December Books

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Mayo Clinic: Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy by Roger Harms, MD, et al (a lot of information - the whole back is on different symptoms and options you'll have throughout your pregnancy and delivery. Recommend)
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (Good, parts were sad)

2 books for December, 79 read in 2012.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2012

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So 2012 was good right?? It was my first full year of being married, I learned a lot in relationships, learned a lot about balance, I spent most of the year pregnant, and I am so thankful for all the blessings, lessons, and praises I got to experience. It's a little cliche, but so easy to think each year is my new favorite.

Next year... will be so different! I'll become a mom, aunt to two nephews, gain a new sister in law... in just the first few months! (all God willing :) ) I do feel as though a fresh new calendar and start of a year can inspire new habits and change. I want to be spending my time in good and healthy ways (specifically quiet time, exercise/active time, time focused on my husband, small son, additional family, and the furry boys, alone time, time with friends, chores/responsibilities, acts of kindness- all balanced), let go of the little things (aka keep a healthy mind filter), show some serious love on the people around me (life is too short to let snippishness and snarls win), and I'd like to start a prayer journal. There is so much to pray about! 

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angles unawares.
-Hebrews 13:2 ESV 

The end of the year

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Hope your Christmas was merry and bright. We got in several days of celebrating and rejoicing with both sides of our family. I really missed J on Christmas Day (working), but I loved so many moments over the last week!

 I'm back at work for a few quiet but productive days. It is so weird to think of it being the last few days of 2012. Next year I'll be a mom :) Some of my favorite parts of my day are lying in bed with J talking about the changes we're anticipating. I am so thankful!

Cup of Cheer

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So, I'm pregnant. But my point is, stress is not good for anyone, but especially not pregger people. The coworker who kinda does the same role as me is on vacation this week and while I am thrilled for her, it's not nearly as dead at work as I was expecting. I find myself each day in a mixture of tired-enough-to-fall-asleep mood, with a bunch of spikes of energy that typically feel like "oo let's get this done!" (nesting?), with the occasional need to just not care, to keep from getting stressed. It's such an interesting feeling. 

With Christmas just a week away (yay!) I have several projects started around the house that I go around and work on for a little bit, several to-do lists typically titled (to do before.., to do after...), and I can't help but wonder what it'll be like to have my brain back :)

I guess my point is: It's a busy time for most of us. But you know? God is so good. I'm really happy in this life that He's put me. More important that staying ahead of things at work, more important to the (endless) things to do at home, more than the errands and the prepping, is growing closer to Him and in relationships. Taking time for little things (that are the big things).  I'm so thankful for my patient husband and for all the opportunities I've had lately to see people I love (of course not everyone, but still). The coffee dates, the short or long phone calls, etc. It's all so neat. What a cheerful time!

7 days to Christmas :)

 

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Thankful

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I really enjoyed my weekend, I got to see my sister in love and la la (brother in law in law) between their graduations (so happy and proud of you guys!!), got some Christmas shopping done (esp. a big project that J helped a lot with), got some more things done with the nursery, watched White Christmas, had a girl afternoon making ornaments, and coffee with an old friend. I'm so thankful for the restful and productiveness of it all.

This morning J and I were laying in bed (after his night shift) talking about CT. Thinking about not having your child come home, or your child witnessing all that, or the almost fiance who lost his girlfriend, or the husband that lost his almost retired wife, is unreal. It's hard, so hard, and all we can do is pray for His grace to cover all of the family and friends impacted. On KLove this morning, they read a quote by Mister Rogers: 

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world."

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I thought it was good to remember. While it is sad, there's hope with all the love and kind hearts out there. 

8 days til Christmas

Joy

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11 days til Christmas :)

Last night I got the opportunity to decorate some Christmas cookies and today I had a lunch and white elephant gift exchange with some coworkers. Fun little things help celebrate the season and make it look a lot more like Christmas. We have so very much to be thankful for this year. Each new Christmas seems to be my new favorite!

Bright

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12 days to Christmas :) 

Staying busy with fun activities and to-do lists!

Merry

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Yay! Baby Shower tomorrow :)

And 18 days to Christmas!!

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Cozy

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I can hardly believe we're nearly a week into December. We've got our tree up (and heavily ornamented), along with other fun Christmas cheer. J has been amazing getting things crossed off my errand to-do list, and I've been able to really cozy up in our evenings. We went to Colonial's Christmas Sweet on Monday, and it was inspirational - both full of Christmas songs and season, and a great reminder of why we celebrate. 

Merry Christmas :)

November Books

 

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The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones (not bad, quick read) 

Serpent's Kiss by Melissa de la Cruz (2nd in a series, dramatic chic lit, not entirely feeling it)

There's A Baby In The House by Mike Wombacher (helpful tips for preparing your pets for a baby)

Reached by Ally Condle (Final book in a series, relatively satisfying)

What to Expect When You're Expecting 4th Edition by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel (I thought it was helpful, particularly the first post week info, although a lot of the same info I read in the Joy of Pregnancy and the Mayo Clinic's pregnancy book. Picking any one of these would be helpful. I don't mind the reiteration of all that I'm learning either, but that might just be me)

The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore (Book 3 of a fun hero/alien series that J and I both read)

6 books this month, 77 for the year

Starting tomorrow

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I hope we take time for the little things this season. Take time to record and watch Christmas classics, keep the music on, enjoy the hot chocolate, get friends together for the gingerbread houses, walks in the frosty air, etc.  Already a few of our neighbors have lights out and it makes walking the boys so much more fun to me. It's interesting being pregnant at Christmas - hearing songs about Mary gives me a whole new perspective. Have a good weekend!

Good day

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Hello Tuesday :) I can't believe it's the last week of November! This morning I got a nice little appointment/drop off his car to get fixed again date, with a peppermint mocha (decaf) in hand. I'm so thankful for my life. It might not be perfect all around, but it's the one I've been given, and it's such a blessing. I love the quiet moments, the chaos moments, the looking-back moments on the moments I might have not loved at the time. There's a lot of laughter, some tears nowadays, which isn't necessarily bad, and I'm at peace here and today. I'm so thankful for a Savior who is Sovereign, who love us, who has a plan we can trust, and a reason to rejoice. It's a good day you guys!

We did it!

 

 

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We made it to the holiday season! Congratulations guys :) 

 I've been a bit of cranky monster mixed with a really nice person lately (sorry J), and I'm so glad we get to spend the holiday with good food, good family, and be reminded of all that we are thankful for, regardless of whether we wanted to be initially or not. God's will is good, acceptable and perfect, and I love looking back at some of the things and times of my life that I thought were "horrible," and see now what a blessing it actually was, or how much God allowed me to grow. I love hearing others' similar stories and Thanksgiving is a time when they seem to come out :) Have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

^{-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18}

TGIF

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Happy weekend! I feel as though it's been a productive week (mostly out of work :) ), and I'm looking forward to seeing friends, being cozy with the hubby and pups, and a short week next week!  

Potluck

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Today, we had our Thanksgiving Potluck at work. We had so much food, so much variety of food, and tons of desserts there. It's really neat to learn what certain people bring every year - and that others look forward to. I felt really very grateful to work with many of these people today. We have a lot of people who truly care, not just about each other but what our work is for. It can be refreshing to re-learn that :)  

Roaring 20s

 

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This weekend J and I are flying to FL to spend the weekend celebrating his grandmother's 90th birthday.  She's been thrown a party with Roaring Twenty's attire, to mark the decade she was born into. I'm excited to meet many family members that I haven't met yet, stay in the Round House, and have some fun stories to tell our little boy someday. I was reflecting on the fact that so far, J and I have only ever flown to Florida together. Kinda funny!

Interesting

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This year seems to be flying by. This weekend I got some much needed quiet time after a long week. I also got in some good girl time, organized portions of the house, and managed to ruin my car cd changer. All in all, a good weekend.  Now I'm starting to feel the need to cross off more of the "before baby boy comes" list (I'll have to check out other blogs for advice :) ), and get ready to enjoy the holiday season, with fun activities and shopping and cool weather. Regardless, reflecting on what month is, all the health that I know of, all the silver linings, thinking about how much people further up north are going through, I can't help but feel extremely grateful. I know life is more than just homes, jobs, every day details - all of which I'm thankful for; and I'm so thankful to know our Savior and have purpose through Him :)

October books

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The Joy of Pregnancy by Tori Kropp (would recommend this one too. At this point, there's a lot of overlap between books, but I just enjoy learning all that I can)
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore (a re-read before reading the latest in the series)
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (another fun chic lit read)
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (so very different from Harry Potter. Kind of reads like a dark soap opera. Not as engaging as her other books)

4 books this month, 71 for the year.