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: *Introductions!*
I am so excited the I have received my BFP! My EDD is 02/19. I have one DD who is going to be 6 in one week.
I haven't been on "The Bump" since her birth, so I may be a little rusty on how "this goes". Feel free to direct me if I'm doing this wrong.
Married the most patient man on the planet: May 16, 2009
Me: 30; DH: 30
BFP: June 25, 2014; EDD: March 9/10, 2015
4 fur babies: 2 dogs & 2 cats
Congrats! I'm a teacher too! I'm a little nervous about how the whole maternity thing works. The timing is a little off. I was hoping to have a due date closer to April so I could go right into summer without worrying about childcare. Being due in February means I will likely have to go back to work before the end of the year. Not ideal, but I know women do it all the time. What are you planning to do?
BFP#3 5/22/17 | MC 6/17/17 at 7w3d
I will be a STM. I have a 20 month old daughter. I have been married to my husband for 2.5 years. He is a realtor. I mostly stay home with our daughter, only working a few hours a week for my dad for some extra money. I am a former early childhood teacher - with no current plans to go back to teaching . But I am currently working on launching a blog this summer!
I am 34 and DH is 35. We will both be one year older when this LO arrives. Exited to be here! Good luck ladies!
until they moved to the place that shall not be named
IF veterans; #1 conceived on second clomid+HCG+IUI, #2 conceived on 1st Letrozole+HCG+IUI
EDD: Feb 5, 2018
Hi there! I'm Megan, from Ohio. I'm 30 and my hubby is 36.First time momma here! I was diagnosed with PCOS about two years ago and feared I'd never be able to have children. Lo and behold, we conceived on our first month trying (with a little help from Femara!) I'm definitely feeling a mix of extremely blessed and utterly terrified. Though mostly blessed, because I'm just so thankful I at least know I'm able to get pregnant.
I got my BFP on Sunday 6/4, and my EDD is 2/13/18. My first OB visit is scheduled for Friday 7/7/17 and I just don't have a clue how I'll wait that long! I know everyone feels that way, though.
Prayers to every single one of you for a healthy pregnancy!
I am a FTM and First time to discussion boards! I got my BFP on 6/8/17 and my EDD is 2/14/18. I think it would be so much fun to have a valentine's day baby!! I am 27 and a RN from Indianapolis, IN. I am so stoked for this journey!! But I will admit that I have taken about 2 HPTs a day since I got my BFP just bc I can't believe it is true and I feel like there's this chance that I may have been wrong. Is this weird?
I will be a third time mom. This will be my second February baby. DD2 is a June baby.
So excited to be a part of this group! My husband and I had been trying since December for this precious baby! I am a SAHM to a 18 month old little girl. I can't wait until our first apt- unfortunately that isn't until 7/20 bc our dr will not see you until 10 weeks! My est due date is Feb 17th. We live north of Boston.
Yay I am finally able to post! Lol. My name is Jaclyn and I am a FTM at 32. My SO is 36, we live in Maryland, and this baby was a definite surprise. I'm the girl who sits on Google reading WebMD thinking the worst about my symptoms, when one of the options was to take a test I thought there was no way. Took two CVS brand tests on 5/31 and 6/1 that turned positive as soon as my pee hit them on the counter. So naturally I thought, CVS brand? I went cheap so let me go get something real. Picked up two Clear Blue tests and pregnant stared me in the eyes twice on 6/2. So I guess it is real?! I've had lots of symptoms already, but I'm still feeling like it isn't real until I see the US. I'm figuring my EDD is 2/3, but will know more after our first appointment on 6/22!
So happy to be on this journey with all of you!
***TW***
this is my 4th pregnancy. I had a MC at 8 weeks, followed by the loss of my son at 39 weeks due to a cord accident during my labor. My 3rd pregnancy we welcomed my son's sister (11 months after his loss) via c section. She is full of energy and will be a great big sister.
***end TW***
We're excited that DD age 2 will be a big sister! Prayers for a H&H pregnacy for all of you!
BFP#3 5/22/17 | MC 6/17/17 at 7w3d
Me:31 H:31
DX: MFI - 1% Morph
12/16 -IVF #1 - Antagonist Protocol w/ Lupron trigger
ER - 11 retrieved- 9 mature - 7 fertilized - 3 sent for PGS on day 5 - No normals (1 XXX Embryo - may use in future)
3/17 - IVF #2 - Antagonist Protocol w/ HCG trigger
ER- 13 retrieved - 11 mature - 8 fertilized - 2 sent for PGS on day 5 -2 Normal
FET #1 - 5/16/17 - BFP! - Beta #1 5/25 - 156 - Beta #2 5/30 - 2562 - Beta #3 6/1 - 5191!
so so far away!!! Yes I'm really hoping my toddler makes it fly by but I found out at like 3 weeks I was pregnant lol so I already feel like I've been waiting ages.