Tell us about your family. Our family consists of my spouse John and son Benji and our husky mix Koda!

How did you meet your partner?John and I met in college at the university of California Santa Cruz. He and I were in neighboring “residential colleges” and met through the Intervarsity Bible study group.

Where are you originally from? That depends on the meaning of originally. I was born in Omaha Nebraska. We moved to Columbus Ohio when I was about 2.5 and lived there for several years while my dad was in seminary with a year in Arlington Virginia his junior year. Then we moved to Bakersfield California when I was six and I lived there until John and I moved to Ohio in 2019.

Tell us about your current or previous career. I currently tutor math with Mathnasium of Beachwood. I taught math at a variety of schools before Benji made me a Mama.

How did you find FIT4MOM and what do you love about it? I saw a Facebook friend posting about Fit4Mom in Long Beach and thought it was a great concept so I looked to see if we had a local Fit4Mom. I love that Benji can come and the community of parents it creates with the added bonus of getting a good workout in!

What’s on your Bucket List? Bring Benji and John to Austria soon. Travel as we are able, explore the world with John and now Benji!

If your nickname was your pregnancy craving(s), what would it be? Cereal, specifically captain crunch.

Where is your favorite place to travel? Southern Austria, in the region of Carinthia Or Disneyland in the states

What is your favorite hobby? It varies, but I enjoy playing video games, reading, drawing and writing.

What is your favorite “hurt so good” exercise? Kettlebell swings

What is your favorite tv show, podcast, or book? My favorite book series is The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

What is your favorite local place for family outings? The Twinsburg library or the Liberty Park Nature center so far. The Cleveland Zoo has been fun to visit as well.

What five items do you always buy when you go to the grocery store? Bananas, veggie fruit pouches, milk, bread, jam

What is your proudest moment as a mom? I think when I notice Benji getting overwhelmed and he takes a big breath. He may not be able to fully regulate and won’t for awhile, but knowing that some of the foundations we laid when he was really little have stuck with him is amazing.

What's one thing you would go back and tell yourself as a new mom? Eating every three hours does mean every three hours including overnight. You aren’t doing anything wrong if he doesn’t sleep, keep doing what is working and keep trying, he’ll get it and you’ll be able to sleep soon.