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 Introduction Thread
Due date? August 8th
How did you find out?
My period was late and it's never late.
Job?
I'm a hairstylist
Hobbies?
Camping, hiking, reading
Other children/ pregnancies?
Nope, this our first
Pets?
2 crazy cats
Spouse?
My fiancé and I have been together 4 1/2 years.
August 21st with TWINS!! They won’t let me go past 38 weeks so adjust latest birthday will be 8/14!
I just had a feeling that I was pregnant so the day we got back from vacation I took a test and it showed up pregnant, FAST! I was 3.5weeks.
Job-
Production assistant for a mortgage company.
Hobbies?
Anything that revolves around my daughter!
Other children/pregnancies?
Daughter who is 19mo
Pets?
None
Spouse?
An amazing husband of 3 years and counting!
I'm Sarah, a Canadian mom of 2.
Due date? August 20th
How did you find out?
We had been trying for a few months so you know I was peeing on all the things lol
Job?
I'm a project manager in Advertising
Hobbies?
Reading, running, knitting and painting
Other children/ pregnancies?
I have 2! A 4.5 yo son and a daughter turning 2 in May.
Pets?
1 cat who prefers my husband to me even though I want her to love me most lol
Spouse?
Married for 5.5 years, together for nearly 15.
How did I find out? - Just a feeling. After what feels like 30 tests, and a trip to the clinic telling me no. . . I FINALLY got a positive around 10 weeks. Based on my LMP. Symptoms from the get go. And starting to show. 13w 3d now and still waiting on insurance approval (Long story) so I get get back to my OB and check everything out!
Hobbies- have been quilting for about a year!
Other children - My son, Caemon, just turned 7 😁
Spouse - My husband is an executive chef. We've been married a little over two years. And this will be our first child together. He is an AMAZING stepdad.
August 5th
How did you find out?:
Had a miscarriage in August 2019-didn't completely pass until Sept. 2019 and then never had a period after that. So in January I wanted to drink at my anniversary dinner so I thought I should take a pregnancy test. Came out positive. Went to the doctor a month later and turns out I'm already 16.5 weeks!
Jobs?
Attendance clerk at a elementary school
Hobbies?:
Sleeeeeping/ Eating
Other children/pregnancies?:
This is our second child, third pregnancy. Miscarriage Aug 2019, Baby girl May 2017 and now this little bean!
Pets?:
Spouse?
Husband, been married 8 yrs, he works for Delta airlines
Due date
August 18th
How did you find out?
I was late, had a feeling and did a test.
Jobs?
Postdoctoral researcher. Originally from Finland. Pregnancy in the US is already feeling like an adventure.
Hobbies?
Used to read, paint, bake, knit.. Now I go to the gym twice a week to avoid explosions.
Other children/pregnancies?
3.5 yo son
Pets?
Tortoise
Spouse?
Husband
I have been lurking for a little while but at this point I could really use some other moms to be connection, since no one in my circle is currently pregnant and most of them can't relate
Due date 8/17
How did I find out? My husband and I were actively trying, so I was testing pretty regularly. I was pretty sure that I didn't " make the cut" in December, because it took a while before I got a positive pregnancy test. My husband knew - based on my mood swings - before me that I was pregnant.
Job Recruiter
Other children/pregnancies No other kids. I had a miscarriage in June last year.
Pets I have an English Bulldog named Arya. Right now she snores super loud under my desk.
Spouse I have been married for two years now.
Interesting fact I was born and raised in Germany and moved to the US about nine years ago.
I'm new here. My name is Brie and I am in my fourth month of my pregnancy.
Due date?
August 26th
How did you find out?
I kinda had a feeling, as we do, and so I bought a test and accidentally left it out in the bathroom. My husband saw it and immediately said "ummmm, you have to pee on this right now!!!" haha I stalled a little bit (not cause I didn't want to know, but even though its something we want, its still a little nerve wracking). So we starting playing a game we had gotten at x-mas and after the first round he looked at me and said "ok you HAVE to do it now". So I did, we played another around while we waited for the results. Then we both slinked slowly into the bathroom to see. Sure enough, 2 strong double lines!
Job?
I work in the Film & TV industry as a makeup and makeup FX artist.
Hobbies?
I love the beach and the ocean. If I could scuba dive every day I would, but unfortunately I currently live in a land-locked state! I enjoy hiking and being outside. To be honest, I am also currently trying to find a new hobby with is a touch frustrating at times.
Other children/pregnancies?
First Pregnancy.
Pets?
2 pups. Ladybird was our first. She was a rescue off the streets and is basically my shadow. She is an Amstaff Terrier. Blue is new to our family, also a rescue, and a bit of a special case. He was found in the woods where we are pretty sure he was born and raised for the first few months of his life, so he is still learning that humans are not so scary.
Spouse?
Married 6 months (but we dated 6 years prior)
Due date? Between August 7 - 11
How did you find out? Was trying for a few months so just kept testing via ovulation strips and pregnancy test.
Job? Went to school for Civil Engineering and hold a position as a Transportation Engineer in the Public Sector
Hobbies? Baking and cooking,
Other children/pregnancies? First time mom
Pets? as my screen name says.....dog mom to my two chihuahuas. Louie (male) will be 7 in May, very protective and attached to me, but so sweet and gentle....when he likes you lol Then there is Coco (female) who will be 5 in June, she is half chihuahua and half we dont know what. She is not as feisty as Louie, she is a daddys girl and is attached to my husband by the hip...or ankle lol
Spouse? Married for 3 years. He works in finance/budgeting.
Job?
Running, exercise
Not yet
None
Due date-
Sometime in later August
My clothes were not fitting correctly and I initially blamed it on the slow winter months. Started noticing a bump so I took a test. A dating ultrasound last week had me 18 week pregnant and due in August. I'm terrified and not handling it well.
Job-
I'm a Registered Nurse turned stay at home mom as I follow my spouse around for his job. He's a military Registered Nurse.
Hobbies?
Traveling,
Other children/pregnancies?
I have a 9 year old girl, almost 6 year old girl, almost 4 year old boy, and a 18 month old girl.
Pets?
One cat
Spouse?
My spouse and I have been married for nine years.
Also, my husband is active duty military, so it's nice that someone else here might be somewhat acclimated to the military lifestyle! (Correct me if I'm wrong, ladies, but...) I think I'm the only military wife here! Welcome to the board, and congratulations on your news. This is a great support group, so I hope you'll stick around!
Very late here...was a little hesitant to jump in this time around, but feeling pretty positive at this point and would love to get to know you all!
Due Date: August 20
How did you find out?: I suspected I was pregnant fairly early after I had a little spotting 9 DPO. I woke up early the morning I expected to get my period and took a test and it was positive!
Jobs?:
Clinical psychologist by profession....currently the house manager (husband's term) after moving cross country late last summer and waiting on licensure, dealing with dozens of this old house projects, and knowing we were trying to get pregnant and that I would stay home for a while anyway.
Hobbies?:
Knitting, gardening, cooking/baking, starting to learn sewing, reading and crosswords
Other children/pregnancies?:
We had a missed miscarriage last April (so I've been a bit guarded this time around)
Pets?:
Spouse?
I met my husband in 2005 and we got married in 2010
Looking forward to sharing this journey with you!
Job?
Membership Director at a health club.
Puzzles, reading
No children. Have been pregnant two time previously. Went in to preterm labor at 23 weeks in April 2018, and had a miscarriage at 10 weeks in October 2019.
2 cats
Due Date: 8/21/2021
TTC #2: Jan 2019
DS: 2.5 yo
EDD: 12/2/16 DOB: 10/22/16
(Previously MBS2016 Dec 2016 board