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
@ashleyp625 She had court yesterday, and has to go back next week to see what they are going to do with her. I love her to death but I am so furious and disappointed. I don't know what possessed her to take part in this kind of foolishness, and I am even further ashamed that a sibling of MINE could be SO impressionable that she'd jump on this kind of bandwagon.
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!!!
Baby A (via IUI due to MFI): Sep 2016 born at 35+6
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is if these boys bettered their lives after that, there's hope for your sister; she's only 12 and hopefully she grows out of acting so stupid!
Mommy to Elizabeth (6/18/09), preemie at 34 weeks
Team Blue!
I always thought I would be in her wedding, even if I wasn't her MOH I was fine with that. Well she never asked so I just assumed she was having a small WP and only having her sister in it and I let it go. Well, I haven't heard from her barely since Christmas and when I have, it's always been me trying to text her/call her or make plans. She is a CPA so from February to May, I usually don't hear much and figured I would after that. Still silence. It got to the point that I would text her and just not ever hear anything and I felt like she was purposely avoiding me.
Today, I saw on Instagram, her and her sister and two other girls (who she is very close with) are going on her Bachelorette party this weekend. One that none of her other friends even knew about or were invited to. It has just become very obvious that she has grown away from us and closer with these girls.
My feelings are just hurt. I am so happy for her and her FI and want to be a part of their lives but I don't want to be there if she doesn't want me to be. And at the same time, I'm glad she has these girls in her life to be close to and be a part of this wonderful experience for her.
I feel like this can't even be blamed on the fact that I'm pregnant because I have purposely tried not to talk about it much when she is around so I don't overshadow her wedding. It just hurts. She used to be the first one I called about anything. Other than DH, she was the first one I told we were pregnant and maybe she was hurt that I am due close to her wedding? IDK. I texted her and the rest of girls once SIL picked a date for my shower and it turned out that it was the same day as her bridal shower, so I changed my date and she didn't even offer to change hers.
I know I'm rambling, so I'm sorry, but I just had to let it out.
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
@emmaaa I am so sorry about your friend, and the lack of communication. That sounds so hurtful.
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
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
@emmaaa, I'm so sorry about your friend. That's really sad. I find that some people just have their own reasons and they don't ever discuss them or care to explain. It's really strange. They say that people react to certain situations not because of something you have done, but because of their own personal issues. Basically, how they react to the outside world, outside situations are based most of the time on their own experiences and may not even have anything to do with you. Try not to take it personally (i know it's hard). Sorry Emma.
@emmaaa I'm so sorry that you're going through that with your friend. Growing apart from friends is a hard pill to swallow, and it seems like you have a pretty optimistic outlook on it. I'm with the other girls who say maybe you should talk to her about it. Maybe she just doesn't realize how much you value her friendship.
Ok ranting...This belongs in either the petty problem saturday or WTF wednesday, but our gardeners never showed to clean up our backyard yesterday and our friends are throwing us a shower at our place this Sunday! (They both live in apartments, so our place made more sense for a bbq). Our neighbor has this huge ass tree that leans over our yard and dumps massive amounts of leave and sticks all over so it's a real pain to keep up with. I've been helping here and there, but I can't do a whole lot of the heavy yard work, especially when it's like 102 degrees here. I feel so awful that DH is having to work out there today and tomorrow before work, PLUS do all the other stuff I can't take care of around the house to get things ready for Sunday.
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
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!!!
@emmaaa I was in the same situation, my old roommate and I grew apart and her wedding is in September. I feel really bad that we grew apart and while I invited her to mine and my shower in 2014 she didn't come, but she didn't invite me to hers which sucks.
then I became immature and didn't invite her to my baby shower, however, we do speak more now and I do wanna try and repair everything once our lives aren't insane.
I feel better when I try not to blame myself for the whole thing and realize she had to change too. it doesn't help but don't get down on yourself, youre baking a new best friend for yourself
@emmaaa I'm so sorry you're going though this. I'm actually experiencing something similar so I know how hurt you feel. I wrote out how I've been wronged too but I didn't want to make it about me, but just know you're not alone and it sucks!
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
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020
Me: 32 & DH: 37
BFP #2: 2/8/16 - EDD 10/20/16
IT'S A BOY!!!!
DS Born 10/16/16
5 min til blood draw and back to bed.