Becoming a mother for the first time was a whirlwind of emotions, from the overwhelming joy of holding my baby for the first time to the sleepless nights filled with uncertainty. I remember the moment I realized I was pregnant—a mix of excitement and fear washed over me. As the months passed, I learned to embrace the changes in my body and life, finding strength I never knew I had. This journey taught me the power of love, patience, and resilience, and I am here to share my story and support other mothers on their unique paths.

Becoming a first-time mom is a journey filled with excitement, nerves, and endless planning. Now imagine layering that with the unpredictability of a home birth and the chaos of a home renovation. Sounds like a reality show, right? Well, for some of us, it’s real life. Here’s a glimpse into my experience navigating the incredible and messy process of welcoming a baby while simultaneously trying to rebuild our space into the home of our dreams.

We lived in a 480-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment that felt far from ideal for having a baby. While we could have made it work, we decided to find and buy a larger place where we could raise our family and welcome our baby. Little did we know, it would take nearly my entire pregnancy to find a new home.

The housing crisis in Calgary during the summer of 2023 made it feel nearly impossible to buy a house. Every time we found a place we liked, someone else swooped in with an outrageous offer, often within two days of the listing! It was disheartening and stressful, as the clock was ticking and my due date was approaching.

Thankfully, our luck changed when a townhouse we had previously been outbid on came back on the market due to financing issues. Our realtor called us immediately to ask if we wanted to place another bid, and of course, we jumped at the chance. Finally, we had a bigger place to live—and just in time, as I was already eight months pregnant when we moved in.

When we had first seen the townhouse earlier in the summer, we had envisioned having more time to renovate before the baby arrived. The carpets needed to be torn out, walls needed fresh paint, lights needed upgrading, and we didn’t know whether the baby would come early, on time, or late. Despite the tight timeline, we weren’t scared. We dove headfirst into the journey of fixing up our new home, excited to create a space where our family could thrive.

Letting go of the idea that everything had to be “perfect” was liberating. My baby didn’t need a magazine-worthy nursery; they needed a loving mom ready to meet them.

When the big day arrived, it was a whirlwind of emotions. Between contractions, I barely noticed the unfinished main floor or the bathroom with no door on it. It didn’t matter anymore; my baby was ready to enter the world, and unfinished house or not, nothing was going to stop him now.

My midwife and husband created a bubble of safety and calm. With each push, I focused less on the imperfections around me and more on the perfect little soul I was about to meet. When my baby finally arrived—what started in our unfinished home and ended in a hospital bed—the rest of the world faded away. The noise, the dust, the stress—none of it mattered anymore.

And while my birth experience didn’t go the way I had planned, the only thing that truly mattered was that he was safe and healthy in the end.

Becoming a mom for the first time is a beautiful, messy, life-changing experience—and so is renovating a home. Doing both simultaneously taught me that perfection is overrated and that love can bloom even in the most unexpected circumstances. If you’re in the thick of it, know that you’re not alone, and your story will one day be a testament to your strength. Go Get’em Momma!