dear baby blog,

Because every blog gets a little drama.

I just want to sit here and write to you about my thoughts on the sponsorship post I published yesterday. This has kinda been in the back of my mind ever since I clicked Publish Post. As my readers, I want you to completely understand the thought process behind the evolution of this blog.

Some of you might know I started blogging headstrong in the mindset that I wouldn't clutter my page with ads because, well, I told you I wouldn't. I kept it that way for a long time. Eventually I dabbled in a few small ads and reviews ... I was so flattered that people were asking about it. My blog is good? Ok, then.

Now I'm jumping feet first into the sea of monthly sponsorship.

But why?

Before I had Carter, I worked for four years at a desk job at TV Guide that I hated. I was so bored. Nobody offered praise to anyone. There wasn't a single drop of creative air in that office; I couldn't breathe.

Since that was during the hay day of Myspace, I played constantly with the design of my Myspace page and was obsessed with perfecting it creatively. I found my love for sharing the beauty of my life on the internet. Major bummer that Myspace had no actual role in anything that mattered. And believe me, as the queen of Myspace, if there were a way to make it important I would have figured it out and been the best at it.

During the end of my pregnancy and after I had Carter, I got deeper and deeper into blogging about him. Since I'd quit TV Guide to stay home, we lost an income we'd relied on but have managed to trudge through anyway.

And then I realized - the blogs I've idolized since the dawn of keyboards (her, her and her) are completely ridden with ads, reviews and giveaways; that's never made me love them any less.

Is it possible my readers won't get mad at me if I allow some sponsors? (and I also promise never to use the words Bliggity Blog?)

I've found cute clothes here and there from their sponsors' features. Baby stuff, too. The find that stunned me the most was an ad I saw for Diana's blog (Dear Carter) on Irocksowhat's page a couple months ago. She's adorable, yes. Incredibly intuitive thumb for blogging, yes. As I clicked over into her Blog Love section, I read that she was inspired by me to name her son Carter. I dropped to the floor.

Sponsors offer us connections. They give us all discounts and giveaways. They're showing us how to find them. Appealing? Click. Annoying? Ignore.

So, I went pantsdown and displayed giant sponsor prices like all the other bloggers. That post absolutely looks like I just blog for money.

Anyone who reads a single paragraph on my page knows that I really just want to tell you in every way, shape and form about my passion for my Carter. I also hope you've read each letter of my posts and picked up on the fact that I'm honest when I write - when I review something or tell you that I love it, I really do. If I don't like something, I won't review it. I don't want my page adorned in anything Carter, Matt and I don't admire or believe in. I'm way too obsessed with perfection for that. And, after all, this blog represents my son's life.

I'm one of the few people in the world working a job I love. My job is to stay home with Carter. To teach him. Take care of him. Document his life. I get paid in hugs and kisses. And now I can pick up a few extra packs of diapers at the store.

Ok and maybe another tube of lipgloss, too.