IComLeavWe: November 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 new list will open 12/1).
• 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. Three Cats and a Baby (new baby, adoption, infertility)
3. Infertility And Me (azoospermia, mfi, pregnant)
4. Here We Go Again (parenting, life after, humor)
5. InDueTime (life, infertility, pcos)
6. Our New Normal (adoption, pregnancy loss, learning to heal)
7. Baby Magnesi (infertility, mfi, depression)
8. A Half Baked Life (pregnancy after loss, food, yoga)
9. Maybe Baby . . . (or maybe the loony bin?) (pregnancy after ivf)
10. Write, Baby, Repeat (adoption, donor eggs, parenting)
11. Our Someday Family (new baby, mfi, random)
12. The 2 Week Wait (ttc, infertility, humor)
13. Being Joyful Always (weight loss, faith, infertility)
14. Lifeslurper (over 40, donor eggs, pregnancy loss)
15. Whitterer On Autism (humor, family, autism)
16. Planting a Pumpkin Patch (ttc, loss, pumpkins)
17. The Road Less Traveled (infant loss, IVF, embryo adoption)
18. Dragondreamer’s Lair (parenting, secondary infertility, crafts)
19. Aisha Iqbal (motherhood, writing, life)
20. Our Miracle in the Making A Great Joy is Coming (pregnancy after IF or loss, immune issues)
21. Someday (dIUI, birthday, family)
22. Savor the Moment (pcos, love, hope)
23. Woman Anyone? (unexplained infertility, surprise pregnancy, third trimester)
24. The Miss Ruby (living childless, longtermttc)
25. We got hitched. We bought the 4 bedroom house. We had twins. Now what??? (parenting after infertlity/loss, twins, life)
26. Trying for a baby (TTC, IVF, endometriosis)
27. Digital-Damita.net (frugal, green, ttc)
28. Flogging the Muse (art, painting, creativity)
29. This non-American Life (travel, expat life, Germany)
30. Your Great Life (fertility coaching, emotional support, family-building)
31. My Hopeful Journey (hope, coping, support)
32. My Ordinary Miracles (success after infertility, toddler, twins)
33. The Infertility Overachievers (secondary IF, IVF, son)
34. The Pursuit of Pregnancy (infertility ttc ivf)
35. Waiting for a baby bump (IVF, infertility, male factor)
36. Blawnde’s Blawg (infertility, pcos, IUI)
37. Waiting for that Positive (TTC, life, positivity)
38. ..Sam’s Town.. (twins, after infertility, photography)
39. Grief, Interrupted (grief, acceptance, special needs)
40. I Blog Because of Peer Pressure (twins after IF, miscarriage, life)
41. Heeeeere Storkey, Storkey! (twins, life, pregnancy)
42. Biz Mommy (inspiration, blogging, working from home)
43. Plans Change (adoption, infertility, teaching)
44. Getting There (adoption, waiting, life)
45. MyTTCstory (TTC, IVF, infertility randomness)
46. The Infertility Therapist (psychological aspects, infertility)
47. Three Little Birds (grief, son, photos)
48. NOT so Fertile Mertile (ivf, infertility, hope)
49. Riding the IVF Roller Coaster (1st egg donor cycle)
50. My Infertility Journey (parenting, infertility, ttc#2)
51. All In One Basket (hypothalamic amenorrhea, egg donation, owls)
52. Walking and Unknown Path (infertility, ivf, god)
53. Life In A Glass House (transracial adoption, god, parenthood)
54. The Inadequate Conception (infertility, adoption, humor)
55. Lil Family Blog (lesbian, toddlers, photography)
56. As Fast As My Baby Can (ttc#1, unexplained infertility)
57. Fervently Wishing (smc, health, ttc)
58. Sharee’s Stolen Angels Blog (faith, healing after loss, encouragement)
59. Mommy In Waiting (ttc, failed IVF, finding hope)
60. Musings of an Everyday Weight Loss Guru (weight loss, life, emotions)
61. His & Her Infertility (Just Like The Matching Towels) (PCOS, azoo, international adoption)
62. CD1 Again (infertility, sadness, on break)
63. Raising Cain (someday) (infertility, IVF, waiting)
64. For We Are Bound By Symmetry (ttc #1, unexplained infertility)
65. Bio Girl (parenting, infertility, endometriosis)
66. Banking On It (ivf, immunology/mthfr, mfi)
67. Write Mind Open Heart (open adoption, mindfulness, perfect moments)
68. A Woman My Age (adoption, infertility, parenting after 40)
69. Lily in the Valley (infertility, marriage, stepparenting)
70. Storm in My Teacup (IVF, TTC, happy)
71. Mommies Here! (adoption, infertility, life)
72. Ready For My Bundle (infertility, adoption, job loss/search)
73. Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed (infertility, POF, NaBloPoMo)
74. Not a Fertile Myrtle (male factor, endo, life)
75. Semi-fertile (loss, perspective, break)
76. The Infertility Doula (support, news, social commentary)
77. Flucky Mom (motherhood, opinion, life)
78. I’m Just Being Honest (IVF, deployment, life)
79. Half Baked Banana Bread (parenting after infertility, premies, life and love)
80. Project Baby (infertility, donor sperm, IUI)
81. Inspired Ima (triplets, jewish, food)
82. Find Joy Now (joy, adoption, parenting)
83. Are We There Yet (post-fibroid removal, high risk pregnancy, anxiety)
84. Cradles and Graves (2nd tri losses, IVF #2 – our very last chance)
85. The Panda Diaries (pregnancy, life, depression/anxiety)
86. Cloudy With A Chance of Hope (infertility, child loss, grief)
87. Rocky Road to Motherhood (IVF, infertility, life)
88. Autistic Child’s Parent (educating autistic children)
89. Musings of a Wannabe Mommy (humor, donor eggs, endometriosis)
90. Venting Vagina (ivf#2, embryo testing, unexplained)
91. Creating a Family (infertility, adoption, adoptive parenting)
92. Stumbling Gracefully (motherhood (after loss), photos, freebies)
93. My Infertile Confessions (IVF #1, G-d’s will, life)
94. Québécoise et bilingue, a Bilingual Quebecker’s Blog (Montreal, life, love)
95. Parenthood for Me (infertility, adoption, coping)
96. ErnieGirl (pregnant infertile birthmother)
97. If Life weren’t so IFfy (life, adoption, infertility)
98. Autism Mom Rising (autism, spirituality, overcoming adversity)
99. The Denver Autism Wheel (children, autism, optimism)
100. On Tap for Today (life, humor, Boston)
101. Enchilada Sunrise (fibrecrafts, bipolar, life)
102. The Suburban Princess Diaries (babies, parenting, pregnancy)
103. We Met on Match.com (IVF, TTC, infertility)
104. Just us and the Cat (ectopic, miscarriage, IVF)
105. Unglamorous (parenting, marriage, life)
106. MissyMom in Madrid (life in Europe, family, in the kitchen)
107. Musings of a Hormonal Egg Basket (pregnancy after IVF)
108. Mama Bear (adoption, infertility, pregnancy)
109. Ambivalent Womb (ivf #3, mfi)
110. Hearts Joined, Hands Fast (infertility, mfi, ttc#1)
111. A Page In My Book (parenting, preemies, special needs)
112. My Lovely Lady Bump (pregnancy, first time parents)
113. The King and Eye (autism, family, parenting)
114. Not Just an Army Wife (military, infertility, loss)
115. To Those Who Wait (infertility, IUI, life)
116. Life: Chats and Rants (pcos, ttc, life)
117. Artificially Fertile Myrtle (parenting after infertility, twins, humor)
118. Still Working on that Due Date (endometriosis, secondary infertility, IVF)
119. Cold Cups of Tea (autism, parenting, yoga)
120. The Barreness (infertility, dreams, reflections)
121. All I Ever Wished For (infertility, ivf, life)
122. The Journey to a Little One to Call Our Own (infertility, ttc)
123. Believing in June (pregnancy after infertility)
124. A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Shop (food, news, prayer)
125. My So-Called Life (humor, awkward, life)
126. Cape Girl’s Journey (pregnancy, IVF, stillbirth)
127. The Cortes Baby Dance (IVF, egg donor, PCOS)
128. Looking for my Keys (infertility, foster adoption, special needs)
129. Light Of Aquarius (aquarius, age of aquarius)
130. Our Little Family’s Journey (IVF#3, TTC#2, family)
131. Too Beautiful for Earth (miscarriage, grief, healing)
132. Adoption Journey (adoption, motherhood, adoption support)
133. A Greater Yes (embryo adoption, infertility, parenting)
134. Just Beginning (pcos, injectibles, iui)
135. The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow (I Hope) (multiple losses, childfree-living?)
136. Body Diaries by Lucy (parenting, infertility, pcos)
137. Whole Heartedly (loss, ivf, life)
138. Whitney & Erick – Our Home on the Web (infertility, miscarriage, IVF)
139. Yolk (infertility, ttc, life)
140. Scrambled Eggs-A Journey from IVF to Baby-Maybe (ivf, fertility, ttc)
141. I Spy A Family (adoption, motherhood)
142. My Beautiful, Messy Life (grief, parenting, spirituality)
143. Valentina in the Sky (stillbirth, dark humor, growth)
144. My Journey with Endometriosis (endometriosis, fet#1, pregnancy loss)
145. Trying Not to Scream (infertility, loss, trying again)
146. A little blog about the big infertility (recurrent loss, crappy eggs, IVFs)
147. Romancing the Stone (IVF, new baby, miracles)
148. All in G-d’s Time (adoption, embryo adoption, infertility)
149. Rammi.glomp.me (rants, whatever comes into my head at 11PM, randomness)
150. Wanna Bee (adoption, loss, craftiness)
151. ThatGirlWithEndo (endometriosis, pain, infertility)
152. Mommy In Waiting (infertility, waiting, IVF failure)
153. No Baby Ruth (PCOS, IUI, pregnancy)
154. Kate the Poet (writing, parenting, college)
155. Teresa’s Pieces (infertility, multiple ivfs, egg quality issues)
156. Infertility Unexplained (unexplained infertility, acupuncture, IUI)
157. In a Nutshell (severe mfi, ivf, anguish )
158. The Barreness’s Blog (parenting after infertility)
159. Finding Me After IF (3rd trimester, infertility, family)
160. Waiting For Our Miracle (FET, IVF, IF)
161. Searching for the Missing Piece (miscarriage, adoption, life)
162. The Eternal Guestroom (ttc #1, infertility, thoughts)
163. Transplanted Thoughts (life, boys, humor)
164. Surely Goodness and Mercy (RPL, IUI, hope)
165. Calmly Chaotic (ivf#1, injections, design)
166. Air Force Mummy (miscarriage, parenting, loss)
167. That’s My Answer (question of the day, life, fun)
168. The Road Less Traveled (unexplained infertility, life)
169. Survive and Thrive (infertility, eft, movies)
170. Ginger and Lime (infertility, mfi, confusion)
171. Discovering Joy In The Storm (MFI, faith, family)
172. The (In)fertility Diaries (new baby, adoption, life)
173. Circus Children (messages, moments, miracles)
174. A Little Bit of Life (pregnancy after infertility, marriage, life)
175. Infertile Follies (infertility, IVF, ectopic pregnancy)
176. Life with Endometriosis and PCOS (pcos, endo, trying again)
177. Misfit Mrs. (recurrent miscarriage, infertility, crazy family)
178. It’s Always Raining (infertility, life, foster parenting)
179. No Suzy Homemaker (IVF, RPL, stillbirth)
180. Chasing Mommyhood (single, ttc, iui#4)
181. Our TTC Journey (infertility, ivf #2, ttc)
182. My Little Science Experiment (success through ivf)
183. Salvageable (pregnancy, life, work)
184. Mission: Fertile Soul (fertility, coping, happiness)
185. Mydustyuterus (infertility, exercise, humor)
186. Removing Roadblocks (infertility, faith, food)
187. Carpe Diem (grief, infertility, relationships)
188. Random Thoughts from Angie (IVF, life, humor)
189. Jen’s Seven From Heaven (open adoption, support for birthmom)
190. Life in the White House (donor sperm, daughter, crafting)
191. Stork Stalking (SMC, pregnancy after loss)
192. The Bushey Life (pregnancy after infertility)
193. The list is now closed (the new list will open 12/1)

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 navy blue, 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 around 11 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.