The Trip-- to Blogher '09

I'm about to embark on what may be one of the funnest trips of my life. As many of you know I won the 4th Wheel Contest with The Blogrollers and I'm heading to Atlanta tomorrow morning!! I'm leaving a day early so I can spend a day with my best friend, who is expecting her little one (the one who tested out the Intelligender for me!). We're hoping to spend the day catching up, and I just can't wait to see her tummy! She's about 19 weeks now and she says she has a little bump. Expect to see lots of pictures and possibly videos coming!

I've never been to BlogHer before so I'm not quite sure what to expect. I've been to several journalism conferences in the past but those were much more professional. This one should have a lot of parties, and get-togethers, as well as classes. Don't worry, I'll share all the good info I learn!

While the Blogrollers are hooking me up with a sweet ride (courtesy of Chevy), my ticket, and fun along the way, I also have my own amazing sponsors who are hooking me, and others up with cool stuff during the trip! You'll see me blogging about:
Conceive Online: Probably my newest favorite website. A GREAT resource for all things TTC. I'm one of their newest bloggers, and it's been fun sharing my thoughts there as well. They also have a great place on their site called MyConceive which has great forums, and places to get advice and connect with others TTC. Look for me to get some Conceive swag!
Skincare RX: A great site that makes dermatologist and spa-grade skincare products easy to access. I'll be trying out some of their stuff during the trip.
Dittany Baby: What a shop! They have some of the most beautiful, high-quality products I've seen so far. They sell adorable things for mommy and child, from nursing covers, to slings to leg warmers and lula covers, there's a cute color or style for everyone.
Bellybar: I can't begin to express how excited I am about these guys! I've been wanting to say something for awhile but I have been so busy and trying to get it organized. I was looking at different kinds of nutritious bars to bring on the trip and when I found them I freaked! This company specialized in products to use before, during and after pregnancy! How perfect is that for me? Sure... I could eat any kind of protein bar, but this one is yummy, and has some good natural prenatal nutrients. Find me to get a sample!
Kelloggs: Can you believe they hooked me up?! I am so excited to be munching on some of their 100 calorie packs on the trip... Lawd knows I get the munchies! I'll let you know what kind I'm eating, and if you're lucky, I'll share!
Poken Zoo: Also sent me a Poken... remember in my video I was asking what they were? I'll tell you more about this later but basically it's a REALLY cool social networking device!!

Like I said I'll be blogging more about these sponsors during my trip, as well as other stuff I get while I'm there and things I try with The Blogrollers.

Now my question for you... Are you going? If you are let me know, I'd love to meet up! Speaking of meeting up! If you are in the Atlanta area, we are having our "BlogHer or Bust Road Trip Bon Voyage Party" at 7:00pm on Tuesday July 21 at their favorite pizza joint, Blue Moon Pizza in Vinings. Come join us for a fun-filled evening of pizza, BlogRoller-tinis (I'll be drinking the virgin kind), and of course, PRIZES!! Leave a comment to get an official invite or click here. We'll also be streaming the party live if you can't make it.

It's funny but I'm probably just as excited or more just to be riding with these great women! They all work from home and have successful careers, and are moms. MyBrownBaby has three kids, Wifey has two and so does Chatterbox. And they've all written books!! ...I just am excited to pick their brains about being moms and doing it all! How do yall do it??!

AND... When I get back it'll almost be August which is just one month away from September--My tentative date for putting the Baby Makin' Machine in full service!! I told my BFF and she's excited.. We're hoping our first kid will be less than a year apart... BUT again... Not going to try to overly plan! I don't want to get my hopes up! I'll take it easy.

Question for you: A commenter told me that the thing she thinks made the most difference when TTC was position... What do you think what the thing that helped you best?

I'll leave you with a silly video my BFF and I made a couple of years ago. Oh man... What's to come?! Just to give a little background... We were vlogging before we knew what that meant, in this minute-long video we are trying to figure out what the glitch is in the corner of my computer screen.

The Godmother

Fourth-grade was one of my favorite years of elementary school. Not because I had the coolest teachers or because I made straight-A's but because that's the year I made a best friend.

I remember it like it was yesterday, our classes were combined and we were making totem polls with animals on them to describe what kind of person we were. I noticed the girl working on her project next to me had a rabbit on hers... 'What a strange animal to choose,' I thought. I asked her why she put a rabbit on hers and she told me because she was as swift as a rabbit.

"I bet I'm faster than you," I challenged, and she accepted--Today, at recess, we'd race.

We went to the long, open end of the playground with lots of running room. We had an audience nearby watching, cheering us on, and keeping us fair. I didn't have a doubt in my mind that I'd win.

"On your mark. Get set. GO!"

We both took off running but didn't get far before we heard a strange noise. A fart? I can't remember, but we both laughed the whole way down the field. Can't remember who won but it didn't matter. That moment is what started our unbreakable friendship.

The rest is history.

When 5th grade rolled around her mom switched her into my class. We had our ups and downs as any friends do, but Shannon has been my most loyal friend my entire life. She stuck up for me when people made fun of me--Called me anorexic. Told them I ate like a pig and just don't gain a think--"You should be jealous" she's tell them.

In junior high we both were cut during Dance Team tryouts, and we were sad together. She stood by my side as I was rejected by several boys. And we folded and passed notes like no other.

In high school, my moving to a new neighborhood and new school didn't keep us from being best friends. We went to each other's homecoming dances, and we kept each other in check when we veered from the straight and narrow. We went to different churches, but shared the same devotion to our Lord and Savior.

Then the big move came... My family moved across the country to Arizona, where I completed my last semester of high school. We didn't see each other for 5 years, though we called, and wrote often... And every time we talked it was like we hadn't skipped a beat.

We finally saw each other again in college. She flew out to Utah to visit me at BYU. I had just started dating my husband and it was already serious... He was moving in a few weeks so I was torn with spending quality time with her as well as him. Looking back I should have enjoyed that time with her because I have the rest of my life to spend with him!--Unfortunately I didn't know nor understand that at the time.

We didn't see each other again for three years after that. Then I moved to Atlanta for a summer job and internship, and while we were both busy, we made sure to spend as much time together as possible... This time I was married but away from my husband and SHE had the serious boyfriend. It's funny how easy it is to see how it feels once you're on the other side of the fence--For both of us.

I flew out to Atlanta again a year after my stint living there for her wedding and we haven't gotten together since. Of course we talk all the time... Possibly more than ever now, as we're both married, and going through similar questions and challenges.

We told each other we'd wait to have children the same time so we could also go through that experience together.--You know, remember this post? As I started thinking more and more about becoming a mom and my urge grew stronger as the years of my marriage went by, I began to think she'd have to catch up on my second kid... So you can imagine my surprise when last month she told me she was pregnant. Now she's trying to get ME to catch up to her! Oh how the tables have turned. At first I took it hard, but now I am more happy for her than ever. I'm already trying to figure out when I'll be able to plan my trip down there, plan a baby shower and spoil the mom-to-be and baby!

Yesterday when we were talking on the phone I just couldn't wrap the idea around it--Her being a MOM. I can totally picture it, it's just so hard to believe that we're here already. Her--A mom to me, and me, contemplating being a mom-to-be. It seems like just yesterday we were chanting "Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married WITH TRISTAN!"... Our 5th grade crush. I feel like her becoming a mom is kind of like me becoming a mom--Or being forced to grow up just a little bit more as my best friend--My sister embarks on this journey. Yesterday, when I was talking about being an "auntie" she corrected me and said "Godmother!"

After Googling the term to make sure I knew exactly what my duties entailed, it seems as though nowadays it's more of an honorary term. I'll be like the extra-mommy there to spoil forever! I'm so excited and so honored! She'll of course be the Godmother of my children as well, and I just can't wait until we both have our little kids and can live near each other and have our kids grow up together! Hopefully I won't be too far behind...

Are you a Godparent? What are your duties? Do your children have Godparents?

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I'm coming up on my 6-month Blogaversary (I know, so what, but I like reasons to celebrate, ok?) so I figured I'll do a little Q and A. Feel free to ask me any question your heart desires (favorite food, color, whatever!) and I'll answer them on Friday May 29th for my Half-Blogaversary! You can ask in the comments or email them to babymaking machine (at) gmail.com.