Wow, it's been kind of a while since I've blogged. Which is kind of funny, because I get so vexed when there are days when
none of the blogs that I read have been updated. I guess everyone's been busy with summer stuff, and that includes me!
Bryan's mom was visiting for about a week and a half and we were on the move! Lots of fun sightseeing and social time. Bryan
and I got to go out to the movies and saw the Dark Knight (the first movie I've seen in the theater since January), which
actually lived up to all the hype. We also got to run a bunch of errands, and they go so much more quickly when there aren't
car seats and strollers involved! You can see the highlights on
our Flickr page, but we were out and about to Point Reyes, San Francisco, Station Golden Gate and a few other places that didn't make it
on to Flickr, like the Korbel winery and downtown Santa Rosa.
Today we went and got Zach his first pair of shoes. He's started to take several steps on his own (without any supports)
in the play yard, and he enjoys getting to walk around the house and the back yard while holding onto our hands. He's so
close to really walking on his own. It's hard to believe we have an 11 month old. A year ago, he was still tucked inside
me, we lived in San Diego and I was working full time. Wow. I don't know where the past 11 months have gone. We need to
plan a birthday party, order a cake and buy presents and get some photos done of him!
There were lots of things I was going to blog about, but they've slipped my mind for the moment, so I'm going to sign off,
and hopefully post a little more often over the next few weeks. Zach's separation anxiety had settled down a little bit,
but last week it resurfaced with a vengeance, which is making bedtime, naptime and going-to-the-bathroom time a big challenge,
as he absolutely
wails as soon as you're out of sight. Hopefully it'll settle down again soon. Maybe it's because
he's getting ready to walk?
I'm not sure if he's aware of it, but Zach took his first steps yesterday.
He was cruising along the "fence" that we put up in front of the bookcases and entertainment center in pursuit of
Bailey, when he let go and took two or three steps toward her. On his own. Not holding on to anything.
Bryan and I stared at each other in shock, then Zach lost his balance, plopped down and resumed his pursuit of Bailey in crawl
mode.
Of course we ran over to pick Zach up and cheer, although I'm not sure he had any idea what all the fuss is about.
Ten months and two weeks, and he's starting to walk. Hoo boy. I'm sure he'll be running in no time!
I love to read. There's nothing better than a good story. If you've ever been to my home, you've probably noticed the books.
They're relatively confined in the "public" areas, but in my bedroom, my bookcases overflow, there are usually piles of books
in the corner, on top of the bookcase, on any convenient horizontal space...
I have pretty varied tastes - I'll read pretty much anything except westerns and historical romances. I like mystery, general
fiction, biographies, true crime, assorted other nonfiction, sci fi...you get the idea.
My friend Teri is the same way, and when we lived together, it was like having a library. Both of us were always reading
something and frequently loaned books back and forth.
So, as I've mentioned, I'm chronically two to three years behind the curve. I don't know why, it's not like I live under
a rock. I just recently found out about Stephenie Meyer and her books (
how I found out about them is a story unto
itself) and finally got my lazy butt in gear to read them. I ordered the first two books,
Twilight and
New Moon from Amazon on Wednesday, taking advantage of Bryan's Amazon Prime membership and quick shipping. I was on pins and needles
Thursday and Friday, waiting for the UPS package to arrive on Friday. I had asked Teri if she had read any of the books and
told her I was ordering them and would let her know if they were any good.
I started Twilight friday afternoon (it didn't arrive until noon, and by the time we ran errands and everything, it was 2:30)
and wrote Teri around 4:30 that she should just go ahead and pick up all four of the books.
I finished Twilight after midnight Friday/Saturday, after some teasing from Bryan. (I hadn't planned to be up so late, but
I hit Chapter 19 around 11:20, and after that there was no going back.) Teri went to Barnes and Noble Saturday morning, about
the same time I was at my own local Barnes and Noble, purchasing
Eclipse and
Breaking Dawn. Teri called me about 10 times on Saturday (okay, maybe only 5) as she was reading. She blew through both Twilight and
Eclipse and caught up to me by late, late Saturday/early Sunday. Can I just say that for once I'm thankful that I'm behind
the curve? I'm not sure I would have been able to stand it if the books were doled out once a year (as they have been) and
I had to wait for a span of three years to find out what happens in Breaking Dawn! As it is, I'm itching to find out!
It's like we have our own little (long distance, since she lives about 800 miles away) book club, since we're reading the
same thing at the same time and discussing it. She has an advantage, since I have Zach, who definitely limits my reading
time. (smile) Bryan has informed me that Teri and I are dorks after hearing my side of our phone conversations. I don't
think he was impressed when I told her I was in love with a fictional teenage vampire.
Anyway, it's great fun to have something great to read. I was worried that the books wouldn't live up to the hype (people
are calling them things along the lines of "the best books since Harry Potter"), but they
totally do. I'm hoping to
start Eclipse today. However, a noisy little man is in the living room with Bryan, and they seem to have other plans for
me. Oh well.
If you're looking for a good read, go pick up Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I can't say when or if there will be other Unintentional
Long Distance Book Club selections. I need to get through Breaking Dawn before we'll be able to have a good, long discussion
on the books.
