All About Our Trip Part 2: Blogfriend

Forgive me as this post will not be a play-by-play of our visit with Lindsay. She already did a spectacular job writing it up on her blog with her pictures. I had some deeper thoughts on what my blogfriends mean to me.

I don't know the first time I "met" Lindsay. We were both part of the May 2006 Babycenter message board and eventually we found each other's blogs. We've been reading each other's blogs for well over two years. For new blog readers, I think the part of blogging that you don't see is the interaction. People leave comments, you email them back (or comment back) and over time, you learn more and more about each other.

I always liked Lindsay but this internet-friend experience is hard to navigate. You don't want to look like a weirdo when you call someone your friend but you've never met in real life (IRL). But after two years of reading posts, emailing, and sharing posts on Babycenter, you get a real sense of what a person is like. For those still questioning this, I provide this piece of proof: my own mother reads my blog daily because she says it is like getting to talk to me every day. And from all my interactions with Lindsay, I always knew she would be a person I would like IRL.

My blogfriends have been with me through some very difficult times and vice versa. They've been there every day on my mothering journey. They been with me through sleepless nights caring for sick babies. They kept my spirits high when Alex had his helmet. They cheered when Nate finally became a happy baby. They saw first solids, first steps, tantrums, terrible twos, and my growth as a mother. I've been there with Lindsay through PPD, working mom struggles, a miscarriage, a new baby, and transitioning to life with two kids. For me, my blogfriends are a big part of my support system.

I have now met five blogfriends, and each time I have been blown away by how comfortable I have felt with them. I have been blown away by how much I truly like them. And crazily enough, I like them even more in person. While I know them through their blogs, in person they are even more incredible. Meeting them in person shows me what they really look like, what they really sound like, how they laugh. And most importantly, I have been able to look all of them in the eye and see their good souls.

I'm pretty lucky to have found such amazing women. I decided I'm done with the word "blogfriend." My blogfriends are my friends. I'm 100% convinced of that after meeting Beth, Megan, Joanna, Goddess, and Lindsay. All hail the mighty power of the internet.

Now for the pictures!

Three of our boys playing bubbles - Alex, Nate, and JTC.



Lindsay operating more bubbles.

Why blog about Letter Factory separately when they can watch it together?

Linday's first sweetie, JTC.

Lindsay's second sweetie pie, AJC. This might be the smiliest baby I've ever met.

And really, can you get three boys together and NOT have a crazy face picture?

Back to regularly scheduled blogging tomorrow.