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 ***
@kitteh81
(A whole week late to reply)
I work at a domestic violence shelter for women and children. I am a PRN so my shifts are crazy random. Tonight is another night shift so 12am-8am.
I am studying to be a teacher
I would have replied sooner, but every time I tried to get on life kicked me in the ass. (Do we cuss on here? or keep it PG?)
My tummy is doing much better this morning. I've already been to the gym and got to sit in one of the heavenly massage chairs! Now I'm laying back in bed, hoping to feel some movement this morning. I usually don't feel it until night time though
@charley15 nice work getting to the gym! I always wanted to become a morning runner/ worker outter, but it's just not in me. I'm still impressed by those of you who do it, though. It must feel great to know you're already done, and you can have that sense of accomplishment all day long.
I've been trying to get back in shape (while pregnant, HA!) because I got really sidetracked by grad school and life, and wasn't exercising at all when I found myself up the duff this time. So on Friday I went and climbed a really big set of outdoor stairs in my town. A ton of personal trainers use them, and I overheard two ridiculously chiseled trainers talking about how they always do the stairs 5 times when they haven't done them in ages. Five times is their minimum. So of course I took that as a personal challenge, and decided that my out of shape pregnant ass could do five sets. And I did! And it felt great!! I've still got it! Take THAT, ridiculously chiseled personal trainers!
...now two days later, I can barely hobble to the refrigerator for my Krispy Kreme donuts. Damn you, personal trainers!!
@charley15 I'm about to head to the gym now. I love going in the morning at the weekends because I feel like it's over and done with and don't have it hanging over my head!
@kitteh81 go you!! Champ
I hope this is the last weekend we will need to put on the AC.
Fingers crossed!!!
Edit clarity
Me: 29 DH: 31
Married 10/13/12
TTC Since 8/2016
March 2016 siggy: babies - expectation vs reality
Brian's Whovian wife (5/'09)
Autism mama!
<:-P Now let's hope I didn't spend money on tickets for a race I won't see because I'm in the potty all day.
Me: 29 DH: 31
Married 10/13/12
TTC Since 8/2016
Me: 29 DH: 31
Married 10/13/12
TTC Since 8/2016
DD1 - BFP 7/23/15 (EDD 3/31/16). "We believe in you rainbow" DOB 4/2/16
DD2 - BFP 2/9/18 (EDD 10/19/18). "Grow baby grow!" DOB 10/24/18
BFP 11/16/20 (EDD 7/31/21). "Round 3 FIGHT!"
If I'm lucky there will be a few turning right! Ha ha!!
Hubby walked to work to get a piece of paper he left there- it was a job post at the local college for a communication specialist. But when he got there, he got on to his work email, to find that the newspaper where he works is looking for a full time copy editor. So he is still there, getting his resume finished and sent off! I really hope he gets it. They cut his part time hours because they decided "anything over 30 hours and they have to offer benefits now", even though he doesn't need them because he gets benefits through me. He has been working there 6+ years and they do this to him- in the sports department. This copy editor job is in a different dept. So he won't be treated like that- working a full time job on part time pay.
I really hope he gets one or the other... I have had my big break and now it's time for his!
If your not in the U.S. ignore me lol.
If they just started enforcing it there I'm really shocked that they got by without following that policy for as long as they did. From what I was told there were some very very large fines for the company for every employee that violated the guidelines.
I need help.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our family of 5 is complete!! Love our boys!
*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
March 2016 siggy: babies - expectation vs reality
Brian's Whovian wife (5/'09)
Autism mama!
*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
March 2016 siggy: babies - expectation vs reality
Brian's Whovian wife (5/'09)
Autism mama!
Morning
I am trying to get in to see my ob today. I still have that abcess and while its getting better its still pink around the outside, so I'm trying to get in to get antibiotics to help fight the infection. It doesn't hurt and I've been keeping it clean, but just think that I need extra help to combat it. I'm waiting for his office to call me back. He may not want to see me just send a prescription up so I can get antibiotics.
I never got these nasty things this bad until I got pregnant, so I know its the hormones! Every time I have an ugly hair to deal with, I get one. I had another last weekend on my thigh- I had a patch of black hair that grew in (dunno why...) so I shaved it. Got one. But that one cleared right up on its own. Good thing winter is fast approaching so I won't have to shave anywhere and these suckers won't keep forming!