We were thrilled to catch up with The Germain Family this week, who recently welcomed a new addition - their adorable son Owen James! Read about the significance of his name, get a peek into Kelli’s journal entries on what she loves about motherhood, and hear the best advice they’ve been given on parenthood so far…
Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain
Tell us about your family!
Ian and I became a family of two on September 10, 2017 in Charlton, NY, at our wedding on his grandfather’s 150-acre farm that we then called home. Since then, our family has grown to include our fur baby, Sadie Bear—a 105-pound Italian Mastiff—and our newest (and proudest, and littlest!) addition, Owen James Germain. We welcomed him into the world on June 26, 2019, and he is our joy. Every single day.
While our home is in Burnt Hills, NY and extremely close to my husband’s family, we spend a heck of a lot of time up north. I’m a proud partner at Sidekick Creative, a design firm right here in Glens Falls, and our beautiful studio in The Shirt Factory is truly my home away from home. My husband’s personal home away from home is our Adirondack backyard—he is an avid rock and ice climber, and loves hiking, fishing, and any activity involving outdoor adventure.
Sharing the News
How did you share your pregnancy news with your husband?
After having that gut feeling that I was pregnant (sure enough, I was!), I just couldn’t keep it bottled inside. I called my husband immediately who was just leaving work, and was crying and hardly able to get words out. He asked if something was wrong, and I choked out “no just get home!” He hardly finished pulling in the driveway when I ran outside bawling tears of joy and excitedly waved the test in front of his face. It was such a sweet and proud moment for us, and we just clutched each other in the middle of our front yard for what seemed like an eternity!
Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right?
I did find out Owen’s gender—I knew I wouldn’t have the patience to wait it out, and really wanted to decorate the nursery and envision what life would be like with our new addition. I was really convinced he was going to be a girl for weeks! I admittedly had always dreamed of having a little girl, but being a boy mama is exactly who I was meant to be.
Did you have a gender reveal? If not, did you do anything special to share the news?
We did not—we were actually pretty private with this pregnancy and just let the news trickle out slowly and organically. But if we’re lucky enough to have a second little one in the future we will definitely want to have a gender reveal celebration!
Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain
All about Owen
Owen was born on June 26, 2019 at 10:55 am weighing 7 lbs 6 oz and measuring 19.75 inches.
Even though I live 45 minutes away from Glens Falls, I knew I wanted to give birth at The Snuggery. My mother actually passed away in Glens Falls Hospital twelve years ago on her birthday, and I wanted Owen’s first breath to be where my mother had taken her last. It is a choice that meant more to me than words can describe.
I truly feel that I need to share with our local community that I had an absolutely amazing pregnancy and birth experience through Hudson Headwaters’ 90 South location and The Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital. My care, on every level, exceeded all of my expectations. I had quite a few complications at birth, and the team made me feel empowered, strong, and truly heard through the entire process. Just had to put that out there, and say a public thank you.
We love his name - how did you decide on it?
Owen James has a really special significance to us. After brainstorming and narrowing down lists of names, we decided to give our boy a name in honor of each of our individual families. James is the middle name of my father and brother, and Owen is the first name of Ian’s grandfather who is no longer with us as well as his Uncle who we lovingly refer to as Buddy (ironically, a nickname that Owen has since picked up as well from many family members!).
A few things you love about Owen so far?
I actually kept a journal of things I love about Owen—here are my favorites from when he was one month versus five months.
One Month:
“You make the world seem right.”
“Your little baby bird ways—your noises, your lips like a beak, and how you stretch like you’re emerging from an egg.”
“How your hand tucks into your cheek when you sleep just like your ultrasounds.”
“How uneven your hair is—you’re totally rocking a mullet right now.”
“The look your Pop gets in his eyes when he holds you.”
Five Months:
“How you recognize me from across a room.”
“Your coy look—you’re such a flirt with the ladies!”
“Your excited little squeals and bursts of energy.”
“Your giggle that just makes my heart so full it’s about to pop.”
Your favorite things to do together?
I often joke that Owen is my “human accessory”—I adore toting Owen around doing the everyday things in life. Going for a Target run and to the grocery store is newly fun and exciting, because Owen is so smiley, social, and curious. I often wear him in a wrap facing the world, and he just loves taking everything in and seeing so many faces out and about. My two favorite parts of the day are first thing in the morning when we have “family cuddles”—including our huge, sweet Sadie—and seeing Owen splash around in the tub at the end of the night. We’ve already had a few Adirondack adventures with him, and I can’t wait to check off some more hikes once he’s walking around.
Any similarities - physical or personality - to the two of you?
He loves to smile, which is apparently something I also do a lot of! His curiosity and attention to detail already makes me think that maybe he will follow in his mama’s footsteps and be a designer one day. Physically, he is exactly like Ian—he has a long and lean little body, huge hands (climber in the making?!), and literally can’t sit still. Just like his Pop!
Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain
On Parenthood
Your favorite part about parenthood thus far? The biggest challenge or most surprising thing?
My favorite part of being a parent is my insane connection to Owen. It’s like his world just centers around me, and there really is no other feeling like it. When I laugh really hard, he just can’t help but laugh in response, and when I’m sad he gets very subdued. Even though he’s his own physical body after nurturing him in my own body for 9 months, I still feel so intrinsically connected to him. It’s my favorite phase of life I’ve had so far. No doubt parenthood comes with its challenges—and some of the hardest ones, at that—but the rewards are indescribable.
What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Owen to your family?
I am so looking forward to when he begins to communicate with words—he’s already baby babbling up a storm, and I just want to know what’s going on in that little growing brain of his! I am really looking forward to how he continues to mold me into a better person. He makes me strive for more in every aspect of my life.
What has being a parent taught you? How have you changed since becoming a parent?
It’s amazing how true it is that a baby changes everything. In just six months, Owen has taught me more about myself than I’ve learned in years. I’m paying a lot more attention to defining my values, because it’s going to inform how I parent as time goes on. Slowing down has been huge for me. I’ve always juggled a million things, and now there is physically not enough time in the day to do them all. Now, I am way more intentional about the way I spend my free time because it’s so much more precious.
What is the best advice someone has given you?
“I’m sorry, I just can’t”. End of story. No explanation. I am naturally a people pleaser and want to say yes to everything. A close friend’s mama told me this, and it’s helped to rid me of some serious mom guilt and realize it’s okay to just say no. There are so many new boundaries that naturally come with being a parent, and life is filled with many more logistics. And people really do understand!
Your advice for new parents?
The first night home from the hospital is the hardest.
After the first three months, you’ll look back and wonder how the hell you managed all the sleepless nights. But you find the strength—somehow, someway.
Time will never be the same—a very strange combination of way too fast and also relishing in the smallest of moments.
Parenthood is not at all how you imagined it!
And, most importantly, you’re doing a GREAT job.
Photo courtesy of Kelli Germain
Just for Fun
The top products that got you through the first few months?
Halo Sleep Sack
Gripe Water
Medela Breast Pump
The entire Kiinde milk storage system and bottles
Nose Frida Snot Sucker
Swaddle Me By Your Side Sleeper
If you could have one night out by yourselves with a trusted babysitter back home, what would you do?
Take a road trip to Lake Placid—a place filled with dear memories for both of us—for a night to reflect and reconnect away from our beautiful definition of being parents.
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