Reading Challenge Update

So I have always loved reading. I used to get in trouble for reading "too much" (under my sheets when I was supposed to be sleeping, in the bathroom at school, etc). And in all my years of reading, I don't know that I have ever stopped reading a book because I didn't like the way it was going. I always thought, "Oh, it is bound to get better." Plus, I just HAD TO KNOW if it got better or not. I couldn't deal with not knowing.

This week was the first time that I know of that I have stopped reading a book for that reason. It was Real Life and Liars. It started out with the main character smoking weed, which is not terrible to read about, but my first thought was, "Ok, if this is in the first few pages, what is next?!" So I kept reading and there is a character who sounds like she wants to have an affair and it seems like the author is justifying it because she is no longer in love with her husband, nor he with her. And then the last straw was something that I don't even want to write on here because I was so shocked by it! And this was only in the first 50 or so pages!

So I was disappointed in the book, to say the least. It could have ended up being a fantastic book, but I'll never know, and honestly, weirdly, I don't even care. I hate that books used to be the "safe" option, when there was so much yucky stuff on TV, and now I feel like my mind has been violated! I hate that it seems like our society doesn't feel like a tv show, movie, and now BOOK, is not successful or something unless it has a sex scene in it! Yuck.

I also finished Odd Mom Out, which was...interesting. At some times I felt like the author was saying that stay at home moms are really just a bunch of losers who have nothing better to do than go to country clubs and spas. Pretty sure I work just as hard as women in the work force! Yes, I sometimes watch TV while I do it, but I hate that I am being made to feel like my "job" means nothing.

And then to top it off, after the author gets you hooked on the book, like a couple of hundred pages in, there are two or so random scenes where I felt completely awkward reading! I actually showed them to James cuz I all of a sudden felt like I was reading a dirty book! She did not go into a huge amount of detail, and it was nowhere near as bad as the previously mentioned book, but still a bit unnecessary.

Alrighty, so I just had to share and vent about my reading experience thus far! On the plus side, I am loving Pride and Prejudice, and would love to read more Austen! I thought it would be a lot harder to understand (I have little patience for "thees" and "thous" :)) and I love that Austen makes her characters very likeable.

I also took an unintentional break from my goals of this challenge (reading the Bible, reading to Gracie and reading at least 10 minutes a day) because I was sick, then Gracie got sick, then we were both sick, then teeth came in, then I got sick again. Now I am finally feeling better, teeth are in and dirty books are back at the library, so hoping to start up again soon!

Okay, this was a long post, much longer than I intended it to be! So congrats for making it to the end! 2 bucky beaver points for YOU!

Fall Into Reading 2009 Challenge

Yay! I am so excited for fall! Not only do I love the colors, the smells, the crisp air, and everything else that comes with my FAVORITE season, but I am UBER excited to join in on the Fall Into Reading put on by Callapidder Days. Since Gracie has been born, I have not been able to read much and now that she is able to entertain herself more, I'm looking forward to remedying that! I have chosen a few books that I would like to get read, but I'm not going to put a lot of pressure on myself because I want to ENJOY reading, not feel like it's a chore. So here are some of the books on my list:

I have never, ever read a Jane Austen book so I thought that would be a good one! One of my goals in life is to read all of the Top 100 bestsellers books and this is on there, so I thought I'd give it a shot!
I am now obsessed with Julia Child. I don't even know anything about her, but with the new movie coming out and my love for trying new recipes, I am very excited about getting to know more about her!
And this is because my little one is probably getting bored with what I feed her! Hopefully she'll get some teeth soon so we can try even more recipes!


All of these three books were reviewed on a blog I read, and since I've been out of the reading world for a while and have no idea what's out there, I thought they would be fun ones to read.
Ooooh, this one I am very excited about. It goes through each month and says what needs to be done for a garden. Now that we are in our house, I am BEYOND thrilled to have our own garden. Food just tastes so much better when you know pretty much exactly what happens to it! And I think it will be a great thing to do as a family.
Told you I'm obsessed ;)

And you gotta love a bit of Joyce Meyer. I don't actually think I've finished most of the books I've started of hers, not real sure why. But this one I bought so that I could read it and pass it on, because I think it's something every woman needs to read!

In addition to these books, I am also setting myself 3 challenges:

1. I will read at least a chapter of the Bible every day.

2. I will read to Gracie at least every other day (she gets very squirmy so it's hard to keep her attention for very long!). She has been very interested in my mom's books recently, and actually looking at the pictures instead of tearing up the pages, so I think it's a good time!

3. I will set aside at least 10 minutes a day to read. Doesn't matter what it is, just want to start replacing some of my TV or internet time with something without a screen.

Okay! That's all! Like I said, I am super excited for this! I love love LOVE reading and can't wait to get back into it!

Dear Mr. Tooth,

Please come out. You are causing my baby girl a lot of pain. You have made her clingy and cranky, two things that she has never been. You have been trying to come out for a couple of months now, so come on little guy, come out little fella, we won't hurt you. You will be safe here. You will have good job security, she will put you to work right away, and in this economy that is hard to find!

Thank you, and my family and I look forward to meeting you.

Sarah

I take it back.

Every time I've thought that stay-at-home moms are just lazy.
That the just watch TV all day long.
That they must just get to go out to coffee and meet up with friends all the time.

I take it back.

My goodness, this mommy business is a full-time job...and then some! Especially when your baby likes to go to sleep at about 8 every night (yay!) but is sleeping with you, which means that YOU go to bed at 8 every night as well (sometimes a yay, but mostly a "I want to actually see my husband at some point!").

As you can see, I have done TERRIBLY at the picture a day idea. I'm now going to shoot for a picture a month. Not that I will get around to posting one every month, but I will take at least one picture a month of Gracie girl.

Speaking of our little sweetie, she is doing very well. She eats like a champ and loves EVERYTHING that she has tried (rice cereal, sweet potatoes, acorn squash, and green beans so far). A lot of people on my baby board who have babies the same age as Gracie are struggling to get their babies to eat an ounce or two of baby food a day...Gracie, on the other hand, eats at least 7 ounces a day, and has been nursing just as much as (and sometimes more than) normal.

She has also rolled over a few times (only tummy to back), and sat up for about a minute and a half all by herself! She is a little joy and loves to laugh and smile at anyone and everyone!

Alrighty, I am going to try to get some pictures up now, while Gracie Pie is sleeping in her car seat.

December 24th
Christmas Eve

Catch up time for the days I missed during John and Glynis' visit

December 23rd
Starting to smile intentionally

And then we misplaced the camera for a little while, but the grandparents took lots of pictures so we'll put those up once we get copies...

Day Fifty One: January 3rd
A big day for the Kitchen fam!

First, we had to say goodbye to Granddad...and Grandma.
We were sad so instead of going to an empty and quiet apartment, we went to Barnes and Noble...
and then were invited to Gram and Pop Pop's house for dinner, where I got to suck on my favorite thing EVER, Gram's finger that was cut-off when she was a little girl!

A big day indeed!

Day Forty Three: December 25th (once again, you'll have to fast forward a bit)
Our first Christmas morning as a family

Day Forty: December 22nd
I'm loving all this socializing, but wow is it exhausting!

Day Thirty Nine: December 21st
I was dedicated in church today! And once again, Mommy put me in crazy bows!

Day Thirty Eight: December 20th (fast forward through those other days, we don't need them)
Meeting Grandma and Granddad for the first time!

Day Thirty Five: December 17th
After one of the many, many, MANY blow-outs. Mommy and Daddy are going to buy stock in OxyClean!

Day Thirty Four: December 16th
Oh man, what a NIGHT!

Day Thirty Three: December 15th
I found my thumb! And it's fun to suck on!

Day Thirty Two: December 14th
Napping in one of my favorite places, Daddy's arms

Day Thirty One: December 13th
Check out those lil boots!!

Day Thirty: December 12th
Gracie looks amazingly beautiful in white, as you can see.

Day Twenty Nine: December 11th
Not the best picture of me, but thought I'd show that yes, Gracie does have a mother (somebody doesn't take many pictures)

Day Twenty Eight: December 10th
One MILLION dollars.....

Day Twenty Seven: December 9th
At the youth group Christmas party, being held by Rachel

Day Twenty Six: December 8th
Apparently Gracie is totally disgusted by her parents giving her kisses!

Day Twenty Five: December 7th
Getting ready for our first Christmas card! Don't worry, we ditched the hat ;)