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: ***INTRO & EDD THREAD***
MC #1: D&C Oct 23, 2015 (7.5 weeks)
MC #2: July 1, 2016 (5.5 weeks)
MC #3: October 17, 2016 (CP)
RE #1: RPL testing November 2016-January 2017
MC #4: Feb. 28, 2017 (CP)
RE #2: Additional RPL testing March-November 2017
MC #5: January 2019 (6.5 weeks)
RE #3: More testing 2023.
Egg Retrieval Sept/Oct 2023, 2 good embryos after PGT-A testing.
Surgery for endometriosis January 2024
Lupron Depo March 2024. Benched 3 months.
FET #1: June 3, 2024 (failed)
Lupron Depo June 2024. Benched 3 months again before next FET.
FET #2: September 2024 (failed)
FET #3: December 2024 (failed)
#BitterHagPartyOf1
I got a very faint bfp today on 11 dpo. I am a married SAHM but I just got a part time job as a childbirth educator. I have a 7 month old son, which means life Is about to get even crazier! Excited to be here again!
Hello ladies! It is pretty awesome to be here with you all. I live in Wisconsin with my DH and DD. We have been married for almost 5 years. DD was born September 2013. She was a total surprise, since I was on birth control pills when I found out I was pregnant. We were both in college still. I finished my last college class about 2 months before she was born. DH then went on to get his Masters. He just graduated last month and we moved out of town and now live with my SIL for the summer. DH is currently looking for an architecture job and now that I am KU we are really, really hoping that happens soon. I was forced to wait longer than I wanted for #2 because DH was in grad school. So, we decided to just go for it when we knew he was going to finish. But, this definitely happened a little faster than I expected. So, praying that we can get a little more stable before we announce this to everyone and have to go through the disappointment that followed our announcement with DD. This was my 2nd cycle trying for #2. I thought I might have gotten a BFP on Friday at 10dpo, but the line was just more of a blur and then disappeared, so I definitely thought I was out this month. Then yesterday, at 11dpo I took another wondfo and this time there was definitely a very, very faint line. But, it still disappeared a few minutes later. So, I decided to quit messing around with the wondfos and went and bought a FRER and a ClearBlue digital yesterday. Both were definitely positive! So, I feel confident enough to join you here. Based on my ovulation my EDD is March 7th.
DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016
DD2: April 16, 2017
BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
*TW* - BFP & MC in March 2016.
BFP in June 2016; EDD March 2017.
Samuel born February 2017!
So excited to see you here, @iceandsnowflakes29!!!
Edit: My EDD is March 1st
Me 26, Hubs 32
Married 7.14.12
DS 10.29.13
BFP 06.20.16
***TW***
I was previously pregnant in February of this year and we experienced an early loss. It was so difficult to get through but we are hopeful for this pregnancy and I plan to participate starting now. I decided I am going to let myself be excited!!!
Me: 35 | DH: 38
Met: 2007
Married: 2013
BFP #1: 06/21/16 MMC: 08/04/16
BFP #2: 01/08/17 DD: 09/23/17
BFP #3: 06/10/20 EDD: 02/11/2021
I'm 27 until next month, and my husband is 34. Our two year wedding anniversary is tomorrow, and I planned to test then. Needless to say, I caved and did it today. I'm a teacher, and only work part time during the summer. I got off work from tutoring, and bought the tests I planned to use tomorrow. I needed to go to the bathroom, and so that's how I ended up testing today. I'm posting here to give myself something to do. I can't tell my husband until he gets home, and I'm about to burst with excitement.
DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016
DD2: April 16, 2017
BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
I don't think I've touched the ground since I left the doctor! We are SO THRILLED!
I got my bfp yesterday afternoon. I have an 18mo daughter which took us 3 years and 4 rounds of clomid to conceive. This new baby is a huge blessing as it only took one time and we weren't even "trying" (as in charting ovulation and timing intercourse). We are over the moon thrilled!!!
EDD is March 6th!!
Me: 36; DH: 38
DD: 7; DS1: 4; DS2 due 6-21-17!
**TW**
MMC & D&C Aug 2016
I have a 7.5yo daughter and a 4.5yo daughter.
via GIPHY
*TW* We're really hoping to bring home our rainbow baby after our miscarriage in September of 2015.
I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with you all!
EDD March 2!
I'm also hoping for my 3rd VBAC, and I had weight loss surgery last year. Really hoping for a not giant baby, lol, as they have gotten larger every time, with the last one 10lbs 2 oz. But I weight less now than I did with my 9 lb daughter, so I'm hoping! (I actually gained less weight each pregnancy, and didn't have diabetes, I just was more obese each time.)
Anyway, glad to meet you! Oh, and I'm due March 6th.
eta due date
Together since 2008, married Sept 2013
ttc #1 since July 2014
DX: unexplained infertility
Sept, Oct, Nov Clomid 50 mg: BFN
Feb 2016 IUI w/ 50mg Clomid, Ovidrel, Prometrium: BFN
March 2016 IUI w/ 50mg Clomid, Ovidrel, Prometrium: BFN
June 2016 IVF: BFP 6/28!!! beta #1: 358, beta #2: 1428, beta #3: 3742
My EDD is March 4th. I am 34 years old and my husband is 35. I am very happy to be here for baby #2! (I have a son who is 3)
I am originally from PA but live in New Orleans currently. We are celebrating our first anniversary in July, and this will be our first for both of us.
I've had my betas and more bloodwork done, but next Thursday is my first ultrasound. Getting excited!
I'm also starting a new job next week, and with ms setting in, I'm nervous that I'll be sick and out myself.
Anyway, excited to share and get to know you all!
I am just so happy to read everyone's intro and see new pregnancies , 2nd+ pregnancies, and especially the ones that have been long awaited! Can't wait to travel this journey with y'all
DS1 April 2012
DS2 July 2014
#3 due March 2017