iBlog Friday: Our weekly roundup of Aussie bloggers

At iVillage we’re passionate about supporting Australian parenting bloggers. That’s why we’ve created iBlog Friday.

It’s a chance for bloggers to introduce their favourite post of the week to iVillage readers.

Here are the bloggers who have sent their submissions this week. Happy reading.

Lisa Baker of Little House Inspired takes us through the painful experience of losing a baby she wasn't sure she wanted in the first place in her post, So there was another baby. And then there wasn't.

I knew pretty much straight away that I was pregnant again. I could sense all the subtle changes. I was doubtful though, even I didn't think I could fall pregnant three times in a row, first try each time. But 10 days later that familiar faintest-of-faintest lines started to appear on the first of many home pregnancy tests. I think I did about 15 before feeling confident enough to go to the GP and get the process started. I was about 4+4 at that visit so when I did the pee test and it was barely visible, the GP seemed a little doubtful that I was pregnant. And then she got my blood test results. My HCG levels were only 35. I didn't know what that meant then as I had never known my number before. I had never needed to know. But apparently it wasn't a good sign.

Read the rest of Lisa's post here.

Susan Taylor of One Woman Circus takes us through her more unusual discoveries about motherhood in her post 8 things I've learned since becoming a mum.

There are many things people tell you about parenthood before you join the club. Usually it's tips, stories and sage advice from family, friends and colleagues who have been there themselves. You get given so much information from everyone covering everything you can possibly think of, but even then it's not enough - you're still in for some surprises.

Here are a few things I discovered after entering motherhood that NO ONE told me about:

1. Epidurals don't always work

Read the rest of Susan's post here.

Keri Arkell of Awesomely Unprepared explains why silly things in life deserve more attention in her post The silly things are so important.

Sometimes with the challenges that can be faced when raising a toddler, combined with the fatigue and other adult life stresses, it can be hard to remember the positives and take the time to appreciate the silly little things. It’s these silly things that are my sanity savers. The things that keep me going and make my job as a stay at home mum so worth it. These silly things stop the boredom in its tracks, make my fatigue melt away and remind me to look at the world in new ways. If a toddler can teach you anything, it’s that the world is a wondrous place. These silly things make me laugh from the belly or smile until my cheeks hurt. They remind me not to take life so seriously and to stop being a grumpy bum.

Read the rest of Keri's post here.

Kellie Turtu of Mama Pyjama wants to focus on only the positive side of parenting this week in her post The Up Side.

I am often reminded of the quote: “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about”.  Like the other day when my three year old said to me, “I’m happy with what I’ve got…Are you happy with what you’ve  got Mummy?”.  Or today when he stood gazing down our humble, semi-suburban street and turned to say, “Look at the lovely view mummy.  Isn’t it just lovely?”.  He says and does this sort of thing often.  We call him an old soul.  We say he’s beyond his years.  We stand marveling at the depth of his understanding, the magnitude of his empathy…put simply - the way his mind works.

Read the rest of Kellie's post here.

Rebecca Bowyer of Seeing the Lighter Side of Parenting culling her sources of parenting advice in her post Burn the Baby Advice Books.

I’m going to start a bonfire: I’ve decided to burn all my Baby Advice Books.

I was a strong believer, before I actually became a mother, that modern society, with all our whizz bang scientific methods and medicine, would surely have come up with a failsafe formula for success on child sleep. So I read and I studied and I spoke to experienced parents and I felt confident that I had learned the formula by heart.

Read the rest of Rebecca's post here.

Lisa Wilson of Two Point Five Kids explains why men and women are just different in her post "Equality doesn't equal "same".

Read the rest of Lisa's post here.

Kathryn Boyde of Katzrambles triees to come to terms with her husband's new role which will require him to be away for days at a time in her post Damsel in Distress.

When I think of the money he will make, the debts we could pay off and the holidays we could save for – I feel joyful and relieved. However, when I contemplate the reality of him not being here, these feelings quickly change to anxiety and panic.

You see, our FU runs along these lines: I look after the children and hubby looks after me. So, apart from missing their Dad, the kids will be fine – but what about me? Who will cook my dinner every night? Who will change light-bulbs, fix the car, take out the rubbish, mow the lawn etc…

Read the rest of Kathryn's post here.

This week's winner will win a fabulous Pantene Prize Pack. The winner will be announced on Monday and published.

If you’re a blogger and you want to appear in our next iBlog Friday roundup please send the link to your blog to us at info@themotherish.com