Book Review: We Were Liars

I'm currently binge reading which means I'll be binge book reviewing. You're welcome!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart has been on my list to read for a long time, but I never bought it. (which is weird because I usually have zero problem buying books!) But since getting my library card a few weeks ago I have been going crazy with reserving all the books I've been waiting to read, including this one.

I didn't know what to expect and I've never read anything from this author before. Just like every other book when I'm binge reading- I read this one in a day and a half. It was a really easy read and I was able to get through it quickly. Through the first 90% of the book I was entertained, but not super hooked or anything. The plot seemed a little weak and a little light for an entire book. The main characters are young teenagers so it felt very young teenager-esk. Don't get me wrong- I love an easy "way below my reading level and age group" book just like the next guy.

Then the last chapter happen and MY MIND WAS BLOWN. Seriously. I think it reached the same level as when I finished Jodi Picoult's latest book. I just didn't even see this little (BIG) plot twist coming. I had to read the first line of that chapter a few times to make sure my brain was connecting all the dots. WHAT?? It made the book 100 times better. I was really happy as I finished it. Feeling totally satisfied as a reader. Bravo to authors who risk having people NOT finish their book because all the juicy goodness is literally at the very end of the book.

If you're looking for a fun, quick read with an amazing ending- check it out.

Hi Baby: Heavenly Bedtimes

Hi my sweet baby,

I just got done putting you down for bed in what has become our new routine. I hold you in my lap as we sing songs (and maybe read a book if you're interested). Then we just sit there and cuddle. Sometimes you're playful and other times you're too sleepy and just want to relax. Tonight you were playful. As I sang you some of my favorite primary songs you would look up at me with this mischievous and yet precious close-mouthed grin. Then hurry and look away. It's like you want to make sure that I know you're loving our time together. It melts me heart and I love it every time you do it. As you lay back in my arms to get a little more comfortable you start to giggle as you hold Dog and try to reach for my face. We tease each other and you get all your silly energy out. You don't wiggle though. You have come to learn that bedtime means winding down and if you start to wiggle or want to play on the floor I put you in your crib. I love that you've caught on to my ways. If you're good and just want to snuggle, you end up staying in my lap much longer and our bedtime routine stretches further. I'm in no rush to do anything else. I would hold you like that all night if I could. I truly enjoy every single second of our time together, especially these silly nights.

As you lay in bed with a sticky face and hands (no bath for you tonight) I can't help but feel so much love for you. You're my favorite thing in this whole world. I love watching you grow up. You're quickly becoming my little girl instead of a baby, but you'll always be my baby girl. You are doing so many funny things right now. You're newest "trick" is to try to hold everything in your hands. You gather everything up, start by holding a few things in each hand and then get the rest of your body involved. You shove things under your arm pit and grab an armful. It's so funny and it makes me laugh every time.

I can tell you're understanding most of what I say these days. When we're downstairs and I say "should we go take a nap?" you head for the stairs with Dog. If we're upstairs and I ask if you want a snack or dinner you know exactly where to go. You're testing me with your behavior, but for the most part you understand what is OK and what isn't (for now). You like to screetch and scream when you're impatient but when I give you the look you stop (usually).

Your daddy and I are always talking about how much we love your personality and how we hope you never change. I want you to always be curious, happy and most of all- goofy. It's one of my favorite traits you have, and I would be so sad if one day it was gone. I am doing all I can to make sure you feel loved and accepted in your personality and I'm not one to shut you down, even when we're in public. Obviously if you're throwing a fit I will parent you, but if you're just expressing yourself and being silly then I'm not going to be the one to tell you to be quiet. I don't ever want you to "be quiet". I want you to have opinions and share them. I want you to be bold and not embarrassed. I want you to be confident in yourself and not afraid of what other people are thinking of you. Of course there are rules to follow, but I don't think that means we have to conform to the way a 1 year old "should" be acting (big LOL to the people who think they know what that looks like).

she was obsessed with the broom for a day. wouldn't put it down. it made for a fun walk!

I'm basically obsessed with you, and I'm not afraid to say it! Thanks for being such an angel. I'm thoroughly enjoying this happy phase you are in. I'm filling up my mommy love bucket for when you switch back over to a beasty baby (because I know you will. Cycles and all that!)

xoxo
Mom

Book review: Rousey

Can you believe this is the first autobiography I've ever read? Minus the random ones they might assign in high school (I can't remember either way). And I loved it! Time to start searching for the next one. 

I heard about Ronda Rousey for the first time earlier this year when she beat her apponent by something crazy like 14 seconds. She was on Jimmy Kimmel and I saw the interview. Then I saw more of her on GMA and finally on Ellen. She was talking about her new book and I was intrigued right away. So when I got my new library card it was the first book I wanted to check out. 

It didn't disappoint and I read it in 2 days. The only negative thing I have to say is that she uses the F word. A lot. Like several on almost every page. So if that's a deal breaker for you than this isn't your book. 

The main thing that struck me as I read was how totally and completely hard core she is, and she's been that way since she was a kid. She wanted to be an Olympian and by 16 she competed in Athens. And then again when she was 20. She talks about all the crap she had to go through to get there. Her battle with bulimia because she constantly worried about making weight. Her fighting her way through injuries and getting the crap beat out of her. She talks about her losses in the Judo circuits and Olympics. The first 3/4 of her book is very intense and it's mostly her going through really crappy stuff. To say she lived a hard life is a bit of an understatement, but she also brought it on herself because of the sport she was in and the goals she had. 

The underlying messages of being great and being the best were pretty inspiring. She isn't ashamed to say that she is the best. She doesn't believe in humility- and I respect that. She is also pretty scary and a very tough fighter. I'm a little afraid of her after reading this book. 

I love when I can't put a book down, and when I think about it when I'm not reading it and want to talk about it to anyone who will listen. This is that book. It's inspiring. It's depressing at times. It's exciting. It make me realize once again why my life is so vanilla (and why I'm SO happy that it is!). To be a world champion, to be an Olympian, to be the best- your world is anything but easy or ordinary. And there are only a few people that can handle a life like that. Ronda Rousey is one of them. 

My answer

Sometimes my brain gets a little cray cray and starts thinking of the big stuff. The Eternity stuff. Why are we here? What's the point? My whole life I have been raised in a religion that teaches answers to those questions. But those answers are pretty broad and sometimes I have a hard time making them mean something to me personally. 

So I've done what my religion teaches to do: pray and ask about it. I believe in that process and I've seen it work in my life several times. 

And last night I experienced it again. 

Mckenzie had a fever of 103 and so I was holding her. It was 10pm and my sweet angel was fast asleep in my arms. Holding her Dog in one hand and my finger in her other hand. 

And that's when I got my answer. This is why I'm here. I'm here to be this girl's mother. 

And for now, that's all the answer I need. 

dare devils and crazy babies

Life is CRAZY around here (isn't everyone's??) but it's also so much fun.

Mckenzie is out of her rough patch which means we have a lot more smiles around this house. She is walking like a little person and getting better every day. She can now step up a little higher and handle going down a hill. All very important, I know.

She's also a little daredevil and has NO FEAR. She's gotten two bloody noses this past month because she's always exploring and falling/tripping and sorrynotsorry but I'm not going to hold her hand/body every second of her life so I guess she'll just get a little banged up along the way.

She can now climb up onto our ottoman and is obsessed with it. Last night I was sitting right next to her and just sweating buckets because I was convinced she was going to fall off eventually. She would stand up and start jumping or roll around. But she never fell. Which is probably good because I would have let her. I think it's important for them to realize that falling off of something is a likely possibility when you climb up. What comes up must come down, and she is figuring that out. Just today she has tripped or knocked her head probably 4 different times. I give her loves but then we move on. I just feel so strongly about letting a baby/toddler explore their world and learn cause/effect at an early age. Obviously I'm supervising her, but there definitely won't be a shortage of scrapes and bruises around here!

Besides being a "crazy baby" as we like to call her- she is such a fun kid to be around. We laugh and goof off and dance all day long. She's getting harder to entertain, but I just switch up the environment a little bit and she's set for a new day. Just today I was changing the sheets on her mattress and left it on the floor. She's been playing with it for the past hour. Best toy ever apparently?

Football season is in full swing and we have had fun going to Bart's games. There's another one tonight so knock-on-wood that the enjoyment stays. She likes to run around, but for the most part she's okay just hanging out on the bleachers with me. It makes me happy to think as my family grows up we will be a "football family". Going to games every Friday night, maybe having a son play. It's fun to have those traditions early on and have something to look forward to as our family grows. Plus Bart's team is currently winning which always makes watching a little more fun.

We can't wait for the season to change around here! Macs is still insisting on multiple walks a day and LOVES being outside. If it wasn't so hot/sunny we could probably spend more than an hour outside just exploring. The day I'm not dripping sweat on our walks is going to be a glorious one.

Bart and I ended our mission of Insanity and started running again. I feel like 5 weeks of Insanity earns us 2 gold stars. I honestly don't think our marriage could have handled any longer. I actually really love the workouts, but 6 days a week? L O L. So instead I'm running 2 10Ks this month and a half marathon in October and November. Except since I just wrote that all down I'll probably break my ankle or something because whatever goals I write down never end up happening. Whoops!

So there you have it. A grippling update on our life right now. Bart is in football mode and has VERY full days. I'm currently binge reading and being a lovely housewife and Macs is living it up as Queen of the land.

xoxo