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 Name Choices & Discussion!
DS - January 2014
TTCAL | April 2016
CP | June 2016
CP | July 2016
ETA in your family's case, relatives might have trouble keeping track of which spelling each has but it doesn't seem like a big deal since you don't see them often
DS - January 2014
TTCAL | April 2016
CP | June 2016
CP | July 2016
I'm not proud of how petty this makes me.
Human sons: 11/2015 & 05/2017
*formerly kayemjay*
On top of us trying to figure it out MIL is driving me nuts because she is just assuming we will go with Tyberius since H likes it. So she will call and ask "How is Tyberius doing?" and I respond with "Who?" haha which doesn't make her happy! Now she has told H and a very good friend of ours that I need to let her son choose his son's name! WTH?! Umm I'm sorry but it takes 2 to make a baby and in my opinion 2 to name it! At least they both have stood up for me and said we're still figuring it out. It's just so annoying!! If she calls me about it I don't know if I'll be able to control myself....
Sorry just needed to get that out! What do you all think of Tyberius in general and Oliver Tyberius together?
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
@BabyMC517 I like both but I think Oliver Tyberius is really cute. Are you doing a nn like Ollie? I am also sometimes spiteful and like kayemjay2 wouldn't use something because I wouldn't want MIL taking credit for it or thinking she got her way.
@kayemjay2 , I'm RIGHT there with you. Every name that my mom or MIL suggested just got nixed immediately because I didn't want that association, even though it does seem a little petty. We decided to decide on the name together and just present it to them as the name--no negotiations and no opinions welcomed. We literally told everyone in our immediate family "Her name will be Estelle, if you love it that's great! If you don't, you've got a few months to stew over it and either grow to love it or not, your choice!".
@SWE2 - I love Holly so much! I was just thinking yesterday (as I loaded the dishwasher!) that I wanted to find a way to throw it out there that I think it is very underrated and that I would love to hear it more often. Great pick!
@kayemjay2 - NO JUDGEMENT on jumping ship bc she likes it. I would absolutely do the same thing.
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
It is still growing on DH purely due to the fact that he knew a Griffin in college who was a pothead drug dealer and who went by Griff. I just keep referring to baby as Griffin hoping it'll just stick wit DH. We both 100% agree with Davis as the middle name.
ETA to fix an autocorrect
BFP #1 10/8/13, EDD 6/4/14, DS #1 6/9/14
BFP #2 5/1/16, EDD 12/16/16, MMC 5/27/16
BFP #3 8/29/16, EDD 5/5/17, DS #2 5/11/17
BFP #4 2/28/21, EDD 11/9/21
I love the name coralline but the meaning is just coral you know? I'm big on name meanings and cora either ment maiden or an alternative nick name for persophone. Which I like the name too. Some made suggestions on changing the c to k to make it unique but that would just make it seem like the avatar Korra name. I really want coralline tho what you guys think?
Middles name was suggested by SIL (which I didn't want to get ANY suggestions cause I'm mean like that) but since I loved the meaning of the name I took it hehe the middle name is Nila which means blue (I LOVE blue and green ♡♡ )
Alyssa
Adalyn
Lillian
Me:31 DH:32 Married 11/06/10
DD: Born 8/23/13 (clomid+ovidrel+IUI)
BFP 9/9/16 EDD 5/19/17
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
I love Cora as well, and think it's a solid choice as a full name, not just a nickname. I'm not a fan of Cora spelled any other way. If you go with a longer name, I'd spell it Coraline (one L). I don't understand how Cora is a nickname for Persephone? That doesn't make sense to me.
Human sons: 11/2015 & 05/2017
*formerly kayemjay*
@chickyclg Love the name Harrison!
@KMD1106 We are about 98% sure we will be using the name Louis. Love the spelling Lewis too. Makes me think of Lewis Carroll.
@kayemjay2 I am equally as petty and wouldn't want a name that my MIL felt like she chose. But Henry is a pretty awesome name, so that is hard.
@newmamaro That is an adorable name! Love the nn too!
@lulubemadness You have got to be kidding me!?! What a flipping jump from a beautiful name. Does she pronounce it vangina or something?! What grandma would call her sweet granddaughter vagina?! That would give me so much motivation to use the name.
DS2 5/17
#3 Due 9/20
MH likes more traditional names, I like "trendier" not super popular names. And we both like using family names for our kids. I think I'm just ranting.
ETA: hit post too soon.
@Jkp7749 I love Zoey and Amelia! They are so cute and work well with Violet. I would steer away from Zooey, only because I think it would often be misspelled.
@achays11 I also like nn Charlie but I'm in the camp that prefers the option of full name Charles should he ever want or need it. That said, I have known several adults that go by Charlie and as far as NNs go, I don't think it's overly juvenile. Go for it!
This woman really would call her own granddaughter that. And turn around expecting to still be a best grandma ever :l she actually called my son Hitler a few times cause she said he had a Lil patch of hair only (also because I wouldn't cut it his baby hair) telling you she's a crazy woman.
That's what I was thinking I didn't know how it was a nickname for persophone but aparantly Kore- in Greek I guess mythology was a nickname for her and cora is the same just not with a K I guess?
@achays11 - I'd go with Charles. We have a William, but we only ever call him Will. I think the formal name gives him options as an adult. @kipperoo: "A matter of opinion"? Lol.
Me:31 DH:32 Married 11/06/10
DD: Born 8/23/13 (clomid+ovidrel+IUI)
BFP 9/9/16 EDD 5/19/17