Mamastories with Vero Baez

Who is Veronica Baez (30)

Mom of... Natalia Sofia & Alessandra Valentina (3)

Together with... Paul van Urk (35)

Occupation: Owner of the fashion label Vantee Label

Follow on Instagram.com/VeroBaez and Instagram.com/VanteeLabel

It was a big surprise when Veronica found out she was pregnant. Especially when it turned out to be twins. It's challenging, but fortunately, most of the time, it goes quite relaxed. Her secret: go with the flow. Vero talks about motherhood and everything that comes with it.

The most special thing about motherhood...

"My daughters give me a completely new perspective on life and have forever changed the meaning of the word love for me. Even though raising twins away from my 'tribe' – my mother and all the women in Mexico I left years ago for love here in the Netherlands – can be challenging, I get so much in return that I wouldn't want to change anything."

What I didn't expect...

"My pregnancy! It was a big surprise, and then it turned out I was expecting twins. We wanted to make it a big surprise for family and friends so that everyone in the hospital could see for themselves that it's not one but two. However, I quickly had such a big belly that we couldn't keep it a secret any longer. Everyone was in shock, and many people felt a bit sorry for me, haha!"

Proud of...

"How much I've achieved with the twins. It was a big step for me to move to the other side of the world five years ago for love. Doing pregnancy and raising two children without my family can be challenging. That's why I'm doubly proud of how we're all doing together and how much I've learned from the twins. It really feels like we're a team. That's why I never feel alone."

"My daughters give me a completely new perspective on life"

The story behind Natalia & Alessandra

"Natalia was the name of my favorite doll, and I always said I wanted to name my first daughter after that favorite doll. I heard the name Alessandra once in Italy, and it immediately gave me a feeling of love and passion. Very special. The names are also perfect to pronounce in different languages. Also not unimportant."

The best of two cultures

"One of the most important things in my culture is family: you do everything for your family, and they do everything for you. I find it very important to pass that on to my girls. That, along with the feeling of freedom, the ability to be independent at a young age, and create your own world – things I admire from Dutch culture. Together, it's a beautiful mix."

As a mother, I am...

"Quite relaxed, if I say so myself. I'm not so strict with schedules and plans. Going with the flow is more my thing. Some days it's very easy, and sometimes it's not. It all depends on the mood of my girls. They also seem to have similar personalities; both soft and passionate at the same time."

Relaxation for me...

"Spend one of the two days when the girls go to daycare purely on myself. On that day, I listen to my body and what I need. I often do yoga, watch a movie, take a nap, or go shopping. I really love those moments for myself. Whether you're a mother or not, I think that's important."

My morning routine

"I love relaxed mornings. Those days when we don't have to get up early, the girls can still lie in bed with me, and we read and play together. Around ten o'clock, we get out of bed and start the day. It's great to be lazy."

My week

"I work on my label throughout the week. I do most of it when they go to daycare, and if there's something that needs to be done on other days, I try to combine it. That's why they've been to many business meetings from the beginning. Sometimes that's the only way to schedule, and fortunately, many people find it cute. I'm also lucky that the girls know how to behave well. But in the end, they are still children, so if they want to play and make a lot of noise, sometimes there's nothing else to do than to change my plans and, for example, reschedule a meeting."

Jewelry I wear daily... "I love bracelets, always wear at least one. And when I meet up and, for example, go out to dinner, I mix it with rings and necklaces. I never take off a piece of jewelry, namely my red lucky bracelet with a gold circle. I got this from my mother, and it's very special to me. These kinds of red bracelets are worn a lot in Latin America, symbolizing luck and protection against those who wish harm.