moments in my classroom

Oh the things that happen behind the closed door of my classroom!

Although that sounds dangerous, I'm only referring to those moments that make me laugh; moments that make me keep coming back for more of this job I adore. Here are a few examples from recent days:

-- I was reviewing with one of my Junior classes about the events at the end of the chapter we had just read in "The Great Gatsby." Here is what unfolded [my comments in bold]:

"Okay so George finds the dog leash and figures out what?"

"His wife is having an affair."

"Right. So he freaks out."

"And what is the deal with the billboard?"

"Ohhh…good question…what is the deal with the billboard? Who can answer that…"

and so our conversation continues until…

"And then he snaps and….???"

silence

"Really? No one? Here's a hint: pow, pow…"

laughter…."He shoots Gatsby!" … laughter

"It's a good thing I'm having a girl because I can't do sound effects at all."

"Try doing a car noise"

[insert my pathetic attempt here]

and so they continue to shout out "noises" that I should try to make just so they can laugh at me. And of course I humor them, because they are awesome.

-- We were playing a review game today in which the students have to pass back a challenge full of questions. Each student can only answer the one question that lands on them. When it gets to the back of the row the student has to run the paper forward for me to check before they can move on to the next challenge and the team that finishes all the challenges correctly first wins. Well, they always like this game but today…holy smokes… I thought I was going to have to strap them down they were so amped up/competitive while playing it. At one point I literally almost got tackled when the two guys in the back RAN their papers up to me to check and it was neck and neck. Of course I make lame comments the whole time just to make them laugh like, "Alright folks, we're getting down to the brass tacks now…stay focused." Things that don't even make sense really. I just love these times, although they are exhausting and take a lot from me, when I get to see my students laugh while still being engaged in what we're doing. We all have fun.

-- I got a new student in one of my classes recently. He came in on a day that the other students were finishing a test, so I had him reading a book. Once everyone was settled in and working I went over to his desk to talk to him a bit and introduce myself. At the end of our conversation I said, "Oh, and I'm not just fat, I'm pregnant." Of course the other 20 students heard this because they were quietly working and they all let out a laugh and rolled their eyes at me.

-- By the way, I'm typing this while Brent is watching the Heat vs Lakers game. There was just a little interview with Kobe Bryant and he said "af-leticism". Really? Why is that okay?

-- Last week during one of my junior classes I had finished up the lesson, and my students were in groups working on some questions about the theme of the book. It was a fairly difficult assignment but they were all diligently working and so I returned to my desk and was able to begin grading a few other assignments. This rarely happens as I'm usually very busy while I have a class…and all of a sudden I got really sentimental. I looked up and said, "Okay you guys, I'm sorry to interrupt because you are all working so well, but I was just sitting here thinking about how awesome you guys are so I thought I should tell you. I mean really…I'm so lucky to have gotten to spend two years in a row with you all…I'm going to miss this class when you leave next year… thanks for being awesome…for real…" and I proceeded to just kind of ramble these things at them. The guys were just staring at me like, "What the heck is wrong with this crazy woman?!" But some of the girls said, "Aww, we're gonna miss you too." And the rest of them just laughed because, since they've been in my class two years, they have come to expect this random-ness from me.

-- Last story for now: I was going over the Writers Notebook Invitation with one of my classes and giving them suggestions for some things they could write about and apparently, [they claimed this pretty adamantly], I said "have roden" [combining 'have ridden' and 'rode']. I was like, "What? You're all hearing things." They assured me I had, so of course then I had to respond with, "Whatever, I'm pregnant."

We do get a lot done in my class, but we sure have fun doing it. I love my job.

baby bump: 29 weeks

week 18 bump

week 29 bump

hello, belly!

week 18 bump

dear baby,

boy have we come a long way together! just look at how you've made me grow and stretch…which means you are turning into quite the little human. you love to roll around; actually, i think you roll more than you kick. i'm starting to feel you on both sides of my belly, and in those moments i am just amazed at how big you are! i don't even know what i'll think when you're born and i get to hold POUNDS of you in my arms.

this sunday during the opening prayer at church i felt what i know for sure were your little hiccups. i couldn't help but smiling right there in the pew, as it just made you even more real to me.

i'm starting to have a few more "discomforts" that just come with the territory of being pregnant, but i still love it. i mean that, baby girl, i LOVE carrying you around with me. even if it means a slight waddle. even if it means i lost my very flat abs. even if it means spending much of my day in the bathroom. i LOVE it. all of it. because it means YOU.

i'm very ready to meet you, but i think i'll miss having you so close to me all the time.

love, mom

ithoughts

This blog may come as a shock to some.

I don't have an iphone. Or an ipad.

We do have an ipod, but only because our nephew didn't need it anymore and Brent wanted it for running. I have yet to add songs to it or really figure it out. I did play that little 'move-the-wooden-blocks' game on it though, so that has to count for something?! And Brent did buy me an itunes gift card for Christmas, so I'll figure it out soon enough.

We also have a macbook. And I LOVE my macbook.

However, I am so torn with the iphone revolution that is happening/ has happened. Yes, I think it has happened.

Here are my thoughts:

I'm sure the phones are great. I'm sure it is UH-mazing to be able to get on the web, to take great pictures from a phone wherever you go. I'm sure it is nice to have constant GPS. I even think that it is probably fairly fantastic to carry your music with you too.

However, I do not like what iphones have done to our society. I know that some of the things have been good. Some people can "face-time" their friends and family that live hundreds of miles, states, or countries away. That is a beautiful thing that technology has done for us. But, and I think this is a pretty big but, I think they have destroyed personal communication, intentionality with one another, and how we interact in society around us.

Come on, admit it, even if you ARE an iphone advocate there has probably been a time that you have been out in public and thought, if even for a fleeting moment, "What ever happened to people looking at each other as they walked by? What ever happened to actually talking to the cashier who is checking you out instead of messing with your iphone? What ever happened driving like a normal person because you aren't on your phone all the time?!"

I see my students, so much a part of this iphone generation, and most do not know how to just sit, to just be, to just remain with their thoughts. They are so plugged in all of the time, so "connected", that they have essentially become disconnected to the things around them.

I noticed this in college. Between my freshman year to my senior year texting became an actual thing people did. ipods became a necessity. And the iphone was invented. And you may think I'm being a bit dramatic…but I experienced a shift in how people on campus interacted with one another [facebook was also invented during this time, but I'll save that rant for another post entirely :)]. My freshman year when walking to class I could, at any moment, be stopped on the sidewalk and spoken to. Actually engaged in conversation. People looked each other in the eye. When we sat down in class, we talked to the person sitting next to us because most of us had left our cell phone in our dorm rooms. We didn't need it at all times, and some people didn't even have a cell phone. When we would go to the cafeteria to eat together, we did just that-- we ate TOGETHER. We didn't just eat near one another, plugging away at our phones. By my senior year much of this had changed. Walking to class was a solitary event because everyone was plugged in in one way or another. When you got to class you didn't strike up conversation with the strange person next you, instead you whipped out your phone to avoid eye contact.

I don't know. I think it is silly to try to stand against the tidal wave of technology. I really do. But there is a part of me that hates the iphone. I hate what it has done to society. I hate that I've had many moments with friends in which I am sitting staring at the wall while they are on their iphone. I hate that it has connected us to the internet at all times, everywhere we go. I hate that it has brought us further and further away from nature. I hate that it has brought us further and further away from each other.

But… I kind of want one. But I'm scared. I'm scared I'll become "that iphone person." I'm scared I'll become a part of everything I've been so adamantly against.

What are you thoughts about iphones? Do you have one? If not, why not? If you do, how do you "make peace" with what it has done to our society? How do you NOT become "that iphone person"?

baby bump: 28 weeks

dear baby,

i think that your mama looks extremely tired in the above picture. that's because it is a lot of work for my body to make you, but i also am daily amazed at the process God has chosen for you and me to go through together. besides looking tired though, i love the picture. i received a sweet card from a previous coworker that had a drawing of a pregnant woman with the saying, "she had never considered herself exactly perfect until right now." and in so many ways, sweet daughter, that is exactly how i feel when i look at these pictures. someday you will understand. [and besides, i think the black is very slimming for you and me].

your dad has rolled over several times in the morning and, without waking me because he knows better than that silliness [you'll learn], has placed his hand on my belly. you always-always-respond with a kick or punch or squirm, as if you know he's checking on you. man you're a smart cookie.

speaking of cookies…we passed our glucose test! i was a little worried because i had to go back for the second round, but we're fine. to celebrate the good results we had some oreo cookies, your favorite!

one final thing you should know this week: your great grandma ann and i went to the fabric store and picked out everything we/she needs to make your bedding and curtains. you're gonna be stylin', girl! your great grandma is one talented woman.

stay perky in there, little one. i love you.

love, mom

"Stats" post #2

I thought it was high time I write another little update on my pregnancy via a stats post. [Also, any linguists out there who know where the phrase "high time" originated? For some reason that just struck me as interesting and I would like to know...] Okay...stats....

Click HERE for the first one I wrote back in October to see how things have changed.

cravings: again, I haven't been craving too much or anything out of the ordinary. Sometimes my eye is bigger than my stomach [but don't we all have this problem]. I have noticed that I have to eat my meals a bit slower than normal, because otherwise I get heartburn more easily or I have that uncomfortable "stuffed" feeling much easier than normal. I have noticed I get hungry before lunch and before supper, but a little snack usually helps :)

weight gain: Don't expect me to tell you about this after this is all said and done. I've actually gained more weight than I wanted to at this point, but to be honest, I haven't done anything that would make me NOT gain weight. At my last appointment I was just under having gained 20 pounds. My doctor said that is still really good and puts me on track for gaining around 30-35 total. I wanted to gain about 25-30 total, but ya live ya learn! Speaking of weight, I'm starting to think about an ideal weight I would like my daughter to be when she is born. I've decided about 6 lbs 5 ounces would be healthy yet little :-). And I have control over that, right?

comments: My students provide excellent stuff for this section. Just yesterday this was a conversation in one of my classes when I walked in by three different MALE students, who were clearly sucking up: "Mrs. I, you look dashing today." [Yes, he really said "dashing"]. Student 2 chimed in, "Yeah...I mean, I can't even tell you're pregnant." Student three, "WHAT?! You're pregnant. Noooo way." I rolled my eyes and we all laughed. Other than that, some people are saying, "You finally look pregnant!" [Others have informed me I look larger in person than I do in the pictures I post on here]. Yet some, I don't know if they're just being kind, tell me I still look small for 29 weeks.

fears: I guess I haven't written anything about this yet: I failed my first glucose screening [where they test for blood sugar to determine gestational diabetes]. This meant I had to return for a second, more intensive test. My doctor informed me that only 15% of women that come back for the second test actually have it. However, I had to fast for 8 hours, drink MORE of the wonderful, sugary drink [which does NOT sit well on an empty stomach if you're wondering] and then have my blood taken every hour. I was stuck a total of 4 times, 5 if you count the finger prick. I am still waiting on the results, and should know Thursday sometime. I really do not want to have gestational diabetes...obviously... but I have come to the realization that if I do then I need to know so I can do what is best for baby and me. It is something that goes away when the pregnancy is over also, and I know I can do anything for 2 1/2 months. So, right now that is the biggest thing I am concerned about. I also have been thinking worst-case-scenario about things with Brent. Let me explain: He played in an alumni tournament last weekend and I was concerned that he would have a major injury that caused him permanent amnesia and he wouldn't know who I was and therefore wouldn't know he was about to be a father. I also make up wild scenarios about car wrecks etc. Irrational scenarios really. But mainly the diabetes thing.

general mood: I feel pretty great. I, so far, have loved being pregnant. I love carrying around my little babe everywhere I go. I love the excitement others share with me. I love letting this experience show me how big our God really is. So...yeah...overall...pretty great. Unless I'm tired...then I get a bit crab-tastic.

things i have been surprised by: I am still surprised by how interested my students have been. I've also been surprised that I haven't gotten stretch marks. I've been surprised that I haven't craved anything. I also am surprised that I haven't freaked out about not having the nursery completely ready yet...as in not really ready at all. But I know it will all get done. I haven't been surprised by the support everyone has shown me though. We are truly surrounded by wonderful people.

things i'm most looking forward to: I don't really think this has changed since my first post in October, but the longings have become even more intense to fall in love and get to know this little girl. I am really looking forward to seeing what she looks like and getting to know her personality. And I am REALLY looking forward to watching Brent get to know her too.

what i think is really cool and crazy: Her kicks are incredible. I had thought about what they would feel like at this point, but it is really incredible to know that that is MY daughter moving around in there. I also think that how my body is changing is cool...and crazy. That women are capable of doing this incredible thing is AMAZING.

things i'm doing to prepare right now: I finished our registry at Target and Amazon.com. Kali helped me a lot with that over Christmas. I also was finally able to go pick out fabric for the bedding and curtains that my very talented Grandma is going to make. I'm starting to call pediatricians and Brent and I are signing up for birthing classes. I'm talking to other moms about what they did to prepare for actual delivery. I am continue to journal and write through the process. And continuing to pray for our daughter.

There you have it...an update! 11 weeks left. Crazy.

check it

For some reason my Year in Review post posted AFTER my week 27 baby bump. So scroll down and enjoy.

Oh, and did you notice on the fruit ticker I am now carrying a little squash?! Crazy. [Week 28 is coming soon...I promise].

baby bump: 27 weeks

[Last week's bump]

dear baby,

hey sister! i think you're liking it in there because you are making yourself quite comfortable. i am starting to be able to feel what i think are certain parts of you, which is really neat.

we celebrated new years this week in style…okay, not really--mama was wearing sweats and lounged on the couch all night, but we were with some really great people. you also got to meet your dad's whole side of the family and they are already pretty nuts about you. you even kicked around so most of them had a chance to meet you.

your aunt kali helped me finish up your baby registry. she is already a great mom and knows just what you and i will need…but don't worry, i put some fun stuff on there too for you to play with. i'm hoping to really get started on your room soon, but like i said, i'm hoping you're pretty content in there for a couple more months!

i still can't help dreaming of what our days will be like together in less than 13 weeks. will you be a snuggler? a cryer? a feisty one? an explosive pooper? :) only time will tell. you're still making your mama tired, but it is worth it all to know you're growing and developing.

love, mom

okay fine...2011: A Review

I was informed by my husband [who shall remain nameless] that my annual "year in review" was sorely missed. I may be doing this just for him, but since he does so much for me I figure it's only fair. However, if you were one of the few who reads this blog AND missed my review as well [which is narrowing the playing field considerably, I understand], then this is for you too: Enjoy! [And if you want to peek back, here is 2010 and 2009].

January: This was an interesting time for us. You see, we got a dog. Her name was Margo. She was a super cute boxer. I realized after 3 days that I am still deathly afraid of dogs. Good bye, Margo. We still think this was a good decision. It was also a crazy time for me as I was coaching girls basketball. CRAZY. I was incredibly busy and though we were winning games I was E.X.H.A.U.S.T.E.D. Kali also came to visit us with sweet Caroline and we learned that another little peanut was in the making. Oh happy day.

February: This month came in like a lion. Holy smokes. We had a big, old fashioned blizzard. It was fantastic. I think snow is beautiful, and it gave me a week home from school to finish our countertops that Brent had started. This was a big project for us, but we were so happy with the results.

Also, I got a new sink in this process...thank you Beck and Brent. It has changed my life. [Okay, that may be a bit drastic but...yes, it has changed my life. Love it. every day I use it. I love it.] However, a part popped off one day after it was installed. I was home [due to blizzard] and we had a minor flood, a major breakdown, and a dead cellphone. Oh my. It was an interesting 15 minutes of my life. Other than that...basketball continued [one week I had FIVE games in a row!!!]. By the end of this month I had worn myself out and got sick. Bummer.

March: I finally got back into writing "Our Story" a bit more [which I still am kicking myself to finish...it will get done...I think I can, I think I can...]. I had a moment where I thought I was pregnant and freaked out thinking I would have a December baby [why? my rationale breaks down so I'll spare you the details]. I bought my new DYSON VACUUM. And if I thought my sink had changed my life...well...as Atticus Finch would say, "I had another think coming." You know when a home appliance [is that what a vacuum is considered?] makes your "Year in Review" that it has significantly impacted you in someway. I got to teach my students poetry this month...which I ADORE, and we had a lot of fun. Also...my basketball girls won DISTRICT CHAMPS for the first time since 1986. Wowsa! It was a fun fun time.

April: Brent and I took a little trip to Wisconsin to visit my college roomie, Renae, her husband, Jared, and their little pumpkin of a child, Jaden. We loved it and, as always when spending quality time with good friends, wished they lived next door...or in our spare bedroom. Brent also ran his first HALF MARATHON [13.1 miles, folks!]. This was a huge accomplishment and I was so proud of him.

It definitely put a bug in him to keep running... I must have had a vaccine against that bug when I was little. I dreamed up "teaching grammar with chalk" and again had fun with my students. [Oh and I turned 25 and Brent threw a little "surprise" taco dinner at our place. He's a good one that guy...I should have his children...oh....wait...stick around...]

May: Paige Elizabeth graduated [if you don't know who this is it is difficult to try to describe but basically: my mom babysat Paige and her sister, Torri, since they were 6 weeks until they went to school. We became, essentially, family...]. Kali and crew came back for the graduation!!
Caroline even got to reconnect with her buddy, Scout [my parent's dog]. Little did she know this would be the last time she would see Scout, as Scout had a tendency...scratch that...as Scout ran away every chance possible. She always came back, was brought back, ended up at my house, or my parent's tracked her down, but needless to say "animal loving" is not exactly our family's forte [did you read about January?!], and they thought someone else may...umm, appreciate...Scout more. So Scout went away. I also hosted a big "mother's day extravaganza!" at my house and had my parents, Brent's parents, and all our grandparents over. It was quite fun. I finished my 3rd year of teaching, and still found that I love what I do. Unfortunately at the end of this month the devastating F5 tornado hit Joplin, MO. Brent lived there for four years while in college, so knows a ton of people and places there [including his sister, bro in law, and Henry!]. It was a sobering time.

June: I began relishing in summer vacation and raided our closets [I LOVE doing this!], and I read books, and we took our summer vacation to Nashville/Louisville/Florence Ya'll. We got to visit many wonderful and beloved and deeply missed people.

July: I continued to plug away at "Our Story"...oh wait...that is still happening. I hit 400 posts on this here blog. Oh and I found out I was PREGNANT!! Hooray. Unlike the March scare, this one was prayed for, and Brent and I shared our little secret only with one another for awhile. At the end of this month I got to go on an Alaskan cruise! Something that would have never happened without my dear friend, Micah. We soaked in the sun...oh...I mean, we bundled up and looked at Glaciers, went Kayaking, and ate like queens.

And I slept and slept and slept because I was creating a baby in my womb. [And yes, Micah had suspicions and I lied].
August: I began my fourth year of teaching...man, I'm getting old! I was excited because I had half of my crew from the year before, and I loved them! I jumped right in with Softball again and the heat proved to be a bit much and suspicion number two came from Coach B. But shhh...we still weren't telling. Brent and I also got to welcome our 2nd niece on my side, Elizabeth "Ellie" Kate! Precious.

September: Brent and I made a very quick trip to Nashville over Labor Day to meet, squeeze, and love on Ellie. We broke the news for the first time to Kali and Dan, as we wanted to tell them in person. Squeals and excitement. I continued with teaching Softball, Brent continued at the bank. We went to games and enjoyed the last beautiful summer/fall days. We told our parents and family we were going to have a baby...more squeals and excitement. And then after hearing the heartbeat we let the whole world know.

October: I began writing letters to my sweet baby. We carved pumpkins with Avree and Rylee [Riley? Oh no... drawing a blank! Yikes].

Brent ran ANOTHER HALF marathon and improved his time even more. This time he decided, "Yep, I'm gonna run a full marathon next." What?!

We celebrated Joan's birthday with family and Henry :). I fell in love...became obsessed...with Olive Garden again. Softball season ended, which is always bitter sweet.

November: Brent turned a whopping 26 years old. Basketball season began WITHOUT me, as I had decided that it wasn't for me after last season. We still went to all the games. We found out the GENDER of our sweet baby GIRL and were super excited. We prayed and decided on the four characteristics we hope she embodies [Joyfulness, Compassion, Hospitality, Modesty]. I got to begin teaching my favorite book, "To Kill a Mockingbird", again. AND over Thanksgiving 2 of our favorite people, our lifers, Meagan and Shane made the long trek to stay with us for a few days. It was a glorious time. We all hoped that time would stand still… but it didn't and they had to leave. We again begged them to move, but they drove away anyway. Bummer.

December: I continued writing letters to our sweet daughter who began to show herself more and more. We finished working on our laundry room [a project that began in the summer].

And then we geared up for lots and lots of family at Christmas time.

Here's to another great year! I have a feeling that this will be a year of many changes for us… and we're ready to see what all it holds!!

Book Review!!

I wrote this and don't have time to proofread it. Sorry. If there are typos or weird rambling sentences it is because I'm tired…and pregnant [hey, I can only use that excuse for less than 3 months now so I'm still milking it!]

2011 has come and gone. I was going to write a truly spectacular post about all of its intricacies... but decided against it. I mean, really, it was going to wow the socks right off ya! Instead, if you really want to know what I did/wrote/shared/thought in 2011 you have two options: Come over to my house and I'll tell ya over a nice meal, OR move your cursor over to the right hand side of these here blog-o-mine and click on "2011;" my thoughts and pictures and life events are neatly organized there. :-)

So in summary, it is now 2012 and I'm just a-gonna keep on truckin' unless you ask specifically about 2011. As for my "New Years Resolutions": Have a baby. Figure out life with baby.

It has been awhile since I have done a book review and would like to do one now [this paragraph has no transition into a new thought, so hopefully your brain is trackin' and moved from new years to books]. The reason I like to post book reviews is: 1) it is a virtual memory board for me to remember books and keep a list of what I've read and enjoyed/not enjoyed and 2) I always like having a good book recommendation so maybe you do too...if that is the case, consider this post for you.

Without further adieu.

#1: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Nelle Harper Lee. Again. With my sophomores. Love it every.SINGLE.time. [This book may be a theme on this post...watch out!]

#2: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald with my juniors. [Fun fact: did you know he was named after a distant cousin, Francis Scott Key, who just so happened to pen our national anthem?] Not a HUGE HUGE fan of this book, but still think it is a classic piece of literature that is worth reading. [Another fun fact: my students were doing an activity with this book where they rotated around the room and had a "book chat" on paper with one another. One student wrote, "Who do you think is going to die?" Another student wrote, "Why do you think someone will die?" Student one wrote back, "Because this is Mrs. I's class...people always die in the books we read in here!" Sigh. Classics are classics because they make us think about reality and relate with the world around us. Sorry, folks.]

#3: "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon.

I knew that a friend/ former babysitting employee/ fellow BLOGGER really enjoyed reading the "Mitford Series" by Karon. Since she was an English teaching major in college, and we've had similar tastes on other books, I thought I would give the series a try when I found that my school carried them. I will say that after reading some heavy classic literature, as well as some biographic literature, this lighthearted, fictional story was a joy. Set in picturesque Mitford, this book chronicles the daily happenings of a beloved pastor in the town. Single and fighting diabetes, he takes up running, adopts a stray dog, takes in a nearly orphaned and cantankerous boy, falls in love, and tends to the many people in his congregation. It is an easy read, but also well written, and peppered with scripture and Christian messages. It was a good book to pick up and read before going to bed in the evenings and I plan on reading the next book in the series soon.

#4: "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.

Let me preface this by saying that some of you who will adore "At Home in Mitford" may not have the same feelings for this book…but I found this book simply A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I had several friends recommend this to me over the past year or so, but always forgot about when looking for a book to read. And then I remembered. And I was so glad I did. I wrote a post inspired by this book already HERE, and that was before I'd really even gotten into it. It's tough to try to even summarize what this book is about, because there is no way I can capture the beauty with which Zusak writes the story, which is the true art of the book. The narrator of the story is Death. Which is interesting, I know, but hang with me. It is set in WWII Germany, and chronicles the story of young Leisel, who has been turned over to a new "Mama" and "Papa." She begins stealing books at crucial junctures in her life, but does not know how to read. Her new and loving papa stays up with her at night and though he only reads at a fourth grade level is able to teach her enough to instill an insatiable desire in her to read more and more. Words become powerful to this young German girl as she sees the war coming closer and closer. There is a lot of action in the story, including a hidden jew, the death of a close friend, and various attempts to steal more books. I DEVOURED this book. It is one of the best books I have read, not just recently, but period. It made me think. It made me question. And it made me appreciate the beauty of the written word again. I could use nearly every sentence as an example of great writing for my students, such as "Outside the world whistled. The rain was stained." Very few books move me to tears, but this one…oh this one… If you like WWII literature and love beautifully written words, read this book. I'll leave it at that. [But seriously… it was awesome.]

#5: "I Am Scout" by Charles J. Shields.

I've been wanting to read this book for awhile now and Brent gave it to me for Christmas. And then I read it over the course of three days. A biography of Harper Lee [the author of TKAM], I found this book fascinating as I uncovered facts about my favorite author. How much of TKAM reflected her own life? How did she go about writing it? How did she feel when it became infamous nearly over night? And why did she never write another novel? All these questions and more were discussed in the pages of this book. For any TKAM fan, this is a must read! [I did warn my kids that I read this and they already are used to me spouting out facts I learned while we finish our unit :)].

#6: "Scout, Atticus & Boo" By Mary McDonagh Murphy

Another book on my Christmas list I received from my parents, this book is truly for the die-hard TKAM fans. It is, in a sense, a "celebration" of the book and movie, and how it has affected our world over the 50 years it has been published. Filled with bits and pieces of interviews from different people, some famous, some connected to Harper Lee or the film, it takes the reader through various reasons why this beloved book has stood the test of time. Some talk about how Atticus inspired them to become lawyers…or better parents. Some reflect on how Scout seemed like their best friend when they read TKAM for the first time. Others discussed the timeless themes of childhood innocence, justice, and racism. The best way to describe this book is by the LA Times quote that is on its back cover: "Reading this book is like attending a big book club meeting with twenty-six lovers of To Kill a Mockingbird." It truly is. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie at least 5 times, do that first before picking up this book though!

Well, those are what I have read in the past 2 months. The next book that is laying on my nightstand is "Half Broke Horses" by Jeannette Walls.

I mentioned "The Glass Castle" in my last post on books I'd read HERE , and this is essentially the "prequel" that memoir as it covers her Grandmother's life. I've read the first chapter, and just like when I read "The Glass Castle", I am immediately being swept away by the ease with which Walls is able to tell her Grandmother's story. I look forward to finishing it soon!

What about you? Read any good books over your Christmas? Any recommendations? Have any of you read any of the books above and had different feelings/reactions towards them? Please share!!

And yes, I know I missed my baby bump letter for week 27. I'll still post it, just late. Don't worry, everything is still going well.

baby bump: 26 weeks

I'm a day late getting week 26 posted… I'm sure she'll forgive.

dear baby,

christmas time has made me ache to hold you even more. you spent a lot of time around your cousins and other family members this week, and already received some wonderful little presents. you are already loved so deeply by so many. you and i are lucky in this way: we have a wonderful, wonderful family.

your cousin, caroline, already asks about "baby cousin" all the time. she knows you're in my "tummy," yet is still a little confused that she can't see you. she will love you immensely… and probably boss you around a bit since she is a lot like mommy's sister. :)

this entire week i kept daydreaming about what next year will be like with you, nine months old already. i so badly want to be able to picture your sweet face and little features in those daydreams, but i will just have to wait three more months! thinking of your little baby fingers and toes also makes me appreciate even more the gift of the baby jesus that we celebrated this week, and how human he was in that moment he slipped into our skin as an infant.

you kept me awake a bit for the first time this week, also. one night when i crawled into bed you just kept kicking and kicking and kicking. i didn't mind too much since it was the first time :). many still tell me that they think i look "small" for 6 months… but sweetheart, let me tell ya, mama does not feel so small right now!

i hope you enjoyed the sounds of christmas from safe in my womb, and this week you get to experience another first: new years! [though as tired as you've been making me again lately, we'll see how well i can stay up]. love you so much.

love,

mom