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: Introduce Yourself Here!
Due date? Sometime in January....haven't been able to get in to my Dr yet.....based off conception date January 13th based on period January 20th
How did you find out? Checked my period tracking app after we had set and not8ced it happened on a day that had a high chance of pregnancy....waited until 10 days after and had 2 negative test....tested again a couple days later...appeared negative but I saved it....the next day I looked at it again and I could see the faintest line.....waited a few more days and got a clear blue digital test that came back pregnant 1-2 weeks.
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?): I have a 9 year old son from a previous relationship, and a 2 and a half year old son with my husband. I currently cook at a daycare that has 120 kids. My husband is also a cook at a local busy restaurant. We have a cat and dog who are currently living with my mother as my fig needs a larger property than what we have and my cat has just stayed at her place as well after I moved out. We also have a per rabbit named Lola who stays with us at our apartment.
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)? Major pregnancy Braun...I accidently left my phone on the roof of my car 2 nights ago and drove off...needless to say I got a new phone....and I have been making thensilliest mistakes at work for at least 2 weeks now
Due date? Dec 21
DS#2 due 25 April 2019
Hi I’m Shelby,
Due date?
Well based on my lmp it’s 12/21 but baby is measuring a few days earlier.
How did you find out? Had an iud out in January and started trying the next month. Had one cycle then found out almost 4 days early via hpt on easter.
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?):
I am in the intermodal business. My husband is navy so we live off the east coast with our two dogs and son. We took an earlier blood test and discovered this baby is a girl this week.
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)? Anxiety is very present. Super emotional about everything and very hungry for no reason.
Introduce yourself: I go by Pyro online. I am 30yo and this is my first pregnancy.
Due date? 12-9 or 12-11 depending on which doc we talked to :)
How did you find out? We've been trying for a year and a half. In January we started seeing a fertility doc. After a lot of testing and appointments, doc gave me 2 meds: 1 to force me to have my period (mine were super irregular) then 1 to force me to ovulate. Before taking the first med, doc said I needed to take a pregnancy test since it would be very bad for an existing pregnancy. It was positive!!! Turned out we didn't need any medical intervention. Although I have to give the fertility doc credit, the reduction in stress that came with having a real plan to conceive probably helped a lot!
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?): My husband has 2 kids from a previous marriage who live with their mom. We have a very sweet old cat. I love crafting and gaming. Also hiking on occasion, although I tend to be the target of all biting insects. I work in IT, which is great since I can work from home!
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)? Only symptoms so far are breast tenderness and fatigue. I got really lucky and haven't had any nausea or constipation!! I was expecting to feel pretty miserable this trimester, so feeling thankful about that. We have already told most of our family, but we will be sharing with his daughters this weekend, which does add a little anxiety. They are such an important part of our lives and I am hoping they will be excited and involved, but we have some concerns about their reactions.
Due date - December 11th
How did you find out? I had some weird symptoms going on and when my cycle didn't show up, I tested the next morning.
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?): Being a mom of a teenager and a "pre-teen" keep my busy. I work from home full-time and my husband is a teacher/coach at a local high school. I enjoy reading and crafting (when i have time) - but mostly a pretty laid back person who just is looking to connect with others during this journey....and a plus would be other moms who can relate to having teenagers at the same time.
DS#2 born in 2010
PG with #3 - due December 2023
Due date? 12/22
How did you find out?
I miscarried in March. It was horrible and the bleeding was insane for a long time. I never got normal as I just felt terrible. When I realized (while on Vacay) that I was cramping prior to the trip and probably
should have had my period. Surprise!
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?):
I work part time from home but am mostly a SAHM to 3 crazy boys. We have 2 dogs and 1 cat. We spend so much time doing sports with the bigger boys that in our down time we just like to hang at home. Bonfires with the neighbors and snuggling the kiddos in bed are about as exciting as we get these days.
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)?
month old doesn’t help either.
Due date? 12/16
How did you find out? After trying for few years, two MMC, and dealing with other fertility clinics that we didn't feel comfortable with we tried a different clinic. Tried a couple of rounds of IUI then had a cycle that needed to be timed intercourse. Found out two weeks later from blood work 😀
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? No children but we have a sassy little English Bulldog named Hector.
Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?): My husband and I own a tree care company, so it's all trees all the time!
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)? Ugh I'm having all of the symptoms!! But I am grateful for the constant reminder everything is still in motion. After having two MMC I have been a little guarded and reluctant to let myself getting excited. I have been creeping around on here for a few weeks and have been scared to interact (sorry 😕). But I think I'm finally ready to feel the joy I should be feeling, I'm further along than ever before, and I'm excited to participate!
Hi everyone and congrats!!
Due date: end of dec
We were trying. This will be baby #2.
We also have a fur baby
Nausea just hit hard yesterday. Cravings. Hunger that turns to nausea that turns to hungry. Sore breasts. Very excited!
Due date? December 31
How did you find out?
I had a GI specialist appointment and he needed to do a pregnancy test prior to some of his testing. Called me two hours later and was like soooo your pregnant!
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?):
My husband and I have been married since 10/01/22. We have an almost 2yo black English lab who is spoiled and the biggest goof! We had been trying to get pregnant since beginning of November, but had stopped trying early February when I started having some health issues. Well, then March we got pregnant.
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)?
Emotionally we are super excited, just a bit nervous where we are still trying to figure out what is going on with my health. But nothing serious and my doctors agree my pregnancy shouldn’t be effected.
Symptoms have been pretty mild. No morning sickness, some nausea with smells. Exhausted with some headaches lately.
Due date? December, 30 2023
How did you find out? I'm never ever late on my period so when I was a day late I took a test and it was positive!
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?): I'm married to my childhood sweetheart and love of my life. We have one adorable cat that we love! I'm a manager at a Cafe. I love hiking, sightseeing, camping, watching movies, and playing Fortnite.
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)? I feel pretty good overall. I feel like alot of women have it harder than me in pregnancy. I just get tired and don't feel like eating sometimes.
Due date? Dec 3
How did you find out?
Positive tests on 3/29 when my cycle was 2-3 days late!
Tell us about yourself (Other children/pets? Job? Things you like to do? Spouse/partner?):
Married with 2 cats, 2 dogs and 6 goats. We love being outside, gardening, exploring, geo-caching. We both work full time, luckily I work from home.
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)? Feeling good! Emotional for sure. First trimester was exhausting and a bit nauseating but as long as I kept snacking I was fine. Happy to be this far along!
Due date? December 2nd 23.
How did you find out? Some time in march just before my period I was cramping badly. Thought to take a test and saw faint positive lines that has changed my life in the most amazing away.
Tell us about yourself : lost my angel baby Kobi in October ‘22.
Job? Currently starting a clothing line.
Things you like to do? I love to bake. Spouse/partner? Married to an amazing man.
How are you feeling (Any symptoms, emotionally)? Constantly feeling overwhelmed as we are expecting twins. I’m scared half the time and torn between decisions of vaginal birth or CS. But their little kicks are an assurance that all will be well and I need not worry.