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.
Mason&Mama
member
Re: CP: How much will you spend on LO for Christmas?
Edited because mobile bump made one to one hundred look like 1100, which is definitely not what I meant!
The play kitchen that I assume will be used for years (by both kids) cost about $150 after taxes. I decided to go for a good quality wooden one that would withstand some abuse. I also got a good deal on Fisher Price Zoo, Farm, and Wheelies Ramp for $90. I will save at least one of those for the spring. Throw in some stocking stuffers (most expensive thing will be a new personalized ornament as part of tradition), Christmas outfit, and Christmas PJs, and I will hit $300 easily. I do not spend a lot of money throughout the year, so I don't feel too guilty. I never buy him clothes because we have so many hand-me-downs, so I like to be able to get him something new for holidays. It's not the best timing with unpaid maternity leave hitting at the same time as the holidays, but at least I started early so the money is already mostly spent.
Our family blog
I checked the 100-200 box.
I bought her a ton of stuff. But honestly, the kid needs some age appropriate play things. She really doesn't have a lot that's not miss matched handme downs or stuffed animals. She's outgrowing a lot of her electronic toys too.
However, I know she'll get all the plasticy light up stuff from everyone else (Which is fine) so H and I went more crafty.
Melissa and Doug puzzles/blocks/musical instrument set. Paint/art supplies.
A Mr. Potato Head.
Smaller stocking stuffers (tractors, a spinbrush).
So I really did get a lot fo quality stuff for my money and really tried to think about what we needed/she would like rather than just buying all the cute stuff.
We're also saving money for a nice playset for spring.
I am freaking embarrassed to check the 3-5 box. I went full on stupid with the gifts.
I got so much sh.t I started giving her gifts early, because the pile was so effing ridiculous. I've been buying things since early Oct, and just never stopped. I keep seeing posts on here about toys and I'm like "Oh she would love that" and you know, amazon is so convenient, etc.
Just ugh.
Spontaneous pregnancy #1
DD1 July 31, 2011
Trying for #2 since Oct 11
Spontaneous pregnancy #2= Ectopic #2= lost left tube
Spontaneous pregnancy #3= DD2 January 29, 2016
Spontaneous pregnancy #4= Ectopic #3
Spontaneous pregnancy #5= Baby #3 is a BOY!!!
Only gets worse too
My parents bought Lena's play kitchen!
We already have all that crap and I've already spent well over 300
We don't really set a budget on what we spend on the kids. We shop around and get pretty good deals and the kids are at weird ages to where it's hard to keep things even.
When it's all said and done, we probably average 250-300 per kid. 11yo Son is getting a kindle as his santa gift, so he'll probably end up with more spent on him, since the girls' big gifts were each less than $100 thanks to excellent sales.
But we go crazy for xmas and we always have. We end up with presents under the tree, around the tree, across the room from the tree and down the hall from the tree.
Also, we buy things throughout the year when we see good sales and clearances and I never keep track of what I've gotten/spent. I try to keep it organized in a list but I either lose the list or just don't update it, so I'm always going "Oh yeah! I remember buying this!" when it comes time to wrap presents.
House / Baby blog
I got LO's Anywhere Chair from PBK yesterday but I waited until I had a coupon and I also used a GC that I'd won, so it ended up costing $40. We also got her a little stuffed Grover for $12, some wooden play food for $15, and we'll do some stocking things. I also like the PJs tradition but she has some cute hand-me-down Christmas PJs in her drawer that would work just fine. So I'm at $67 so far, plus stockings will put me right around $100 probably.
LO is getting the FP zoo and every accessory from my ILs. She got her Ikea kitchen for her bday.
No, we are just very lucky that my parents wanted to buy it for her. And probably at least $300 worth of other stuff. They do a really good job of spoiling her, so we don't have to buy as much.