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: The Big Maternity Clothes Thread
DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015
@manillabar I think basics get boring unless you have accessories to mix it up. Couldn't you just do one or two basics and one or two nice tops from pink blush instead of all or nothing?
Married: Oct 2015
Baby G born June 2017
TTC#2: July 2018
BFP #2: 2/6/19 MC 3/14/19
BFP#3 from IUI #2: 6/30/20 EDD 3/9/21
I think it's time for you to break up with both Stitch Fix and pants! (I hear 'let it go let it go' from Frozen in my head for some reason as I was typing that lol)
@manillabar Snoogle!!!!! I think I'm finally ready to bust mine out again!
Married: Oct 2015
Baby G born June 2017
TTC#2: July 2018
BFP #2: 2/6/19 MC 3/14/19
BFP#3 from IUI #2: 6/30/20 EDD 3/9/21
My husband said he didn't like MM la fleur as much as my regular work clothes...but my regular work clothes are at a much higher price point and don't accommodate pregnant bellies. Mm is best I've found so far for maternity friendly. I bought the Alexandra 2.0. I love the way the Georgia 2.0 looks, though. I'm definitely going to try that one at the pop up.
Does anyone have recommendations for maternity slips?
I said I was okay with an occasional accessory - apparently that means every box. I even included a note saying I need clothes! I wouldn't have minded booties actually because it is winter here - they sent coral flats, which look like late spring/summer wear.
The jeans are stretchy, but the feel like actually jeans. They have a maternity panel, and they're purple, which is super exciting to me. So far I haven't really recognized the brands, but I'm not a brand picky person, so I don't mind.
Edited bc I wasn't done.
i have officially outgrown my bra and desperately need some new ones. I saw that people recommended buying a nursing bra not just sizing up. But, I'm looking at them they don't look very supportive. Perhaps this because prior to pregnancy I was a big A/small B and always wore push up underwire VS bras. Does anyone mind sharing what brands worked for work and home (if they were different). Ideally I'd love ones that will continue to grow with the pregnancy. I went to my local maternity store today's and they just pointed to the shelves...not super helpful. I'll try another one, but any advice is greatly appreciated.
Here's a link if that's what you meant
https://www.apeainthepod.com/mobile/product.asp?Product_Id=164650111&MasterCategory_Id=MC32&kpid=16465-20-L&adpos=1o3&creative=118249861226&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CK3ZyZHaidICFc9MDQod1P0GNg
@optbaby2017 thanks for recommendation! I was looking forward to some good ones
Outside of maternity wear, I have a couple slips for short summer dresses and those chiffon dresses (for weddings) and maxi dresses. It just depends on the fabric and if the dress is see through or not.
@busyzee thanks for the recommendation! I will check it out - I wasn't specifically looking for any shaping or compression though.
I got these and i wear them all the time:
https://www.seraphine.com/us/maternity-clothes/maternity-pants-shorts/straight-leg-black-maternity-trousers.html
I figured they're worth the price if I get a lot of wear out of them and tops are much easier to find cheap online
@busyzee definitely let me know what you think of them!
Moral of the story: I'm an idiot. Don't be like me. Just get a couple of stretchy nursing bras for now.
Dating: 12/27/2004
Married: 7/27/2013
TTC: 9/2016
BFP: 11/24/2016
EDD: 7/29/2017