The First Candle On My Bloggy Cake

One year ago today, I lost my blogging virginity.

That sounds rather risque, doesn't it?? Ha ha. But it's true. After umming and aahing about it for a while, I sat down in my dressing gown one Friday night and wrote my first post. I felt exceptionally ridiculous. I was sure no one but my hubby would read it. And I was fairly certain that if, by some chance, someone other than my beloved took the time to peruse my ramblings, they would chuckle at my foolishness and turn away.

While I'm sure there have been many visitors to my blog who were not convinced enough to come back, over the past year I have received some amazing bloggy love. I have had readers from all over the world visit my blog, either by accident or happenstance. So a big shout out to all the beautiful people in Australia, America, United Kingdom, Latvia, Malaysia, Russia, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, New Zealand, Ireland, India, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Denmark and South Africa. I love youse all. (as well as anybody whose country I missed in my stats...)

By becoming a fledgling member of the blogging community, I have "met" some gorgeous people. It's quite funny really, but deep in the days of being a stay-at-home mum, sometimes the only adults I would speak to would be women whose blogs I followed. It sounds mad, I know. I always thought it felt as though I was being welcomed into a coffee morning being conducted in kitchens all over the country. Just as I was standing at the kitchen bench with my laptop, lukewarm cuppa in hand, kids running manically through the debris of breakfast, commenting on another mummy's blog, so too were hundreds of other mummies. More often than not, the same bloggers run across one another in commenting communities. And I like that, very much. It's socialising, without having to be presentable.

I still look at other bloggers and marvel at how pretty their blogs are; how cleverly they weave their stories about their lives; how many people comment on their posts. My brain lacks the IT department necessary to create a really whizz-bang blog spot, and I still think most of my writing would be absolutely smashed if given to a Year Nine English teacher. But I have, over the past year, received some absolutely delightful comments, and I have treasured every one. (Quite frankly, I'm a comment addict. It's terrible, I know, but I've got an addictive personality and comments are better than ciggies or alcohol, right??)

My blog has been many things to me. What began as a cyber-baby book (the lazy mummy's version of keeping a record!!) quickly morphed into a place for me to pour my thoughts, purge my emotions, and find the funny in the revolting. Most recently, it has become a true place of peace for me. And although blogging is therapeutic, I am sorry that many of you have had to plough through some fairly negative posts. Sometimes, not even black humour can negate a dark mood.

Thankfully, it usually doesn't take long until someone gives me a smack in the chops and gives me a giggle. My kids are pretty good for that. With any luck, when they're grown up they'll forgive me for telling you all about the funny and disgusting things they have done. Such as the other day when Phoebalina announced proudly, "Mummy, I don't let Maisie pick my nose any more." "Sorry?" said I. "Because then she takes my energy" she concluded, with a satisfied aren't-I-grown-up smile. I was still stuck on Maisie picking her big sister's nose. Ewwwwww.

It's not all disgusting, some of it is a little bit funny (but if you can't read about breasts, breastfeeding, boobies or nipples, stop reading now.) Maisie Mouse made me laugh out loud last week. Recently, we taught her to blow on her food if it's hot. It's pretty cute to watch her puff her cheeks out and huff on her dinner. But then the other night, in the middle of a breastfeed, she stopped drinking, blew on my boob, had a little chuckle, and started drinking again. So does this mean I'm hot, or what??? 

Over the past twelve months, I have blogged about babies, toddlers, pets, moving, building, happiness, frustrations, washing and vomit. Interestingly enough, some of the key words that find my blog on a Google search are quite revealing about the content of my ramblings. For example, the words "buzz lightyear party" or "buzz lightyear birthday" will lead you straight to my little place in the blogosphere. As would "heart tupperware" and "maisie mouse"( surprise, surprise). I wasn't shocked when I saw that someone had searched for "young baby chunky throw up" and had found me, nor did I flinch from "disinfect couch from vomit" or "red vomit chunks". Nope. It's all there.

What did concern me, ever so slightly, was that someone had found my blog after doing a search for "baby chick sleeps all the time". That didn't sound so good. But that was nowhere near as bad as seeing that someone, somewhere, had searched for "anal art", and had found moi. Sorry???? Anal art?? Firstly, what on earth is that?? And secondly, what has it got to do with my blog??? WHAT??????

Shudder.

So anyway, here we are. The very first candle on my bloggy cake, blown out. Yay. I'm sending you all enormous kisses and hugs to say thank you. Thank you to those who read me. Thank you to those who comment. And to those people searching for anal art...I'm sorry I wasn't what you were looking for (actually, I'm GLAD I wasn't! Sorry.)