The food influencer, who didn't share she was expecting, welcomed her baby son in April
Credit: Amanda Pomilla Photography
NEED TO KNOW
- Joy Wilson welcomed her first baby, son John Lesley Jorgensen, in early April
- The food influencer, better known as Joy the Baker, welcomed her son with her husband, Will
- Wilson reflects on motherhood as a transformative journey, balancing exhaustion, patience, and special moments with her newborn
Joy Wilson's table is now set for three!
The food influencer, better known as Joy the Baker, has welcomed her first baby with her husband Will, a rep for Wilson confirms to PEOPLE exclusively. The 44-year-old welcomed son John Lesley Jorgensen in early April, and he weighed 6 lbs., 15 oz. and measured 21 inches long.
"From baker to baby mama has been a sweet adjustment, though I'd be lying if I said I haven't had moments of trying to speed run my way back into my old life," Wilson shares with PEOPLE.
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Credit: Amanda Pomilla Photography
"In the last few months of my pregnancy, I opened a monthly pop-up bakery in my backyard called The Bakehouse Texas, and it was such a joyful creative sprint," she continues. "I put the bakery on maternity leave when John arrived with plans to reopen in September."
Wilson says she thought about coming back early to her pop-up bakery, and even headed down to the kitchen to test out a few recipes.
"But it didn't take long to remember that baking for a pop-up is full-body work. It's physical, demanding and takes every ounce of energy, and right now those ounces are spoken for," she shares. "At the moment, life is a balancing act between bottle feeding and ambition, and I'm learning ambition can wait a little while."
Credit: Amanda Pomilla Photography
Wilson says that when it came time to give birth to John, she may have "underestimated" the process.
"I think that's pretty classic for us IVF girlies, where so much of the anxiety and hope is wrapped up in just getting to the finish line that you almost forget there's a very physical, very wild event waiting for you at the end of it," she explains.
"And honestly, I'm not sure anyone can really prepare you for birth because it's such a unique experience for every person. Everyone can tell you their story, but when it's your turn, it becomes its own thing entirely," continues Wilson. "I just remember thinking, 'Wow, this is the most human thing I've ever done.'"
"TL;DR: mom and baby made it through (not gracefully), and that feels like the only thing that matters."
Credit: Amanda Pomilla Photography
As she's stepped into motherhood, Wilson says that the process has "unlocked" things in her that she didn't know were there.
"Mainly a capacity for exhaustion and patience I truly didn't know I possessed," she says. "I have a feeling this is just the beginning of discovering all the hidden rooms inside myself. As our boy grows, I imagine motherhood will keep asking more of me, revealing more strength, softness and hopefully more resilience."
For Wilson, the quiet moments during early morning feedings have been some of the most special with her newborn baby.
Credit: Amanda Pomilla Photography
"The whole world is still asleep, the house is quiet and it's just me and the baby. It's exhausting, yes, but it also feels holy," she says. "And I love knowing there are so many other new moms awake at that exact hour doing the very same thing. There's comfort in that invisible company."
"And right now, watching my husband, Will, become a dad has been one of the sweetest surprises of all. Right now, fatherhood looks like diaper changes and sleepy cuddles, but I know the real adventure is coming soon," shares Wilson.
"Our family sport is bikes and motorcycles, so I imagine there are plenty of thrills (and nerves) in my future. I'm already preparing myself."
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