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: Appointments: Week of January 16
I had my last appointment yesterday afternoon and that's crazy to say! My blood pressure was randomly high so I have to go back tomorrow for just a bp check. My doc said I'm a finger tip and 50% effaced and baby girl is -2 station. When he did my check he was feeling her in my belly and estimated her to be around 7 lbs so we'll see how close he is. After the check I was having contractions for awhile and they really hurt! But then they went away
So the plan is to check in at the hospital at 6pm on Sunday and she'll be here by sometime Monday. That's crazy!!
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
regular OB appt tomorrow for NST and Strep results. MFM did say I need to come every week for an ultrasound because of my age. while i would love to see baby every week, that seems a bit excessive. gonna chat with my OB about it tomorrow.
FTM, 2 Furbabies
married 03/17/07
lived in Houston, Austin, Los Angeles and NYC
due: 2/15/17
FTM, 2 Furbabies
married 03/17/07
lived in Houston, Austin, Los Angeles and NYC
due: 2/15/17
@Xstatic3333 Fingers crossed for you! Women have definitively delivered big babies before vaginally. Something my grandmother used to say (which isn't entirely true in the literal sense) is "It'll stretch a mile before it tears an inch!" Thinking stretchy thoughts for you!
@Xstatic3333 I'm glad the expected weight at 40 weeks is manageable for a vaginal delivery rather than an 11 pounder!! (Ouch ouch ouch)
During the NST everything was going great until I had 2 BH contractions and baby's heart rate dropped really low and didn't come right back up.
My doctor told us I would need to stay for more monitoring and if that kept happening, possibly be delivered today!
They then removed my cerclage before sending me up to l&d for a couple hours of monitoring. Well, after it was removed, my cervix wouldn't stop bleeding. They tried pressure, but it kept bleeding. They thought they'd send me to l&d for the planned monitoring and maybe give it a little time and the bleeding would stop. Nope! Another doctor tried silver nitrate sticks. Still bleeding. Later they tried some goopy stuff called mon cells(?) that they were convinced would help. But no!
So tonight I was taken to surgery on iv Dilotid and had a cervical laceration repair to close the areas still bleeding from where the stitch was removed. They sutured the main bleeding area but I still have some oozing all around my cervix. They packed my vagina with gauze and are keeping me overnight.
I've had one or two more decelerations of baby's heart rate with BH but baby is mostly tolerating everything well.
There is still a chance of having to deliver, but they think I will probably be ok to wait.
Prayers appreciated that my bleeding is fully resolved by morning and baby continues to tolerate my random BH ok!
The MW follow up from my appointment was slightly less rosy than the initial impression I got from the US tech. Though she's okay with his size, they want to repeat the US in a week because I am showing borderline numbers for polyhydramnios, or excess amniotic fluid. If I have it, they'll likely want to induce at 39 weeks. Has anyone else dealt with this diagnosis? It seems like one of many things that falls under the heading of "big baby problems," and I'm trying to get a good sense of what the risks really are so I'm armed with good information at next week's appointment if I need to make big decisions.
@Xstatic3333 i don't have much experience with what you're dealing with but at 39 weeks, baby is full term so it's a good time to come if need be. Sending good thoughts your way! Will be looking forward to an update!
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
They just removed the vaginal packing & we are now waiting to see if my bleeding is ok or still active. I'm hoping all is ok and they will release me today, with the plan to come back and repeat the NST tomorrow. I really appreciate the prayers and well wishes!
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
I was also surprised to find out they don't write scripts for breastpumps until after delivery, and I will need to take it from the hospital store. So there goes my research from the other company.
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Glad to hear things are going OK @freshbakedbrownies , I'll be thinking of you!!
ME: 25, DH: 27
TTC #1 since 09/2015
Miscarriage @ 10 wks 02/28/2016
BFP 05/28/2016!