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 Great Big Giant Question Thread!
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
@and_peggy only the electric pump from my previous pregnancy. I havent used it in about 3 years. It may be worth testing out...
I just looked at the portal and it says the Panorama Prenatal Test is still being processed but the Horizon Carrier Screen is ready :O!!! Which one is the one that shows the sex? Of course DH is not home today so I can't just open that portion to see what has what.
PS. I have an appointment on Thursday so hoping both results will be ready by then
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
I have an 8 passenger 2019 Honda Odyssey. My current situation is:
Almost 6 year old in Chicco booster
4 year old in Graco Transitionz
3 year old in Britax marathon
18 month old in Britax Marathon (rear face)
When baby comes I’ll use a Chicco keyfit
One of the marathons expires next year and definitely won’t last through another kid anyway.
My future situation will be (summer time)
6 year old - booster
5 (in august) - booster
3.5 - ?
2 year old?
baby - Chicco keyfit
Ideally, I’d love to fit the older 3 in the 3rd row. So 2 boosters and 1 FF seat. The 5 year old will need help buckling probably. I just don’t know what’s realistic. I wouldn’t mind having 3 in middle row but I would prefer to not. I don’t know, it’s just a source of stress. I don’t want to buy seats and send back over and over. Money is not an issue but if I can do it inexpensively, that’s preferred. I also don’t want rear facers in 3rd row. So I have not a lot of options. I don’t want to load through trunk. And I’m not a diono fan. Basically I just don’t know what to do.
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
I ended up emailing a CPST in my area and she’s going to try and help too. Pooling all my resources to figure out the best solution.
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
was also looking at maxi cosis for the booster option. Thoughts on that one?
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WHSQ1SF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My friends are doing ivf and have been super open about their journey. She’s 10dp5dt. I don’t know what is appropriate when it comes to reaching out to her. Can anyone give me some insight? I’m excited for her and so curious how things are going and if she’s tested yet, but I also am afraid to reach out if it’s bad news or if she wants to keep it a secret for a little bit- more so the first one.
Married: 4/5/13
"You know that place between sleep and awake,
that place where you can still remember dreaming?
That's where I will always love you.
That's where I'll be waiting."
~Peter Pan
*TW*
BFP #2: 10/29/17 MMC dx @ 9 weeks
BFP #3: 2/2/18 MC 2/7/18
BFP #4: 3/2/18 MC 3/9/18
RPL testing and hysteroscopy: all normal
BFP #5: 4/1/18 MMC dx @ 14 weeks ----> genetically normal girl :'(
Hysteroscopy to remove scar tissue 9/28
BFP #6 11/5/18 EDD 7/20/19
BFP #7 12/8/2021 EDD 8/22/2022
all of my friends were pregnant, especially if it doesn’t work and you two are close, I would check in with her and see how much she wants to hear about updates about your pregnancy. I basically had to ask my close friends to wait for me to ask about them how they were (instead of getting unsolicited ultrasound pictures, complaints, etc). They were very kind and did not take it personally which was so helpful to me.
Re: the whole taking to other pregnant people thing, honestly, I couldn’t handle hearing updates from my pregnant friends. I desperately wanted to be happy for them, and I was, but I was just also so sad all the time, and my sadness was always bigger. I couldn’t handle it. It was self protection.
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19