I heart blogging!

After my blog post from yesterday, I got some really super-sweet, encouraging, supportive messages from some very wonderful bloggy friends, Janna, Laura C. and Angel C. Thanks so much you guys! You have no idea how much your support means.

Their notes made me start thinking about how awesome this blog has been for so many reasons -- most especially the support system, and getting to meet awesome women who are all about loving and caring for their families, and also taking good care of themselves. That is invaluable! But also, this blog really does help me keep track of the things that you tend to forget as a busy Mommy.

For example, I looked back at some old posts of mine and realized that Clair should be getting some teeth pretty soon (if her brothers are any indication). I had completely blanked out about Clair and her teeth, which is so funny because with the boys, who were late teethers, I was so afraid they'd be toothless for life that I was fairly staring in their mouths all day long, hoping to see something white poking through their gums. I had an actual tooth count going in the house! I was obsessed. But Clair's teeth, or lack thereof, had not even crossed my mind, not even once. For the record, I actually feel like this is a better way to be about children's teeth, seeing as how I have absolutely no control over when they get them. Live and learn.

In the same vein, it occurred to me after re-reading some old posts, that by 11 months (which Clair will be next week), neither of the boys were saying any real words or attempting walking. In fact, it took them until a couple weeks before their first birthday before they started doing the "look-ma-no-hands" stance. Clair, on the other hand, has already started doing that -- and will stand without assistance for 4 maybe 5 seconds at a time, at least once or twice a day. So -- here again -- I think she's going to be ahead of her brothers a bit. She also will take a sock and try to put it on her foot, she'll put the hairbrush to her hair and attempt to "brush," and she steals my phone all the time and smacks herself in the head with it, trying to put it to her ear. So my girl, of course, is a veritable genius. Albeit a toothless one.

When I talked to Lester about this last night, during the kids' bathtime, he was surprised to remember that the boys weren't walking until they were almost 14 months, and that they didn't have teeth by the time they were Clair's age. And I had to admit that I didn't remember most of that either. It's only because I kept this blog that I remembered those things. Are they that important in the scheme of things? Maybe not. But it's just one example of why I'm glad to have a reference for so many things in their lives -- and mine -- that I'd likely forget otherwise, in the hustle-bustle of every day life.

I know that people think that there's too much sharing in today's world. They say people put too much "out there," and that, really,your memories are all you need. And particularly when it comes to kids lately, there's a lot of discussion about how much they will really appreciate the fact that their Mom told the world in her blog or on Facebook about every little thing they did and said while in diapers. (The consensus is: Not much.)

But for me, this blog has become a necessity. It is not just a journal or the kids' online Baby Books (especially since they ain't got no other Baby Books -- sorry kids!); it has become my electronic memory. Some would say, "Well, couldn't you keep the blog private then?" But why would I ever give up this place where I have come to experience real community and friendship and camaraderie with other women I admire?

Blogging takes a few minutes a day. It is free. Many days it is cathartic. Other days it is revealing -- just the act of typing out my thoughts and feelings helps me sort through things I've been ambivalent or confused about. It helps me -- in the midst of working, cooking, reading, Lego-ing, kid-wrangling, Lester-loving, organizing, family-visiting, (occasionally) cleaning and thinking about exercising -- to get quiet and still and spend time with myself.

I am so glad I started blogging. I hope some of you who are on the fence about starting a blog will think about doing it too.