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: *** The Official Random Thread of All Random Threads for March 2016 ***
March 2016 siggy: babies - expectation vs reality
Brian's Whovian wife (5/'09)
Autism mama!
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Our family of 5 is complete!! Love our boys!
March 2016 siggy: babies - expectation vs reality
Brian's Whovian wife (5/'09)
Autism mama!
Had OG pumpkin cheesecake last night. It was pretty amazing. May have the rest for breakfast....
*BFP #1- 11/12/12, m/c 11/16/12 @ 6 weeks
*BFP #2- 1/23/13 EDD 10/4/13
*Emma Rose: 10/8/13
*BFP #3- EDD 03/9/16
March '16 December Siggy Challenge- Favorite Christmas Movie/Quote
We are out in the rain, watching hubby run his 5k. Kinda miss doing them with him- but Bean is more important. Being pregnant kinda takes the wind out of me so i doubt i could make it the full 3 miles.
I can't wait for next year- I'm going to do some and take bean with me!
I ran throughout my second pregnancy, doing a 1/2 marathon at 16 weeks and a handful of 10ks and 5ks after that. I think my last 5k road race was at 32 weeks, and I finished in just under 32 minutes, lol.
I never fully got back at it after my second was born, mostly because I started grad school which took up most of my free time. I really miss it! I keep meaning to try a short easy jog, but since I haven't been running on a regular basis in ages, I'm pretty sure it's going to suck.
I have to admit, I'm a 31 year old adult that also turns into a diva when I'm hungry!
Truth is, though, we don't need much. We co-sleep so no crib or bassinet necessary. I breastfeed, and I DO still have all my pump stuff (plus insurance covers anything I might need there.) I was kind of just hoping that I would get some hand-me-downs from friends whose children are growing out of stuff. Maybe she can make it into a Hand-Me-Down Sprinkle instead of a baby shower, and we can just use it as an excuse to get together and eat cake?
I dunno, what do you guys think?
I know it's frowned upon to throw a big baby shower after the first baby, but I don't really get why people wouldn't or shouldn't do a gender reveal for subsequent babies, if you're the gender-reveal-party kinda gal. (I'm not, but don't think there's anything wrong with those who are.)
I think it's fun to celebrate every pregnancy/baby. I think that's what you're doing by having a meet the babies party, which is also a cute option too. But I tend to be rather reclusive for a few months after baby arrives, so I don't think I would be up for hosting a get together. Maybe in the summer, like you're planning.
Maybe my friend can make it clear that this isn't a traditional baby shower, and that gifts are not expected? It can be an eco-friendly, baby gear recycle party or something.
She sent me this invite idea:
Something old for someone new!
Something borrowed, for little boy blue (she's convinced we're having a boy...)
You're invited to a hand-me-down baby sprinkle for kitteh's new bundle of joy!
I think it's sweet that she's putting so much thought into it. Even if a party doesn't happen, I'm feeling the love.
Blanket looks great @charley15!