Lewis Land is ONE!

A year ago today, I began blogging. I had already been pretty diligent about uploading pictures to Fotki and Shutterfly even before Gianna was born, but I liked the idea of documenting this special time in our lives with photos and journaling.

All of my husband's family (and some of mine) lives far away and I figured this would be a great way to update them on our growing little family. And even for local friends and family, I thought it was a good way to let people know what was happening without having to stuff everyone's inbox with unsolicited photos and stories of our child.

What I didn't expect was that family and friends were always asking me, "So, what's Gianna doing now? We want to see pictures and videos."

"Umm.....have you checked the blog lately?" would be my reply.

"Oh, I don't have time for all that." or "No, I keep forgetting." or "Can't you just email them to me or put them on a disc?"

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Well, once my frustration turned into irritation - I had to make a conscious decision to 1) get over myself, 2) let it go, and 3) change my expectations of blogging.

I realized that I am blogging for myself. Pure and simple. I would do it if no one else read it. I like writing and I like taking pictures and I'm pretty fond of my little girl. I am the storyteller of the family. I know how busy life gets and I know that we don't always remember the things we want to remember.....no matter how hard we try. I worked as a director for an Alzheimer Unit in an Assisted Living Facility for a year before we got married. Sometimes remembering is not in our control. If I ever can't recount the stories of our little family - I still want them to be told.

Blogging has caused me to slow down a little and look at life more intently. It has caused me to see the extraordinary in the midst of the seemingly ordinary. My baby dumping out all my buttons and laughing hysterically is small, but I don't want to forget it. I don't want to forget the sound of her belly laugh while throwing buttons everywhere. The small moments are as priceless and important as the grand ones.

As puzzled as I've been with friends and family who haven't kept up with my blog, I have been as equally as amazed by the acquaintances and strangers who have. I've had people come up to me and introduce themselves to me - telling me how they know our story and love our pictures and blog. That just blows me away. And last week, I was blog-hopping and peeking into a blog of someone in the Northwest and almost fell out of my chair when I saw my own blog in their blogroll. A perfect stranger. (A teeny-tiny bit on the creepy side - but overall, pretty amazing.)

And yes, I've struggled with balance and blogging. You may remember this little cartoon I posted quite a while ago. Every now and then I have to keep myself in check and remind myself that blogging is here to serve me -- I am not here to serve IT.

I know many things I post will be of no interest to anyone else. I know that I take WAY more pictures than necessary. I know that every now and then I lose my focus and purpose in blogging. I know that occasionally I try a little too hard to word things in such a way as to not step on anyone else's toes. But, I have to keep reminding myself that this is for me and my little family of three. I have to remind myself that looking at other people's blog is not the whole of their reality just as it isn't the whole of mine. I have to remind myself that if I compare my blogs to others' or worse, myself to others - I am completely cheating myself. It's easy to be overwhelmed by what other's are doing and accomplishing and creating. It's awesome to inspired --- just not fall into the lure of envy. I have to be the woman, the wife and the mother that God is calling ME to be....not the one that is portrayed in someone else's blog.

Once again, I've climbed up on a soap box. Didn't quite plan that one.....but hey, it's my blog, right? :)I'd like to wish Lewis Land, the Blog, a very happy first birthday. :)

In honor of my blogaversary, I thought I'd include a few little t-shirt ideas I happened across.

I'm so tempted to make this next one for Gianna.

For all those people - friends and strangers - who stop by occasionally - thank you. For those people who take time to comment on posts or jot me an email - I truly appreciate that. Some days/weeks I feel like I'm the only one who reads my blog (which is totally okay) - and then a sweet little comment appears that gives me the little boost I need to keep it up. Much obliged!