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.
kswiger06
member
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Re: Health and fitness (4/3)
tomorrow will be 8
Have you been cleared to start exercising again? (These 2 questions are more so I know when we can add abs to the challenges, if you're not cleared for specific exercises let us know
yes
What are your current goals? How have you been working on reaching your goals?
I want to fit into all my pre pregnancy clothes. I'm just barely too big to feel comfortable or confident in them. I think I'm going to start my home videos again. I like doing "the firm" I have the fit it 30 plus a few random ones of theirs and I really enjoy them and see results.
What have you been eating, and drinking? Share your recipes!
anything I feel like having lol. I'm planning on buying some fruits just for infusing. It sounds really good right now, plus it will keep me from having so much sweet tea
Do you have anything else you want to share with us?
Do you have any comments or suggestions to add to the thread?
If you are doing the 30 day Challenge, how is it going? (Do your legs hurt?)
my knees have been hurting so I'm having a hard time getting them done.
GTKY: everybody has a funny/embarrassing exercising story, let us laugh at yours!!
I have always hated running, but several years back I decided I wanted to try to pick it up. At that time I didn't have a band to carry my phone in and I won't leave the house without it, my keys, or a bottle of water. Everyday I would hold those things when I ran. (I have since gotten other ways of keeping my phone and keys on me without holding them in my hands) Well one day as I was rounding a corner, a section of the sidewalk was lifted about an inch higher than all the rest of the sidewalk and my legs were pretty tired. I didn't pick my foot up high enough and ended up tripping. I was running, so I went flying forward, I dropped all my stuff so my housekeys, phone, and water bottle were launched several feet in front of me. I jumped up real quick even though I scraped my knees, elbows, and palms, and looked around. And unfortunately a truck slowed down to almost a stop. There's hardly ever any traffic on that Rd so I was unlucky with that. I grabbed my stuff and took off as fast as I could. The truck kept going thank goodness. It was so embarrassing that I went straight home and didn't run that road for months lol.
14
Have you been cleared to start exercising again? (These 2 questions are more so I know when we can add abs to the challenges, if you're not cleared for specific exercises let us know
Yep
What are your current goals? How have you been working on reaching your goals?
Eat healthier and be more active. I've been trying to eat more veggies and this weekend I went on a long walk with DD and my niece.
What have you been eating, and drinking? Share your recipes!
No recipes but trying to do more salads and yogurt.
Do you have anything else you want to share with us?
No
Do you have any comments or suggestions to add to the thread?
Nope
If you are doing the 30 day Challenge, how is it going? (Do your legs hurt?)
It's going pretty well! I'm actually proud of myself for findinf time to get them done! My legs don't hurt yet but I'm sure they will soon enough lol.
GTKY: everybody has a funny/embarrassing exercising story, let us laugh at yours!!
This is more of a FFC lol but I did my squats in the shower yesterday because I knew I would have un-interrupted time since H was watching DD while I showered haha.
6 1/2
Have you been cleared to start exercising again? (These 2 questions are more so I know when we can add abs to the challenges, if you're not cleared for specific exercises let us know
Yep
What are your current goals? How have you been working on reaching your goals?
I've upped my FitBit goal to 10,000 steps a day, which I've managed to hit 3 times last week. My DH and I have worked out a schedule so we can take turns hitting the gym.
What have you been eating, and drinking? Share your recipes!
Thai Noodle Bowl: https://thelodown.com/food/thai-noodles/
Looks delicious, but I haven't made it yet, so can't vouch for it!
Do you have anything else you want to share with us?
Nope
Do you have any comments or suggestions to add to the thread?
What about sharing exercise routines? I'm always up for new ideas of things to do at the gym to mix it up, so it'd be great to hear what others are dong.
If you are doing the 30 day Challenge, how is it going? (Do your legs hurt?)
I've only done one day so far, but man did my legs hurt after.. My plan is to double up squats today, which I'm sure will be awful lol.
GTKY: everybody has a funny/embarrassing exercising story, let us laugh at yours!!
I dont have one that's happened directly to me, but a friend of mine told me a story about how he was at the gym once and some guy literally fell off the treadmill. I imagine it was similar to this video (which cracks me up every time I see it:
7 weeks as of yesterday!
Have you been cleared to start exercising again? (These 2 questions are more so I know when we can add abs to the challenges, if you're not cleared for specific exercises let us know
Cleared for everything
What are your current goals? How have you been working on reaching your goals?
Well I had to buy my bridesmaids dress for my best friend's June wedding and taking those measurements was horrifying. So I'd like to be back down to my regular measurements. I actually did a bad thing and ordered the dress that was on the smaller size of my measurements (I was in between), so I guess I have to work hard now! I've been focusing on smaller portion sizes right now and choosing healthy snacks over junk. I was the pregnant girl who literally ate everything, so it's been a mental adjustment for me
What have you been eating, and drinking? Share your recipes!
It's been rainy here and we've all had colds, so I made this turkey chili (https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2015/11/seriously-the-best-healthy-turkey-chili/) which is so good. I'm also big on overnight oats with chia seeds. The texture took some getting used to, but I crave them now. I also love the Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness juice. It's thicker than a typical juice, but not as thick as a smoothie. I have a small glass each morning. It's sweet and doesn't taste "green" at all to me, but has some great veggies and nutrients.
Do you have anything else you want to share with us?
So we weighed the baby yesterday and he's a solid 12, almost 13 lbs. I don't know exactly how big he is because we measured him on our adult scale (I got on while holding him, then put him down and got back on by myself and did some math), but it's made me feel pretty good to know that I've been carrying around an extra 12 lbs. He likes when we hold him up above our heads so he can "fly" so that's basically weight work, right?
Do you have any comments or suggestions to add to the thread?
If you are doing the 30 day Challenge, how is it going? (Do your legs hurt?)
It's great! I always forget until the end of the day and bang them all out before I get in bed. I don't feel sore when I'm just sitting or walking around, but it's gotten harder to get out of the rocking chair ...
GTKY: everybody has a funny/embarrassing exercising story, let us laugh at yours!!
So I run a 200 mile relay every year from Gettysburg, PA to Washington, DC to raise money for the nonprofit I work for. And since it's 200 miles, there aren't port-a-potties at the beginning/ending of each leg of the relay. I'm someone who NEEDS to use a bathroom before and after I run, so that was rough on me. The first year I departed for one of my legs of the relay that was 8ish miles, thinking I could make it without using the bathroom first. I was so wrong. I ended up having to stop in the middle of the run through these country back roads in West Virginia. The most secluded place I could find was right up against a field full of cows. I will never in my life forget squatting down to poop while a group of cows stared at me. Let alone the fact that I had no toilet paper and had to finish the remaining miles, with no hope of a bathroom at the end of my run, and get back in a van with my boss to drive to a bathroom. It was horrifying.
13
Have you been cleared to start exercising again? (These 2 questions are more so I know when we can add abs to the challenges, if you're not cleared for specific exercises let us know
yes, cleared for everything
What are your current goals? How have you been working on reaching your goals?
I've been trying to do something active every day. It helps my mood and will help me reach my goal of toning up and losing the last few lbs (I hope:)
What have you been eating, and drinking? Share your recipes!
Lots of water, oatmeal with walnuts almost every morning, some salads, grilled proteins and lots of steamed veggies. I love broccoli and asparagus with just a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of salt. Sweet potatoes mashed with a touch of honey for my sweet side.
Do you have anything else you want to share with us?
nope
Do you have any comments or suggestions to add to the thread?
If you are doing the 30 day Challenge, how is it going? (Do your legs hurt?)
It's going pretty well. My legs hurt but I also did a 6 mile run/walk on Saturday then tilled and weeded our very large garden( 1500 ish sq ft) on Sunday. So it's hard to say if it's the squats.
GTKY: everybody has a funny/embarrassing exercising story, let us laugh at yours!!
My best friend and I went for a long bike ride one Saturday. Most of our ride was along water- the canal that runs through our downtown and then connects to a major river as it runs through the city. We were about 10 miles in and just entering the area of town that is full of Saturday morning shoppers and cafes so it was rather busy. There were some geese hanging out in the path so we tried to ride our bikes around the geese. One of the geese didn't seem to be happy with our plan and flew up and knocked me off my bike. The rest of our ride we gave the geese lots of room when we went around them.
Have you been cleared to start exercising again? (These 2 questions are more so I know when we can add abs to the challenges, if you're not cleared for specific exercises let us know
What are your current goals? How have you been working on reaching your goals? I'm focusing on running. The Couch to 5k program is fun so far, and I think I'll sign up for a 5k on Mother's Day. I also want to address my diastasis recti and have made an appointment with a PT in early May.
What have you been eating, and drinking? Share your recipes! Working on getting lots of protein which is tough since I don't eat meat. I'm just insanely hungry from BF.
Do you have anything else you want to share with us?
Do you have any comments or suggestions to add to the thread?
If you are doing the 30 day Challenge, how is it going? (Do your legs hurt?) I haven't started yet. I meant to, but am scared if tiring out my legs for running.
GTKY: I'll have to think about it! I have fallen off a treadmill in a crowded gym so that's probably the worst.
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
https://www.andiemitchell.com/creamy-orecchiette-pasta-with-goat-cheese-and-tuna/
YIKES what a way to get to know the cleaning crew at my building