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: **Ultrasound thread**
EDD March 12, 2018
Congrats to everyone else as well! Seems like many of us had an exciting week this week!
Married: 5.27.16
Baby Boy Due: 3.18.18
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
Thought I was 6 weeks even, but I measured 6w1d, yay! Heartbeat was 118. It worries me a little since it's on the low side of normal, but they said that baby looked great, so we're thrilled! EDD of March 20!
Measuring exactly 7 weeks 5 days - due March 11! What a relief it was to see and hear the heartbeat. It's 166 bpm!
Baby is measuring ahead now instead of behind now which makes me feel MUCH better. I think this will help my PGAL brain a lot until my next appointment on the 17th.
Dating ultrasound yesterday...measured almost exact to my ovulation date,6w1d or so, putting due date at 3/21. Heard and saw heartbeat of 112 bpm. It's feeling real!
means I got a positive test at like 10dpo! We saw and heard a tiny beating heart which was very nice. I'm due March 24th!
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
I agree it can be very frustrating. *TW* last October I went into the ER with minor spotting at 10 wks.... they sent me for both an abdominal and TV ultrasound. The tech told me before she started that she would not be able to tell me anything - good or bad. I begged her to just let me watch, even if she couldn't sy what she was observing and she said no. If I was going to lose the baby, I wanted to atleast have a chance to SEE it...I thought it would help me come to terms and accept the loss. It was a hard no. I remember straining to watch through the reflection in her glasses. I did lose the baby and I never got to see my LO on the ultrasound. It was my only request and it still sits heavy on me today. *End TW*. I think it's complete BS that they don't let us watch. I am going to put up a MUCH bigger fuss this time around. I don't know when they will give me my first US but you can bet your bottom dollar on it that I will be watching.... If they try to refuse I will completely freak out
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
At my old OB office before I moved, it was a small office and all the OBs did the ultrasounds themselves, so they talked through the entire thing as they were going. I miss that at my new dr, because here they have ultrasound techs who do the scan, and then the dr comes in after to discuss. It just feels more cold and impersonal that way.
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
You ladies are making me so excited for my US this week! Because my OB is on the slow boat in terms of an US, I am going to get an US from a boutique on Thursday (at 8 weeks) and my first official appointment with my OB is the following week on August 7, but I have already been told that I will more than likely not have an US at that time with my OB. BUT I am excited and hopeful about my US at the boutique. I can't wait to see my little bean!!! AND a heart beat!
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
I have not only seen every single ultrasound I have ever had (pregnancy related or otherwise), but the rooms are always set up with an extra large screen monitor for patient viewing. This is true of my RE, OB, and ER visits. Not only that but both times something was wrong with my US the tech told me what they were looking at (cyst, placenta previa with my 1st, SCH with my current) then tells me that they have to have a doctor look at it to be 100%. I even had a trainee tell me they couldn't see all the heart quads with my first, but the trainer tech corrected her and showed her what she was doing wrong.
Seeing as this has been different offices, in different situations, and different cities I thought this was standard in the US. No they can't diagnose, but they are trained to know what is wrong or not.
Is this not the same experience for all living in the states?
I wouldn't have it any other way. And I know our taxes aren't solely covering or health care costs.... and compared to the US we are still WAAAAYYYY cheaper. However, you are incorrect in saying that we aren't paying thousands of dollars in order to have our babies... because we are... we just aren't sent home with the bill, we've paid it in advance. And for those less fortunate who are in low income families, those of us paying more taxes are footing the bill for them - because it's the right thing to do. But the medical costs are still there.
DS born October 13, 2014
Baby #3 due March 2018
Had my first ultrasound last Wednesday, measuring 6w1d, I thought I was 6w2d so I'm right on track! We didn't get to hear the heartbeat yet, but we got to see it and measure it - 124BPM!
We are a little nervous because they found a small SCH, but my midwife and the ultrasound tech said it was nothing to worry about. So I'm really hoping it's nothing, because what I've read about SCHs makes me anxious. Overall, very happy with the US!
BFP #2 7/11/17 | EDD 3/24/18
BFP #1 5/2/17 | EDD 1/12/18 | MC 5/18/17