The Blogrollers Goodbye: New Sisters

It wasn’t until I had gotten out of the car, grabbed my things, and turned to say goodbye that I realized what had formed. Not just a friendship that will be lost in time… A friendship—I think, will last for a lifetime.

In a short week I met, got to know, and fell in love with three wonderful women, all from different backgrounds, all with amazing talents. I learned valuable lessons from each of them, and took advice I’ll never forget.

As I walked toward my blood family, I felt as though I was leaving another part of my family behind. I confided in them about things I’ve never told another friend. After a matter of hours we felt comfortable enough to tease, and joke with one another. After a matter of days we shared delicate stories and formed a bond I hope won’t be broken.

I learned a lot at Blogher ’09: Ways to turn my blog into a published book, and ways to better write the way I’m feeling. I learned about marketing and advertising, and spreading the word about your brand. But most of all I learned more about the importance of life and relationships.

My eyes watered as I saw the way each of these women shared the pictures of their families. I nearly cried as I heard them telling their children when they were coming home, or as I saw the thoughtfulness they possessed for them. I smiled as I listened to them brag about their talents and witty ways. I felt a sting of envy when I heard their children pour the words “I love you” through the phone into their mother’s ears… And I loved witnessing every moment of it.

They called me “Youngin’” and sometimes picked on my inexperience and innocence, and joked that they were old enough to be my mother. But they treated me like a peer and we learned from each other.

I scanned their brains, and listened to their life experiences so I could learn from them, and think of how I’ll handle the situation if I’m ever faced with similar tests.

As I turned to hug my overjoyed little sister, running to jump in my arms… I realized I had just hugged my new big sisters goodbye.

Spending nearly every waking moment with three other women for a week sounds like a challenge, but I loved it, and I couldn’t have chosen any other women I’d rather share that moment of my life with.—And hopefully, more precious moments in the future.

The Birth Stories and Bellybars: Blogher Road Trip

We are back on the road again. Yesterday was a blast, we ordered food and chatted about our lives. It was nice getting to know these ladies even more. We were quoting movies and laughing our heads off about wedding stories, the funniest thing is we were so loud. Hotel management came up to our room to tell us people were complaining we were too loud. I’m not sure why they couldn’t just call but whatever.

As we were falling asleep we got on the topic of worst fears. Mine, without a doubt being spiders, and MyBrownBaby feels the same. Wifey and Chatterbox have weird fears if you ask me. Chatterbox is afraid of mascots and people who don’t talk at haunted houses and fairs and Wifey is afraid of pigeons of all things! She even told me she almost left her kid in his stroller to be taken away by them when they got too close.
They’ve all been married longer than I have, and as they shared stories of their lives it made me realize just because you’re together longer doesn’t mean you’ll always get closer, it’s something I’ll be working at forever.

This morning we got to McDonalds right before 10:30 and we really wanted breakfast. Wifey ordered first and the people there switched the signs to the lunch menu before the rest of us ordered. I don’t really understand that--30 second after 10:30 it’s time for lunch. That’s way too early for lunch. They almost didn’t let us get breakfast but luckily they hooked us up with some biscuits.

After that and a few Zzzs on my part, I started asking them about their labor stories. All of them told me they were not playin’ and went with the epidural. Wifey had a couple of false alarms before the real thing, and the night she was going into labor she didn’t want to go to the hospital before she ate her Copelands for dinner. Chatterbox didn’t want to go until she was done watching Lost. She also said she went to an Italian restaurant that guaranteed the eggplant meal would put you into labor within 24 hours.—And it worked!! I’ll have to research this topic when I’m pregnant and see if there’s any place like this near me. You heard of anything like that?

Hearing their stories about being mothers makes me excited to be one. I in no way think it will be easy, but I am glad I’m going into it with my eyes wide open.
Oh, and you know how I’ve been taking prenatals? Well, I have for a couple of months because I heard it gives your body a chance to stock up on the nutrients you need before you get pregnant. Unfortunately I forgot to pack my vitamins for this trip, which isn’t a big deal since it’s just a week—But then I realized the Bellybars I’ve been eating are still giving me a lot of the vitamins in prenatal vitamins. I told you they were one of my sponsors, and if you’re following on Twitter you know I’ve been munching on the bars and chews this whole trip and I’ve been sharing them with the ladies I’m riding with.
I know some people at first may be thinking “isn’t that a pregnancy bar?” but it’s not! It’s a nutrition bar with vitamins important before, during and after pregnancy, and in my opinion they taste better than a lot of other snack bars, and it’s not like chocking down a huge vitamin everyday. So, if you’re pregnant, or like me and thinking of getting pregnant you should check these out! My favorite flavors are the citrus chews and the yogurt crunch bars (it’s in the blue box). I’ll be giving away some prize packs when I get back, and giving more details about these yummy snacks. Oh, and if you’re at Blogher come find me, I’m giving away some chocolate belly bars (among other things... Check this pile out I put together).As far as the blog conference, I am SO excited to meet all these women., we’re almost to Chicago so I’ll start to meet people today. I am a little worried I won’t know anyone else at the conference, or know the best way to make the most out of it, but I’m just excited to be here and learning as I go.

The mommy fact learned today: Switch boobs when you breastfeed, or pump out the other one after you feed from one to avoid uneven boob sizes. Believe it or not, I didn’t know that, though it makes sense.

The Last 32 Hours-- Blogher Road Trip

I'm not sure why but I sorta feel bad that I didn't update the past couple of days. I had a REALLY bad night the other night while I was packing for this trip. We really wanted Stromboli, and my husband was craving it all day, so I made enough for us to eat the night before my trip, and so he could eat some the next day as well. Considering the fact that I wanted to pack, and get other things organized before I left... I was in a hurry to make dinner. Well my hurried dinner turned into a ruined dinner because I turned the temperature up an extra 100 degrees and this was the outcome:I was devastated!--And burst into hysterical tears. No really, I couldn't stop. And my poor husband was mad too but as usual, my tears turn him into a consoler. So he scraped off the blackness and ate two pieces, all the while telling me it tasted great.--Great guy I know.

I decided to move on to something else and make my shirt for Blogher. Nothing special, just a shirt with my Twitter name on it to wear around one day. The front of my first shirt went on first and it looked great. I moved on to the same task on my second shirt... a black one, cute style, and what did I do?--I burnt it... And started crying again.

When I finally got the courage to finish the back of my first shirt, I accidentally ruined that too by burning off one of the letters and cried through the whole process. I know my poor husband must have been wondering what in the world was wrong with me, and about ready to start consoling and start yelling or something, but instead he laughed at me. I couldn't laugh then...And I still can't laugh, but I'm sure I will be able to one day. For a second I began to wonder if I was with-spawn, I mean seriously... I cry a lot, but not so much over little stuff.

I stayed up late packing, and almost overslept my alarm. I had to leave my house at 4am in order for me to make my 6:15 flight in San Antonio, and I made it perfect timing. Once I made it on the plane things started to get better.

My BFF greeted me and brought her cooking baby along with her. I LOVED seeing her tummy, and it's feeling more real now seeing it myself. We had a blast going to the mall, Babies R' Us, and visiting my favorite news station.Last night we went to The Blogrollers bon voyage party, and I met the people I've been blog stalking for months. They were as great as they are online, and just as fun in real life.

Last night I stayed up late organizing my stuff before crashing to sleep. Now... I'm on the road, blogging from the car now.
I've already been asking them a lot of questions about careers, and a little bit about raising kids.One thing I've learned from today: Pregnancy kills braincells... It's called "Momnesia." I'm not sure what my emotional breakdown was about earlier this week, but I'm doing much better now, and can't wait to learn more!

The Spontaneous Decision

I'm normally a homebody. So when I heard that Schlitterbahn aka "The World's Best Water park" was having a media day, so me and my husband could go for free, it sounded fun, but a little bit of a hassle.

I had woken up at 3am yesterday to get ready for work. Normally I'm the evening anchor on weekends, but since the morning anchor was out of town, we switched shifts this weekend. Friday afternoon one of my friends told me she and her husband were going to the water park Saturday afternoon and that we should come too. "Yea, yea" was kind of my thought, I wasn't planning on going after an eight-hour work shift that started in the wee hours of the morning.

Saturday rolled around and though I was having a rough morning the thought of having fun after work was seeming more and more appealing. I told me husband about media day and he, like me was slightly intrigued, but the idea of lounging around the house watching movies always seems like a fun option to both of us too. My hair is also something to consider as once it gets wet it's a fro and I'll have to schedule a hair appointment shortly after so I can wear it straight to work etc. etc.

Then, somewhere between 11 and noon I felt a spark of energy and had a change in emotions. You know what? How often after having kids will I get the chance to just up and decide I want to go do something alone with my husband all afternoon? Sure-- It'll be fun to do as a family, but it'll be more expensive, and way more of a hassle. "We're going" I thought.

I called, got us on the VIP list and told hubby I wanted to go. He heard the excitement and finality in my voice and was totally with me.

It was cold rainy for part of the day but we didn't care, it was fun and it was free. We met up with my friends and visited most of the park. The lines were short and we were having a blast. I felt like a kid again as we raced off one slide and ran right back up the stairs to go down another. We ate pizza and funnel cake and went on so many rides. In fact, we stayed until the park closed at 8am.

I was feeling the pain this morning before work, once again at 3am, but I'm smiling and knowing it was worth it. It's nice to get out of our shells every once in awhile and do something sporadic... Especially since once our two becomes three, we probably won't be able to do things like that for awhile.

We saw cute families there with small kids but we know it's not the same. It won't ever be the same--Not necessarily a bad thing but something to remember as we enjoy the now.

We only took the one picture. Yep, the trip was so spontaneous I didn't even take lots of pictures... Sad, but I did get this one to remember the fun time!

The Contest I MUST Win!

I've never posted about a contest I've entered before, cause... Well, I guess they were never worth the extra 3 entries or whatever I'd get for posting about it. I figure I clutter feeds enough with all of my ramblings.

This contest I decided to post about for two reasons... 1. I have to in order to enter and 2. It's my first ever Vlog (video blog) and I think it's worth mentioning, no?

I think it's also perhaps entertaining to see me in action, talking and rambling in real life, just like I do here on this blog.

Let me tell you... When I started blogging last November I had no idea I'd get so into it! I really just liked to jot my thoughts and fluctuating feelings about my parenting transition down in one spot, and it's turned into a place I love to turn for advice and encouragement.

Just recently I was introduced to BlogHer. It's a website that's about women bloggers, and a place for women bloggers to connect. I didn't know what the big deal was, and the name kept coming up over and over again so I decided to join... What the heck right? Well, not long after joining I hear about a blog conference in Chicago where all these women get together. No sooner had I thought of asking my company if they'd pay for it (not likely) had the event sold out! Of course that made me sad. I really was looking forward to learning more about blogging and seeing all of the things I can do with a blog... Besides just write here!

Well when I heard about The Blogrollers, and their 4th Wheel Contest, I just knew this was my chance!! They're cruising from Atlanta (my hometown) to Chicago (where I was born) to go to this conference, which I pretty much think that means it's meant for me to go. Maybe I could even fly to ATL a little early to see my pregnant BFF and blog about that too, oooh, that ideas! Oh, and Chevy is giving them a car to use, and they're getting hotels and stuff like that sponsored! How cool is that? I. Must. Win.

Keepin' it real though... (I'm not just kissing butt) I think I could learn a lot from these women hosting the contest. They're all successful authors, two of them journalists, and they all get so much done career wise, while also being moms. I admire that and I hope that a trip with them could help me learn how to get to that point one day. I could trap them and ask all the mommy dirt questions I can think of!! *Evil Laugh*

I haven't been this competitive since... I don't know when but all I know is I HAVE to win! I even ordered custom designed business cards from Danielle, assuming I'd win. Getting ahead of myself?--Maybe, but I call it The Secret!I've been working SO MUCH lately, and I haven't had a lot of time to work on my video but I was off of work yesterday and spent the whole day working on it! I was going to hold off until the last night (Sunday) to post it so no one could steal my ideas but since I've never uploaded to YouTube before and since I'm working through next Tuesday, I figured I'd try now.

Unfortunately, nudity wasn't allowed so there went that strategy! I had to leave it up to my wits. I imagine all of the videos will be pretty good, so I think it'll come down to what kind of person they're interested in hanging out with. Ummm, let's just say I'm cool. Oh, AND I don't drink.. Which doesn't mean I'm boring, it just means I can be the DD! I hope you like it and I hope Wifey, Chatterbox, Denene, and all of their guest judges like it and choose Future Mama! (Let's all use The Secret so they will ok?)

I'm feeling good about it... Not just because of The Secret either, but because I think I'm unique. Yea... I mean how many mommy bloggers do you know who aren't moms? Hello!

Let me know what you think of my video and my first ever Vlog and YouTube upload!! I'm not gonna lie, I was a little embarrassed. When I see myself on TV I'm usually more professional than this but hey, you've gotta let loose every now and then right?


(Added 5/23)PS: Some people have been asking if you can vote and what not. As far as I know this isn't a "voting" thing, but you can comment on my YouTube video so they can see people like it :) and you can always visit their page as my groupies and harass @theblogrollers on Twitter if you like :o)