Show & Tell: 4th Blogoversary & Book Giveaway

For Show & Tell I am giving you the chance to celebrate the story of a blog and the chance to win a book about blogging.

Today my blog turns 4 years old. Wow, what a difference four years makes. Four years ago, I was with M. We had been TTC for 13 months. I had spent the first 13 months of my TTC journey on a BabyCenter board for 20-Somethings TTCer's. I had seen woman, after woman, after woman join the board, become pregnant, and even some deliver. It was becoming increasingly harder to be an active part of the group while I watch people obtain the one thing I wanted most in life, the title of mother, after only a month or two of babydancing.

A little over four years ago, two of the girls who had been TTC about the same time as I had from the board made their own blog. I thought blogging would be a better outlet for me. Unlike the board, blogging is your own space. Sure, people leave comments, but you choose what you want on the front page. Shortly after I began my blog, my teenage sister became pregnant with A. It was a tough time in my life. I needed the alone time. Things were dark. At that time, I didn't really have anyone online (or at home, for that matter) to talk with.

I have spent the past 4 years meeting hundreds of women going through the exact same thing as me. They, you, feel the exact same thing I do. I don't feel weird for saying I am hurting because I want a child. You get it. You don't tell me I'm too young or to get over it. You don't tell me to shut up. You don't tell me it's what God had planned for me. You get it. You're going through it, too. Or at least, have gone through it, too.

I've been through a lot over the past four years, including my teenage sister having a baby, finding out I'm infertile, finding out I have PCOS, breaking up with M, finding love again with NYEBoy, and hitting my five years of trying to conceive. You've all been there for me, reading me, offering support or advice, laughing with me, and crying with me. You've been there. Thank you for your support. If it weren't for you, and you, and you, and you, I wouldn't be here.

I may have not accomplished getting pregnant in the first four years of the blog (5 years TTC overall), but I have managed to stay alive. I'm not sure if the next four years will bring me the title of a mother, but I'm sure I won't be alone.

On a side note, thanks to this blog, I have had the chance to meet two local bloggers, Kristen and Deb. Although I bought a new shirt to meet Kristen, I knew I would have to buy new panties to meet Deb. Deb and I met up this past weekend to see Julie & Julia. Shortly after we sat down, we both realized seeing a movie two seconds after meeting a blogger probably wasn't a good idea, because we both wanted to talk to each other. After the movie was over, we drove down the street to have a cup of coffee. We chit-chatted for a bit. Deb gave me a copy of her book, 5 Ways to {Blank} Your Blog. I begged asked for another copy to give away to one of my readers. (I have no shame. Don't judge me!) She was nice enough to give me an extra one. (Thankfully. OMG, how rude would I have been if she said NO!?) I couldn't put this book down until I read it completely. Some of it I laughed at and some of it made me want to run to my blog to make sure I wasn't doing.

It's a must read for every blogger. Even if you don't win the giveaway, you should totally buy a copy. It's only $10, shipping included! It's never too early for stocking stuffers!

Here's your chance to win a copy of Deb on the Rocks book, 5 Ways to {Blank} Your Blog.



Leave a comment on this post. You can earn an entry by tweeting or blogging about this contest. (Leave a link in the comments for me.)

Comments due by August 31st, 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announce on September 1st. The lucky winner must contact me within 48 hours or another winner will be selected. Got it? Got it.

Thank you for being here for me for the past 4 years. Don't forget to go see what the rest of the class is sharing.




As it goes, this is In Due Time, the rantings of an infertile waiting for her time.