Calm & Colorful Mama: Navigating Milestones and Self-Discovery

Two months after our first hospital stay, Korbin was admitted again with respiratory distress. This episode is a real-life update from the middle of it all—not after everything is neatly wrapped up. I'm sharing what this second hospitalization felt like, why I wasn't overwhelmed the way people expected me to be, and how gratitude has become something much deeper than "looking on the bright side."...

TW: Child hospitalization, medical trauma, grief, and child loss mention. It's been two months since my last update, and a lot has happened. In this episode, I'm sharing a very personal life update—from navigating a difficult grief-filled April, to Korbin's unexpected hospitalization and ICU stay in May, to the lessons I learned about trusting my mom intuition when something didn't feel right. I a...

This one hit deep. In this episode, I share a real, raw parenting moment that honestly felt like failure… but turned out to be one of my biggest wins. After building a simple, loving connection ritual with my son, saying “I’m so happy to see you,” he shocked me one morning with, “I’m so sad to see you.” And yeah… it hurt. Instead of reacting the way my past self would have, I paused. I breathed. I...

I didn’t think we’d ever be here… but we officially hired a sleep consultant. After 2.5 years of nursing, co-sleeping, traveling nonstop, and hitting reset over and over again, I realized something: It’s not that anything is “wrong”… but it could be more supportive for all of us. In this episode, I’m sharing: Why we decided to get support (even though things were “fine”) What gentle sleep training...

Even the emotional regulation coach still has big emotions too. In this episode, Jessica shares a very real parenting moment with her toddler, Korbin. After several late nights working and an overtired little one biting and jumping for attention, Jessica found herself overwhelmed and not showing up as her favorite self. Instead of blaming her toddler or pushing the feelings down, she modeled somet...

It’s been a while, and I’ve missed you. Today I’m sharing something real, the kind of thing we don’t always say out loud. I’m navigating separation anxiety… not from my child, but inside of myself. We’re looking at Parents Day Out programs here in Texas. Six hours. Twice a week. A little nap mat. A big lump in my throat. I want Korbin to thrive. I want him to build independence, confidence, and fr...

Jessica shares a quiet, powerful moment of being truly seen by a longtime friend — someone who has witnessed her through teaching days, heartbreak, healing, motherhood, and the growth of Calm & Colorful. A simple “I’m so proud of you” becomes a reminder that she is capable, equipped, and meant for this work. This episode explores friendship, self-doubt, and the beauty of realizing just how far you...

In this heart-to-heart mama share, I’m reflecting on something that’s been surprising, emotional, and honestly really beautiful — how Korbin, at just two years old, is already expressing himself in full little paragraphs. Not because we followed a perfect plan, but because of a few simple, everyday rituals we didn’t even realize were shaping his voice. From baby sign language, to gently practicing...

A grocery run turned into a life lesson about growth, Texas-size confidence, and what happens when you land in the right place at the right time. I wrap up with one powerful reflection: What are you proud of in yourself today?

After two years of never leaving Korbin with anyone but my mom, today we took the plunge. I'm sharing the tears, the fears, the belly laughs with Kelton, and how our amazing neighbors made this huge milestone feel possible. If you're navigating that first separation or still working up to it, this one's for you. Mama Resources & Support Website | Instagram Free email series to feel more grounded,...

From a 12-hour road trip to Korbin's first plane ride solo with mama, this episode covers our entire journey to Texas. I share the language shifts that are changing how we handle daily challenges (spoiler: we're "healing" not "sick" and "it is what it is" instead of "oh no!"), how I prepped Korbin for his first flight, the gear that saved us, and what actually worked on the plane. Plus, southern c...

Not every day is “hard” — but some days are full of really hard moments. In this raw and vulnerable episode, Jessica shares a day that broke her mama heart: two accidents with her toddler, both unintentional and both followed by waves of guilt and self-criticism. Through the tears, she discovered the power of having support — with Kelton holding space and guiding her and Corbin back to calm throug...

Screen Time, Boredom, and the Magic That Follows When I first became a mama, I dove deep into the research on screen time — and what I found was both eye-opening and, honestly, a little daunting. Fast forward to real life with a toddler… and Miss Rachel quickly became the world’s most reliable (and free!) babysitter. But after noticing some subtle (and not-so-subtle) behavior shifts in Corbin, we...

Every mama has those moments that test her heart — and yesterday, ours was Korbin’s very first bee sting. In this episode, Jessica shares the full story, from the fun morning playing pickleball to the sudden sting, the hose and ice packs, and the hours of cuddles and Bubble Guppies that followed. But woven into the story is something even more powerful: a celebration of how far she’s come in retra...

This episode is extra special — we’re celebrating TWO huge milestones together: the 1-year anniversary of the Calm & Colorful Mama Podcast (August 1st) and our 50th episode! Jessica reflects on what this podcast has meant over the past year — from messy moments and mindset shifts to heart-bursting celebrations — and shares just how far this little community has reached (over 500 streams across the...

What does it really mean to raise our children in a home filled with truth? In this episode, Jessica shares a personal story about how a single word — truth — took on deeper meaning after a conversation with her best friend. From the everyday “little white lies” many of us grew up around, to the playful parenting moments with her son Korbin, Jessica explores why integrity matters so much in mother...

Good morning, good afternoon, or good night—whenever you're tuning in, Calm & Colorful Mama, I’m so glad you're here. This episode is raw, real, and fresh from my sleepy 6 a.m. brain as I bring you along for a big update in our family’s full-time travel journey. Instead of waiting until the clarity comes, I wanted to share this in the messy middle —right in the swirl of emotions. We’ve been travel...

From Stuck to Shining: How to Reconnect with Your Favorite Self We all have those days when we feel… stuck. Like the goals are too far away, the energy just isn’t there, and we can’t see the way forward. In this episode, I’m sharing a spontaneous coaching conversation where a mama came in feeling heavy — and left glowing. You’ll hear how we used Human Design and one simple question — “What would m...

Your Morning, Your Magic Every season of life calls for a different rhythm — and right now, mine is my favorite yet. In this episode, I’m taking you inside my current Calm & Colorful Mama morning routine, from the moment I wake up (yes, before sunrise!) to the little rituals that set the tone for my entire day. You’ll hear how I blend habit stacking, vision casting, grounding practices, and playfu...

Hey Calm & Colorful Mama, Today’s episode is a heart-full, joy-soaked journey back to the beginning of our beginning—how Kelton and I met, fell in love, and began our wild adventure together. From swiping right on New Year’s to playing pickleball in UGGs and chasing sunrises in the desert, I’m taking you through the playful, awkward, and magical first chapters of our love story. If you love first...

Hi Calm & Colorful Mama, Today’s episode is tender and true. It’s one of those deep shares straight from my heart, recorded just moments after a powerful coaching session that cracked something open in me. If you’ve ever wrestled with your past, your money story, or your sense of worth—you’re not alone. I hope this conversation brings you both comfort and courage. I’m sharing stories I’ve never sp...

Good morning, good afternoon, or good night—whenever you're tuning in, Calm & Colorful Mama, I’m so glad you're here. In this heart-to-heart update, I’m sharing a huge milestone in our parenting journey: Corbin is sleeping through the night—and so am I (what?!). This episode is a cozy, real-time reflection on our evolving bedtime routines, what it’s like to sleep in separate rooms, and the surpris...

In this tender solo reflection, Jessica shares a quiet but powerful moment while nursing her son Korbin—a moment that sparked a deep awareness around presence, phone use, and what it truly means to be kind. As a mama who teaches emotional regulation, connection, and compassion, Jessica opens up vulnerably about the small choices we make in everyday life—choices that either deepen our presence or d...

We’re Engaged! Costco Rings, Surprise Proposal & a Dolphin-Filled Love Story After years of parenting, partnership, and emotional growth, Kelton finally proposed — and it was the surprise of a lifetime. In this episode, I’m sharing our full engagement story: from trying on engagement rings at Costco, to proposal fake-outs, to the magical eFoil beach moment (with dolphins!) that made me say YES. Wh...

Surprise! We’re ENGAGED!! Okay okay, this episode isn’t technically about that (I got totally sidetracked ), but I promise the full engagement episode is coming soon! Today’s chat is all about… drumroll please … budgeting. Or wait—scratch that—we’re calling it planning now. Because doesn’t “plan” just feel so much more spacious, empowering, and aligned than “budget”? I’ll share how Kelton and I ar...