Everybody follows somebody

While this blog is new, this is not my first and probably won't be my last. I really enjoy writing when I have something to write about and right now, I feel like I have the perfect reason. Hopefully I keep it up!

Just as some of you are following me, I follow lots of others. I love reading about friends and learning new things through others' personal experiences. Blogs are addictive! I have some of the blogs I follow listed on the right. I thought you might be interested as to why I follow them and what they write about.

Chronicles of a Babywise Mom: Not sure if you have heard of "Babywise," but it is just another parenting style like babywearing or on-demand feeding. "Babywise" and others in the "wise" series are books written by Gary Ezzo. It is a style that includes structure and routine and worked great for our family. I know that it isn't right for everyone. The woman who writes this blog has three children and has been blogging for some time. I tend to use this blog as a resource and help when I need to understand why Calan might be doing something or what I can do to help fix a problem with sleeping or eating.

MommyBeta: This is a blog that I have just been following for a little while. Four women contribute to the blog. They all had children over the past year, so it is fun to read about their experiences and compare them to what Mr. Calan is up to.

Dirty Diaper Laundry and Cloth Diaper Whisperer: These blogs have been my cloth diapering resources. Dirty Diaper Laundry has so many reviews and video reviews of all types of diapers. If I am thinking about getting a new style, I usually check to see what she has said about it first. Cloth Diaper Whisperer is a blog run by Kelly's Closet, an online cloth diaper shop. This blog has lots of types and information on the daily ins and outs of cloth diapering. They also have spotlights on real moms, which I enjoy reading.

The Finer Things in Life: This is another blog that I just started following, but I am really enjoying it. I got into this blog for her series on "Why didn't anyone tell me?" She and guest writers have been dissecting different aspects of pregnancy, labor, and post-partum and talking about all the things they wish they had known.

The Rescue of Jaline: A family that I know from church is in the process of adopting a daughter from Haiti. This blog follows their journey. There have been a few road blocks, but so far God has cleared all of them.

My iRISH Twins: Do I really need to even say why I am following this one? Her children are now 4 and 3 years old. She has been blogging for awhile, so I have been going back and reading old posts and learning different things along the way. Her oldest is a boy and youngest a girl, just like us.

It's in the Genes: For those of you that don't know, I am a breast cancer survivor. A woman I had met last September at a fundraising event was re-diagnosed with breast cancer in January and she is writing about her treatments and more.

Journey of Hope: I have been following this blog for over 2 years. It is written by former collegues of my from The Detroit News. Their 3-year-old daughter Hope has CdLS, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, a fluky genetic mutation that isn't passed on or recurring in families. However, Hope's older brother, Will, died in 2005 from CdLS complications when he was 89 days old. They welcomed Oscar, their son, into the mix in May 2010, a month before Calan, and now they are having even more crazy new adventures.

The Gulbernat Family: A friend of mine had twins prematurely over a year ago. She keeps family updated about their adventures here. For the most part, her boys are doing great and it is great to see her as a mom.

Bras for a Cause: Last April, I lost a dear friend to breast cancer. She was an amazing woman who strived to help other young women diagnosed with breast cancer. She began a 20s and 30s support group at Gilda's House in Royal Oak. She also started an amazing fundraiser for Gilda's called Bras for a Cause. In its first year, it raised $50,000 for Gilda's House and last year, in Shannon's honor, it raised more than $100,000. This blog keeps me informed on the latest happens of the event, which is held in September at the Royal Oak Music Theater. Last year, I modeled in the survivor art bra fashion show (2.5 months after having Calan). I don't think that I will be able to this year. I don't think one month is enough time to feel confident enough to run the catwalk in front of 600+ people. However, I will be there to support or volunteer during the event, which will be Sept. 17. (Mark your calendars!)