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: Baby Names
Matthew is a great name, (my hubby's name :P)
We are also having a boy and now we are starting to narrow it down:
Miles and Hayden seem to be the top 2. I also like Colin but my hubby doesn't.
My DD likes Brendan and her new made up name Forken
We had originally agreed to stick with the girl name we picked last time around: Ashlynn Isabella... But now I'm not sure.
Right now I only like one boys name: Wesley. Might be a phase. Might be stuck in my head from childhood star trek marathons. I just love that name.
Girls: Penelope Jane, Claire Elise, or Elsie Rose
Boys: Cameron Joseph, Parker Joseph, Callen Joseph
I'm so torn...I want something unique without being weird or too trendy!
my boys names are Colton Elliot Jamison and grant.
I'm just not head over heels for any of them honestly. But they're all contenders. My husband feels the same way.
Two other votes for the nickname is the official FN has a really awful obvious nickname, comparable to Franny in the above scenario. Also, my girls both have six letter names and so would the "goes by" name and I am OCD about things like that!
Please help me with my crazy.
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
Now that I know we're having a boy Max is actually at the top of our list! I love it! His middle name will be Santiago. So I love the Max Santiago!
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
Girls:
Isla Jayne (my mom's middle name is jayne)
Henley Aren (I know the spelling is weird for Aren. My MIL gave birth to twins that passed away, Andrew and aren)
Boys:
Sawyer Aksel or Sawyer Lee (Aksel for our Norwegian heritage, Lee is my husbands middle name)
We also love Lukas. Aren't sure what the middle name would be yet.
Edited for a typo. It's morning
@SDSwenson
I love Isla and Lukas.
But my DH said no to both
Isla I'm not heart broken about since we are having a boy, but I wish Lucas (we'd spell it with a c) was an option 
Married: 12-04-06
Annabelle: 1-1-08
Patrick: 8-15-10
EDD: 4-20-17
I wonder what SSA does if you choose not to name your kid : )
Okay, need some opinions...we won't know the sex of the baby for another month (and I am pretty sure it's a girl) but if the doctor shocks me (that's how sure I feel) and says it's a boy I am torn on a name. It's a family name...my mother's maiden name...and I like it...but I am not sure if it's too different..
Burke Anthony (insert very generic last name
)
What do you think? Too weird? Cute?
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
@elgie I like Burke. Different but not weird.
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
@ladameperdue I was curious because I remember in MN it being an option to leave it blank. I just checked and it varies by state. Some will give you more time (I guess in MN we had 45 days), but some require it before you leave the hospital. Do you have any names on a short list even? We are still stuck on boys names too. A lot we like but not that we LOVE.
DH: 36
Married 5 years
DD born 8/30/13
#2 expected 4/25/17
Same! There are some I like and are "fine" but feel guilty because I LOVED my daughter's entire name. Mostly classic names (that everyone else seems to love, ha) e.g. Henry, Theodore (Theo), but trying to see if some others less-heard-around-the-playground like Albert or Arthur will grow on me. What else do you like besides Henry?
We did donor egg IVF and my husband and I both agree on Mila if it's a girl, but my husband is insisting her name have V for a middle initial. Our last name starts with a P so she will be the MVP of our embryos. He thinks he is hilarious. Mila Violet, or Mila Vera
If it's a boy we both like Holden Thomas (Thomas for his dad) but are not in love with it. I really liked Jude and Luca but I have been vetoed!
As far as sharing the names - absolutely NOT! Italians are too opinionated and hubs family will drive us bonkers.