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.
for two nights, and then with friends for three nights. 
Re: Traveling Tips
I got a room with a mini-fridge, and we can wash bottles in the room. If we need to do laundry, we can do it at our friend's house.
We are debating the cloth/disposable thing. I was looking forward to the break from cloth (mostly for the extra room in my diaper bag!!! Those things take up a lot of room...) But--he's only had two blow outs--both in sposies. Hmmmmm
Pumpkin usually wakes between 4 and 5 am to eat, and then will go back to sleep for a bit. We are planning to feed him, and throw him in the car. Hoping to get a few hours of driving in before he is really awake.
I've gone 3+ hours with an infant but never much over that so I'm not help with the car ride. Sounds like your plan to leave right after he wakes and eats is a good one.
As for the hotel, DD and I stayed in a hotel for a week when she was 4 months old (we went to visit K when she was training in Kansas). It really wasn't much different from home. We bought a cheap bouncy chair for the week so if you have one, and room, in the car I would suggest taking it just so you have an extra place to set Pumpkin down.
The room had two queens so K and I were in one and Jelly Bean was in the middle of the other which worked out fine because I ended up with her most of the night anyway as she was breastfeeding.
Hmmm....there wasn't really much else I needed for "survival". At that age it's a few basic toys, milk, and mom and things were good.
Enjoy your trip!
I assume you're visiting because you have family or friends here (let's admit, it's generally not the travel destination that NY/DC are)...but if you are looking for any family-friendly destinations or restaurants, let us know what you're looking for. We can help:)
ditto this...we've traveled a bunch with the kids and i'm trying to think of tips but cant really come up with any since we mostly just wing it
I dont know if pumpkin is on liquid formula but I found travelling with powder to be easier. And sposies are easier for travel (imo) but they certainly do blow out more.
Blogs: Our Growing Family - CT Working Moms
Yea, we traveled a lot when they were babies, but I was never brave enough to drive more than 4hrs.
We always brought pack and plays with us (tried the hotel crib once and it was a disaster!)
Traveling at this age is easy - take advantage!
Ditto pp's on baby travel being easy! You picked a good time for this trip!
When we did car trips with Henry as a baby we were able to get into a good rhythym of about 2 hours on the road, 1 hour stop, repeat. When we stopped, we'd do diaper change, snack for us and nursing for him, and then we'd drive again and he'd sleep. I did sit in the backseat with him most of the time, to entertain him when he woke and sometimes had to hum in his ear to get him to sleep.
As for dipes - if you have plenty in your stash that you won't have to worry about rushing to wash when you get to your friends' house (and of course they don't mind baby poop in their washer
), then go for it. We have traveled with cloth when we've gone to my ILs. If you're not sure you have enough, or you'll have to rush to get them clean in time - do the sposies. It's not worth the added annoyance. OR - you could do cloth for the car, since they are more reliable for containing poops, and sposies the rest of the time.
For the hotel - bring reading lights for you and DW for after he goes to sleep! I know a couple that puts their pack n play in the bathroom (when space allows) so that they can have the room to themselves after little one goes to sleep. Then they just take turns using the bathroom in the hotel lobby if they need to use it before they go to sleep (kind of genius). We usually get a room with a kind and all sleep together - cosleeping in a king is so luxurious!
sahm ~ toddler breastfeeder ~ cloth diaperer ~ baby wearer
IUI #3 gave us the best 2nd anniv. gift ever: 2 babies! (born 03/09/10)
Peanut and Little Man are getting so big! 2 years old already!
finally blogging again at This Will Be: An Adventure
Thanks for the tips! I am sure we'll be fine.
Mrs. F--I love this tip. We are only in a hotel 2 nights--but this might be nice to watch a movie or talk without whispering!
And, Cloth Diaper users--I got this tip from the CD board-
When bringing cloth wasn't an option on longer trips, I would just bring some thirsties covers and put them over the sposies. It helped contain any blowouts. The covers are easier to wash than prefolds/inserts, since you can rinse them out in the sink and hang to dry.
I think this is what we are going to do for the carride. I thought it was pretty ingenius.