Mountain Moon Doula, Fort Collins, CO (2026)

10/08/2026

CHAPTER EIGHT: MAGICAL DOULA

Heather and I knew each other before I became pregnant with Jordynn. We had crossed paths in the birth world and often recommended each other to our clients. I knew of the magic she created for other families, but I had never experienced it firsthand.

Early in my pregnancy, I was invited to Heather’s house for a little get-together. There was something about her energy and her vibe that gave me goosebumps just being in her presence.

After that day, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to ask her to be my doula.

I thought long and hard about it. I know so many incredible birth doulas and had been supported by some of the very best, but something in me kept saying Heather. It felt like the universe was pulling me toward her.

I am SO thankful I listened.

Heather didn’t even give it a second thought when I asked. I could tell immediately that it wasn’t about money or filling her schedule. It was about genuine connection, love, and a passion for what she does.

She continued to impress me by showing up for me even when it had nothing to do with my pregnancy. She reminded me to eat, rest, and breathe when my mind was focused on everything else. She offered massages, called to check on my mental state, and somehow became more like a best friend than a doula.

When we found out baby was breech, I remember thinking, “Thank goodness Heather is my doula!” I had complete faith that with her guidance and the tools she had given me, baby would turn.

Sure enough, baby flipped on her own at 36 weeks.

When Heather arrived at my birth, she had already been at the hospital for 12+ hours supporting another mama. Yet she showed up fully present, completely supportive, and with that same beautiful smile, ready to do whatever we needed.

The moment she arrived, I felt calmer. Her words, encouragement, and the essential oils she brought to help shift my mindset were exactly what I needed.

Haven was thrilled to have Heather as a constant friend throughout it all, too. They chatted during labor, exchanged hugs and smiles, and Heather made sure Haven felt involved and supported every step of the way.

She was the perfect addition to our birth team, and I truly couldn’t imagine it any other way.

A doula is something special, but Heather, she is so much more!

She exists on a whole other magical realm of her own.
Heather Stanley ❤️

10/02/2026

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE ONE WHO MADE ME A MAMA
Early in my pregnancy, Haven expressed that she wanted to be there for the birth of her new baby sibling. I didn’t even give it a second thought. I was thrilled at the idea.
I think every child should be as involved as they want to be. It was important to me that she experienced what birth can look like and learned that it doesn’t have to be this big, scary thing. Just as I had mentally prepared for my births, Haven would need to prepare for her experience as well.
She attended birth class with us and was involved in asking questions, learning anatomy, and learning what physiological birth can look like. She practiced coping skills with us and just took it all in.
After everything she learned, she decided she wanted to help catch her sister and cut the cord.
That was such a proud mama moment.
Not just because she was only seven years old, but because she was comfortable enough to say, I want to be part of this. She trusted herself. She trusted us. She wasn’t afraid.
When the time came for Jordynn’s arrival, Haven was ready and excited.
We woke her around 1 a.m., and through her sleepy eyes she said, “I am so tired,” with a smile on her face.
I asked if she still wanted to come with us or if she would rather go back to bed.
She didn’t hesitate.
She wanted to be there.
In the labor room, with everything happening around her, she was simply present. Smiling. Holding space. Listening. Relaxing.
She would come over and hold my hand or gently touch my arm. Every time I looked over at her to make sure she was okay, I was met with pure joy on her face.
She held onto her daddy and watched contentedly as I brought her baby sister into the world.
She didn’t get to catch her because Jordynn came so quickly, but she was still excited to cut the cord.
Afterward, she looked at me and said it was like cutting a gummy worm.
The laughter we shared in that moment is something I’ll never forget.
When the room cleared, she was right by my side. She touched her sister, gave her kisses, and took in every tiny detail.
We laughed about the goo in her hair and talked Jordynn pooped or eaten first. We looked at her tiny fingernails and marveled at how long they already were.
We snuggled.
We laughed.
And I soaked it all in.
Haven got to push the lullaby button on our way to the women’s care unit. She laid in bed with me and held her sister. When we were finally left to rest, she curled up and napped between my legs.
I remember looking at her and smiling, realizing that she had been through it all too.
Of course she was exhausted.
When the sun came up, it was time for her to go home. She wanted to stay until Jordynn and I came home.
She was feeling that postpartum bliss right along with me.
Haven was the one who made me a mama.
She was there when I first became one, and now, years later, she stood beside me as I became a mama to her baby sister.
My first and my last.
Together.
My heart was somehow holding every version of our story all at once. The beginning, the middle, and the beautiful closing chapter.
There was happiness and sadness and nostalgia and awe, all tangled together.
One day, if Haven chooses motherhood for herself, she may stand in a room like this one too. She may hold a tiny baby in her arms and understand, in a way only a mother can, what this moment meant.
The thought that I got to share a little piece of that with her, before she ever knows what it feels like to experience it herself, is a gift I will never take for granted.
I would do it all over again a million times.

09/29/2026

CHAPTER SIX: WELCOME TO THE WORLD
They laid her on my chest, and for a moment, everything else seemed to disappear.
I felt like I had waited a lifetime to meet her.
And suddenly, she was here.
My baby.
I was so happy. So relieved. So completely overwhelmed by the fact that the little girl I had carried, talked to, dreamed about, and loved for months was finally lying on my chest.
It had all happened so quickly that I was still a little bit in shock. My body had just done something incredible, and it took a moment for my mind to catch up. To come back to me. To realize that she was really here.
I held her close and stared at her sweet face, trying to take in every little detail.
The feelings were bigger than words.
Hello, Jordynn Faith Eryn.
Her name carries so much love and meaning.
She was named in honor of my beautiful niece, Brynn, and my amazing dad, Aaron.
After the year we had been through, faith, strength, and love were the things that carried us through.
Jordynn was with me through all of it.
She felt the things I felt. She heard what was happening around us, and in so many ways, she reminded me to keep going. To be strong. To hold on.
She has been my light, and her birth was special in a completely different way.
There was something so incredibly meaningful about bringing her into the world after everything we had walked through together.
She will be my last baby.
The last baby I get to experience all the firsts with. The last tiny newborn I'll hold in my arms. The last time I'll memorize those little fingers and toes, breathe in that newborn smell, and realize that somehow, another piece of my heart is now living outside of me.
Maybe that's why this moment felt so incredibly precious.
Because I knew.
I knew I would never get this exact moment again.
But I also knew that the connection between us, the one that began long before I ever held her, would always be there.
My sweet Jordynn.
You were my light through one of the hardest years of my life, and now, here you are.
Welcome to the world, baby girl.
📸 The golden hour and soaking in this amazing little baby. My hubby staying by her side while she was being weighed.

Heather Stanley

09/27/2026

CHAPTER FIVE: BEAUTIFUL BABY
Once the second IV was placed (I was considered a hemorrhage risk due to my last birth) it was time.
I can remember the exact moment in each and every one of my births when I had to give myself a pep talk.
There is always a moment of doubt. A moment when I want to tense up, hold my breath, and tell myself, I can’t do this.
Then, somehow, I have to change my mindset.
It all happens within a matter of seconds. That tiny window right before your sweet baby makes their way earthside.
This was that moment.
I had been holding it all together. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to let go. My mind and my body had been holding on, waiting until that last IV was placed and I was finally left alone to do what my body was made to do.
Then I told myself, “IT IS TIME. Breathe. Relax. Let go. Meet your baby.”
And just like that, my body took over.
My body started pushing.
I was sitting straight up when my whole body jolted backward onto the bed. Her head was coming down.
One push, her head was out.
Two pushes, my water broke, and the rest of her little body followed.
And then, at 3:31 a.m., the moment I had been waiting for.
Relief.
A beautiful baby girl.
My sweet baby was finally here.
All the fear, all the waiting, all the holding on melted away.
She was earthside.
And she was mine.

📸 The moment that I pushed her little body out. The nurses didnt realize her head was out. Kevin was checking on Haven and rushed her over when he realized Jordynn was about to be here. The doctor came in just in time. Heather being her magical self, staying by my side, and encouraging me every moment.

09/24/2026

CHAPTER FOUR: THE HARD PART
We arrived at the hospital around 2:00 am.
My husband dropped me at the emergency room doors while he parked the car. I walked in through security, pressing that burst button on my TENS every time a surge hit.
And somehow, I was still able to smile and chat with the security guard.
I was focused. Staying calm. Breathing through each surge.
They were coming closer together.
And getting stronger.
What felt like a lifetime later, a labor nurse came down with a wheelchair to whisk me away.
(It couldn't have been more than five minutes.)
We moved slowly through the halls and into the elevator.
Finally, we arrived at the birthing ward.
They put me in triage.
2:13 am — I texted Heather that I was getting my robe on.
2:16 am — Heather walked in. I texted Aubrey that we had made it to the hospital.
2:25 am — Aubrey texted that she had just walked into the ER.
2:30 am — Aubrey joined us in the triage room.
Our birth team was here.
And I was ready to let my body give in to all the feels.
The OB on call did a cervical check, with my consent.
8 cm.
This was really happening.
Soon.
I immediately asked if they had called my OB yet.
No?!
I told them to call him.
Like, now.
He had been with me through my last pregnancy and birth, and we couldn't say enough good things about him. He is one of those special doctors who actually listens, lets you lead, talks through your choices with you, and gives you informed consent.
They should all be like that, right?
At this point, I wasn't talking during contractions anymore.
But in between them, I could still talk.
I could still laugh.
We chatted while the nurses wheeled me into the labor and delivery room right beside us.
Unfortunately, there was no IV team at 2 am.
The labor nurses tried twice.
Failed twice.
They called an ER nurse to try.
And then I got the news:
My OB was unreachable.
I let them know I was feeling pushy.
The ER nurse arrived.
She placed the IV successfully.
I told them again.
I was getting pushy.
My body was ready.
Ready to bring this baby into the world.
📸 IVs are almost in and I am ready to meet my baby. Hubby watching the contractions on the monitor.
Heather Stanley

09/22/2026

CHAPTER THREE: DENIAL

Sometime just before 1:00 a.m., I woke up.
It felt like I had been jolted awake out of nowhere with this sudden burst of energy.

I was having contractions.
But they didn’t feel particularly intense.

Honestly, they weren’t much stronger than the Braxton Hicks I had been having for weeks. They weren’t even very consistent yet.

I woke up my husband.
“I think we might have a baby soon.”

We laid there for a few minutes, and I told him we should probably start getting ready to go to the hospital, but I didn’t think we needed to rush.

He got up and started gathering everything.
And then, almost as quickly as it had started, things began to change.

The contractions became more consistent. The surges picked up in intensity.
Still manageable.
But different.

I looked at Kevin and told him, “We should probably leave soon.”

He woke up my mother-in-law, who was staying with us, and we woke up my daughter, who we had planned to bring with us to the hospital to attend the birth.

I got out of bed and somehow managed to get dressed.

Things were moving fast.

At 1:13 a.m., I texted Heather Stanley
“I think it’s baby time!”

Even then, I think a part of me was still in denial. I remember telling her I’d let her know how things looked once we got to the hospital.

Kevin put my TENS unit on me before I left our bedroom. He loaded up the car while I swayed through a few contractions, talking to my kids and my mother-in-law in between them.

There was excitement in the air.

And then we were on our way.

At 1:48 a.m., I decided it was time to call our birth photographer,

“We’re heading to the hospital. Things are moving fast, but we’ll let you know once we’re checked in.”

Luckily for me, neither Heather nor Aubrey waited around. Because once we got to the hospital around 2:00 a.m., everything would happen in a flash.

📸 Probably still in denial that we were about to meet our baby girl and at the same time mentally preparing for what was to come next.

09/20/2026

CHAPTER TWO: IT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN

Every morning for the last few weeks, I would wake up and prepare myself just in case we were having a baby that day.

I’d shower, put my hair in braids, make sure my lashes were done, and have everything sitting on the countertop, ready to toss into my hospital bag. Every night, I made sure the house was tidy and the dishes were done.

I had this vision in my head of how everything would go. I knew the birth pictures I wanted. I wanted to feel prepared, and honestly, being prepared was one of the few things I felt like I could control.

That morning started like any other. We had two grocery orders to pick up, and I remember feeling completely exhausted at the thought of managing it all. My husband took the kids with him while I stayed home. When they got back, we ate lunch, and then I put my toddler down for his nap. I decided to lay down too.
Later, my husband and mother-in-law took the kids to swim lessons, and once again, I stayed home to rest.

Looking back, I was exhausted in a way that probably should have made me wonder. But at the time? It didn’t feel unusual. I was heavily pregnant. I had been tired for weeks. Nothing felt different. Nothing felt like a warning that everything was about to change.

That afternoon, I was texting my doula, Heather Stanley. We were chatting about another mama from our birth class who had started having contractions. I jokingly told Heather to send some of those labor vibes my way.

She laughed and told me not to go into labor yet because she wanted to make sure she could be at both births.

Around 9:00 that night, I got the message that the other mama had her baby.

And at 9:09, Heather texted me:
She was sending the labor vibes now.

If you don’t know Heather yet, she truly is a magical doula and an amazing person all around.

I probably should have known right then that somehow, everything was aligning perfectly.

I told her we just needed to get a good night’s sleep and hopefully we’d go into labor the next day.

📸 The one who made me a mommy. Waiting and anticipating what was about to happen. Excited and nervous all at the same time!

09/18/2026

CHAPTER ONE: BEFORE SHE ARRIVED

There are so many things I remember about that day and the weeks leading up to it.

The anxiousness of waiting for labor to get going. Feeling every Braxton Hicks and wondering, Is this it? Will I meet my baby soon? The little details. The exhaustion. The emotions. The feeling that every day was getting us closer, but somehow, I still had no idea when she would actually arrive.

We were already past our due date, so every passing day felt more and more unpredictable.

I had no obvious signs of labor. I just knew my body was preparing.

I had been having Braxton Hicks anytime I was on my feet, every single day since around 30 weeks. My body was making progress, even if I couldn’t really see it. At my last appointment, my cervix was soft, but dilation was still minimal.

And there were so many other things running through my mind.

My other kiddos. The start of school getting closer. Would I feel well enough to take them to their first day?

My wonderful mother-in-law had already been with us for over a week. Would she get to meet the baby before she had to leave in just a few days?

Then there was me.

Wondering how much longer I could keep feeling as crappy as I did. The terrible headaches. The overwhelming fatigue. Barely being able to move around or function without feeling completely drained.

And then there was the induction.

The day before I went into labor, I called to schedule it.

As much as I didn’t want to be induced, I wanted to be induced. IYKYK

At the time, I didn’t know which moments would stay with me. I didn’t know which ones I would look back on years later and wish I could step into again, even if just for a few seconds.

I can remember the waiting.
The discomfort.
The anticipation.
The uncertainty.
The feeling that something huge was just around the corner.

I didn’t know it then, but this was only the beginning.

📸 Colorado Maternity Photography
38 weeks and thinking back to my first birth with this grown (but not so grown) little girl, awaiting our next baby girl, and barely having the energy to show up to this photoshoot. Thanks Ethan for bringing out the beauty when I was too exhausted!

06/15/2026

One of my absolute favorite breakfasts or snacks lately!

If you're anything like me, you need snacks that are quick, filling, and actually satisfy those sweet cravings. This little bowl checks all the boxes. Creamy, crunchy, sweet, and packed with protein!

My go-to combination:
🍎 1 apple, chopped
🥣 1 small container of Greek yogurt (I love vanilla for a little extra sweetness)
🥄 2 tablespoons nut butter (almond butter is my favorite)
🍫 Mini chocolate chips
🥜 Nuts of your choice (honey roasted peanuts are so good!)

Optional add-ins:
✨ Honey or caramel drizzle
🫐 Fresh berries
🥣 Granola
🌱 Brewer's yeast or flaxseed (mix into the yogurt first)
🥥 Coconut flakes

The best part? You can customize it however you like, making the flavor combinations endless. It's become one of my favorite pregnancy and postpartum snacks because it's easy to throw together, keeps me full, and feels like a treat.

Have you tried something similar? Tell me your favorite toppings or combinations below!

Mountain Moon Doula

10/08/2026

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09/29/2026

09/27/2026

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06/15/2026

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