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: Symptoms, symptoms, and more symptoms!
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
I'm currently trying not to fall asleep at my desk. I keep getting up every 1-1.5 hrs to go pee or just to get up because seriously, I might fall asleep. So...tired...
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
DS2 5/17
#3 Due 9/20
Does anyone else get a feeling in the groin muscle shooting down to their knee like a pulled muscle or the start of a cramp? Is this a form of RLP or just torture?
DS1 7/24/15
DS2 5/7/17
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
I am having my first bit of menstrual-feeling cramps. My first official symptom other than said needy cat and general discomfort. :P
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
@chocolatelemons This baby is slooooowly dropping, but even today at 39 w 6d I've got no real pressure down there.
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
Long story short, it's fine to drop or not drop, and it doesn't have much predictive power as to when you will deliver, if at all.
I'm experiencing the same pain in my left side. I mentioned it to doctor and she agreed that baby is probably on a nerve. The pain comes out of nowhere and stops me in my tracks.
Congrats @shadeofgreen816. I'm so glad you and @jayandaplus are in our May 2017 group. You guys have been a wealth of info.
Edit typo and to try to eliminate double quote
I don't want to call and cry wolf, but this pain is constant.
Any thoughts?
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
@chocolatelemons - I never had lightning crotch with either of my first two kids. This time I did yet the day before I went into labor someone commented on baby still sitting high. I tend to carry that way and have never looked like baby dropped. I wouldn't give it too much thought as it doesn't really indicate anything. Also it's very normal for babies to float down and up right until labor.
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
@nda_roxybabe Glad your wrists are better!
@Jens_Hoes Maybe it's BH? I'd drink tons of water and lay on your left side and see if anything changes. It doesn't hurt to call, but I suspect it's either BH or baby in an uncomfortable position for you. Hope it gets better!
Contractions feel like menstrual cramps, or more painful versions of braxton hicks contractions. The whole uterus is hard, and usually the pain isn't as localized to a particular spot, such as being "very low." Granted, I'm still pregnant so I haven't done this in a while. Maybe someone who just did it can chime in.
I have, though, had a lot of fake contractions in the past few weeks (braxton hicks but more uncomfortable like regular labor), and I'd say again that the timing sounds like what you describe but the rest of it does not.