So, tell me about YOU….

Here we are, oralling on and on about me, and I know nothing about you. How very self-centred of me.

When I started this blog, it was an outlet for my pain over losing Ben and Luke, and my fear in doing another cycle.  Then it became a journal of sorts about my scary pregnancy.  Lately it has become a series of really helpful conversations with some very fascinating women (and a few men).  And Mollie.  Who fits neither category. 

I’ve bared my soul (and my underpants) to you; I’d like to know what turns you on.  Well, besides me in my underpants, which frankly, would turn any one on, lets be honest.

So, tell me more about you: 

Lurkers, it’s time to delurk. I want to know whom I am speaking to.

(answer all, some, none, in bullet point form, essay answers, whatever.  If you don’t want to put your name, that’s fine.  Just put ‘anon’ and your email as anon@anon)

1. What do we have in common?  Infertility?  Motherhood?  Being gorgeous and divine?  All of the above?

2. How did you find me?

3. Do you comment?  If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from.  Where are you from?

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?

Don’t worry, I am not going to change the nature of my blog in order to suit certain tastes, I am still writing for myself and about my life.  However I am really interested in whom I am speaking to, how on earth you found me, and what you think.  The whole ‘world as a global village’ thing is so great, especially for me living in Africa.  The Internet has a particularly powerful significance here.

All entries will entered into a draw and the lucky winner will win a weekend away with me.  Second prize is two weekends away with Julie.  Third prize, a month away with Mollie.

Looking forward to finding out who lives in my computer.

 

Comments

[Charmaine]

1. What do we have in common?

Infertility, losses :(

2. How did you find me?

From back in the day at TLOL buddies :)

3. Do you comment? Yes, occasionally

thanks! yw
4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?

All of it, I look forward to it every day.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?

You are always entertaining T, I wouldn't change anything about you at all.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?

see above

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?

N. Royalton, Ohio USA

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?

Keep the pictures coming & keep doing what you do! I love you my dear friend, all these miles away and I feel like I know you, that's what is great about you. I have followed all of your hardships and have been lucky to see you blessed finally with Kate and Adam. 2 healthy babies :)
I love success stories, guess I was one of the unusual IF people that did find happiness feeling we all suffered so badly.
Love you T.

[Abby]

There's no way that I can possibly be 1st! Is there...?
1. All of the above, of course! I have a 6 yo daughter, and it took us about 2 years to get pregnant with her (with the help of an infertility center).
2. Can't remember. Possibly on some one else's blog roll. I was looking for infertility blogs (obviously, it never really goes away).
3. Yes, on and off.
4.Your honesty and your humor.
5. Don't know. I'll think about that one.
6. Nothing so far.
7. New York City
8. I sent you an email already, about post natal depression. That's my assvice for the year!

[Jen-Earthchild]

Hey T...I am always here.

I don't always comment. I do when I can. I have no assvice to give on the childrearing as I am not yet a mom. Being a nanny for years and years I have tons of experience but I don't always feel it appropriate to give assvice b/c I get the "how the fuck do you know, you are not a mom" look from people.

I found you at TLOL and fell in love with you as anyone with half a brain cell in there head will do! We have tons in common...our tough chic tude with the sensitive core is what really makes us alike though.

I am from NY and would like to see more pics of you in your underwear in your blog LOL....

You are a wonderful writer, a wonderful friend, a wonderful mother, and a wonderful infertility sister.....

Love you T!!!

[melissa]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?
Gorgeous and divine

2. How did you find me?
Through alittlepregnant.com

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?
No, I don't generally comment. I don't have children, so I don't have any experience with a lot of the topics that you cover.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?
You are smart and funny, which I admire.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?
I wouldn't want you to change a thing.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?
Ditto number 5

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?
Columbia, Missouri, USA

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?
I read all of the Vagina Posse blogs and I enjoy them a great deal. You are all corageous, strong, funny women with fascinating stories.

[K]

1. I'm not sure if we have infertility in common yet. Six months of trying doesn't put me there. But I am a mother, like you.

2. Link from Julie's site. I figured, "If Julie thinks she's good people, she must be."

3. I don't comment. And I generally don't read the comments. I just read the blog.

4. Your honesty. Like your last post about being afraid to buy clothes for next season. I have that insane, morbid fear with our son, and we didn't go through 1/20th of what you did to get him here.

5. Write about what you want. Don't tailor to me.

6. see above

7. Minneapolis, Minnesota

8. Try your best to enjoy these first few months (even though I found it hard as hell). It'll be gone so soon.

[Ellen]

1. Infertility (and now motherhood--I was due a week after you), but I didn't go through nearly what you went through (or a great number of your other readers) so sometomes I don't feel like I'm in the position to comment.

2. The blog roll at A Little Pregnant.

3. Yes, I do comment, depending on the topic (see answer to question #1.)

4. I enjoy your honesty, humor and wacky British/South African slang. ("nappies"? what's up with that?)

5. Well, now that we're both experiencing the joys and sometimes stinkiness of motherhood, I have greatly appreciated your desperate questions concerning sleep, feeding and such. I have the exact same questions, and have been thankful for everyone's assvice to you.

6. Not sure. Sometimes I get sick of it when people go on a tirade against trolls (this is not really directed at your blog, just blogs in general.) I'd rather just ignore the trolls and they usually go away.

7. Arkansas (fire away with the hillbilly and Clinton jokes.)

8. I was going to tell you that I really like the book, The Baby Whisperer, and I feel like I've read 'em all. You might check that one out. I find myself referencing it a lot.

[Erin]

1. What do we have in common?
Being absolutely gorgeous and diving

2. How did you find me?
You know, I have no idea

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?
Well, I don't like giving advice, I don't want to be endlessly saying, "Yay, right on!", and I'm shy. No, really.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy? Absolutely all of it.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about? Once you actually have time to spend for yourself ... read anything good lately? Absolutely love/hate a movie/tv show/band?

6. What do you wish I would shut up about? Nothing!

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from? Texas.

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice? You know, the word "asshole" has become a lot more prominent in my vocab since visiting this site regularly.

[Amanda]

- What do we have in common?
IF, multiple failed IVF cycles

- How did you find me?
IVF-C, I think.

- Do you comment?
Sometimes. More during the cycling days.

-What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?
Your ability to put your feelings and thoughts about infertility into words that we all can idenitify with.

- Where are you from?
Houston, Texas

- Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?
Hell no. No assvice here.

[Anyabeth]

1. Infertility (though I am just starting out and have not earned my stripes). Being gorgeous and divine.

2. Chez Miscarriage. I just love anyone that can call each other assholes while they are in pain. That is love.

3. I don't comment, I don't really have anything to offer, not even assvice.

4. Your humor. The laughing at what is terrible, what else can you do?

5. Whatever helps you get through this.

6. The shit things people say to you. Not because you shouldn't be pissed but because I wish they would shut it.

7. Seattle, WA

8. You and Marko are good parents. Keep telling yourself that. Tattoo it on your forehead if you have to.

[PumpkinMama]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?
-Motherhood and being G&D

2. How did you find me?
-blog to blog to blog, can't remember the details

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?
-I think I may have commented once

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?
-your honesty, your stories and your writing style

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?
-I like what we talk about!

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?
-hmmmm, nothing?

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?
-Massachusetts, USA

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?
-Mothering Mantra: "whatever works" You're almost to the reward stage - it gets so much better as they get older. Keep up the good work.

[terri c]

1. Gorgeous and divine altho not so much of either as you. 2. From Julia S.'s blog 3. Yes 4. The good writing!!! 5. All of it 6. Change nothing 7. Colorado USA 8. No assvice today. Try me tomorrow

[Moxie]

Ooh. I'll play.

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?

Motherhood and being gorgeous and divine.

2. How did you find me?

Through Grrl, probably, or Julie. I started reading them to educate myself because my SIL and friend were going through IVF and I wanted to know about it so I could be there for them.

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?

I just can't help commenting.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?

The full-out honesty of it, and the window into South African life.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?

Me. No, seriously, I like having it be "dealer's choice" and seeing what you're thinking about.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?

How bad a mother you are. I know we all feel that way at this stage in the game, but maybe you could pretend once in awhile here for your adoring fans.:)

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?

NYC

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?

My favorite baby/kid books: Playful Parenting by Laurence Cohen, Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott, The Wonder Weeks by Hetty Vanderijt and Frans Plooij, and Andi Buchanan's Mother Shock. Least favs: Baby Whisperer, Babywise, and any other book that tells you there's only one right way to raise your kids.

Oh, and have you been getting any massages since the kids were born? Your back and shoulders are taking a hell of a beating at this stage. You should, for your own health, get a massage or two in the next few weeks just to work out the crunches or you could end up with nasty back pain in the next few months. Throw in a pedicure while you're at it, too.

[Tracey Dixon]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?

Infertility, loss, gorgeous and divine

2. How did you find me? The Labor of Love spin-off site, Belly Forever

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?

I do occasionally.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?

I enjoy the unabashed honesty.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?

It's your blog, my friend. It is just my honor to read it.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?

Nothing at all... again, this is your blog.

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?

I live in the province of Alberta, in the country of Canada

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?

I think you are awesome. I hope I can be as tenacious with my infertility and conquer it as you did.

xxoo

tracey

[Jean]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?
Motherhood, Twins, Sleep deprivation

2. How did you find me?
A link from another blog, can't remember which

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?
Rarely, by the time I've read its usually already been said and always in a more eloquent/witty way than I would have managed so I erm....don't

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?
Stuff about the babes (takes me back) and well all of it really, your warped sense of humour appeals to me!

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?
Nuclear war,the level of the european money markets? no? I'm happy just to listen, honest
6. What do you wish I would shut up about?
Your hot weather!!
7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?
The North East coast of England, 300yrds from the North Sea!! (see above!)

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?
Erm.... wear clean underware, say please and thankyou, never take the last biscuit, don't fart in public unless you can blame it on the dog and lastly remember small children have *very* loud voices and no sense of occasion!!
xx

[Shannon T]

1. IF & losses

2. I don't remember but thank God I did.

3. No, I don't comment. I found this site after my first misccarriage. It was too painful and raw. This and a few other blogs helped me make it through. Sometimes day by day. I guess I just got in the habit of not responding.

4. I love all of it. I really love the pictures of the babies. You feel like a friend even though I've never commented. If a subject is too hard to handle that day, I skip it and go back when I am ready.

5. See above

6. Nothing

7. Rochester Hills, MI USA

8. No assvice, just thanks for being so open and honest. You have made me laugh on days that I thought I wouldn't be able to even get out of bed. Thank you.

[Rose]

1. What do we have in common?
Being gorgeous and divine.

2. How did you find me?
Through grrl's blog. I think that she used to have the VP links. If not, the Julie.

3. Do you comment?
Yup, though less lately. I do need to email you though.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?
All of it. I am a sucker for all things Tertia.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?
What you want them to be about. I honestly have never thought before about what you should write about.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?
Nada.

7. Where are you from?
Southern California.

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?
I was going to reply to your previous post about the babes crying but I will do it here. I am so impressed with your knowing your instincts about what your babies are ready for and then following them. I havent read the comments on that post because I am afraid that I will find thing unsupportive of you in this sentiment and that makes me want to vomit. So, good for you Tertia.

And a weekend away with you would rock.

[Kathy]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above? not much -- I'm older, not infertile, parent of one singleton child (now out of college)

2. How did you find me? I read in someone's blog that "Julie had her baby, go here for details" and the link brought me here. (of course I also had no idea who Julie was either!)

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t? Not often, but I think of long WONDERFUL extremely helpful pieces of advice that never get written! I don't comment more often mostly because by the time I get here, you have lots of comments, and I have nothing new to add!

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy? Your honesty about your feelings, your willingness to take advice, and of course pictures of the babes.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about? No preference - write whatever strikes your mood.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about? um - nothing.

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from? Tustin, California (this is near Disneyland)

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice? Well, at my very first visit to the ped all those years ago, he told me: "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it, she's developing beautifully." and I would same the same to you (just in plural.)

[Nicole]

How fun... here goes

1. What do we have in common?
Motherhood, and I like to think our sense of humor. Also a difficult pregnancy.

2. How did you find me?
A little pregnant.

3. Do you comment?
I have occasionally, but it's hard to spend quality time at the computer with all the kids here. But I do love you.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?
Your sense of humor and honesty.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?
Don't change a thing!!

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?
Hmm, nothing so far!

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?
I am from Yakima, Washington.

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?
You ARE gorgeous and divine. Please never go away.

[Lily]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?

I had two miscarriages before this, my third and so far successful pregnancy.

2. How did you find me?
I found grrls blog somehow when I was still ttc this pregnancy and through that found you and many others. I read your whole blog start to finish when I found it, and now I check it every day.

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?

Yes, I comment, when I have something good to say.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?
I like you. You're funny, smart, and you have an interesting life. Sometimes too interesting, of course, but I enjoy reading about the babies, about what it's like to be a new mother, especially since I will be one myself, God willing, in a few months. I also like to hear about Africa.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?
Actually I would LOVE to hear more about living in Africa. I think it's so interesting. And I would literally pay five dollars to hear an audio clip of your voice so I could hear the accent.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?
I don't wish you would shut up about it, but I wish you would believe that you are really a great mother. I think deep down you must know it. Don't beat yourself up so much. Don't hold yourself up to some imaginary measuring stick of mothering- there isn't one, and if there were, you'd be at the top anyways.

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?
Rhode Island. USA. Smallest state in the country. (and it's not actually an island)

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?

The things that you've been through would have made a lot of people into a cold, bitter shell of themselves. I think you made a choice not to let that happen. I respect that more than anything. I know that whatever happens to me I can get through it, because you did. And I also want you to know, in a very non-stalker type way, I care about what happens to you and your babies, and I really wish your family the best. You deserve it.

[Judy]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?

All of the above - I have a 5 year old and a 5 month old, both "gifts" so to speak and the result of many moons of "trying" - I have also lost one as well.

2. How did you find me?

I think you were a link from someone else's page - can't quite recall (lack of sleep does that to you!)

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?

I haven't commented yet - there are sooooo many people commenting that I pretty much just let everyone else say what is said (plus, I've only been lurking here for about a month now)

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?

I LOVE your pics of the kids - they are adorable! Keep em coming!

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?

I think you are doing a terrific job as it is.

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?

Not a thing!

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?

United States - TEXAS

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?

I'm buttoning my lip as I tend to suffer from diahrrea of the mouth most waking hours. Don't want it to leak into my keyboard!

[Anna]

1. What do we have in common? Infertility? Motherhood? Being gorgeous and divine? All of the above?

All of the above, except Motherhood (yet).

2. How did you find me?

I think I linked over from Julie's blog but I don't remember how I found her.

3. Do you comment? If yes, thanks! If no, how come you don’t?

Occasionally, but I usually have no helpful assvice to provide. I've yet to achieve a pregnancy, but I'm doing my first (and hopefully only) donor egg cycle in April.

4. What aspects of my blog (if any) do you enjoy?

You are funny, insightful, and honest. I love watching your journey from the sidelines and cheering you on. You give me hope.

5. What do you wish our conversations were more about?

Just more pictures of your super cute babies ;-)

6. What do you wish I would shut up about?

I haven't found anything, yet.

7. I am fascinated by all the different places we are from. Where are you from?

Potomac Falls, Virginia-burb of Washington, DC

8. Lastly, any tips, suggestions, adorations or pieces of assvice?

Keep on keepin' on.

[Kate]

1. I'm not sure what we have in common, really. I had 2 early losses and a tidge of infertility (easily cured by surgery), but that pales in comparison to what you've been through. I have a baby that's a few weeks younger than Adam & Kate.

2. I think I found you through Julia's (Here Be Hippogriff) blog.

3. I've commented once or twice.

4. I love everything about your blog- especially how honest you are about how effing hard motherhood is!

7. I'm from Provo, Utah.

[Devon]

1. Well, other than the fact that we're both enamored with babies, nothing. I'm a doula.

2. I found you through a little pregnant.

3. No, mostly because I don't have children of my own and rarely have anything to say that others haven't already said twice! :)

4. I love your attitude!

5. I like them just the way they are

6. Hmm. Nothing.

7. Victoria, BC, Canada. I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada right now.

8. More photos of YOU would be nice! :)

[Denise]

Delurking ... hey, ask and ye shall recieve.

23 y/o Tatar-Russian Floridian Entertainer. I have a BFA (theatre) and I'm wasting it working with computers. I do have the pleasure of working for a pro-sports team as my fun weekend gig. TTC 2 years.

1 - Infertility. Fucking marvelous, eh? So many of us ... I've not yet had a child but I tend to be a spontaneous aborter so who knows (oh, the endo ... I LOVE the endo) :rolleyes: ... Oh, also being totally too much woman for words to describe and having a bit of an attitude.

2 - I found you because Julie seemed to mention you a lot ... I found her just over a year ago when doing a Google search about cervical mucus or vodka or something.

3 - Nope ... I don't comment.

4 - I just enjoy your honesty and candor. I wish all the infertile women I knew IRL would be so open and honest. They always make me feel like a cynical bitch.

5 & 6 - Bah, whatever. What you do is just fine for me. I'm easy.

7 - I live in Tampa, Fl. I'm originally from the former USSR.

8 - No.

:)

[Rayne of Terror]

1. Motherhood - I have a 8 week old son and we recently moved away from long time home so blog moms are my current community.

2. The a link on Transmagriflaw's blog - she's a law student new mom and I'm a law student new mom.

3. I think I commented once on a twin issue b/c I'm an adult twin. The crazy thing is - I met a neighbor I had NEVER met in 3 years living next to each other by clicking thru her comment on your blog and figuring out she lived 3 houses down from my house. We never met until I moved away and then thru a blog originating out of SA! Amazing.

4. I enjoy how you have transformed from a sad, scared, sometimes bitter woman into such a bouncy fun mom.

7. I live in LeRoy, Illinois - which is about 2 1/2 hours south of Chicago.

8. I think ordering Happiest baby will probably benefit Adam alot. But it's a lot easier to learn the techniques if you watch the DVD. I started using the 5 S's in the hospital w/ Henry and it really works. Maybe send Marko out of the DVD and let him know that these techniques are often something dad can do better than mom.