BOOKS!

I love to read. It took me awhile to figure that out, surprisingly, because reading was just something I did. Like eating or sleeping. And everyone around me liked to read, too. Sure, I had friends as a kid who didn't enjoy it, but I thought they'd grow out of it, because all the adults around me had houses bursting with books.

As an adult I learned that reading is one of my favorite things, and, while many people share my enthusiasm, not everyone does. Different sources cite different numbers, but the typical American reads less than 10 books a year (how much less is a subject of debate).

I've been tracking my reading since 2005, so I know I'm well above average in this area. [That's not to brag. I certainly have other areas of life where I don't do as well as I'd like] .

I was hovering in the 25-50 books-a-year range before my children were born. Then in 2015 I found myself with low milk supply, feeding a newborn for about 10 hours a day. Thank the Lord for the Kindle, which I could balance on a pillow in front of me while I nursed him. I read 100 books that year.

Halfway through 2016 my daughter was born, and although I spent almost as much time feeding, I was visually and verbally supervising a toddler instead of reading. I still read 70 books, though, mostly things that kept me awake during middle-of-the-night feedings. As the kids got better at sleeping and (sometimes) napping in 2017, I read 77 books. Again, mostly things that kept me sane in a world full of small children hanging onto me at all times.

Last year I set a goal to read 100 books. And I did it! It was by the skin of my teeth and maybe with a little cheating, but still. By that I mean that I intentionally read a few short children's chapter books at the end of the year to pad my numbers. But I didn't include picture books - if I'd included them, I would have read THOUSANDS of books (if you include re-reads). We read at least 2-3 picture books a day around here, usually more.

So what did I read? Well, if I get around to writing about it, I'll tell you. :)

It's Been Awhile... Again

As I said the last time I didn't blog for awhile, this blog is just for When I Feel Like It. It's not another thing to add to my To Do list.

That said, I've wanted to post new content over the last three (!) years since my last post, but it's never been the highest priority for my time. Mostly this is just a place for me to talk to myself.

Here's what's been happening in my life since my last post:

• My then-six-month old baby is now an almost-four-year-old boy. He's 43 inches tall and 40 pounds, so I don't know if the appellation Little Guy works any more. 
• My daughter was born 2.5 years ago. She's now a walking, talking human being as well.
• The baby stage was HARD. Sometime I'll elaborate on that. Let's just say that I am not one of those parents who wax nostalgic about their babies. I'll take toddler tantrums and preschooler defiance any day over the constantly-having-a-bundle-of-supposed-joy-in-my-arms-at-all-times-while-I-teeter-on-the-brink-of-burnout. 
• We helped launch a new church. That's a lot of work, people. And a total blessing. 
• Probably a lot of other things happened, too, that I can't think of right now. 

Mostly I'm posting this because I want to talk about the books I read over the last year and didn't want to dive into that post without commenting on my Absence first. We'll see if I get to another post sometime this decade. :)