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.
kelann2010
member
Re: 2ww Ladies Come on in!
13dpo =bfn
I think i'm out, but I had a nice mini temp spike thiis morning, so who knows.
good luck to all !!!!
TTC#1 for 19 months with PCOS and MFI IUI#3 + injectables = BFP!!!! Beta#1-134(13dpiui) Beta #2-392(15dpiui)
#1 born December 2011
TTC#2 - Beta #1 -51@10dpo Beta#2 -1353 @16dpo
#2 born May 2013
TTC # 3 June 2014 BFP 12-1-14
#3 born August 2015
#4!!!!!!! due June 2017
Progesterone B/W at 11DPO (9/21/2011) - 3.5 (Ovulatory)
HSG (10/3/2011) - Normal!
SA (11/8/11) - Normal except for low morph. (18%)
SA (11/23)- same as above
BFP #1 - 12/16/11
Due date - 8/26/12
Its a BOY!
DS born 9/2/2012
Oooooo, I've got my fingers crossed for you, girlie! Good luck!
July, 2010, DH SA: 3% morph
July, 2010, DH Rx: 50 mg Clomid EOD
BFP: 9/3/10 ~ M/C: 9/7/10
BFP: 10/9/10 ~ My beautiful Grace Dorothy was born on 6/14/11
Beta #1 (12 DPO): 111/24 ~ Beta #2 (16 DPO): 722/23 ~ Beta #3 (20 DPO): 3,338/15.3
BFP: 11/14/11 ~ Spotting/Betas not doubling, but HB of 113 bpm @ 6 wks 1 day!
My Chart
DH's Low Testosterone/ED Blog
Hi Ladies, I'm at 10DPO and had a temp drop today after a spike (little) yesterday. I think I'm out this cycle too unless the temp tomorrow goes back up. We'll see...either way I am waiting to test until next Friday, 10-08 if AF doesnt show, since this is my 2nd cycle charting and i am unsure of what my avg LP is.
October Siggy: Then & Now
At The Pumpkin Patch
11 dpo, still hoping to wait until 14 or 15 dpo to test. I really felt like AF was coming last night (several days early) but no spotting or anything, and today I'm not even cramping.
Still getting over some allergies or a cold, so I'm not feeling great anyway, so I can't tell if I have any real symptoms. I swear my boobs feel bigger though.
9dpo here. I'm having KILLER backaches. I mean to the point where I feel like my posture is hunched over...ugh! I'm also having some serious cramping. The past few days I've had a nice little skin break out too.
I took my temp a bit earlier today (but I didn't put it on my chart b/c it was like 30 minutes earlier) because my son kept on screaming for me.
I'm planning to test on Saturday...IF I can hold out. If my temps stay up tomorrow and Friday I might cave.
Wow, good luck waiting, your chart looks promising!
Ooh, sorry about the mass baby emails. I guess I'm lucky my mom-friends just talk about how they have no time for anything since they had their babies. Good luck!
I'm 3DPO today no symptoms yet, but we'll see.
My LP is usually 11 days with spotting starting on 10 or 11.
I would love to wait til 12DPO (next Friday) but I doubt I'll make it that long. Will probably test on 11 DPO if everything is still good then. Last cycle I tested on 9 and 10 DPO. I have a bunch of IC so who knows.
I just had to jump in and ask a question. I have seen on some people's charts their CH's are different. What are the blue CH's for? Also, why is it that on some peoples there will be a line up and done but not left to right?
TIA
___________________________________________________________________________
Trying for #1 since May 2010 l DX ~ Unexplained Infertility June 2011
IUI #1&2 = BFN; IUI #3 = BFP, m/c @ 6 weeks
November '11 ~ IVF#1 ~ ER 11/18 (29R, 17F) ~ 5dt of one beautiful blast on 11/23 = BFP!!
Beta #1 9dp5dt = 116, P4 = 28 ~ Beta #2 13dp5dt = 700 ~ Beta #3 20dp5dt = 9500, P4 = 26
1st u/s 12/27 - hb of 156!! EDD 8.10.12
**TEAM GREEN!**
Sweet baby boy born 8.18.12
Trying for #2
FET #1 - October '13 - c/p l FET #2 - December '13 - cancelled
l FET #2.2 - 1.30.14 - BFN
~ More testing - hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy & more b/w - all normal / negative~
Surprise BFP while waiting on FET #3 ~ beta #1 500; beta #2 1600; first u/s 4/3 - measuring 5w5d, no hb yet!; 2nd u/s 4/10 - hb 132, measuring 6w6d - EDD 11.29.14
**TEAM GREEN!**
Beautiful baby girl born 11.24.14
Thanks sweetie!! I saw you just had a + OPK, Good Luck!!!
Hey thanks for the kind words...it appears my friends are pooping puppies and rainbows and all got pregnant on the first try and just love being off. I had a little meltdown yesterday and DH even commented on the pictures in his inbox...at least we are in this together! It's frustrating you know, our timing has been great and my cycles are always the same..grrrrr
I'm 8DPO. I POAS today.... ONLY because it was going to expire. I couldn't let it go to waste. BFN. Obviously.
No symptoms. The wait is killing me slowly though. I am likely going to cave and test on Saturday morning (11DPO). I really want to wait until 14DPO on Tuesday but, come on, that's probably not going to happen.
The blue CH's are from manually inputting your O date. I did an ovulation trigger shot and IUI this cycle so I should have ovulated (according to my RE) around 36 hours after I took the shot.
9 dpo here. I am having a horrible time with these phantom symtoms! my skin looks like a 14 year-old going through puberty, bloat, and nausea - I actually gagged while brushing my teeth this morning!
My temps are hovering around the coverline, but the chart gallery in FF has lots of pregnancy charts like mine. Lovely.
This is going to be a loooooong 2WW!
Thanks!
July, 2010, DH SA: 3% morph
July, 2010, DH Rx: 50 mg Clomid EOD
BFP: 9/3/10 ~ M/C: 9/7/10
BFP: 10/9/10 ~ My beautiful Grace Dorothy was born on 6/14/11
Beta #1 (12 DPO): 111/24 ~ Beta #2 (16 DPO): 722/23 ~ Beta #3 (20 DPO): 3,338/15.3
BFP: 11/14/11 ~ Spotting/Betas not doubling, but HB of 113 bpm @ 6 wks 1 day!
My Chart
DH's Low Testosterone/ED Blog
I'm only 4DPO, and I'm experiencing my first Phantom Symptoms ever!!! I've never had sore boobs in my life, but recently they've been a little tender to the touch. I think the Phantom Symptoms came after my friend announced her BFP to me when her TTC experience was for 2 weeks...
Let's hope that it's a real symptom and not a jealousy symptom!
Just got my CH's this morning (love seeing those red lines) so I'm only 3 DPO. I'm not very hopeful for this cycle. If you notice the lonely "x" on my BD line, you'll know why. DH's work schedule is responsible for that.
I know there's still a chance but it's not looking good.
Good luck to all you lovely ladies!
8DPO but not hopeful - temp still above coverline but is dipping down slightly the past few days. I am expecting BFN but just hope my luetal phase is normal length since this is the first time I canr really measure it (my first month charting)
My boobs feel sore on the outside of them today, but I certainly could just be gearin' up for AF.
good luck to everyone testing soon!
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
7dpo here. I'd like to hold out until 14dpo, but I don't think that's gonna happen. I'll probably test on Sunday at 11dpo.
I had a few minutes of sharp cramping yesterday...other than that, just extremely sore nips! Oooh, this too...usually I'm cold-blooded and love hanging out in a hoodie after work. The past couple days I've been HOT - like hot flashes! Probably just a side effect of coming off the BCP though.
BFP 12/10/10 - DD1 8/16/11
BFP 10/29/13 - c/p 11/2/13
BFP 11/29/13 - DD2 7/18/14
BFP 3/20/18 - DS1 due 12/2/18
FWIW, I think your lonely X had good timing! Good luck!
ETA: Your "Soooo HOT! Want to touch the hiney! Arroooooo!" quote makes me crack up every time I see it!!
BFP 12/10/10 - DD1 8/16/11
BFP 10/29/13 - c/p 11/2/13
BFP 11/29/13 - DD2 7/18/14
BFP 3/20/18 - DS1 due 12/2/18
Hello fellow Iowan!!
10 DPO here. Was planning on temping this morning to see if it was near the coverline, but our dog ruined that plan when she started puking at 5 am. Oh well. Plan on testing Friday (12DPO) if I'm not spotting. Although I'm not very hopefully, no phantoms symptoms still...except sore boobs, but that's pretty common for me.
Good luck ladies
Infertility blog
Trying for a baby since 4/10
DX: Infertile 6/11 Me: LPD, all other blood work clear.
DH: low sperm motility,low count.
Met with RE start clomid + TI + IUI 5/12= IUI cancelled due to positive Cystic Fibrosis carrier test. DH tested Neg. for Cystic Fibrosis,
6/12 Clomid + TI +IUI=BFN 8/10 IVF consult.
IVF #1 Started BCP 9/2 Lupron 10/11 stims 10/27 ER 11/6!! 5 eggs retreived only 1 mature. FERT report shows none made it.Cancelled cycle.
IVF #2 BCP 11/18 Lupron 12/14
Stims start 12/29 ER 1/8 ET 1/11 put in 1 grade B and 1 grade C. Beta: 1/20 = BFN
IVF# 3 7/13 BFP ended in chemical pregnancy
9/15 diagnosed with PCOS and insulin resistance gearing up for IVF# 4 Dec/ Jan
Everyone Welcome!
Hi there! Where are you? cmoosey is an Iowa girl too.
I'm in CR.
BFP 12/10/10 - DD1 8/16/11
BFP 10/29/13 - c/p 11/2/13
BFP 11/29/13 - DD2 7/18/14
BFP 3/20/18 - DS1 due 12/2/18
Aww thank you, sweetie.
Nothing like a good Billy Madison quote. :P
ETA: I'm going to be sooo sad in 2 days when I have to take that quote off - and taking down Mr. Bale. Maybe I can find him wearing a pilgrim outfit.
Are you charting with Fertility Friend? That Bump ticker is cute but it won't do you much good. Click on my ticker for more information.
As for signs, if you're pregnant enough to have symptoms, you're pregnant enough to test. At 4dpo, they are phantom symptoms though, and you can't really rely on any of those...just wait a week and POAS!
Edit: clarity
BFP 12/10/10 - DD1 8/16/11
BFP 10/29/13 - c/p 11/2/13
BFP 11/29/13 - DD2 7/18/14
BFP 3/20/18 - DS1 due 12/2/18
8 DPO here! I keep feeling like AF is coming since my last cycle was 33 days and the one before was 22 days. 22 days is today and so far so good.
As far as the signs, nothing major. I do have some serious dull/constant cramping but that isn't unusual for me right now. I don't get cramps during AF, only before. My skin also looks like a teenager again. terrible.horrible.even with zit cream.yuk. I was sick during the day yesterday but DD and DH booth have colds so I am hoping I am not catching it.
Not sure when I am testing.Maybe this weekend?or Wednesday? DD and I are leaving town Sunday-Tuesday for my Uncle's funeral.
Bwahahaha...I'm leaving David up until the very last minute. Maybe I'll do what one of the girls did with her eye candy picture - just add some clip art fall leaves. Yummy!
BFP 12/10/10 - DD1 8/16/11
BFP 10/29/13 - c/p 11/2/13
BFP 11/29/13 - DD2 7/18/14
BFP 3/20/18 - DS1 due 12/2/18