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. :)