From acting to becoming a full-time mom, Savannah Jayde gives her all in everything she does. In honor of Mother’s Day, we caught up with the first-time mama and talked raising a family, her career, and learning to juggle it all with laughter and grace.

Can you introduce yourself - tell us more about you and your family. 

Hi, I’m Savannah! My husband, Carman, and I have been married for 4 years. We met and married in California and just moved to Texas last year, right before welcoming our sweet Miles into the world. It’s been a year of change for us - career, states, climate (we miss LA’s perfect weather!), and pace. I’m currently staying at home and focusing on Miles and being a mama and posting about our life, home/renovations on Instagram + occasionally blogging.. but before Miles I was (am) an actress and my husband was a musician.

 

What is it like being a mother? How has Miles changed you?

it’s all-encompassing; having your heart on the outside, coo-ing and looking at you, and crawling around. I didn’t know I could love someone this much! it’s incredibly fulfilling and equally exhausting sometimes.

I think when you have a baby you realize how selfish you once were with your time. He’s teaching me the importance of slowing down and being present because time seems faster watching him grow.

 

Tell us about your career trajectory. How has your professional life has taken shape since becoming a mother? 

I’ve been a model/actress since I was 2. It all sort of naturally progressed and I moved to Los Angeles from Texas to continue pursuing and working as an actress on various tv shows and movies. I found out I was pregnant almost exactly a year after wrapping up a tv show (for Youtube Red) that didn’t end up getting picked up for another season - God’s timing and plan really is incredible. That part of my professional life has taken a bit of a backseat since becoming a mother, but I still feel the need to create and that’s opening up some other potential endeavors that I’m excited to explore during this season!

 

How do you juggle motherhood, being a wife, and your career?

Honestly, it’s hard and I’m not always great at it! But I’d say learning to be gentle with myself and my expectations has helped me in the balancing act. Knowing that there’s no way to ‘do it all’ and trying to focus on whatever task is at hand. I try to remind myself that everything is a season and it goes by quickly so to enjoy the hard/messy/juggling of it all. and asking for help when you need it (which I’m also not great at!)

 

Is motherhood what you thought it would be? What have been some of the more surprising parts of motherhood for you?  

It’s the best thing I’ve ever done - it’s such a gift and it’s so magical to watch this little life blossom before your eyes. He blows me away every day. It really is everything and more, and part of that includes it being harder than I thought it would be! This stuff ain’t easy! Even though everyone is quick to tell you how hard it is - you sort of learn what your version of hard is - and everyone’s hard thing is different. I always say it’s the easiest and the hardest thing I’ve ever done. 

I’m surprised at how fast they grow and change! one minute he’s a coo-ing immobile squish and two days later he’s crawling and pulling up on everything. But I think the biggest surprise is how long the days / how short the years are. Also that there’s no such thing as ‘me time’ anymore - which takes some getting used to!

 

Has your style changed since becoming a mom?

Yes-ish? But not a ton. There’s a whole section of my closet that's on hold while I breastfeed and I have less time to pick out an outfit - so I wear whatever is more convenient. No more dry-clean-only fabrics! My go-to uniform remains pretty much the same: vintage Levis and a top I can pull up or down or unbutton to nurse in. Although I did just tell Carman that I want to start wearing more dresses, so we’ll see!

I’ve always tried to be thoughtful about what I invest in and what fabrics I wear, but I feel like I’m even more conscious of that now. Investing in things that won't go out of style, that will last forever / withstand wear, and not a lot of synthetic fabrics - I can’t stand the feel of it and he’s usually on me in some way or another so I’m all about breathable fabrics.

 

Have you inherited anything from your mom that you treasure?

I always joke that if our house goes up in flames, I’m grabbing my mom’s vintage cotton sweater from Greece that I inherited (by way of borrowing and never returning years and years ago). My dad bought it for her on a business trip while she was pregnant with me and it’s one of my most treasured things.

 

Do you have anything special that you plan to pass down to Miles one day?

I don’t have anything specific at this point. Carman has a beautiful vintage guitar (among others) that I’m sure he’ll inherit. My mom also bought me an engraved bracelet when I was a child that I still have and I think I’d like to continue that tradition, but we’ll see!

 

What’s the first thing you do every morning to start your day on the right foot?

I wish I were more of a morning person, but with sleep being priceless these days, Miles and I stay in bed as long as possible until he is awake and trying to crawl off the bed. Once we’re up, the first thing we do is open all the windows and let as much sunshine in as possible and thank the Lord for another day - we pray out loud by thanking Him for everything we can see out our huge window (the sun, trees, grass, birds, squirrels, etc).

 

What piece of encouragement and/or advice would you share with new moms? 

‘There’s no way to be a perfect mom, but a million ways to be a good one.’ Have grace for yourself, laugh at yourself, trust your mama instinct, and then surrender surrender surrender and pray without ceasing.

 

What are some words you live by?

Quality over quantity.

(and I’d be remiss if I didn’t say ‘Let go and let God’ which is what my dad has said my whole life and truly are words I live by)

 

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