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: Introduction and a Question
Congratulations on your little girl! How fortunate - in so many ways.
Easier said than done, but try not to worry if the pedi isn't. Preemies are slow eaters and tucker easily. If you are going to want to switch from EP'ing, though, you might want to see a LC/let her try once/day and spend kangaroo time. That's a much harder thing to switch over to. If not, that's cool, too - just wanted to throw it out there.
Welcome to the board
Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately I go back to work in 3.5 weeks and I'm totally freeing out that she is going to starve at daycare because they aren't going to take so much time to feed her. Her pedi is happy with her weight gain and we were able to stop the weekly weight checks about 2 weeks ago.
I did see a LC who was helpful, I was going to try and nurse but then felt like with going back to work maybe I should just pump. Thanks again!
Official Due Date 5/29/15 & HB 143 on 10/13; 11/25 Harmony Results perfect & it's a Girl!
Off BCP 5/2009
TTC since July 2010
DH's SA = Normal!
Hysteroscopy 2/2011
50mg Clomid / Progesterone 77.5 April 2011 = BFN
25mg Clomid / Progesterone 53 May 2011= BFN
25mg Clomid / Progesterone 44.3 June 2011= BFN
5mg Femara / Progesterone 15.7 July 2011= BFN
5mg Femara / Progesterone 14 August 2011= BFN
5mg Femara + Crinone / Progesterone 32 September 2011=BFN
5mg Femara + Crinone / Progesterone 14.9 October 2011=BFN
First RE Appointment 11/2011
Hysteroscopy 11/2011 & on Med break
12/2011 Diagnosed with PCOS (Insulin Resistant)
12/2011 Adding 1000 MG Metformin per day
12/14/11 BFP
Beta #1 664 Beta #2 3330 Beta #3 6160 Beta #4 19546
Official Due Date 8/18/12 & HB 147 on 1/3; HB 171on 1/19
Pre-term labor @ 29W bed-rest till Emergency C-Section
IT'S A GIRL
Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately I go back to work in 3.5 weeks and I'm totally freeing out that she is going to starve at daycare because they aren't going to take so much time to feed her. Her pedi is happy with her weight gain and we were able to stop the weekly weight checks about 2 weeks ago.
I did see a LC who was helpful, I was going to try and nurse but then felt like with going back to work maybe I should just pump. Thanks again!
Official Due Date 5/29/15 & HB 143 on 10/13; 11/25 Harmony Results perfect & it's a Girl!
Off BCP 5/2009
TTC since July 2010
DH's SA = Normal!
Hysteroscopy 2/2011
50mg Clomid / Progesterone 77.5 April 2011 = BFN
25mg Clomid / Progesterone 53 May 2011= BFN
25mg Clomid / Progesterone 44.3 June 2011= BFN
5mg Femara / Progesterone 15.7 July 2011= BFN
5mg Femara / Progesterone 14 August 2011= BFN
5mg Femara + Crinone / Progesterone 32 September 2011=BFN
5mg Femara + Crinone / Progesterone 14.9 October 2011=BFN
First RE Appointment 11/2011
Hysteroscopy 11/2011 & on Med break
12/2011 Diagnosed with PCOS (Insulin Resistant)
12/2011 Adding 1000 MG Metformin per day
12/14/11 BFP
Beta #1 664 Beta #2 3330 Beta #3 6160 Beta #4 19546
Official Due Date 8/18/12 & HB 147 on 1/3; HB 171on 1/19
Pre-term labor @ 29W bed-rest till Emergency C-Section
IT'S A GIRL
First, congrats on your little one and how well she did at birth! I remember you from TTGP
My little guy was a really slow eater at first (born 34w4d) and it seems like the bigger he has gotten the faster he has eaten. I did bump him up to the level 2 nipple like you did too. I actually thought he finished the Avent bottles the fastest too (more than Tommy Tippee or Doc Browns), so no advice there sorry!