Birthing Love from Pregnancy to Valentine’s Day Traditions

From the moment that test turns positive, love begins—a quiet, profound love that marks the start of a love story that never ends.

 It grows with each flutter, each tiny kick, and it flourishes even in the exhaustion, the waiting.

Each pregnancy is a unique journey, one that can’t be fully captured in words, deepening with time, creating the foundation for a lifelong connection. Two souls, one body, infinite love. 

This love story is written not just in the first moments, but throughout every milestone, every first smile, every nursing struggle, and every sleepless night. 

When our first daughter arrived, my heart felt reborn. Her being placed on my chest, that first cry, awakened a love I never knew I could hold. 

I gave life. I gave love. 

And then there are the moments we never see coming—the ones that shatter us, leaving us in the silence of what could have been. The empty space that once held dreams, now filled with the weight of weeping and letting go. There is love in that too. The love that doesn’t leave us, even in loss. It remains, forever etched in our hearts, tender and deep, like a secret we carry alone. It is a love that will always remain, as we learn to cherish what we lost and carry it forward with us.

And with each three of our other children born after, that love only grew stronger. Even on the hardest days—the ones when you want to scream or don’t recognize yourself—love never fades. It doesn’t divide. It becomes endless. Abounding.

As Love Day approaches, I am reminded that love lives in the small moments—the early morning wake-ups, the endless piles of laundry, the meals, the after school carpool chaos, the bedtime routines, the interrupted glances and kisses between my husband and I, that quietly hold our families together.

 These moments are creating love that lasts a lifetime, not just within our home, but in a world that is hurting, where small things done with great love matter most.

And mama, don’t forget to love on yourself. You did the damn thing. You birthed through the unknown, through the pain, through the power, and emerged stronger. Love this new version of you. The one who’s been through it all and still has so much love to give. You are a force, and that love you give to your child is a reflection of the love you deserve to give yourself every single day. So carve out time to nurture your own heart and soul, to ensure the love you share is endless.

Here are a few ways to celebrate love, no matter where you are on your motherhood journey:

1. 🖋️Pregnancy Journaling: Write letters to your unborn child—dreams, hopes, and thoughts. Begin your love story now, one you’ll share as they grow.
   

2. ❤️First Valentine’s Day Art: Capture the sweetness of their first Valentine’s Day with handprints or footprints. A lasting keepsake of love.
   

3. 💌Love Notes: Year after year, write little love notes to your child. As they grow, these treasures will be reminders of your heart’s love. Hang hearts on a string around the house, write things that symbolize love or stick them on their door to wake up to
   

4. 📚A Cozy Cuddle Day: Spend the day wrapped in blankets, sharing stories, and basking in the quiet love of each other.

5. 🧇Bake Together: Create heart-shaped treats, letting your little one get messy and joyful. Heart-shaped waffles are our favorite around here.
   

6. 🛁Self-Love: Take a moment to soak in a calming bath—loving on yourself and nurturing your body is just as important as loving on your family too. Check out our Calm It Down, Mama Bath Soak or Sitz Down, Mama  if you’re  fresh out of delivery and in your 4th Trimester.
   

7. 🍷Date Nights In: Big date nights might not be possible right now, but little moments count—coffee chats, love notes, or texts to your spouse. Keep the connection alive. Check out our other blog post here: 5 Practices for Deeping Your Bond with Your Spouse (Amidst Parenting)

Love isn’t in grand gestures. It’s in the everyday acts of care, affection, and connection. The love that starts in pregnancy doesn’t fade. This Valentine’s Day, embrace the love you’ve already birthed, and celebrate the moments that make motherhood unforgettable.  

With love, 

From One Mama to Another 

Written by Amma Mama Ciara Ehlers 

Photography by Stephanie Leigh Coronado (https://www.slcportraiture.com)