Happy Anniversary to me! 
365 days ago on June 22, 2008 I created a nifty little blog on blogger. It actually still exists and you can view the old 3 Kids n Us (original name) but it’s pretty bare. The name, colors, and location may have changed, but the family behind it hasn’t. If this is your first visit, you can catch up on how the little blog got started by reading The Conception of 3 Kids and Us.
Now, I’d like to say I have a big party planned for today but truth be told, today just kind of snuck up on me and I wasn’t prepared. This past year has just zipped right on by.
Instead of a long drawn out post about our family, I’m going to do things a little differently.
{GIVEAWAY}
Today is Q & A day with my husband, my kids, and of course myself. The floor is open, if there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to know about us or maybe a post I forgot to update and you were curious about the outcome, you’re free to ask. I’ll answer just about anything, as long as it’s a tasteful question. Replies will go directly in this post. If you don’t have a question, that’s okay too, I’d just love to see a comment from anyone that reads on occasion.
Note: there’s also one nice lady that stops by to read and comment on most posts but when I try to reply to you, your email address is invalid. If everyone could pretty please, leave a valid email. They aren’t made public or used in any way except to reply to you directly.
{WHAT YOU CAN WIN}
I’ll draw one of the comments at random at the end of the week to win a $25 gift card to one of my favorite shopping centers, Walmart.
{READER Q & A}
Q. from MilkandHoneyMommy – Walmart? Where’s the Target gift card!
A. You know, I do shop at Target quite a bit, so I’ll offer a choice of Target or Walmart.
Q. from Krystyn – Maybe you’ve already answered this, but how did you come up with your kids’ names and spellings?
A. Let’s see our first, Mattison was actually drawn out of a hat. It was a choice between Jonathan Jr., Marcus, and Mattison. It’s actually based off of the name Madison (before it became a popular name for girls) but we changed the “d” to double “t’s” so that he could go by Matt if he chose.
For Kaydence we were in the car listening to music name off a bunch of names back and forth, my husband said Candace and I countered with Cadence, thus she became Kaydence. I’m not a fan of “C” names, as my own is Catherine so we switched it up to a K, tossed in a y and voila.
Emmaleigh was a bit more tricky. I was in love with the name Amelia but we didn’t like any short versions of it. I loved the little girl’s name Emma so we just kind of combined the two. She also got the middle names Sue and Helen after my mother and maternal grandmother whose birthday she was born on.
Q. from Tiffany – What is one of your favorite reviews you’ve worked on?
A. That’s tough because I have absolutely loved almost every product I’ve reviewed. But if I had to pick just one it would be the Flor Review. I have a creative side and loved playing with all the ways to mix and match the tiles to create my own rug.
Q from Tiffany – What is your favorite part about blogging?
A. Hands down all of the moms and women I get to meet. IRL it’s so much more difficult to have an instant relationship with someone and quickly find the things you have in common. Through blogging I’ve met such an amazing group of women from all over the world that I wouldn’t have access to without my blog.
Q. from The Shopping Mama – How is your relationship with your husband? I was so impressed with your willingness to share your Fireproof experience and have often wondered how things are going.
A. My husband and I are a tricky pair. We’ve been polar opposites in just about every aspect of who we are. We have the attraction of magnets and the spark of electrical jump start. ha! And how we’ve stayed married for 8 long years I’ll never able to answer, but I don’t forsee a divorce anytime soon.
We fell off the wagon of The Love Dare around Day 6 but continued the idea behind Day 1, which basically boiled down to treating each other with respect. So far it’s been an amazing improvement in our relationship which luckily hasn’t turned us into “4 Kids and Us” yet.
Q. from Yasmine – If you were not a mom/blogger what would you be doing instead with your life?
A. I’m a major type A personality, so I have to have something going on, especially with the computer. If I wasn’t blogging I’d probably put a great deal of time into building the diaper cake business I’ve been planning on.
Q. from Yasmine – Are you planning on 4 (or 5 Kids) And Us in the future?
A. Planning? No, not a chance. If it were to happen by chance I definitely wouldn’t be disappointed. I love being pregnant, I love spending every moment watching our kids grow and interact, what I would love is to have to buy another domain name.
Q. from Yasmine – How do you manage everything?? From your family, your house and your blog??!
A. Vodka……ha, no just kidding, I actually don’t drink at all. The truth is I have no clue. We aren’t very scheduled, my house only sparkles one day a week, and that’s every Sunday when I get busy cleaning it, things just sort of fall into place. And when things get a little crazy, I grab my Ipod and listen to Bob Marley in a bubble bath and pretend I’m in Jamaica for 20 minutes.
Q. from Cindi – My question is where did you learn all your graphic and html experience and how do you find the time to be so helpful to everyone!
A. Everything I learned has been from free online tutorials since I first got my hands on the internet about 7 years ago. That is probably the main reason I’m always out there trying to help everyone learn their way, a pay it forward concept if you will. I’ve learned so much more on the internet from helpful people (for free) than I ever could have in a college setting.
Q. from Firefly – your favorite thing to do when you are alone?
A. This probably not an unexpected answer but I love to read other blogs and hang out in the MomDot forums.
Q. from Firefly - how did mommy-hood change you from before if any?
A. Well, since I became a mother at 18 my life kinda did an immediate flip from self-absorbed teenager to responsible mommy very quickly. I think the biggest change I’ve seen in myself is that I’ve become a more patient and selfless person.
Q. from Stefanie - what has been your favorite post?
A. I would say my Outwit – Outlast – OutPlay the Toddler has been my favorite. I was just so gosh darn proud of myself for outsmarting a 2 year old. LOL
Q. from Stefanie - And which was your least favorite or one that you wished had more comments?
A. The post about an accident with my toddler was probably the hardest for me to share, admitting mommy guilt is never easy.
About Cat Davis
I just wanted to say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
I really like your blog, and I have been following you now for a few weeks since I found you (I can’t remember how I stumbled upon your blog).
I can’t believe it has been a year, your site here is so professional, laid out very well, GREAT content and more. I could never make a blog this successful in just 1 year lol!
Anyway, keep up the great work here and I will keep on reading!
Best wishes,
Cat,
I’ve been expectantly waiting for this day too because I was wondering what plans you had. I for the life of me can’t remember how I found your blog, but it was earlier this year (I think) and now I have to check in on you daily even though I’m an E-mail subscriber. I don’t have any questions at this time (I think I know way too much already
), but want to congratulate you on completing your first year and thank you for creating a fun place for me to go to on the Internet.
Walmart? Where’s the Target gift card!
I’m so proud of you Cat… I really am! Congrats on making it a year. Your fellow “C-Ville Mama”…
Hugs and loves… Miss you!
Liz
Happy Blogoversary! Mine snuck up on my, too! They are sneaky like that!
Maybe you’ve already answered this, but how did you come up with your kids’ names and spellings?
Happy Blogiversary! You’ve definitely made a great name for yourself, and I LOVE the way you blog. You are a great mentor and I always enjoy reading your posts.
Here’s a few questions:
What is one of your favorite reviews you’ve worked on?
What is your favorite part about blogging?
YAY! One year! That is great Cat. I expect you will be around for many more birthdays also!
Wow I can’t believe you’ve only been up and running for a year! Your site is so professional looking, you have a ton of followers, great content, and lots of great giveaways! You’re an inspiration for sure!
Wow how have you have grown!! Yeah and happy anniversary!!!!
Congratulation on your 1 year anniversary! Thanks for all of your insightful reviews & your touching personal stories I personally enjoyed your camping story
Congrats again and here is to another year!
I never would have thought you’d only been in the blog world for a year. Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary, Cat! You have an AMAZING blog! I am honored to call you a friend.
Okay, enough of the sap…
Here’s my question: How is your relationship with your husband? I was so impressed with your willingness to share your Fireproof experience and have often wondered how things are going.
Happy anniversary. I was going to ask about the Love Dare as well as I keep checking in for updates. I am glad you have had success! You have such a wonderful blog and you’ve came so far in such a short period of time. I started a year ago as well. I just went and checked and it was June 6… oops that just slipped right past me! lol
Happy Blogiversary! You have done great with your blog and I look forward to your posts.
Just wanted to stop by and say congrats on making it a year! You have put a lot of hard work into this blog and it shows.
Congrats Cat! So happy I’ve come to know you thru MomDot and I’m amazed at your talents – only one year blogging! My question is where did you learn all your graphic and html experience and how do you find the time to be so helpful to everyone!
Congrats on your 1 year Bloggiversary! Cat, your blog is awesome- I love it.
hmm questions…
If you were not a mom/blogger what would you be doing instead with your life?
Are you planning on 4 (or 5 Kids) And Us in the future? (The two of you make really cute kids:)~
And…
How do you manage everything?? From your family, your house and your blog??!
It was fun reading a little more about you! Happy Blogiversary!
Happy Blogoversary!!
Happy Blogiversary Cat! Keep up the good work!
Happy 1 year girly! Hmmm….a question…what has been your favorite post? And which was your least favorite or one that you wished had more comments?
Cat,
Thank you for sharing your stories. It’s so refreshing to read and relate to the real life issues you share. Your blog is awesome. Your honesty is amazing! Don’t ever change…
Happy Blogiversary Cat!!! Wow this is so exciting, I hope you had a little something for yourself like cake or something to celebrate all of your wonderful and hard work
A question: now I don’t know was this asked before LOL but if it has just ignore it…actually two questions LOL
)
1. your favorite thing to do when you are alone?
2. how did mommy-hood change you from before if any (LOL I get asked this a lot so I would love to know from another Mom
Happy Anniversary!!
Wow a Year of blogging and look where you are today! Congratulations.
Do you have any ideas on where you’d like to take your blog in the next 5 years? Major plans or anything in the works
What groups or organizations do you belong to or are apart of? The major one’s you don’t have to name them all.
Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! I love reading your site!
Happy Blogoversary! Love the Q&A!
Happy blogiversary!
I don’t have any questions- but wanted to say “happy anniversary!!!!”
Happy Blogiversary!! I am new here but enjoy reading your blog…I also learned about Html etc. from online! I love learning new stuff daily…I have a ways to go, but have learned a lot and help people like you do! Pay it forward rocks!:)
I was curious as to how much time per week you spend on your blog(updating, etc.) I’m sure it is very time consuming as I’m finding out with my own blog which is sparse lol
Thanks for a great giveaway also!! I like Target better(hehe) and saw that you’re now giving a choice lol
Happy Blogiversary Cat! Like others have said, I’m shocked that you’ve only been blogging for a year. I truly enjoy reading your blog.
Congratulations Cat. Your blog is one of my favorites. I love how your old blog has a graphic of you as a pregnant Mommy. Little Emma was not even here yet.
My question is:
What made you decide to take the leap from a blogspot.com address to purchasing your own domain? How much of a difference did you notice (traffic, numbers, etc.)?
You inspire me. In one, short year you have managed to build a great blog. I hope I can do the same.
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY Anniversary, Cat!! XOXO
Happy Anniversary Cat!
Most of my questions have been answered already but I have to ask about your ever changing blog design. I’ve actually never seen anyone else go through as many changes as you. I’m sure this is partially due to the fact that you can change it yourself now that you are a whiz at html.
Are you just trying out new things or are you never really satisfied with how it turns out and keep trying to find the perfect design.
And I’m with Milk and Honey Mommy! I’d prefer Target too but I’d never turn down a gift card.
Happy Anniversary! You have contributed so much to the blogging community. I look forward to reading more about your family, products you review and great giveaways!
I don’t really have a question, but I DID want to wish you a Happy Blogoversary!!!
Blessings!
Congrats on your blogiversary!
Happy Blogoversary! I enjoy reading your posts, reading your reviews, and entering your giveaways. Keep up the great blog work!
Happy blogaversary – I really enjoy reading your site… Here is to many, many more!!!
One year only? That is quite a feat. This is an amazing blog and I love reading your candidness about your relationship and your kids.
So after your trip to the bookstore and to the supermarket the other night, what’s your all-time worst outing with the kiddos?
I just wanted to stop by and say happy 1 year and congrats!
Congratulations! Happy Anniversary!
I enjoy reading your posts so much. The description of your marriage above is alot like mine
DH and I are very different. I can’t say I have the happiest marriage or perhaps a better word would be smoothest marriage, but I don’t foresee a divorce in the near future. Some days I think a murder….. only kidding! Oh, and we can’t figure out how we’ve made it 18 years! We only have one child – our daughter is three. While we agree that it’s the best thing that every happend to us, it changed the dynamic of our marriage quite a bit, but like the other changes in our lives, we’re pulling through.
Thanks for writing and I hope you have many, many more years of blogging!
I just started my blog 3 months ago. It’s amazing how much there is to learn. I find it hard to have time to blog and I don’t post nearly as much as you or have nearly as many commentors. I just switched to WordPress since I’ve been really impressed with WordPress designs.
Is it just me or are most blogs fairly new (1 year or less)? Is that because mom blogging is a recent phenomen or is it because people get burnt out after blogging for too long or something else?
Happy Blogiversary!! : ) How did you get in to doing all the reviews for your blog?
Happy 1st Blogiversary!!
Many more happy years ahead!
Happy Blogaversary! They’re so fun aren’t they?
Congrats on the one year. Happy blogoversary!