"We have been here three years. We were inspired by friends to buy a duplex with a close friend. We set out to find a side-by-side duplex and we got the first one we found. It was built in 1949 and both sides are mirror images of each other. We also needed space for a studio for my husband and myself. We use the basement and garage for that. The Beacon Hill neighborhood is just southeast of downtown Seattle and overlooks the industrial/port area. Co-owning was the only way we could afford to buy in Seattle. There is a huge housing shortage here, so prices are constantly getting higher and development is booming. The exterior was in bad shape, so we spent an entire summer fixing it. We also pulled up carpet and refinished floors. The house has good bones, so all we really had to do on the inside was cosmetic. Although we do want to update the kitchen next summer."

Jess wears an UZI NYC top, A Pea in the Pod maternity skirt, and a Tiro Tiro ring.

"Whatever the 'our house is small' aesthetic would be. We try to keep things simple in order to make the space feel clean and open. I have found mid-century style furniture tends to fit really well in small spaces, as well as keeping paint colors light and consistent. I’m drawn towards Scandinavian design—the sense of embracing negative space is in line with our desire to keep our space as clutter-free as possible."

"Art is a huge priority in our home. We tend to hang art first and then fill in the gaps. I also have a few heirlooms I wanted to make space for when we were decorating, as well. Overall, we try to only buy what we need and not clutter the space. I also find making items custom to a space has been the best solution. With an older small space, there are a lot of funky corners and not a lot of storage. So, we try to make it work. Sometimes I think our space is boring when I share photos in interviews like this. But when people are actually in the space they love looking at all the artwork and making friends with our cats. That makes me happy."

"The pink painting in the living room is by Robert C. Jones. It is hanging above the dining table like a ray of sunshine. I can see it from our bed in the morning and right when I walk through the front door. I really love the book/record shelf in our living room, as well. We upcycled a couple of wood boxes from an art exhibition that were going to be thrown away. We put them all together, added legs and a top. It fits perfectly in our space and makes a great shelf for all our plants. The kitties love sitting on it so they can look out the window. Not all my DIY projects work out, but this one really did."

"I have a background in art and I studied in Seattle and New York. After college I juggled working retail with interning for galleries while continuing an art practice. Eventually, I worked my way up the ladder to Assistant Director of Ambach & Rice Gallery. I helped them move the gallery from Seattle to L.A. But during this time my art practice dwindled and I became much more interested in the design and craft community in L.A. I decided to leave my gallery career in order to move back to Seattle. I worked various admin positions to get by and figure out what I wanted to do next. During this time I started designing bags and textile designs. Once Pine & Boon was established enough, I decided to do it full-time. I had a really hard time finding a new career that fit me. So, pursuing my own designs was the best fit. It was a huge pay cut and not very secure, but we are making it work."

"I sort of suffered a burnout in the past that has taught me to better balance work and life long-term. So, I already had some practice teaching myself to slow down. But I had no idea how much I would need to slow down for the pregnancy. It is harder for me to focus, so I tend to schedule my days around that fact. I made some changes in how I produce the bags because I knew I wanted to do more designing and less sewing myself. It just happened to be good timing with the pregnancy! Now I use a specialty bag-sewing company in Portland. That way I can keep the business going while working on other design projects, as well as having a new baby. Making everything yourself is just not always sustainable from a business sense. But I am super happy everything is still made in the PNW."

"I do plan on having a 3-month maternity leave, but I still don't know exactly what that will look like. I think it will be just not working on any new projects or releasing any new designs. I will still fulfill orders with stores and my website. I think it will be manageable. But I do get worried about slowing down too much, like will people still remember the brand when I come back? Will some other new bag designer pique everyone's interest? But those worries happen all the time, not just when starting a family. So, the plan is to keep adjusting and moving forward as the seasons change."

"I like that I found something that really utilizes my skills and talents. I have that creative side, but I also have that organizational side. This combination is pretty rare, so I had a hard time finding another career path that fit that well before I went full-time with designing and running the business. I also love that I have a flexible schedule. I tend to be more productive when I control my hours and schedule. For me, I chased a lifestyle rather than money and security. It took me a long time to be okay with that. But both my husband and I feel like we are in a great place. It just means we make more sacrifices to keep that lifestyle going."

"My next move is to expand my design into surface design for home goods. My husband is a painter and we want to collaborate on patterns. We are still unsure how or when this will get off the ground, but we dream about it often. I think the first move will be to get his paintings produced as prints to generate some more income. Then we can invest in developing products."

"Kid stuff can be such eyesore! My husband and I are both very visual people and a little picky about what we look at. Thus, I could maybe have one shelf or basket for our son's toys in the living room. But mostly I want to keep it in his room. Luckily, our small house forces us to only have a little bit of toys and books."

"Sharing our life with a baby is what excites me the most. Sharing art, camping trips, and long walks. Also, seeing my husband with our son will be really special. I do not have a good relationship with my dad, so I am really excited to see my husband as a parent. He is a teacher as well as a kid at heart, so I know he will be such a great dad."

"I’m worried about isolation. I have struggled with depression, even in pregnancy. Connecting with friends and community is going to be really important. Working from home can feel lonely anyway, so I imagine being a mom at home will feel lonely at times, too. Also, breastfeeding. I have heard it can be painful for the first couple of weeks."

Jess wears an Eileen Fisher dress, Sven clogs, and a Rachel Ravitch necklace.

"We were very lucky to conceive quickly. The first trimester was really tough. I became really sick all the time, which did not allow me to work or exercise a whole lot. Lack of movement triggered my depression, so things were not pretty. Since I have a history of depression I knew I would be prone to postpartum depression. But I felt really surprised and unprepared to have depression while pregnant. But as soon as the nausea went away I felt like I could have my life back and mentally felt better, too. Then in my third trimester I developed anemia, so that made exercising difficult again. But my prenatal yoga class really kept me emotionally sane. Taking walks and listening to The Birth Hour podcast has been one of my favorite things while pregnant. All the women's stories are different, positive, and empowering. Ina May’s books have been really amazing and I was sad when I was done reading them because I wanted them to be endless. I also got a few books that were more informative about being pregnant and the first year after. This was a great resource, because I could look things up that concerned me instead of Googling it. Googling is a bad idea when pregnant! Overall, I think finding books you like and taking bits and pieces from all of them has been great."

"You know, I feel like people really misunderstand what a birth plan can be. So many people warned me that you just do not know what will happen, all of your 'plans' will just fly out the window. But I disagree. For me it is not a plan, but a guide to help me do research on my rights as a mom in certain situations. So, yes, there is an ideal on there, but there is also information and preferences in less ideal situations. For me the focus is how can I stay calm in any situation. But also it is about being well informed in different scenarios."

"I wish I had known I was at risk to be depressed while pregnant. Having perinatal depression really surprised me and made me afraid to move forward with the pregnancy in general. I had a lot of fears that the depression would not go away and my husband would have to take care of the baby. I would say if you have this mental health history, talk with a counselor and your care provider. Know your triggers and have a back-up plan. Also, postpartum depression is usually not the first time you have depression. There are signs during the pregnancy in most cases. Care providers should be screening all women both during and after pregnancy, according to the ACOG."

"I cannot think of anyone specific, but I take bits and pieces from moms in my life and put that together. Most of all the amazing midwives I have met and heard about! Ina May is really inspiring. One thing that surprised me about being pregnant was how much fear is thrown at pregnant women and parents of newborns. Women in my prenatal yoga class would say, 'I cannot sleep because everyone says I should not lay on my back.' What breaks my heart is they do not know why this advice is out there. And it actually is not a big deal as long as you can breath okay and do not feel your circulation being cut off. I wish that the 'rules' we gave women while pregnant were delivered in a more empowering way. The nurses and midwives I have met that really empower women and deliver really good information and allow them to make the choice best for them is inspiring to me. I would imagine this would continue into parenthood. You really have to find your voice and seek the information you need to make the best decisions for your family."

"Limber Yoga! My midwife recommended this yoga studio to me because they have ongoing prenatal yoga classes. They also offer birth classes and childcare for some of the classes. It has been a great community to be a part of. And if you are pregnant in the summer, go swimming at the many wonderful swimming spots all around Seattle."

"I did hope to have a girl. But I was not disappointed when we found out it was a boy. I think I was just nervous about connecting with a boy. What do I do with a boy? But those worries did not last long at all. We do have some names in mind! We are not sharing the name just yet, but it will have a lot of meaning for us in relation to nature and family. Choosing a name was so tough! The name we have is the only one that really stuck in both of our minds and we agreed on. But there were a lot of disagreements along the way. Turns out, we have different taste in names.”

"I really didn't want to open presents in front of people, so I called it a Baby Fiesta, so people knew it was not a traditional baby shower. I wanted to just have a casual get together with friends, because I feel like I have missed out on a lot of social activities because I was too tired or just too uncomfortable to do them."

"I have connected with other business/creative mamas and that has been awesome. I have been able to get great advice and reassurance on how to move forward in this new phase of life and juggle the business/creative life. My mom lives in Seattle and works near my house, so I know she will be a big help, as she has already. I do feel a shift in relationships, though. I know that is common, but it also makes me sad. I think I felt a little isolated from friends these last few months because I cannot do the normal things I used to do."

"We set out for just one child, but who knows! But the thought of being pregnant while taking care of another little just horrifies me. I am not one of those moms that loves being pregnant."

"The baby’s room used to be our office, so some elements like the blinds were a little neglected. I replaced those, but other than that really did not change much about the room. The closet is small, so I had to get rid of a lot of stuff and organize well. A friend gave us the Babyletto crib and dresser/changing table! I wish I could fit a rocking chair, but it is just too tight a fit. We hung one of my husband's paintings above the crib, which I used as a guide for the rest of the decor. The painting has a desert feel, so I added pieces that reminded me of that. There is my grandpa’s cowboy hat, a Mexican wool weaving, and an old leather saddle satchel. All of these items I already had, so I didn't have to buy much except the bookshelves. I am excited to see how this room adapts as our son grows."

"I love the cowboy hat! My grandpa was a rancher in California and it’s nice to decorate with things that have meaning. Also, our friends gave us the paper mobile. So simple but clever!"

"I think it depends on the season. In the summer my love for bohemia and color comes out. Fall/winter are for cozy sweaters, tunic shirts, and jeans. The spring usually gets me craving color and patterns mixed with neutrals. Overall, I dress simply and comfortable but accessorize with something colorful, handmade, or funky. It has changed since becoming pregnant, I am all about Birkenstocks and dresses because I’m hot and uncomfortable all the time."

"Lately my budget has only allowed me to shop at Old Navy. The maternity clothes were basic and got me through my pregnancy. I also love UZI NYC and Ace & Jig. Their shapes and patterns were made for me! I wish more designers had longer tunic-style tops, it is my go-to item. Sven is my favorite clog company because they are a good price and very well made. As for staples, I love a well-made, comfortable pair of shoes. Next would be a sweater paired with a striped shirt. Cuffed boyfriend jeans are my go-to usually. I use the Knotted Crossbody from my collection as my everyday bag because I can throw it over my shoulder or across the body if I know I am going to be walking a lot. I work from home, so I tend to dress pretty casual. During pregnancy I switched out jeans for leggings and was able to wear most of my regular clothes for half of the pregnancy."

"I have to say I never felt more confident in my belly region! I wore a bikini and more fitted dresses and tops then I ever did before I was pregnant. Before pregnancy, I was always a loose-and-long-top-with-tight-jeans kind of gal."

"I always shop online these days because this last year I have had so much bad luck going to the physical store and they are always out of stock of my size or style I was looking for. However, I tend to shop at Buffalo Exchange in person and have found many a great things from designers I normally cannot afford at full price."

"I am very passionate about natural beauty products. I use RMS makeup because it is coconut oil-based, so it keeps my skin moisturized and it looks very natural. I do not use regular shampoo, but a castile soap bar once a week and dry shampoo in-between washings. The best moisturizer I have found is Boomsilk. I love how it makes my skin glow. Drybrushing and exfoliating regularly has been a lifesaver and really keeps my skin soft and minimizes breakouts. I use almond oil all over my body, as well, and for shaving. For cleansing, I use Herbivore Botanicals. But I do not cleanse everyday, since I rarely wear makeup everyday. I tend to use their toner and facial oils the most in the evening. For wellness, yoga and walking are my favorite ways to reset my body and mind. I occasionally meditate and go jogging, as well. Well, the jogging bit was before I was pregnant. Although I did jog up until about five months."

"I grew up in the PNW, so sharing this place with the babe is going to be really special. We are excited to be in the city and expose him to things we love, like the art community, food, and our favorite parks. We love to car camp in the summer, so that will be fun to expose him to, as well. I don't think we'd move out of the PNW. I do have a love for California, because that is where I was born and my mom is from. But I think I am happy just visiting. When I was younger I was thirsty to explore elsewhere and took this magical place for granted. But now every time I come home to Seattle from traveling out of state or abroad, I always think we live in an amazing city and region. My husband's family lives on the East Coast, and I just cannot get with the vibe there. I am a West Coast lady for sure! I think my husband just misses the more defined seasons. But we both love the culture and vibe of the PNW."

"I grew up east of Seattle in a suburb called Bellevue until I was 7. Then my family moved about an hour north to a small town called Stanwood. There we lived in a cute farmhouse on five acres. I grew up with both the country and the city. I think my exposure to the city really had an impact on me because I just felt like I never truly fit in when we moved to the country. The scenery was beautiful, but the culture was way too conservative and close-minded for me. This really made me want to raise our child in or very close to the city. My family always embraced the arts. Both sides of my family are full of creativity. I grew up knowing I could try any craft and learn it pretty quickly. But I also grew up with a lot of technology, too. My dad was a computer programer and always tinkering with electronics. My younger brother is now an airplane mechanic and may go on to become an engineer. I think I inherited both the creative and the engineer sides of the family."

"Lake Washington and Seward Park have been my go-to places even before pregnancy. But even more so now because I can swim in the lake on hot days or when I have a lot of back pain. Walking everyday is always a goal of mine. I usually walk around Seward Park or Jefferson Park in South Seattle. Discovery Park is another great walk/hike/beach area I love and actually where Cable and I eloped! While there are so many new restaurants popping up in Seattle, I tend to still have my favorites that never seem to change. Café Presse and Le Pichet have wonderful French small plates and entrees that are affordable and never disappoint. The chef/owner of these restaurants also has a blog where he posts recipes. You gotta have the chicken liver terrine if you go! Ba Bar is great, as well as Revel. Bar del Corso is super close to our house and has a non-alcoholic aperitif for pregnant ladies. Everything on their menu is good. For cheap eats we grab Pho from Pho Bac or Green Leaf. We also found a new Ethiopian place we love, as well. As you can see, I love food!"

To follow along on Jess's new-mama journey, check out her Instagram feed.