I really feel I cannot say it enough. I love you all!!! Katy, Caitlin, Chelsey, Gabriela, Allison, and a good handful of others were tweeting with me today about their excitement for baby B’s arrival. Over recent weeks, your many comments showing support and friendship have meant so much to me. I have seen a pretty sizeable increase (to me) in readership and subscribers over the last week or two. [Side note: Hello to all you new readers!!!!] I feel incredibly loved. It humbles me and rewards me to be in the midst of so much encouragement.

I completely credit all this to the anticipation of Mr. Baby B and his first appearance on FFF. Believe me. I feel it too! I cannot wait to give that update and share the whole experience here with all of you. So at the risk of sounding desperate and pushing you all away, I have to say this -

I will still need you!

After Baby B’s arrival and the anticipation dies down, I hope you will continue to read. You motivate me to continue the blog, which allows me to grow as an individual. As I adjust to two children, I know this outlet will remain a great source of friendship. I will need you. As I work towards my many goals over the course of the year, knowing you all are there cheering me on will inspire me. I will need you. As I share my life, my passions, my heart, my all…I will need you there because a large part of what makes blogging so enjoyable is you. The community. The relationships. The friendships.

Even when you don’t have the chance to comment, seeing that people are stopping by to check in on me makes me smile. Knowing all of you out there care enough to want to either visit, provide an ear to my random ramblings, or share some of your own insights brightens my day. 

I do have some fun things coming up here on Faith Fitness Fun as well.

• new blog header design and official customized logo for the blog!
• plans to regularly post short video clips of favorite workout moves to really share my love of fitness (perhaps a weekly feature :))
• more recipes to go along with my goal of one new recipe each week
• more of my meal/snack ideas with a weekly feature – to depict the possibility of losing weight without deprivation
• Body After Baby progress and complete honesty on the journey
• more little M and baby B antics for all the kiddo lovers out there
• and of course…more of the same fun and musings you already enjoy since I refuse to change the whole premise of this site! 😉

Thank you for everything you have given me so far. I hope we can continue this path together in the future of Faith Fitness Fun. It’s going to be a good one…and it wouldn’t be without you. Pssst…did you catch my special message for ya?

Question of the Evening – What does your blog and its readers add to your life? Have you ever posted something that made you feel incredibly vulnerable? I feel pretty vulnerable after this post, for sure. I hope it didn’t come across as whiny, but sincerely showing my gratitude for your involvement here.

Evening, friends! I had a doctor appointment this afternoon. I’m officially 38 weeks pregnant now. Baby B is apparently sitting pretty low and I have progressed to 2 cm dilated. Those are good signs things are happening a little, teeny, tiny bit…but still doesn’t mean much in terms of me going into labor soon. We can keep praying and hoping its sooner rather than later though!

Moving on. You all know how much I love the Fit Blog Chats. I didn’t get to participate this week because I spent Tuesday night chilling with my sister, but the topic intrigued me. I couldn’t go without sharing my thoughts on the 4 chat questions. So, here they are! Given by Poise in Parma!

Q1) Do you call yourself a "blogger"? Do you think there�s a negative connotation to the term? Or do you "own it"?

I most certainly call myself a “blogger” and I most certainly own it! I love love love blogging and it has become such a huge part of my life. I will tell anyone and everyone about my blog. When you love something so much, you can’t help but blab about it. Just like how I can’t help but brag about my little M any chance I get.

I think some people have a negative connotation about bloggers. I know I’ve heard some view points that bloggers are “self-indulgent” or not true writers. I’ve never really encountered that personally. Most of the people I know don’t quite “get it”. They don’t understand the work I put into this baby and the fact that it is more than just an online journal.

Q2) What is another topic or activity that you feel passionate about?

My family!!! I want the best for them and will do all I can within my power to provide for them and love them. I will do whatever it takes to nourish them – emotionally, spiritually, physically, etc.

Fitness. Working out and pursuing fitness-related goals give me so much drive. I couldn’t imagine life without them.

My church/faith. I want to serve any way I can in my church that also helps develop me as an individual. That is why I find such passion in leading an adult Sunday School class.

Q3) How does your passion influence your "every day"? Is your passion also your career? Is it a struggle to fit it in your schedule?

I feel very fortunate that my life honestly revolves around all of my passions. My “every day” life includes mothering Makenzie, supporting/loving my husband, making time for God, working on this blog, and soon enough pursuing fitness goals. I thank God for where He has put me so far in life, surrounded with such blessings and a life I truly love. I can’t wait to see where else it leads. I know even brighter things! That’s why I’m SO excited for this year. I just have a gut feeling about it.

Q4) Has that "passion" ever turned into "obsession"? What were your warning signs you crossed the line?

Well, my fitness passion crossed the line years ago when the only thing I could focus on was how I looked, what size I was, or fitting in workouts. As for blogging, when I did the 30 Days of Self-Love in September, I got discouraged when the participation didn’t remain as high as the initial days. I started spending way too much time thinking and worrying over stats. I got over it though because I remembered the original purpose of the movement and stopped trying to control it. Ever since then, I just do my thing and let my blog grow naturally. No obsession.

I think the biggest warning sign for me is when I can’t have balance. When I find one of my passions overtaking others for an extended period of time, I know I need to refocus myself. When I don’t have time for something else I value, then I have to stop and consider how I’m spending my time and energy. Usually that is enough to center myself and lose the obsession.

Question of the Evening – What are some of your passions? Do you have time to pursue them? Have they ever crossed over into obsession for you?

Stay tuned for a giveaway coming tomorrow morning!!! And don’t forget to enter the $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway still going on HERE.