Keeping Up with the Baby Bunch

After five years, Modern Parenting reunites with the six moms who graced its inaugural cover. Join us as we catch up with the Baby Bunch and explore the beautiful, ever-shifting landscape of motherhood through their eyes

In August 2020, Modern Parenting debuted its very first cover with Amanda Griffin Jacob, Cristalle Belo Pitt, Tricia Centenera, Jessica Tan Gan, Patti Grandidge Herrera, and Vanessa Matsunaga Sunga. Affectionately known as the Baby Bunch, this group came together in 2018 when they had their kids, Kyle Jacob, Hunter Pitt, Neo Herrera, Benjamin Yap (of Jessica), David Sunga and their only princess, Arabella Santos (of Tricia). This inspiring group of moms has long embodied a timeless truth about raising children: it truly takes a village.

And while much can change in a year—five years can transform entire worlds. As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, it feels only fitting to revisit these women and reflect on where their motherhood journeys have taken them. How have their bonds evolved? What new parenting philosophies have emerged? How have their families and children grown, and what do they hope for in the next five years?

Amanda Griffin Jacob

Considered the veteran mama of the group with four kids, Amanda is grateful to continue learning from her Baby Bunch sisters, who are some of her closest friends. “Watching each of them grow into their own unique style of motherhood has been such a joy and constantly inspires me,” shares Amanda.

If given the chance to advise her ‘then’ self as a mother, Amanda will tell herself to not sweat the small stuff. “Experience really does shift everything,” observes Amanda. Armed with that knowledge in planning ahead, she focuses on one simple goal—to keep growing. “In five years I’ll have a 20-year-old, which is wild to think about. Every step I take in my personal journey makes me a better human and a better mum to Kieran, Kalon, Lila and Kyle, and that’s the kind of energy I want to continue bringing into our family’s future.”

Cristalle Belo Pitt

“It’s a constant dance, but a beautiful one,” says Cristalle about motherhood. “Over the years, what surprised me most was how much of motherhood is really about balance—giving my kids all the love and care they deserve, while also guiding them into becoming resilient, respectful little humans.” 

Part of the balance involves surrounding herself and her children with families who share their same values, which is why Cristalle sees her Baby Bunch family as a gift. “These are children being raised by mothers I admire—women with integrity, kindness, ambition, and heart. It’s the kind of community that feels safe, intentional, and aligned,” she shares. “Even if playdates don’t happen as often as before, every time the kids see each other, it’s like no time has passed. I’m so glad they’ll always have one another.”

Tricia Centenera

Grateful to have gone through so much and continuously navigating life together, Tricia refers to the Baby Bunch as each other’s village. “Each and every Baby Bunch kid, I see as my own and I would protect them with my life as I would my own girls, Arabella and Zuri,” asserts Tricia. “That cover we did for Modern Parenting in 2020 was unplanned, but it fell into place at the right time. Since then, I’ve grown into a completely different person. My priorities have changed, I’ve become more patient and I love seeing life through my girls’ eyes.”

She also reflects on how motherhood reshapes one’s inner circle. “My kids are my world and in the future, I want to be the kind of mum they’ll be proud of and want to hang out with when they are adults,” Tricia concludes.

Jessica Tan Gan

For Jessica, motherhood is a beautiful and transformative Pandora’s box that she is grateful to have opened. “What amazes me most is how motherhood can soften you and strengthen you at the same time… It’s the real school of life—one that continues to reveal parts of myself I never would have discovered otherwise,” shares the mom of three. 

In the next five years, she plans to continue growing alongside her kids, staying present and keeping them grounded. “Now that my kids are all in school, I’m ready and more confident to invest more time and energy back into my career.”

Patti Grandidge Herrera

Likening their group chat into a lifeline, Patti initially referred to the Baby Bunch as a support group. “We’ve gone from swapping our favorite baby brands to celebrating milestones, navigating bigger life transitions and being there for one another, holding space for what each season brings. Our kids are growing up together, and so are we,” shares Patti. 

Giving her younger self advice, Patti says, “Soak it all in—every memory, even the messy ones. They’re all priceless! I’d tell her that motherhood unfolds in ways you’d never expect… life will bring challenges, but she wouldn’t face any of it alone. Family, closest friends, and the Baby Bunch will carry you through it all.”

Vanessa Matsunaga Sunga

They say that in life, it’s important to find your tribe. Such is the case of the Baby Bunch for Vanessa. “I’m incredibly grateful for these girls. We cry together, laugh together, and it feels wonderful to belong. They have been present through it all. I also love how our kids are growing up to be the best of friends,” she says.

With so many parenting styles and advice out there, Vanessa had moments when she questioned whether the path she chose in raising her children was truly the right one. Yet through it all, she stayed anchored in her faith and gradually learned to trust her own instincts. “I’ve always tried to be intentional with how I parent Bella, David, and John,” she shared.

It is so beautiful to see what showing up for your friends can do. The love, respect, and support these moms have for each other ripple to their children, who in time, will pay it forward. 
The Baby Bunch is a reminder that no mom (or dad) should go through the journey of parenting alone. Yes, the experience is personal and different for everyone, but when shared, it has the power to create a safe space, nurture a community, and transform a generation.

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More about the baby bunch moms?

The New Faces of Motherhood: Meet the Baby Bunch Moms
Amanda Griffin Jacob: Raising Citizens of the World
The Baby Bunch Moms: Modern Parenting’s First Cover