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: Longest Thread EVER! (aka Random Thoughts Thread )
Side note: my baby went from 8lbs 1oz on April 16th to 9lbs 15oz today. That's almost 2 lbs in 2 weeks! Miss piggy nickname for the win!
Went to dr...no more progress--a tight 3cm so at least that is something! He was like "oh wow wasn't not planning on seeing you here today after the membrane sweep and your progress from before!" Yeah me neither....NST on Monday if no action over the weekend. Moral of story: cervical checks are let downs.
Maybe I'll have my husband do this!
BFP#2 7/28/13 EDD 4/9/14 Birthday : 4/10/14 Adalyn Nanette
When I was admitted I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork including a waiver for the hep b vaccine. We ARE vaccinating, we just didn't want to start right at birth, and for hep b we want to wait until he is fully developed (age 10-12). All other vaccines will be given near the recommended times, except we won't give him more than one at a time. Ex: shots recommended at 2 months, he will get 1 at 2 months, 1 at 2 months 1 week, 1 at 2 months 2 weeks, etc.
He has already been so overloaded with meds since birth, and we had already decided that we want his vaccines in separate doses so that if he does have a reaction we can track it.
Anyway. That's not the point. The point is, they have that document on file about hep b and I swear I've been asked at LEAST once a day about them giving him the shot. Every time I tell them YES we are vaccinating, but we are waiting a bit. I want to turn the "so has anyone talked to you about getting his hep b shot?" into a drinking game. We are at about 7 now ladies, if you would like to join me.
Thank goodness no one has asked about circumcision.....
Eta: oh and earlier this week a nurse came in with a needle ready to give me the tdap shot. "I've got your oxy and a tdap for you!"
I thought she was joking. She wasn't. I quickly informed her that I had just gotten that immunization and so had my husband. Way to ask a question before coming in ready to stab me...
BFP #1 May 20, 2013 MC June 27, 2013 BFP #2 August 2, 2013 Baby Boy born 4/25/14 (3 weeks overdue!)
April 14 August Siggy Challenge- "This time last year.."
Yes, the constipation started a few days ago along with signs of a milk sensitivity (my other two had the same thing and this is just like it except the constipation part) so I started soy formula just yesterday hoping she'll gradually get better and I can go back to breast feeding once we both get it out of our system. I don't know if the allergy has anything to do with her not pooping. I tried the q tip thing and if that doesn't work then I'll call and try to make all of that make some sort of sense. Because it probably doesn't.
Anddddd in expressing my frustration to DH he is assuming I have PPD. No, just tired and annoyed. The nurse just made it sound like I was absolutely definitely going to get the sads so he's paranoid.
BFP #1 May 20, 2013 MC June 27, 2013 BFP #2 August 2, 2013 Baby Boy born 4/25/14 (3 weeks overdue!)
April 14 August Siggy Challenge- "This time last year.."
Part of me feels bad for him and the other part wants to laugh and say, "now you know what I have been doing for 3 weeks, 8 hours a day, by myself." But I really do feel bad. Note to self, he can only do 4 hour stretches max.
I figure mine just wants to hold out til cinco de mayo so my celebratory drink is a margarita!
You are hard core. Just a day or so away...
I had a 2 week pp appointment and then was scheduled for another one 5 weeks later. What is that appt about? Is it an exam??
Then, as we were leaving I asked about DS's birth certificate. The nurse looked at me like I was nuts and said they don't give those out, I need to contact the health department. Thanks for the info? How am I supposed to magically know these things?! Gah. Add those (minor) annoyances to the fact that DS fussed all day and when he wasn't fussing we had hospital staff coming in every 45 minutes, so I got about 10 minutes of sleep today plus 3 hours last night. I'm pretty effing delirious.
BFP #1 May 20, 2013 MC June 27, 2013 BFP #2 August 2, 2013 Baby Boy born 4/25/14 (3 weeks overdue!)
April 14 August Siggy Challenge- "This time last year.."