IComLeavWe: January 2010

Welcome back to IComLeavWe. It stands for International Comment Leaving Week, but if you say it aloud, doesn’t it sounds like “I come; [but] leave [as a] we”? And that’s sort of the point. Blogging is a conversation and comments should be honoured and encouraged. I like to say that comments are the new hug–a way of saying hello, giving comfort, leaving congratulations.

Here is the vital information, pure and simple (a more detailed set of rules follows below the list):

• The list opens the 1st of every month. It remains open until the 21st. You can add yourself at any point. The list is open to everyone in the blogosphere–blog writers and/or blog readers.
• Add yourself to the list by filling out this form: The January list is now closed.  The February list will open on the 30th or 31st.
  
• Click here to cut-and-paste this bit of code to add to your sidebar (if you have the old code from another month, remove it and replace it with this one). You need to add the icon or a link to the current list on your blog (see below) and will not be added until it’s up.
• Commenting kicks off every month on the 21st. Please mark it somewhere (calendar, post-it note taped to your computer…), though I will be sending out an email reminder on the 20th. Commenting week runs from the 21st to the 28th. Every day, leave 5 comments and return 1 comment for a total of 6 comments. You are highly encouraged to choose the blogs you comment on from the participants list below, but this is not required.
• I will send a second email on the 28th to remind you to remove the icon from your blog.
• Read below if you want to find out about Iron Commenters.
• The commenting ends on the 28th. We catch our breath and the whole thing starts again the next month on the 1st. Drop in and out according to what is happening in your life between the 21st and the 28th.

1. Stirrup Queens (twins, books, writing)
2. We Got Hitched. We Bought the 4 Bedroom House. Now what??? (recuurent loss, IVF, life)
3. Dreaming of Quiet Places (emotional abuse recovery, ponderings, my cute dog)
4. Baby On Mind (TTC#1, IVF, unexplained)
5. Our Quest for Parenthood (IVF, PCOS, military)
6. Can I Get Some Sugar with These Lemons? (infertility, endometriosis, FET)
7. Adventures of a Dam Engineer (adoption, infertility)
8. MoJo Working (IVF, marriage, pregnancy)
9. Trying to Get Knocked up by Another Man (DE-IVF, life, military)
10. Babymaking 101 (life after loss)
11. A + B, Waiting for C ( just beginning, clomid, distractions)
12. The Yerkes Life ~ Learning to Embrace God’s Plans (ivf, faith, family)
13. Infertility And Me (male factor infertility)
14. Not a Fertile Myrtle (male factor, pcos, endo)
15. A Long and Winding Road (infertility, faith, marriage)
16. All Aboard the Pity Boat (infertility, running, life)
17. All Grown Up (domestic infant adoption, waiting, random)
18. Getting There (adoption, infertility)
19. Raining Raining (ttc, marriage, fost/adopt)
20. Busted Plumbing (infertility, humor, awesomeness)
21. In G-d’s Hands (faith, PCOS, early pregnancy)
22. Hobbit-ish Thoughts & Ramblings (ttc after losses, books, cooking)
23. Our Journey, but Not Our Plan (IUI, FET, IVF)
24. Destined to be an Old Woman With No Regrets (motherhood, post-partum depression, life)
25. A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Shop (news, food, gardening)
26. Such A Good Egg (exercise endorphins, clomid, hope)
27. Wistfulgirl’s World (infertility, PCOS, faith)
28. The Subfertile Frugalista (TTC after loss, PCOS diet, frugal finds)
29. Hoping for Another Little One (ttc #2, ivf/icsi, family)
30. Lifeslurper (IVF, DE, 40+)
31. Teddy Lifeslurper, ttc (humour, IVF, ttc)
32. Return to Innocence (TTC, life after IF, IF)
33. Donor Eggs Journey (donor eggs, early pregnancy)
34. Circus Children (life, love, infertility)
35. The Egg Drop Post (infertility, adoption, spirituality)
36. The Unfair Struggle (mfi, speedskating, weight loss)
37. Artificially Fertile Myrtle (ivf pregnancy, twins)
38. A Page In My Book (infertility grad, large family, special needs)
39. My Journey to Mommyhood (pcos, ttc, life)
40. Venting Vagina (IVF, ART, acupuncture)
41. Half of a Duo, Raising a Duo (barren, surrogacy, twins)
42. Parenthood for Me (adoption infertility coping)
43. Body Diaries by Lucy (pregnancy, PCOS, IVF)
44. Your Great Life (infertility, women, fertility coaching)
45. The Adventures of a Military Family of 8 (family, life, reviews/deals)
46. The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow (I Hope) (recurrent loss, marriage, hope)
47. Life Happens When You’re Making Other Plans (faith, family, IVF)
48. Our Little Family (infertility, resolution, emotions)
49. The Gal Who Wants to be Anywhere But Where She Is (life after ttc)
50. An Unexpected Life (infertility, adoption, hope)
51. Life with Endo and PCOS (pcos, endo, life)
52. Romancing The Stone (love, infertility, girl-power)
53. AnxiousMummy (secondary IF, ttc, loss)
54. Journey Through Infertility and TTC (infertility, pregnancy, baby)
55. Letters to My Unborn Child (baby, love, journey)
56. Blogging More (life, friendship, humor)
57. PandaBox33’s Blog (life, love, friendship)
58. Creating a Family (infertility, adoption, adoptive parenting)
59. The Journey Through Life… (TTC, IUI, life)
60. Oven Seeking Bun (pcos ttc#1 follistim)
61. Junebugs Musings (ttc, pcos, emotions)
62. Misadventures with Andi (frenchie-things, books, food)
63. Mama Bear (adoption, infertility, openness)
64. Sell Crazy Someplace Else (neuroses, weight loss, dIUIs)
65. Trying in NYC (5 wks pregnant, anxious, PCOS)
66. Alana-isms (secondary IF, family, teaching)
67. Adding To The Pack (iui, mfi, weightloss)
68. Not The Path I Chose (IVF, pregnant with twins, loss)
69. Salvageable (RPL, life, marriage)
70. Le Blog de Bazookah Joe, tiraillee entre deux poles (bipolar, life, emotions)
71. IF Crossroads (pregnancy, ivf, endo)
72. Growing Up a NJ Wife (kitchy, random, wife)
73. That’s My Answer (question of the day, fun, life)
74. Poor Lucky Me (humor, advice, life)
75. Praying for Another Miracle (TTC9yrs, TTC#3, faith)
76. Heeeeere Storkey, Storkey! (twins, life, ttc #3)
77. Maybe Momma Someday (infertility, faith, pcos)
78. You Must Take Your Chance (mom, poetry, searching)
79. Mindful Meandering (adoption, motherhood, post IF)
80. Cheryllookingforward (pregnancy after loss, friends, fears)
81. The Royal Report (embryo adoption, everyday life, nonsense)
82. Inconceivable! (ttc, infertility, family)
83. Are We There Yet (IVF overseas, fibroid removal, TTC break)
84. On Tap for Today (life, humor, boston)
85. Where the Wright Day Takes You (ttc naturally, infertility, jealousy)
86. My IVF Journey (infertility, pregnancy loss, IVF)
87. Once an Infertile (TTC, pareting after IF)
88. Ambivalent Womb (ivf, fet, hope)
89. Wheresmy2lines (repeat ivf’s, pcos, life)
90. Everyone Else But Me (ICSI, ectopic, positive thoughts)
91. CD1 Again (infertility, clomid, waiting)
92. Marla’z Austin Journey (unexplained if, chiari malformation)
93. A New Wheeler (parenting after IF, PCOS, life as a new mommy)
94. So much for simple and easy (ivf, infertility, life)
95. Raising Miles (parenting, baking, randomness)
96. No Lingerie Here… (pregnancy after loss, PCOS, everyday life)
97. Trying Again (infertility treatment coping)
98. Life Lessons 101 (eclectic, energetic, epiphanous)
99. The Desire Of My Heart (recurrent loss, depression, weight loss)
100. My Elusive Baby (infertility, loss, uncertainty)
101. Daria’s Blog (everyday observations, family life, humor)
102. One Pound Too Many (weight loss, health, exercise)
103. Hoping for a Baby (infertility, IVF, hope)
104. Fertility Wishes and BFP Dreams (diui, infertility, general rambling)
105. Creating HackSpawn (PCOS, TTC, life)
106. The Birds and The Bees (unexplained infertility, acupuncture, iui)
107. karlinda (open adoption, adoption process, veganism)
108. A Greater Yes (embryo adoption, infertiliy, pregnancy)
109. Peachykate (ivf, nutrition, eggs)
110. Wishing4One (IVF#4, infertility, Egypt)
111. The State That I Am In (infertility, IUI, randomness)
112. Infertili- T and A (IVF break, foster parenting, sass)
113. Confessions of an (Infertile) Shopaholic (infertility, PCOS, life)
114. Impatiently Waiting for a Baby (pgd, ivf, stress)
115. Three is a Magic Number (MFI, considering IVF w/ICSI)
116. Curiosity Quotient (leadership, books, photography)
117. The Pitter-Patter (TTC, mfi, varicocele)
118. All My Peccadilloes (loss, waiting to cycle, recovery)
119. Below Average Athlete (infertility, daily life, family)
120. Dragondreamer’s Lair (parenting, secondary infertility, crafts)
121. Hey Baby, We’re Waiting! (ivf, endometriosis, infertility)
122. Cherish This Baby (hope, faith & babies)
123. RachieAnn.Com (wife, designer, student)
124. Words Moving with Images (images, words, passion)
125. Al/Right Already (infertility, traditional chinese medicine, art)
126. My Scarlet Baby (IUI, marathon, infertility)
127. My Journey with Endometriosis (endometriosis, pregnancy loss, infertility)
128. The Maniacal Mommy (mommyhood, marriage, midlife crises)
129. Fertility Foibles (infertility, humor, china)
130. Life in the White House (parenting, donor sperm, crafts)
131. Infertility Musings (wanting a baby, frustration, medical treatment)
132. A Woman My Age (adoption, infertility, life)
133. The Truth Is Out There (IUI, unexplained, ttc #1)
134. In Due Time (life, infertility, pcos)
135. No Oven For the Bun (gestational surrogacy, infertility, MRKH)
136. Fertility Chick (pcos, male infertility, diui)
137. In The Name of the Father (male infertility, azoospermia)
138. The Infertile Breeder (IVF, science geek, cranky veteran)
139. manda blogs about… (health, beauty, life)
140. The Conceivable Future (RPL, infertility, IVF)
141. Write, Baby, Repeat (adoption, infertility, WAHM)
142. Adventures in Babymaking (IF, SU, TTC)
143. Just Want to be a Mom (pregnancy, ivf, life)
144. Cyster A.C.T. (life, pcos, depression recovery)
145. Amber on the Run (running, weight loss, exercise)
146. Gracieinbrooklyn (infertility, acupuncture, random musings)
147. Infertility is the New Black (infertility, emotions, sensitivity)
148. Adventures in Glass (twin pregnancy after IVF, humor, life)
149. Semi-fertile (RPL, grief, life)
150. Mission: Motherhood (life after loss, infertility, random)
151. Exploring Chaos (baby, changes, family)
152. Endo-A-Go-Go (donor egg, fet)
153. Baby OCD (male factor, ivf, iui)
154. Shannon’s World (relationships, work assignments, random thoughts)
155. Melissa’s Thoughts and Realizations (ttc, mfi, hypothyroid)
156. Being Jamielynn (infertility, ivf, randomness)
157. The Journey to Baby Us (life, infertility, feelings)
158. Bionic Mamas (lesbian, ttc, peeing)
159. From IF to When (infertility, endo, life)
160. A Hope and A Wish For A Gift From A Petri Dish (ivf, infertility, pcos)
161. A Space of My Own (baby, ttc #2, life)
162. Twice As Nice (ivf, twins, sahm)
163. Wanna Be Momma (coping with infertility)
164. The (In)fertility Diaries (trying to conceive, pregnancy loss)
165. SAHM Minus the Mom (ttc, humor, life)
166. The Road to Happily Ever After (infertility, re, husband)
167. My Basic World (infertility, miscarriage, IUI)
168. Except for Mondays (project 365, infertility)
169. His & Her Infertility (pcos, adoption, azoo)
170. The January list is now closed.  The February list will open on the 30th or 31st.

Q: What if I miss a day?
A: Catch up the next day by doubling your comments–12 comments instead of 6.

Q: What is an Iron Commenter?
A: Not for the faint-of-heart. People who wish to be an Iron Commenter and be entered on the Iron Commenter honour roll need to leave a comment on every blog on the participants list (exceptions are blogs that require you to have a special log-in, such as some LiveJournal accounts or other similar situations). You can spread out this commenting any way you wish over the whole week, but the final comment needs to be left by midnight on the 28th (EST). Reaching Iron Commenter status is done on an honour system. Please email me if you earn Iron Commenter status so I can add you to the wall of honour.

Q: Why do I have to add that bit of code to my sidebar?
A: The code is the latest icon (the icon changes colour every month so you know that you’re on the right list). This month, the icon is red, the next month it will be green, etc. The reason is two-fold: (1) it enables more people to find out about IComLeavWe and (2) it gives you easy access to the current list once the commenting week actually begins and better ensures that you’ll use it. Too many times, people sign up and forget to actually do IComLeavWe and this icon gives you a daily reminder (with the dates on it) every time you open your own blog. The icon is linked back to the current list. On the 28th, remove the icon from your blog. A new one will be created for the next month.

Q: It’s the 23rd and I just saw this for the first time on my friend’s blog! I want to join the list–why can’t I?
A: Because IComLeavWe happens every month, once the list is closed, it’s closed. If you’re finding out about this on the 23rd, you can’t join the current month. But leave yourself a note to check back in a week on the 1st and you can sign up for the next month.

Q: You said the list closes on the 21st. Well, it’s still the 21st where I am. Why aren’t you moving my information onto the list?
A: All dates and times are U.S. Eastern Standard Time (UTC/GMT -5 hours).

Q: What if no one comments on my blog and I have no comments to return?
A: Well, that really doesn’t happen for the most part, but in that case, simply choose another blog and add an additional comment. The goal is to hit 6 comments daily as a minimum. Going over that is fantastic and encouraged.

Q: Mel, my question wasn’t covered at all. What do I do?
A: Email me; I’m quite friendly. It helps to place “IComLeavWe” in the subject line. You could also check this post which contains the history of IComLeavWe and see if you can glean anything there.

Looking for the comment section? It has been closed on this post. Use the form in the directions to add yourself to the list.