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: August Randoms!!!
Funny story, when my friend went to pick up the cake there was a very similar one to what she ordered decorated in blue that read "welcome baby boy" and she almost lost her shit haha
CONGRATS to @camichael84 and @thetamedshrew!!! Beautiful girls
DD #1 3/26/13
Mo/Mo twins MMC 3/31/14
DD #2 3/31/15
DD #3 8/25/16
Guys.....DH goes back to work tonight. Cue freak out mode. My first night with all four kids by myself, my first night taking care of Oli and Jo on my own at night with no safety net. I really have no idea how I did this with R&E. Oh, and bonus.....R&E both have colds. Lovely. I really hope they feel better soon but I REALLY hope they don't pass their nasty, phlegmyness on to the babies.
Guys I think DH is nesting... today was his only day off this week and after the photoshoot, I had a nap and woke up to him cleaning up outside, and now he's vacuuming like a mad man, and cleaning every surface of the house. He's even dusting! He hates dusting! I feel kind of bad because I've been sitting on the couch all day but he won't let me do anything. I love this guy.
We're getting a new van! We bought ours used, but now we're getting one brand spankin new. With all the bells and whistles that I originally wanted but thought we couldn't afford. I am so stoked. We debated getting an suv instead, but now that we've HAD a minivan, we can't go back.
For those not in the FB group I've had a very rough recovery but just wanted to AW my Alice Ruth a little and drop by to check in on everyone now that I'm starting to feel better. The bump doesn't work very well in the hospital but hopefully we go home tomorrow. Congrats to all the new mommies and good luck to everyone meeting their babies soon. I miss keeping up with all of you ladies.
@VeraMali sorry to hear your recovery isn't going well
I don't think we've heard from @bibliobebe lately - wonder what she's up to.
Woke up this morning mad that I'm still pregnant. It's so irrational. @jennm205 and @annas930 what about you guys?!
I feel the same way.
also I was having painful BH in the hospital while I was visiting SIL and the nurse told me that braxton hicks never hurt.
and I asked if she has ever had them and she said no.
uhm don't tell me what II'm feeling lol I felt like Rachel when she went to the hospital for BH and Ross told her they didn't hurt.
There isn't a trophy in life for being tough in the delivery room. I don't want something that will negatively affect my baby, but why should I suffer?! Rawr.
The silver lining - our friends just got a boat and are going out for a cruise this afternoon, docking for dinner and then heading back in and they invited us to join them! I'm mildly apprehensive about the idea of going into labor on a boat (moreso the time it would take to get back to land and then to the hospital) but at this point, it's almost like, "I dare you baby. Do it." Lol. And even if baby doesn't make things interesting, it'll still be really, really nice to get out of the house and relax on the water.