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.
oheliza44
member
Re: Weekend Randoms- 3/18
After that, it's cleaning/nesting time. Plus, we've been "invited" to my MIL's house for dinner tonight. I wish I could drink because that woman puts me on edge every single time. Tomorrow it's more cleaning/nesting, prep for the week, and then dinner at a Cajun restaurant for my friend's birthday.
I plan on going to Ikea today to get some things to finish up DD's room and eat all the Swedish meatballs since he's not here to rush me through, then doing nothing the rest of the weekend!!
@rae1 I can't stand when people don't look at registries! Just to make sure their "totally unique awesome fabulous gift" isn't already on there. Especially since usually theirs isn't returnable.
@AdaByron did something happen that brought on the pain or did it come out of nowhere?
Me (K)-27 DH (T)-30
2 Rainbow DDs L-10/26/10 and A-03/27/14
2 Angels- 10/26/09 and 02/03/15
Surprise BFP on 10/25/16!!! Baby Firecracker is due on 07/02/17!
Me: 26 Him: 27
Dating: 5/2011 Married: 6/2014
Mirena out/TTC: 02/2016
BFP #1: 12/01/2016
EDD: 07/24/2017
Tomorrow we have a fundraiser and trial food run for our competition BBQ team. The competition is in two weeks. All monies raises goes to a local pediatric cancer charity.
We have only had 3 dinner dates, without baby tagging along, since his birth in Sept 2015. So looooooong overdue.
I hope everyone has a good weekend! I probably won't be on here too much. We are going to have lots of family time, aka put the phone down time.
my goal for today is to finally pick a navy paint for DS's big boy room. After a million paint samples I need to make a decision. Trying to match a navy in his bedding but so far everything is too dark or too blue and I'm going crazy.
This morning I went to my neighborhood consignment sale and scored a vibrating baby bouncer chair, some Aden and Anis blankets, a tray attatchment for the Babyjogger stroller I have, and a ton of books for my 2nd grader to read, all for $15! I'm happy. I just wish they had more.
Tomorrow is a moms night out with my friends. I'm excited!
I also plan on doing approximately ten thousand loads of laundry that have been piling up.
(See, @dancegurl1118, I told you I'd work chocolate covered fruit into the cupcakes, haha)
William Alexander born 18 September, 2015
Harper Grace born 9 June, 2017
Colton Miles born 9 June, 2017
Bowen James due 19 June, 2019
@ktewart that cupcake looks beautiful AND delicious! I'm so impressed!!
It's going to be a lazy weekend for me. I have some advertising work to do, but other than that no set plans and I love it!
Iv already seen beauty and the beaaassstttt it was greaaatt choreography was really good and gaston was just perfect for the role!!!
Il be making some money this weekend, lots of returns, selling some new and old items and then having dinner at my bestie/cousins house tonight. Busy busy literally.
Edit: words
@ktewart That looks amazing, you're killing me with the desserts!
Low key weekend here- probably going for a walk by the beach today and I'm babysitting for another couple tonight so they can have a date night. We have a lot going on the next couple of weekends so I'm glad to have some calm before the storm!
I'm working this morning editing ehem writing my student's dissertation. Have about another 2 hours before my husband returns with my toddler - would like to go nap instead because my toddler has lately insisted on sleeping on top of me at night like when he was an infant. What in the hell is going on we can't figure out but he just can't seem to fall asleep
@lovelee85 I feel you on the minimal outings without baby - have fun! We are also going out on a rare date night this evening to a restaurant in the historic part of a nearby town - I want to sneak a sip of wine but don't want any 'judgey' stares. Oh and if only I could have some time to wash and straighten my hair. But.must.finish.thesis.chapter.
I've got family in town for the weekend. We're taking a rest break now (hence the bumping) but going to the mall later with my mom and aunt to get some maternity pants. Some tiny baby clothes may sneak their way in too
@caribbeanmama and @LoveLee85 so jealous of your date nights!
We are going to dinner for my stepdad tonight at a resturants we used to end our Vinyard days with. I'm excited because their food is great and I know we are going early enough not to annoy couples on nice dates but secretly wish it was just me and the hubby and a nice bottle of wine. We are saving up date nights for after this LO arrives but are concerned about who we could leave all 4 with. DH also finally agreed that my idea for how to split the rooms is better so we are going to start prepping DS #1 for the move to the twins room. We may have told him the bunk beds are just to big for his room. And starting to call the twins room the big kid room.
My husband and I met with the babysitter my sister used, and we locked her in. My sister had a couple of horrible experiences with childcare before her, and this babysitter is the best.
Now DH and I are getting ready to see Beauty and the Beast and then over to my in-laws for St. Patty's Day style dinner.
we are going to a wedding this weekend. The venue is beautiful so I am excited.
We are staying close by at Turtle Bay so DH wants to do maternity photos there. He loves taking pictures of stuff so I'm agreed.
@Dcwtada I was thinking when you posted about your anniversary that we were wedding planning and prepping around the same time. You were March 2015 right?
@caribbeanmama we have a bad habit of making restaurant reservations in foreign countries before we have any other travels plans. That's how we ended up in Panama last November. Enjoy your date night tonight!
But luckily, he's still baking and I'm finally home! The nurses were absolute rockstars, they took such great care of us. But I'm so grateful to be back home!
Enjoy your date night @caribbeanmama and @LoveLee85.
I'm on call this weekend and have been dreading it but - not to jinx it - it has stayed amazingly quiet so far! I'm literally enjoying a leisurely lunch at pain quotidien around the corner from the hospital right now. Amazing! Hope it stays this way. I need downtime...
eta - whoa just saw your post @DarkSerendipity - so glad to hear you got help quickly and are doing better. Wishing you a quick recovery.
My weekend is FINALLY devoid of plans. DH and I are spending the whole time just cuddling and relaxing and watching stuff and I couldn't be happier. I have to do dishes and cook, but that's ok. We decided to get take out for lunch, and I'm going to go make cookies.
Friends since 2008
Started dating: July 1st, 2013
Engaged: July 1st, 2014
Married: July 1st, 2016
R born: July 8th, 2017
N born: June 30th, 2019
Baby #3 Due: July 7th, 2022
(maybe I only ovulate in October XD)
We are at a hotel water park with my family. 13 people (5 of whom are kids under 10) in a 3 bedroom condo. DH and I shared a room with my parents last night and had a series of small naps vs actual sleep. My parents snored all.night.long. I'm so exhausted today I can barely function. Is this what parenthood is like? Its time for a nap.
Married: 6/2016
TTC:6/2016
BFP: 11/22/2016 | EDD: 7/29/2017
Friends since 2008
Started dating: July 1st, 2013
Engaged: July 1st, 2014
Married: July 1st, 2016
R born: July 8th, 2017
N born: June 30th, 2019
Baby #3 Due: July 7th, 2022
(maybe I only ovulate in October XD)
Hey all, I'm changing my username today. I'm keeping the same avatar of my dog so I'm easily recognizable, but I'll be going by 'Dovahkiin' from now on. It's a reference to Skyrim in case you're wondering :-)
I'll put a note about the change in my siggy.
My weekend has been good so far. Went out with friends last night for one friends birthday, ate WAY too much and ended up with heartburn because I came straight home and laid down in bed. Paying for it still today. This isn't as bad as the only other time I've had heartburn, but it's still uncomfortable. I went grocery shopping and want to go to Trader Joe's for the first time in years, just to see what they have. Going there and Whole Foods is like a field trip for me hahaha.