For the first time in my life, I went clubbin'!

Book clubbin' that is! Yes, yes. I joined a book club.

Yesterday, I went to my first book club meeting. I have never been to a book club before and wasn't really sure what to expect. My husband pictured a bunch of old ladies with white hair.

I really only joined to give me some motivation to read books. I needed someone to tell me what book to read and when to read it by. And it worked! I read two very interesting books that I would not have picked up otherwise.

I got cleaned up and sat a restaurant with some very nice ladies and discussed these books. And they weren't old ladies with white hair. They were my age-ish.

It was awesome. I got to have grown up conversation with other grown ups. I got a nice break away from the kids and remembered what it felt like to be me for awhile.

Erin. Not Mama Rosebud. Erin. Lover of good books, good writing, and good conversation.

On my way home, I took a side trip by our library to look for some new books. I am terrible at this. They didn't have the next book for our club, so I just sort of perused the aisles. Nothing really jumped out at me.

Later that night back at home, I logged into my Goodreads account to update my reading list (see widget in my left sidebar for what I have read this year.) I stumbled upon two very cool features of that site.

First, there are groups you can join. I joined a Reading Challenge group that gives you suggestions and incentives for finding new books to read. Totally up my alley.

Then, I found the book swap feature. Basically, you mark books on your shelf that you own and if they are available for swap. If someone else on Goodreads wants your book, they request it. The requester pays postage. All you have to do is print out a mailing label and drop it in the mail. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! If you are looking for a new book to read, you can most likely find someone who has it to swap. Free book + shipping. After you have swapped 10 books, you get one for free. Mama like!

So, I have gotten myself back on top of my reading game. I am definitely on track to meet my goal of reading 12 books this year, and I am starting to set my goal for next year. 24? 36? What do you think?

Erin

Sister, this blog's for you

A letter of encouragement to my sister, going on her 11th day as a first time mother.

Where do I begin? You can do it! (How's that for encouragement?) Being a mother is the hardest, most awesome and rewarding job you will ever have. I know that you are feeling overwhelmed right now by all the emotions and hormones and the monumental cataclysm that is becoming a mother. Let's review the past 11 days, shall we?

First, you labored and gave birth. Read those words again: gave birth. You and DH brought a whole new human being into this world. He is adorable and perfect. But he is a lump. He is a newborn and all newborns know how to do is eat, sleep, mess up his diaper, spit up, and eat some more. But goodness, he is a beautiful lump.

I remember when we brought Miss H home from the hospital, Mr. Rose and I just looked at each other with a "What now?" question on our face. We had our struggles getting established nursing, she had jaundice and wouldn't poo, she cried, we let her sleep on our chests. It was HARD.

And then he went back to work. I was with her by myself all day. I felt isolated and alone. I didn't have many friends in Little Town, NC. It was HARD.

I wanted to go back to work, but it just wasn't an option. The job that I loved  (and was good at I might add!) was too far of a drive and required regular amounts of travel. Not being able to go back, it hurt. I felt like I lost a piece of myself by not working. It was HARD.

Before I knew it, Miss H wasn't a newborn lump anymore. It was like I blinked and she was big all of a sudden. She was stuffing her face with birthday cake and walking and saying "cat." I had been with her every day for twelve months and I felt like I missed the entire thing. Time moves so slowly, and yet is speeds by at lightening pace. I wished I could go back to the beginning. Go back to the newborn lump phase, and soak it all in. It was HARD.

I was an accidental stay at home Mom. I never planned to be one. I ALWAYS thought that I would go back to work. When we moved to Suburb town, FL, I threw the idea around of getting a job. But my heart wasn't in it. And then I was pregnant again anyway.

My point is, you never know how you are going to feel until you are actually in the situation. Some mothers absolutely know that they want to go back to work and do, others absolutely know that they want to stay home. For some, they don't always get what they want.

In the end, you must do what feels right. Regardless of what you decide, no one can take away the fact that you are little PK's Mommy. I have asked some of my bloggy friends to link up some of their posts about becoming a mother here. I hope you find more encouragement and insight. Becoming a mother is hard. Everyone deals with it differently. You will find your groove. Don't forget to pray for guidance.

I love you sweetie.

Your best friend,

Errie

Whoa baby, it's been a long couple of weeks!

The beginning of August brought another journey for me and the Rosebuds. My sister was in her 38th week of pregnancy and Mr. Rose was going on a business trip, so I thought it would be a good idea to visit home. While we were there, I helped my sister do the last minute pregnancy things that she needed help with and even got a chance to be there with her during some of her labor. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on August 7. I felt so blessed to be able to be there for her. Now that I have had a chance to process the whole experience, I continue to be in awe of the miracle of life. God is so good!

The girls and I have returned home now and are getting ready for school to start again (YAY!) Miss H will be in a two day a week preschool, so I am trying to plan out some regular activities to keep us occupied. I think we will be frequenting our local library storytimes and I may even enroll Miss H in some type of dance or gymnastics class.

As for me, you will be so proud of me! I joined a book club!! Each month there are TWO books to read and so far I have read the first one. I love having a deadline (and a required reading book) to keep me on task. I have trouble picking books for myself, and if I don't have something to make me read.....I just won't!

I am also getting back on the Couch to 5K wagon. I have to lose this last 10 pounds of Baby B weight. A friend of mine is going to train with me, so again, I have someone to keep me honest!

I feel like there is so much I want to do, just not enough time to do it in. Such is life, eh?

Have a great week friends!!

Erin