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.
Lady_1981
member
Re: Starbucks
Decaf anything.
I like the white chocolate mocha (decaf). Probably has 49,000 calories but I don't care, I have them like once a week.
It's been so long I've forgotten! I lost my taste for coffee in the 1st tri and it's never returned. Mocha something??
If you google, you should be able to get the caffeine content.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
Not pregnant: soy chai tea [iced or hot depending on weather. Sometimes w a shot of pumpkin]
Caffeinated iced coffee...straight up. gasp. Dr. actually recommended caffeine to slow my Braxton Hicks. Works like a CHARM. Although I do only have one a day, so as the day goes on, BH acts up.
Think I may stop on my way home from work, just didn't want to be kept up all night!
Baby #3 - EDD: 4/14/2017
I LOOOOVE Starbucks. If I were rich I'd be there every day. I get decaf or 1/2 caf now.
Iced:
Caramel Macchiato or
Coconut Mocha Latte (when in season - no whip, NOT the frappachino)
Hot:
Pumpkin Spice Latte when in season
Caramel Macchiato
Caramel Brule Latte
Generally, a full caff iced coffee in the summer, pregnant or not. I have curbed my tendency to get a grande or venti in favor of a "baby-friendly" tall. In the cooler months, plain unsweetened hot coffee w/ milk.
Sometimes in the dead of winter I'll have the occasional peppermint mocha. In the summer, if i'm feeling thirsty, I'll opt for an unsweetened passion tea lemonade. Yum.
I COULD KISS YOU.
Starbucks' website has the caffeine content of each drink. For some reason, I feel like each shot of espresso was 100mg or less.
A tall has 1 shot, a grande and venti each have 2.
Whoops. My mistake 165mg in the grande iced coffee, no milk.
If you have a Caribou coffee near you (they may only be midwest), they already have their pumpkin drinks out! At Starbucks I usually get an iced venti green tea latte. Once it gets cold I switch to a grande soy cinnamon dolce or caramel brulee latte. I wish they'd come out with a spicy mocha!!
Oh there are so many wonderful things I order on a regular basis... You can easily google for caffeine content (though honestly, if you're just having one cup, it's probably just fine). Anyway, my faves:
Iced Caramel Macchiato
Skinny Vanilla Latte
Pumpkin Spice Latte (clearly the tops, but not available yet... sigh)
Raspberry White Mocha
Peppermint White Mocha
Iced Sweetened Passion Tea
Those are my standards! Now if you just want something yummy, get a flavored steamer. Just milk + your favorite flavoring! YUM!
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Me and the Starbucks guy are tight. 9/9 is accurate! SO SOON!
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Caramel Macchiato- you can get it in decaf- I have!
Vanilla Bean Frap is also good. Also, I sometimes just the the shaken iced tea lemonade when I want a cool refreshing drink!
I was just about to post something similar! I was drinking a tall, until I double checked the caffeine content and was thrilled to see that I could upsize to a Grande! That was one of the best days of this pregnancy!
I'm another Pumpkin Spice girl.
Also love the Cinnamon Dolce and passion iced tea if it's hot.
Lately coffee has been giving me too much heartburn, so I've gotten steamed milk with a flavour shot of something. I think I did hazelnut recently and it was goood.
Also, not a drink but... Petit Vanilla Bean Scone!!!! if you need a little nibbly
I only go to Starbucks once in a blue moon. When I go, I always get the caramel apple spice. So delicious.
This. I get the White Chocolate Mocha, usually Venti, half-caff (I don't know how much caffiene is in decaf espresso, so I assume that's a 75-100mg caffeine drink).
Like a pp said, it has a gazillion calories...but YUM!
Big Kid Jan 2010
Littlest Man Sept 2012
It depends on the time of day and the temperature outside. If it's in the morning then I usually get a cinnamon dulce latte or an americano with cream and sugar. If its during the day then I get an iced coffee, iced caramel macchiato or one of the new lime refreshers.
MMM, I already had starbucks today, but now I really want an iced caramel macchiato....
A venti iced vanilla breve latte, light ice.
I've cut back to talls or grandes since being pregnant. I miss that gigantic 20 oz. goodness, though.
partial molar pregnancy : bfp 6.28.10, d/c 8.17.10, 7 rounds methotrexate, cleared 7.1.11
alexander patrick : bfp 1.16.12, born 9.20.12 @ 39w1d, 7 lbs./11 oz./22 in.
scarlett irene elizabeth : bfp 5.24.13, born 2.3.14 @ 41w2d, 7 lbs./13 oz./19 in.