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: Take Home Outfits
For now I have set aside a little one piece with illustrated foxes all over it. I'm keeping my eye out for a better idea. Our drive home is super short, 2.5 miles, 7 minutes, wham bam thank you mam. I can't wait to bring him home and snuggle
@purplg8r - I can’t tell completely from the picture, but does it have legs? I love little gowns at home for newborns (so easy to access for diaper changes!) but they are a huge pain for the car seat. Which is the same point @EmilyA724 made about the MIL outfit @dogmomma096 posted about.
Add me to the list of STMs that don’t wash new baby clothing before putting it on the first time 🙋🏻♀️ (unless it’s second-hand...but if it’s second-hand from someone I know, and I know they washed it before passing it along...I still don’t wash it 😂).
My 7 Year Journey ***Tw in spoiler***
IVF #1 - September 2018; Follistim, Menopur, Cetrotide & Lupron/HCG combo trigger; PGS; ICSI
Back on Levothyroxine
FET #1 - October 2018; cancelled, all PGS aneuploid
FET #1 - November 30th, transferred anyway
Wondfo BFP 5dp5dt, CB Digi 6dpt,
1st Beta on 7dpt 93
2nd Beta on 10dpt 510!
TTC #1 since 2011. Tried for 5 years before we knew there was a one year rule.
Diag w/MS 2016; w/PCOS & IF 2017
New RE 2018; PCOS diagnosis taken away, IF due to ovary adhesions, but prev. RE insists PCOS IF
IUI
IUI #1 July 2017 w/100mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #2 October 2017 w/50mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #3 February 2018 w/5mg Femara+trigger; low P
BFP February; mc March; Subclinical hypothyroid started Levothyroxine
IUI #4 March 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Medicated cycle & TI April 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Tried several cycles on our own; all BFN
Since I worked in retail once upon a time, I can’t ever wear clothes that are unwashed. As soon as I get things, it goes into the wash. I’ll do the same for baby. I know too much.
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
@purplg8r I think it will be fine if the car is “pre-cooled.” Like someone else said, they say to put babies in 1 more later than yourself. Super cute!!!!
@dogmomma096 I would probably say I wanted her first pictures to be be in that outfit so I could pick out my own going home
There are a couple of options for take home outfits.
Option 1: A onesie I had made at the beginning of our first treatment cycle with an RE
Option 2: A SUPER soft & fluffy outfit that was a gift from a close family friend.
(@BigBadWolf12 I wonder if my fox sleeper is the same one you mentioned?)
DS was huge, most NB barely fit and the sleepers were all too short. I’m hoping #2 isn’t as big (for vbac reasons). Anyhow, I just don’t want to spend more money on it so if I use DS1’s outfit, it’ll be this one:
I plan to get state/country flowers tatted for each kid. I already have Dogwood blossoms for my home state, then will add to it.
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
DS also had the little lamb booties/slippers that it looks like your son is wearing in the pic you shared lol
BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016
Re-started TTC Aug 2016
Started IF testing Nov 2016
Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017
BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
I love foxes so much. I was so sad this didn’t fit him!
the lamb stuff seemed super neutral for team green!
That being said, we found that the stump wasn’t as fragile as you’d think, and we dressed DS however we wanted. All the clothing was super soft and as long as it’s not super tight, the stump was fine.
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
@Beauxbaton yea that's a good point! Gotta have a cute outfit for pictures! And for visitors ..I am happy doing skin to skin when it's us, but I don't necessarily want everyone else cuddling the naked/diaper baby...
@AKuzReve wow! That's.... fascinating! I'm all for not staying long in the hospital, though I can only imagine how utterly exhausted one still is, 2 hours after labour and delivery! I wonder if I'll be able to walk, let alone physically get out of the hospital 😂
Once you get home, your maternity nurse is there for you. You get up to 48 hours and get to decide how to split it. For example, 4 hours a day for 12 days or 6 hours a day for 8 days. They do all your medical checks, all of babies medical checks, and then help you with whatever you need at home. So they will cook for you, clean, watch the baby so you can sleep, help with breastfeeding, change your sheets, etc. They really help you learn how to be a new mom and transition as easy as possible. They realised it’s better to pay for a maternity nurse than an unnecessary stay at the hospital or birthing center.
For all the post birth checks, they come to you at your house so you don’t have to take your new baby to a doctors office.
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016
Re-started TTC Aug 2016
Started IF testing Nov 2016
Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017
BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019