Blogoversary

Reading to DD and SI on my blogoversary eve

Today is my blogoversary.

My first header

This isn't really such a big deal.  After all, is a blog a living, breathing thing?  Is it really any more complicated than an elaborate diversion?  A plea for acknowledgment from the vast expanses of the universe?  A bitter cry for attention in  life that has undoubtedly placed me in the role of "the mother," a notoriously ignored and under appreciated title?

A blog isn't a child, it's not a even a job.  I'm not even sure that it's a hobby.  It's just a thing that I do.

My second header

But yes, I do seem to think it's kind of important.  I've put so much of my energy into this blog, poured out so much of my soul, made so many very personal connections.  I feel I've created something that might not exactly be wonderful, but that (at least to me) feels very real.  I am very proud of my blog.  I'm proud of how well I've fallen back into my writing routine, I'm proud of the way I've managed to express what I consider the truths in my life.  I'm proud of the jokes I've made.  I've come to love my blog.

My third header

I had all these grandiose plans- I wanted to give you- the readers who have made me feel so warm and fuzzy about not just my life, but my ability to maintain a modicum of my pre-parenthood self- something awesome.

I wanted to record lullabyes for you to play to your kids.  My musician friend who was going to help me with that is a musician, which is to say "flake."

I wanted to make something nice, maybe a loaf of bread, to ship overnight to one lucky reader.  But I've been way too busy to pull out the bread machine.  That would involve clearing off the counter.

I wanted to take some spectacular pictures of my family.  Maybe a "Thank You" video.  But I didn't.  My children aren't always interested in being filmed.

My fourth header

I almost didn't even write anything today.  Today I went to the Museum of Science and Industry- without my children.  I saw some friends, I relaxed a bit, I did some homework, I ate some pizza.  And I didn't think too much about the fact that one year ago today I decided that I was going to start publicly blogging about motherhood.

I'm not really sure why I did it.  I knew that there were a lot of mommy-blogs, and I wasn't terribly interested in them.  I already had a personal blog, I didn't think there would exactly be much of an audience for my litany of diaper talk and cute baby pictures.

My first branding

But a year ago today, while my six month old twins napped, I started blogging about them.

So now here I am.  "Mommy Blogger" has practically become part of my identity.  I've learned all sorts of acronyms I'd never heard of before, I've joined half a dozen networking sites that I'd never imagined existed, and I've had strangers from all over the world (I'm always astounded by where Google track my readers from, Hello Slovenia!  Hello Germany!  Hello Australia!) laugh, cry, and ponder over the bizarre adventure that is parenthood.

Thank you, all of you, for reading.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My blog's name's inspiration

I don't know what I'm going to do to thank you properly.  Once my musician friend finally comes around, I'll get those lullabyes for you.  (Yes, and that silly do-wop song.)  Once I'm done with my final projects I'll get that video for you.  And if you'd like, anyone who wants a box of cookies can comment here and I'll send you one.  Because I love that all of you seem to like me enough to keep this silly thing going.

...and I love this stupid blog.  From the doodles of my kids to the description of my cat.  This blog is so much like my home.  I painted my home in orange and blue, and without even noticing I designed my blog in the same colors.  My home is full of pretty things, cluttered even.  And so it this blog, little pictures and videos and a smattering of buttons.  My house is a barely contained mess, just as this blog is constantly littered with typos and dangling articles.  And of course, both are filled with my family, and my family's love.

My first foray into graphic design

So this is where I live, when I don't feel like living in the real world for a few minutes.  This is where I go to proclaim my little victories and my abysmal failures.  This is where I go to brag and to whine.

It's my happy place.

So Happy Blogoversary, blog.  I didn't get you anything, but I do love you.  And I'll definitely still be here come next April 9th, so that maybe I can do this thing right.

All my love to you, my readers, and to this amazing thing that is the blogosphere.  All my love.

Always reading, always writing