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: Weekly Randoms 07.25.2016
Edit because my initial thoughts changed. Oh brain.
We're working on re-doing our upstairs guest room to make his bedroom to then start to refresh the nursery for #2.
Mommy: "Augustus, look at the Big Boy Bedding I ordered for you!"
Augustus: "That's not right, try again mama.
Pennsylvania is weird. I live very close to philly, so we have the city mentality...which is to say everyone is out for their own gain.
But somewhere around the middle of state, it's like being in the south (southern accents and all!) so the mentality changes and people mostly have better manners.
I haven't really benefitted yet from being large and pregnant since most people can't tell I'm pregnant. I'm not sure if it's a compliment or an insult though
TTC #1 - Nov '14
DS born 10/18
I passed my one hour glucose screen. I got my results immediately in the office. My number was 115 and my practice said their cutoff was 150.
Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
live here haha. Apparently when the waiter/waitress asks "hi, how are you", it's not rhetorical and they actually wait for you to answer the question. If you just respond with "hi", they stare at you. I'm from NYC where everyone is a combination of busy yet polite.
Dating: 10/3/08 | Married: 12/27/14
TTC #1: August 2015 | BFP: 2/3/16 | EDD: 10/7/16
DD: 10/5/16
TTC #2: September 2017 | BFP: 4/28/18 | EDD: 1/7/19
DS: 1/9/19
I live in Alabama, and I love it! While there are still the stereotypes, it really is a nice place to live. My British husband is always commenting about how much strangers will talk to each other here. Going to work and walking across the street downtown? The man who crosses your path smiles and says "Good morning!" Line taking forever at the grocery store? The lady behind you will make small talk with you about all of the beer and hot dogs you're buying ("looks like someone's having a cookout! it'll be great weather for it this weekend"). In the doctor's office waiting room where there is a kid screaming bloody murder on the other side? Out comes a nurse or fellow patient to help with a smile and a purple sucker.
Also, let's be honest. Nothing brings a group of strangers together like their shared love of a college football team. Fall in the South is great...especially if your team is doing well!
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
Edited to add: Giving birth during the UGA game would NOT be good for my blood pressure! Haha
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
The most I've gotten was a random lady at the farmer's market saying I was blooming and beautiful (thank you lady, you made my day!) and a stranger at my barre class saying I was her hero because she sees me struggling and huffing and puffing in class and still show up every week.
But the men, pfffft, nada. Just last week I was at a popular ramen place, waiting for my takeout order to be done... there were other men waiting for their orders too. Think they offered me a chair to sit on? NOPE! They just continued doing their thing on their phone. So engrossed.
Thanks in advance for not flaming me for this question...
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
@ibabyloveb87 - I'm actually hoping to hear just those kinds of things... "I'm doing it and feel okay about it" or "I did it with my DD/DS and they're fine."
ETA: jealous of your life so much right now :-p
I live in Los Angeles, and for the most part in regular life I hate people. It's always very hit or miss here, regardless of being pregnant, but when people are rude or assholes, they're REALLY assholes. I like to be pleasantly surprised when they're nice and friendly.
SO wishing I was at the beach today.
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
Re baby sunscreens...I've been using them with no problem - this coming from someone who got a peeling sunburn from 20 total minutes in the sun (obv wasn't wearing sunscreen that day). It goes on really thick and is a bit of a workout to rub in correctly, but it works really well. My skin will get red while I'm out, but it's from being for. As soon as I'm inside again and cool down, it fades. Just make sure to apply often (I do about once every 60-90 min, or more frequently if sweating profusely or swimming)
TTC #1 - Nov '14
DS born 10/18
It's a boy!
ETA: a coworker mentioned that when she was pregnant, she went to the beach. She dug a hole in the sand for her belly and laid on her stomach!! So I total endorce that, it sounds awesome!!
i spent a week in Destin and was at the beach every day. My face broke out in a rash due to a sunscreen but I knew this in the middle of summer so be careful with your sunscreens. I also have a pool in my back yard and have been in there every weekend. Just make sure you stay cool and you'll be ok.
I had FI dig a hole in the sand and I put down a baby float in the hole so I could lay on my belly. Super comfy!
I tan easily though and also wear a tankini so my belly wasn't exposed to the sun.
Flame away on the skin cancer posts. I get it all the time.
TTC only since Dec 2015. I had some weight to get off. Been working hard in the gym for over a year.
BFP 02-15-16 with our first
IT'S A BOY!!!