I sit here writing my first post, hoping no one wakes up from nap time early today. It’s been a whirlwind having two daughters, two and under. I live for nap time and bed time, so I can have a few minutes to myself with a glass of wine before cleaning up the house, paying bills, or whatever else may need to be done. However, at the same time, I miss them and wish we could just snuggle and play all day. Anyone else have that internal struggle where two of the best feelings are being with your children but also not being with them? The emotions of motherhood are crazy!
Hello mamas! I’m Kara, and I am thrilled to join Detroit Moms Blog as a contributor. I’m a full-time wife, mom, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I have lived in Michigan my whole life, growing up in the metro Detroit area. After graduating high school, I stayed near home and attended Oakland University. I earned two bachelor’s degrees, one in Health Science and the other in nursing. I then decided to continue my education at Wayne State University, completing my Master’s degree in Nursing and have been working as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for the past four years.
I met my husband Kevin when I was 18. We have been together for 12 years and will be celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary this fall. Prior to getting married in 2015 and having children, we adopted a dog, both completed our college degrees, traveled a bit, enjoyed our care-free weekends of meeting up with friends, and living our best lives, or so we thought…
We thought we knew what love was, but that quickly changed when we welcomed our first baby girl, Kaylee, in April 2017. She is now two and is developing quite the personality. I like to think of her as a go-getter who knows exactly what she wants in life. I know these traits will help her develop into a strong woman. She is full of energy from the moment she wakes until her head hits the pillow at night. She is ALWAYS on the go and keeps me on my toes.
Our second daughter, Kinsley, was born January 2019 and is now six months old. For now, Kinsley seems to be my calm and laid-back girl, which helps balance out her older sister’s personality. She has the sweetest smile and the most contagious giggle.
Juggling life with two young girls has been quite the adjustment for the both of us. Kevin works a typical 9-to-5 job while I work off shifts in the hospital. Most weekdays we see each other in passing since he gets home as I am hurrying out the door. Even though we don’t see each other as often during the week, it is a blessing that I am able to work the schedule I do. It has allowed me to stay home with girls during the day and not miss out on all the precious moments of their little lives that seem to be going by so fast.
Beyond being a mom, wife, and nurse practitioner, there are many things that make me, “me”. I am an avid gym-goer. Not only do I love how I feel after a good sweat sesh, both physically and mentally, but it also gives my girls a healthy lifestyle to follow. I love traveling and can’t wait to start planning trips for our family to continue to explore the world. Christmas is my favorite holiday. A real tree is a must, and you bet that I have Kevin haul in the biggest tree that will fit in our house. There’s a ridiculous amount of lights, ornaments, and décor strung throughout the house. I can only hope that the girls grow up to enjoy the magic of Christmas time like I do. I love to curl up on the couch with our dog, Jack, and a glass of red wine in the evenings. In our spare time, Kevin and I enjoy a good date night downtown. I’m a sucker for some good food, a craft beer, and I never say no to dessert. In the summer, we both enjoy playing a round of golf, tailgating before a country concert, and taking the girls to my parents’ house to enjoy some fun in the pool.
I am excited to be a contributor and can’t wait to share all things motherhood and Detroit with you!
