Hey! I’m Jess! I am so excited to be this month’s “Mom of the Month,” and share with you a little bit about me.

I joined FIT4MOM in June 2023, the day that my husband, Ethan, left for deployment. We had just moved into the San Diego area barely two weeks before he shipped out, so I knew I needed mom friends and community fast! I didn’t know ANYBODY in the area, so I reached out to some girls who used to live in the area for advice on how to meet people. One of them recommended reaching out to FIT4MOM, and I am soooo glad I did!! They have been so supportive and encouraging. They are the reason I got through the deployment. I always leave feeling better than when I arrived. They are the genuine and authentic example of “we listen and don’t judge.”

Before becoming a mom I went to college in Alabama where I got a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and then I went on to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I got my first job as a PT in Pensacola, FL where I met my husband on a date app who was finishing flight school with the US Navy. I followed him to Norfolk, VA and then back to Pensacola. I was working as a PT floating between outpatient Ortho and inpatient Neuro when I had Samuel (December 2021) and Elizabeth (October 2023). When we moved to San Diego, I took a step back from my career as a PT to focus on being a mom and staying home with Sam and Elizabeth during this sea tour.

Hi friends! My name is Theresa and I’m so flattered to be February’s mom of the month.

I’m originally from Georgia, growing up north of Atlanta and moving south for college, where I met my partner, Dylan. After moving to Atlanta after school and working 60hr weeks with an hour plus commute each way, we decided to leave everything behind and escape to Mexico. We spent two magical years working remotely from the beach in Mexico before moving to beautiful San Diego, which has basically been just as magical as Mexico. We’ve been here for almost 8 years now.

We welcomed Karlo into our lives in July of 2021 and everything changed. Being Karlo’s mom has been my favorite thing to come thus far and I was so fortunate to stay at home with him for just over 2 years. That being said, the early days of motherhood and transition back to work were very challenging for me. I was so surprised at how isolating motherhood was at first and so grateful to stumble upon Fit4Mom in Balboa Park one Saturday morning when Karlo was 4 months old. The friends we’ve made have become like family to us both and I could never have imagined such a wonderful friend group.

When we’re not at class, Karlo and I love to listen to a good audiobook and go for a run. He’s helped me train for two half marathons now. Our family also loves to travel - from day trips, to weekend camping, to longer international trips, we’re always excited for the next adventure!

My name is Priscilla Higuera and I am thrilled to be Mom of the Month.

I was born and raised in San Diego. I met my husband the old school way….at a nightclub in Gaslamp. We welcomed our first baby girl in January 2023 and our second baby girl in January 2024.

Needless to say, my body looked a bit different after back to back babies. I found FIT4MOM online and the minute I started following the IG account, I received a message inviting me to try a class for free. I remember thinking, “oh my goodness HOW am I going to get myself and the babies ready by 9:30 am?!” I probably showed up a little late (and still do). After my first class, I was hooked. I am so happy to have found a group of supportive moms who are genuine and authentically themselves. I think some of the most beautiful moments in class are when a mom says to herself, “oh I forgot [insert baby product here].” And without missing a beat you hear a couple of moms say, “don’t worry. I have [missing baby product].”

I love starting my day at FIT4MOM. Working out with other mamas and their babies gives me a boost of energy, which is so desperately needed, and it helps me make smarter dietary choices. It also gives me my daily dose of adult interaction. Not only do I love it, but my babies love it too!

My name is Leah and I am so thankful to be this month’s Mom of the Month.

My motherhood journey began in March 2022 when I gave birth to my first son, James. Unfortunately, James unexpectedly passed away. After lots of testing, we were told there was a 50% chance that any of our future babies would also pass away. My husband and I decided to move forward with IVF for genetic testing in order to grow our family and lessen those odds. After a couple rounds of egg retrievals we transferred embryo number 10 in the summer of 2023 and he stuck! In March 2024, we were blessed with our second perfect little boy, Booker.

I took my first FIT4MOM class as soon as I was cleared by my doctor after having Booker! I had been following FIT4MOM on instagram all throughout my pregnancies, waiting to have an earth side baby to go to classes with. The support and connections I have made within this group are more than anything I expected. I was so worried about my mental health during my maternity leave, but having a group of amazing moms to workout with on an almost daily basis has been amazing for my mental health. I love that Booker is able to connect and interact with other babies of all ages, all while being outside in beautiful sunny San Diego!

Happy October Moms!!

I’m Emma! I’m so honored to be this month’s “mom of the month,” which feels fitting given that I became a mom in October of last year!

I began attending FIT4MOM classes when my son Ibrahim (Ibby) was 3 months old. Having moved to San Diego from NYC while 7 months pregnant, I was craving socialization and a sense of “belonging.” I found FIT4MOM while walking my dog at Liberty Station and have been a regular ever since! I have never felt more welcomed and accepted in a group; surrounded by so many nurturing and caring moms, I knew I had found my tribe. The ups and downs of being a first time mom were tough, but the ability to feel validated in my struggles and celebrated in my joys have kept me coming back week after week. Oh, and the work out! I am consistently drawn to exercise as a way to stay active and feel strong; I love the mix of classes offered within FIT4MOM and the endorphin rush after each class!

Before motherhood I was an emergency room nurse, and following some additional schooling, a nurse practitioner. I met my husband Mo while working in the emergency department in DC, as he was finishing his medical residency. We connected while caring for a patient, went on a first date, and have been together ever since! We have lived in DC, LA, NYC, and now San Diego together, though welcoming Ibby into our lives has been our greatest journey.

Happy September to my Fit4Mamas!

My name is Gia Maggiore. I am one of the few left, it seems, born and raised right here in beautiful San Diego. I met my husband who is from upstate New York through good friends. On our second date I asked him 2 possible deal breaker questions: 1. “Are you staying in San Diego?” 2. “Do you want kids?” Well, he thankfully passed my quiz, and here we are 5 years later!

I joined FIT4MOM thinking it was time to get back into shape after having a baby. “What?! A workout class you can bring your kid to?!” Little did I know that after 16 months of coming, this group of amazing moms would feel like family to me. The support, connection, and friendship for me and my son Luca has been one of the best gifts I have received this year! Well of course besides him :)

I have been full time in the hair industry for over 17 years now and blessed with a job that I love. After having Luca I went part time. I tell him all the time: “Thanks to dad working really hard mommy gets to spend extra days with you and go to Stroller Strides!” My parents live fairly close and I’m forever grateful for the help and love they provide for Luca when I do work, or when I have an occasional date night or mommy outing :)

Hi, lovely ladies of FIT4MOM!

My name is Briana Pangle , the honored Mom of the Month in our beloved community. Let me share a little about myself and my journey with FIT4MOM.

I am the proud mother of Asher Dean, a lively 2-year-old whose spunky personality lights up the room. Our weekly visits to FIT4MOM are the highlight of our week, where we get to play, exercise, and connect with our favorite mamas and their little ones. Asher adores spending time with his friends while I enjoy squeezing in a great workout - it's a win-win for both of us!

I’m originally from the small city of Columbia, Tennessee or the dimple of the universe as my hometown calls it. My husband’s military journey brought us to San Diego, California. While we miss the mountains, we can't get enough of the beautiful weather and the beaches here. FIT4MOM has been a constant in my life, starting back in Denver, Colorado when Asher was just a tiny baby. The sense of community and belonging we've found here is truly priceless, and I couldn't wait to join classes even before unpacking in our new home in California.

Although I'm not currently practicing, I've been a dedicated esthetician for five years. However, I felt God calling me to childcare which led me to an amazing opportunity with JuneCare, a company that allows mamas to stay home with their little ones while still earning an income. Being able to spend the entire day with my baby is truly a blessing that I cherish every moment.

Hi, y’all!

My name is Willa Shemmassian, and I’m delighted to be the July Mom of the Month.July is a special month for me because it’s the month I became a mom. You will typically find me and my youngest son Melik (age 2) at the Balboa Park or Point Loma locations, though my older son Kami (age 5) joins us at Stroller Strides when he’s off school to “help take care of the babies.”

I was raised in New Orleans. Although I’ve lived elsewhere for many years, I still miss it dearly, and I make a mean jambalaya. After attending college and working on the East Coast, I was thrilled – and a little scared! – to move solo to Los Angeles to study clinical psychology at UCLA. I met my husband Shirag in graduate school, and when I matched for my clinical internship in San Diego, we were very excited to explore a new city together. When I’m not at work or in mom mode, I like to run, do yoga, cook, and get lost in a murder mystery audiobook.

I am one of those odd people who knew from about the age of 8 what I wanted to be professionally when I grew up… and I am grateful to work part-time as a child clinical psychologist in my own private practice. It is such a privilege to come alongside kids and their parents during challenging times as they grow in knowledge and confidence, and it’s also fun to think of new, creative approaches to help kids learn.

Hi everyone, I’m Lauren!

I am a proud Mama to my two babies, Dulcie (7) and Alexander (3). I’m so excited to be Mom of the Month for June, mostly because I cannot wait for summer to begin! I love having both my kids home and being able to run around San Diego taking advantage of everything the city offers!

I currently live in Coronado while my husband, Brandon is stationed in San Diego. I remember coming here for a PR conference during college and dreamed of living here, and sometimes I can’t believe it manifested. Even though we are a military family and have moved a bunch, this has been one of my favorite places to live.

I am a Midwest girl, born in Indiana. I have a big family still there that I miss a lot, but we do our best to visit each other often. I grew up dancing, acting and singing, which has come in handy as a Mama when it comes to those epic car performances of Disney music! You can usually find me trying to park near the instructor’s stroller during class to make sure I’m near the speaker, because working out to good music is just superior.

Before kids, I had many different jobs due to moving every couple years being married to my Navy man, but I usually held a position in sales. I loved it because you met new people everyday and when you worked hard with sincerity, you got rewarded for it. Now as a stay-at-home mom, my kids, especially during those times of solo parenting, keep me very busy.

Hey hey!

I'm Macy! I feel pretty honored to be mom of the month for May because I think May has the most special holiday- Mother’s Day! I’m currently in my Mom era jamming to “Let it Go” (on repeat, of course) with my 2-year old daughter Malen and Patxi, my 4-month old baby boy.

Motherhood is truly the best and I’m lucky enough to walk, run, jump through it with an amazing group: FIT4MOM. As a Pelvic floor physical therapist, fitness is very important to me, but FIT4MOM is not just about the workouts; it's about the community, the accountability, and the shared journey of motherhood.

I have an amazing husband, Alec, who is a Urology Resident for the Navy. We met in the most charming way when I was in the 8th grade- at the local county fair of Alec’s hometown. But being 35 minutes from my hometown, the middle school love didn’t last past a few months because of the “long distance.”

After graduating college, we decided to give the long distance another shot (this time 1,000 miles apart) and reconnected before going off to medical school and physical therapy school. It worked out this time and we married in 2020! (Rebels)

Although I choose to spend most of my time momming and being a wife, I do have a few other hobbies…. Which still mostly includes my husband and kids!

Hey Mamas!

I’m Mairead, it’s pronounced like parade but with an m AND yes I will introduce myself that way the first time I meet you! I was born and raised in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York, but sadly I’ve lost the accent. On occasion you’ll hear it resurface if you’re lucky. I am so honored to be April’s mama of the month as April marks one whole year of being back on the west coast.

I am a military spouse and girl mom! This time last year my husband John, daughters Jade (3) & Isla (1) and two Boston terriers Maisie & Mia hit the road and drove from Virginia Beach to California due to yet another PCS. It was bittersweet to have to move yet again, but we are so lucky to get to come back to California and all that San Diego has to offer.

My husband and I met in 2014 while I was going to college in Hawaii and he was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Shortly after I graduated we were engaged and the navy whisked us off to San Diego. We were excited for this new adventure and to both continue further our careers. I found my passion for teaching individuals with exceptional abilities and worked hard for my masters degree in Special Education. Shortly after that, the Navy sent us on our merry way to the east coast to Virginia Beach. While living in Virginia I scored my dream job teaching middle school. My students were all such incredible kids that I learned from each day. I still struggled to meet friends and ended up joining a military spouse kickball team. Win or lose - we still had a blast every Sunday! I made lifelong friendships and made so many memories. I also joined a women’s boot camp style gym. If you’re catching on, I thrive in a group setting and supportive atmosphere!

Hi all, I’m Frankie

Mom to Cam (Camille), who’s almost 2, and Tom (Thomas) who is 7 months.

It’s pretty fitting that I was asked to be mom if the month for March, since my own mother, the most influential person in my life, was born in March, and I myself became a mother in the same month. A little bit of myself before motherhood: I am from Quebec City, Canada, so you’ll generally hear me chatting to the kids in French! I am a true northern gal, I always miss the cold and snow! I love sweets, trash tv and reading. I grew up always active, between soccer and figure skating, we spent our summers camping. I still love to camp and hike, and have been camping with my daughter a few times! Throughout my early 20s, i enjoyed the freedom to travel and experience new things. I then graduated with a Masters in counselling, and shortly thereafter my now husband was offered a job position in the US. We got married in June of 2019 and packed up our lives and said goodbye to friends and family to settle in sunny San Diego in August of the same year. We made the most of our time here pre-kids, traveling through the western US, paddleboarding regularly and adopting our first babies, our cat and dog Jack and Diane.

Hello FIT4MOM community!

My name is Truly! I started going to FIT4MOM when my daughter, Antonia, was only 3 months old and she is now 2. We are excited to announce that we are expecting another baby this summer!

Just a bit about me: I am 41, originally from the Bay Area, moved to San Diego for college (SDSU alumni), and played soccer growing up. In my 20s I ran 6 marathons in San Diego and have always tried to stay active. After being in San Diego for 13 great years I decided to make a change and took a position with my company in San Francisco. I got to live in the City with my now husband, Frank, for the first time and we loved hiking and exploring. The time was so much fun, we lived just a mile from The Golden Gate Bridge.

After 6 years in San Francisco, and in the middle of COVID, we decided to make the move back to sunny San Diego. Although it was an exciting time for us as newlyweds, and just finding out we were pregnant with our first baby, I found myself in a city I knew so well, yet everything felt so unfamiliar.

By the time I had my daughter Toni a few months later, I decide to take a new leap and become a stay-at-home mom! After 2 decades of working fulltime and being very career driven, this felt odd to me. It required a huge mental shift and I found myself trying to navigate my new life as mom.