[robandjulie]

It's super easy. If you can write an email you can write a blog. In fact, with blogger (blogspot) you can post by email if you wanted. Otherwise it's no harder than posting here. Easier, even.

Not sure on the other sites, but for blogger, you go to blogger.com, sign up or sign in if you already have a google account, click "create a blog", and then the hardest part---naming it!

There are two parts to the name. The first is just what you want to call it, like "our little sweeties" or "susan and family" or whatever. that does not have to be unique and it can be changed anytime you want with minimal fuss.

The second part is the blog address and that DOES have to be unique. that's the part people type into the address bar to get there. It doesn't have to be the same as your blog name, but it helps people remember it if they're related. Like you could have your address as "susanandfamily" and then the title as "one big happy family".

hit continue and you'll get to pick some colors and stuff. There are lots of optional add-ons, like adding lists of other blogs, an "about me" section, and such, but use what you want. You can always add this stuff later, too.

Once you're all set up, to write a post you just go to blogger.com and log in, then your blog will show up with a link that says "new post" which will take you to a screen like an email screen. Type your message, add links, upload photos, etc. Hit submit and it'll post. easy as that. You can edit them or delete them or save them as drafts just like you'd sort your emails.

If you want to change your blog title later on, because you add another child or just come up with something you like better, you can do that and it'll just change the way it shows up on the screen when people get there. But if you want to change the ADDRESS, you'll need to let people know how to find you. So picking the address is the most important. Pick something sort of general that is flexible to keep up with your family as you grow.

Some other tips: don't pick things with your last name or full family name if you're worried about privacy issues. Consider using nicknames for all your kids rather than their full names (ex: call them The Girl and The Boy, or Squirt and Sunshine...something they can grow with a bit). Don't give out your city information if it's a really small area, etc. Be smart about your family's privacy.