25 Family Favorite Christmas Books

This is our collection of both Christmas and winter books. I keep all of our snow and winter related books packed away with our Christmas decorations. And when these come out, a box full of our other books takes its place in the closet. This keeps our old books fresh and give us a fun host of reading throughout December and often into January. I hope these can make your December reading time as lovely as ours.

1. Frosty the Snowman by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson
2. The Story of Christmas by Patricia A. Pingry
3. The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
4. A Christmas Wish for Corduroy by Don Freeman
5. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
6. Snow by P. D. Eastman
7. A Joyful Christmas, a treasury collected by James Ransome
8. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
9. A Christmas Carol (the baby lit version) by Charles Dickens
10. Frosty the Snowman, the little golden book* 
11. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the little golden book by Robert L. May*
12. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
13. I am Small by Emma Dodd
14. Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden and Barbara Cooney
15. How Brown Mouse Kept Christmas by Clyde Watson
16. Humphrey's First Christmas by Carol Heyer
17. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
18. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
19. Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
20. Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones
21. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
22. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg
23. Babar and Father Christmas by Jean De Brunhoff
24. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
25. A Bakers Dozen by Aaron Shepard

*our copy of these two books were my Dad's when he was a boy, which makes them extra special.

I am always looking to grow our collection, what are your favorite Christmas books?

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July in Washington DC + Books

This summer is moving slowly and speeding by all at the same time. Some days we settle into a rhythm and soak up the loveliness of this city. Our photos are far more memory worth than magazine worthy. And our family is better for it, the memory making.

July, dare I say it, has been gorgeous. No sweltering heat or humidity hovering around 100%. Instead cool breezes are calling us outside day after day. Yes, this month has been equal parts fast and slow. The speeding by whirlwind part of our month began with 4th of July celebrations and departing in the night for our first of two family beach vacations! (We head for our next one on Saturday).

July gets me feeling equal parts nostalgic and patriotic. I intended for this summer to be sharing more of my favorites of DC with you all. It is coming, slower than I had hoped, but it is coming. But one of my recent reader(s) requests has been our favorite books about DC for little kids. These are a few of our most loved on DC books. Smithsonian museum gift shops have shelves upon shelves to explore as well. Whenever we visit I try to read a few to see if they will make the cut. So far, these are the best. But this list is bound to grow along with my kids.

Madeline at the White House - we read this book so often, I think I am going to need a few more Madeline books. But our favorite part is that it mentions a few of the sites/activities in DC not mentioned in other books such as the Easter Egg Roll and the Cherry Blossoms.

This is Washington, DC - by far the best book to learn more about DC, and the story behind what you probably already know. Geared for slightly older kids, ages 4-8.

I Pledge Allegiance - by the authors of childhood favorites Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, this book is not really about DC. However, it shares the rich story of the pledge that we so often recite. I received this as a gift for political appointees when I worked for the White House, which makes it extra special to me.

Good Night Washington, DC - our first DC book and likely what helped Behr first recognize the monuments by name. Whenever we read this book, the other DC books tend to come out so we can compare all of the DC scenery.

What has your July been like? 

And have you ever been to DC (come on, was it a class trip!?) 

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Blogger Book Club: Summer Reading List

Do you remember when I tried to make that a thing? #bloggerbookclub Well, like many great (or not so great) blogging ideas, it didn't full pan out. And yet, I want to bring it back. Over the past few months, my conversations with bloggers have largely been following the theme, I don't read blogs any more. Instagram has "eaten our blogs" or at least become a much richer community with more immediate touch points and connections. But do you know what I am still reading? Books!

So here are the books sitting in front of me for hot, sticky, summer pleasure:

The Longest Ride - because my sister and I read all of Nicholas Sparks' books together. She is currently living over seas, so I need to read it quick and ship it off.

The Happiness Project - courtesy of this DC friend, can't wait to dive in.

The Boys in the Boat - historical fiction is my second favorite book genre.

Delancey - food, glorious food. And the PNW. What more could I ask for in a book?

Flight Behavior - best creative writing ever. If you need writing inspiration, pick up (or listen to) a Barbara Kingsolver book. I've been messaging this lady about this book all night and all day.

I am dying to know. Have you read these? What do you think? Which should I bring to the beach? And finally, what else are you reading? If you have written a similar post (because book lists are certainly not original) I would love for you to leave a link in the comments. My favorite books have been recommended by friends, especially this one.

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Reading, Eating, and Shauna Niequist

When a few friends here in DC emailed about a dinner party using Shauna's recipes from Bread and Wine, it was an immediate yes. I devoured Bread and Wine, reading it in a few short days and even blogged about it twice (here and here) for #bloggerbookclub. But I didn't realize until preparing for this dinner that I hadn't cooked most of the recipes. It was a delicious evening, with rich conversation. Its amazing what can happen when you gather six women around a table without their children. Falling just after the an IF: Table event, plus the content of Shauna's book led to plenty of conversation prompts, but as new and old friends, the topics flowed freely. As I wrote recently, I get into a non-productive rut of repeating the same few sentences over and over again. I think my favorite part of the evening was that conversation was so varied. along a wide range from genetic testing to what we say to our husbands before bed and oil pulling. The food was pretty good too!

We made:

Bacon Wrapped Dates, pg. 171

Brannon's Caesar Salad, pg. 227

Goat Cheese Biscuits, pg. 89

Maple Balsamic Pork Tenderloin, pg 216

Mango Chicken Curry, pg. 103

And for Dessert:

Breakfast Cookies, pg. 116

Simplest Dark Chocolate Mousse, pg. 247

Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Toffee, pg. 196

Have you read Shauna's book? Or perhaps some of her other books?

Do you have a favorite recipe?

And how do you get to deeper conversation with friends?

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Blogger Book Club: Beautiful Ruins

From the moment I picked up Beautiful Ruins, I couldn't put it down. This book was a bit more scandalous than what I would generally read, but Jess Walter writes so well. He has a true talent for weaving and interweaving story lines. I am hooked, the day I finished, I made a quick trip to the library for another one of his books, The Financial Lives of Poets.

But back to Beautiful Ruins. I really liked it. I started off taking great notes for book club, and then was swept away in the story, so here you have it. My thoughts, reactions and questions for you:

The beginning of the book makes a big to-do over Michael Deane's signed business cards, a free pass, if you will. Is there someone who you know who you could call if you ever need anything? I have a former boss that I still keep in touch with that is the pseudo Michael Deane in my life. If I ever needed to jump back into the working world, needed career advice, or had an idea that needed brainstorming, he would most likely be there to help. I also had a family I baby sat throughout high school and college. Any time I need money, they found an odd job or reason to hire me. Friends and connections like this have made a huge impact on me. I hope some day to be the Michael Deane in someone's life, minus the grotesque amount of plastic surgery and penchant for using people. 

Do you have dreams/ambitions for your town, a place you love, or your career? Do you find your self settling (like Claire) or continuing to press on amidst mockery (like Pasquale)?

Shane has and ACT tattoo, symbolizing the motto his dad gave him (which he originally thought was a bible verse). Do you have a verse or a life motto that propels your forward?

What is your initial reaction to Dee Moray?

There are so many individual story lines interwoven in this book. Which stories were you drawn to most? I found myself drawn to both Alvis Bender and Pasquale. I wanted them to be life long friends and reach their dreams. I also really wanted to hear more about Shane's pitch, Donner!

In the final chapter, the stories are all wrapped up - the main characters, Claire, Michael Deane, Pasquale, Debra Moore, Pat and Lydia as well as even minor characters. What surprised you the most in the end? I was shocked by how little Pasquale and Debra story lined was wrapped I kept flipping the final page, stunned that the book had actually ended. The other story lines all wrapped up well...I felt cheated out of reading about the time Pasquale and Debra spent together.  However, I was glad Walter introduced the story of the bunker painter.

Did you read Beautiful Ruins?

What have been your top reads this summer?

Will you also join us next month for Glennon Melton's book,
Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed?

#bloggerbookclub

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Easter Books

Over the past two years, I have longed to establish Easter traditions for our family. This comes with each holiday as our family grows. We have begun a collection of books to tell the story and meaning of holidays. This year, I have begun keeping them on our coffee table - this helps us read the books more frequently and begin having conversations about the season of Lent. Here are the books we have so far.

The Easter Story - Biblically accurate, this story of Jesus' death and resurrection is closest to what I want to be teaching Behr.

What Is Easter? - Behr's favorite Easter book so far, he likes saying, "No," when we talk about whether or not Easter bunnies, eggs, and jelly beans as we flip through this board book. This is a great simple intro to separating the commercial view of Easter from why we celebrate God's son in the church.

The Legend of the Easter Egg - A wonderfully redemptive story about a boy and his sister who is severely ill during Lent. This book is better for slightly older kids. I also recommend reading it first yourself to be prepared for some of the questions that this book might raise.

I Am a Bunny - this is not specifically an Easter book, it isn't even actually a Spring book. But the illustrations are wonderful and something about the change of seasons makes me pull this book out this time of year. Definitely a keeper!

I would love to grow this collection, so please share your recommendations in the comments!

And because I love looking back at milestones:

Easter 2011 // Easter 2012

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Blogger Book Club: Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Upon raving recommendation from bloggers such as Anna and Alex, Whitney and I picked up Gone Girl for October, the perfect spooky book for a haunted October.

#bloggerbookclub is not intended to be a series of book reviews. Instead, they are interactive posts, sharing thoughs, opinions, and reactions to books we read. We hope that you can read along and respond in the comment section. Feel free to reach out to others and react to their observations as well. If you want to follow along, be sure to hit "subscribe by email" under the comment box. This will only subscribe you to comments on this post. 

Part One: Boy Loses Girl

In beginning this book, I immediately thought Nick Dunne was guilty. And despite the slow beginning I kept reading along if only to find out how Flynn would convince me otherwise. I did not see the twist she had planned coming. Even though I though he was guilty, I found myself connecting more with Nick than Amy, or "Diary Amy" as it was. Is this odd? I am especially interesting in whether anyone else felt this way!

Most shocking moments:
Nick receiving the text: "I am outside." At this point, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. It never occurred to me that this might be the reason for the disposable phone.
Noelle. Everything about her, and most significantly her actions at the candle light vigil.
I never believe the pregnancy was real, but found myself often second guessing this.
Each new twist that implicated Nick. I kept thinking, damn this girl is good. The woodshed was the icing on the cake.

Part Two: Boy Meets Girl

The real Amy is revealed. I appreciated Amy's determination to accomplish things and cross them off her checklist. Its the OCD in me. Throughout part two, I kept thinking, stupid selfish girl as she made friends at the pool with Greta, agreed to fish with Jeff, watching Ellen Abbott with them, and generally any social interaction she had, but most significantly calling Desi. Also, why did she keep all of her money in her money belt at all times? why not hide some under the floor boards of her car, some in her cabin, anything but walk around everyday with $9k under your shirt. Stupid. 

Most shocking moments:

Nick's realization that Tommy O'Hara and Hillary Handy weren't the crazy ones - the pieces of the puzzle really began coming together here. 

Nick doing a fuzzy bar interview and having it actually benefit him.

Sharon Schieber - this was just odd, and actually disrupted the flow of the book for me because it just looked like reading my own name spelled wrong. 

Amy calling Desi. I thought for sure she was going to call the police at this point.

Nick's continued defense of Andie to Go...as if he needed to betray his sister further.

Part Three: Boy Gets Girl Back

The moment we have all be waiting for. Amy returns. How is this girl so crazy good at making everything go according to her own plan. I don't even want to consider the self-inflicted pain she was willing to endure throughout the story line because it is so disturbing.

Most shocking moments:

Tanner saying Nick and Amy were the most screwed up couple he had ever seen. Agreed!

Go, Boney, and Nick continuing to try to convict Amy.
The real pregnancy.
Nick deleted his book? Lost respect.
Nick telling Amy he feels sorry she has to wake up every morning and be her. Respect regained. The end.

How about you? What were your reactions to this book? 

Are you hooked on Gillian Flynn's style? 

What do you think about Reese Witherspoon producing a Gone Girl movie?

Did the anniversary treasure hunts seem too contrived?

Did you salivate at the description of their lobster dinner? Or is that just my pregnancy cravings again?

Can you believe Nick stayed in the end?

Will his relationship with Go ever be real again?

Did you sympathize with the pressure to be Amazing Amy?

Or simply wonder how Amy had been so enabled her whole life?

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Blogger Book Club: A Gate at the Stairs

Have you ever picked up a book and struggled to read more than a few pages at a time? Worse have you ever blatantly avoided reading a book? Well, that's where I am with A Gate at the Stairs. I didn't finish. I can't and won't. Actually, I managed to read three ESPN magazines, a Martha Stewart Living, and two Working Mother magazines all to avoid this book on vacation.

I have seen great reviews of this book, it came highly recommended so it seemed an easy choice for me and my over-zealous reading book buddy Whitney. And then came our fated email conversation:

Whitney: How you doing on it? I am halfway through and it's borderline painful.
Me: I don't think I can keep going... what if I just post about the failed book club book and we let you pick the next book since you clearly choose better than I do!?!
Whitney: Oh phew, I have been wanting to quit too but didn't want to fail you.

So there you have it. Neither of us finished the book.

How about you? Have you read this book? Do you have a convincing plea that will keep me reading? Or should I add it to my donation pile?

Note: I feel shamed, like a sheepish seventh grader whose sub par book report clearly indicated a lack of understanding of even the main character.

Keep an eye out on my right side bar for the announcement of October's book!

Blogger Book Club: Secret Daughter

Welcome to the second #bloggerbookclub! 

As I explained last time, this is not a review of Secret Daughter, instead it is my thoughts as I read through the book, shared similarly as it would be in a real live book club setting. I hope that you can read along and respond in the comment section. This is intended to be an interactive blog post - so feel free to reach out to others and react to their observations as well. If you want to follow along, be sure to hit "subscribe by email" under the comment box. This will only subscribe you to comments on this post. So excited to hear what you thought as you read the book this month!

The Prologue

I keep wondering who the man is. My best guess is Jasu comes around and it is him...so intrigued!

Part I

Kavita - As I read her story, I felt her pain as if my own insides were being ripped out. We were in the car, so I kept it together, but I wanted to heave and sob along with her. 1984, the year I was born -  it seems like such an uncivilized world. How can this have still be happening during my generation? How can it still be happening today? I am angry at the mid-wife...not that she has any other choice. I cannot imagine the journey she made, so soon after labor - what an incredible act of strength.

Somer - I immediately thought of my own friends struggling with various fertility challenges. I wanted to shield this book from them. Their pain is fresh, and Somer's ordeal is written in such a away that it still feels raw. The scene at the baby shower reminded me of my own blunder. I once told a friend I was "So glad at least you aren't pregnant too!" at a baby shower before I was ready for kids, having no idea she had been struggling for over three years. I still feel guilty, years later. I often wonder how people make the jump to adoption. I know that for many it comes naturally, they always have had a heart for adoption. But when it faces you as your only option to have a family, when do you put your dream of conceiving a child aside and accept adoption as your alternative?

Somer in India - I want to slap her, but also yell at Kris for not helping her transition better. Shame on both of them for keeping so much from each other both Kris in their early marriage, not sharing is culture, and Somer about her adjustment in India. They seem to have set themselves up for failure.

Kavita after her son is born - Jasu's sudden showing of affection is irritating, and yet Kavita seems to both acknowledge and accept this. Again, her strength as a woman astounds me.

Meeting Asha - She has been called Usha for over a year...you have known her as Asha for a few months - as adults why not just change and call her Usha? This was so odd to me.

When Somer and Sarla bathed Asha together, it seemed so hopeful of a bond between the two women to form...and then it all fizzled away. Again and again, I wanted Somer to be more open minded to India, especially for the sake of her daughter.

Somer's maternal instincts - no one ever braces mom's for how hard it will be, that not everything comes naturally. I can only imagine how this is magnified with adoption. No wonder Somer seems to flounder a bit. I wish she had a better support network.

Part II

Kavita, Jasu, and Vijay - moving to Bombay seems crazy. How do they not know about the slums? I understand that leaving will give them a better chance, but aren't they just leaving Jasu's parents to starve? Why did they stay? Why didn't they go home? How did Kavita deal with their circumstances? How does Kavita emotionally bring herself to visit the orphanage?

Vijay's wad of cash - my first thought is he is selling drugs - how am I so jaded? But wait, really, he is selling drugs right?

Somer and Kris - pg. 98 "Somer didn't know that having it all, as she always believes she would, would mean feeling like she's falling short everywhere." Whenever I read something like this in a book (the same with Bloom) my first thought is almost always, you mean I am not alone?! Someone else feels like they are failing too?

Kris - missing his heritage, I only blame him. He is the one that spent over 10 years ignoring it.

Asha's letters break my heart.

Her strength to want to write about a true story for her school paper is impressive - but it makes me wonder where she got this drive from (as both of her parents seem to be pragmatists)

Part III

Asha at College - I continue to be sad that Asha's strengths do not seem to be enough for her parents - but I suspect this is quite common in the US. It seems like college is when Asha finally had the freedom to start exploring her heritage.

pg. 157 Kris says "At some point the family you create is more important than the one you are born into." This seems like a pivotal point for Kris and Asha. Its a passing statement, but it carries so much weight. If only he would take his words to heart and invest more in the family he created.

When Kavita and Jasu return to find cops tearing apart their home looking for Vijay and his supply, I wonder what it must feel like as a parent. Defending your child because you want to believe the best, not willing to give into the doubt that they may be making horrible decisions. Again at the Diwali celebration with friends, inklings of Vijay's business once again creep to the surface.

Jasu's nightmares, are these about Vijay, or the daughters he lost?

When Somer walks in on Asha "packing" - reading the letters to her mother and holding the bangle, I desperately want them to hash it out. I want to scream for Somer to share her worries, to bring these two women some understanding before they part for a year. But they both seem too stubborn.

Asha seems so welcomed by the family in India, it doesn't seem as though Somer was as welcomed. I am grateful for Asha that she has girl cousins to take her under their wing. Particularly as they prepare for the family wedding. On page 203, Asha "chronicles the day's events...the food may be spicy, the clothes uncomfortable, and the beauty treatments painful...starting to feel like home."

I appreciate the author's continued and subtel references to the disparity between recorded births of girls vs. boys.

I am again struck by Somer's stubbornness in her separation from Kris; her woe is me attitude. When really, she has very little in life to be complaining about. Her character continues to be a stark contrast to Kavita.

Sanjay. Sanjay, sanjay, sanjay. I have so much to say about you, but I will leave it for my concluding thoughts.

Dharavi - Each scene in Dharavi leaves me realizing that I cannot understand how deep the poverty is. The visual that comes to mind are scenes from Slumdog Millionaire. (don't judge me for admitting that?) or Occupy Wall Street camps. Other than these two images, I have never seen anything that would resemble Dharavi, not even on my trips to other developing countries.

Jasu and Kavita, I am amazed that they are still in Mumbai. After all of their hardship, it is incredible that they did not retreat home to their family in the village.

Jasu pours his heart out in the chapter Only One Regret, and becomes a character I can sympathize with once again. His hard edges are erased by his acknowledgement of Kavita's strength as the buoy for their family.

Asha and Dadima's morning walks reminded me of time spent with my own grandmothers. I hope that my own children grow to see their grandparents as sources of wisdom and experience - and that time with them should be cherished. There are roles that grandparents play that parents cannot, like Dadima's support for Asha finding her birth parents.

While I appreciate that the book focuses on the strength of women, I want to hear more about Dadaji - it as almost as if Dadima is the only person Asha is living with.

Part IV

Asha'a search for her birth parents overwhelmed me a bit. I don't have coherent thoughts on this. But I was curious as to why the taxi driver did not want to go to Vincent Road at that time of day. And were Kavita and Asha in Mahalaxmi Temple at the same time? The roller coaster of emotions Asha went through was gut wrenching, but I am glad she settled on the conclusion that her Mother loved her enough to give her away.

The reunion between Somer and Kris seemed so natural. So glad Somer travels to India with Kris - it feels like her last chance to save her family and it is about time!

Why didn't anyone call Asha to tell her to come home when Dadji passed away? And why did Dadima insist Asha light the pyre? Again, I am wishing Dadji's character was further developed.

Asha seems to have accepted her adoptive parents for who they are, taking Kris to a traditional Indian street food restaurant and Somer to and Italian restaurant. This contrast seems so important in understanding their cultural differnces.

I was correct is suspecting Jasu was the man in the prologue - but why, oh why did it take Jasu and Kavita so stinking long to finally discuss their second child. I am grateful for the closure Kavita must have had that her daughter was successful and still came looking for her.

I wish I knew what Asha's letter said, but how wonderful that they saw her work in the Times?

Concluding Thoughts

I loved this book. I would love to see it as a movie, and I very rarely think that about books. I wish there was better character development of the males, but that would be another 300 pages. Mostly I wanted to see more of Sanjay and Asha's relationship. In fact, I would love a second book about Sanjay and Asha. Please!

Also, Whitney (who I started this book club with) sent along this post about a fellow blogger who just returned from a trip to India - perfect timing for complimentary reading!

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September Book: A Gate at the Stairs 
more details will be coming soon in the side bar!

August Book Club: Secret Daughter

The response to reading Bloom "together" was so great, I have decided to take another go at a virtual book club. If you would like to join me (and a few others!) this month we are reading: Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. I just started and let me tell you, it is a beautiful and gripping story.

But don't comment about the book yet.

Come back Thursday, August 23rd for the full debrief and to add your two cents.

Not sure if you will remember?

Click the button below to add book club to your calendar.

Bloom

Thoughts on Bloom, by Kelle Hampton.

I immediately knew I wanted to read this book. It was pre-ordered in my amazon shopping cart the day that pre-orders began. I started reading Kelle's blog, Enjoying The Small Things in 2009 following along her pregnancy journey and soaking up adorable pictures of her first daughter Lainey. I have loved their family story, and more than anything wanted to support the release of the book. When the book arrived, it sat on my kitchen table for weeks, being shuffled with piles of paper, while I lacked both the time and motivation to sit down and read. In late June, I decided on a whim to read this book with a friend. We gave ourselves the month of July, never imagining how two busy working moms would finished this book in under two weeks! Our summaries to one another were just a few (long) emails. And you know what, it was fun.

I have never been part of a "book club." And after a few failed attempts to join one, I have resolved that you, the blogging community, may be my best shot. So here is goes, my first ever online book club post. Bloom has been out for a few months now, and I know some of you have read it. Hopefully you will join me in the comments to continue the conversation. I would love to hear your thoughts as well, after all, you are officially part of my book club.

Prologue. No matter how may times I read the story of Nella’s birth, I always cry and I always think Kelle is a crazy wonder woman! Favors for her hospital guests? And the sheer number of people there before delivery, during contractions, for the delivery? Crazy! No ma’am, not me. I thought when I first read her story, and having Behr totally reinforced the fact that no-way, no-how will my hospital room ever be as hopping as hers. Also, I don’t know many people with friends like that.

Dr. Foley, her pediatrician sounds amazing. I am in love with that woman.

Chapter 1. Whoa, pictures of Kelle Hampton with blond hair (cue wedding pictures). The scare, while her husband was away, the big clot. Scary. I also never knew Kelle had stepsons.

Chapter 2. I appreciate that she gave such a personal example of how and why she learned to deal with change throughout her life. At first the story in this chapter seems to be there for shock value, but the more I read the book, the more it fits. The letter her Dad wrote, recounting the first days was incredible. “And I wonder if gratitude is the uniformed doorman of the heart…”

Chapter 3. Again, reminded of her incredible friends, or “the net” as they call themselves. “I looked in the mirror. It was horrifying.” So true. Your first full view of yourself post-labor is an out of body experiences. Leg warmers. Didn’t realize people still had these/sold these. But so smart post-labor. I love Marsha. Why does her brother call her Kas? She explained why she calls him Bubby. I am blown away that she wanted her husband home with Lainey. I think I would be just the opposite – send my friends to care for Behr, give me my husband.

Chapter 4. Husband brought Beer. 10 points. A great song. Sara Groves is spot on. Sister Carin’s speech…”You know, through pain, you learn a lot about yourself – things you thought you never knew you wanted to learn.” Choose your own adventure book reference, classic.

Chapter 5. Tanning Booth – perfection. Bubby is one smart brother. Theresa’s letter made me cry. I keep going back to read it. Wondering if I could ever give so much of myself, wondering how she can be so generous and selfless. (pg 99) Julie’s letter was also so well written. Nella’s going home outfit was the cutest thing ever. The woman in scrubs who went in to visit and meet Nella, what an incredible act of kindness.

Chapter 6. Skinny dipping story, outrageously hilarious. It amazes me how much this book has me rolling in fits of laughter. Pumping, like “a Hoover vac on crack.” I think my breastfeeding ended in a very similar way. Viewing blogging as walking deeper into Gratitude. Yes.

Chapter 7. The photo of Nella and Lainey make my ovaries hurt. Big sister and little sister, sharing an early embrace. Brett looking for the space heater story made me bawl my eyes out. Writing Nella’s story, I can’t imagine what that must have been like. And then to finish, his publish, and release it to the masses – incredible.

Chapter 8. This chapter unlocked the true turning point for Kelle when she wrote: “But it was in this beautiful mess of my former self that true potential dwelled – potential to be molded and shaped by a grand defining moment.” {page 148}

Chapter 9. It is people like the man in the airport that takes their family picture that gives me hope in humanity. Kelle’s Dad’s take on “God Spinners” got me rolling in laughter and then thinking very deeply. I appreciated this insight into the way things can be perceived. The stories she {finally!} told about Brett’s boys’ reactions to the news of Nella were so beautifully gracious.

Chapter 10. I continued to be surprised by how Kelle and Brett dealt with the reality of Down Syndrome, not talking to each other much, ignoring literature, avoiding information. Mark and I would have reacted the exact opposite. I read nine different books when I was pregnant, and three breastfeeding books, and that was all for a routine, no-risk pregnancy. I was relieved once she finally sank down and researched, and then my heart broke when it impacted her negatively.

My own raw wounds opened up as I read, “Would Lainey be welcoming her first grandchild and saying good-bye to her sister at the same time?” {page 192} And my heart broke for my own mother who buried her dad the weekend I told her I was expecting, and then buried both her mom and her sister before Behr was six months old. I still struggle with how I allowed my conflicting emotions of sorrow and joy to each mute the extremes of the other. I cannot imagine what it was like for my mom. And then the reality that the scenario Kelle described can happen with or without Down Syndrome made me want to hug my sisters hard.

Chapter 11. Brett’s questions about what Nella will be able to do are precious. Again, I am amazed that they want to move forward without digging into research, but I am impressed by their ability to grab life, and live it to their fullest.

Chapter 12. I love the story of David, her seemingly anonymous spontaneous therapist, and how it came full circle. And then there is the chapter’s namesake story, “your speech touched my heart.” 

Chapter 13. Kelle’s trip to Montana to visit Nici reminded me of my own blogger weekend in Boston last fall. Love those girls. Nella’s Rockstars were outrageous and awesome.

Chapter 14. I remember crying over the ONEder fund the first time, tears streamed re-reading about it here, and then again as I re-read the paragraph aloud for Mark. The email to her girlfriends, “the net,” was the first time addressing that they didn’t just join hands over beer and sing kumbaya.

The Velveteen Rabbit story was an excellent way to wrap up the book.


Overall, I thought the book was inspiring and encouraging, offer the hope of change and growth. I would love to hear your thoughts, have you read it? What do you think of my observations? Have you already blogged about this book - share the link! 

Family Favorite Books + a giveaway

One of the early lessons we learned in reducing baby clutter was to ask for diapers and books, books and diapers, lots of books, and did I mention diapers? Our friends and family delivered! We didn't have to buy diapers until Behr was almost six months old, and we are still discovering new books as we rotate our collection. Among the books, a few stood out early as family favorites. Here are our top five(ish).


Just Because You're Mine This book is the story of a father's love for his son, not because he is fast, brave, or anything he could do on his own, a beautiful reflection of our Father's love for us. The author, Sally Lloyd-Jones also writes our favorite children's bible. This is a wonderful gift.

Little Blue Truck Little Blue Truck teaches his friend the lesson of being kind and helping others. The illustrations are beautiful, and it is fun to read aloud the sound effects. Behr carries this book around the house with him. This book has worked its way into the home of nearly every friend who has had a baby since Behr. (Seriously, I just bough 5 more last week!)

Barnyard Dance! I am not a huge Sandra Boynton fan, but this book is hard to resist. Every time Behr picks it out, he stands next to me and reaches for my hand so he can "spin with the chickens...not cluck, cluck, cluck!" This book gets us dancing and giggling every time.

Little Pea, Little Hoot, Little Oink (a set of three, but I am counting them here as oneish). These cheeky books again teach lessons with a bit of irony, a pea that doesn't eat his veggies, a pig that doesn't like dirt. The whit and humor keep us reading these again and again. Much like Little Blue Truck, we give this book set to everyone. I even embarrassingly emailed a blogger who reference the book and a different gift giver in her vlog...only to realize that we had given her Little Blue Truck instead. My cheeks are still red from that one!

Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones a sweet and simple book of how the jungle animals say good night. Behr brings us this book often. The illustrations are serene, akin to the colorful skies in the movie Lion King. And while there isn't much that makes this stand out, it has given us a family phrase, "a big hippo hug!" to replace the more common idiom, "bear hug," because that might get a bit tricky some day...



We love these books so much, we keep our house stocked with these for baby shower, birthday, and baptism gifts. We are always ready! And now we want you to be ready too. Win your own Little Blue Truck board book.

to enter:

you must be a follower of this blog via google friend connect

leave a comment sharing your favorite book and why you love it so much

p.s. be sure to leave your email in the comment too!

this could be a the book you read last week, from your childhood, that you read to your own children. etc. note, it doesn't have to be a children's book.

this giveaway closes monday, may 28

+ + +

ooh, don't forget, this is the last week to ask me questions anonymously.

Author Interview: Hannah Sternberg

Let me tell you what a treat it is to share Hannah Sternberg with you. A local DC author, she shared her book, Queens of All the Earth. This may be the first official non-baby book I read since Behr was born, and it was worth it! A story of sisters in Spain, it spoke to my heart. The intricate details Hannah weaves into the character descriptions literally make them jump off the page. She leads you through the streets in such a way you feel the energy come alive. Now you are going to have to go read it yourself...but first, and interview with Hannah. psst...I wouldn't want to lead you astray, the tagline above highlights the interview, not the actual book!

Well, I spent my junior year of college at Queen Mary College in London, and I got to know that city pretty well while I was there. It was my first time leaving the United States -- I was a late bloomer, travel-wise. My favorite neighborhood was up near the British Museum, where I would sometimes wander by myself for hours. My university's library was there too, in a gorgeous dusty Deco building that I could imagine being the set of an Indiana Jones movie, in the scene where he frantically researches his next step. I didn't do the backpacking through Europe thing that most of my friends did when they studied abroad, though, because I hate just spending one or two days in a city and then moving on -- I'd rather save up my time and money for a full week or more in one city or region and really sink into it. In only a day or two, my brain just doesn't digest all the new sights and sounds -- I'm in a daze, and I barely feel like I've arrived by the time I leave. So that year, I took a weeklong trip to Barcelona, where I started writing Queens of All the Earth after a friend and I talked about how much fun it would be to turn our travels into a novel. I also visited a few other cities in Britain -- Bristol and York were my favorites outside of London. But spending time in London, I still had plenty of adventures -- picnics on Hampstead Heath, and running into a hookah bar when it started to rain, to smoke and doodle pictures of my friends; a pub where a few of my Londoner friends were regulars, that served authentic Mongolian food on the weekends; learning how to roll a cigarette on the floor of my friend's flat while drinking cheap wine from the bottle and pondering life in the way that cheap wine generally leads one to do. Sometimes I went to class, too. That year I also visited my brother in Hong Kong, and hopped to Macau and some of the surrounding islands while I was there. I'm heading back in a week, to see more of Hong Kong, and take a side trip to Bangkok!

To be honest, I actually hated all of my hostel experiences. But I was a lot more withdrawn and self-conscious back when I did my hostel stays in college, and I think my greatest anxieties came from simply fearing that people were watching me and judging me, when really no one gave a flip. I do make more efforts now to reach out to people, learn about them and connect with them, even briefly, but I have to admit I'm a creature of comfort and I value privacy and quiet time a lot -- if I go a day or two without a silent, private moment to myself, I start to feel mentally exhausted. So I don't need a luxury hotel by any stretch, but a private room is very important to me. And plumbing. I think I would stay in a hostel again, and have more fun this time now that I'm much more relaxed and confident than I was at 19, but I would definitely need a room of my own.

Greg. Of course! And Hugo. But Hugo's the only character in the book that I shamelessly ripped from real life. He's based on the proprietor of the hostel I stayed in when I was in Barcelona. There really was a pinboard in the common room, at least when I was there, with love notes to him from previous guests.

Funny you should ask that, because I'm actually taking a 10-day trip to Hong Kong and Bangkok! My oldest brother is a journalist in Hong Kong, and this will be the second time I visit him there. I'm looking forward to visiting the crowded colorful chaotic street markets, the temples (where, last time, tiny Buddhist monks would walk up to me, smiling and gesturing, to invite me to see other parts of the shrine -- they were the friendliest faces I saw), the surrounding islands with their hiking trails through tropical forest, and the bustling nightlife. At the end of the visit, my brother and I are taking a side trip to Bangkok, a city he's visited before, though it will be my first time. These are the destinations that have been most on my mind recently, but other places I'd love to see are India, Israel, Turkey, and Morocco. And I wouldn't mind returning to London sometime soon -- it's been five years since I was there.

All no-brainers: Lots of water. It's easy to get dehydrated when you're excited and wrapped up in all that you're seeing and doing, and having a dehydration headache is a stupid way to ruin an afternoon. A map. I love getting lost and discovering new things, but I hate not being able to find my way home again. If you want to go off the beaten path and be spontaneous, bring a map, just don't look at it when you don't want to. I like to have a good book to read in quiet moments. Travel can be overwhelming, a sensory overload, and if it's possible, I like to turn to my little rituals to calm my mind and help me digest all the sights and sounds of the day. One of those rituals is reading a book every night before I go to sleep, even if I only have enough energy to make it through a few pages. It quells any homesickness I might feel, and gives me a little break from the onslaught of new things, so my mind can catch up.

A mix. I like photography, but I'm never fully satisfied with the pictures I take, and afterward I realize I spent all my time looking through a lens rather than absorbing what was going on around me and experiencing the moment. I don't like how in many things -- not just travel, but social gatherings and concerts and special events -- lots of people think that taking pictures will make the moment more meaningful, sometimes getting virtually frantic about it, constantly asking people to stop and pose. It's a great way to remember something, but if you spent all of your time in a place or at an event snapping pictures, what else have you done to make it memorable? My exception is events where picture-taking is part of the fun, like a photo scavenger hunt in the National Gallery that a friend and I organized once. But when I'm traveling, sometimes I try to take a day or two "off camera," to force myself to loosen up and enjoy the experience in the present. Another way I "capture" a trip, besides writing and photography, is in the souvenirs I bring back. I have lots of little knickknacks that I like to pick up and hold in my hand while I remember the day that I bought them or found them: little Buddha statues, shells, jewelry, post cards of art.

I take writing materials with me when I travel because I often don't bring my computer. I have a collection of old marbled-cover composition books, the kind with the pages all sewn in and the space on the front to write the subject of the class you're using it for. Some of them have lines, but my favorite are the unruled, with just blank pages. They're all leftovers from school, but I hate wasting stuff like that, so I flip forward to the blank pages at the end, wherever I'd left off the last time I was note-taking or doodling or jotting something. I used to carry a tiny little Moleskine, but it was too small and I went through the pages too fast -- convenient for throwing into a bag, but inconvenient for actually writing or sketching or doodling on! Do you write or type? Type, type, type. I can't write fast enough to keep up with the words in my head. I'm a very fast typer, and I vastly prefer to type. When I write by hand, my hand and arm cramp up and I lose my next thought in the time it takes me to finish jotting down the first one. I have erratic illegible handwriting and I switch randomly between print and cursive, sometimes word by word or between letters. I'm also an obsessive-compulsive saver -- I click save every paragraph or so when I'm typing, but there's no save on a notebook and I have no outlet for that tic. Once I drew a save button at the top of a page and tapped it with my pen while I was thinking. Probably not something I should share with the public at large. Plus, I worry about how easy it is to lose a notebook with hours of work in it, while I back up all my electronic files on the cloud so even if my computer crashes I can access them anywhere. But I do write longhand when I travel or I'm away from my computer, and it is a good challenge, mentally, to both overcome my tics, and to keep my thoughts organized and flowing even with the slower rate. Oh, and it definitely helps with word economy.

Just. Freaking. Do it. I say this over and over and over again to anyone I talk to who wants to write, in any capacity, whether it's fiction or blogging or an idea for a nonfiction project. Just get started. People put off writing for all sorts of made-up reasons. The truth is there's no such thing as writer's block. Unless your hands are cuffed behind your back, you can write something. It's the fear of dissatisfaction with what they write that keeps many people from taking the plunge. But you'll never become the better writer you want to be if you don't get started. Every writer started out, at some moment, as a pre-writer sitting in front of a page wondering if he/she was completely crazy for doing this.

We'd love to hear your secret. Gin done treat me wrong one too many times, and we've parted ways for a little while, though sometimes we still encounter each other at social gatherings and I feel a stirring of that old flame. Back in the heyday of our romance, I juiced things up a little bit with a dash of olive brine; I liked it dirty when I was with gin. These days I'm a bourbon girl, scotch when I'm feeling classy. I like my whiskey neat, or with a little ice; sometimes I'll take a Manhattan, but that's a sneaky bastard that will punch you when you're not looking. I normally don't mix scotch with anything, but I was very pleased with a creative scotch cocktail I tried at Jack Rose's here in DC lately. Summer's coming, though, which means I'm dusting off my sangria and Pimms mixing skills.

A Nicholas Sparks Obsession

One by one, my sister Brooke and I worked our way through each Nicholas Sparks book last year.  These novels significantly padded my reading stats as I aimed to read five books a month in 2010.  And here we are in 2011.  When word broke that then next book was available for pre-order, my fingers dialed up amazon.com faster than ever before.  When The Best of Me arrived, I was in thr throws of travel, and work and all things fun to do in autumn.  I set the book aside and even covered it up so the very sight wouldn't drive me crazy with anticipation.  Finally, this past weekend provided the quiet time to read.  As Mark drove to North Carolina (could it be more appropriate) I cracked open yet another love story. two days and 280+ pages later, I was once again teary eyes and satified with the relaxation that reading can provide. 

Nicholas Sparks books are like any other cult-like reading addiction/obsession, be it Harry Potter, Twilight, or Hunger Games (all of which I haven't read).  Once a reader gets hooked, they wait with baited breath for the authors next release.  So now that I have let you in on my dirty little secret, you'll have to tell me yours.  What are your reading addictions?

p.s. in case you were wondering, the book is packed up with some cozy socks in a care package heading north to my sister at college.  yes, the physical book.  I still curl up with the hardback and turn each page myself.