We’re so grateful and humbled to end our week of new baby, new mama stories with Ashley’s. Ashley is the founder of the Shine Project, a blog, a shop, and a charity set up to benefit at-risk youth. They do service projects every other week with inner-city kids, and any money they raise goes back to fund those future leaders’ college funds. On top of that, Ashley is a new mother, in a very special way. We hope Ashley’s words serve as a reminder of all the wonderful ways we find ourselves as mothers in this life.
“Our story is different than most. We didn’t go through the pregnancy, birth, or even the first few years of life. Our new babies came to us, at the same time, at ages 4 and 6. My sleepless nights haven’t come from crying babies and feedings, they’ve come from weeping and praying for strength and guidance and trying to learn how to become this instant parent to two special people who need to be held tight. I remember texting my friend with kids around their age frantically wondering “What do they eat, how much do they sleep, are they supposed to be reading yet, what do kids DO?!” I was thrown into this magical and unknown world of childhood, and suddenly feeling the responsibility that I have over two human beings was the most overwhelming yet wonderful thing I had ever felt.
I often get asked, “When are you going to have your own children?” While the process we’ve taken is not the normal step to raising kids, the love and feelings that come along with it is all the same. Zoe and Shiloh have filled emptiness in my heart that I didn’t even know was there. I’ve only been a mom for 10 months, and have no clue in the whole wide world what I’m doing. But I know how to love them, so if I put that first, the other stuff just trickles in to place and it all works out okay. There was no preparation for us, no baby showers, no real “advice” that could be given as we ventured into a completely different scenario. Someone told me to create boundaries with consequences, not just rules that have to be followed. Doing that has helped us SO, so much. We’ve worked through and overcome a lot these past 10 months, and what a blessing it has been in our lives. For months I was called “Ashley” and my husband was called “daddy” almost immediately.
We do things at their pace, when and if they want. I’ve learned how to sacrifice and be less selfish than I’ve ever had to be. Sometimes the things that hurt me most are what is best for them. Even though they’re older, we still have a lot of “firsts” with them. Taking them to the zoo or teaching them songs, how to read, etc, and seeing their confidence grow and their little eyes shine with excitement is what I live for. I may not ever know what I’m doing, but I do know one thing; being called “mommy” for the first time was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
97 Comments
Kendra
February 23, 2014 at 5:55 amI love this, so much! Thank you for sharing, Ashley! And, thank you for making a difference!
Andrea
February 23, 2014 at 6:04 amThe car seat cacoon is to die for
Melissa Tedesco
February 23, 2014 at 6:45 amLove is a many splendid thing, and your family’s love radiates from your words. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Amy s
February 23, 2014 at 7:37 amWow as a mom to twins this would be amazing!
Beth L.
February 23, 2014 at 8:50 amThank you…great giveaway!
courtney d
February 23, 2014 at 8:51 amGreat giveaway!
Karen Victor Lee
February 23, 2014 at 9:04 amAwesome giveaways! Loved reading all the stories this week!
Sandy
February 23, 2014 at 9:44 amI’m becoming a first time mom this fall and this package looks Amazing!
Tina Marie McCallum
February 23, 2014 at 10:28 amOh my gosh so many cool prizes! I want soooo bad to win! <3
Mandi C
February 23, 2014 at 11:34 amBeautiful, Ashley.
Kristy
February 23, 2014 at 11:43 amThis prize package would be a dream come true!!!!
Kate
February 23, 2014 at 12:56 pmThank you for the idea behind this week of posts– it’s great to read about other people’s experiences and see how they’ve handled it all.
Adrianna Butler
February 23, 2014 at 1:25 pmYou guys have the best giveaways!! This is such a great one!
Kara A
February 23, 2014 at 2:42 pmLove these items!
Tracey Hall
February 23, 2014 at 3:14 pmThank you for a great giveaway – such beautiful things!!
Ashley L
February 23, 2014 at 4:22 pmOh my goodness! This is an amazing giveaway! I would just love to have every single one if these items for my new little on the way!
Leah
February 23, 2014 at 5:02 pmPlease if there is a god, I will win this for my baby!!!
miranda cheng
February 23, 2014 at 5:43 pmThanks for making it easier for new moms – we have been entering all the contests – really hope to win something!
Parker
February 23, 2014 at 5:45 pmAmazing giveaway!!! Would love all items!
Katie
February 23, 2014 at 6:14 pmThese new mom posts have all been great. Living this week of shared stories and giveaways!
Stephanie R
February 23, 2014 at 6:20 pmLove love love it all! Hip hip hooray for giveaways!
kendra
February 23, 2014 at 6:24 pmThank you for sharing your beautiful story!
Allison
February 23, 2014 at 6:52 pmWe have a 2 week old baby and all of these items would be amazing!! Love your blog, just found it about a week ago!
Kristen
February 23, 2014 at 6:55 pmI love this giveaway! Would love to win being a new mom
To be you can’t help but get overwhelmed with all of the awesome things baby’s need!!! Also
Love the mention of the shine project! Love my bracelets! Rock them every day!
Lexi Rosene
February 23, 2014 at 6:55 pmAnother amazing giveaway!!! All of this stuff would be so incredibly wonderful for this 33 week baby belly!
Andrea
February 23, 2014 at 6:57 pmGreat giveaway! 21 weeks currently and could use all if this 🙂
Kiley
February 23, 2014 at 7:25 pmAmazing!! Would love to win!
Christina Adams
February 23, 2014 at 7:25 pmAll of these stories are beautiful. If I won a giveaway I would be so unbelievably thankful. Your blog is lovely! 🙂
Heather t
February 23, 2014 at 7:28 pmWow..what a generous give away!! Praying for favor!!
Brittany Peck
February 23, 2014 at 7:34 pmThese Giveaways are killing me! SOO amazing! WOuld love to win! Thanks for always giving the best of the best! Also love the story on Ashley from @theshineproject! 🙂 Got my braclet when she was at The Riverwoods in Provo!
Kathryn
February 23, 2014 at 7:36 pmOh my gooooodness, I am in LOVE with the Moses basket!!!
Sara
February 23, 2014 at 8:08 pmAmazing blog, amazing giveaways! can it get any better? 🙂
Cassidy
February 23, 2014 at 8:26 pmYou’re a good mama! Thanks for sharing.
Blakely
February 23, 2014 at 8:31 pmWhat awesome stories. Ashley is such an inspiration.
Also what a great giveaway. I have my eyes on that darling moses basket.
Madi H
February 23, 2014 at 9:13 pmSuch an amazing giveaway! Would love to have some of these things when our baby comes in august!
Megan
February 23, 2014 at 9:21 pmThis give away is a dream come true! I have been eyeing that Moses basket for baby #4 due in May!
Sharice
February 23, 2014 at 9:24 pm❤️❤️❤️❤️
Airyn
February 23, 2014 at 9:32 pmWould definitely love this!!I’m due here in a little over a month with our first baby! 🙂 could definitely use these amazing things!! 🙂 thank you!! 🙂
Andrea
February 23, 2014 at 9:53 pmLove these!!!! I hope I win.. I’d really live them all!!!
Marie
February 23, 2014 at 10:11 pmAwesome! Just awesome (did I say that too much?) 🙂
Jami
February 23, 2014 at 10:47 pmLove love love all of this!
Jami
February 23, 2014 at 10:52 pmLove LOve LOVe LOVE all of this!
Julie Lee
February 24, 2014 at 3:33 amSo many goodies in one giveaway! One lucky person will win! Hope it’s me!
Sophie
February 24, 2014 at 5:59 amSo many amazing items I could totally use for this new baby 🙂 Thanks for hosting such an amazing giveaway!
Brooke
February 24, 2014 at 7:09 amWhat an inspiring story. As a soon-to-be new mother, it is comforting to hear these stories and see that motherhood, the adventure and its challenges, comes to us in so many different ways. Thanks!
Rachelle
February 24, 2014 at 9:06 amLove this blog! So excited about this amazing giveaway!
Jenny
February 24, 2014 at 9:17 amThank for hosting such an amazing Giveaway! I have a toddler and am expecting identical twins so would love to win!
julia
February 24, 2014 at 9:27 amWe are adopting our first baby and would love to add this to the baby closet for our forever child when he/she finally finds us!!
Cassie Feerer
February 24, 2014 at 9:40 amWhat an awesome giveaway! I’d be so happy t win any of it!
Desirre
February 24, 2014 at 10:54 amLoving all the companies and products!
Bethany
February 24, 2014 at 10:57 amMy baby boy is due in May, and I would just LOVE to spoil him with these goodies!!
Brandi
February 24, 2014 at 11:47 amWould love to win! Thanks so much for the awesome giveaway!
Hailey
February 24, 2014 at 11:57 amSuch amazing products. I would love love love to win!
Tarryn
February 24, 2014 at 12:01 pmThis has to be one of the best– if not THE best– baby giveaway I’ve ever seen! Small Fry–you’re amazing! Would love to win this for my sweet baby due 3 ½ months!
Christie
February 24, 2014 at 12:39 pmAmazing giveaway!
Susan Carter
February 24, 2014 at 2:17 pmI just found this site and it’s amazing!!!
Rosie
February 24, 2014 at 2:22 pmI would loveeee to have this for my baby boy!
Brittany Peck
February 24, 2014 at 3:32 pmSuch a amazing giveaway! Thanks for always getting the best of the best! 🙂 I also love your story of adoptive mother Ashley from The shine Project!! 🙂 two thumbs way up!!
Anne S.
February 24, 2014 at 3:45 pmThanks for the fabulous giveaways this week! I would love to win anything you are giving away for my new bundle of joy!
Paige Lynn
February 24, 2014 at 4:54 pmI adopted two of my three children and I’m so glad small fry didn’t forget mommies that adopt as well! Every one of children came to me from different ways and each one of them thought me how to be a mommy! First child, first new born, then first birth.
Nicole reineck
February 24, 2014 at 6:40 pmThis is fantastic!! All would be perfect for our sweet little one due in July!
Melissa
February 24, 2014 at 6:54 pmAdorable, functional products! Love it!
Rebekah
February 24, 2014 at 9:20 pmBaby Girl 2 on the way… Can’t not try!!! Awesome giveaway wowza!
Ally
February 24, 2014 at 9:42 pmThis is amazing!
Courtney
February 24, 2014 at 9:44 pmWhat an awesome giveaway!!
Danielle
February 24, 2014 at 10:19 pmAwesome giveaway!
Kari
February 24, 2014 at 10:19 pmOh my, oh my!! What an amazingly GENEROUS giveaway!! Even though my littlest just turned one, I could still use so many of these awesome products, and the ones my babes are too big for, I would love to gift to my new momma friends! Oh gosh, I neeeeeed that a Ergo for my clingy little babe. I would explode from happiness if I won!!!!
Shasta Hansen
February 24, 2014 at 10:21 pmI need this so hard
Shanna
February 24, 2014 at 10:33 pmThis looks amazing!!
Deanna
February 25, 2014 at 2:32 amBeautiful !
Kristen.
February 25, 2014 at 5:53 amWow this give away is insane!!
Marissa M
February 25, 2014 at 8:47 amOMG so much baby cuteness!!! 🙂
cathryn
February 25, 2014 at 12:38 pmThis would be a dream come true! Amazing products!
Heather
February 25, 2014 at 3:06 pmSo many amazing products!
Erin
February 25, 2014 at 5:14 pmAmazing and beautiful products!! Winning would be a dream!
Taylor
February 25, 2014 at 6:41 pmwant!
Kristen
February 25, 2014 at 8:24 pmWhat a great giveaway!
alison
February 25, 2014 at 9:29 pmlooks awesomeeeee
Lisa Arnold
February 25, 2014 at 9:39 pmSo many fun things. My daughter is having a baby and would love this. Small Fry rocks!
Michelle Butler
February 26, 2014 at 6:39 amThank you so much for all of your inspiring work!
Emily Albrecht
February 26, 2014 at 11:06 amI would love, love, love to win! All of this stuff is amazing! I love your blog!
Rachel worthen
February 26, 2014 at 2:50 pmMy little dude and I would love all this amazing stuff!
holly rice
February 27, 2014 at 12:35 amAwesome sauce!
Emily Hall
February 27, 2014 at 6:46 amAmazing stuff! Amazing site!
brittany
February 27, 2014 at 6:48 amThis giveaway is amazing!!
Kristi Hawks
February 27, 2014 at 1:45 pmThis is an amazing giveaway. I think if cry if I won.
Whitney Brenon
February 27, 2014 at 2:24 pmI would DIE if I won this! So so so amazing!
Elizabeth
February 27, 2014 at 3:37 pmThank you for the giveaway!
Victoria
February 27, 2014 at 3:40 pmTrying for baby number two and this sure would help!!!! Would love to win!
Lindsay Bigelow
February 27, 2014 at 7:27 pmWould love to win this amazing giveaway! Thanks for putting it all together!!
Kim Derrick
February 27, 2014 at 9:50 pmWoW!great giveaways!
Jessie
February 28, 2014 at 8:03 amLovely!
Lindsay Templeton
March 1, 2014 at 6:13 pmGreat giveaway!!
Heidi C
March 3, 2014 at 9:35 amWhat a cute blog and an amazing giveaway!
Amee Cameron
March 3, 2014 at 9:03 pmAaa-mazing!!! Winning this would make me so incredibly happy!!
carrie
March 4, 2014 at 2:05 pmAll of these products are amazing! Would love for my baby boy to rock them!
A look back at New Year, New Baby | Small Fry
January 28, 2018 at 7:00 pm[…] MOM ADVICE from Ashley of the Shine Project // The Girls With Glasses // Jenny Komenda of Little Green Notebook // Liz of Say Yes! // Anna of […]