I get awards periodically, and I’m never quite sure what to do with them….you all already suffer through hearing enough bizarre things about me as it is without having to hear seven more of my neuroses…so instead of the list of seven things about me, here are my ‘awards’ for women that really stand out in my blogosphere.

I’m scared of infertility. A lot of blogs are about infertility and the struggles of the couples up against it…I’m learning a lot about IVF and PCOS and other acronyms for more fertility issues than I ever thought possible…and I’m continually amazed by the strength of the women who go through it. The Award for Being Strong in the Face of Infertility is Ashley, of For the Love of Shoes and a Baby Too… She is so Strong! Taking everything in stride, and even with the pain and disappointments, she keeps it in perspective, and she’s going forward. Reading her blog, and trying to be supportive (as much as I know how), she continually amazes and inspires me.

I will say that I am intimidated by the Big bloggers sometimes….the ones who have sponsors and are asked to write in on BIG sites….and some of them make it obvious that they also consider themselves elevated above others in the blogosphere…(Dooce makes $40,000 a month…mehh)…but others do a really good job of keeping things closer to my reality…so the Award for Blogger Keepin It Real is Jenn at Baby Makin(g) Machine. She blogs past ‘perceived trendiness’ of all things baby, and talks about things like the financial considerations of getting a doula, and she makes her own Baby Legs. I appreciate her reality, and seeing her hopes and fears and the realness of her and her life, always makes me smile.

Photography is really something I want to be better at before I have kids (hmmm, new addition to the Baby Bucket List??) and its bloggers who can take amazing pictures that keep this as an ongoing goal of mine. So the Award for Awesome Pictures I Drool Over goes to Kristal, at Good Food, Good Friends, Good Life. She took weekly pictures of her belly (both pre and post-baby!) and created the coolest baby book I’ve ever seen. SO many of her posts are favorited in my Things to Do for Baby list. But even with my jealousy about all her cool ideas (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right??) she talks about cloth diapering that even makes ME think I can handle it.

When I think about being a working Mom, it makes my head spin a little. I have a hard enough time with a job and homework, and adding in a baby just seems so overwhelming. Stay at Home Moms find it overwhelming, I’m doomed! But sometimes there are woman that just make me think, I can do this. The Award for Super Mom goes to Elizabeth, at Confessions from a Working Mom. She has adorable G, she works, she co-edits Our Mommyhood, she’s a commenting queen, has a way cool blog with things like Queen for a Week, and just generally makes it look effortless. On the days where I’m thinking my life is just too crazy (or when I’m late in submitting something to Our Mommyhood!) seeing Elizabeth in action reminds me that I can totally do this when I have a baby.

So those are my awards….if you can, head over to these lovely ladies blogs and give them some blog love!