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: Birth Announcements
DD - 12/28/17
TTC #2 3/2019
BFP 5/2019 || MC - D&C 5/2019
BFP 2/2020 || EDD 10/10/2020
Born Nov 6, 2017
Iree: 18" long, 6lbs 3oz
Luke: 18" long, 5lbs 5oz
Labor story: 36+1, woke up with contractions at 4am, 5min apart. I monitored at home for a couple hours and called my OB office at 6am. Took a warm shower, as my OB suggested, and the contractions didn't change. Came into L&D about 7am and was monitored for an hour. Cervix change was small (.5 cm), but since I was considered full term with twins, they went ahead and booked the OR. Within a couple hours we were back there getting a c- section (Baby B was breech). Iree was born first at 10:11am, she had slight respiratory issues, so she stayed in the nursery for monitoring for about 6 hours. Luke was born right after at 10:12am and was diagnosed with pneumothorax, and taken straight to NICU. Baby Iree came back from the nursery around 4pm yesterday and has been with me since. Baby Luke is still in NICU and we're praying for swift healing, I haven't even been able to hold him yet. As for me, I'm recovering just fine. The pitocin and uterus "massages" after surgery have been by far the worst part.
Please keep baby Luke in your prayers if that's your thing
TTC #1 since 12/2015
BFP 4/4/17, EDD 12/4/17
Met: September 2005 Married: October 2008 DS: 09/2014
Baby girl is still in NICU, but is stable. Looking forward to taking her home soon!
ETA: Baby Evie was discharged on Tuesday, November 14. We're so happy to have her home.
I’ve been lurking more than posting this last tri but I wanted to announce the birth of our rainbow, my daughter Arya Faith. She was 35w6d and weighed 5lbs12oz. I’m struggling with a traumatic birth and csection recovery but I’m head over heels in love with her. She’s graduated from NICU and with the exception of feeding issues, she’s doing great.
Gavin - 8/27/10
*TW*
Gabriel - 2nd tri loss 5/17/16 Trisomy 18 & 21
Hope - 2nd tri loss 12/7/16 complications from pneumonia
We went forward with the C-Section and Claire was born weighing 6lbs, 9oz and 18.5 inches long. I'm pretty sure I was at least a week ahead of what my doctor had set as my due date. Other than some low blood sugar, which was resolved in the hospital, she is healthy and happy and we are in love.
Wishing you all healthy and happy babies and speedy recoveries!
Bragging rights: According to the nurse's station, I hold this week's laps record for c section moms getting up and walking -- all that GD-mandated exercise is paying off.
Iris Lynn born on 11/25/17 at 12:50am by csection. I Was induced and labored for 26 hours and after being stuck at 6 cm for almost 7 Of those hours we decided section was best. Theybhad to use the vacuum to get her out as well but she handled it like a trooper. She was 6lbs 3oz and 20 inches long.
Micah Raymond was born 11/28/17 at 4:17 pm after a grueling 27 hour labor
8.2lbs and 21” long!
6lbs 8 ounces 19 inches. We love her!
Sorry for the lateness of the post but I am pleased to say that Victor Eugene White was born 11.29.17 @ 39 weeks 2 days via scheduled induction which turned into an emergency c section after 28 hours of torture. He was 7lbs 4oz, 21 inches long, and absolutely perfect. We are head over heals in love.
Quinn Leigh was born 11/30 at 9:02pm after being induced 11/29. She was 7lb 10oz and 21.5” long! She is absolutely perfect and we are so in love!
Married 4/22/16
**TW**
BFP 2/1/16 I MC 3/21/16 (11w)
TTCAL 6/15/16
BFP 3/23/2017 Team pink! Quinn Leigh EDD December 1, 2017
Henry Magnus born this morning at 6:16am. 7lbs 14oz and 21 inches long. Will post birth story later
TTC#1 since November 2015
9/16/2016 IUI#1 - BFN
10/12/2016 IUI#2 - BFN
1/21/2017 Clomid/IUI#3 - BFN
March 2017 IVF: BFP! (beta#1 191, beta#2 378!) - it's a boy! DS born 12/6/2017
TTC #2 since July 2018
May 2019 IVF #2: BFP! (beta#1 346, beta#2 646) - vanishing twin at 8 weeks. Baby B still going strong - due 2/8/20!
DX Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Factor V Leiden Mutation, Secondary Infertility
MFI (SA #1Count 11mill, Motility: 18%, Morphology: 1%)
AMH .328 | FSH 13.2