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.
s_montgomery
member
Re: STM+: check-in w/o 2/4
How many kids do you already have? One DS - he'll be four this week!
How are your other kids doing this week? He was pretty good over the weekend, except with how attached he is to me right now. I think he knows his time as an only child is coming to a close.
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions? I don't think so. Just freaking out about trying to cherish my last few weeks with JUST DS without going out of my mind.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? We have a meeting with our doula on Thursday to talk about our birth plans and such, so that should be cool. Other than that, we have a family day on Saturday to celebrate DS's birthday! Going to go see Lego Movie 2, maybe the children's museum, and out to dinner!
How many kids do you already have? 1 DD 2 yo
How are your other kids doing this week? She is fighting a cold so she is a little extra needy but she has been really good at letting DH help her more.
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions? So Fing tired. I can't believe I only have 11 weeks left but I also can't believe I still have 11 weeks to go. It feels confusing lol
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? I have a doc appt on thursday, I really want to talk to her about my possible IUGR and figure out what she wants for me next steps.
BFP: 8/11/18 Due: 4/26/18
How many kids do you already have? 1 DD - 2.5
How are your other kids doing this week? She's doing good. She slept great this weekend and then started off the week by being super cranky.
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions? Panicking because my RCS got moved up a whole month and he will be here at 36+4 instead of 39+4 and we are not ready at all. So I'm trying not to stress. But it's hard. I'm excited to have the 4d ultrasound this weekend though.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? After the morning I've had (see randoms), I'm ready for it to be over. Short term goal: Make it through today.
How many kids do you already have? 6 yo DD, 3 yo DS
How are your other kids doing this week? Better, seems like DS had food poisoning rather than stomach flu. I was so sorry to see him so sick, but relieved that the rest of us didn't get sick as well. DS is starting consistently waking up dry and using the potty in the morning. Now to actually to focus on getting him to go consistently throughout the day. DD has been begging me to buy her stuff every time we go shopping. I explained that these things cost money and if she really wants them she needs to work for them. We are going to try earning money by doing chores around the house (above and beyond her basic household responsibilities). I got her a save-spend-give "piggy" bank. We will see how this goes...
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions? Last week I irritated a nerve in my groin/hip and every step was excruciatingly painful. Luckily DH helped be with some hip rotations and it seemed to help a bit. I hope this is a short term problem that resolves quickly otherwise this is going to be a loooong 2.5 months.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? Counting down the remaining weeks at work before maternity leave! Only 6 more to go!!
How many kids? One DD that is almost 3 going on 13.
How are your other kids this week? She's been extra sassy this week and it's getting on my hormonal short nerves.
Rants/Raves/Questions/Concerns? I'm tired of my hip hurting all the time. I'm tired of my husband finding other nonessential projects that have nothing to do with getting the nursery ready. I'm concerned about going into labor at a weird time that makes it tough to get DD to her grandparents.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? Warmer weather!
How many kids do you already have?
DD is 1.5
How are your other kids doing this week?
We visited my parents over the weekend and DD remains a little scared of my dad, though she was playing from across the room with him by the end of the weekend. It is absolutely his biggest disappointment in being a grandfather - all he wants is cuddles and to read books to her - and I’ve told them repeatedly that 1) it’s a familiarity thing, and more time with them will make him less threatening (so come visit) and 2) not to try to force it, or it will just get worse. They kept trying to force it. Sigh. Otherwise, she’s pretty good.
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions?
Rave: still pregnant, and we think my mom will be able to come up to help for a few 4-day weekends when LO is born, which will be good in terms of giving people breaks.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week?
uhhhh...I don’t even know what’s going on today. I’d love to make a birthday cake for FIL today, so hopefully we can do that!
About 9 weeks to go
Barbie convertible/Hawaiian pineapple 🍍
How many kids do you already have?
DD-4
How are your other kids doing this week?
Pretty good, better then last week.
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions?
Its pretty impossible to fit DD and I in our comfy leather chair anymore and she doesn’t understand that she can’t sit with me. It’s breaking my heart to tell her she has to move or no when she asks to sit with me. But I hate sitting on the couch (I actually just hate our couch, it’s ridiculously uncomfortable normally but especially now) and it’s usually where DH is sprawled out.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week?
Not much. It’s one more week closer to April.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
@kosmo86 Good luck with your appointment. Hopefully the IUGR is minimal and you can get a good plan of action in place.
@mrstmoose 7.5 weeks! Wow!!!!
@eli_belle I hear ya with the groin/hip. I feel like at this point the only relief I will find will be after labour.
@kristieH05 Sass for days at our house too. Sometimes I have to walk away because it's too funny but also so frustrating!!! Little sweethearts.
@lyse01 H's parents, who are both remarried, live across the country and when we see them, usually only once a year, they try to be all over the kids. It just makes it worse!!! Now all the kid remembers is you holding them against their will as they're crying, congrats Grandma.
@thatbaintforbetty That's tough DD can't fit with you anymore. My kids are still all over me and their sharp little elbows in the belly are super painful!!
How much longer until your LO arrives? How big is baby? 9 weeks until my due date. Single digits, yikes! A coconut or asparagus
How many kids do you already have? Twin almost-four-year-old girls.
How are your other kids doing this week? We've had a lot of late nights this weekend and it's really catching up! They're also both getting a ton of attitude and it's cute/annoying. One thing that is mildly concerning is they both say they're having babies too, so anytime I get a gift for the baby or talk about the baby's room they will say "Oh, for my baby?" Like last night they both wanted to fight me over an outfit that they each claim is for their baby, not their baby brother. They don't care about the baby in my tummy they are super concerned about the baby in theirs and why I haven't set up a nursery for all the babies.
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions? I mentioned it a in the randoms thread but I am so mentally checked out of work. I'm ready to set my end date and be done with it. My hips and pelvis are killing me but my boss told me today that they haven't been having anyone apply for my mat leave contract position. I told her back in October that I would probably leave at the beginning of March and it's not my fault they only just started looking. I have an appointment today so I'm hoping I can kind of make a plan with my doc today.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? We're heading out to Radium Hot Springs this weekend. It will be the second year we've gone out there. We rent a little condo and have a nice little family weekend. The hot springs are an outdoor pool, and the condo complex has an indoor pool if it's too cold out (last year all our hair froze and it probably wasn't too good for the kids haha, oops!). There's a huge candy store and a wolf sanctuary near by that I love. It will be nice to get out of the city. I'm so lucky to live so close to the mountains and they constantly call my name.
H: 36
L & N twin girls: 3yo. Born at 30 weeks. 2 month NICU stay
BFP Aug 2018: EDD April 2019
BFP: 8/11/18 Due: 4/26/18
How many kids do you already have? 1DD who is 2
How are your other kids doing this week? So adorable yesterday, she took her baby doll and I walked in to her sitting with it in her lap and she was reading a story book. Then she tucked her baby into the small crib we have for it and said "night night baby." Be still my heart, it was the cutest thing. Other than that she has a lot of movement coming up this week, one Grandma's house on Wednesday night and then another Grandma's house for the weekend.
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions? Biggest rant is the back pain still. It's becoming bad at work. Plus drill this weekend so it's a good/bad. Good because it's my last one before baby but bad because I hate leaving home even for a weekend. Also, DH is going to Cali with some guy friends for a festival on Wednesday so the end of the week needs to hurry up.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? Last week before my week off of work. So I guess nothing really to look forward to other than just getting through it. I need next week off to finish baby prep and get some random house stuff done.
Update to above to include a rant: DH asked DD’s speech therapist about screen time while I was out at the OB this morning, and by the time I came back, he had removed the tv from our living room. I’m mostly pissed because it’s punishing me when there’s a simpler solution: keep the remote out of her reach. Meanwhile, I can’t watch my Netflix shows, even when DD is asleep, or leave the news or weather on, and it totally prevents us from watching Jeopardy or whatever else together as a couple. Meanwhile DH still gets his double enormous monitors in his office to watch whatever he feels like.
H: 36
L & N twin girls: 3yo. Born at 30 weeks. 2 month NICU stay
BFP Aug 2018: EDD April 2019
BFP: 8/11/18 Due: 4/26/18
How big is baby? As tall as a piece of spaghetti? (Cooked or not cooked I’m not sure)
How many kids do you already have? 1 3yr old daughter
How are your other kids doing this week? Good? She’s in baby mode and pretending a lot with the dolls, but also cranky?
Rants/Raves? I just want to sleep. But am in pain at night and it wakes me up.
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week?
this is my Birthday week (sat) and my dear friend and her family are coming to stay in the lodging across from my house. We have the same birthday. Their house was destroyed in the recent campfire fire in Paradise CA this year and it will be good to see them and help them have a weekend away. They have a son that is 6m younger than our dd. Otherwise I’m enjoying sewing.
Big as an eggplant?
DD is getting closer to 2!
She’s doing better now that her double EI is being treated. But she’s been sleeping longer at night and NOT napping, which is ok I guess? I don’t like the trade off necessarily. I think I’d rather her sleep an hour less at night and take an hour nap. Regardless, I’ve implemented the rule that she has to stay in her bed for about an hour to an hour and a half even if she doesn’t sleep, because mama needs some time to herself.
Rant: horrible sleep and failing the 1 hour glucose.
Rave: we actually made a bit of progress in DD’s room this weekend. I wanted to get her in her new room by the end of this month though and I’m a bit doubtful.
GTKY: I have book club tonight and am supposed to have bible study tomorrow night. But it’s supposed to drop freezing rain again which would be the fourth time bible study was canceled due to freezing rain. Why does it keep happening on Tuesdays? We also have a birthday party to attend and a possible moms group MNO Sunday. Also, getting the 3 hour glucose test over with.
How big is baby? Measuring ahead around 31 weeks...
How many kids do you already have? 1; DS 18 months
How are your other kids doing this week? Still fighting a cold...which he gave to me. Plus cutting molars...sleep has been rough over here.
Rants/Raves? Just tired. Kiddos not sleeping with means I'm not sleeping. I have my 3-hour GD test Wednesday and I'm trying not to stress but not sleeping isnt helping. LO has been moving a lot and some of it has been incredibly uncomfortable. He's really high and I can barely bend over to put on pants. I think this is when I stopped wearing pants with DS1, but he was a summer baby so I could just wear dresses.
Also...trying to participate more but the app SUCKS. That's all.
Concerns/Questions?
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week? Getting this stupid test over with. Had to take it with DS and it sucked; plus the drink destroys my stomach.
Married: 6/2016
TTC:6/2016
BFP: 11/22/2016 | EDD: 7/29/2017
8 ish weeks
she is asparagus
How many kids do you already have?
DD1,5.5 and DS 3
How are your other kids doing this week?
Recovering from our wacky schedule from the past week. DD had 6 snow days in a row so she got used to sleeping in
Rants/Raves? Concerns/Questions?
GTKY: What are you looking forward to this week?
Swim season being done. Our championship is Friday and Saturday. I love all my kiddos but I’m also so done standing on a hot pool deck for hours.