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.
stever
member
Re: Let's catch up!
HI STever! EV is just over 5 months old! where has the time gone already!!! She is roughly 15 pounds and she is getting so fun. She has started rolling to her tummy ~ this is w/in her developmental time frame but everyone else's babies seem to have been doing it forever! Ev isn't sitting yet but has just started some solids. She has tried rice cereal, which she hated and she has had plain greek yogurt for the first time last night, and she seems to like that better.
My and the DH have just started south beach diet. as we are both still fatties and I have managed to throw my back out yay.
can't wait to hear from the rest of you! ~jess
So I am not a regular regular on this board...but...let's see...
DD is nearly 16 months old...amazing how fast the time flies. I have signed the paperwork to begin to transition her into the next room at daycare (as well as transitioning to a cot for naps). She has been walking for a month now...and is trying to go at warp speed.
I am now more than 30 lbs. under my pre-pregnancy weight (and this is actually all since May...took me that long to find the motivation to do something about it).
Extremely busy at work (so why am I on TB?).
Hmm...that's pretty much it for me.
Hm... what can I say to amuse you all....
Just got home from yet another road trip to attend a college football game with a bunch of classmates. Lots of fun to see people I've not laid eyes on in 20-some years.
Yesterday it was 80 degrees. By Saturday it will be 30 and snowing. I love living in Colorado!
Oh, and according to FB... the older sister of one of my high school friends just had a baby. By my math.. she's probably 47 or 48!!!!!!! Yay for not being the only freak show/old mom from my hometown!!!
Updates are pretty boring:
1) Still out of work and desperately looking
2) Parents are still having health issues
3) DS is doing really well and is a little comedian.
4) DH and I are OK. A bit of rut but OK.
Bronx Zoo: Summer 2013
To read my blog, click on the giraffe pic below!
Yeah, dad's business tanked in July and I had to file for unemployment.
Pretty much looking for any office work that pays reasonably well and is in NJ within a 30 minute drive--if such a job exists. UI until late January but I'm anxious.
Bronx Zoo: Summer 2013
To read my blog, click on the giraffe pic below!
Aw man.. that blows. So sorry. I have a good friend who was in medical sales and was laid off before Christmas last year and still hasn't found anything.
Despite what the politicos will have you believe, I don't think our economy is "doing well."
And one more thought.. my husband used to work for a company called Accenture. They are consultants and do pretty much anything and everything.. military contracting, accounting.. you name it. Offices all over the place and they're huge. Take a look at their website and see if there's anything in your area. He loved the company and it seemed really stable (except for his little division.. ha!). He'd go back to them in a heartbeat if he could find something to do with them.
I am so sorry! I got laid off (with NO SEVERANCE, yes I am still steamed about it) in July 2010 and it took me until this past April to find work. Granted I moved from a big city (Fort Lauderdale) to a teensy town in upstate NY, and I built a career in a highly specialized field, but still. 22 months out of work is far too long, and the consequence is that we can no longer afford for me to take a year off of work to watch DS grow - been there done that, just without the baby to enjoy while unemployed! Hang in there - unemployment will extend, I think (unless Romney wins). Where are you in NJ? If I can help, I will.
In other news, DS is 6 weeks old today! Unbelievable but I'm still a little impatient for him to get a bit older so we can get to know the person he will become. I know I should cherish these moments because he will never be this small again - and I do cherish them, but I think I'll enjoy him more when he gets a bit bigger. Is that horrible?
I go back to work in 3 weeks from today. We have houseguests coming for two weekends in a row, both the weekend before I go back and the weekend after. The house has been a disaster area since shortly after we returned from the hospital, and I have no idea how I will get it clean enough to entertain. I need to become a better multi-tasking mommy. Multi-tasking is one thing but doing it while holding a newborn ... I need to learn to use my sling!
Robyn, hope you find a good, permanent job that you like soon ... I've been in that unemployment boat and know how much it sucks. Sending you good luck vibes for a great job.
Devindra's growing up fast and is extremely active. He's 16 months but has been having a hard time transitioning to non-puree regular foods, so I'm worried about that. But slowly he's getting there. Also, he was recently diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency so I have to give him drops for that every day. We go back to the orthopedic surgeon in January to see if things have improved. Hoping and praying that they do.
But otherwise he's a suuuuper energetic, loving, happy boy -- we love him so much it's kind of crazy!
Aaand I've finally gone back to the gym! Hoping to finally lose this baby weight and really get my blood sugar back down to the awesome level it was pre-baby and in pregnancy. But mostly I just want to get back into my pre-preggo jeans, lol!
Updates are great to read - but Robyn, I'm sorry
I hope you find something soon!
Things are good here. T just turned 18 mo and I did a little half birthday thing for him which included being famous on the Doc Marten international FB page (hah!), visiting a pop-up garden, and smashing half a cake. We went to the orchard last week which was fun. He's teething hardcore again, but he never seems to get much for all the effort he puts in. He's cracked some molars but otherwise, still with his 6 teeth
Oh - our birth story was published in that little Bump magazine they hand out locally. Crazy fire story and all! Here's a linky: https://issuu.com/thebump/docs/philadelphia_v8e1/47
I've also returned to NICU - but as a volunteer! I go in every Saturday and squish on preemies who need some lovin'.
DS is 4.5 and is enjoying Pre-Kindergarten. He just took the most adorable school pictures that were way over priced (Yikes)!
My Blog
My Blog
Haha, thanks! I'm going to cry when he grows out of his Baby Docs - most.amazing.hand.me.down.EVER!
Robyn, hope you find something soon. I know that job hunting stinks!
Congrats on your pregnancy, JilliansMoma! That's great news!
Our updates: DS is 21 months and a full-on crazy toddler. He is finally getting teeth #11 and #12. I was a little worried he'd grow up to be a man with only 10 teeth, so this is an exciting development! LOL! He also started saying, "Eagles" and as an Eagles fan (married to a Giants fan), this was almost as exciting as when he first said, "Mommy."
My last day of work is on Wednesday as I found something ten minutes from my house. No more 3+ hour commute into the city. I will now also have fertility coverage, so this will hopefully help us on the path to baby #2.