Okay, I think I finally GET it

...at least I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track. Here's what I'm gathering from all over the blogsphere these last few weeks of investigating (especially you brilliant techy bloggers). There are all sorts of rules and netiquette expected of bloggers. I can't promise that I'll meet everyone's expectations, but the following 10 are on my list of to-TRY because they make sense for those of us with a PUBLIC blog. I'll check each one off as I complete it (or attempt it).

Survey shows that YOU appreciate it when bloggers:

Test our blog load speed at Pingdom. If it's not fully loading in less than 5 seconds, trying out some Mint Blogger tips like minimizing blinkies or other new bloggy gadgets.

Remove music gadgets from our blogs so that you don't have to hear it when you arrive (or at least make it to where visitors can turn on the music if they want to). You are usually listening to your own music and get frustrated when my music competes with yours.

Use an easy-to-read font type and size and make the post portion of our blogs with a light background and a dark-colored font (like reading a regular book--it's easiest on the eyes).

In my post area, create smaller sections of type (short paragraphs) and use only left-side justified text like in a book (you hate centered text).

Unless I've had a rampant spam problem (daily), disable my comment verification requirement (those hard-to-read words that I made you type before you could submit a comment) AND stop comment moderation (where your comment won't appear right away until I have time to moderate them). Survey says you don't usually leave comments at blogs with required verification. (I've checked this one off, but posts over 10 days old will still require moderation for the time being.)

You'd like me to make sure my blogger profile is available when you click on my name in a comment. You'd like to learn a little about me or visit my blog. If you can't see my profile, you'll assume I don't want you visiting my blog or building a blogging relationship. Most of you hate it when you see this after clicking on someone's name:


Besides just making my profile available, you'd appreciate it if I showed my email address on my profile. In blogger, this is the only way that other bloggers can email me directly from my comments WITHOUT having to click on my profile, go to my blog, and hunt down my email address or comment form. Sneaky Momma has a great little tutorial on this for Blogger users.


You'd prefer that I NOT post more than once-per-day. You don't want to follow or put me in your blog reader if I write too often (I get this one because I recently took someone out of my reader who posted at least 3 times every single day. I simply didn't have time to keep up.). But you don't want me to go over a month between posts either, or you'll forget who I am.

Let's see...on visiting. You want me to visit your blog daily and show genuine interest in my comment. You'd love it if I used a blog reader (Google Reader will automatically include every blog I follow, making it easier). You want me to visit my commenters' blogs, new and old, and leave a comment for them even if it's just a "hi, just visiting." If I don't regularly comment at your blog, you'll assume I'm not interested in building a blogging relationship.

You really appreciate it when I respond to your comments when you leave a heartfelt response or ask a question--preferably via email if you've enabled your email options (because most people do NOT want to subscribe to a whole comment feed). I'm FINALLY figuring out how much easier this is now that my comments are being sent to me via email.

What do you all think? Too much? Too little? If so, what else am I missing? Comment below or email me if you have more things I should add to the list of "Majority Blogging Preferences." I suppose it's good to know, at least. All in all, I'm learning that the blogosphere is very much about building relationships by communicating effectively and respecting each other's preferences. I'm processing it all and making a few changes when possible. I know I can't please everyone, but I'm up for at least trying something out, first.

How are YOU all doing on the above 10 points? Feel free to comment anonymously to add points to bloggy preferences.




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Tot Talk Tuesdays {4}

I'm a proud participant in the weekly "Tot Talk Tuesdays" meme started by Niecey at The Monkeys and Me. To join in, just click the image above and follow the rules.

This week we nearly got side-swiped by another car (obviously not looking where they were going because there's a stop sign right by our house). I was slowly inching out of our driveway when...

Me: WHOA!

5-year-old daughter: What, Mommy?

Me: We just almost got hit.

5-year-old daughter: Why?

Me: Well, that car was driving way too fast and not watching for other people.

5-year-old daughter: Hmm, they must think they're more important than us.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And another day while I'm working around the house my son approaches me, grinning ear-to-ear.

3-year-old son: (clear as day) Mommy, you a dickhead.

Me (in shock since we DO NOT use that language): WHAT?!

5-year-old daughter: Yeah mommy, you're a brick-head.

Me: (relieved that he was just copying big sister): Oh. Ha! Ha!

Don't forget, if you want to join in Tot Talk Tuesdays, just click the button below. Let's start savoring more these adorable sayings together!!



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Sunday Citar: The Little Things

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~Robert Brault




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A Five Day Sabbatical and Some Romantic Humor!

I normally wouldn't even mention this--not many people would notice me being gone for 5 days since I often blog sporadically. But since I've been quite active in dialoguing on YOUR blogs the last few weeks, I just wanted to pop on to say I'll be taking a 5-day blogland sabbatical for my family. Hubby is on a business trip and the kids really need my full attention this week while we battle an icky ear infection and work on a HUGE family organization project (again, more on that later). I'll be catching up with all of you hopefully in time for Sunday Citar and I eventually need to pass along several blog awards. Thank goodness for Google Reader, I won't miss a thing happening on your blogs this week!!

I'll leave you with a funny little secret. Can you see what I've hidden for hubby below? Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this silly stuff before hubby goes on a trip.



Here sits his luggage
looking all sweet
and innocent.
Don't be fooled!









Ah ha! There you
go. We have a
stow away!





And...
he may LOOK all studious with his computer bag hanging over his shoulder.






But I'll know what's REALLY on his mind when he opens this bad boy. :wink:

(You should see some of the stuff I've hidden for him in the past. Muwahahaha!)

By the way, I wanted to thank you for all of your sweet comments on Brighton's birth story after the Blog Hop post. They came through on our email account and I'll be updating the comments section once I have time to wade through each comment and add it at the very end of the story. I also know that if you're using Firefox that all four pages probably had a lot of little symbols and junk around the page that needs to be edited out. It'll get fixed one of these days. :)

Have a SUPER week everyone!

Tot Talk Tuesdays {3}

This week I'm participating in the weekly meme started by Niecey at The Monkeys and Me. To join in, just click the image above and follow the rules.

I have three to share from this week. The first one is of my 5-year-old daughter, she was blowing kisses into the air (kissing her hand and blowing them off). I looked at her and she responded with:

"Oh, I'm just blowing kisses up to God!"

My second quote is from my 3-year-old son. He's cradling a barbie doll horse tenderly in his arms and extremely upset:

"Oh no, he's deeeeead."

{dramatic sniffling and crying}

"It's all mine fot."

{more sniffling and tears}

The final quote is actually a funny conversation I overheard my 5 year old and 3 year old having this week:

5 year old: "I love God."

3 year old: "I love dod, too."

5 year old: "You know, God made everything."

3 year old: "Yeah, dod made e-bre-ting."

{loooong pause}

3 year old: "Dod made our house."

5 year old: "No, Brandon." {insert exasperated sigh} "The BUILDERS made our house!"

3 year old: "oh."

Don't forget, if you want to join in Tot Talk Tuesdays, just click the button below. Let's start savoring more these adorable sayings together!!



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MckLinky Photo Blog Hop

I really want to do better this week with the blog hop. The purpose is to get to meet other bloggers by stopping by each participating blog and leaving some "comment love" for everyone who plays along--you know, basically be a social butterfly through each blog hop. Anyone else with me? You never know, you may find a few blogs that you decide to connect with and follow for the rest of your lives. This week's theme is a favorite photo with a caption about the photo. I've posted so many "favorite" photos through the years, but today I post one that hasn't yet made it to this blog.

For those new to my blog, the entire story to this photo is long and crazy. In short, because of oppressive laws and over-medicalized hospitals, a "natural" birth of our third child required that we drive 4 hours, in labor, crossing two state lines, on icy roads, during in a snowstorm, where we could finally land at a little rent house to legally give birth out-of-hospital. It was such a victorious moment--a natural birth after TWO awful c-sections. I may look tired to the untrained eye, but I promise you--I was on top of the world.

The last straw...

I had been expecting it for a while. We were coasting on fumes for about a week--barely getting enough sleep and yet still waking around 5am. The kids were all running a low-grade fever, fussing and arguing over little things, mommy's foot still hadn't healed, and we had only a few dollars in our bank account after a crazy month of fix-its and unexpecteds. Actually, make that negative $1.43 in the bank (but who's counting, right?). I was certain one of us would blow our tops over something sooner or later.

So...I'm sitting in the dining room, sipping my hot tea and playing with the baby. Lee was in the kitchen, finishing up supper, when I heard his announcement from the kitchen (where the children were running around his feet, begging for their juice cups).

"Okay, that's the LAST straw!"

Uh oh, not the proverbial last straw, I thought. YIKES!

Carefully and quietly I tip-toed into the kitchen, hoping my entrance wouldn't upset the balance of our teetering universe. Yet I just had to see what disaster had occurred to arouse such a "last straw" announcement (and I figured I'd need to help sweep up the broken pieces of whatever had been destroyed in my absence).

Boy was I relieved to discover his words weren't some silly proverb or figure of speech. He was telling the truth...the WHOLE truth...while fixing their morning juice cups:

It really WAS the very last straw.

(...and he wasn't even trying to be funny...which made it all that much funnier, to me...the one who was now spewing hot chai tea from my nostrils)




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Honoring My Grandfather

WOW! I just received the following link of my grandfather (Fullerton) receiving an award (yesterday) for his service in WWII. What a neat way to celebrate July 4th weekend! If you remember, I posted last July 3rd about the loss of my grandmother. So today was a mixture of both sadness (remembering losing her 7 years ago) and yet happiness (celebrating my grandfather's years of service). I can't embed the video, but you can go to the link below to see the 2 minute clip (I had to refresh it twice). How totally NEATO!

http://www.kvue.com/video/index.html?nvid=377235&shu=1



By the way, last night we went out to Alliance to watch their amazing fireworks display. The kids had a blast running around with all the other kids and we enjoyed chilling out on the beautiful lawns. I'll have to post pix later this week, though, because I'm just too lazy tired to do it today (plus I have some real work to do--more on that later).




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Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to MckLinky's Weekly Blog Hop!!

This week the theme is INTRODUCE YOUR BLOG.

For those of you who are new to my blog, my name is Shaye! I am a happily married mommy with three young children ages 1, 3, and 5. As my "about me" section says, we are grateful for the liberties we have to home school, home birth, breastfeed, co-sleep, baby wear, non-circ, delay and select vaccinations, and utilize positive Biblical (NT), grace-based discipline. I teach just a few short-courses for the local college each year, read and write book reviews and blog on the side. I'm currently finishing my 2nd master's degree (edu. tech.) this fall and am looking for a limited residency PhD program to jump into in 2010. The hubby just finished his PhD in rhetoric...WHEW!

I started this blog in 2006 and have since switched to blogger. The stuff I write is mostly about my family, but I also blog about other advocacy issues that I'm passionate about (birth, education, etc.).

Thank you for visiting! Be sure to add your link below and post your Blog Hop entry TODAY!

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday {1}

This post is belated by a month. However, I have to reiterate just how proud I am of my man, Dr. Miller. My daddy shot this picture outside just after hubby's doctoral graduation ceremony. Then my friend, Niecey, played with it to give it more of a timeless look. I absolutely love this picture. Additionally, I like that you can see my youngest's chubby cheeks and full lips peeking out just below my chin (he's riding on my hip). The whole thing makes me feel all warm and gooey inside. Mmmm...


If you want to join in "Mostly Wordless Wednesday," click the button below to be taken to HQ and add your link to the list. Have a super hump day everyone!

Tot Talk Tuesdays {2}

This week I'm participating in the new weekly meme started by Niecey at The Monkeys and Me. To join in, just click the image above and follow the rules.

I have just a couple cute quotes to share today. First, this week I asked my 3-year-old son to do something and he responded with:

"Yes, your highness!"

I laughed. out. loud! But I have to explain that they watched Tale of Despereaux this week where this phrase is said to the princess. I have to also mention that I read this book way back when it first came out and LOVED it! And believe it or not, I didn't know that's how you even spelled that word (highness) until I looked it up today.

Another quote I'll share from this week is from my 5-year-old daughter. With hubby off work for the summer, we're using every minute to do projects we've been dreaming of for years. This week we pulled everything out of storage (basement, garage, storage shed, and three large closets) and started sorting, organizing, and throwing away -- box by box. So last night our dining room is piled high with boxes and we're driving around town just to have a break from the mess. Hubs announces that we're going to pick something up to eat for tonight.

WHAT?!?!?! They yelp.

"Yes, we're going to pick up fast food "junk food" just for tonight," Daddy says.

Our 5-year-old gasps and announces while blinking a few times, "I don't BELIEVE it! I must be DREAMING!!!!"

What a funny girl! Let's just say that some of the documentaries we've been watching have changed our family eating habits tremendously. LOL

Don't forget, if you want to join in Tot Talk Tuesday, just click the button below. Let's start savoring more these adorable sayings together!!



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A Series of Firsts

As parents of very young children, our lives are continually a series of firsts. Every day is something new for SOMEONE in the family. That's at least one reason why picture taking (and blogging) are so much fun. There are new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and experiences to be had. And oh how fun it is to see a "first" through a new set of innocent eyes. Simply breathtaking.

This first part of summer has already seen us through a long list of wonderful firsts:

Brayla's first lost tooth (she actually lost two teeth in three days).
Brandon's first trip to dentist.
Brighton's first potty on the toilet (at 14 months old--gotta love EC).
Our first "real" family portrait as a family of 5.
Brayla's first dance lesson.
First eye appointment for Brayla.
First real desk for Brayla.
Daddy's PhD graduation.
First 2009 summer swim.
Brayla's first dentist appointment.
Brandon's first (in a very long time) sleep through the entire night.
Brighton's one-year portraits.
First summer swim lessons for Brayla and Brandon.
Our first whole-family camping trip.
First trip to Storybook Island.
Our first raised garden.
Our first trip to our midwife's new birth office.
Brayla's first eye appointment.
Brighton's first tricycle ride.
Brayla's first bicycle (without training wheels) ride.
First "goodbye" to best friends.
(you can click the above collage to see our "firsts" better)

What firsts are YOU experiencing this summer?

Wordless Wednesday: Brothers (yesterday)

Tot Talk Tuesdays: The Secret to Her Success

This week I'm participating in the new weekly meme started by Niecey at The Monkeys and Me. To join in, just click the image above and follow the rules. I'm so glad Niecey started this meme, because I'd like to record more of the adorable saying I hear from my children each day.

This week's quote is very special because it came right after my daughter's very first independent bicycle ride without training wheels. So first, check out the 15 second video below:



Immediately after I say "ALRIGHT!" she hops off her bike, turns around, and excitedly explains her success by hollering:

"I've been listening to my mommy and daddy!"

I seriously could have kicked myself (if my foot hadn't been injured, that is) for having stopped this video just 5 seconds too early. That would have been SO great to have on tape, dontcha think?! LOL

For everyone else there's moon pie

One box of off-brand graham crackers...

$2.14

One package of large-sized marshmallows...
$ .82

Six-pack of Hershey's milk chocolate candy bars...
$2.50

Sticky, gooey, drippy, messy, so-good-you-just-wanna-lick-em smiles...

P R I C E L E S S!!!

Disclaimer: This post is, in no way, intended to support, celebrate, endorse, or even approve of the use of Master Card or any other credit card. Quite the contrary. Dude, if you don't have $5.46 for s'mores makings just call me and I'm sure we can work something out.

Sunday Citar: Father's Day

It is a wise father that knows his own child.
~William Shakespeare

Happy Father's Day to my grandfather, my father, my father-in-law, my brother, my brother-in-law, and my amazing husband.

Please visit my mom's blog today to see some great shots of some of these wonderful men: http://boomerbabybliss-bfs.blogspot.com

This post is part of Sunday Citar, a blog quote meme created by Fresh Mommy. Click on the image below to see other participants.

YEE-OUCH!!!

During my run this morning I hit a patch of rocky gravel, twisted my left ankle, and fell to the sandy cement where I further skinned up my right palm and bruised my left knee. I could see my left earphone piece had been knocked to the ground, but Coldplay still mocked me in my right ear as I laid motionless on my stomach, willing my body to move. After slowly rolling to my back, carefully sitting up on my bottom, and discovering my multiple sources of excruciating pain, I thought: I sure hope nobody saw that Why isn't anyone rushing out to help me??? (Did I mention I was running through the alleyways?)

Why, why, why had I chosen to run in the hidden alley instead of the front sidewalks or roadways?! Yes, I was only 1/2 block from home--but three house-lengths still seemed miles away.

With painstaking limps, I gingerly inched my way home and banged with my might on the backdoor (closest to the alley), catching everyone off guard. Lee practically carried me to the couch--quickly assessing my wounds, icing my ankle, and cleaning up my bleeding hand. All the while, little munchkins tearfully asked if mommy was going to be okay. My sniffling 3 year old snuggled tightly against my side wrapping his body around my left arm, my very concerned 5 year old held a pack of ice on my left ankle, and my 1 year old toddled over, lifted my shirt, and began to nurse (obviously a stress-eater).

After about 20 minutes Lee said something like, "You know, at some point we're going to have to have the discussion on when to take you to the doctor or hospital." I said I wanted to wait this out because all they'd tell me is to "ice my ankle, wrap it tightly, and take some painkillers." But after trying to stand up and discovering I couldn't even move my toes without screaming, I caved. We headed to the clinic by 10:45 and they later sent me on to the hospital around 12:30 while our dear friends watched the kiddos for a couple hours.

You know, I've twisted my ankle a great many times and have never, not once, experienced anything even remotely close to this type of pain. Every bone on my foot seems to hurt to touch or move--every tendon, ligament, and other soft-spot is throbbing. The swelling is seriously unbelievable and I still can't even wiggle my toes without excruciating pain. And this from a homebirther!

By 1:45 my x-rays were completed and the hospital sent us back to the original clinic, now with all three monkeys on-hand climbing the walls and ready to be home. As the doctor rounded the corner and closed the door behind him we braced ourselves for the final results after an exhausting day of medical-room hopping (literally, for me). He leaned against the bed, cleared his throat, and locked eyes with me:

Well, you'll need to ice your whole ankle, wrap it up tightly, and take 800mg of Ibuprofin every 4-6 hours. Come back in 5 days if you're not better.

WHAT did I tell ya?

I'm, like, t o t a l l y a doctor, no?

Beautiful Like Me: Influences

I'm still an entry behind. But I missed June 1st, so here it is:

What person or people are the most influential about how you feel about yourself? Who influences you the most to feel beautiful?

This is the second “Beautiful Like Me” post that I’m writing while traveling home from a vacation. I’ve been thinking about this one long and hard and I’ve come to the conclusion that my answer is different depending on what age I was. Probably as a young child, my parents were most influential. Then, as a growing child, I guess I would say those in my school were highly influential over how I felt about myself. Those school days were tough as I had to discover that I wasn’t nearly as special or “beautiful” in school as I was made to feel at home with family. And today, my husband and children influence me most in recognizing my daily beauty and strengths.

It’s funny how things that I used to think would be ugly are now so so beautiful because of my family. For example:

Beautiful belly of stretch-marks: I proudly run my fingers across the stretch marks on my belly. I remember the heart-pounding breathlessness I experienced while watching two blue lines appear on the pregnancy test. I recall the shaky legs that ran me excitedly to my husband, with my pee-covered stick in hand, as undeniable evidence that he had, in fact, given me a baby. And I fondly recall the thrill of carrying healthy, strong, and active babies. I was WAY too excited to run lotion over my belly each day, so my scars honor those months of joy and anticipation.

I am beautiful.

Beautiful rugged fingernails: Today my fingernails are chipped, often shortly trimmed, and filled with all sorts of dirt and grime. When I look at them, I’m reminded that I’ve chosen to be an active mommy. I go to the swimming pool with my children to swim, not to lay out in the sunshine. I go for frequent nature walks where I pick up the rolley-polley or earth worm for the kids to put in their observation jars. My hands frequently wash and comb my daughter’s long, thick hair and braid, twist, and pony it often. My hands dig in deep soil planting herbs and vegetables for my family and I doctor skinned knees, bruised elbows, and clean up the vomit after an unfortunate tummy ache. Who has time for maintaining fingernails when nurturing babies? By the time I’m in a position to have fancy, manicured nails I’ll most undoubtedly miss these days of mess.

I am beautiful.

Beautiful wrinkly smile: As tired as it sometimes may be, my smile is genuine. Today it is slowly being framed by laugh wrinkles. Along the corners of my eyes and etched deeply below my high cheek bones are the fossilized signs of happiness. I smile often watching my amazing family—laughing at my oldest son’s "serious" 3-year-old conversations, my daughter’s delightful 5-year-old homemade songs, my baby's 1-year-old dance steps, and my husband’s amazingly unmatched, quick wit. I heartily laugh, open-mouthed, free, and uncontrollably. Every day my husband and children further develop those deep fleshy folds of laughter.

I am beautiful.

Who influences you most? Parent, friend, society, colleagues, or family? Please join the "Beautiful Like Me" project. This project aims to raise awareness about poor body image and lack of self-esteem in today’s youth. Whether you have children, grandchildren, or encounter youth anywhere in society—you can be an important voice in this project. Every two weeks bloggers are faced with a new question. I hope you'll join in!

Be looking for my "catch-up" post later this week.

Rummage Sales

We've been having an exciting summer. Not only have we been through some fun mini-vacations, some messy fun in the water, and some wonderful house reorganization, but we've also replaced our kitchen faucet (which was leaking all over the kitchen counter), had a demolished garden (eaten by rodents) that we've replanted, and finally we replaced our dishwasher just this week (which hasn't been working for months, but our budget wasn't ready for a new one). I would apologize for not posting, but how silly is that?

Now, on to the post at hand: Rummage Sales. We have a few regular rummage sales in our area that my family visits at least monthly. Most clothing is .25 a piece and they carry all sorts of other knickknacks ranging from picture frames to books to small furniture. We almost always go just for kid's clothing, but this weekend was different. This weekend I got a few unexpected "mommy" things. Just L@@KY HERE!

Cool plant stand! I'll be using these stands for my indoor herb garden where I've already planted cilantro, rosemary, thyme, basil, chamomile, lavender, oregano, parsley, etc.

($2 each side)

Box FULL of new fabric! If you remember, I started making cloth shopping bags and have continued doing so when I have more time and fabric.

($1 for the whole box with 19 fabric patterns)

And my favorite...a gorgeous set of MILK GLASS dessert plates and tea/coffee mugs in MINT condition! This set is an especially excellent find for me because it matches the set of milk glass that was passed down to me through my family. Check out the tall glass and dinner plate set I already owned compared to the small tea cups and dessert plates. Another shot was at the very beginning of this post that showed the combined set. We discovered a couple years ago that my mother-in-law has a cup/pitcher milk glass set that is identical, as well. No kidding!

($3.50 for whole set--10 cups and 8 plates--no joke!)

Ah how I love rummage shopping! Have you found any special rummage or garage sale deals recently?

Wordless Wednesday