Hi friends! Welcome to the blog!

Welcome to Beare and Co. Blog! I have had this idea swirling around in my head for the last few years. When I was pregnant for the first time, I spent hours reading blogs. Being super type A, I wanted to know everything I could about being a Mom, and I wanted to know exactly what to expect. The truth is, you never know what to expect when you have a baby, whether it’s your first or fifth – every experience is different.

I loved reading other Mom’s stories, what they went through, and what they experienced. Each blogger was different, but at the same time, so similar, in that they were all just trying their best to navigate this crazy thing we call Mom life (and Dad life!)

I remember when Chloe was a newborn, there were so many things I wish I had known, and so many things I wished someone had told me. Cluster feeding, what’s that? Postpartum hair loss, say what? Why does formula get such a bad rap? Have I ever been this tired in my entire life? During our many cluster feeds together I drafted blog posts. I wrote about what I was going through and how I felt about what was happening. Of course having a newborn didn’t leave me much time to actually think about getting the blog off the ground. Oh and did I mention I started a bookkeeping business while all of this was happening? I plan to share what it’s like to not only be an entrepreneur but a “mompreneur” and how I spent the first three years of business being pregnant, home with a baby full-time and for nine months – both! Is baby brain a thing, you bet it is!

My goal is to share my story, reflect on my experiences and offer support and guidance. Whether you’re a Mom or not, I hope to add some value and inspiration.

I thought I should share some photos of my little family – these three are my whole world. My husband Louis is the glue that holds us all together. He is the most supportive husband, and the best Dad! He not only supports my goals and dreams, but he helps me work towards them.

Chloe is our first born, and the sweetest little thing ever! She has been a happy girl from day one and she is constantly keeping us on our toes with her hilarious personality and independence. She’s a sassy one, in the best possible way!

Our little Oliver (known around our house as “Ollie”) joined our family 20 months after Chloe. Louis and I wanted our kids to be close in age. My brother and I have the exact same age difference and although we rarely admit it, we’ve always been close friends. I felt the mother-son bond the minute Ollie came into the world (he made me work for it, with hours of unmedicated labour, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat!) He and I have a special relationship, and I have loved watching him grow into a hilarious little boy with a big personality. He has such a kind nature, the way he keeps an eye on his sister warms my heart, and I know he will continue to look out for her as they get older.

These photos were shot by the talented Shaylyn Bradley of Shaylyn Bradley Documentary Art. Shaylyn is one of our favourite photographers! During our documentary session, Shaylyn was able to capture memories and moments in a very natural and authentic way. Looking through these photos makes me realize just how precious the little everyday moments are. Having photos of things we do everyday (and sometimes take for granted or don’t always appreciate) is really special. Not many people have photos of changing a diaper, feeding their baby a bottle or their little ones eating, but those are the little things that seem to slip by so quickly. I think it’s great for the kids to be able to look back on a time in their life that they may not remember as they get older. I love that Shaylyn took some of the photos from the doorway, looking in, it really illustrates how real and raw those moments were. Being a Mom of four herself definitely shines through in her work – it is so obvious that she has experienced those moments herself. She has an incredibly keen eye for the little things that deserve to be captured.

My biggest piece of advice is to invest in photography. Even if it’s a mini session here and there, it’s so special to be able to look back at the photos and remember that season of life, because each season really does pass by so quickly.

Thank you for being here, and I can’t wait to connect with you as I start to really dive into this blogging “thing.”

xo Jess