Update: If you saw a pop-up with Mister Rogers singing a happy birthday song, it’s because my darling husband hacked my blog to surprise me. I was really upset at first, but then I began wondering why a hacker would try to destroy me in that manner. I went from furious to confused to laughing to crying-while-laughing in the span of ten minutes.
Happy birthday to my dumb blog! Here’s my once-a-year post where I mention the word I hate* multiple times!
It’s amazing how many things are the same as they were on September 30th, 2004. I spent my days and nights with small children. I still spend my days and nights with small children. And all my former small children are now big children with chemistry homework. I’m shorter than two of them.
![nineyearsago](https://www.lifenut.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/nineyearsago.jpg)
Nine Years Ago
Aidan was in second grade. Beatrix is our current second grader.
Ryley was in kindergarten. Now, he’s a freshman in high school.
Sam was four. Archie is four.
Tommy was coming up on three. Teddy just turned three.
Joel was eleven months. Ollie is eleven months.
I got pregnant eight more times, but only 50% of those pregnancies resulted in happy, healthy mewling babies. For a long time, this was a place where I wrote about loss, grief, pregnancy after loss, bed rest, babies. Moving on, it feels a little like I lost my voice or purpose or (I LOATHE THIS) niche. Yuck.
I’m a little stunned I’ve kept this up for so long. Since publishing my first entry, I’ve posted 1,541 more times. I must like it or something? There have been several times I’ve thought about shutting the whole thing down, especially since Twitter and Facebook have taken over a lot of the elements blogging used to dominate. Sharing breezy little bits of our day is much easier at Facebook or Twitter. But here I am, and if you’re reading this, here are you, too.
Hello. I’m glad you are here. If compelled to say hi, please do. Or don’t. Just know that after nine years, I would have given up long ago if it weren’t for the friends I’ve made because I’m a nut about life.
*blog
First of all, it’s not a dumb blog. Second, HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY! Third, I have a sister who disparagingly pronounces it “blahhh-g” to irk me. Doing so makes me giggle, so her plan doesn’t really work. That’s enough line items for one comment. 😉
Hello. 🙂 I’m glad you’ve stuck to it for 9 years. What a gift you have given yourself and your family.
Gretchen…. you are great! I just love you 🙂
Happy Blogiversary!
I’m glad you’re still writing! xo
Your inspiring thoughts make it anything BUT a dumb blog – happy Blogaversary! Isn’t it awesome to look back over that many years! 🙂
Happy Birthday Lifenut! Love your writing, love you.
Hi Darling.
Dumb blog. Not. Good writer. Yes. Great friend. Definitely.
Someday you will tire of the fawning and praising and adoration I can’t help but to heap at your feet. But truly, Gretchen. You write like few others and I cannot even tell you how dear to me you are. I feel like you are a mentor from afar, always speaking a gentle and timely word.
Nine years. NINE YEARS. This is amazing. I mean. Seriously.
You are a gifted blogger. And you gift your readers by showing us the way you live and parents.
Happy blogoversary! So glad the word you despise has brought us together 🙂
Happy 9 years! You’ve always been my favorite!
Steph
I’m glad you’re still writing!
Glad you’ve stuck with it. I kind of have too, on mine, although it’s gotten sparse…mostly because of time and because I started it to share about life overseas and now I’m not overseas. Happy blogoversary. Sorry I missed Mr Rogers 😉
Happy birthday to your blog!!
Oh you sweet endearing star!!! I love your blog and I am so glad that you began in a time before I even knew what a blog was… there was so much stock to read when I met you… so many years ago!!! You and your beautiful children have crept into my heart and thank you for writing you are such a blessing!!!
Happy anniversary Gretchen! I feel so lucky to know you and your family!
I am so glad you’re still here. It’s good. Very goodl