Julie grew up all over Texas, but has been happily settled in Austin since 2006. Growing up in a wellness and child centered family put her on a path to becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist. After getting an undergraduate degree in Child Development in 1996, she began working at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, primarily with infants and toddlers on a liver transplant/gastrointestinal unit. As she continued to gain work experience and work towards a graduate degree, her love for infants intensified.​She moved positions and began working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Parkland Memorial Hospital, providing family centered, developmentally supportive care to critically ill and premature newborns.   

 

After 10 years in Dallas, she moved to Austin to be closer to family and began work at Dell Children’s Medical Center, initially in the Emergency Department, then the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, remaining there until she got married and started having children of her own!​ Her passion for attachment parenting, infant massage, cognitive development and breastfeeding has led her to maintain a number of certifications including Certified Instructor of Infant Massage, Certified Breastfeeding Educator, Denver II Developmental Screener and has completed the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) training through the Brazelton Institute.  

 

After birthing her own two children at the Austin Area Birthing Center, Julie taught infant massage, infant development, toddler development and new sibling classes to birthing center families for many years. ​Julie nursed both of her babies through toddlerhood and she's a huge advocate for babywearing (nine in and nine out!). She enjoys the challenges and joys of raising two uniquely wonderful children alongside her husband, Jimmy. She enjoys yoga, hiking with her family and is passionate about living a holistic, organic, non-toxic lifestyle!