Finding time with new mom and musician, Jenny Leigh.

I’m forgettin’ how it feels to go walkin’ through the fields
But I’m, I’m finding time
I’m forgettin’ how it feels to cast a pole and wind a reel But I’m,
I’m finding time
I’m forgettin’ how it feels to sit down and share a meal But I’m,
I’m finding time I’m forgettin’ how it feels to do my talking when I kneel But I’m,
I’m finding time

Photo of Jenny Leigh and her daughter, Fern. Fern is wearing a Peony Bonsie Footie. Photograph by Mackenzie LaRoe: @mackenzielaroe

These lovely lyrics were inspired by Fern, the six-month-old daughter of Jenny Leigh and Adam Wakefield. Jenny, a talented musician and actress, shared a peak of her life as a new mom with us.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

“I’m a first time mom; my daughter Fern is just turning 6 months old. I’ve been in Nashville for 10 years pursuing a career in music and film. In my time here I’ve had some amazing opportunities playing music locally (Bluebird Cafe, CMA Fest, Station Inn to name a few), on the road (supporting acts like Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Jana Kramer) and on screen (CMT’s “Nashville” and Lifetime’s feature film, “Patsy & Loretta”). But nothing has brought me more joy and fulfillment than becoming a mother.”

What was becoming a mom like?

“I decided a few things at the beginning of my pregnancy: it was going to be an enjoyable experience, I was going to be as healthy as possible, and I was going to trust my body to deliver naturally.

There were a few bumps in the road of course, but looking back, I wouldn’t do it any other way. My husband and I decided to wait to find out Fern’s sex until delivery which was such a special moment. I labored at home for about half of the time and had a wonderful doula who helped us to transfer to the birth center at Vanderbilt where our team then included 2 midwives. We opted for a water birth which I highly recommend! Fern came naturally after 12 hours of labor and the feeling of joy and accomplishment I had will forever be unmatched.”

How does music play a part in your family’s life and your daughter’s life? Do you see the benefits for her?

“Music is how we make a living as a family and it’s what brought us to music city (my husband is a touring musician and songwriter). We love making music together and also working on various other separate projects. We will bring Fern up in a musical home and give her the best foundation we can should it be something she wants to pursue as well. Our latest release as a couple is called “Finding Time” and honors her and our promise to always prioritize and make time for her in a busy world. Hopefully this will be the first of many songs that we put out into the world under the Wakefield name.

It is also important to me to show Fern that you don’t have to be one thing as a female: a mother or a ____ (fill in the blank with career of choice). There is pressure to choose family life or a career in any industry and ours is no exception. I want to debunk that so including her in that part of our lives is the best way I know how. Even when I was pregnant, I was finding ways to keep working creativity, writing lyric books & music charts as props for “George and Tammy” for Paramount Pictures, and continuing as a session vocalist for hire in studios here in Nashville. Fern joined my husband and I in Denmark in September for a songwriting festival we were performing in, and she and I have even found a couple ways to collaborate.

Photo of Jenny Leigh and her daughter, Fern. Fern is wearing a Peony Bonsie Footie. Photograph by Mackenzie LaRoe: @mackenzielaroe

We did a ‘mommy & me’ shoot for a local commercial this summer (she cried the entire time, oops) and funny enough, when we were watching some friends perform in Nashville recently, I got called up to sing and was wearing Fern, so she just came on up with me! Her first gig in the books was at the world-famous Station Inn…not too shabby!” ;)

What is your favorite way to bond with Fern?

“It’s hard to pick just one thing. I don’t think there is a me without her now. We do everything together, from playtime on her activity mat to bath time to hiking to gardening and traveling. But my favorite times are just lounging with her, exchanging smiles, “talking”, and snuggling. She’s my world!”

Jenny also shares our enthusiasm for skin-to-skin contact and Bonsie Skin to Skin Babywear:

“For traveling, it’s been the best for constant temperature changes (planes, trains, and automobiles), and for easy diaper changes no matter where we are. The skin-to-skin bonding experience is still something we do every day and we couldn’t love Bonsie more for making that seamless!”

Close up of Bonsie Skin to Skin Babywear Peony Footie

Follow Jenny and her family’s adventure and music career at www.jennyleighmusic.com and on her Instagram account @jennyleighmusic. Listen to Finding Time here.