This post is sponsored by Artifact Uprising. I’ve used their online service to print our wedding invitations, thank you cards, and to frame our most cherished wedding photos—as you’ll see in the post below. I’ve also found their framed prints and gift cards to be perfect gifts. I love that many of Artifact Uprising’s products are made in the USA with reclaimed and recycled materials. Sweet Potato Soul readers save 15% off frames with code SweetPotatoSoul (code expires November 15) at ArtifactUprising.com
I’m due early next year, and now in my third trimester I’ve been doing a lot of reflection about what’s coming. So many questions swirl around daily life: should we stay in expensive Los Angeles or move closer to family? How will a baby affect the balance between Maxx and me in work and life? Part of me is open and excited for the adventure ahead; another, smaller part feels nervous. Both feelings seem normal as we prepare for this big change.
My current priority is getting ready spiritually, mentally, and physically for labor and postpartum life. I’m taking a natural birth course, practicing prenatal yoga, and learning hypnobirthing techniques. I don’t feel completely ready yet, but I no longer fear childbirth and am genuinely excited to meet our baby in a few months. At the same time, Maxx and I have been preparing our small home. We live in a one-bedroom apartment, so our baby will sleep in the same room with us, which feels comforting and practical right now.
Although we moved into this apartment over a year ago, we never fully decorated it and accumulated a lot of clutter. To begin nesting, we spent hours over the past two weeks clearing out and donating items we no longer need. We filled a whole car with things to recycle and give away. With the excess gone, decorating the space now feels possible and purposeful.
Our first decorating step was framing wedding photographs to fill the bare walls. We had a few art prints up already but few personal photos of family or ourselves. As we grow our family, I want to be surrounded by images of the people who raised us and the moments that matter. Framed photos also make the apartment feel more settled and adult.
The artist who designed our wedding invitations, Deun Ivory, recommended Artifact Uprising to print our invites. The ordering process was straightforward and the invitations came out beautifully. Because of that experience, we ordered framed photos from them as well (you can see them throughout this post). We also had our illustrated wedding invitation framed in a maple tabletop frame so that special piece has a place of honor and brings back sweet memories. One of our post-“I do” photos is in a brass metal frame, and every time I look at it I’m reminded of the depth of our relationship after ten years together.
That framed wedding photo captures our bond through the ups and downs we’ve faced. I loved the prints so much I ordered copies for my parents and grandmother to thank them for their unconditional love and support. This year has been filled with family milestones—Maxx’s two siblings were married, too—so surrounding ourselves with these images helps me celebrate this season of love and growth every day.
I want our baby to grow up in a space that feels loving, gentle, and calm, but our apartment has often felt like a workspace. Adding personal touches and thoughtful decor helps it feel more like home. In addition to framed photos, I ordered organic white linen pillowcases for our breakfast nook, brought home a healthy English ivy plant, and started shopping for a cozier sofa. In January, before the baby arrives, I plan to take semi-maternity leave so I can nest more deeply and settle into this apartment. With grandparents visiting, a full maternity leave ahead, and a cozy winter in LA, I imagine this place will soon feel truly like home for our growing family.