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.
+SouthernMomma+
member
Re: Special prayers please (Warning: Infant picture)
What a handsome little man. Keeping little Brantley in my thoughts and prayers!
October 2011 - DS (7)
July 2014 - Stillborn DD (24 weeks)
August 2015 - DD (3)
April 2018 - 5 week loss
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!!!
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
October 2011 - DS (7)
July 2014 - Stillborn DD (24 weeks)
August 2015 - DD (3)
April 2018 - 5 week loss
Sorry for the delay ladies, in between all of this my sister inlaw also went into preterm labor at 36 weeks but im happy to say both mom and 5lb 14ounce baby are just fine, and should be going home tomorrow!
As for my friend, she was finally released from the local hospital today and made the 2 hour drive to met with her baby boy for the first time! Super emotional!!! He is finishing up the eeg today, so we will have results on any brain damage by tomorrow... he was able to get the breathing tubes out and has been breathing on his own since noon today!!! We are thanking God with each step we take! Thanks for checking in on her, i'll continue to update as I know more
Here is a picture of Momma meeting her boy for an emotional first time!
(The family was facetiming with them so they could watch so I blacked out their faces)
Another update from the family...
What a GREAT today!!! Mommy and Daddy FINALLY got to hold me!! Once Mommy held me...skin to skin...I fell right to sleep. That is exactly what I needed....I needed to bond with Mommy. I never wanna be away from her again.
They finally took all of those EEG wires off of me...which caused blisters on my beautiful head
There is another dr that is gonna talk to mommy and daddy...who they say is very "blunt" so we will know more results once we meet that dr. As of right now....they are saying that I will need to be on seizure medication indefinitely. The EEG was abnormal and showed some "seizure activity" but they're not sure if they are exact "seizures". They are going to do another MRI and EEG next week. A physical therapist is gonna start working with me next week too. They say I arch my back a lot which may be a sign of a neurological issue.
Other than that....I am doing great! I tolerated some "Liquid Gold" today (Mommy...'s milk)....My breathing has been getting better and better.... I've been more alert and looking around....I'm a FIGHTER....I got this!!!
Mommy has been feeling better....but still been in some pain. I'm just so glad I have both mommy and daddy here with me now.
Thank you, GOD!
Love,
Brantley
Tonight's update on baby B from the family....
Dear Team Brantley.....
Well...I have good news and I have bad news.....the good news is I am progressing better than expected despite some minor setbacks. The bad news....I had a stroke which is what has been causing the seizures. They told Mommy that I had severe left sided brain damage possibly caused from birth. They showed us the MRI images and showed us where the lesion is and where the bleeding was. They can't predict how this will effect my future other than I will need extensive close monitoring and physical therapy. BUT...they said that most likely it won't continue bleeding. The cooling process usually prevents secondary injuries. I am progressing better than expected. They said that I am eating and pooping better than most newborns with severe brain damage.
So ya know what that means....I AM A FIGHTER....I GOT THIS!!
Keep those prayers coming...they're working!
Love,
Brantley