Morning. I’m getting an early start to my day before I head off to sub a class at 8:15 a.m. at the studio. I think I slept maybe 4.5 hours last night? I turned the light out at 11, woke up at 11:30 to go to the bathroom and couldn’t go back to sleep. I read until I was sleepy again at 1:30 a.m. and then was up for good at 5:40. My mind is definitely a million places these days. Thank god for reading because it has been so helpful for me during pregnancy for turning my brain off and “escaping.”
WHAT I’M READING
I went to Barnes and Noble on Wednesday and picked up four new books. I don’t know what it is about me, but I just have to hold a book. Can you believe I’ve never read a book from an iPhone, iPad or e-reading device?
Here are the books that I purchased: Eligible, Love and Other Words, A Girl’s Guide to Moving on and Here’s to Us. I’ll report back!
Related: has anyone read Eligible? I was on the fence about this one but I really loved Curtis Littenfeld’s book Prep so I decided to go for it.
MY FACE ON A TRAIN
In other fun news…
Someone DM’d me this photo on Instagram of me on the side of the light rail here in town! I haven’t seen it in person so this photo was awesome to receive! I did this shoot when I was 14 weeks pregnant for an ad campaign for Queens University’s McColl School of Business.
It was also used on a giant billboard! I just found out last week that their flexible MBA ad campaign won a Gold Award in the Educational Advertising Awards! It was a super fun project to be involved in and I’ve had so many people tell me that they’ve seen the ads everywhere…online, at the airport, on buses, the light rail, the interstate, etc!
How’s that for some Friday randomness?
OH BABY!
Okay, also…
I’m officially as ready as I can be for baby from a house/life and prep/organization standpoint. Thursday brought another flurry of activity in which I put the finishing touches on the nursery (tour coming super soon!). I also set up diaper change stations around the house, cleaned out my trunk (and vacuumed it??? not sure why???), had my car inspected/oil checked and finalized for the 10th time what I’m taking to the hospital.
Still feeling all over the place when it comes to “holy crap I’m going to have a BABY in less than 3 weeks” (giving myself a generous timeline). It’s the craziest mix of excited and terrified and I can’t thank you enough for your extremely encouraging words in this post about it.
I really think he has dropped and I’m at that stage of pregnancy where everywhere I go people ask, “When are you due!? It looks like that baby is coming today!” Oh and if you missed my Instagram story update, I had my 38 week prenatal appointment on Wednesday and declined to be checked. I am just totally going with “whenever he wants to come, he can come!” and trying not to get too in my head about it.
RECENT EATS + LOTS OF OUT TO EAT
And for some normal programming…a few eats from the week. I have been trying to make plans with my friends as much as possible to a) help distract me and pass the time and b) spend quality time with them before I’m knee deep in the newborn stage.
Rainy day oatmeal.
Bagels and coffee breakfast date with a girlfriend at Poppy’s.
Turkey and hardboiled eggs on a seeded bread with mayo, mustard, avocado and cheese.
Lunch date with a group of my girlfriends at Cowfish. They have had 12 children between the 3 of them so they are always my go-to resource for mama knowledge.
Lunch with another girlfriend at Living Kitchen. It’s a vegan restaurant and I had a “BLT” and cauliflower and rosemary soup.
Smoothie bowl for lunch. Details on what went into this green thing over on Instagram!
A super simple, super fast dinner of 1/2 pound sauteed ground chicken, two scrambled eggs, a package of Trader Joe’s frozen cauliflower fried rice and leftover cilantro lime basmati rice. I seasoned it with sriracha and coconut aminos.
Dinner out with girlfriends at Namastay Kitchen. I had a salad with arugula, goat cheese, dried cranberries, beets, cucumbers, avocado, tomatoes and tofu and it was so yum.
And finally, stuffed chicken from The Fresh Market, a quinoa/brown rice blend from a box and steamed green beans for an easy dinner at home.
That wraps up my Friday shares. I hope you guys have a great day!
I just finished the Christina Lauren book last night. I really enjoyed it significantly more than their other stand alones. I reserved Curtis’ book at the library. Waiting for that one. I really enjoyed Prep too. Hope to enjoy this one too.
It’s the first one that I started and about halfway through and enjoying it. It’s the first of their books that I’ve read.
How amazing to be able to see yourself on a huge billboard and on the side of a train!! That’s pretty cool!
I’d love to hear if others have read Eligible and liked it. I liked Prep a lot too!
And I can’t read anything but physical books. I’ve tried to read books on different devices but just enjoy the physicalness of the book, the turning of the pages, etc. There’s nothing like it to me! 🙂
It’s definitely a weird experience to have those out there!
It seems like others liked the book.
And I agree wholeheartedly on your book sentiments!
I loooooved Eligible! Easily my favorite book out of the 20+ that I read last year. I think I read the entire thing in two days, and recommended it to basically all of my friends. I am a huge Curtis Sittenfeld fan!
YAY! So glad to hear this!!!!
Oh the nervous excitement! I feel it for you! Now I have a toddler and I’m like “WHAT have I gotten myself into!?!” LOL!
You will never be prepared for everything, just encounter each opportunity with a good attitude and you’ll make it through.
Here’s some advice I haven’t read in the comments here yet, when you get frustrated with your partner – and you will (because=sleep deprivation + hormones) remember that you are both working towards the same goals here, health and happy baby. 🙂
Funny that you declined to be check, I never was check by my midwife, not even in the hospital, even in the moments leading up to birth. Maybe I was and they just never told me the number. I didn’t mind, because I was just trying to intuitively listen to my body. You’re going to do great!
Haha! I’m sure that every stage brings a whole new experience of parenthood and adjusting!
I love the reminder to have a good attitude as well as the reminder on the partner. So important.
That is so interesting that you were never checked!
I read Eligible last year. I didn’t think it was terrific, but it’s a fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It’s a quick read too, so give it a shot!
Good to hear! Sometimes an easy read is just what I need!
ugh I used to love a good book! I fell out of the reading habit but ALWAYS an actual book, not digital (even though I just published an ebook – I still prefer an actual book! lol). I was a regular the library — until I stopped going for no reason. I need to get back to reading!
I was out of the habit as well but pregnancy has helped me get back in it. It’s awesome!
I’m with you on the book–I never read from anything else either–even if I purchase an E-book I’ll download and print the pdf file!
I feel like I just do SO MUCH looking at computer/screens that I need something physical when I read. I also tend to take it in better when it’s actual print versus reading online for whatever reason!
Please report back on those books as you read them! I haven’t read any of them and always agree with your reviews 🙂
I will and yay! I’m glad we have similar taste and I can be of help!
Agree with the other people who have commented – please report back on the books. I’ve been on a Young Adult genre kick and need to break away ha. Your food always looks so yummy!
I love Curtis Sittenfeld books! My favorite was American Wife. Also wanted to share that I also only enjoy reading print books but the one exception to this was when I was breastfeeeding my kids. I found it much easier to read on a phone or tablet than holding the book and trying to turn the pages when my hands were full!
I loooooved Eligibile! Probably badly my favorite of her books 🙂
I am SO excited about your sweet baby & love how you’ve been keeping us posted. We all feel part of it! xoxoxo