NEW YEAR REFLECTIONS

mommy blogger 2016

Happy 2017 friends!  I cannot believe it is a new year.  This past year has flown by faster than any other.  I thought I would reflect on what the first year was like for me as first time mom…

The above photo was taken exactly a year ago and it blows my mind. Smith was just 25 days old and was so tiny.  And to be completely honest, they were some of the hardest days of my life.  I am a sleeper and I was not sleeping.  I was terrified, in pain, and exhausted and was wondering what I had gotten myself into as a new mom.  I was so sure I was ready and was so excited to be pregnant, but in the first few weeks, I just couldn’t get it together.  I wanted to be the happiest person alive, but I wasn’t.  And I was dealing with breastfeeding issues and guilt and had so many questions.  Needless to say, I was a mess. After five or six weeks, I started sleeping more and implementing formula instead of being the only one responsible for feedings, and it did get better.

It’s great that some moms feel on top of the world right away, but it took me some time and I know it takes other moms time to get used to all of the changes too.  Day by day, I got used to my new life and started working out and getting back to work and feeling a bit like my old self.  Of course we had our rough days and even weeks throughout the year, like when Smith was sick or teething or going through something, but overall it was no longer an uphill battle.  By 3 months we were sleeping and learning our new roles, 6 months things felt manageable, by 9 months things things felt good, and by a year I was able to be super happy with my new life.  Sure I can’t just pick up and go whenever I please, travel has really come to a halt, and let’s just say sleeping in only exists on Sundays because my mom, who is a saint, keeps the baby one night a week, but life has changed for the better and in a more meaningful way than I could have ever imagined. I can now officially say all of the sleepless nights, self-doubt, worry and the cries I still sometimes think I hear that aren’t real lol, are totally worth it.

We heard the first year is the hardest and then you start to see light at the end of the tunnel, and boy did that ring true for us.  Don’t get me wrong, we were grateful and lucky and felt happiness everyday to have a healthy, happy baby (because BELIEVE me we don’t take that for granted), but when Smith turned one (photos coming tomorrow) we celebrated!  Not only him, but the fact that we made it!  We did it – my husband and I together, with the help of family!  Everyday I get to watch as Smith grows and learns something new – he is the brightest light in our lives!  His giggle is worth a million dollars.  And I cannot wait until he starts talking more.  Now he says “mama” and “dada” and “dididi” lol, but that’s about it.  He loves flipping pages of books, riding his Mickey train, people watching, bath time and let’s not forget, pizza and grilled cheese (a boy after his mama’s heart :))

With all of that said, I am so excited for 2017.  I cannot wait to see how Smith changes, how I grow as a mom and how my husband grows as a dad.  I am also super excited to hit the ground running with this blog and my business and hopefully doing lots of TV and videos!  Thank you all so much for following along and supporting my family and this blog.  I love being able to connect with women and moms around the world and share a piece of our life.  I can’t wait to connect more and share more advice, tips, and stories with you all this year.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for all of the deets and photos from Smith’s Winter One-derland Party!

smith and mom 2016

P.S. If you are a new mom and are struggling, don’t stay quiet!  Speak up and tell someone or tell me!  I am here and am a good listener.  I wish our country offered more help to new moms.  In other countries they offer in-home help the first few weeks after baby comes and you leave the hospital, which would have really changed things for me.  I would have felt so much more confident and comforted that I could do it and that everything I was feeling was normal.  Hopefully we can all band together this year to get some sort of political conversation going to this effect.  This is definitely one of my goals for the year.  xo

 

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  • I had my little boy in June and I agree 100% with how you felt! It is a shame that there isn’t more support for new moms, but talking about the challenges are a great first step. Thanks for sharing and being honest 🙂

    • It is a shame! And moms suffer in quiet because they think they should be happy and don’t understand what is going on. Thank you so much for the comment and the support! Moms have to stick together 🙂 xo

  • I so appreciate your honesty and identify with what you say about being a new mama! Our daughter was born in October and those first six weeks or so were definitely some of the hardest of my life. No one can understand unless they have been through it themselves. Now that she is three months it feels like things are slowly falling into place. Your son is adorable and I have a feeling 2017 will be a great year for your beautiful family! Happy New Year and best wishes!

    • Hey Bonnie! Congrats on your little one! Three months is a major turning point and I am sure you are doing wonderful mama! Thank you so much for reading and for the comment! Hope you guys have a great first week in the New Year!

  • Thank you for being so honest about your journey as a mom. It’s been wonderful to share this first year with you & precious little Smith. For the record, I think you have ROCKED it every step of the way!!

    • Sharing this year with you has been amazing Julie and you have been such a bright light for me and someone I look to for advice and inspiration! You are such an amazing woman and mom! Xo