Here at dadada Baby, your family has always been our first priority. Keeping your little one happy, safe, and surrounded by products that make their first memories even more beautiful is what matters most to us. That’s why our relationships with our influencers mean so much to us. We love the chance to partner with you and share in the celebration of your new, precious, growing and learning human!
Today, we want to introduce you to one of our newest partners. As of this interview, Jessie and her husband Pearce are expecting their first baby to arrive literally any day, and Jessie was kind enough to spend some of the last few minutes of her pregnancy answering a few questions about their family, their hopes for parenthood, and what’s helping them out so far.
Without further ado…. Meet Jessie and Pearce!
Hi Jessie! Tell us a little about you and your family!
My husband and I are both transplants to our now hometown of Ventura, California; Pearce was born and raised in Arizona and I in Maryland. When we met, we instantly connected over our love of camping, hiking, the outdoors, and travel. And after a few years of dating, he finally proposed to me in late 2019! We couldn't have been happier.
Our wedding timeline wasn't ideal - September of 2020, when COVID infections and fears were still roaring. But even though we had to cancel and re-plan our wedding multiple times, we stuck with our original date, and it ended up being even better than we could have imagined.
We got married on the beach 10 minutes from our house with our immediate family only. It was perfect!
And then came the best part: we put the money we saved by having a small wedding ceremony toward a one-year honeymoon! Pearce had always said, "I want to travel before starting a family, I want to be selfish before being selfless. After I travel and have done what I want I'll be able to give 100% to my family." COVID had taken a year of our lives and my biological clock was ticking, so I told him "either we are traveling this year or we're starting a family but whichever we choose we need to get started!"
We quit our jobs and hit the road, knowing that when we returned a family would be on the horizon. We took a few months road tripping across the US and Canada, then headed south to Central and South America. We got to spend about a month in every country we visited, experiencing culture and meeting amazing people.
After living out of a backpack for nearly a year, we were itching for a home base and routine, and we made it back to California exactly 365 days after leaving! On the day we got the keys back to our condo, I handed Pearce the keys and the pregnancy test and told him "our greatest adventure is about to begin!!"
Congratulations!! Do you think your travel experience will impact who you'll be as parents?
Absolutely. We’ve seen a lot of diverse cultures and witnessed how there’s really no "right" way to parent. We met people who have successfully raised children in all different parts of the world, who live in different socioeconomic statuses, with different religious backgrounds, and with different cultural backgrounds—and we’ve observed that there are great people everywhere.
Our goal is to raise a smart, kind, and good human who makes a positive impact on those around him, and I believe that our experiences and interactions with people all over the world will help us instill these traits in our child(ren).
That’s beautiful, thank you for sharing! You’re about to give birth any minute now - what's been the best part of preparing for baby? What about the most stressful part?
For me, the best part about preparing for the baby has been going to the doctor and seeing his growth and development. It's very difficult for me, as I sit here 38 weeks pregnant typing, to wrap my head around the fact I have a human inside of me growing on his own. Getting to see him firsthand in the ultrasounds makes it all more real!!
We’re extremely fortunate to have a very large support system with friends and family who have been very generous to us during this next phase of our lives. I am so grateful, and at the same time, the intake of hand-me-downs and gifts is a bit overwhelming. I made a baby registry with the help of my sister and close mom friends for all the things we "need"…but who really knows what you need when every kid is different? Sorting through gifts, presents, and items passed along has been the most stressful part so far, but it’s the kind of stress we’re really grateful for.
We’ve seen some photos of your adorable nursery. Can you tell us what inspired your design?
For our nursery, I was inspired by Sea Isle City, NJ, the beach town I grew up going to as a child. My younger sister bought us a cute Sea Isle photo a while back, and my first surfboard was shaped and designed by my dad's two best friends in Sea Isle. Starting from those two pieces, I knew I wanted the nursery to be a very relaxed, chill, beachy place for us and the baby to hang out. I loved looking on pinterest at other nurseries and seeing how they had things designed, but I knew I wanted to make something personal to us and our family.
What attracted you to the dadada Baby products you chose for your nursery?
The dadada Baby Soho dresser and crib really attracted me because of its simplicity and the high quality - the soft close drawers are incredible! I loved that it's a matching set and that the crib grows with the child. Space is limited in our condo, so we tried to get as many “grow with me” items as possible!.
Well, they look fantastic in your space! You’ve done a gorgeous job. As you wait for labor to start, what are you most looking forward to about parenting?
I think we are both looking forward to taking on all the new challenges and joys that come with being parents. We are excited to share our love for the outdoors, traveling, camping, and all that the world has to offer with our little one, and to get to experience the some of our greatest joys through the eyes of our child for the first time. We have no idea what we are doing, and I'm sure we are going to make mistakes. But that's how you learn, and that's what makes it fun!
We’re so excited for you! Okay, three rapid-fire questions before you go: What's your favorite parenting advice you've received during your pregnancy?
Sleep as much as you can before the baby gets here, you won't regret it.
Any advice for parents who just found out they are expecting?
Congratulations and take things one day at a time. Spend quality time with your partner throughout the pregnancy, because when the little one arrives your attention will be elsewhere!
Is there a particular moment or first with your baby that you’re especially looking forward to?
I am really looking forward to seeing, holding, and hearing, my child for the first time. We’ve seen our baby on the ultrasounds, and that's always magical, but to finally see, hear, and touch our child in person is going to be a life-altering moment. I have felt my son kick me and move in me so many times. It’s hard to put into words how excited I am to finally hold him!
We can’t wait to meet him, too! And to introduce him to the whole dadada Baby family! Thanks so much for sharing your family with us, Jessie! Wishing you, Pearce, and your little one the very happiest Birth Day!