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.
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Re: ~*~*MSPI Moms Weekly Check-In*~*~ 10/28
2. What are you doing for Halloween? Making any MSPI-friendly treats? Our office is having a potluck and I was planning on bringing this vegan pumpkin corn bread: https://alteredplates.blogspot.com/2009/11/vegan-pumpkin-cornbread.html and possibly these pumpkin bean bars: https://happyherbivore.com/recipe/low-fat-pumpkin-bean-bars/. We'll take DS trick or treating also but DH will get all the candy.
3. Any burning questions you'd like answered or experiences to share? Let's talk about Thanksgiving recipes next week!
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@AFwifelife Welcome! I'm glad to hear your LO is doing better. Congestion was one of the symptoms that improved in my DS after I cut out dairy, and he also was gaining weight fine.
It is really hard to relax when you're worrying about everything you eat - we've all been there! For now, you could keep a food/symptom journal, but wait a few weeks before cutting anything else out, since it can take several (3-5) weeks for dairy and soy to clear both your systems. (Some moms whose LOs have more severe symptoms might go on a total elimination diet right off the bat, but it sounds like your LO isn't doing too bad, and those diets are really, really hard.) Another thing to do in the meantime is make sure you're not still ingesting any hidden dairy or soy (e.g. vitamin E, caramel coloring, natural flavors), so if you do get to 5 weeks and your LO is still having symptoms, you can be sure it's because of something else in your diet. HTH, GL!
2. We are going trick or treating but like someone else said DH will be having most of the treats.
3. Question- is there a substitute for eggs when baking that has worked for anyone? DS is allergic to eggs. Someone told me Knox gelatin but I've tried it and it didn't work for me. Thanks.
@AnnP84 I just avoid anything with natural flavors, unless it specifically says it is dairy, soy, and wheat free. I have tried to call a few companies to ask what their natural flavors are derived from and usually I get the "it's proprietary information and we have to disclose all allergens by law" run around, and I'm too paranoid to trust that answer. I don't know what the letters on the packages mean.
@brideinsummer04 I've used flax eggs (1 Tbs flax meal + 3 Tbs water, let sit a few minutes) in some quick breads and muffins with success. I just made a chia pudding last night and those little seeds gel up much more than the flax meal! So chia eggs might work too.
1. How are you doing? How is your LO doing?
We're doing ok. We've been on the no egg, soy or dairy diet a few months now but our little guy is still very gassy with a bloated stomach and constipation followed by mucusy stools (sorry for the tmi). i'm running on empty today since last night we had the double wammy of bad GERD, causing him to gulp while feeding and grimacing as he swallows which makes nursing super slow, and gas/bloat, causing him to scream when he wasn't trying to eat.
2. What are you doing for Halloween? Making any MSPI-friendly treats?
We're giving out "allergy friendly snacks" of popcorn and pretzels this year. We found little individual bags of each that were vegan and soy free (and on sale).
We went to a Halloween potluck party over the weekend that had a few MSPI diet friendly options. We brought baked apples (apples baked with coconut oil, brown sugar and GF oats) and roasted squash. Another mom brought soy, egg and dairy free pumpkin cookies. He sent me home with the leftovers and recipe. My friend brought a vegan butternutsquash chili that was amazing.
3. Any burning questions you'd like answered or experiences to share?
Someone mentioned to me today that our gas/ bloat issue could be a fore milk/ hind milk issue. Anyone have any experience with that?
Lily born at 27 wks: 2 lbs 4 oz.
Max born at 27 wks: 2 lbs 2 oz.
Glenn born at 31 wks: 3 lbs 9 oz.
My twin's birth story
@komurphy Poor baby.
Have you considered cutting something else outof your diet?
Do you have an oversupply or forceful letdown? If you have oversupply your DS might be getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk, which can cause similar symptoms to MSPI (gas, green stools). Here's a link that talks about it and what you can do:
https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/fast-letdown/
I did had an over supply at first when DS was in the NICU but I worked with our NICU lactation consultant and my supply is mostly ok now. I'm going to talk to his ped. and our lac. consultant about the over supply and for milk/ hind milk issue to see if that could be our problem.
Lily born at 27 wks: 2 lbs 4 oz.
Max born at 27 wks: 2 lbs 2 oz.
Glenn born at 31 wks: 3 lbs 9 oz.
My twin's birth story
I think it's great that there is this thread! I need to get on board. My baby is six months and still reacts to dairy.
1. How are you doing? How is your LO doing?
I'm doing ok, but craving a big glass milk!
2. What are you doing for Halloween? Making any MSPI-friendly treats?
Nope, just doing the usual and trying to stay away from the chocolate.
3. Any burning questions you'd like answered or experiences to share?
Not right now...
My mom and the IL's are coming over tonight and we're getting pizza. (Papa John's without cheese).
DD1: allergic to eggs & dairy
c/p 4/1/11
DD2: milk and soy protein intolerant, allergic to eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, bananas
MSPI Moms Check-In Blog
This time of the year I like to use pureed pumpkin as my egg replacer. We bake a lot of pumpkin cookies and pumpkin breads.
Lily born at 27 wks: 2 lbs 4 oz.
Max born at 27 wks: 2 lbs 2 oz.
Glenn born at 31 wks: 3 lbs 9 oz.
My twin's birth story