When I look back at the person I was when Alex and I first met six years ago, I’m amused at how much we thought we already understood about life and partnership.
What has unfolded since two babies, multiple businesses, including Grip Baby, and a move to Montecito, has been the most incredible growth journey of my life. And the most grounding part is how much we have grown not only on our own, but together.
Early on, we decided our relationship would be rooted in wellness. Staying steady when life gets loud and unpredictable. Health became our foundation because it made us better partners and better parents, especially in the chaos of raising two toddlers.
Parenthood exposes every crack you didn’t know you had. I’ve learned that wellness isn’t just physical. It’s emotional awareness, noticing when the other is stretched thin, offering support before tension builds, and being a soft landing during the long days. It’s choosing to take care of each other in small, consistent ways.
Curiosity has become another foundation for us; it means setting your ego aside to understand and listen to what your partner needs from you. Often, that looks like a behavior change or more understanding. When we stay curious, we listen better, problem-solve better, and remain open to new ways of supporting each other. It keeps the relationship moving instead of settling into old patterns.
Creativity and fun are pillars for us. Building our businesses together sparks a playful energy between us. Creativity shows up in our work, our home, and the way we parent. Fun reminds us that even in the pressure of building and raising little kids, there is room to laugh and enjoy each other.
Santa Barbara has a calming effect on our family. The beaches are our reset button. The creative lifestyle feels natural for us. We have already made friendships here that feel grounding and surprisingly deep.
Visiting the Farmers Market has become a ritual that fills us up and connects us to the community as we pick food for the coming week. Supporting local farmers invests back into the community. Knowing that we are eating locally feels good physically and mentally, and our kids love learning about new fruits and veggies to try.
Exercising together is one of the strongest threads in our marriage. It’s become something we genuinely look forward to. It anchors us. Personal training at Montecito Fitness, Pilates at Homebody Studios, fitness is one corner of the week where we show up for ourselves and for each other.
When parenting feels heavy, we move. When work is overwhelming, we move. When the kids are melting down, we all get in the pool and swim. And afterward, we feel more grounded.
Our relationship feels strong, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s practiced. And in this season of raising two boys who mirror everything we model, there is no greater gift we can give our family than that.