Project 365: Days 225 Through 234

I may not have posted a Project 365 update last week, but so far have at least one up this week.... so yeah?
August 14, 2015 - 225/365: My Lunch Date
August 15, 2015 - 226/365: Playing with a Piano.
August 16, 2015 - 227/365: It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Superbaby!
August 17, 2015 - 228/365: Cruising Along the Couch.
August 18, 2015 - 229/365: Eating Peaches and Raspberries.
August 19, 2015 - 230/365: Chewing on a Graham Cracker.
August 20, 2015 - 231/365: A Slightly Blurry, Morning Photo.

August 21, 2015 - 232/365: A day without a picture, which as the year goes by is starting to happen more and more often.
August 22, 2015 - 233/365: Another, Slightly Less Blurry, Morning Photo.
August 23, 2015 - 234/365: Holding on to a Hippo. Sadly like many of the other it's just a little blurry.

9 Months Update

You are 9 months old!

9 MonthsWe had an official doctor visit this month, so we even have stats. You are 27.17 inches (33th%ile). You weigh 15 lbs 6.5 ozs (5th%ile). Your head circumference is 43 cms (20th%ile).

August 14You're wearing a mix of 9 month and 6 month clothing. You're still in size 3 diapers and wear your bumgenuises with one row unsnapped at the legs and 2 rows unsnapped at the waist.

August 16You're eating real people food now with gumbo, pesto couscous, truffle macaroni and cheese, spinach and ground beef skillet with artichokes and mushrooms, graham crackers, cheese, and Cherios among others I'm sure I'm forgetting all part of your diet. But your favorite still seems to be hummus.

August 20You're definitely on the move! You have no problem walking along with couch and coffee table. And you'll even walk around the living room if we hold your hands. But if there's somewhere you really want to get you'll crawl your way there. We even had to put a baby gate up to keep you in the living room and away from the kitchen trash can.

September 5You've been a fan of your hippo ever since we sleep trained you with it, but lately you've started getting attached to your moose, which your Nanna and Pappi brought you back from Alaska as well. (Plus since the moose is a little tinier it's easier to bring around with us.)

Taking Out Toys, September 7Besides your hippo and moose you're a fan of being on the move, your daddy, and all those things you aren't supposed to have, aka remotes, cell phone, and the dvr. You aren't a huge fan of diaper changes, at least not when I'm the one changing you, or when people walk out of the room you're in.

Another 9 Months photo since I couldn't choose just oneYou really are such a amazing little baby, and we feel so, so lucky to have you in our lives!

1 Month ~ 2 Months~3 Months

4 Months ~ 5 Months ~ 6 Months

7 Months ~ 8 Months

Swim

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
Published: April 30, 2013 by Washington Square Press
First Published: July 1, 2012
I forget how much I enjoy reading Jennifer Weiner's books until I'm actually reading them. Although not too surprising since it's been over 3 years since I last read one of her books, so basically I've had a lot of time to forget.

This book actual comes from one of Weiner's short stories published in The Guy Not Taken, which I read and reviewed about 4 years ago. So in some ways I knew what to expect here, or at least I would have if I remembered the stories more clearly.

This does have so much what I love about Weiner's books. There's a love story in it, but it's so much more than that. Like many of her others one of the main highlights of the book are the family members. I just love the way she writes about family relationships. Plus it's always fun reading when all of her characters are Jewish.

I may not consider this my favorite of hers, but it's definitely near the top. While I have read most of Weiner's books by now, there are several I'm missing. Hopefully this time is doesn't take me another 3 years to get to one!

4.5/5

Project 365: Days 215 Through 224

I just finished recapping our trip to California, so in a way it's fitting that this week's Project 365 update includes photos from our trip.
August 4, 2015 - 215/365: Trying out Oreo Thins, which sadly aren't as good as the original. We both that the cream to cookie ratio was just a little off.
August 5, 2015 - 216/365: Flying to California.
August 6, 2015 - 217/365: Splashes during our first time swimming.
August 7, 2015 - 218/365: Playing with a Gift Bag.

August 8, 2015 - 219/365: As I mentioned in my recap from this day, I was to busy visiting with family and didn't think about taking a single photo all day long.
August 9, 2015 - 220/365: At my Great-Great Aunt's 100th Birthday.
August 10, 2015 - 221/365: It's hard to tell from this photo, but inside her little fist is her first ever In-n-Out french fry.
August 11, 2015 - 222/365: Meeting Anna and Elsa at Disneyland California Adventures.
August 12, 2015 - 223/365: Back home in Louisiana, relaxing after a long day of travel, playing Kingdom Builder.
August 13, 2015 - 224/365: Getting into Trouble!

Going Back to Cali: Days 7 and 8

For our last full day in California, we did something that I was probably most excited for. Growing up in Southern California it felt like I grew up at Disneyland, and even though we may not live there now, I would love for Elley to have that feeling as well. So I knew we had to go to the Disneyland resort to get that started early.
I decided to go to California Adventures instead of the main park for a few reasons. First, since I've never really been there and was dying to go on The Little Mermaid ride and see Cars Land. Plus it's on my 101 in 1001 list. Also this way, on our next trip when we do go to Disneyland, Elley's a little more aware of what's going on.

Riding Heimlich's Chew Chew TrainWe started off the day in A Bug's Land riding Flik's Flyers, Francis' Ladybug Boogie, and Heimlich's Chew Chew Train.

Meeting Anna and ElsaWe then went through Hollywood Land and rode Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! (which I thought was one of the best dark rides I've been on), before our fast pass to meet Anna and Elsa. After meeting our first two princesses, we walked over to Paradise Pier to ride Ariel's Undersea adventure.
While it wasn't quite lunch time we were starting to get hungry so we stopped for a quick snack at the Pacific Wharf Café (where I had a chocolate croissant). While there Elley passed out from all of the morning's excitement. But we did take advantage of her nap and took a ride on California Screamin' while she was sleeping.
Next up was a spin on King Triton's Carousel before stopping at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta for lunch, where I had their Chicken Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta.
Our last ride of the day was Mickey's Fun Wheel, but did stop in Cars Land on the way out to meet a tractor and Mater.
I know it sounds like a full day, but we actually left around 2, which goes to show how much we managed to fit in within only a few hours. So while it may not have been a entire day, it was an exhausting one, especially for Elley.
As for our 8th and final day in California, well that was the day we flew home. As good as Elley was on the flight to California, she was even better on the flight back to Louisiana. Once again she managed to take a nap, but even more impressive I also managed a nap at the same time while holding her. Overall it was definitely a great trip and it's crazy to think that the next time we make it out to California Elley will instead be running around everywhere!

Mailbox Monday (119)

Not only is today the end of the weekend, but it's the end of the Jewish year. Tomorrow I'll be heading to services with Elley in tow. We may only be staying for the children's service, but it will be the first year of many for her of High Holy day services. First though, here's a look at the books that have made their way into our home in the recent weeks.
From PJ Library
Sammy Spider's First Book of Jewish Holidays by Sylvia A. Rouss
Speaking of Jewish holidays, in this book Sammy Spider shows how we celebrate Jewish holidays throughout the year. I love the illustrations and think it's adorable. I'd even say it's my favorite of all the PJ Library books we've received so far.

Gifted
Math at the Art Museum by Group Majoongmul
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
While visiting my dad in California (which I'll be finishing up writing about this week), he gifted me and Elley these two books. The first, for Elley, shows various famous paintings and explains the concepts of perspective, composition, and symmetry through them. The second, instead for me, is a YA book, one that was recently made into a movie.

From the Publisher
The Sea Beach Line by Ben Nadler
This one surprised me a bit. It's a mystery, which isn't the type I normally read. But it's about a Polish-Israeli street vendor, which intrigues me a bit, and I'm guessing is part of the reason I wound up receiving it.

From My Mom
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
Going through my mom's books I found this one, about a Bangladeshi woman who is sent to London for her arranged marriage. It's a book I wound have likely picked up on my own, but knowing it was one of my mom's makes me want to read it even more.

Childbirth Choices in Mothers' Words by Kim Selbert
It may be a bit odd adding a book about childbirth 9 months after my daughter was born. Except this book, which is a collection of birth stories, includes my mom's. As in the birth stories she wrote about having me and my brother. It's a little bittersweet reading it, especially when she talks about having her mother with her when I was born, since she couldn't do the same with me, but I'm so happy to have it. So far hers is the only one of the stories I've read, but I do plan on reading the rest.

For Review from TLC Book Tours
The Determined Heart by Antoinette May
I started this book last night, and so far really like it. It's a historical fiction about Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Even now I really have no idea who Mary Shelley was, and only recently put together the fact that Frankenstein was written by a woman, so I know it's one where I'll learn a lot and hopefully enjoy along the way.

Broken Homes & Gardens by Rebecca Kelley
I've actually already read and reviewed this one. It's a cute chick lit type book that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

When Malcolm Met Joanna

Broken Homes & Gardens by Rebecca Kelley
Published: April 28, 2015 by Blank Slate Press
I don't really remember why I wanted to review this book in the first place. Sadly, even worse than that, I don't even really remember agreeing to review it. Which is why it's almost impressive knowing just how much I enjoyed my time with it.

This book calls itself When Harry Met Sally for the Millennial generation, and I think it encapsulates that pretty clearly. Joanna and Malcolm go through the book as friends with a will they/won't they type of relationship. It's one of those stories that makes you want to shake them, because if either one ever just said what they were thinking life would be a lot less complicated. There would also be a lot less book, but still... Even though you have to know how things will end up, you can't help enjoying the road there.

As for the Millennial generation aspect, once again, I think it's spot on. Joanna so perfectly captures the person you know with so much potential, yet unable to figure out exactly what they want or how to get there.

The book is also a bit quirky, which I found kind of adorable. I loved the chapter titles, which were a few words from the chapter within. Each time I finished a chapter I had to go back and look at the title just to see what passage was selected from the words to come.

I feel like this book is a bit of a hidden gem, one that doesn't quite fit it's cover. It isn't one I would have imagined falling for, yet I'm so glad I gave it a chance.

5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book through TLC Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Project 365: Days 205 Through 214

Sadly our three day weekend has come to an end. But what better way to come back than with a Project 365 post, right? ... Especially one that starts off with me not taking a photo....

July 24, 2015 - 205/365: Another day without a photo. Although I guess once I've already missed a day, missing another isn't that bad anymore...
July 25, 2015 - 206/365: Good Morning to You.
July 26, 2015 - 207/365: First Time Sitting in a Shopping Cart. Of course I didn't think about the fact that we were in the wine aisle when I took the photo, but she doesn't seem to care.
July 27, 2015 - 208/365: Looks like someone has dimples!
July 28, 2015 - 209/365: She some how managed to pass out as she was attempting to crawl off my lap. Looks a bit uncomfortable, but she didn't seem to mind.
July 29, 2015 - 210/365: Pulling up! Feel free to ignore the messy bedroom in the background. This was a few days before our trip to California with the boy in the middle of his packing.
July 30, 2015 - 211/365: Since it's been a while since I've shared one of these photos, Lunch at Whole Foods.
August 1, 2015 - 212/365: Morning Smiles!
August 2, 2015 - 213/365: Wishing her cousin a happy birthday.
August 3, 2015 - 214/365: Playing Parfum, a game were the point is really to make perfume and then sell it.