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.
NeonNoon
member
Re: Weekly Check-In 5/3
We had a good week all in all. Managed to go to the grocery store twice with DS, and to Target (where he cried a lot). I'm also done with the PP OB appointments. It baffles me whenever we get to an appointment on time with DS.
I haven't driven yet, though. It's coming on 8 weeks. I have to find DS a better pacifier before I'm able to do that.
I've also gotten into a rhythm with pumping. That makes me less anxious about outings. I had to troubleshoot it some with better fitting flanges, nipple butter, and lower settings. I hope the new set up works. It was hurting before.
We've totally become THOSE parents who are excited about every little milestone. I've been trying to keep it to ourselves with the exception of the grandparents. They, however, can't contain themselves and bore everyone.
QOTW: special brunch or breakfast, lots of hanging out with DH, Sunday evening TV
ETA: I finally ordered a diaper bag! I've only obsessed about it for months. I went with a PPB backpack. It's not exactly my style but seemed to be quite practical.
@NeonNoon have you tried the wubbanub paci? We have 2 and they are a lifesaver.
Last week wasn't so bad. My knee finally got better after falling but it is still hurting from a previous hurt. Right after I had LO it started up. I think from losing the weight so quickly after birth. At least that is what I am reading.
Weekends are usually spent hanging around the house or shopping for something the girls have to have for the upcoming week with school. And although I haven't had time this season...I love to watch Nascar after church.
Sundays for me, assuming no stomach bugs or family realizing at the last minute that they need help moving = church, out to lunch, then nap or football or family activity (park, museum, zoo, etc). It depends on time of year, weather, and how the rest of the week went. And the evening ends with Game of Thrones, obviously
**siggy warning**
Current Age 35, DH 33
Married 9/2011
BFP 8/2012, Miscarried 9/2012
BFP 9/2012, DS 6/2013
BFP 6/2014, Miscarried 7/2014
BFP 7/2014, DD 4/2015
Thx for the paci tip. I have a couple of MAM ordered. I'll check out the wubbanubs if they fail.
Hey, you made it through all that @mattandlora!
@NeonNoon fx you find a paci that works. McIrish sent me a wubbanub and she hates it
@mattandlora hope you feel better!!
@mandyreads happy to hear your knee is healing.
I miss the bump. I'm hardly on anymore and I should make more of an effort. I'm on my bmb fb group and I feel I'm on there alot. I also try checking pro boards to see how our other friends are doing.
Mia is 12 wks now. How time flies! Nothing much going on. I just wanted to say hello
ME:46 MH:44 DE IVF 2014
Met with RE 4/11. 2 IUI's BFN. DE best option. Switched clinics to do "shared" program. Had to retake all tests and a mamm that put me behind and then on a DE waiting list for 12 months. Picked a donor!! (10/13/13) Got matched. Estimated transfer in December. After 2.5 years of patiently waiting I will finally cycle....can hardly believe it. DE cycle got cancelled. One of her tests came back positive. Waiting for another donor. Donor picked!! (1/18/14)
DE IVF #1 (4/26) BFN DE FET #1 (6/4) BFP! Beta 1=339 Beta 2=852 Beta 3=9957 EDD 2/22/15!!
@NeonNoon I post absolutely everything on facebook. All I talk about anymore is my daughter. I really don't care if it bothers anyone, this is my life now and she is my world.
@mattandlora Ugh. People.
I've been really busy trying to keep us out of the house as much as possible so I won't sit around and think about everything. I'm mid cycle so my heart hurts thinking that I might O and we are missing it because we aren't going to try again. I'm really trying to make peace with this. It's helping keeping myself distracted but the ache is still there.
My h surprised me by suggesting we go on a hike on Sunday. It was so good for me, for us actually. We need to do more things like this as a family. I hope he will take more time with us this week while the weather is nice. The only thing I have planned is shopping and lunch with my friend and her daughter. We may try to go to the zoo Friday depending on the weather.
Sunday= Game of Thrones. That is all.
**siggy warning**
Current Age 35, DH 33
Married 9/2011
BFP 8/2012, Miscarried 9/2012
BFP 9/2012, DS 6/2013
BFP 6/2014, Miscarried 7/2014
BFP 7/2014, DD 4/2015
This week was very mixed - DD turned 1 yesterday and is such a fun little person and I am so grateful to have her! And the weather was finally sunny and not freezing cold. But otherwise - school (work) sucks in many different ways and the end stretch of the school year has always stressed me out even in years when i didnt have a really difficult group of students and before our new PITA teacher evaluation system and before having a baby and now with all those things ...it's just awful. It was sure nice to miss this par of the school year due to maternity leave later year! Though I guess a plus for last week was that the PTOprovided lunch twice since it was teacher appreciation week. But then dh was being a jerk quite a bit and also Thursday was my mom's birthday and this Tuesday it will be a year since she died so that has me thinking about her and missing her a lot more than usual. Plus worried /feeling bad for my stepfather.
Sunday: starts like saturday - getting to sleep in, at least relative to school days, and having some time with DD.
But then all of a sudden it's mid to late afternoon and there's that awful feeling that the weekend is mostly gone and I got maybe 20% done of what I should have.