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.
gimmietimmies
member
Re: Next question!
As a kid, I played tennis and baseball, but mostly I was a bookworm. When I hit my twenties, I plunged full force into mountain biking, snowboarding, and rock climbing. I lived in Boulder, there may be a city statute that states "You must be *this* fit to live here."
I was always out on my bike or on the mountain in some capacity until I left Boulder for San Francisco in my late twenties, when I became a couch potato... which is what I am now. I do still have my yoga.
I am walking impaired. I am very uncoordinated and do not like to sweat.
I was on a swim team when I was 12 to 14 but quit when I was told I would never get any better so I should not even bother. Good job coach.
As a kid I played all sports and did ballet and tap, I did soccer for the longest though.
No sports as an adult.
My Blog
Geez, I suppose I should answer my own question!
Um, figure skated for 14 years (please don't ask me to do a triple, haven't been on skates in too long and my wideass would throw me off). Swim team for, um, well 12 years when I was younger (up to the end of uni), and just started off/on in the last few years (harder to train preg at #5 than #1). Apparently I had too much energy, because I also did school athletics (soccer, volleyball, basketball, track, and xcountry). Throw in a bunch of triathlons, and I think that's it?
Sadly, now I wish I had that energy back. We have a gym at work that I will get to use when I go back on Monday. I am going to be swimming 3 nights a week this fall, and hopefully I'll be able to run again soon. Between being pregnant off and on the last 6 years and wrecking my foot so I couldn't, I don't feel like myself (or look it!)
vanverth, I want to throatpunch your swim coach. I was one for years and would never say that to anyone. Anyone who is willing to work their tail off will get good. We won't all make the Olympics, but it's still pretty awesome to say that you were able to make it to XYZ level, because most people can't swim like that.
stever, you can come hang with vanverth and I in the pool! If you get tired, you can throw kick boards at us from the hot tub.
My Blog
I HATED sports and all physical activity after the age of 10. When I was 8-10, I played soccer but it was the late 70s and there weren't girls' leagues so I was one of maybe 3 girls on a boy's team and that's mostly why I quit.
So after that, I was a dedicated couch potato.
Though I was a huge hockey fan once upon a time?before the strike and all the rule changes. So it's been a while. But I'm still loyal to my team. Go DEVILS!
Bronx Zoo: Summer 2013
To read my blog, click on the giraffe pic below!
I was pretty athletic when I was really young. Gymnastics was my first love. I was even competing and have gotten some prizes (nothing international:)). Once I started going out, I started blaming on gymnastics for all the muscles on my body and for not having boobs ... so I officially quit! Unofficially though, I was still doing cartwheels on the way to the discotheque. When I went to college I was gathering on a regular base with a group of people who were into gymnastics and we were doing it somewhere outdoors. After that I was biking, but most of my energy was going into night clubs. I love dancing. My friends were going out to hang out, hit on guys/girls, and I was going out to dance the hell out of me and to have beer!
When I came to New Mexico I started to rock climb and I love it, but have not done it since day one of my pregnancy. I do yoga 3 times a week now, and I am addicted to it! Would also like to go back to rock climbing though and see if I can lift up my significanly larger butt now!
I never did an organized sport and I was more of the bookworm than athletic type.
I always said I wanted to run a marathon, but somehow do not have the energy to even think about running. I still want to do one...guess I should start out with a slow jog and work my way to running. My sister in law has run the Honolulu Marathon multiple times....she's my inspiration.