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: Pretty early but thought of any names yet?
Blakely
Both potentially with Terra as a MN. Hubby isn't in love though
I kind of like Bradley for a boy...haven't put much thought. DDs name wasn't decided until after she was born and we are team green this time so...might take a while haha
Girl: Lily Ann
With our last name it's really hard finding names that go well with it! We've had these names picked out for years.
This time we have chosen:
Girl: Sawyer Lillian (we had this name picked out the first time around if he was a girl)
Boy: Silas *no middle name yet*
Xmas Flaxon Jackson Waxon
Donkey Teeth
Mousecop
X-Wing @aliciousness
Isaiah T. Billings-Clyde
Ibrahim Moizoos
Kidding aside, we're pretty set on a girl name but are still considering a few boy options.
DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015
I love Aubrey but my last name ends in -ffy so I don't know if it will work. Anyone have an option?
No idea on boy names.
~Formerly @dogmomwantinghuman ~
TTC #1 since January 2015
BFP #1: 11/30/15| MC 12/16/15BFP # 2: 6/2/16 | EDD 2/16/17
If we have another boy our list so far is small...
I love Maxwell (max) but DH won't agree. We both like (but not sold on) Walter and George. (Idk why but I love the way 'baby walt' sounds) my FIL passed the week of Thanksgiving so I'm sure his name, Thomas, will be placed in the middle.
For a girl... We have Elodie, Lorelei, Evelyn, Fiona (DH won't agree to) and thinking Elizabeth for the middle name. It's early so these could all end up scratched! I'm open to opinions!
Parker Grace- girl
My name for a boy: Clark
DH's name for a boy: his name.
Let's hope for another girly.
Girls: Brooklyn, Leighton, Cameron, Caroline, Avery, Kennedy, Addison, Ryan, MacKenzie, Grayson
Boys: Nolan, Hudson, Kaden, Owen, Beckett, Bennett, Aden, Finn
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Getting Pregnant"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1ce3d9" alt=" BabyFetus Ticker" border="0" /></a>
For a girl I like different names.. The middle name if it is a girl for this one, will be Annalouise ( mix between my family name of Anneliese, and his mothers middle name Louise)
Boy - I used to like Gage, he likes Jaxson, either way, middle name will be Dale (his fathers middle name)..
Hard to find a unique name that him and I can agree on.. I really like Justice or Ragan for a girl
If we have a boy we have no idea. I like Wesley, DH isn't sold on it.
So Julian for a boy and Juliet for a girl are high on our list. A friend (but not a close friend) recently named her baby girl Juliet. I'm still trying to decide if that disqualifies the name for me. It might.
~Formerly @dogmomwantinghuman ~
TTC #1 since January 2015
BFP #1: 11/30/15| MC 12/16/15BFP # 2: 6/2/16 | EDD 2/16/17
Boy: Adrian Burrell. This is one of DH's middle names.
We're set on Mira for the girls name. (Mira is a star in the constellation Cetus)
We like Kaiyan Wayne for a boy but we're not 100% set on that one. Kaiyan means universe, and Wayne was my dads middle name.
We're afraid people will have a really hard time pronouncing Kaiyan. (Kay-yin)
Thoughts?
For a boy, Lochlan Theodore or Lochlan Eliot. Middle names have no special meaning, but Lochlan was a name the Scots used for Norway/Norwegians, and I am both Scottish and Norwegian.
(My DD is Cecily Lucia).
BFP #1: 08/17/2012 DD1 born 05/01/2013
BFP #2: 07/31/2015 M/C 09/23/2015 (11.5 weeks)
Girl- Arya Solis
the husband and I are big in to historical figures and game of thrones
TTC since May 2014.
Aug 2014 BFP, EDD April 22, 2015. Low progesterone, started suppositories. Loss at 5w6d.
Nov 19, 2015 BFP at 13 dpo, EDD July 29, 2016. MMC discovered 12/29 (9+4). Natural miscarriage 1/16 (12+1).
AMH results 0.42, 1.2; FSH 12.1, AFC 10, dx DOR.
RPL testing results normal. Nurse recommended progesterone suppositories in TWW.
Clomid + trigger + TI cycle August 2016 - failed. Thin lining.
Femara + trigger + TI cycle December 2016 - failed. Thin lining.
Short LP (8 days).
Acupuncture & Chinese herbs starting January 2017, lengthened LP to 10 days
Summer 2016 LFAF awards:
Winter 2016/2017 LFAF awards:
Thanks! DH and I have common names so we weren't sure what it would really be like. I really appreciate your input, you put things into perspective for me, we will keep our options open for boy names!
Boy: Absolutely no idea, I loved Declan but OH vetoed that one. I also like Noah, Harrison, Colton, Micah, and Aiden but we'll see where this goes, maybe we won't need a boy name.
For this one were thinking Kyle Ryan for boy or Keira for a girl. Unsure on middle name for girl.
So we are pretty set on Cole Patrick for a boy (Patrick was his grandfather's name)
For a girl I like Raegan Sienna......he's not sold on the idea.
Boys names have always been easier to pick i already have a Caleb Robert and Ethan David.