You were the first GoGo I knew, so I called you “GoGo” like it was your name... so everybody else did too. It took me years to find out your actual name.

You took me into your home and loved me like I was yours long before we knew how to verbally communicate with each other. You took Lifa into your home and loved him before I did.

I always had great friendships while I was a student. I grew up learning how to make friends in intentional, Christian environments. That led me to making choices toward intentional, Christian friendships when I was in college and graduate school. It was those friendships - the ones where I chose to be intentional with other Christian women - that changed my life and helped me learn how to have a real relationship with Jesus.

Do you know the infamous “afternoon slump” as intimately as I do? The one that makes you turn to afternoon coffee, even though you know you shouldn’t and it won’t even help? The one that makes eyes so heavy, voices so cranky, and dinner so hard to make?

I turbo through my mornings with amazing efficiency, trying to get dinner made and the day’s tasks done before the afternoon slump hits (which also happens to coincide with every other human’s time of greatest need). My turbo mornings inevitably leave me even slumpier in the afternoons.

I’ve recently asked a few friends this (potentially very weird) question. Chris and I have always had as very defined evening routine since we started our marriage with a 7-year old. It’s that “after the kids go to bed” time of day that we haven’t nailed.

It’s very valuable to Chris to have time to unplug in the evenings. He relaxes by stretching out on the couch, going quiet, and watching TV or videos. Those are all of my least favorite things. I crave “plugging in” with another adult. I’d rather go to bed early, trading unwinding for actual sleep. Screens and shows overstimulate me and drain me. Do you see the issue here?

Last week, as my sister’s one-million hour labor began, I felt that familiar sensation in my tear ducts as my heart stretched to another hemisphere. I haven’t seen my little sister-mama in five years. We’ve both reproduced since then! As sweet Evie-baby was slowly making her way into the world, I was having sympathy pains, speaking nonsense, and chucking my to-do lists out the window. We were having a baby. It just could not be a regular Tuesday.

Last night was one of those nights where chewing was the loudest sound at the dinner table. Conversations were stifled, and you could taste the tension. Here’s the deal... Things have been GREAT! Chris and I are better than ever. I love him more deeply with each day. God has been opening doors, answering prayers, and we are completely overwhelmed by His favor in our lives. Annnnnnnd we have an 18-month old who is developing beautifully in all the appropriate ways. (Ie: sounds, spills, squeals, screams.)

I’m writing this blog from the floor while my toddler stacks rocks dangerously close to our WiFi router. I’ve calculated how long this can go on before a disaster strikes, so I’m using my time wisely. We’ve had a long series of late nights this week. Church events. Help Club meetings. All the good things we’ve prayed into for years. AND we’ve started some 18-month sleep regression shenanigans. (To be honest, this floor-rock-router situation is me resting up the next activity.)

I stretch my limits twice a week with heavy weights, high intensity, and online personal training with David. I scream-lift for 40 minute, and I love it! I’m getting stronger! Lifa (the best big brother ever) plays with Benjamin so I can get in the zone. The second I say goodbye to David and close my computer, Lifa and Benjamin come out with big, expectant grins. With practiced shock, Lifa says, “Oh, are you finished?” Everyone is ready for Mom to be back in charge, incapacitated or not. It’s charming. Endearing. And I feel like I could break.

My husband and I have a great “story”. We still laugh at its quirks and relish in God’s faithfulness when we tell others how we met and married. The details of our first encounters are not really our “story”, however. A story is written page by page and day by day.

Benjamin is my ride or die. I take that kid with me wherever I go. We sing Raffi (circa 1989) in the car together and adventure through forests, mountains, puddles and playgrounds.

Benjamin Lee Ladd is a full-on extrovert. Chris and I are two very introverted people with two very extroverted children. How does that happen!?! Benjamin has become very shy since COVID began. I’ve shrugged it off, noticing all the kids dealing with it and assuming he’d warm up sooner or later.

I’m back after a week long “brain break”. A little over a week ago, I noticed myself snarking and snapping at my family - verbally, with laser eyes, or through embittered thoughts that released themselves as breathy, exasperated sighs. RED FLAG ALERT! I don’t want to be an exasperated person.

Tomorrow we celebrate our 5 year anniversary! If you’re new to the Ladd Family - we are so glad you are here!!!!! Here is a fun little rendition our story I wrote right after we were married. I hope you enjoy the flashback as much as I did!

I am so thankful for these beautiful men and this beautiful life. Every day isn’t sunshine and roses… in fact, there was such an extraordinary toddler meltdown all the way home I ended the day with a migraine. BUT it’s these photos, these glistening moments in a flowery field, I will turn to on the cloudier days to remind me I am loved deeply and fully by this fantastic, flowery family of mine.

True love looks like a (very handsome) man who did the opposite of everything he would normally do for a day to make his wife’s dream come true. I love, love, love new places, exploring beauty and family outings.

It’s a big birthday week! I turned 36 on Sunday, and my NaNa would have been 83 today. I did what every responsible grown woman would do on the first birthday without her NaNa: yelled at two strangers, ate birthday chocolate, made enough chili to feed Africa - all of Africa, looked at every NaNa picture I could find, and cried until my eyes were swollen shut.

I had a GREAT birthday yesterday! Thank you for all the messages and kindness! I woke up to my handsome husband asking me how it feels to be 28. (I turned 36, so that was the perfect question.) And the day only went up from there!

It’s Friday! It’s been a BUSY week of ministry, changes, growth and work. But as the week comes to an end, I’m looking back with a happy heart at the little moments with my family. Have a beautiful, wonderful weekend, friends. And snap a pic of a moment you want to savor!a

Brag session: Chris Ladd was looking goooood on Sunday morning at Southpoint Church online. I’ve been hitting on him ever since. There’s just something so right about a man who has walked through the deepest, darkest of times and climbs out of it to tell others about the faithfulness of Jesus. Am I right?

While I’m up extra early with Benjamin every morning, Chris makes the coffee and jumps right into a quiet time and a super early start to his work day. He winds down on the couch in the evenings while I work. We always try to go to bed together, even if I have to wake Chris up from the couch after I finish up for the night.

My sister is very pregnant, and I’m dyyyyyyying to touch that belly. I want to celebrate pregnancy milestones with her so badly I’ve started craving what I ate while I was pregnant. (Note: I am definitely not pregnant! It’s just a very weird way I’m responding to missing my sis!)