Jenny Anchondo is an Emmy-winning news anchor and reporter, formerly at Fox 4 and now at CW33 DFW. Throughout her career, she’s covered everything from immigration issues to drug trafficking and the Ebola crisis, but nothing has compared to the excitement of the past year. The Dallas mom and her husband of nearly two years, Heath, welcomed their daughter, Brighton, last May—and every day since has been a wonderful learning curve.
DFWChild: How is Brighton doing? Has she been a healthy baby?
Jenny Anchondo: We had some challenges in the beginning. I had a great birth, but she struggled with gaining weight. Those first couple of months were a whirlwind. Now, I’m happy to say she’s in the 95th percentile for height and weight.
C: How was the pregnancy?
JA: It was good, but it’s not easy to be on air and pregnant—just logistically, trying to figure out what to wear. For some reason, all maternity clothes are in stripes! Thankfully, our audience can understand and relate. I report in the field three days a week and those are long days, but it’s not anything that other moms haven’t done before. I was just thankful to be pregnant.
C: You’re passionate about fitness. Did you exercise throughout the pregnancy?
JA: I did. I adjusted my workouts a little bit but continued doing barre and Flywheel. I think it helped me to be able to work right up to my due date, like a lot of women do.
C: What surprised you most about life with a little?
JA: The realignment of priorities and what I do with each hour. I also didn’t know what a challenge breastfeeding was going to be.
C: Did you have anxiety about returning to work?
JA: Yes. I didn’t think I would question going back to work at all, but I miss her during the day. But I want her to see me fulfilling my career goals. I want her to know that I can set my mind to something and achieve it.
C: How are you juggling it all?
JA: I get up around 1:30 in the morning, but … there are only about four hours in between when my husband leaves and when I come home. We have more time with her than away from her.
C: How has becoming parents changed the dynamic between you and Heath?
JA: We’re both pretty independent. Now, we’re in team mode. He’s stepped up in such a big way, and it magnifies my love and admiration for him. There would be no way for me to continue this job if he wasn’t stepping up every single day.
C: What do you do to feel like yourself?
JA: My workouts are so important to me—almost meditative. It’s my time to refocus. And time with my girlfriends. I’ve
been blessed with some really strong women in my life.
C: What’s the best advice on motherhood you’ve been given?
JA: I was sitting up in the middle of the night Googling everything and my mom said, “Jenny, you have to look internally; your intuition will tell you. You were made to do this.”
C: Worst advice?
JA: So many people said, “Jenny, what are you going to do about getting her into a school?” Of course, we want her to be in a lovely preschool, but we’re not stressing about that right now. We’re just trying to get through the day.
C: What advice would you offer first-time moms-to-be?
JA: It’s such a gift to be able to have a child. So when you’re feeling like you want to get it [pregnancy] over with, try to focus on how lucky you are to be able to go through this experience.
Jenny Anchondo’s Mommy Must-Haves
1. Now that I’m back to work, I often have to pump in the back of a live truck or in a public restroom. The Spectra 9 Plus Electric Breast Pump is small, portable and doesn’t have to be plugged in.
$180 // multiple locations (Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond)
2. I’m embarrassed to say how confused I was by the carseat installation process. All you have to do is make an appointment with Children’s Health, and you can get your seat checked for free.
3. I use the Ninja Blender to make Brighton’s baby food. I steam her veggies, let them cool, blend them and freeze them.
$199.99 // Multiple locations (Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond)
4. Baby Shusher was one of the only things that kept her calm for the first several months.
$34.99 // Multiple locations (Buy Buy Baby, Sugarland Express)
5. Baby Tracker was our lifeline in the first few months. We kept track of all of her naps, feedings, diapers, etc.
Apple App Store and Google Play
6. We go everywhere with the BOB Fitness Stroller. It’s so smooth and folds up easily.
$479.99 // Multiple locations (Buy Buy Baby, Amazon)
7. My husband and I watched Happiest Baby in the wee hours of the night as we were trying to learn how to soothe Brighton.
8. I pump in the middle of the night and at work so I needed a bra that I can wear to sleep and work. The Rumina Pump and Nurse Bra fits the bill.
From $28 // Multiple locations (Walmart, Amazon)
9. Brighton busted through most of her sleepers. Owlivia Sleepers are the only brand that held up and didn’t get holes in the toes.
From $15 // Multiple locations (Buy Buy Baby, Target)
This interview was originally published in April 2018.
Photography courtesy of Emilee Prado
