IComLeavWe: July 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 list is now closed.  The August list will open on 8/1.
• 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. Parenthood for Me (infertility, adoption, coping)
3. My Infertility Woes (infertility, losing weight, support)
4. Creating a Family (infertility, adoption, adoptive parenting)
5. Your Great Life (infertility support, self-belief, decision-making)
6. Weebles Wobblog (open adoption, mindfulness, perfect moments)
7. Can I Get Some Sugar with These Lemons? (Korean adoption, infertility, grief)
8. ErnieGirl (pregnant infertile birthmother)
9. Dragondreamer’s Lair (parenting, secondary infertility, crafts)
10. Our Little Family (emotions, TTC, family)
11. A Half Baked Life (pregnancy after loss, food, yoga)
12. Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed (POF, advocacy, adoption)
13. His & Her Infertility (Just Like The Matching Towels) (PCOS, azoo, international adoption)
14. Infertility And Me (male factor infertility)
15. Baybee Luv (single student mother)
16. Baby Dreams (TTC#2 with PCOS after loss, my son, life)
17. Dreaming of Quiet Places (emotional abuse recovery, ponderings, my cute dog)
18. Ambivalent Womb (mfi, ivf #2,hope)
19. The Subfertile Frugalista (pg after loss, 3rd trimester, shopaholic)
20. Life in the Last Frontier (PCOS, adoption, life)
21. Not a Fertile Myrtle (azoo, pcos, endo)
22. We Got Hitched. We Bought the 4 Bedroom House. Now What??? (twin pregnancy, life, randomness)
23. MoJo Working (infertility, marriage, loss)
24. Waiting Lisa (domestic adoption, waiting, infertility)
25. Mommy ‘Hood (life, love, babies)
26. My Lovely Lady Bump (newly pregnant, fear)
27. Believing in June (marriage, hope, IVF)
28. Are We There Yet? (pregnancy, travel, post-fibroid removal surgery)
29. Oven Seeking Bun (pcos, endometriosis, iui)
30. An AZ Mom (PCOS, parenting, photography)
31. A Nuttier Life (TTC, randomness, crazies)
32. Me Plus One (single, ttc, iui)
33. Journey of Hope (faith, secondary infertility, waiting)
34. Chasing Mommyhood (single, iui, endo)
35. Getting There (adoption, life)
36. Beyond The Brick Wall (mfi, marriage, life)
37. IF Crossroads (pregnant after IVF)
38. The Infertility Overachievers (secondary IF, IVF, son)
39. Enchilada Sunrise (fibrecrafts, bipolar, life)
40. Surviving the Secondary Infertility Madness (secondary infertility, pcos)
41. The Miss Ruby (life after ttc)
42. Misconceptions About Conception (unexplained IF, TTC over 35, feelings)
43. Trying Not to Scream (infertility, loss, life)
44. Show your AMOR (choice mom, baby)
45. My Ordinary Miracles (success after infertility, toddler, twins)
46. The 2 Week Wait (infertility, pregnancy, polyp)
47. Our Journey, but Not Our Plan (adoption, miscarriage, immune)
48. Once an Infertile (parenting after IF, TTC again, uterine rupture)
49. The Gibson’s (love, hope, infertility)
50. Hobbit-ish Thoughts & Ramblings (pregnant after losses, vacation, cooking)
51. Attempting to love life without her (infant loss, foster/adoption, faith)
52. Someday (azoos, waiting, strength)
53. Evie’s Epic (pcos, infertility, life)
54. PandaBox33’s Blog (Quebec, life, relationships)
55. CD1 Again (infertility, doctor appointments)
56. Kir’s Corner (twins, infertility, marriage)
57. Cradles and Graves (IVF, cord-related losses, endo)
58. Finding Her Way (infertility, fundamentalism, life)
59. Random Thoughts from Angie (ttc, life, family)
60. The (In)fertility Diaries (adoption, TTC, life)
61. Adoption Journey (adoption, motherhood, infertility)
62. Strange Girl, Strange World (life, preemies, kids)
63. Gas Passer aka UUer (unicornuate uterus, anesthesia, frozen embryo transfer)
64. Hormonal Egg Basket (IVF, family, patience)
65. Mama Bear (pregnancy, adoption, ttc)
66. Find Joy Now (infertility, life, adoption)
67. Relaxing Doesn’t Get You Pregnant (silly, secondary, slightly crass)
68. Barrenista (barren, adoption, fancy cupcakes)
69. Holymoly Toledo(s)! (twins after IF, photography, life)
70. Heeeeere Storkey, Storkey! (twins, life, IVF #5)
71. Lil Family Blog (motherhood, lesbian, adoption)
72. Infertili- T & A (fostercare, ART break, sass)
73. Mommy in Waiting (ivf, mfi, hope)
74. The Road Less Traveled (infant loss, IVF, grief)
75. The Daily Miracle (secondary infertility, optimism)
76. A little blog about the big infertility (ectopic/loss, infertility, domestic adoption)
77. Spermination Station (ivf, photography, mental health)
78. Lifeslurper (over 40, donor eggs, Australia)
79. Time Well Wasted (infertility, 2ww, life)
80. Shirley Goodness and Mercy will follow? (IUI #1, recurrent miscarriage, hope?)
81. Another Barren Blogger (infertility, iui, ttc#1)
82. Blogging MoRe (life, marriage, everything)
83. Every Now & Then (marriage, kids, autism)
84. You found what in there?!?! (pregnancy after loss)
85. Our Incredible Journey (adoption, special needs)
86. StudenRnTiffany (pregnancy, incompetent cervix, bedrest)
87. Please Let This Be It (pregnant after IVF)
88. A Tale (of the Trials and Tribulations) of Letting Go (parenting, letting go, pregnancy loss)
89. I Spy A Family (adoption, motherhood)
90. My Cheap Version of Therapy (pcos, infertility, weightloss)
91. On Tap for Today (life, humor, boston)
92. Back Into the Fire (foster care, adoption, infertility)
93. PeaceBegan (faith, loss, life)
94. Whitney & Erick – Our Home on the Web (infertility, miscarriage, my dogs)
95. A Year Of Hope (infertility, infant loss, adoption)
96. The Rocky Road to Motherhood (infertility, ivf, life)
97. The Panda Diaries (pregnancy, anxiety, art)
98. A Greater Yes (embryo adoption, pregnancy, faith)
99. Infertility Unexplained (unexplained infertility, family, treatment options)
100. Ready To Be A Mom (IVF/FET, miscarriage, hope)
101. Tales of My Follies (follistim, waiting, day to day things)
102. HimPlusMe (infertility, pcos, life)
103. Are You Listening (mommyhood, life, marriage)
104. All Grown Up (domestic infant adoption, new Mom, random)
105. Dear Stevie… (stillbirth, grief, hope)
106. The Unfair Struggle (mfi, speedskating, strength)
107. The Unicorn and I (unicornute uterus, single)
108. Maybe Baby . . . (or maybe the loony bin?) (infertility, IVF, hope)
109. Hope Is A Four Letter Word (infertility, IUI, anovulation)
110. The Dreamer and The Realist (bitching, hubs, life)
111. Fertility Lab Insider (navigating infertility treatment)
112. In The Middle With You (infertility, adoption, random thoughts)
113. Iscrap and co. (scrapbooking, trip, friends)
114. The Bushey Life (ttc, life, infertility)
115. The Fertilely-Challenged Black Sheep (ttc, infertility, life)
116. Blawnde’s Blawg (infertility, next step, RE)
117. Leave It To the Beavers (TTC, PCOS, life)
118. Hope Is Ours (azoospermia, IVF, adoption)
119. Oh My Aches and Pains! (cancer survivor, chronic illness, infertility)
120. Fertility Foibles (infertility, adoption, humor)
121. A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Shop (prayer, news, food)
122. I Will Be A Mom … Someday (pregnancy after infertility)
123. Waiting for a Baby Bump (male factor infertility, IVF, TTC)
124. Waytoomuchinformation (genetic testing, ivf, depression)
125. This non-American Life (expat life, Germany, travel)
126. Inconceivable!? (loss, FET, NOA)
127. Write, Baby, Repeat (adoption, infertility, donor eggs)
128. Wheresmy2lines (pregnant after IVF #7, triplets)
129. A Summers Thoughts (newly pregnant after infertility)
130. An Unexpected Life (adoption, infertility, life)
131. Chois-R-Us (infertility, adoption, life)
132. Where the (w)right day takes you (ttc 3yrs, unexplained infertility, jealousy)
133. Wanna Bee (adoption, loss, craftiness)
134. Beauty for Ashes (infertility, domestic transracial adoption)
135. Communique (life, infertility)
136. Fearlessly Infertile (IVF, military, PCOS)
137. Infertility Musings (iui, post fibroid removal, hope)
138. Searching for the Missing Piece (repeated IVF failure, unexplained, PCOS)
139. Cherish This Baby (PCOS, secondary infertility, faith)
140. He Calls Me Momma (unexplained secondary infertility, faith, family)
141. Everyone Else But Me (FET, pregnancy, future)
142. Going For It (failed IVF, faith)
143. Grief, Interrupted (grief, acceptance, connection)
144. Waiting For Our Miracle (infertility, PCOS, IUI)
145. Keeping my eyes on Jesus (infertility, miscarriage, faith)
146. Life in the White House (donor sperm, parenting, life)
147. Off to see the Wizard (secondary IF, IVF, ectopic)
148. Dude, Where’s my Baby? (infertility, injectibles, iui)
149. Our Little Pebbles (twins, IF, life)
150. Looking for my Keys (upcoming ivf, life)
151. Baby On Mind (TTC#1, IVF, unexplained)
152. A Little Bit of Life (pregnancy after infertility, clomid, marriage)
153. A Woman My Age (adoption, infertility, parenting after 40)
154. Surprised By Hope (open transracial adoption)
155. It’s Always Raining (ttc, fost/adopt plans, life)
156. 30 Minute Dinner Party (food, entertaining, international)
157. Infertile Follies (infertility, IVF, ectopic pregnancy)
158. Lily in the Valley (infertility, marriage, stepparenting)
159. The Barreness’s Blog (parenting after infertility)
160. Confessions of an Infertile Shopaholic (infertility, PCOS)
161. We Wait in Joyful Hope (adoption, infertility, waiting)
162. The Ros’ Bowl (pregnancy after infertility)
163. The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow (I Hope) (recurrent miscarriage, marriage, coping)
164. No Suzy Homemaker (ivf, babyloss, life)
165. She Smiles At The Future (infertility, adoption waiting, domestic life)
166. Semi-fertile (miscarriage, hope, evolution)
167. Missing Baby Carriage (infertility, pcos, iui)
168. Sister Village (community, friendship, life)
169. The Truth Is Out There (pregnancy after infertility)
170. Venting Vagina (FET, hope, LOL)
171. LIfe: Chats and Rants (life, inferility, PCOS)
172. From IF to When (infertility, waiting, life)
173. I Get Knocked Down (infertility, ivf, endometriosis)
174. Cape Girl’s Journey (pregnancy, IVF, stillbirth)
175. InDueTime (infertility, life, pcos)
176. Wistfulgirl’s World (ttc, RE visits, random)
177. Conception Deception (failed IVF, therapy, adoption)
178. What Would Jen Do (life, marriage, dogs)
179. My Camo Kids: An Army Wife Life (army, family, deployment)
180. Mission: Motherhood (ectopic, miscarriage, random)
181. Little Steps to Baby Steps (IVF #3, miscarriage, god)
182. The Journey of a Lifetime (baby, ttc2, everyday stuff)
183. Chapman Journey to a Baby (infertility, adoption, life)
184. the list is now closed.  The August list will open on 8/1.

Q: What if I miss a day?

A: Catch up the next day by doubling your comments–12 comments instead of 6.

Q: What if I have two blogs? Can I sign up twice, listing both blogs?

A: Yes, but you also need to double your comments. If you have two blogs listed, you should be leaving 12 comments per day.

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 yellow, 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). The list closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on the 21st.

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.