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.
SarahRae85
member
Re: Whats new with you and your LO?
For me- feels like the same old. Trapped at my job
For me, I'm actually having my best year (professionally) in a long time. I feel like I'm working constantly, but it's paying off monetarily! I'm on WW and down about 11 lbs so far. Hoping to take off 10 more before a wedding at the end of this month!
Not much new with me, work is...work. I like my job but it's just a job and there's no real prospect of promotion or anything. I was planning a trip to visit a friend in NYC this summer but I might wait until next year. I want to enjoy the city and not be looking for a bathroom every 20 min.
DD has decided she finally likes stuffed animals. She'll pick one up and cuddle it close to her cheek. And she knows them by name. Super cute.
Not much new with me. Still working full time. We stay so busy.
Hugs to @pavlovcat.
Little Dude is a crazy man. He never sits down, not a cuddler, nursing is the only time I can get him to stay in one place for any period of time. Except now I can't really even rely on that because he will nurse for a few minutes and then sit straight up and say "All done!"
So I guess the thing that's new with him is ... this morning I caught him climbing up on the couch and thought for sure I was going to have to run into the living room to keep him from climbing on to the piano. But instead he SAT DOWN, pulled some books in his lap, and proceeded to turn pages making the correct animal noises for what picture he was seeing. I was floored.
New with me? Not much. Like most of you above, the vast majority of what I do revolves around being a Mom and working full time. I have a different job than I did pre-kid, so it IS different for me to only work my 40 hour week and have that be it. My last job was really stressful, with lots of travel and ridiculous hours. So while I'm a bit bored, I do appreciate that work isn't taking me away from my kiddo any more than necessary.
Good idea to start this thread, I'd love to spend more time on this board again.
Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10
TTC since 6/11
Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN
Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13
On to #2, are we crazy?
IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP! Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat. Say hello to Sticky Ricki!
As for me, dh and I are trying for #2. I am also trying to get back into scrapbooking. Work has been slow, but should pick up again by the end of summer.
Hope to reconnect with some of you ladies again. Oh and congrats to those with the bfp!
BFP #1 7/6/2012, EDD 3/13/2013, Delivered 3/14/2013
BFP #2 1/7/2014: EDD:9/14 MC: 1/9/2014 (confirmed via blood work)
BFP #3 7/5/2014: EDD 3/11/2015 MC: 7/15/2014
BFP #4 11/7/2014: EDD 7/17/2015~~Please be my RAINBOW!
My Chart
All are Welcome!
What's new with my LO?
Well, he got his first set of stitches this week because he cut open his ear pretty bad on a bar stool. Those stools are now out of the house. Ugh. I felt like the worst parent for sure. Other than that, he is starting to say a lot. He really likes Minnie Mouse, so he has figured out how to say Minnie. He hugs his Minnie stuffed animal a lot too. Very cute. He has also figured out how to climb onto the sofa and just about every other piece of furniture in the house. My favorite thing he is now doing is picking up after himself. If he pulls down all of the place mats, then he puts them right back without being asked to do so. It is amazing to watch him figure things out.
New with me?
Well, like most of you seems like all DS. I am getting more and more ready for the new LO to come along in a couple months. I am finally starting to panic a little bit less than before about it. Other than that, I just had an annual college girls' weekend which was amazing. It was so much fun to have a girl adult weekend. What a refreshing trip! I loved talking about things other than what DS is eating or pooping these days.
Hugs @pavlovcat too.
;
That being said I do feel like we are behind on other things like she still has formula in a bottle (pediatrician said it's ok to switch to Whole Milk at 18 mos).
I try not to worry or rush her... every baby develops differently (she couldn't drink from a sippy cup until just a few months ago). Oh and she only has 10 teeth.
And what's new with YOU? I am 6 months pregnant and enjoying the summer!
See bolded above ... is this not many? We've only got 7 over here. Perhaps I should pay more attention to this?
Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10
TTC since 6/11
Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN
Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13
On to #2, are we crazy?
IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP! Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat. Say hello to Sticky Ricki!
New with me? Finally married!!! To my best friend also so it's nice that we know absolutely everything about each other since we grew up together. Always always always working. Going on my honeymoon next week and hoping to get pregnant again with baby #3