mom life - Ashley Zin

It’s 4:53pm and I just made my second cup of coffee of the day. Probably not the greatest idea but I just love coffee so much that I hate skipping my second cup.

This is the first coffee date I’ve done since Shane was only one month old! He’s now 11 months old. That’s so crazy.

If we were having coffee, I’d mention how I have no idea where this past year has gone. I feel like I was in such a fog trying to figure out how to be a mom. I’m only now just sort of feeling like I’m coming out of the fog.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that we started sleep training Shane this past week because we literally had no choice. He started waking up in the night and not going back to sleep for hours. And it also used to take us anywhere from 20-60 mins of rocking at naps and bedtime. I was honestly starting to lose my mind. So we sleep trained and it’s going really well!

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that before I became a mom I had all of these ideas of what I thought I would or wouldn’t do as a mom and almost none of them are accurate, haha. I never in a million years thought I’d do the cry it out method, or give formula, or have a hard time putting my baby in the nursery at church. Motherhood is all encompassing and you can never know how you will react or what will be best for you or your baby until that time comes.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I missed this place and I’m really glad that I’m starting to make time to be back here again. I can’t believe I’ve been sharing my life on here for 3.5 years now!

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I cannot wait for Christmas. It’s going to be so magical seeing it through the eyes of Shane this year. I can’t wait to give him his presents and see what our family got him too. It’s going to be so fun and special.

If we were having coffee, I’d also admit to you that being a stay at home mom is so much harder and less glamorous than I ever thought it would be. I guess it’s easy to look at the mom bloggers on Instagram and assume that everything is going to be so fun and easy. I mean I truly don’t get how I ever thought it would like that lol. I do love staying home with Shane and getting to be there for everything as he grows, but having a lack of recognition has been a lot harder than I ever realized it would be.

If we were having coffee, I’d say that I think that having my blog and Etsy shop now to work towards will help a lot with having something to work towards and being able to see actual growth. I’m excited for the future and to see where they both go.

If we were having coffee, I’d ask you what you have been struggling with lately or are looking forward to. Can you relate to any of my feelings when it comes to being a mom? Please let me know in the comments. I love hearing from you guys! <3

I thought it was time for another coffee date since the last one we’ve had was in September – long before I had Shane! Let’s jump right in and catch up, shall we?

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I know I keep mentioning how I want to share more about my breastfeeding journey and about Shane’s nursery and I promise that eventually that will happen. I’m just not sure when.

If we were having coffee, I’d explain that I’m not sure when because these past two months have been the hardest of my life. For the longest time I couldn’t even admit that because I felt so guilty and like I should be saying that they have been the best of my life. And while I love my son with my whole heart, it doesn’t make the past two months any easier.

If we were having coffee, I’d share that the past two months have been so hard because of breastfeeding. Like I’ve mentioned just a bit before, it has not gone well. Before I had Shane I thought that if I just tried my hardest and did what I had to do, I would be successful at breastfeeding. And while I have been fighting tooth and nail these past two months – they have NOT gone at all how I have wanted. I will talk more about this when I write about my breastfeeding journey.

If we were having coffee, I’d also ask for you to pray for me because I know that the only one who can help with this hard time is God. I need peace and to be able to accept things as they are. I am even debating on going on medication to try to help with breastfeeding but don’t know if that’s the right choice, which is why I desperately need your prayers.

If we were having coffee, I’d ask how you were doing. I’d apologize for not being a better friend lately and ask for you to forgive me. Life has been all-consuming lately and I’d tell you that I hope that changes soon so we could spend more time together.

If we were having coffee, I’d mention that I don’t even recognize my own life. It’s crazy how much having a baby changes things. I’d also share that I never imagined how much I could love another person until I met my baby. And even though the last few months have been hard, I’m absolutely loving being a mom and can’t wait for all of the fun times ahead with our precious baby boy.

Thanks for stopping by and spending your time with me! I hope to be able to spend more time here soon – but no promises! Taking care of a baby is A LOT of work (especially one who doesn’t like to sleep during the day. 😉)

Let’s Have Coffee | Vol. 14

Let’s Have Coffee | Vol. 13