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: FFFC
Meh I do the same thing. There is a website that you can send the pictures in and they will make a photo album. I plan on doing this when my kids graduate high school
13 yr old boy with ASD, ADHD and PICA, 11 yr old boy, 3 yr old Girl, & baby Girl.
Why does the Midwest have to have such boring food? I want to drink this!
"Your truth is different from my truth, and we're both right."
TTC since March 2013. BFP 4/13/13, blighted ovum discovered 6/6/13, m/c 6/8/13.
BFP 11/10/13, EDD 7/25/13 - stick little owlet!
13 yr old boy with ASD, ADHD and PICA, 11 yr old boy, 3 yr old Girl, & baby Girl.
"My friend who works at the Mayo Clinic told me........."
"One of my books says it's fine to............"
rachoochoo2 In defence of name picking NOW, I thought 9 months was enough time last time, yet my Dh was still emailing and looking furiously during my labor (he was "in charge" of finalizing a name, and I was 10 days late). it took me two months to name my cat ..."Kelder Cat" (dutch for cellar cat...which is where he spent his first couple of months, pretty original for the time spent:/ ) I want to be settled on a few names before the wonderful day this time
@tealowl OOH NO, now same edd's and the fact they were having sex when I was will be forever implanted in my head. gross!
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DD 1 10/2012
CP 9/2013
DD 2 6/2014
CP 3/2016
BFP 12/8/2016
1. I hate it when people think being pregnant literally means you're "eating for two." In reality, you need an extra 300-400 more calories per day than usual... which is like 2 granola bars, a bowl of cereal + a banana, a yogurt with some granola, a piece of fruit with some peanut butter, etc. Just because you're pregnant and have cravings, it doesn't mean you should double the portions of your meals.
2. I really dislike names that are common, but uncommonly spelled. For example, Melyssa, Kristopher, Christen, Branndi, Ashleigh, Cydnee, etc. I just feel like that poor child/ person is going to go through their entire lives correcting the spellings of their names. It's not creative or special, just a PITA in my opinion.
ETA: This is probably more of a UO post, but I missed it yesterday!
My DH bitched at me this morning because his laundry wasn't done. Oh and this was right after I hurled up stomach acid into the toilet.
He may never have sex again.
Here is my confession: Women who offer me home remedies for MS make me ragey and stabby beyond all belief.
If I complain about morning sickness it is because I have not been able to keep anything down for more than 12 hours. Anything less than that is a "good" day. I take zofran and phenegran around the clock. If that isn't helping your "real ginger candy" and "soda crackers with ginger ale" and sea bands aren't going to help. Don't suggest it to me and for the love of God don't tell me how bad your morning sickness was because you threw up once a day for four weeks. Eff that. I throw up multiple times a day for 9.5 months.
I actually had someone suggest to me that I sniff lavender and lemon essential oils while I was still puking with IV zofran pumping through my veins. Just don't even.
Everytime I read non-vaxes I think it says non-waxers and I'm like who gives a sh!t if you wax or not!?
You would really hate my middle DS's name. It is Kristoffer. and is a nod to his Scandinavian heritage. I hate names that are spelled wonky just because the parents are trying to be different. IF it is a legitimate spelling of the name, I am fine with it.
13 yr old boy with ASD, ADHD and PICA, 11 yr old boy, 3 yr old Girl, & baby Girl.
Baby G born 6/6/14, 37 weeks 1 day due to preeclampsia. 5lb12oz 19"
#2 due Christmas 2016.
Sometime earlier that week I also had a Big Mac and sipped some soda. I totally missed the fries and won't deny myself next time!
I won't judge you, if you don't judge me!
"Your truth is different from my truth, and we're both right."
TTC since March 2013. BFP 4/13/13, blighted ovum discovered 6/6/13, m/c 6/8/13.
BFP 11/10/13, EDD 7/25/13 - stick little owlet!
"Your truth is different from my truth, and we're both right."
TTC since March 2013. BFP 4/13/13, blighted ovum discovered 6/6/13, m/c 6/8/13.
BFP 11/10/13, EDD 7/25/13 - stick little owlet!
13 yr old boy with ASD, ADHD and PICA, 11 yr old boy, 3 yr old Girl, & baby Girl.
This was the order of my initial reaction of ultrasound today:
1. Glad the baby is OK
2. I am so happy there is only ONE baby in there.
Most of us don't open those posts anymore. Congratulations!!