Giving this Blogging Thing Another Try...

It's been 2 years since my last blog post... but I've decided to give this blogging thing another try. I've really missed blogging over the last couple of years and I've really missed the new bloggy friends I had met through   blogging, but mainly through Twitter. (Although, I am not quite ready to go back to Twitter yet, but that is probably a whole other post.) 

Why come back to this blog, you ask? Why now? 

Well, honestly, I've thought about returning to this blog several times over the last few years, but I would always get scared and back out. 

Why was I scared, you ask?

Because blogging and tweeting was becoming a little bit of an obsession for me and I no longer knew if I was doing it for the right reasons. I was staying up late writing posts. I had made a "1 post a day" rule for myself. I was tweeting like a mad lady. I felt guilty if I didn't read everyone else's (my friends, followers, and twitter buddies) blog posts daily - it seemed they were all reading my blog fairly regularly so I wanted to reciprocate. Plus reading blogs is almost as fun as writing blog posts! 

But, also, I was eager to expand my blog. And excited about the possibility of earning extra money by advertising and attracting sponsors for my blog. Don't get me wrong - advertising and sponsors are awesome resources for bloggers and what could be more awesome than earning a little extra money doing something you love to do? 

The danger, as I quickly learned, was that instead of blogging because I wanted to blog, I found myself blogging because I had to blog ... in an effort to create and build and expand my brand. And that, my dear friends, was like having a second full time job! It was EXHAUSTING!! Always thinking about what to post for the day, constantly tweeting, constantly promoting ... pumping out post after post, day after day. And, the contests and giveaways! So many contests and reviews and giveaways. The responsibility of it all weighed heavy on me. It makes my heart pound just thinking about the pressure I had put upon myself! 

There I was trying to juggle a full time job, husband, house, 2 active boys, and the demands of pregnancy all while trying to keep up with this blog. It was too much. I just couldn't do it. So... 

I quit.

Actually I "took a break" but as the days turned into weeks, I couldn't brink myself to come back to this blog. I felt embarrassed that I gave up. But I also felt relief from the stress of it all. I had gotten in over my head. I tried to do too much, too soon.

And, I lost the enjoyment of blogging.

Now, after a little over 2 years, I am ready to come back to blogging. SLOWLY. Without the pressure to blog every day. Or even every week. Without the pressure to tweet and promote the blog. This time, I am blogging for ME! And, of course anyone who needs a little support and encouragement once in awhile as we  continue along in this crazy, hectic, AMAZING little journey called motherhood... 

Random Rantings and a Day Off!

It's been a week since I last blogged. I guess I am still a bloggy slacker... BUT I do have A LOT of excuses. *wink, wink*

1. Being pregnant is exhuasting.
2. Morning sickness
3. Second and third graders have a lot of homework.
4. My husband's "busy season" has begun.
5. Flag football every Thursday.
6. Our weekends have been jammed-packed!

Ok, well that's only six excuses, but they are all legitimate! =)

Next topic.

I've been having the crazy, vivid pregnancy dreams lately. Last night I dreamt I was a doctor and then delivered my own baby! Two nights ago I dreamt John & I bought a house with my stepson's mother and fiance and I kept getting stuck doing all the dishes.

I wonder what those dreams mean? If you analyze dreams, by all means let me know what these crazy dreams mean!

Next topic.

Have you ever had a close family member that totally crossed a line? I won't go into details, but a couple of weeks ago I had a close family member make some statements that truly offended my husband and me. I haven't talked to her since. Although she apologized to my husband she has not apologized to me. Maybe she doesn't realize how hurtful her statements were?

I'm sure over time I will just get over it. But this particular family member gets away with making hurtful remarks like that to various family members quite often and I am just tired of walking on eggshells around her. She's one of those people who can dish it, but can't take it. How do you handle situations like that? I'm not a very confrontational person unless I really have to be...

I have the day off today!!

Today is Columbus Day and one of the perks of being a state employee is having Columbus Day off. The reason this is so awesome is b/c the kiddos have school! That's right - I'm home and the kiddos are not here today! But it's not a totally free day for me. I do want to get some major cleaning done today - or at least some moderate cleaning...

I need to at least vacuum, but I really should run the carpet steam cleaner too... I need to straighten up the kitchen, but I really should do the hardwood floors and the stainless steel... I need to do some light dusting, but I really should do some heavy dusting...

What I really want to do? Nap. Nap and watch A Baby Story.

It's not quite noon and I have until three before the kiddos get home so I better get busy!

Bloggy Slacker

Yes, I've been a bloggy slacker. The last few weeks have just proven hard to find the time (or energy) to blog.  As most of you know, my husband and I are expecting a baby - after a whole year of battling secondary infertility. I am thrilled to be pregnant, but everything comes with a price.

Two weeks ago I was on bed rest due to something called subchrionic bleeding. Later, my doctor discovered two empty yolk sacks in my uterus. My understanding of that discovery is that there was originally 3 embryos, but only one implanted. Quite the revelation!

Pregnancy has also made me totally, utterly exhausted. Expected, I know. Still it has really thrown me for a loop. It's hard to work all day and then taxi around two 8 year old boys at night. And then homework, dinner, etc. By the time I get all the "must do" stuff completed, I am whooped! No energy to blog.

And, can you believe, I haven't been feeling the Twitter thing either lately?! That's just not normally like me. Maybe I'm in a funk? But I really don't feel like I am ... I am just tired. I am focusing every. single. stitch. of energy that I have on getting through me day.

Oh, and I thought I was going to avoid the morning sickness thing this time around - wrong! Still, it's not as bad as it was with my first pregnancy, but I am still having some nausea..

Last week, Khegan's grandfather passed away. I know I may have mentioned this to some of you before on Twitter. Khegan was very close to his Pappie. His mother lives/lived with her mom and dad so Khegan saw Pappie frequently. It was very tough on him (and still is). It's been an ordeal for our entire stepfamily. Emotionally exhausting.

Then, just last weekend one of my best friends got married. I was in the wedding of course. I had to juggle all the pre-wedding events with Khegan's grandfather's funeral events. It was challenging, but I managed. The wedding was beautiful and everyone had a great time.

I am going to try my bestest to get back on the bloggy train. There is no way I am going to be posting every day like I was for awhile. But, I am going to try to post 2 to 3 times a week. So please don't give up on me! =)