Today is the eight year anniversary of Postpartum Progress. Every year when I get to this day I’m always surprised. Delighted. Kinda shocked. It doesn’t feel like I’ve been writing about postpartum depression for eight years. Yet here we are.

I’m never sure how to mark these occasions. I don’t really do giveaways. I don’t want to go overboard since we’re not to ten years yet. I think at ten years we should have a fireworks display. And maybe a parade. But for eight?

Then my friend Laurie White suggested I share a favorite post from each of the last eight years. Bingo. She’s a genius. This is why I surround myself with geniuses. (Or is it genii?)

I’m not really going to share just one post, because I don’t follow direction well. But I thought we could reminisce …

2004

The first couple of years I wasn’t really a writer or much of an advocate. I was just reporting. This happened here, that happened there. Here’s a link. Check out this story. If there’s one thing I’d share, it’s where we started. I cry every time I read this. Because … well … who knew?

And So It Begins 

2005

Not particularly proud of anything I wrote or did during this period. Not gonna lie, or waste your time.

2006

In 2006 I began to see that there was a need to do more than just report. I started getting more and more mad about the lack of support. The continued stigma. It was probably the anger that pushed me toward advocacy, more than anything else, at that point.

Regarding Public Reaction to the Andrea Yates Verdict

Also, I had my sweet baby girl. And her birth helped me see many things. So many wonderful things.

On Experiencing What It Should Be Like To Be A New Mom

And finally, we created the survivor photo album, which is now the Warrior Moms Photo Album, featuring all of your glorious faces and fighting stigma all the way.

2007

This was the year I started to write, not just report. To share my feelings about what happened to me. I think it was your comments and emails that helped me see that the value of this blog was in talking about what women go through. Being vulnerable.

(Note: It would help if all the comments from the first few years hadn’t gone missing, which I discovered today. Astacia, help?!)

Profoundly Alone: The Disconnection of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression and the Glint of Judgment

I also spoke about postpartum depression and blogging for the very first time at the BlogHer ’07 conference, which started my long love affair with women bloggers. That led to a very special day for Postpartum Progress – Blog for the Mother’s Act Day, the first time we ever joined forces in the blogosphere to speak out about postpartum depression. I remember being overwhelmed beyond all measure by the number of people who spoke out about PPD. People I had never met who have now become personal friends, including Laurie White, Sarah Braesch, Jenna Hatfield, Rita Arens and more. That day was a true milestone.

Today is Blog for the Mother’s Act Day

2008

In March of 2008 we launched our fancy official logo, and started calling all of you Warrior Moms.

There was also that whole thing with Tom Cruise.

He’s BAAAAAACK! Tom Cruise & Psychiatry

And your favorite posts continued to be the more personal ones.

What Have I Wrought? Postpartum Depression’s Impact On Our Children

2009

In 2009 we kicked things into high gear. I must have been drinking a lot more coffee. In March I created the Six Things series, which has probably been the most popular series of posts ever created for Postpartum Progress.

In May of that year we also held the very first Mother’s Day Rally for Moms Mental Health.

Every now and then the media gets it so damn wrong that it cannot be ignored. One of the things I’m most proud of over the last eight years is leading the charge in putting together a coalition of experts and Warrior Moms to respond to a terrible article in Time magazine. Our letter to the editor kicked so much ass that Time named it one of its Letters of the Year.

An Open Letter to Time Magazine About Postpartum Depression

And finally, I wrote what has come to be the most important post I’ve ever written for Postpartum Progress, and the most read. Ever.

The Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety (In Plain Mama English)

2010

In 2010 we got our very own URL and became PostpartumProgress.com. Also, Kate Kripke joined us as an official contributor, which may be one of the best things I’ve ever done because her posts are incredible. Every time.

Some of your faves and mine from that year:

The Ultimate Valentine for a Postpartum Depression Mom

The Six Stages of Postpartum Depression

Myths About Postpartum Depression & Motherhood Show Up in the Mommyblog Debate

20 Things I Never Want to Hear or Read Again about Postpartum Depression

2011

In 2011 we created Daily Hope. We also added more regular contributors, including Kimberly and Robin. We also switched to WordPress that year, which is why some of the posts prior to 2011 looked so messed up. I swear one day it will get fixed.

And we became a nonprofit, which … wow. Your faves? Here’s the full list of the most popular posts in 2011.

2012

Here we are. Better than ever. More than 2000 posts. Almost 10,000 comments. Thanks to you.

Thanks to you.

Happy 8 Years of Postpartum Progress!

Photo credit: © efesan – Fotolia.com

P.S. I will be on vacation next week. Which I desperately, desperately need. So there likely won’t be any posts. But hey, there’s a whole bunch of posts listed above which I think are kinda good and maybe you could read some of those if you are looking for some support and info about postpartum depression or anxiety. Thanks y’all.