Marathon Monday + My Second Blogiversary

This week marks my blog's second "blogiversary" (blog + anniversary)! Yes, blogs get anniversaries, too. I learned that last year :)

Today also happens to be Marathon Monday in Boston, too!
I squeezed on my 2012 Boston shirt to celebrate during my snowy 5k run this morning (yes, snowy). It fits over the baby bump but my belly band covers about 2" of exposed belly.

#preggoproblems


Two years ago I wrote my first post on Life to the Full!

Why a Blog?

I started reading blogs when I was pregnant with E. While there were many pregnant women around me, maybe a few worked out but zero were interested in running. Most people thought it was quite weird to run while pregnant - like it scared them. That's when I found Jen's blog, This Runner's Trials, and Janae's blog, The Hungry Runner Girl.

While I prefer a good old coffee date conversation over blog-reading, reading about these women and their experiences with being an active pregnant woman made me feel much more "normal". They were a source of encouragement to help balance out all of the negative comments I heard as a soon-to-be first-time mom + runner.

By starting my own blog, I wanted to encourage other moms who are in a similar place in life as me in the same way as those women had encouraged me. Sources of encouragement are hard to come by in this world!
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11

Life Then: April 2013

Life to the Full was created when I was a brand-new mom on maternity leave with our 7-week-old little man. Life with our newborn was rather predictable - eat, diaper change, sleep, repeat. At least he napped because E sure didn't sleep much at night!

Even back then, I struggled to grasp the "nap while baby naps" concept. Rather than browsing Facebook or Pinterest during naps, I figured I could do something more productive like write. I've always been a journaler but blogging was something new.

I didn't start the blog with a grand mission in mind besides to encourage others. I wanted to share my faith and what I'm learning through motherhood, wife-hood and marathon training. I never would have dreamed I would be writing on this blog two years later!

Life Now: April 2015

Since this blog's creation, we have moved to a new-to-us house and a new hometown. Our family is growing in size and my career has changed drastically. God has been growing my faith through all of these changes and He has been opening up new opportunities in blogging, too. There isn't much that hasn't changed in the last two years!

I stay at home full-time with a two-year-old ninja and am eight months pregnant with our second baby. Last year I ran my first half marathons and plan on running another half this Fall. And hopefully another full next Spring! When I'm not running long-distance, I'm running around chasing after E, who is acquiring a love for running himself :) "More run, mom! More run!"

This year I tried some new things on the blog by writing a few book reviews and one product review. I'm now an "ambassador" for For Two Fitness, Fitfluential and Moms Meet, which have opened up great writing opportunities! Working with Google Adsense (the sidebar ads) has been another experiment for this year.


My Approach to Blogging

About 75% of my writing on the blog is written in my journal first in outline-form. I'm not a fan of being on the computer, especially when our toddler is awake, so the journal is an easy way to record my thoughts without logging on to the computer. By the time I'm on the computer - nap time or bed time - all I need to do is edit photos and type up my notes.

Blogging is a great creative outlet for me as a stay-at-home mom. I work on the occasional freelance graphic design project on the side but designing graphics and writing content for the blog has been a great way to keep my design skills sharp.

"Link-ups" have grown to be one of my favorite parts of blogging. In a link-up, bloggers with similar interests connect and share their latest posts. The Fit Dish, Fitness Friday and One Year and Beyond are my regular link-ups. I am so thankful for the awesome encouraging women I have met through these link-ups!

Future Plans

It has been on my heart for a while now to share my testimony on the blog. That post will be coming soon! Also in the future, I would like to write more product and book reviews and share more recaps.

After baby is born, I won't be posting as often as we adapt to being a family of 4. Once we get the hang of our new life, I look forward to sharing baby + toddler updates and the adventures in training for the half and full marathon as a mom of TWO!

As far as monetizing the blog, I plan to continue working with Google Adsense and possibly Amazon Associates. The business-side of blogging is especially new to me. I have a lot to learn!

How did you celebrate Marathon Monday?!

P.S. Happy blogiversary to Jessica at the Fit Switch who is also celebrating this month!!!
Linking up with the Fit Dish. #dishthefit

Comments

  1. Ahh did I read that right? Your testimony will be making it's debut on your blog? SO POWERFUL - I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT!!!

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    Replies
    1. You sure did! It's so hard to put it into typed words! You and I will have to talk about it and maybe you would share some tips, too :)

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  2. My daughter is celebrating Marathon Monday by wearing a "Boston 2014" tee shirt and american flag baby leggings. My husband ran the marathon last year, so this day will always be special to us after experiencing such a high from the race atmosphere last year!

    Happy Blogiversary! I'm so happy I found your blog a few months ago! I don't pop in enough to say hello, but I'm frequently over here reading it when a new post pops up in my BlogLovin feed. :) - Erica @ WhimsicalSeptember

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Erica! The Boston Marathon atmosphere really is an unforgettable experience!

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  3. Happy Blog-versary and all that you have accomplished! I look forward to seeing what you share in year 3! Love the t-shirt pic- way to get it all in there! Hope you are still feeling well!

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  4. Congrats! So happy for you and your blog baby. What an accomplishment. And, I am so happy you found your tribe as a running momma! You are so inspiring. Keep it up, Amy. I am so excited for you, and all the greatness that awaits!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jessica! The encouragement from you and the #fitfam is greatly appreciated!

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  5. Happy blogiversary to you! I look forward to seeing what the next year brings you!

    http://growingpainsbykellydavis.blogspot.com

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  6. Blogging has definitely been an awesome outlet for me as well! (I outline all my posts first too!) The Fit Dish is one of my favorite linkups--I love how supportive everyone is of each other! :]!

    Happy blogiversary! <3

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