Good morning from me, my matcha, and my baby—because yes, I’m pregnant. In this video I’m recapping what my 1st and 2nd trimester actually felt like (the good, the hard, and the “I can feel two things at once” part). I share how I found out, why I didn’t really document the past six months, and what it’s been like mentally when the thing that makes you the happiest is also the thing that temporarily takes away a lot of your usual joy. First trimester was brutal for me—nausea, headaches, dehydration, and sensory overload (matcha and even my own candle fragrances were suddenly disgusting). Second trimester got exponentially better and I finally felt like myself again, even if my body was still tired and achy. I also talk through the Cozy Small Biz side of all this: how being sick made me realize how dependent my brand was on me, and why I’ve been “firing myself” from certain tasks, hiring more help, and setting up systems so Monica’s Collective can thrive even if I’m down. I share my current mindset around maternity leave as a self-employed creator (inspo from other moms online), plus what I’m doing to prep: thrifting baby finds, building a registry, journaling, reading a ton, and slowly turning my current office into a nursery—while still keeping space for crafts, DIY projects, and the cozy homebody life I love.