Skip links

lesleymurphy

Tried and True: The Best Travel Luggage On the Market

by 22 Comments

Unless you’re carrying on at all times, TSA agents may or may not be throwing around your bag as if it’s a prop at their latest and greatest Crossfit class. I typically take longer trips when I travel, and I can’t believe we’ll soon be traveling as a family of three! For those reasons and more, I need a big suitcase that can carry allll the things for weeks at a time. My luggage demands are as follows:

1) Durable

2) Spacious

3) Smart

Without further ado, here are my top picks for the best travel luggage in their various categories!

No Frills Hard Case Luggage: Victorinox

They say you never forget your first, and Victorinox was my first hard case luggage to travel with. Ole blue (pictured) and I went through a lot together from break-ups abroad to make-ups Stateside 🙂

Standout piece: Expandable Frequent Flyer Carry-on

I have since upgraded to this scratch-free titanium set that my fiancé and I share custody of. Alex trusts Victorinox with his drone gear a.k.a. his life. Also, I have to tell you that Victorinox does garment bags very well!

No Frills Soft Case Luggage: Travel Pro

You can count on Travel Pro for luggage that is light as a feather, rolls smoothly, and if it’s good enough for every flight attendant I see, you know it’s good enough for me!

The Best All Around: Samsonite

This bag may look a bit aged compared to its futuristic competition, but don’t let the classic look fool you. I’ve never once had a Samsonite bag fail me, and I’ve gone through plenty. This bag also might win for most durable since a few of my hard shells have cracked at some point along the journey. Samsonite has really stepped up the hard-shell luggage game, too.

Smart Carry-On Luggage: Away

Away really does live up to the hype. These three cases have been around the world and back with me and the toughness, lightweight, lockable checked luggage rocks my world. The ejectable phone charger can charge your phone 4X!! It has been a life saver on more than one occasion. I’ll be upgrading to the bigger carry-on with a pocket next!

Best Looking (sorry, had to) Luggage: Tumi

The best way I can describe Tumi is drool-worthy. I had to dress it up in its Christmas best to really paint the perfect picture. We go together like two birds of a feather <3

Honorable Mention: Beis

My assistant is celebrating her 2 year anniversary with her Beis carry-on, and she can’t stop raving about the brand. I can’t seem to catch the 29-inch Check-In in stock, but the bag attach strap, side handle with weight indicator, and travel diaper backpack to match have my attention.

Wishlist luggage: Monos

I am seeing this brand everywhere, and I’m reallllly close to being influenced. My favorite thing about this carry-on is the compartment in the front with organized pockets for all the things! I also love the sleek design and thoughtful details of this luggage.

What to Look For

  • Hard vs. Soft: At the end of the day, this comes down to a personal preference. I used soft luggage for years until I switched things up with Victorinox a while back. The thing with switching to hard luggage is that you have to get used to an entirely different method of packing since instead of having one big compartment to pack in (soft luggage), you now have two smaller yet equal compartments. I tend to put toiletries and shoes in one compartment and clothes in the other for hard shell luggage. The good aspect of hard luggage: waterproof. The good aspect of soft luggage: expandability (it gives and stretches more than its hard shell counterpart).
  • Wheels and how many? – 2,4,6,8! What do you appreciate? The more wheels, the smoother the roll. You can go in-line or you can choose spinners which have two wheels in each corner allowing the bag to move in any and all directions (yay for 360 degree turns!) thus requiring less work from the traveler. Go spinner every time.
  • Weight – This is a big one since every single pound counts when you set it on that scale during flight check-ins! I typically try to look for a bag that weighs under 10 pounds. That becomes a bit difficult as items are added to luggage, such as battery packs in smart luggage. I was pleasantly surprised with Victorinox’s Spectra 29 8-wheel hard case coming in at just 8.8 lbs. It’s important to remember, though, that less weight could also mean less support/durability.
  • Looks – This is a tough one. I loooove a nice, streamlined set of luggage that is just drool worthy to the nth degree. Take this pristine white Calpak set for example. *Le Sigh* BUT I would never buy this because it’s white and would soon be black from the dirt/grim of travel. I’ve been around the block (scratch that, world) a few times to know white luggage ain’t the smartest move. I’ve learned that function over fashion is the way to go since luggage tends to get super beat up, even in just one trip.
  • Forever or For Now? – You’ve seen those bags that weigh next to nothing, right? Pretty cool, until a baggage handler throws it up and down and all around, and then BOOM. It’s broken just like that because it had zero support or durability. I go for “forever” bags, even with a bigger price tag. Nothing causes more anxiety than having a broken piece of luggage somewhere along your journey.
  • Duffle Bags – Meh, only if they’re on wheels. End of discussion.
  • Bag restrictions on plane – I’ve come to know that airlines vary in what they’ll allow on a plane, and I’m mostly discussing carry-on baggage here. If gate agents think a bag is too big to fit into an overhead bin, they’ll make you check it which could result in a buzz kill. Check with your airline before flying 🙂

Nora’s Nursery Reveal!

by 11 Comments

Designing a nursery can get a bit overwhelming, but once I decided on the loose theme of Wild & Whimsical it all became a slight obsession. With that being said, we took our time and selected pieces that ticked all the boxes for us:

1. sustainably made  2. comfortable 3. wild & whimsical

Before we get deep into this post, I feel it’s necessary to say that babies don’t need a lot of stuff to survive and a decked-out nursery isn’t one of them. Don’t feel pressure to have everything finished before baby arrives either. Nora came three weeks early and we were still very much awaiting the arrival of her dresser. crib mattress and drapes!

The Necessities

Crib//Babyletto – From the moment I saw the Lolly crib in white/natural, I had a crush. Made with sustainably sourced solid New Zealand pine wood, this 3-in-1 convertible crib is Greenguard Gold Certified and has been tested for over 10,000 chemical emissions and VOCs.

nursery reveal

Crib Mattress//Babyletto – We definitely wanted a non-toxic mattress with an OEKO-TEX 100 certified cover (tested for harmful substances and chemicals). The Coco Core mattress has a breathable sleeping surface that lets air in and keeps moisture out. I honestly think Nora prefers this crib mattress over her bassinet in our room!

nursery reveal

Glider//Babyletto – Hands down this is the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in…dare I say even more comfy than the white couch I spent many months researching for my living room?! It also has an eco-performance fabric made of 30% recycled materials (at least 40 recycled bottles that would have ended up in landfills were repurposed here!). Not to mention these chairs are super soft, stain resistant, water repellant and best of all Greenguard Gold Certified. It contributes to cleaner indoor air, creating a healthier environment for the baby to sleep, play, and grow. Shout out to Babyletto on their efforts towards sustainability!

nursery reveal

Blackout Curtains//Pottery Barn – Curtains have always been the bane of my existence. For whatever reason, they’ve always been hard. Because the nursery windows are extra long, we checked out all options from custom drapes to Pottery Barn to Amazon. That translates to extremely pricey to expensive to affordable- in that order. We decided to go middle of the road with Pottery Barn, and the drapes are really beautiful in the room.

nursery reveal

Dresser//Scout Design Studio – This one was a splurge, but I saw it back in 2020 and ya know what they say. When you can’t stop thinking about it, just BUY IT. No regrets, and Nora will have it for years to come!

nursery reveal

Changing Station//Babyletto – Gotta have a pad, pad cover, changing tray and organization baskets! I love the look of this entire area – matchy matchy with the art above and dresser below 🙂

nursery reveal

Side Table // Crate & Kids – From bottles to pacifiers, a side table is needed to catch any and all baby accessories as we rock Nora B. to sleep.

nursery reveal

Diaper Pail//Ubbi – This is probably the most used item in the nursery ha! So slim, so pink, so perfect.

nursery reveal

Hamper//Burke Decor – No nursery is complete without a dirty clothes hamper. The moment I saw this rattan pear, I knew Nora had to have it.

nursery reveal

The Accessories

Art//Scout Design Studio – Truth be told, the entire nursery was designed around this one piece. The art was my very first purchase, hence the wild and whimsical theme. Love her but leave her wild. I very much intend to!

nursery reveal

Monkey Lamp//Scout Design Studio – Keeping with the theme, I had to order this crazy monkey lamp. A bit like the pink dresser, I couldn’t get him out of my head, so he was also purchased!

nursery reveal

Koala Wallpaper – Wallpaper was my second purchase for the nursery. I spent HOURS searching for the perfect design and beware…the world of wallpaper is wide, but I ultimately ended up going with the koala theme since baby Nora is half Aussie afterall!

nursery reveal

Rugs//Lorena Canals – It took a few tries to get the right rugs, but we got there. You can’t go wrong with polka dots. I love *everything* Lorena Canals…as you can tell from the following accessories!

nursery reveal

World Map Puff//Lorena Canals – I have many favorite pieces in Nora’s room, but this one may take the cake. A puff in the shape of a globe for this future travel blogger?! GENIUS! There’s also a world map rug to match but I restrained myself…

nursery reveal

Baskets//Lorena Canals – In need of some organization, these cute baskets from Lorena Canals came in handy! From petals to poms to tassels, I couldn’t help myself. I used one for all the lovies, one for a few books, and one for some blankets.

nursery reveal

Cushions//Lorena Canals – The star and heart cushion are also Lorena Canals to dress everything up a bit. Here are some of my other favorites!

nursery reveal

Swivel Chair//Target – Gotta love a Target find! I can’t wait to put the baby in this chair soon and have a photo session field day 🙂 Here’s the cute koala cuddle plush and pink cushion, too!

nursery reveal

Monique Lhuillier Elephant Rocker//Pottery Barn Kids – Every nursery deserves a cute rocker for when baby grows a bit more. One of my oldest friends sent this one to Nora after she was born! Thank you, Aunt Macy!

nursery reveal

And that’s all folks! We spend so much time in this room, and it has quickly become my favorite one in the entire house. There’s a lot of love that went into it! Curious to know your favorite piece?!

Top 5: Best Hikes in the U.S.

by 10 Comments

And the thing about the great outdoors is that they don’t even have to be that great. They can be small, understated, underrated, super popular, what have you. It could be a mountain, a trail, a pond, a lake, an ocean, your front porch, or just a really pretty cactus plant…as long as your outdoors gets you outside, that’s what matters 🙂 My favorite hikes in the beautiful USofA are outlined below so if you find yourself in these areas, DO THEM.

Angel’s Landing

best hikes in the u.s.
best hikes in the u.s.
best hikes in the u.s.
Favorite daypack of the moment: Osprey Archeon 25L

Location: Zion National Park, UT

Distance: 4.1 miles, heavily trafficked, out-and-back trail

Rating: Difficult

Elevation Gain: 1,617 ft

Why I love it: I love a little danger every now and then…and when I was told there were steep drop offs, narrow sections and chains, I was all in. Loads of switchbacks (kill me) will greet you, and the view at the top is GOOOOOD.

Check out a Road Trip: Zion National Park to the Grand Canyon for all the details of our 5-day nature-filled itinerary.

Pinnacle Mountain Trail

best hikes in the u.s.
Best Hiking Boots: Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots

Location: Little Rock, AR

Distance: 1.2 miles, heavily trafficked, out-and-back trail

Rating: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 728 ft

Why I love it: I grew up in the Natural State of Arkansas! While I didn’t get my love for the outdoors until I was a 20something, I’ve come to love this hike just outside of Little Rock in the past few years. I’ve seen all walks of life and every age hiking up and down this trail. Note that once you get near Marker 7, there’s a bit of a rock scramble. READ: Not great for dogs…we learned the hard way and had to carry Charlie Bucket!

For all your Arkansas planning, bookmark A Quick Guide to Exploring Arkansas!

Vernal & Nevada Falls via Mist Trail

best hikes in the u.s.
best hikes in the u.s.
Favorite hiking pants: Patagonia Skyline Pant

Location: Yosemite National Park, CA

Distance: 6.4 miles, heavily trafficked loop trail

Rating: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 2,191 ft

Why I love it: I felt like a kid on this trail! As you pass the waterfall portion(s), you get SOAKED. If the falls are really on (esp. in the springtime) bring a rain jacket… or just embrace it. *Slippery when wet* We ate lunch at the top of Nevada Falls, and it was Alex’s first time trying a pb&j sandwich(!). They do vegemite in Australia so don’t judge him…he just doesn’t know any better 😉 If you’re in the area, try out Upper Yosemite Falls next!

For more details, check out A Quick Guide to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park!

Devil’s Bridge

best hikes in the u.s.
Favorite hiking sunnies: Goodr OG sunglasses

Location: Sedona, AZ

Distance: 4.2 miles, heavily trafficked, out-and-back trail

Rating: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 564 ft

Why I love it: Holy views! Red Rock country is stunning, and the largest natural sandstone arch in the area was so memorable. I could’ve stayed here for hours taking in the scene…but of course there are a few people who want their photo taken (obvi me included!) so onwards we went. Some scrambling and climbing is involved towards the end but nothing too strenuous. Go early or late and bring plenty of water + sunscreen! This goes for ALL hikes.

Learn more form my Road Trip: From Zion National Park to the Grand Canyon!

Wilson Peak 14er

best hikes in the u.s.
best hikes in the u.s.

Location: San Juan Mountains near Telluride, CO

Distance: 10 miles

Rating: Difficult, Class 3 climbing

Elevation Gain: 3,658 ft

Why I love it: Let me start by saying I didn’t exactly love this experience…until we summited. Circa 5am after just leaving the Rock of Ages trailhead, I was out of breath and low on oxygen…wondering what the actual HELL I got myself into. Then the sun rose and we were graced with a short period of flat-ish land again and all was well in the world. Then it was LOTS more climbing until the final summit which required just over 100 ft of rope. Turns out we summited in under 5 hours…but the wind and clouds sent off some alarm bells. We quickly made our escape and sooner rather than later, it started hailing. I’ve never felt so exposed in my life. There was nowhere – and I mean NOWHERE – to hide. Thank God for my helmet because when I finally made it to a bathtub that evening, bruises were already formed on my thighs! All of this to say…I’d do it again in a heartbeat 🙂

For continued Colorad reading, check out my Summer Guide to Telluride, CO.

Labor/Delivery: What’s in My Hospital Bag

by Leave a Comment

I was surprisingly calm while Alex poured hot water on our icy driveway so that we could make it to the hospital during the ice storm. I feel like there’s so much pressure on the bag, but in reality you don’t need a lot. It’s more of a want. At first, I got out a little tote bag thinking that’d be plenty of room. HA. I ran out in the first minute. Here’s the thing: nobody cares if you show up to the hospital with a massive suitcase. We certainly did and have zero regrets. Also know that the hospital will provide you with everything you need for labor & delivery, but it doesn’t hurt to bring your favorite creature comforts along for the ride. You never know how long you might be there, and I was so glad to have a few things from home. I also indicated below what I actually used and what went unused. I hope it’s all helpful for your own journey towards bringing a beautiful life into this world!

The Must-Haves

  • PJs (I brought this sleepshirt and wore it for two days straight! I also have this nightgown and this nightgown for postpartum wear- almost wish I would’ve brought another one to the hospital just to switch it up!) *used
  • 2 pillows (The hospital pillows are thin, so I’m glad we brought our faves from The Pillow Bar…trust me when I say look no further) *used
  • 2 blankets (We brought this one and a thin one from our last trip to Peru so we could cozy up during the day and sleep under at night) *used
  • 2 towels (Another comfort from home…maybe not necessary if you’re crunched on space) *used but didn’t need b/c the hospital had them
  • Postpartum Kit (Undies/nursing bras for those who are breastfeeding) *didn’t use because the hospital’s postpartum items are that good
  • Boppy Pillow or bottle feeding *used
  • Flip Flops for the shower *used
  • Slippers (postpartum foot pains are REAL so it was time to invest in some quality slippers!) *didn’t use at hospital but use them now!
  • Socks *used
  • Robe *didn’t use
  • Compression Socks (My feet were swollen after delivery and these helped so much!) *used
  • Going home outfit (I didn’t want anything tight, so I brought a dress during one of the coldest days of the year…) *used

Toiletry Bag

  • Body Wash (Taking a shower after labor felt SO amazing) *used
  • Make-Up bag (To each her own 🙂 ) *used
  • Hair brush *used
  • Toothbrush/paste *used
  • Deodorant *used
  • Face cleanser *used
  • Moisturizer *used
  • Chapstick (always and everywhere) *used
  • Prenatal/Postnatal vitamins *used

Nora’s Bag

  • Diaper Bag (LOVE this travel-friendly bag made from wattle bottles with a roll out changing station) *used
  • Diapers *didn’t use
  • Wipes *didn’t use
  • Burp cloths *didn’t use
  • Pacifier *didn’t use
  • Baby Blanket *used
  • 2 going home outfits for Nora (I ended up packing a couple in case she spit up on one, but we didn’t end up putting her in an outfit until we were discharged. We was always so cozy in those hospital blankets or doing skin to skin time (onesie/hat/socks) *used

Miscellaneous

  • Banana Bread (see my recipe here!) *used
  • Snacks *used
  • iPhone chargers (lots of people said to buy an extra long charger but we didn’t get that far before my water broke ha!) *used
  • Camera *used
  • Tripod *used
  • Speaker *didn’t use
  • Book *didn’t use
  • Journal *didn’t use
  • Driver’s License/Insurance Card *used

Parenthood: What We’ve Learned the First Two Weeks

by 5 Comments

After we got home from the hospital, I put up a question box on Instagram asking what y’all wanted to know about parenthood after the first week (because we’re such pros HA). We finally got around to answering them in the below video during Nora’s second week of life 🙂 Grab a drink and get cozy. I hope it’s helpful!

I’ve linked a few of our favorite products below:

Swaddles of the Moment

I’d heard from other moms to buy a few different swaddles including the Halo Sleep Sack, the Australian-designed Love to Dream and Ollie Swaddle. I feel like Nora is super snug in the Halo, almost mimicking the womb. The Love to Dream swaddle is great because it’s done with arms UP which is how Nora sleep a lot of the time. The Ollie is amazing as well, one we use a lot in the daytime.

3 must-have baby products we couldn’t live without during the first week

Babies don’t need a lot of things – especially during their first few weeks of life. They’ll be spending the majority of their time feeding, sleeping and pooping 🙂 With that being said, here are our favorite items from the first few weeks!

Dr. Brown’s Bottles: Nora didn’t take to the first bottles we offered so Alex jumped in the car for a Target run. I know these bottles have many parts to them, but I love the fully vented design and how they offer a paced, controlled feeding.

Boppy Nursing Pillow: Feeding a baby is an arm workout! It may not seem like it at first, but after a few minutes of holding a newborn…the strain is real! This pillow helps support the baby when used under your arm while breast or bottle feeding. We threw it into our suitcase right before heading to the hospital and I’m so glad we did!

Dock-A-Tot: I’ve received so many questions on her Dock-A-Tot! We love it because it provides a cozy place for her to lounge during the day. We don’t use it at night, but during the day Nora feels super snug in it and rests very well (always supervised).

A few hospital helpers

We were very taken care of while at the hospital for labor and delivery, but a few comfort items never hurt! The provided pillows and blankets were pretty thin, so I’m glad we grabbed two pillows and two blankets from home. SNACKS. Don’t forget the snacks 🙂 Luckily we had some fresh banana bread on the counter which was promptly thrown into the hospital bag! See my recipe here. You may also want flips flops for the shower/walks along the hallway, especially if your feet are swollen ladies! A more thorough list is coming soon!

Postpartum items for Mama

Everyone asks about baby, but don’t forget to take care of YOU! My favorite postpartum items are below.

PJ Set: I’ve lost track on the amount of times I’ve worn this cozy jogger PJ set in the last few weeks! So grateful for my mom who gifted it to me when we got home from the hospital!

Frida Mom Kit: A good friend put me onto this recovery kit, and I’m SO glad she did! Once we were all set up in the hospital for labor and delivery, I texted my sister to go to Target and buy this ASAP. The disposable undies will honestly be the most comfortable things you’ve ever put on. If the hospital doesn’t give you a peri bottle, you’ll want one from this brand – sold separately from the kit!

Slippers: My feet hurt during pregnancy…but what I was unprepared for was just how badly they’d hurt after pregnancy as well. Maybe it’s temporary, maybe it’s plantar fasciitis. Slippers around the house and shoes with a supportive arch definitely help!

IMG_2990 copy

A Baby Story: Nora Blanche Kavanagh

by 37 Comments

With a due date of March 5th (previously March 2nd according to my OB in LA), we were still coasting along with pregnancy. I was feeling good both physically and mentally, continuing to Peloton, grow out of all maternity clothes and check off the baby’s to-do list. What remained: receiving her dresser, hanging nursery curtains, installing the car seat, packing a hospital bag and choosing a name. We were well and truly in the nesting phase…waiting, waiting, waiting. That’s the funny thing about the last month of pregnancy. The moment I hit 36 weeks, we were on baby watch. It was like an exhale knowing that if she did decide to come at any moment, we were ready. Ish.

Cut to the morning of February 11th. We woke up to a high of 29°F and freezing drizzle outside. Some would say that spontaneous delivery is related to falling barometric pressure, and I believe it 🙂 The driveway was icy, and we spent a large chunk of the morning trying to save the birds by putting up window stickers and scare tape. They’d been running into our windows nonstop for a few days, and I was determined to do something about it. Looking back on this makes me laugh because little did we know what was about to happen that afternoon. Don’t mind us! Just over here casually putting up bird stickers when in reality we should’ve been packing a bag. I actually jinxed everything when I put up an Instagram story saying “Here’s to hoping baby Kav doesn’t come today. Driveway is steeper than it looks!” Three hours later we’d be driving to the hospital.

birth story nora blanche

I’d just hung up the phone with a friend in Argentina when the clock struck noon. I stood up from my chair and made my way over to the table when I felt it. A slow trickle. Not steady but not not steady. Of course the movement of fluid down there wasn’t uncommon for the third trimester. My body was doing overtime after all, but this hit different. It was around the same time that I ever so calmly (not really) asked Alex to install the car seat. I think I knew what was happening, but I put it in the back of my mind because I wasn’t sure. I’ve always thought water breaking was synonymous with a huge gush of liquid down your legs to pile out onto the floor beneath you. This wasn’t that. I texted my friend who was due only two days before me and said the following:

a baby story nora blanche kavanagh

Just trying to keep it real over here. I had no clue what was happening, but I did eventually call my doctor after a few more minutes of wondering IF THIS WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING…and I got the following recording:

“Due to inclement weather, the clinic is closed today.” Lolololol. I hung up and started laughing. Nervous/excited laughter. Of course it would happen this way! Part of me loved the adventure, the other part of me was slightly concerned on next steps. Our driveway was steep and icy and we didn’t have 4wheel drive. The clinic was closed…but of course the hospital was still open. I called direct and asked to be transferred to Labor & Delivery. The sweet woman on the other end of the phone told me to put on a pad and if it was saturated within an hour…my water probably broke and to come in immediately. So I did just that.

The pad was saturated in 30 seconds.

Cue The Office meme…

The excitement was a rush. Alex had finished installing the car seat (!) and I think I yelled “MY WATER BROKE, I REPEAT MY WATER BROKE!” He was somewhere at the other end of the house already filling up a cooler with hot water. This baby was about to make her big debut, and he was just giving her a helping hand with 30+ trips to the ice field, also known as our driveway. The best daddy-to-be!

I called my mom and sisters to tell them the news and remained super calm. We spent the next hour and a half packing a bag and eating lunch. The woman from Labor & Delivery told me to eat something substantial because I may not get another chance once I was at the hospital depending on my birth plan. Mom came over and made some sandwiches as I double checked everything in our bag (will post in another blog if that’s helpful!). We took one last photo as a family of two, put a towel down in the passenger seat and headed out!

birth story nora blanche

We arrived to the hospital a little before 3pm. We FaceTimed the Kavanaghs to tell them the big news, got all the gadgets and monitors set up and…we waited. Not a single contraction for hours. Our amazing nurse, Victoria, finally had to administer Pitocin to get them going…and going they did. She told me that I could request for the epidural at any time, so I delayed it a bit. The human body and its capabilities are wildly fascinating to me, and I wanted to experience the contractions that were coming on. All of a sudden, it felt like they went from 0 to 100, and those yoga breathing exercises definitely came in handy. The only way I can describe the pain is by comparing it to the worst menstrual cramps of your life, then timing that by 100. Shout out to the women who forgo the epidural. Shout out to the women who go for the epidural. At the end of the day, nobody gets a prize for either. It’s all a deeply personal journey, one that should be uplifted, cherished and celebrated.

Unbeknownst to me, Alex took a few photos to try and capture the moment.

birth story nora blanche
birth story nora blanche

Around 11:30pm, I was given the epidural. I immediately felt a rush of warmth throughout my lower body. I went from doing labored breathing exercises to a state of euphoria. The anesthesia allowed me to be more awake, alert and present in the moment until we decided to try and get some sleep. Around 2:55am, the doctor who was on-call came in for a cervix check. She looked at me and said, “Alright! Are you ready to have this baby!?” I was still super sleepy and *uber* relaxed, completely not expecting to be at 10cm. “Already?” I think I said…her reply was given in the immediate action of turning on all the lights and alerting the troops. In came about 5 nurses ready for their call of duty. It was high energy and an insanely beautiful memory. I wish I could relive this experience over and over for the rest of my life. I remember Alex handing a nurse a camera and the doctor guiding my legs into stirrups. Everyone was happy, excited and ready. My incredible team of doctors and nurses prepped me on how to push properly, and on their count I did 3 sets of 2 pushes and an extra for good luck. My mom always said I had baby-making/birthing hips, and she’s never been more right. After 7 pushes, my daughter had arrived.

birth story nora blanche

Nora Blanche Kavanagh was born at 3:05am on February 12th. Throughout my entire pregnancy I always wondered what it would be like when they placed my baby on my chest like you see in the movies. I couldn’t grasp it…almost like the vision was impaired in my mind and better left for the real thing. The actual moment was pure, out-of-body, full of elation and larger than life. This 5 lb 15 oz baby girl was small but mighty as she pierced my soul with her big, dark eyes. With two Pisces in the immediate family, I thought Nora would join the ranks of the twelfth astrological sign in the Zodiac based on her due date. I love a good surprise and couldn’t be more excited for this Aquarius baby who just so happened to be born on the Lunar New Year and the Aquarius New Moon with 6 other planets also in Aquarius, even further amplifying the energy. This sun sign is intelligent, innovative, open-minded, forward-thinking and humanitarian-like. Aquarian energy asks us to embrace the out-of-the-box ideas and open ourselves up to world of limitles(s) possibilities. She is definitely my daughter!

birth story nora blanche
birth story nora blanche
birth story nora blanche

Over the next 36 hours, we learned how to feed, burp, swaddle and cuddle the tiniest human I’d ever met. And one thing’s for sure: We’re still learning. The days (and nights!) are long, but the years are short. I know I’ll look up one day and she’ll be going off to college and I’ll cry my eyes out, aching for those sleepless nights and laundry-filled, messy days again. And to my partner, Alex…words fail me when I think about how to adequately express my gratitude for you. The way you take care of us and love this baby girl is immeasurable. We are so lucky to call you ours.

birth story nora blanche

I get it now.

“It” being the unconditional love. The bond. How nothing else matters. I couldn’t and still cannot believe she is mine. Ours.

Kavanagh, party of THREE!

birth story nora blanche

Instagram

lesleyannemurphy

Crop Image