2014 Book List

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Here in Wisconsin, we're dealing with a winter that won't quit. Rather than state the obvious and complain about slush, salt and cold temps, let's wrap ourselves up in the positive. Wisconsin winters are the perfect time to reflect, read and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate (or three). Here's a list of books to read in 2014:

Nine to Five Inspirations 
After devouring Lean In, I discovered that this was the first book on career development I've read since hanging up my college graduation gown. Gulp. Let's expand our knowledge on the subject by reading:

• Ogilvy on Advertising 
• I Shouldn't Be Telling You This: Success Secrets Every Gutsy Girl Should Know 
• Pour Your Heart Into It

Parenthood
I once read that the best parenting advice will come from your friends, family and other new moms. This was from a parenting book, oddly enough. Even if the best tips come from other moms, I loved the philosophy behind Happiest Toddler. I'm looking forward to reading these others:

• Loved Reading: Happiest Toddler on the Block 
• The Good Mother Myth 
• How To Talk So Kids Will Listen: How to Listen So Kids Will Talk 

Good ReadsI've heard nothing but good things about the following five. After watching here on The Daily Show, I'm especially excited about I Am Malala. 

• Me Before You
• The Casual Vacancy 
• I Am Malala 
• The Fault in Our Stars
• Relish: My Life in the Kitchen 

What are you reading these days? Any books that should be added to this list?

You Are My I love You

You are my I love you

I am your parent you are my child

I am your quiet place, you are my wild

I am your calm face, you are my giggle

I am your wait, you are my wiggle

I am your audience, you are my clown

I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down

I am your carrot sticks, you are my licorice

I am your dandelion, you are my first wish

I am your water wings, you are my deep

I am your open arms, you are my running leap

I am your way home, you are my new path

I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath

I am your dinner, you are my chocolate cake

I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake

I am your finish line, you are my race

I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace

I am your favorite book, you are my new lines

I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine

I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo

I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you

Waiting for Birdy: Favorite Lines

Last weekend we took a much needed road trip to Minnesota to see family and friends. With the car packed up the night before, we left on time, but not fully caffeinated. Ingrid was out cold until her seat belt straps tightened. She then opened her eyes and proclaimed "We're going to Minnesota! I so excited!" 

The car ride was unlike any I'd ever experienced with her. By that, I mean it was pleasant. Ingrid read, colored, requested movies and snacks. We've entered another stage of parenthood. A stage? No. She's growing up.

Although the car ride was nice, I found myself wishing for more. Daydreaming about the day when she'll let us know she needs to use the bathroom. It takes a present mind to remember this parenting classic: don't wish it away. 

It's an easy thing to do, really. To wish away the teething pains, the tummy time grunts, the constant feeding, swaddling, diaper bag packing, bottle washing and toy wrangling. To pine over the next stage of development. To wish for a start and an end.

After dreaming of what's to come, I remembered one of my favorite reads this year, Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman. 

I reread the highlighted sections and felt inspired to share a few. The book is about the author's family awaiting their second child. Although I'm content with one, I nodded along while reading. Now, I'm not a fan of articles, books, quotes or eCards that paint motherhood to be this magical, secret society where kids are insane, amazing and no one has time to shower. I preface this because some of my favorite lines are flowery and moving. Balance these sentiments with honesty and that's why I loved every page:

"There is the love that balloons so enormous and breathtaking that it lifts you up, past sleep, into some other kind of place, where joy is immeasurable, and fear is everywhere. Where "bittersweet" is always the flavor of the day."

"Speaking in earnest proverbs is new to me since becoming a parent. But now, every day, some or other cliche pops into my head as if it were an original thought." 

"But when I looked into that serene little face, the world stopped and started, and I became, in an instant and forever, a mother." 

"Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others with their masks." 

"There is no way to understand the joyful desperation of parenthood until it is already upon you, like a flash flood." 

"Sometimes, when I go to put the kids to bed, I breathe a sigh of relief after they fall asleep, like 'Thank God that's over with!'...'Don't wish your life away', my mom used to say when we were impatient as kids. I'm sincerely trying not to.

That oxygen mask line has proven to be my motherhood mantra.

This book armed me with more tips than some of the "recommended" reads for moms with toddlers. 

What books - not necessarily on the topic of motherhood - have stuck with you? 

Wordless{ish} Wednesday

While getting ready for work this morning, this sweet scene greeted me in the mirror.

Blurry? Yes. Who cares.

I wanted to snuggle next to Ingrid and listen to Dan as he read The Lorax (or as Ingrid would say, "Ohax! Ohax!").

Happy Wednesday!



More Wordless(ish) Wednesdays found at The Paper Mama

September, You Just Arrived.

Do you have to leave so soon?

With Dan starting school, his internship - and his business picking up steam - we've had a hectic month at home adjusting to a new schedule. Isn't organization a wonderful thing? If only someone else could arrange everything and I could just reap the rewards of an organized schedule, closet and life. 

With schedules being more structured than we're used to - I've tried to make an effort to be more easygoing. To sleep in on the weekends, have two beers on a school night, stay in bed and watch cartoons with Ingrid and forgo lunch in favor of baking cookies. 

Let's not lie. This isn't really a huge departure from my "normal." 

Anyways, here are some September highlights from my iPhone (sidebar: any recommendations for a decent non-point-and-shoot camera?): 

Celebrating my best friend's 30th birthday with cocktails (and later over manicures.)

Watching Ingrid's face light up as she watched the kites takeoff from Milwaukee's Lakefront Kite Festival. 

Ingrid's love for babies continues to grow. She tests our swaddling skills and insists on giving them a bottle and "pupcakes" (aka, plastic cupcakes.) 

Savoring lemon cucumbers. A cucumber with the zing (and shape of) a lemon. Seriously amazingly good. 

You can bet that I stuffed those figs with (Kirkland) goat cheese and called it dinner too. 

Never one to say no to anything free - I gladly took this hand-me-down car from a coworker. Ingrid has mastered backing up and is trying her best to move forward. She has mastered the art of turning the wheel - and the horn. 

One of my favorite ways to start the day: a long walk to the park with Harper and Ingrid. 

Hoping there is some sort of nutritional benefit to pumpkin-flavored things - because I've consumed a few pumpkin-flavored things. 

Children's literature just gets better and better. Ingrid has a thing for The Foot Book and "Moo Baa, Lalala" - and loves to recite her favorite phrases. 

Regardless of political affiliation, taking Ingrid to see the President, was memorable, inspiring and uplifting. 

Ring ring! The phone's for you and it's probably Henry from daycare. Or grandma. 

It doesn't get anymore Wisconsin than spending a day at the fair: eating cheese curds, getting an Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag from The Elegant Farmer and - gazing at cows: 

A sweet end to a sweet month. 

This month I'm looking forward to welcoming fall, carving pumpkins and taking Ingrid to go Trick or Treating for the first time. 

What are you looking forward to this month? 

Pregnancy and New Mom Reads

Mom-To-Be-To-Dos:

• Register for a ton of baby stuff 
• Go to a ton of doctor appointments 
• Buy a ton cute maternity stuff. Elastic waistbands - wahoo!
• Freak out at the enormous responsibility that's literally growing inside of you. 
• Read a ton of books because you're now up in the middle of the night and you've got shit to learn. 

During my pregnancy, I inhaled pregnancy and new mom info. If someone recommended anything - I read it. Email newsletters - sign me up. I wanted to know every labor tip, new mom tip, registry tactics and then some. Last weekend, I retired Ingrid's 3-6 month clothes and these Mom-to-be-Classics to the attic. I thought I'd share some of my faves.

• What to Expect....
  Some of these questions were hilarious. I would laugh at these fictitious women and their insanely dumb fake questions - then a week later I would be frantically paging through this for any nuggets of info about Braxton-Hicks. I flagged the Dad chapters, which went unread. Which lead to a Knocked-Up-inspired dramatic monologue preformed by yours truly. The phrase "You didn't read the baby books! How can you not read the baaaabbbby books?" was exclaimed...more than once.
  
  
• Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth  I had a lot of people recommend "funny" books to which I rolled my eyes and even uttered out-loud, "Oh brother!" Baby Laughs was a another story, this was real, candid and Jenny had a wicked pregnancy. I counted my lucky stars I didn't experience half of the stuff she did. Now, I'm awaiting Baby Laughs to be returned to the Bay View Library (stop hoarding, whoever you are!)
  
  
• BabyWiseI know. How could I, right? BabyWise?! This book was so controversial, I had to know what all the fuss was about - I still don't know what all of the fuss was about. This is all about Parent Directed Feeding (aka, mom and dad tell you when to eat instead of baby). I read this when Ingrid was six or seven weeks old and at that time, it made some sense. I would say read this after having a baby otherwise your expectations will be out of whack. The biggest take away I had was this quote - it left my nodding my head in total agreement:
  
  "Time and experience are prerequisites for building any friendships. Children enter this world with neither. Wisdom, self-control, and the experiences earned over time must be trained into a child by those granted this unique privilege - the parents. Responsible parents are their children's teachers. The parents lead the children, as students, follow. Of course, fun times are welcome. Have fun along the way, but never at the expense of needed leadership."

• Then, the mother of all baby books...The Happiest Baby on the Block.
  I love the ease of this book. I love the DVD. Dan loved the DVD. I love the whole fourth-trimester idea. I love the 5S's. I'm like the Daily Affirmation girl. I love this book.
  

Everything. In hindsight, I can't even remember half of what I read (let's blame the dreaded new mom brain, shall we?), but in an effort to stay current with The Development of Babies - I'm asking for your recommendations. What books did you enjoy during this new mom stage? Ingrid is six months and anything from How to Raise a Normal Kid to comic relief is welcomed.