse everywhere and anywhere no problem. Milk is still coming in without pumping, which I’m grateful. She does a baby sign for it now when she wants to nurse and literally jumps on!! It’s like you never would have known she ever had problems latching.
So this brings me to my next pain point as a new mama. Please stop asking when I’m going to stop breastfeeding. Stop asking if it’s painful with her full mouth of teeth. Shouldn’t she be on regular milk by now? Shouldn’t you give her formula if she’s that hungry? Why doesn’t anybody talk about the benefits of breast feeding longer? Why is it when you go past that “year mark,” people ask you why and question you? It’s all shaming whether you realize it or not. Be supportive. Cheer us on. Let’s put an end to this and help to encourage other mamas to keep going! Other cultures encourage this, professionals recommend breastfeeding until 2 years old if you can. If you look up the stats all over, worldwide most babies are weaned on average between 2 and 4.
There are many reasons for it too: balanced nutrition, boosted immunity, brain boost, toddler independence, improving their health right now and for the future but also for mamas too—it can reduce our risk of certain cancers, like breast and ovarian! And right now I’m feeling empowered as ever to be able to still nurse her. Women can truly do it all! Our bodies are amazing! Don’t give up mama! You’ve got this! And yes, I have to remind myself of that too—especially when I am questioned about still breastfeeding.
Ruthi Davis is a the Founder of Ruth Davis Consulting LLC with over two decades of success in advertising/marketing, media/publicity, business development, client relations, and organizational optimization for a variety of clients. Ruthi is a proud mom and influencer in the parenting and family market as founder of the Superfly Supermom brand.
You’re so busy preparing for the physical needs of your soon-to-arrive baby, it’s easy to forget that finding a pediatrician is something that may take some time and effort. And it should be done before baby arrives. To make things easier on you, we’ve simplified the process to six easy steps below.
Step 1: Determine what factors are important to you in a pediatrician.
Things you may want to think about are:
Location
How many physicians, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners are in the practice
Ease of making/getting appointments
Experience levels of the staff
Regular business hours and after-hours care
If there are separate waiting rooms for sick kids and well visits
Their philosophy of care
Where they have hospital privileges
How they prefer to communicate with you
Step 2: Check your insurance to see which providers are in network.
It’s helpful to get a basic idea of which providers are available to you through your insurance. Sometimes, it’s worth it to pay more out of pocket for an out-of-network provider. That, of course, depends on your insurance plan. Give your insurance a call to find out the low-down on what your financial obligation will be for both in- and out-of-network options.
photo: iStock
Step 3: Ask your friends for recommendations.
Your friends’ personal experiences with their providers is always a great step toward getting narrowing down what may be a good fit for your family. Ask your buddies about both positive and negative experiences they’ve had with their pediatrician’s practice. One additional step is to join a parents group on social media for your local area and ask them for feedback. Parents love to share their experiences with important team members like pediatricians. And you are sure to find the honest scoop on providers in your area when asked. You will probably notice that several physicians get repeated mentions as providers that are amazing or those who fall short of the mark. Check these physicians against your insurance list to get an idea of where to go from there.
Step 4: Interview pediatricians over the phone.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of pediatricians, review their websites and schedule an interview to discuss the factors above. While this may be more difficult to do with COVID-19 restrictions in place, it’s not impossible. If the pediatrician is not available, ask to speak with a physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner or nurse. In every other area of our lives we talk to the people “doing the work.” So talking to your prospective provider should be no different. Even if they are a busy, thriving practice (which can be a good sign), they should be able to spend 5 minutes telling you about their practice before you give them your business.
While you are chatting with the pediatrician’s office, verify they are accepting your insurance and new patients. Your insurance website may not be up to date and it can be very frustrating to find a perfect fit, only to realize the office no longer takes your insurance or isn’t accepting new patients.
Step 6: Make your choice & set it up.
Now that you’ve gotten the scoop on the pediatrician’s offices in your area, you are now ready to choose the lucky practice that will partner with you in your baby’s health! Let them know that you would like to have them as your provider as soon as your little one arrives and ask them if there is any paperwork you need to fill out prior to that. Find out their protocol once your baby is born now—how soon they will want to see your baby after birth and when you should call to make your first appointment.
Congratulations! You can now check off one more thing on your “must do” list for welcoming your sweet bundle and get back to choosing diapers, bottles and other baby essentials. Stay tuned for our second article on important questions to ask during your first pediatrician appointment.
Pediatricians are so much more than a just your baby’s doctor, they become confidants, guides, encouragers, honest opinions and friendly faces. Trying to find the right pediatrician can be a dance; you need to dodge the docs that don’t jive with your parenting philosophy while holding on to the doctor that makes you feel cared for and listened to. During those crazy first months with a newborn, you’ll visit the pediatrician often. And after that, you’ll be there for annual well visits and for any health issues that come up throughout the year. You need someone you trust and someone who trusts your maternal instincts. So, what should you look for when searching for the perfect pediatrician? Here are a few of our tips for narrowing down the field.
photo: Julie Seguss
1. Check your network. It sounds easy enough, but don’t forget to be sure that your pediatrician of choice is in your health insurance network. Even better, be sure that your pediatrician of choice has access and rights at your preferred hospital. If you live in a large city or suburb, the hospital closest to you may not be one that your pediatrician is affiliated with; while it may not be a big deal if you have a healthy child, it can cause problems if you need your pediatrician to follow your child in the hospital.
2. Choose whether you want to see aractice or an individual. Decide if you prefer a practice, meaning a group of pediatricians, or an individual doctor. There are certainly benefits to both, but with a practice you are increasing your chances of getting an appointment quickly when needed, at hours that fit your busy schedule.
3. Convenience is key. During the first year of your child’s life, you are at the doctor’s office a lot. A lot. Between immunizations and well baby checks, you are going to become besties with your pediatrician’s receptionist. Add in a few sick visits, and you will have more appointments with the pediatrician than you have date nights with your hubs. Since you will be spending a lot of time there, pick an office that is relatively close and accessible to you. Trust us, you’ll appreciate not having to drive across town and park two blocks away in the middle of winter when your child has a fever.
4. Ask for recommendations. Rally your mom friends to ask for pediatrician recommendations. Sure, you’ll hear good things and bad things about nearly every practice you’re considering, but getting the experiences of your pals will help you make a more solid decision.
5. Take a test drive. Many times, pediatricians will have open-house events for expecting parents. Use this time to meet the doctors, find out their policies and see if they appear to be a match for your parenting style and preferences. You’ll learn what makes the office standout too: Do they have separate entrances for sick and well patients, what do the exam rooms look like, and can they do the latest tests right in the office?
6. Look at special services. Some pediatrician offices have specialists on staff that may come in handy during your child’s early years. Look for offices that have a lactation consultant on staff, or practices that have allergy specialists. Nursing or not, allergies or not, these staff members can be invaluable assets when you do need them.
7. Dial in. Ask about the office’s phone call policy. Some practices are strict about not walking through issues on the phone, but prefer parents to bring the child into the office. However, sometimes you may just need a few questions answered via phone instead of schlepping your infant carrier into the office. Ask if there are nurses available to answer reasonable questions via phone.
8. Check the clock. Take a look at the hours of the offices you are investigating, and make sure those match with your schedule. Practices often have the luxury of having more evening and weekend hours, but be sure that your office has hours that you can actually swing with work and other obligations.
9. Emergency, emergency. Emergencies are going to happen, and you are going to have questions in the middle of the night. We may know of a certain story of a two-year-old swallowing a rock while giving it a bath in the tub and a certain daddy freaking out about it and paging the pediatrician after hours to determine if said rock would pass on its own. Weird things are going to happen, and scary things (like your first real fever) are going to happen; you are going to need after-hours support. Ask about your office’s pager policy and any restrictions that may make you feel uncomfortable.
photo: iStock
10. Feel the vibe. Sometimes, when it comes down to it, your intuition will guide you to the office that feels like home. Sure, you want a well-respected and experienced doctor, but you also want someone who can offer a deep breath when you are freaking out and a high-five when you need one.
Take the time to find the right pediatrician for your family. You will be glad that you did, especially when your toddler swallows a rock in the bathtub.
It’s still summer, but before you know it you’ll be swimming in jack o’ lanterns and pumpkin spice everything. This year you can check one Halloween to-do off your list easily, with Target’s Trunk-or-Treat collection that will make you the hit of the event with nothing more than a Target run.
While it can be tons of fun to DIY your Halloween decor after hours of poring over Pinterest, sometimes you just don’t have the time and energy and that’s where Target comes in. All you have to do is spring for one of these awesome trunk decor kits and you’re ready to hand out candy.
Frankenstein Halloween Tricky Trunk Decor
Transform your car into a creepy creature. With this kit you can turn the trunk or hatch of your vehicle into a gaping mouth where only the most daring will take a Halloween treat
Open up and say, "Ahhhh!" This fun kit attach in minutes using magnets and suction cups to transform your car into a fun destination for the trunk-or-treaters.
Congratulations are in order. Chris Sullivan announced that he and his wife, Rachel, have welcomed their first child. They named their little one, Bear Maxwell.
“HE HAS ARRIVED! 8lbs of beautiful baby boy. Witnessing @therealrachelsullivan bring our first son into this world, after 20 hours of labor, was one of the great honors of my life,” Sullivan captioned a sweet photo of Bear’s feet on Instagram.
“It was primal and intentional and I have never been more in love with this powerful woman. She and baby are resting and recovering well. Everyone is healthy and exhausted,” he continued.
The next day, Sullivan posted an official name announcement saying, “We are so excited to have Bear Maxwell in our lives. He and Mama Bear are at home resting and bonding. Everyone is happy and healthy. It’s a real love fest over here.”