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: The Great Name Thread
I love Jace, it was one of my top names. Jett is cute and different! What about Julian? That's another I loved, but couldn't use because there's already one in the family.
Our current DD's are Julie Madison and Jessa Leigh and my name is Jenna. I really liked Luke for a boy so we may go with that if that's what we're having this time. But wondering if we're all J's if we need to stick to J's? I don't know that I like any boy J names......and another girl J might be overkill?? I don't want to end up like the Duggars.
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
Now that we know we're having a boy, I can tell it's going to be a struggle agreeing on the name. DH is super traditional whereas I'm into the slightly more trendy names. I'm looking for something right in the middle. I love Jonas, Sawyer, Lucas, Cameron, and Wesley.
Me: 29 DH: 35
Married 5/3/14, TTC ever since
DX: Lean PCOS, Clomid resistant
Femara 7.5 + Ovidrel = BFP! Due 4/15/18
Also, that reminds me. I know a Paedon.
DS-9/2012
DD-7/2015
FWIW I love the name Leighton.
ETF my own spelling errors lol
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
I also love Leighton. Hooray for correct spellings.
Mama to Rowan Sebastian and baby boy coming in April!
Me: 29 DH: 35
Married 5/3/14, TTC ever since
DX: Lean PCOS, Clomid resistant
Femara 7.5 + Ovidrel = BFP! Due 4/15/18
@kmalls that spelling had me shaking my head. Why must people do silly things like that I really don't feel like it's all that unique to do weird spellings. Even if your kid is in a class with 4 others with the same name the changing of the spelling won't change them turning their head when that name is called.
@jwhokie I think that any time people name ALL their children with the same first letter I instantly think of the Duggers.
Dumbgurl04 - Yep.....the all J theme has been ruined by them. Guess this third one will definitely not be a J. I don't want that label. lol
We talked about names for a while this weekend and just happened to both like the name Daisy. DH things just because we both liked that one, then that's it, its settled. HA HA! While I like it, I still want to keep my options open. Other names I'm considering are Paisley, Ariel, Natalie, Makayla, Reese and Natasha/Tasha.
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
DS-9/2012
DD-7/2015
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013
Started TTC August 2016
BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17
BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17
BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18
BFP: 2/27/20
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
@frenchiekinplusone Beatrice gets my vote, too! I love the nick name Bea, but I’ve also heard Trix or Trixie as nicknames for Beatrice. I think it’s a great choice for a girl!
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
Blah!
Mama to Rowan Sebastian and baby boy coming in April!
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
We're having a hard time with boy names. All our kids currently have vowels at the beginning of their names, so thinking maybe we should continue the trend.
Archer is on our list but i hate the nn Archie
Owen
Everett
Hunter
What do you ladies think?
EBF, BLW, BW, CD, Waterbirth, Calm Birth, Homebirth, FC, GI Awareness, Informed Choice
DD 5y
DS 3y Generation Intact
Step DD 5y
Step DD 3y
Eta:
@8bithearts I like Archer and Everett. Both were contenders with our first. I know/met a lot of Owens and Hunters so for me personally they are a no go. Doesn't make them bad names if you like them though! Name popularity is different across the country so perhaps they are less common where you are in which I would say go for it.
Baby #1: Aug. 2016
Baby #2: April 1st, 2018
DH and I have a big list going. Having a girl and Evelyn, Talia and Jeanette seem to be sticking.
For boys, I like the name Hunter.