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: ***<><>AMA weekly check-in<><>*** (BFP warning)
Since you are thinking about donor eggs, if you want to have some fun (as "fun" as this process is) you should look at medical tourism. The cost of a cycle is about half of what it is in the U.S. and you get to spend some time in a foreign country
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
I have around 100 OPKs - PM me if you would like me to share some of my stash with you
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
I had the same thing happen to me last cycle when I did not temp or use OPKs! It ended up being wonky and my AF ended up being wonky! Why do our bodies mess with us?
I hope the RE can get you some good answers and a good plan going forward. I went and saw a new OB for my annual and he agreed to run a butt-load of blood work for me. He wants to wait to do it all on CD3 (including my thyroid panel and some other stuff that could have been done any day of my cycle) so I have to wait until the end of the month for that. Depending on what that sows will determine if I make an appointment with an RE here.
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
IUI#4 1/23/13 on 75iu x9 Follistim = BFP then chem preg m/c (Feb 2013)
IUI#5 BFN (April 2013)
S/PAIFW , S/PALW
My Blog
Ugh with the cyst and the way your nurse handled it! If someone is in pain you do not just shrug it off and make them feel bad for coming in about it. It sounds like AF showing when she did is actually pretty good timing for your time table. I'm hoping you baseline comes back clear.
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
Hopefully you will not have to worry about next cycle but, if you do, OPKs are a nice start.
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
I hope your staph infection clears up quickly!
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
Thank you for manning the checkin
I am so late checking in so I won't do individuals, so Hey Everyone! High fives to those that had great and happy things happen and big ((hugs)) to those that just plain need them.
This week I'm just getting the family easter shindig decor and menu together and praying that I make it through without falling apart on Sunday.
Question: Is Friday too soon to bake cupcakes for Sunday? I'm making pink lemon aid and key lime with butter creme frosting. I'll ice them Saturday and keep them in the fridge.
Having my own pity party... flu....2ww... and broken bump...grrr... I did sit outside while dh did some planting this afternoon and I am starting to feel better. Wish I could be a better bumpie and participate more but working in opera sucks ass. Without signatures I don't know who or what I am talking about... Hugs to all that need them.
I found this link that has some info on when to bake and when to frost.
Can you talk with your H to make an escape plan if you need to step away from everyone? ((((hugs))))
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
@buggirl72 thanks for the link
There ya go @Tablefor5 - advice from the professional baker!
The day the Bump died - Jasper is wise
@buggirl72 thank you for connecting me with the right person