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.
KatzKiss
member
Re: NTTGPR: Craft Ideas
Yes, that's crafty. Why do you make your own deo?
Here's a silly newb question... is there a way to post a pic without uploading it somewhere? When I click "insert image" it asks for a URL, so just checking if there is a way to just use a pic from my computer?
TTC #1 May 2014
BFP 7/4/14 ~ EDD 3/17/15
My Chart
This is what I was thinking about doing. We have a lot of old furniture that's just going to sit in the basement so I figured why not. Even if I don't keep it, I could sell it at our farmers market.
That's funny. I never pictured you as a hippie.
You sound like me without the pool (jealous)!
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So cute! I love modern quilting. Great colors!
TTC #1 May 2014
BFP 7/4/14 ~ EDD 3/17/15
My Chart
I finally finished a painting. I'm not sure if I'm happy with it though. The grapes are really pissing me off.
Edit: Now that I'm looking at it, I think I might paint over the whole of the grapes and make fewer and each one bigger and then re-shade.
What Are Your Thoughts on Tap Dancing Penguins?
@penelopec518 Have you heard of Annie Sloan's chalk paint? It is fabulous! You don't even have to sand at all. Her wax is a great finish for it too. I'm going to try to finish painting all of our bathroom cabinets this summer.
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
BFP#1 7/13/11 EDD 3/16/12 DS born 3/16/12
BFP#2 5/16/14 EDD 1/23/15 CP 5/21/14
BFP#3 6/25/14 EDD 3/2/15
I've done this before. It's really one of those things that's as hard as you make it. Mine was pretty rough, but it worked! Biggest mistake I made was not checking the burning laws in my town. Whoops!
Nothing tragic. The fireman that lived on our street came to my door and told me I couldn't use it within the city limits so we only got to use it once. Our "city" is a very small town and we lived hidden away with a big back yard so it never really occurred to me.
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
BFP#1 7/13/11 EDD 3/16/12 DS born 3/16/12
BFP#2 5/16/14 EDD 1/23/15 CP 5/21/14
BFP#3 6/25/14 EDD 3/2/15
Thats a great reveal idea! I bet she would love it.
Does the paint give it a certain look or is it just a paint you can use w/o sanding?
Let's see if this works.... a few weekends ago I found this rusted side table on a curb, so I sanded it and spray painted it and now it is a plant stand on my deck! Small project but I think it is cute. :-)
TTC #1 May 2014
BFP 7/4/14 ~ EDD 3/17/15
My Chart
BFP #2 - 8/17/14; EDD 4/25/15; loss discovered at 9w2d (showed 6w3d). Natural MC 10/04/14
BFP #3- 12/31/14- Happy Anniversary DH!- EDD 9/7/15
@penelopec518 Have you heard of Annie Sloan's chalk paint? It is fabulous! You don't even have to sand at all. Her wax is a great finish for it too. I'm going to try to finish painting all of our bathroom cabinets this summer.
I make my own chalk paint. That Annie Sloan's stuff is expensive. All you have to do is add a little plaster of Paris and water to reg paint and it works the same way. I also buy my wax ( Briwax) at a Benjamin Moore store. It comes in all colors. I get the dark wax to give the antique look and the clear wax to mix with it. Here is a dresser I did last year.
ETA: no sanding was involved! I just wipe clean with mineral spirits first.
My Ovulation Chart