May 2026

The joy of motherhood (that some don’t want you to know!)

I can hardly believe Kristina is now 1 year old! What a year it has been. Watching her change and grow every day is truly a privilege and a gift I will never take for granted. Her smile is contagious, and seeing the world through her blue eyes makes my heart so full. While she was born at 9 pounds 4 ounces, she’s now over 25 pounds and has 6 teeth!

Recently, I’ve been thinking back to first finding out I was pregnant with her—the anticipation of each week passing, watching my belly grow, feeling her first little flutters develop into big kicks, and reading about her development week by week. She was born 11 days past her due date, and those 11 days felt eternal! It’s funny how now that she’s out of the womb, 11 days can fly by.

Many parents say the days are long but the years are short, but I believe even the days are short. So every single day, even if I’m feeling tired or overwhelmed, I make sure to be present and soak in every moment with my beautiful daughter. She truly changes daily.

We celebrated her birthday at the end of March, and it was a joyous and emotional occasion. I made a big poster showcasing her growth from newborn to 12 months, and I decorated the house with all things pink! I was feeling especially grateful, as I had a recent health scare, so being able to celebrate Kristina with my family felt like a tremendous gift.

Watching your child change and grow is a beautifully bittersweet part of motherhood. Every day, you’re rooting for them to do the next thing—whether that is taking a step or speaking. You beam with pride when your child reaches a new milestone or tries a new food. Then later that same day, you look back at newborn pictures and feel a sense of longing, missing the tiny baby you once held.

I feel this deeply. I am so amazed by the new things Kristina does each day. She is cruising all over the house and is so close to walking independently. Her favorite game is playing peek-a-boo with her dress or a dish towel, and she loves pointing to every picture in her books. She shares toys with her baby friends and has even started kissing me!

So I look back on last year with so much sentimentality and awe—remembering how small and fragile she once was, how she depended on me for everything—while also celebrating every milestone and new thing she’s discovered along the way. My journey of motherhood is still only beginning, and every day reveals something new about Kristina for me to learn, cherish, and love.

This past year has changed me just as much as it has changed Kristina. Motherhood has stretched my heart, strengthened my patience, and taught me that true love isn’t a feeling, but a daily choice to show up with love and self-sacrifice. The quiet, ordinary moments—rocking her to sleep, bathtime, reading the same book over and over, hearing her laugh—have become some of the most meaningful parts of my life.

While this first year has flown by, I know it’s only the start of a lifetime of memories together. Watching Kristina grow into the little person she is becoming is the greatest privilege I could ever have, and I can’t wait to see who she continues to become.

Please join FFL as we support mothers, especially women who are pregnant right now and may be unsure of what they are going to do, on womendeservebetter.com. And happy Mother’s Day to ALL mothers with children—born and unborn! May you feel loved today!

Because women deserve better,

Isabella Fechter
School and Event Coordinator
—and Kristina’s mom!

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