In Which, I return to regular blogging, give a good explanation, and make a big announcement

(If you do not normally read my blog, feel free to skip to the bottom of the post for the announcement).

I'm back now, really back. And my first act is to clear up what these blog-barren weeks have been about. But maybe you've already guessed. Maybe if you didn't catch it the first time, you'll catch it the second time....

It began in very early April when I wrote about Hope, about the strange relationship Hope has with despair, that life has with death, that Love has with risk. I dedicated this to my friend, who was called that very day to walk through dark valleys of Hope and despair. And it was for her, 100%. But that doesn't mean there weren't other things on my mind, other areas where Love and risk, life and death, hope and despair were dancing their ancient dance.

A few days later, I told about the strange, sacred day I was having. My toddler, who's newborn days were long over, was up from 1am to 5am. Yet after this frustrating, sleepless night, I wrote about waking that morning to new life, the beautiful spring weather, and joy. Many of you commented that I showed an unreasonable level of joy for such a miserable night. What was it about that particular morning that made the joy of life so much more tangible than the misery of sleepless children?

That was almost exactly two month ago. And after these two posts, my writing dropped off suddenly, for the first time in almost three years of blogging. The posts that I did manage to put up were full of apologies, begging pardon, offering half explanations, requesting patience. In one apology post, I mentioned that I'd recently taken a large vitamin, choked, and required the Heimlich maneuver. Several of you suggested I stop taking such large vitamins. But was there a reason I was downing these each day?

Once I ran out of apologies, I just plain stopped posting. My few-and-far-between writings often consisted of nothing but pictures, and at least once was an unabashed rerun.

And now, I'm back. One post on Hope, one post on sleepless nights and joy, then two months of silence. What could be the true cause?

Have you guessed it? Have you guessed that the very night when my near two-year-old reminded me vividly of the sleepless nights that newborns bring, I stumbled with exhaustion into the bathroom and came out with the knowledge that in nine short month, God willing, I will be having sleepless nights with regularity.

Because, right now, I am 14 weeks pregnant with our second child.