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.
Re: 4 months and only 12 lbs...
Lucy was only 10 lbs, 8 oz at our visit a month ago. Her 4 month visit is November 9th and I don't anticipate her being much heavier. The pediatrician said not to worry and that EBF babies just don't gain as quickly.
*I still worry.
At Judah's 4 month check up he was 12lbs 6 oz and 25 inches (I can't remember the exact length but I think that's right). He is just long and skinny. The doctor had no concerns so I'm not worried about it right now. I do think that he has gained a good bit in the last month though (he turned 5 months yesterday) but won't have another appointment until 6 months.
I'm glad to hear another small boy on here! Mine is 13 pounds 9 ounces today at five months. He's long too and I'm not nor is his doctor concerned as he is actively gaining weight. He was really small at birth so he has some ground to catch up on.
Liv was 12lbs 2oz and 25 inches at our 4month check.
She was born 6lbs 7oz and 19 inches.
We were at Children's on Monday and she still is pretty light at 12lbs 8oz. She is in the 8th %ile for weight. At our 2 month appointment, our pediatrician did comment about wiggly/squirmy she was and that babies like her tend to "not get very fat." He said it wasn't a concern as long as we are feeding her well. But I was getting really worried especially after our 4month check and she was at 10%ile.
She is going down on the %ile because I didn't realize my milk supply was tanking. We are having to supplement now and hopefully she is gaining weight.
peace,
katharine
Book-Kitten blog
Maya was 11lbs 6oz at her 4 month and (I believe) 23.5" long. I posted about it b/c I am forced to sometimes alternate between a military and civilian pedi. After already going through this with the military pedi I now have to see the civilian pedi at the end of this week for a weight check b/c they don't share records. They both express concern that she was born average weight (7lbs 7oz) at then dropped in percentile. At her 2 month I wasn't worried in the least. Now the pedi has me second guessing myself and thinking I'm not producing enough milk
We go back on the 4th for the weight check.
We were nearly the same. 13.1 though, and he is 26" long. Dr. wasn't concerned as he was 8.7 at birth, 10.6 at 2 months, and 13.1 at 4 months, so he is gaining at a fairly consistent rate.
DS is on the other side of the charts at 17 lbs. 10 oz. at his 4 month check up
but my niece who is about a year older than DS is tiny tiny tiny. DS is very close to passing her up on weight. Her pedi was concerned and even said she was "failing to thrive". I think the difference though is she was born at normal (and maybe even a bit above normal) weight at 7 lbs. 14 oz. My SIL is tiny though, so maybe she is just going to be a small girl too.
If your concerned, just talk to her pedi about it!