Hello, let me introduce myself first..
For the first 30 years of my life, everything was smooth and worry-free. I was my parents’ most beloved child, found my true love in college, and happily married him after graduation.
At work, I was my boss’s most valued employee. Whenever I was in charge of a project, colleagues would inevitably say, “Oh, then I’m totally at ease.” I was constantly named “Employee of the Year,” with generous bonuses every year.
Later, I started my own business. Within just three months, I had broken into the market and started making money. By the fifth month, I was earning twice my previous salary. Growth was steady month after month. Right when the business needed more hands, I serendipitously met an amazing partner, and the company reached a whole new level.
Really, it seemed like at every step, whatever I needed, a pair of hands would always place it right in front of me, just in time.
My Two Girls: Ellie & Mia
Meet Ellie, My Firstborn
In 2020, my husband and I decided to have a child. After trying for over a year, we finally got the news in 2021 that a little one was on the way. In 2022, we welcomed our first child, Ellie. She made me a mother.
She is utterly adorable—big eyes, rosy skin, chubby little hands. Every time I look at her, I can’t help but give her a kiss. She is pure joy, and I love her more each day.
But as a first-time mom, I faced unprecedented difficulties. The postpartum tearing wouldn’t heal, and the pain was excruciating. Clogged milk ducts made my breasts hard as rocks. The severe sleep deprivation… And what was even more crushing was that, with zero parenting experience, I was clueless when faced with her unexplained wailing, night terrors, refusal to nurse, constipation, diarrhea, fevers… I desperately searched online, longing for one accurate, truly useful answer!
It was during this time that I thought, once I make it through this “dark” path, I must leave a light on for other new moms.
And Then Came Mia
Ellie had just turned one when I got pregnant again. In 2024, we welcomed our second daughter, Mia.
Completely different from Ellie, Mia is a great eater and sleeper. Although she had her fussy moments in the first two months, starting almost from month three, she became super easygoing. She feeds on schedule, gradually sleeps through the night, loves her solid foods, and adapted quickly when I had to stop breastfeeding due to mastitis.
This made me realize just how vastly different babies can be! It made me even more determined to write about my experiences.
Why I Had to Start This Blog
The Catalyst: A Life Pivoted
After Mia was born, my business also began to decline sharply. I had no choice but to close it and become a full-time mom. My work no longer involves Excel and Word, but instead revolves around changing diapers, washing bottles, making baby food, and managing household chores…
This has been a monumental challenge for me. All my past achievements seem irrelevant now. Managing two young children has brought me a sense of frustration I’ve never known before.
The Daily Reality
They are always fighting over things. When one is in my arms, the other immediately demands to be held too. When I try to cook, Ellie wants me to read her a book. When I attempt to load the washing machine, Mia has a diaper blowout, and I must drop everything to change her…
By the time I finish all that, I see the cup of hot coffee on the table has gone cold again. And it’s not until evening that I remember, “Oh my goodness, the clothes are still in the hamper, unwashed!”
Of course, being a mom is filled with happiness, but that doesn’t negate how hard it is.
My Promise to You
Because I’ve walked this path myself, I won’t just tell you how joyful motherhood is, like many websites do. I want to share my real, unfiltered experiences so every new mom can find a “companion” here.
I want to tell you: you are not alone. What you’re going through, I’ve been there too. Your breakdowns, your helplessness, your moments of losing control—I’ve had them all. You don’t need to feel guilty. This is just a small, necessary stretch of the journey for every mom.
My Hope for This Space
I really want to share my parenting experiences—not just the warm, glowing moments, but to honestly document the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into, the tears I’ve shed, and the “survival wisdom” I’ve scraped together in utter exhaustion.
The Goal: A Mom’s Toolkit
I hope this blog becomes a “mom’s toolkit,” filled not with vague theories, but with:
- Practical Tips: Like how to quickly figure out why a baby is crying, tried-and-true methods for dealing with clogged ducts, or how to efficiently manage the daily grind with twins (or two under two) solo.
- Pitfall Avoidance Guides: Sharing the baby products I regret buying the most, and those “game-changer” parenting hacks. Letting you know which parenting anxieties you can let go of, and which principles are worth holding onto.
- A Community for Moms: I hope my stories connect me with more moms like you. We can cheer each other on in the comments, share our own tricks, turning the storms we face alone into a journey we walk together.
The Bigger Vision
My previous career taught me to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize processes. Now, I’m applying all those skills to this new “position” of Mom. I want to prove that a mom’s value is absolutely not confined to the home. The mindset, resilience, and creativity we built in our careers can shine just as brightly—perhaps even brighter—in this more complex, long-term “project” of raising humans, and can even be transformed into a force that helps others.
My hope is simple: that every mom who opens this blog can let out a sigh of relief and say, “So it’s not just me.” Then, she can find a bit of practical info, a dose of comforting solidarity, and return to her sweet, chaotic mom-life with a little more confidence and a little less weight on her shoulders.
This road? Let’s walk it together.
iristony
member
Re: Is it rude to register for $679 stroller?
Go for it, especially if your family is the kind of family where everyone chips in for huge ticket items.
I registered for a Dyson Animal Vac on my wedding registry and never expected to get it. I got it at my first shower and just about died. You never know.
If you don't get it, you'll at least get a completion coupon.
Off subject, but: My BIL and SIL want to sit us down and go through our registry because we registered for a $169 Graco Pack n Play. Just because you have a one year old doesn't mean you need to go through our registry with a fine tooth comb and edit it for us. They have a wipe warmer for pete's sake. I posted below to see what others registered for - mine was right there with others on this board, so I see it as average.
Yes, IMO it is.
I would never register for something that expensive.
We wanted the Vista so we bought it ourselves. I would not want to look greedy by having that on my registry.
I think it's ridiculous to register for a $700 stroller. If you want something that extravagant save up for it yourself.
If you want it on there for the completion coupon put it on right before the registry expires.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
IMO- no because in my case my parents/ILs would spend a bundle or as you said it could be a group gift. The completion coupon is reason enough to stick it on there.
This. Sorry...
I have a $500 glider on my registry- if no one wants to buy it, they don't have to. I mainly have it on there for the completion discount. But if someone/group of ladies go in on it together, then great.
Often times in the past (i.e. bridal shower), I have had a bunch of people go in on big items. For instance, my bridesmaids bought me my Dyson, which was almost as expensive as the glider.
So no, I don't think it's rude.
This. The most expensive thing on our registry is $200 something video monitor & that's b/c DHs parents want to buy it. We bought all the other expensive stuff ourselves or they were parent gifts not on the registry (furniture, BOB, etc).
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
I agree. I put on my registry the things I wanted, even if I wasn't sure people would buy them, because at least at the end, I could use my completion coupon and get it discounted
Sara
This. I wouldn't say it is "rude", but it seems greedy
I would never think someone's greedy for what they put on their registry....the registry is there to give suggestions, not assume someone is going to buy it for you. At the very least, you'll get a discount after the baby is here. I think it's fine as long as there are all different price points on your registry, to give people options.
I know you said you don't need a lot since your sister is giving them to you, but you could register for some blankets, clothes, onesies, bundle me, etc. to give people other options.
I guess it depends on your family. I was always tentative about registering for expensive items the first time around and then I ended up with some things that I hated and upgraded. My mom and MIL would have spent a little more on things that we really wanted but I felt weird about it. I shouldn't have since they and my SILs ended up buying lots of small things from the registry instead. I'd say put the stroller on. Maybe it would be a group gift, maybe not but at least people know what stroller you like, what color, etc. Then also put on a note at the top of the registry that gift cards are welcome. When I see that the only things left on a registry are big ticket items and I'm not part of a group gift, I'm more likely to give a gift card and a small cute item since I know they will use it for the big items they really need/want. But be sure to put lots of smaller items on there too, even diapers/wipes because people don't always think of that because the registry's purpose is to give people choices
And I wouldn't register for lots of blankets, onesies, clothes. Maybe some sleep sacks, bundle me is good, specific swaddle blankets, etc. But people love to buy blankets and clothes for baby and probably will not choose this from your registry anyway. Plan on having way more small size clothes and receiving blankets than you could ever use....and this stuff keeps on coming after the shower once the baby is born.
Depends on your circle of friends/family.
Personally, I'd much rather get smaller gifts from people to help me stock up on the little things so we're buying the stroller ourselves (also a Uppa).
I don't think it's rude, but I agree that you may want to have a variety of price ranges on your list. ?I do admit, I always laugh when I see someone registering for stuff like furniture, only because I think back to one shower I went to, and the girl registered for absolutely everything, and thought she wouldn't have to buy a thing because everyone would buy it for her, and then wound up with a ton of outfits. ?For that reason, dh and I bought everything we needed, and saved the registry for the stuff we wanted. ?Can you add it just after your shower, to get the completion discount? ?
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Yeah, i think that a stroller at that price would raise an eyebrow or two.
I wouldn't do it, but that's just my opinion.
i don't think it is rude. a registry is a "wish list", not a "you MUST buy this for me " list. If someone wants to get it for you, awesome! If not, buy it for yourself. As long as you have some cheaper things on your registry, it will be fine. I registered for everything we still need (we have lots of hand me downs) and its a good checklist for me so I have everything I need when LO arrives.
I say, to each their own.
Seems a bit pricey - but it is your registry - not any of ours.
I have a $500 glider chair on my registry. Not sure anyone will buy it, but maybe someone will give me some giftcards to help.
For my wedding, I registered for a bunch of stuff I thought I'd never get - $150/set china, a china cabinet ($450) and fancy silverware. I got it all. In fact one couple bought me 4 place settings + the salad bowls ($40 each). I was SHOCKED. Depends on your family and the people in your life. My mom works for a company with a lot of really wealthy folks in charge - they spoiled me rotten with the wedding.
Everyone has a different life and as such a different group of people buying them gifts.
You might be surprised and someone will give it to you. Or your mom might call you and tell you to pull it off.
For my registry, my mom called me and told me to put more big ticket items on...you never know.