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.
mrsfaz2be
member
Re: Useful items for 2U2?
My first two are 16 mo apart, we got a Koolcraft Contour double stroller and LOVE it! Both seats are removable and can face you or away. It has an attachment for an infant seat and lots of storage! Good luck to you, it is so fun watching siblings become friends!
I would wait to decide on a stroller. My kids are 18months apart and we got a double stroller and use it alot. But now that she is almost 2, she hardly ever wants to go in the stroller. I do still make her ride in it when we take the dog for a walk though. It is also useful for trips to places like the zoo. You may want to just get a sit-and-stand type though, rather than a traditional double.
I would highly recommend getting a baby carrier b/c you will need it while chasing a toddler. I used a Baby Ktan for the 1st 3 months and really liked it. Then I switched to the Ergo which I LOVE!
We really didn't need to buy anything else. DD moved to a twin bed in her new big girl room, so we just reused the nursery and everything for DS.
Also, my DD will be 2 in 6 days. I can say that we use the double as much as we did when DS was 1st born. I'd be lost without our double stroller and DD doesn't protest it at all. We have the City Mini Double.
Mine are 16 months apart and we NEEDED a double stroller. With your age gap I would get something that can be converted to a double (for the zoo, amusement parks, long walks) but is a single stroller. Something like city select, Phil and Ted, Britax..... And sell your BOB
We have a city select and a city mini GT/elite. The city select is great because it can be a single, double, has car seat attachment, and you can buy a glider board for the toddler (if you want a single+ride on board). Our city elite is great with two toddlers and my preferred stroller now but with a 17 month old and almost 3 year old I only need a stroller when doing walks or the zoo (it's more rugged than the city mini and supposed to the same as the BOB but i can use the same accessories with the city select.)
A double stroller, baby carriers (Moby, then Ergo), and a second crib really made life easier.
We have a Baby Jogger City Mini. My kids are 15.5 months apart, but they are now 2.5y and 15m old and we still use the double regularly. My oldest has been walking for a long long time, and sure there are times when he could walk, but it's easier / safer / faster to keep him in the routine of being buckled into the double. I think it's essential if you'll be alone with the two kids a lot.
I borrowed a Moby for the newborn days and I loved it. DD would snuggle up against me and be happy as could be. This allowed me to have both hands free for my toddler. Then I started using the Ergo, which is great. (So much better than the Bjorn!) I'll use my Ergo again with my third baby, but you may want to look into a Beco. I think it's just like an Ergo with the option to forward face- which is the only thing missing with the Ergo.
And last, the crib. At 25+ months your child will be old enough to transition to a bed. Many people switch by this age. However, we chose to buy a second crib and I am so thankful we did this. Like I said, my oldest is 2.5y and he is still in a crib. This has saved my sanity. No additional transition when new baby arrived. No chasing a toddler around during nap time and bedtime. We maintained 2 naps a day for 2 hours each when the baby arrived and now my oldest takes 1 nap a day for 3-4 hours. If he had the option to get up naps might have flown out the door long ago. I need that down time!
I second the second crib. Z is almost 2 but he is completely content in his crib. Use the crib for your oldest as long as you can.
I also love love love my moby and just ordered our BOB duallie so we can all go do things. Z is a very good walker but sometimes he wants to ride in the stroller. We also have a city mini with the pad in the back for Z to stand on for short outings.