Hi Lansing Moms! I’m Noelle and I’m a Charlotte mom. I was born and raised in Laingsburg, Michigan. After spending four incredible years in East Lansing at Michigan State (Go Green!), I moved in Indianapolis, Indiana where I spent the next 15 years building my career, finding my community, and falling in love. In 2019, we moved to Michigan to be closer to my family and to take a big step in my career.
A Late Bloomer
I’ve always considered myself a bit of a late bloomer. I got my first kiss at 21 and my first real boyfriend at 23. So, when I turned 30 and was still single, I made the decision that I would make the most of that life…no husband, no kids, just me and my dog – which I didn’t actually have yet.
The funny thing about life is that once you “decide” one thing, it usually decides something else. My husband and I began dating soon after my 32nd birthday. We got married when I was 35. We also got that dog too. But, kids? That wasn’t my plan.
When I say MY plan, I really mean THE plan. When I was 22-years-old I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), an health condition which wreaks havoc on your hormones, makes your cycle inconsistent and, usually leads to infertility. The doctor told 22-year-old Noelle (the one who’d never had a boyfriend) that down the road pregnancy would be difficult and potentially unlikely. It’s part of what made 30-year-old Noelle’s decision so easy. When I shared this information with my husband early on in our relationship, his response was, “We’ll see.”
Plot Twist…I’m a Mom
In 2019, I told my husband I wanted to move to Michigan to help take care of my parents. He said that if I found a job I loved and a house with a barn for his woodworking business, we could head north. I ended up landing an incredible position as the executive director for a small nonprofit that works on behalf of farmers. We found a house and a small property in Charlotte and made the move in September 2019.
When Covid shut the world down, we started renovating our house. In the new layout, there was one small room which my husband kept referring to as a “potential nursery” even though I’d already claimed it as my office on paper. Each time he said it I’d remind him that we didn’t need a nursery and he’d tag on an optimistic “yet.” Little did we know, I was already pregnant.
Due to my PCOS diagnosis, I didn’t recognize the pregnancy signs. I learned I was pregnant at 27 weeks. To call it a shock would be the understatement of the year, during the year that was already shocking enough. In September 2020, one year after moving to Michigan, and three months shy of my 40th birthday, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Yes, I am a late bloomer.
Even More About Me
Aside from chasing after my two-year-old and promoting Michigan-grown food, I am a self-proclaimed leadership nerd. I love giving back to my community and supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs whenever possible. I will always straighten other women’s crowns. I’ve never met a stranger and I find immense gratification in helping others. I’m excited to join the Lansing Mom community and to meet all of you!
