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The JOY of Motherhood

by ‎05-10-2017 10:30 AM - edited ‎05-10-2017 10:55 AM

I was recently able to share part of my story with my Q family. It's about the joy and heartache of motherhood and how our lives have been changed by Ben, Georgia & Grace. If your would like to read the article that was published scroll below. The joy of motherhood is an incredible thing!

 

God Bless,

Kerstin

 

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Photo Credit // Sue Reno Portraits //

 

Story is below: 

 

The Joy of Motherhood

Host Kerstin Lindquist talks about her beautifully blended family

By Anne Fox

 

Like any good mama, Kerstin Lindquist lights up when she talks about her kids. And with two beautiful little girls and one adorable baby boy, she has a lot to smile about! So when I had the chance to sit down and chat with her, I wanted to find out more about the newest member of her family and how her girls are doing with their new roles as big sisters.

 

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Photo Credit // A. Brooke Pitone //

 

First and foremost, I asked about baby Ben. “He’s fantastic—just a doll baby,” Kerstin enthused. “He was born early July and he’s always smiling and just a happy, easy baby. My girls Grace and Georgia were not. I mean, my husband Dan and I were blessed, but they were crazy and handfuls! But Ben is why people have 12 kids. They have one like him and think, ‘Oh, this is easy!’”

 

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Speaking of Grace and Georgia, I was curious to know how they’re handling life with a new baby in the house. “They’re absolutely in love. They were six and seven when he was born, so to them he’s a real-life doll. And when they get off the bus, the first thing isn’t ‘Hi, Mom!’ anymore. It’s ‘I’ve got to see Ben! I want to hold Ben! I’ve got to kiss Ben!’ They just love him.”

 

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Photo Credit // Sue Reno Portraits //

 

Since her girls are already in school, I asked Kerstin how she’s adjusting to having a tiny baby in the house all over again. Without missing a beat she answered, “I love it! I didn’t get a chance to care for a single baby before since I basically had the girls at the same time. And I don’t know if it comes with age or with him being the third, but I’m so much more relaxed, calm, and in-the-moment because I know it will go quickly.”

 

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Are there any big differences with having a boy? “Some people say that boys are easier than girls, and he is easier. But babies are babies, so I don’t see any big differences yet. If you look at baby pictures of Ben and Grace (who was also adopted), they look nearly identical—it’s almost scary! But the one difference is that Grace wasn’t a very smiley baby. She was very intuitive and was trying to figure you out. Ben is just smiling and happy all the time!”

 

Since Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, I asked Kerstin what her ideal Mother’s Day would look like. “I just want to be around my kids. And I love all the typical things moms love—sleep, yummy food, and a massage.” (As mommy to a toddler, I gave a silent “Amen!” to that response.) “And it would be nice to have a full hour to myself to work out since I don’t get a whole lot of that! If it were possible to be on the beach with the entire family, that would be ideal. But May in Pennsylvania?”

 

Anyone who knows Kerstin knows that adoption is a big part of her family’s story. So how has adoption completed her family and what does it mean to her? “Part of how our family came together was through adoption. It wasn’t originally planned, but we’re so blessed. It was a struggle for both Grace and Georgia (who was an in vitro fertilization baby) and then Ben, who was years in the making. But I think a lot of people assume that once the adoption is over, it’s great and everything is wonderful. But when you have adopted children and have a blended family, you’ll always be learning together. And now that Grace is seven, it’s more of a topic of conversation because she gets it more. And as the kids get older, there will be more questions about birth parents. So it’s not something that’s over once the baby comes home. It’s something that will continue to be a topic of conversation in our family. That’s what adoption is all about.”

 

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Photo Credit // Sue Reno Portraits //

 

With a bit of a giggle, she shared, “Dan and I say that for the last 10 years we paid to create our family! We always lived in a small house, had one car, and didn’t have cable because all of our money went to adoption. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I think I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I have three healthy children, the career I’ve always wanted, and we’ve moved into a new home that can actually fit three children! God took us through so many ups and downs, and we’re exactly where we need to be. And I get to share my story with people—and I love that!”

 

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Photo Credit // A. Brooke Pitone //

 

Thank you for reading my story.  

 

God Bless & Happy Mother's Day Heart

Kerstin