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: UO Thursday 3/22
I don't like animal print on little girls. It seems indecent or something.
I just realized I sound like I am 100 years old. lol.
Ruffles AND animal prints!
Me: 37 Him: 38
Married 11.07.2015
@lalala2004 Not trying to start anything, but most people I know who watch kids in their home do it as a way to supplement their income. Like our lady, she writes for several large magazines, and has child support & alimony that cover her bills. She just wants some extra 'fun' money so watches our 2 littles for $30 a day.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
I also never understood the whole bow craze for baby girls but I see so many pics of my friends' babies wearing them that I do think they can be very cute. As long as they're not tight or anything!
I have seen some, what I would consider inappropriate, slogans on children's' clothes that are just awful.
I saw "Pick me up, I dig older chicks" on a boy onesie and "Sorry boys, daddy says I can't date until I'm 30" on a girl one. Bleurgh.
And yes yes yes to the horribly inappropriate baby clothes. Spoiler because it's that inappropriate. This came up in my quest for cute funny baby onesies:
I was looking for something more like this:
As a joke to send to my sister. Sigh.
Me: 37 Him: 38
Married 11.07.2015
@juliebird6 our friend had a big party for his daughter's first birthday, but it was just a big BBQ with lots of food and booze and the kids running around doing whatever. We'll probably do something similar for our son's first birthday.
Married: 6/2016
TTC #1: 12/2016
Benched due to deployment- Off the bench 8/8/17!
@brezzy1928 I'm with you on the animal print. But I can go one step further and say I don't like animal print period. I've owned one pair of snake skin printed flats in my life, but that's the only animal print I've purchased.
outfits are super cute. Although I’d prefer them
to be practical, sometimes it’s fun to get dolled up.
UO: I think it’s okay to like blue on boys and pink on girls. Either sex should be free to dress in whatever color they want but I don’t view it as a bad thing that my DDs want to dress girly. And it annoys me when people assume that whatever color my kids are dressed in is my stance on gender politics.
They both play with dolls and trucks. They like tea parties and jumping in the mud. It’s clothes, dude.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
August 18 Siggy Challenge: April Showers
For sure it is. I would never find a price like that in MA. Just wishful thinking!
@calimom2524
I LOVE that!!!
ETA: the picture
I don't think there's anything wrong with ruffles and all that jazz. I just don't prefer it and so far my girls have never showed interest in that style when we're clothes shopping. I know a girl who dresses her girls in Matilda Jane and they look pretty cute in it (and they love it).
But OMG, that onesie with the actual boob on it...yuck! I guess someone thought it was funny but it just makes me feel dirty...
When I was a little girl (like 5) I wanted my room painted blue, but my mom denied me and said that was a boy color and I had to have a pink room. I hated pink, but she did it anyway. I guess I've just harbored a crazy long grudge lol..
11/18/16 missed m/c 9w1
08/03/17 no hb 8w
11/18/16 missed m/c 9w1
08/03/17 no hb 8w
In regards to clothes in general, I refuse to pay full price for anything for DS and now DS #2. We got a lot of cute onesies/outfits for our shower that had the "little dude" "Mommy's captain" with a boat on it, etc and it was all good, but IMO they are going to poop, spit up or find another way to ruin just about everything! Don't get me wrong, it's adorable and DS wore it, but I have a hard time shelling out full price for a onesie that's so tiny. A lot of stuff we have was hand me downs from DH's cousin or I bought at Once Upon a Child, or Target/Old Navy when it's on sale. Now at almost 3 DS has holes in every pair of jeans, food/dirt/paint/chalk/ stains on so many shirts it's like eh, good thing I only paid $4 for it!
DS: 5.28.15
DS#2: EDD 8.31.18
The pale pink party dress was mine
thelittle onesies will will be perfect for summer heat when she’s just in a onesie but I want her to look cute too!
11/18/16 missed m/c 9w1
08/03/17 no hb 8w
11/18/16 missed m/c 9w1
08/03/17 no hb 8w
i love girl clothes but am also not huge on ruffles or bows as bigger than the child’s head. Love that blue dress and the outfit @calimom2524 posted up there. I love pink. DS wore a pinkish shirt to school Today though, so I totally put my son in it too.