BCM - How did your life change when you became a mom?

Carley - People talk about waiting until the “right time” to have a baby… Well, I got pregnant immediately after my husband David Liu and I received our financing for our business, The Knot Inc. (parent company of The Bump). We were just getting started. We were working 15 hours a day, seven days a week. We barely had time to eat, never mind have a baby! I actually cried; How on earth would we handle it all? Well, when my sweet little Havana was born we just made it work. I took two weeks maternity leave and then brought her to our office in Soho and hid her in the back hall with an intern when important people (like our investors) came for meetings. Even after three kids, I’ve never considered stopping working – although I completely respect the moms who do – I wanted to have it all. But of course, you never do get to “have it all”!  I’ve only read three books in the past 10 years, I can’t name the president of Pakistan, I am always desperate for a manicure, and I never ever exercise!

BCM - What has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?

Carley -The moments I love most as a mom are those that happen between 6 and 7 a.m. One by one “my babies” as I call them (even though Havana is 11!) make their way into our bedroom to snuggle and chat with us. There is a lot of giggling, bouncing, pillow throwing, pushing, tickling, and “No, I’m next to mommy!”-yelling. If I have to leave early for a TV segment or travel for work, these are the moments I miss the most. I always try to emblaze them in my memory—because I will NEVER let a picture get taken at that time of day—the camera would break!

BCM - What has been the biggest challenge for you in motherhood?

Carley -My biggest challenge of motherhood has simply been managing to keep all the balls in the air. I have a hundred items on my work to do list: Did I assign that new project to someone? Did I call back that photographer? I have to post for that new open position! What on earth am I going to wear on the Today Show this week? THEN, I have the far more important—and never ending—mom to do list: When was that doctor’s appointment? Who needs new socks? Did I send the school permission form for the class outing? Who is picking up from that birthday party and did I buy a gift?! Things feel constantly on the brink of going out of control—but you just get used to it after a while… (And I am constantly leaning on my mom-friends for help—thank goodness for my mom friends!)

BCM - What inspired you to start The Knot?

Carley -When I got engaged in 1993, my now-husband (and business partner) and I were excited like any others, but quickly realized we weren’t the ones the wedding planning resources were directed toward. For one thing, I was working 70 hours a week at the time, and no vendors were open when I needed to plan after 7 p.m. Plus, there was no etiquette for modern couples: no Q&A about divorced parents and family members, etc, no ideas for a little blond girl marrying a 6 ft tall Chinese guy (never mind no red wedding dresses since my future MIL informed me that white was the color of mourning!), and no tips on paying for your wedding yourself.

With the realization that the world of weddings was outdated, cluttered and chaotic, I and three other partners formed The Knot Inc. in 1996 to help today’s brides and grooms (and their families and guests) plan the weddings of their dreams—whether it’s a first-time fairytale wedding or a third-time destination wedding.

BCM - How and why did you get into the baby business?   What are some of the sites that Big City Moms can use?

Carley -As soon as I had babies, I was dying to grow the business from weddings to pregnancy and babies! Moms are desperate for up-to-date, real, and reliable advice. There were some great websites out there already, but I felt there was an opportunity to create a site for first time moms that was more down to earth, more local, and ultimately more fun! As soon as we had the chance, we launched a web community for moms called TheBump.com. There is a special area on TheBump.com/newyork where local moms can get and share advice on being a mom in the big city!  We also have The Bump in magazine form—upscale local guidebooks that are given at the best OB offices and stores around New York City (we also have them in 17 other cities around the country.) Other sites to check out are Mommyhood by The Bump—a fabulous and fun Facebook application where you can communicate and send awesome virtual gifts to your mommy friends. LilaGuide.com has the best local listings as voted by real moms in 20 top cities around the country, including of course, New York. Also on the more serious side, Big City Moms can check out Breastfeeding.com, the #1 site for moms looking for breastfeeding advice and local lactation consultants.

BCM - How do you manage your career while being a mother and a wife? Any advice for moms?

Carley -Figure out how to survive on no sleep. Become a really good juggler, and perfect your ability to change personas on a dime – book-reading-to-the-kindergarten-class mommy one minute, Blackberry-wielding-emailing-to-get-the-deal-done career girl the next.  Also: Find great friends who are willing to put up with you waiting three weeks to return their phone calls. Find an amazing person to help you like my sitter/lifesaver Sue, and treat them incredibly well. Make a pact with your spouse to take 20 minutes at the end of each night to just sit and gossip over a glass of wine—it is amazing what simply talking can do for your relationship. Take a day off every once in a while and play hooky with your kids.

BCM - What types of activities do you like to do w/ your kids?   

Carley -I love to be out and about with my babies. This weekend we all took the free ferry to Governor’s Island and rode bicycles and had a picnic—A MUST DO THIS SUMMER!  Otherwise we are playing soccer in Cadman Plaza Park in Brooklyn. Going to the Prospect Park Zoo—it’s little, but we love it. We hang out for hours in Empire Fulton Park under the Brooklyn Bridge and toss stones in the river or play in the pirate ship park. We also go gallery hopping in Brooklyn. MOMA is our winter haven; we go at least once a month. Finally, I am an avid New Victory Theater supporter. We see almost every show each season. I love to take the kids to dances and performances from all over the world—they have a blast!

BCM - If you could give another mom or expectant mom one piece of advice, what would it be?

Carley -Relax and trust your instincts. Even though I am in the advice business, I think that moms can feel and know deep down inside what is right for them and their babies and mostly when they consult books or come online they are looking for someone to validate their feelings. Still reach out to friends and community because it is important to have many points of view, but only you can know what is best for you and your baby.