Amy Paffrath Seeley @amypaffrath

amypaffrath First date night in 6 months. #longoverdue #loveinthetimeofcovid #loversinlove

amypaffrath ᕼEᗩT ᗯᗩᐯE ☀️🌡️🔥 #happylaborday #staycool #kiddiepool #intheshallow

amypaffrath This is what life is all about. ⁣ ⁣ Do you think she cares what I accomplished today? Or how successful I am? ⁣ ⁣ Did I have to do anything to earn this hug? Nope. She just threw her arms around me and squeezed me tight and it was heavenly. ⁣ ⁣ This is what life is all about. ⁣ ⁣ Hugs. Physical touch. Human connection. ⁣ Not achievements or busyness or accolades. ⁣ ⁣ Simple quiet moments. Soak em up. I know I am. ⁣

amypaffrath Wanna hear some ℊ◎◎∂ news?⁣ ⁣ My 'What's Goods segment will be coming to you every week starting September 1st! ⁣ ⁣ Join me Tuesday mornings at 6:24 + 8:24 am on @spectrum1newsSocal to learn all about the do-gooders of LA. ⁣ ⁣ There's so much GOOD happening in the world and I'm so excited to share more of it with you. ⁣ ⁣ If you've got a SoCal based story idea for me, let me know. Looking to feature the people and places who are making life a little bit brighter for all of us. ⁣ ⁣ Let's shine a light on all the goodness and inspire each other to do even more good!⁣ ⁣ What we focus on expands. Focus on the good 🙏✨❤⁣ ⁣

amypaffrath Տմʍʍҽɾ Ӏօѵíղ'⁣ ⁣ This is my favorite season of the year. I love the long hot days, the slow lazy nights.⁣ ⁣ Trips to the beach, exploring parks and cooling off in Ember's baby pool. ⁣ ⁣ But I gotta admit this season of life has been hard for us. I know we're not alone in saying the adjustment from duo to trio is a hard one. ⁣ ⁣ I wrote about the sadness I was feeling about this very topic on our Babymoon. It's a valid fear because so much changes when you welcome a baby.⁣ ⁣ We have days where we feel like aliens to each other. We try to communicate but it feels like we're speaking different languages.⁣ ⁣ We both have our ways of interacting with our child. It's hard to allow your partner to parent in their own way.⁣ ⁣ Covid had added another layer to the madness. We need time alone together and time apart, alone. It's hard to get either.⁣ ⁣ All relationships have ups and downs. An analogy I read in @mariannewilliamson 's Return to Love compared love to rose bushes. Though beautiful, the most important part is not the blooms, but the stems. The stems provide the nutrients. With a strong foundation the buds will bloom again. ⁣ ⁣ We have strong roots @drewseeley and our life has been full of beautiful blooms. Thanks for sticking with me through the thorny times. I known it's hard, but we're kind of killing it and I love you so much 💮⁣ ⁣

amypaffrath ᵁᴾᴳᴿᴬᴰᴵᴺᴳ ˢᵞˢᵀᴱᴹ 🔅⁣ ⁣ To be human is to be imperfect. ⁣ ⁣ But there is a divine light in all of us that is pure perfection. ⁣ ⁣ You are enough just by being you. It doesn't matter what you achieve, how much money you have, what clothes you wear.⁣ ⁣ Your past is over. Let go of the mistakes you've made. Give yourself grace, compassion and forgiveness. ⁣ ⁣ Fix your mind on the present. Life is happening now and every moment is a fresh start. Break old patterns and create the future of your dreams. You have the power. ⁣ ⁣ Knowing this isn't enough. It takes hard work, awareness and focus to reprogram your mind.⁣ ⁣ I'm dedicated to self improvement, mind expansion and personal growth. It took me a long time to realize that we are not here to focus on other people's mistakes. Those are their lessons to learn. We have to work on ourselves and notice how we can move through life differently with a focus on love.⁣ ⁣ We must first see our own divine light in order to recognize it in others. Now, excuse me while I level up in consciousness. Come with? Namaste, my friends. ⁣ ⁣

amypaffrath It's not c̶o̶n̶f̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶i̶a̶l̶, I've got p͟͟o͟͟t͟͟e͟͟n͟͟t͟͟i͟͟a͟͟l͟͟ 💋⁣⁣ ⁣ And so do you. We're all pure potential. So, what are we gonna do with it? ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Personally, I'm not doing anything. I'm surrendering to what God has in store for me. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Opening my heart, expanding my mind and going with the flow. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ COVID has forced us all to slow down. Don't miss the beautiful lessons right now. It's not about the hustle or getting back to the rat race. I hope life will forever be changed for you. For the better. Relax more, grind less. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Surrender. Soften. Expand. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ That's the mantra on my lips these days. And a pretty shade of hot pink lipstick when it's not covered by a mask 😉

amypaffrath ᗷᖇEᗩᔕT ᖴᖇIEᑎᗪᔕ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I never saw myself as a woman who would breastfeed a toddler, yet here I am. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I didn't grow up around breastfeeding mothers. I had no idea how to do it. It was confusing and awkward for me at first. I was self conscious and unsure of myself. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ A lactation consultant slapped a nipple shield on me in the hospital and I never learned why but my day old baby was eating and that's all that mattered to me. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The same consultant told me to pump after every feeding to get my supply up. It worked and I was producing so much milk it was as if my body was feeding triplets. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I set small goals for breastfeeding. ⁣⁣ ⁣ 6 weeks to start. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Even with engorged breast and that silly piece of silicone that Ember insisted on using, I persisted because I knew this was the most perfect food I could give my baby and, well, it's free.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ By 6 months we found our groove. I stopped beating myself up for requiring a very useful tool. ⁣⁣ ⁣ Now, 12 + months into our breastfeeding journey, I am comfortable doing it anytime, anywhere. Even on a walk around the block while carrying Ember in a sling. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Moms, please talk about breastfeeding more. Do it in public. Be an example to young women that it's nothing to be ashamed of. Let's normalize the most natural way to feed our babies. It's not always instinctive and many mamas give up due to lack of support.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I had lot of help and here is a list of tools and resources should you need them:⁣ ⁣⁣ @noonisapparel night nursing bra for leaking mamas like me⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Breast shells to collect excess milk. ⁣⁣ @larken_shop pumping bra - so comfy! ⁣⁣ @lanisnohusa nipple shields: Ember used this for every feeding until she was 9 months old. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ @lalecheleagueusa for support groups. So helpful!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ @pumpstation lactation consultants are incredible ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I don't know when our breastfeeding relationship will come to an end. I'm following Ember's lead and taking cues from her. For now, I'm enjoying the close bond we have and sharing my body with her a little while longer. ⁣⁣ ⁣ #worldbreastfeedingweek #normalizebreastfeeding #apparenting #breastfeedingmama #1yearold

amypaffrath Motherhood is hard. Sharing a pic of a happy day because right now we're going through it. Ember is walking but also fighting sleep and testing boundaries and my patience. Mama's, please tell me this too shall pass!? #1yearold #toddlerville #babygirl #momanddaughter

amypaffrath cнallenge accepтed ✳️⁣ ⁣ I echo the sentiments of my friend @chataignestyle in going beyond a social media post. ⁣ ⁣ Women supporting women means having each other's backs. Believing each other's stories. Reaching out a helping hand. Offering support, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and a compassionate open heart. ⁣ ⁣ I'm moved and inspired by this period in time. It feels different than when I was a kid and teenager. ⁣ ⁣ I'm hopeful that Ember will grow up in a world where women are kind to each other instead of competing. Where we compliment each other instead of criticize. Where we smile more and scowl less. Where we judge by the character of our hearts and not the shape of our bodies or the clothes we wear. ⁣ ⁣ Thank you for challenging me @chelseacannellbriggs @desireedavardromard @aphroditecamello + @katiegoffman I adore you all.

amypaffrath A day late but not missing out on #bumpday because it's such an important topic. I loved being pregnant and though I had an easy and enjoyable journey to motherhood, it's not the case for all Mama's to be. In the U.S., the wealthiest nation on the planet, both maternal and infant mortality are astonishingly high, especially in states such as Mississippi and Alabama where access to prenatal care, proper nutrition, and family planning remain astonishingly low. It disproportionately affects women of color. We have to make sure every baby is given the best start by giving every mama the proper care. Awareness is everything. @whattoexpect 📸 By @patty.othon #womenshealth #infantmortality #maternalcare #motherhood #tbt #3rdtrimester

amypaffrath This is 37. Thanks for all the birthday wishes 🎈🌴🌞🦀💦