Blogging is weird

It's always sort of a surprise to me when someone comments on the blog. Whether by leaving a note or mentioning it to me in conversation or email, I remain stupified that yes, there are people reading this and watching our little videos from time to time. I guess I started this as an extension of my old diary habit (which began with a Hello Kitty diary in 3rd grade), but with an intention to let family and friends in on the life of our little girl. Why then that I'm surprised by any of the attention is a bit strange, but true nonetheless.

Perhaps it's because I read so many other blogs and websites on all sorts of topics and I never really think that I'm part of their world. It's voyeurism pure and simple. My favorite motherhood blog right now is www.dooce.com which the amazing Heather Armstrong writes. I don't know how I only found out about her this year, but she's had the website up and running through both of her pregnancies and has the best way of bringing such truth and candor to all things. And profanity. She is pretty hilarious sometimes. If you want to really enjoy a peek into first time motherhood, go back to her posts around January 2004 and read on. I did and I was crying with laughter and nodding to myself for a good hour today (while Elisa napped, naturally).

I guess the difference between that kind of blog and this (other than the fact that it's national media and Ms. Armstrong is #26 on Forbes most influential people in media list) is that with Elisa, I feel like people who read this are a part of her life because they are seeing and experiencing the same things I am. And even though we may not see them it's nice to know she is a part of their lives as well. My friend Lisa who writes a great blog called Dear Hugh Laurie (I would add a link here, but I have no idea how to do that) just crossed a blogging line by visiting a blogger she reads who lives in Sweden. It was fun to read along as she made it into that virtual world and beyond. Of course, I don't expect any strangers to come over and hang out in Elisa's room with us, but there is something kind of cool about using this medium to share and make connections. Many of my neighborhood mom friends have started or shared their blogs with me after reading about us on Elisa's Baby Blog. I love that it's something others are inspired by or feel moved to read. There are so many choices out there for us to nourish our brains that sometimes I forget to even look at the news because I am so immersed in this virtual playground of blogging.

Since my mom's good friend Karen enjoys reading along on here (and especially our videos), I'll end with this latest clip of Elisa dancing around the room. She's quite a mover and shaker, you know.