One year ago, on a blustery fall day while walking through a street teeming with what appeared to be circus carnies but were, as I was later told, undergrads, I announced to my husband that I was going to start a blog. “Are you sure?” he asked me, “It’s a lot of work. I mean, do you think you have enough to say?” at which point I nearly fell over laughing. Do I have enough to say? Me? I think the real question should have been, “Will you be able to shut up your face when what you want to say does’t need to be said?”

Admittedly, this shutting up of my face, has been a much bigger problem, as I find myself having strong opinions about all kinds of things I have no business having strong opinions about, Luckily for all of us, I typically come to my senses before pushing the publish button.

But over the year, I’ve really developed a love of blogging, and have been blown away by some of the connections I’ve made with people. Some people have enjoyed the humor. Some people have related to specifics from my own experience. Some people have made me their sworn enemy. It’s all been incredible and humbling and above all else, unifying in a way I never expected. One year later, I’ve never felt less alone. Initially, new parenthood left me feeling like a long lost explorer, traipsing haphazardly through uncharted territory, where certain demise awaited around every corner. But after blogging for a year, and connecting with so many people in the same position, it’s clear that my journey is about as well traveled and perilous as the diaper isle at Target. In other words, it’s all been done before. Understanding this, and trusting whateverthecrap horrible stage we are in will pass, AND even more importantly, isn’t my fault, has been incredibly freeing. And I have those of you who have followed along and chimed in to thank.

And so, in year two, for those of you who continue to follow along, it seems only fair that I give you an idea of what to expect in year two.

1. Continued attempts at lame humor.
2. Honesty.
3. Bad metaphors and similes.
4. The occasional, much-fretted-over-because-I-know-my-in-laws-read-this, cuss word.
5. Continued references to Jurassic Park and Twister, the two best movies ever made.

As to if I will run out of things to say? Turns out we are expecting Baby 2.0 in early 2016, and the only thing expanding more rapidly than my waist line is my list of writing topics.

So thanks for joining along for this last year. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bakers dozen of donuts to eat before my toddler figures out where I’m hiding.

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Image credits: cover image, Baby 2.0 photo is ours.