Little Blair Francis certainly took her time entering the world. Born on April 12, 2023, two weeks past her due date, her arrival had been eagerly anticipated by Lauren and Charlie Wood for years.

"We struggled to have a baby for years and even questioned whether we should try at all after a while," Lauren explains.

The couple considered IVF treatment for some time. The only hitch was Lauren's fear of needles. Facing that fear was just one of many challenges Lauren and Charlie confronted during Blair's long-awaited journey into the world.

"We were terrified," Charlie emphasizes, "especially with her due date landing right in the heart of the spring market! But honestly, it didn’t impact us too much. Like many agents, we were slower last year, which helped us prepare for our girl's arrival without too much madness going on. We were also grateful for our team who stepped up and really helped us during that time."

Adding to the uncertainties was Lauren’s decision to have a natural birth without medications. Although she experienced some complications and lost a lot of blood during the birth, she received excellent care.

"Childbirth is no joke," Lauren asserts. "Thankfully, we were at a great hospital with an amazing team. Evanston Hospital provides excellent facilities for women of a slightly older age and had a room that suited the midwifery program we chose for delivery."

Blair's timing was serendipitous. She was born on Lauren’s birthday—thirty-nine years to the day after Lauren herself was born, and nearly to the minute at 11:30 am. Blair shares her middle name, Francis, with her grandfather and great-grandfather, continuing a cherished family tradition.

With all the anticipation, fear, and doubt Lauren and Charlie experienced throughout the process, once Blair arrived, all their concerns quickly dissipated. "It’s funny how sometimes we find ourselves just sitting around, staring at Blair, fascinated with her daily changes," Lauren shares.

Lauren and Charlie have found that they need to be much more selective and efficient with their time now. However, as longtime REALTORS®, founders, and team leaders of Olive Well with Compass Bucktown, they feel their careers have prepared them to rise to the challenge.

"Real estate is by nature a chaotic profession, but those that thrive find systems to keep themselves organized, on task, and capable of scaling. Having a baby is no different. It’s chaotic and unpredictable, but it also can be routinized. Some of the best advice I ever got before having a baby was to find that routine and schedule as early as possible, and to not be afraid to ask for help," Lauren advises.

Lauren and Charlie also note how having a baby has helped them understand the needs of their clients with expanding families, and how that impacts their home requirements. It has also helped them connect with many of their clients on a personal level, which, as nonparents, they were unable to do before.

When it comes to real estate, Lauren is currently passionate about empowering their agents to expand their businesses. In addition to selling, Lauren recently took on a role as a coach with Steve Shull Performance Coaching and has found a lot of joy in teaching agents around the country how to enhance their marketing presence.

Outside of real estate, Lauren and Charlie enjoy taking little Blair to visit Charlie’s parents in Sun Valley, Idaho, where they can hike and fish during the summer, and ski and snowshoe during the winter. They also enjoy seeing Lauren’s parents in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where they can take walks along the lake.

To other expecting REALTORS®, Lauren offers these final words of encouragement: "It will all be okay! Don’t worry, you can do it all. After all, you’re a REALTOR®!"