Pregnancy Weeks 1-17

If you are a lover of blogs that share weekly pregnancy updates, then you are going to need to look elsewhere. I think my weekly updates would be quite boring, but I will try to update every few weeks. 

Pregnancy Update - Weeks 1 through 17

We found out we were pregnant in June while we were at the beach (Well I say it was at the beach, but Dave didn't believe we were pregnant until we got back to Mississippi and I took a digital test that actually said the word, "pregnant")   I should add that if you are trying to get pregnant, I highly suggest you go on a trip during your "wait" as it keeps you busy - although be prepared for the fact that once you see that second line, you have to quit drinking lovely summer cocktails ha! (totally worth it though!) With the first baby, we waited a few weeks to tell our parents and siblings (on Christmas Day) partly for the fun of telling them on a holiday and partly due to the the whole "be practical and make sure this is going to last" advice.  But, we wouldn't be home again for awhile and I knew Dave wanted to tell them in person, so we did.  So 4 weeks pregnant, we shared with our closest family - actually quite early to tell anyone but after a miscarriage and 2 chemical pregnancies, it was probably wise to have people praying for us and checking on us. 

This pregnancy has been a balance of rejoicing and holding our breath.  Once you have experienced the worst in pregnancy, it's hard not to fear the same happening again. It's an act of constantly giving over your fears to God and failing at trust often.  I feel like Hannah in the Bible, having to trust this sweet girl with the Lord, knowing she was more His child than my own.  We were cautious and a bit slower to celebrate, but it was important that we talked about this baby like it was a baby and not a "possibility"  One of the things I don't regret about our first child was the fact that we celebrated every moment.  A baby is a gift and I didn't want to miss that.  I still call the first baby, "Baby R" and since that child never got an official name, I feel like this little nickname will forever be representative of that baby - so we called this little one "R2" (but we weren't upset when other called the baby, Baby R! We just preferred to use R2 ourselves)  Our doctors have been great.  They let us come in for an early ultrasound - and then I came in every two weeks until 16 weeks. They jokingly said I could come daily if I felt the need to, but we felt every 1-2 weeks would do (I could keep coming in that often if I wanted, but at this point, we are fine with moving back to the regular schedule) Hearing or seeing that heartbeat every couple weeks was a great comfort and I couldn't be more pleased with my medical care.  (A different topic for a different day: our society seems to have developed a distrust for doctors, a belief that they are in it for the money or don't truly care about their patients' needs - that may occasionally be true, but in reality, I feel that there are far more good physicians than bad ones. My experience has been that these men and women do really want the best for their patients.)

God has weaved sweetness and redemption throughout this pregnancy.  A huge example being that on the week our first baby (lost at 12 weeks) was due, we had our 12 week appointment and saw a healthy heartbeat and an active little baby. Passing that milestone brought joy to a rough week.  I read the book  Bittersweet in February right after our loss - and now I feel keenly aware of how bittersweet life really is, full of hard and good, all mixed together.

This weekend, my pregnancy will "turn 17 weeks."  I have a tracker on my computer that says I am currently (at 16 weeks, 5 days) 42% through with my pregnancy.  That seems like it is moving really quickly - and at the same time, it seems like it's moving quite slowly as well.  Quickly because I am just starting to look pregnant (and not just chubby) and because we just announced to family and friends over the past few weeks and to social media last week! Slowly because it feels like I spent months and years and decades feeling like crap, so how can I not be closer to my due date yet???? Still a long way to go!

13 weeks

14 week bump

16 weeks

How Far Along: 

Just shy of 17 weeks!

 Baby Size:

At 17 weeks, baby is the size of an onion - 5.1 inches and about 6 ounces!

Maternity Clothes:

I am MOSTLY in maternity clothes, probably started wearing maternity clothes between weeks 12 or 13 - although some are still too big for me - and I do mix and match the maternity pieces with some of my regular dresses and tops.

This is personally an irritating subject for me.Women love to brag about how they didn't need maternity clothes until later on in pregnancy, how they didn't show that early, etc.  One girl recently told me that she doesn't need maternity clothes because her clothes still fit. She can even wear her jeans with the "rubber band" trick.  LET ME CLARIFY - if you have to use a rubber band or belly band, your clothes don't still "fit".  If you live in loose tops and leggings but can't wear a pair of jeans, then your clothes don't still "fit".  That's totally fine that you choose to do these things in the "in between" time when your clothes get tight but maternity clothes seem big, but don't play it off like you still fit into your skinny jeans!

I am in an office environment so normally I wear a LOT of fitted pants and skirts M-F. No leggings or loose tops, etc During weeks 12 and 13, when those started pulling and looking too tight, I skipped past the belly band and rubber band stage and went straight to maternity clothes (luckily I had several pieces already thanks to my sister's hand me downs and to my mom hitting up a GAP sale) It's just a preference - some prefer to make their regular clothes work a little longer, but I thought - I have pants that will fit - or pants that I have to tie with a rubber band? hmmm, I will just go with the pants that fit!

Sleep:

Not too bad.  I just have needed a LOT of it!

Movement:

Not yet. Occasionally, I feel like I have a "flutter" but I won't call it baby movement til its CLEAR.

Best Moment The Past 17 weeks:

So many good moments - finding out we were pregnant again and sharing with our families.  Making it past the 12 week mark (when we lost our first baby). Entering the second trimester!Finding out the gender. Naming her. Announcing our daughter's arrival to friends, family and social media!

Food Cravings:

Not many cravings, more aversions!!  First Trimester, all I could handle was carbs - and I liked COLD things. Now I crave sweets a bit more. During week 14 - first week that I was back to eating beef, I wanted burgers!

Food Aversions:

First trimester, I did not like most meat, cheese, anything spicy or with flavor, ice cream (too rich) I still have aversions to some spices, seafood, meats and veggies - but not all!

What I Miss:

Am I a lush if I say alcohol?  Also I miss raw sushi!

What I Am Looking Forward To:

Getting past 20 weeks. Looking pregnant instead of FAT! Starting her nursery!

Milestones:

Making it past 12 weeks, Making it to second trimester, finding out the gender!

Pregnancy Symptoms:

First trimester: bloating, cramping, lots of nausea, fatigue, some heartburn (occasional), headaches, a little acne.

Newest symptom: ITCHY SKIN! Round ligament pain. 

Gender:

A sweet baby GIRL!!! (we paid to do a gender ultrasound at 14 weeks - TOTALLY WORTH IT)

Weight Gain:

4-5 pounds (BTW, don't think I will always tell you this)  

Baby R: The Rest of the Story.....

Baby R

For those who don't follow me on social media, we have some exciting news.....

WE ARE EXPECTING!!!!

We announced from Paris, stating that our little French getaway turned into a babymoon since our daughter, ANNE DOUGLAS, is due February 2016!!! 

We are so thankful for this good gift and for the Giver!!

Parisian announcement (excuse our windblown hair - we had just be to the top of the Eiffel Tower)

I am 16 weeks, 2 days pregnant, and feeling pretty well.  The first trimester was rough, but thankfully, that sick time has mostly passed.  I hear 3rd trimester can be difficult for other reasons (it's hard getting around when you are so big!) so I am soaking up the magical 2nd trimester with less sickness, more energy, and a belly that is slowly growing into a baby bump so I don't just look chubby.

So far, I have had very few cravings but a ton of aversions. I have enjoyed slowly adding some foods back into my diet over the past few weeks.  I also was very tired, but the positive part of being early pregnant during summer is that friends are in and out of town due to vacations and holidays and August recess, so there are fewer plans and meetings and obligations. Dave and I spent a lot of time at home watching movies and reading books. He was a trooper and handled most of the dishes and a lot of the cooking.

15.5 week bump last week at Versailles 

We chose to do an elective ultrasound at a private clinic before we went to France - and I am so glad we did. It has been fun knowing and celebrating our daughter, calling her by name, and picking up some french goodies for her!! Best 120 dollars I have ever spent!

In the coming days, I will share a bit more about pregnancy and our sweet daughter's name. But, until then, I just wanted to share our wonderful news and ask for prayers for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby! Thank you for rejoicing with us!




The first "Baby R"

In February,  we lost our first child at 12 weeks, right before we announced.  Although I have not hidden our miscarriage from family and friends, I have been slow to share publicly as we grieved and begin healing.  However, I always knew I would one day share about our first baby! I wouldn't want his or her life to go unnoticed.  Also, 1 in 4 women have a miscarriage and I am thankful for those who shared their stories with me. Hopefully, starting to share a bit about my story will provide encouragement for other women as well.

It would feel weird to introduce you to our newest baby on the way without sharing with you about this first little soul. It is bittersweet as we prepare for our newest blessing. As thrilled as we are to meet our daughter, the reality is that her little life only exists because another life was lost.  Both children were wanted - and both children are dearly loved, so I can't just announce sweet Anne Douglas without announcing her sibling. We are, however, incredibly grateful that we have a God who brings beauty from ashes and restores what was lost.

It breaks my heart that we don't know much about our baby. Was it a he or she?  (I think baby R #1 was a boy, so I will refer to our first baby as a he, but that's just a mother's guess!) Would he have grown up to be an athlete? Would he have been musically talented? Would he love animals, fishing, time outdoors? Would he grow up to be a farmer or a teacher or a doctor? Would he be stubborn, hard working and serving like his father? What he be outgoing, sensitive and loyal like his mamma? I bet he would have had his daddy's blue eyes and I think it's a fair guess that baby R would be tan.

I suppose being parents to this little one for 12 short weeks gave us our first real glimpse at parenthood.  We know so little about who our little baby was, but we loved him so - without any other reason except that he was a child of the Living God and that he belonged to us.  I know I will feel this way about all my babies, but I think this unconditional love was first felt with this one.

Here's what we do know about our baby. He  hated Mexican food (which made mamma sad as I love Mexican and missed eating it) and  also disliked public transportation - the metro made me sick! Baby R liked Christmas (because he only started making me feel sick afterwards)  Baby R was quite popular and well loved by grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends.  Baby R was a bit of a fighter, full of perseverance. Most miscarriages happen earlier in pregnancy (only 2 percent chance of losing your baby at 12+ weeks).  Despite whatever genetic abnormality or challenge this little one faced, he hung on for awhile. That little fact makes me proud as his daddy and I are both fighters, so I think he inherited that quality.

On a more serious note, here are some other things we DO know about our first child: He never knew pain, only love, comfort and warmth. He never knew heartache, hurt feelings, loss or rejection.  And, most importantly, on his birth day, the first person Baby R saw was Jesus!  And, oh, how I selfishly wish it was me he saw, but the truth is, he saw something better, someone better.

We still grieve the loss of this little one. Walking through this trial has been difficult, but I am grateful for all 12 weeks, 1 day of being mommy to our baby R.  Even with morning sickness and a chubby growing belly, it was worth it.  I wish we had been granted more time to get to know this sweet child here on earth, but what a comfort that because of the Gospel, we will have eternity to catch up.

So far, God has blessed us with two wonderful children (and we pray for more) and we are thrilled to introduce you to both of them. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

August Book Reviews

August Readings and Reviews

Hi y'all. I am leaving town tomorrow (Hello, France, Here we come....) but I wanted to check in and do a few book reviews before we head out.  I am currently almost finished with The Fringe Hours and plan to read a book or two on our trip - so I will have one final summer book review post once we return.

I have so much to say about The Fringe Hours which I will hold off until I finish - but the key point is that women need to find time to use their extra little pockets of time in ways that help them de-stress, get more done and do things they loved.  There is so much that I need to improve on with properly using time, but the one thing I realized that I recently do well is using my fringe hours to read (18 books this summer so far).  I love reading but in past phases of life (law school, etc), it was the first thing to go. However, this past year, I basically decided that I was claiming some reading time for myself.  I squeeze reading into my metro rides, waiting in line, a few minutes at lunch, drying my hair, etc.  My kindle and kindle phone app have helped me to be able to read on the go.  I still love good old fashioned hardback or paperback books, but I do encourage my kindle - as it truly does make reading anywhere a bit easier. And squeezing in that extra reading makes me much happier.

Same disclaimer as previous months: I am not a literary critic or an English teacher. These are just my humble opinions so take with a grain of salt.  Also, some books are more challenging and some are easy light fluffy reads. (don't we all occasionally need some fluff?)

You can find my entire Summer list here, my May/June reviews here and my July reviews here.


What I read in August.....

The Right Thing by Amy Conner

Rating: 2 stars

 This is one of my least favorite books I read this summer, which saddens me as I was so excited about it.  The main character in the book states that sometimes the responsible thing to do is not the right thing to do. While I agree that in such cases, this statement could be true (IE, the responsible thing to do would be to follow Nazi orders but the right thing to do might be to hide Jews; the responsible thing to do might be to follow down the path your parents chose for you but the right thing might be to start a non-profit or pursue an acting career or start a restaurant, etc), I found that its application in this story was way off.  The main character thought that the right thing to do was sleep with another man and leave her husband.  Although I enjoyed the dialogue and references to Jackson, I think the viewpoint that the southern wife and mother lifestyle was so oppressive that a woman should do what it takes to get out (even if it hurts others) was a bit misguided. Also, I felt like the development to the ending was a bit off.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Rating: 4.5 stars

I loved this book. I see why it got rave reviews.  The book focuses on the stories (starting during childhood) of a young blind French woman and a German orphan boy.  They both end up in St. Malo, France during WW2.  This is their individual stories and then the story of how their lives overlap. Fair warning: This is not a happy book. You will see the good in humanity and there are happy parts, but it doesn't wrap up neatly and not everyone survives. I loved how it reveals the complexity of the war. It's easy to see all Germans as bad and all Allies as good, but that's not the case.  Some people were thrust into a war they never wanted to join.  A lot of evil went on during that time, but so did a lot of survival and forced compliance. 

My one complaint with this story is that it starts out slowly, so it can be hard to get into at first, but by the end, you can't put it down. There are a TON of chapters (it's a long book) but the chapters are short so it's easy to wrap up a chapter or two each evening or on the metro ride to work.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Rating: 5 stars

This may be the best book I read all summer. I loved it. Absolutely adored it. It was another French WW2 book - but it was a book that focused on the "Women's War" - and how two French sisters go involved in the resistance in very different ways.  It's also a story of forgiveness, redemption and healing in broken family relationships. The book involves love, survival and loss....and I seriously fell in love with the characters.  Also, although there were no perfectly happy endings, I felt the story wrapped up a bit better than All the Light We Cannot See.  I think both both books are excellent reading.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Rating: 4.5 stars

I read this book in between my heavy WW2 books - and it was a welcome break.  It is about a scientist with Asperger's (who doesn't realize it, at least not in the beginning) that creates the "Wife Project" to find a suitable mate --and in the process, meets a girl (Rosie) that is all wrong for him but has her own project "The Father Project" where she tries to determine who is her biological father.  He eagerly jumps in to help her - and the two develop a friendship and maybe a little more.... I think the book shows that relationships (whether love or friendship) can't be based on what seems good on paper. Sometimes the people that are the best for us are a bit different than us!  This is entertaining and a light read!

Forgotten God by Francis Chan

Rating: 3.5

This summer, we did a little something different for our Small Group/Dinner Club.  People were going to be in and out but we wanted to still meet. So, we did various video seminars/talks instead of an in-depth study (so no weekly homework) . We also picked a book to read over the summer and discuss at the last summer meeting.  That book was Forgotten God.  I must admit, although I read this book, I read it on my Kindle - and I feel like a good in-depth challenging book like this one needs to be read in traditional book form with a pen or highlighter in hand!

The book is about the Holy Spirit, the person of God that most Christians know the least about. His presence is everywhere in my life - but I rarely acknowledge it.  I grew up in a less charismatic tradition - and the author points out that although it can be wrong to always assume you feel the Spirit's leading, it can also be wrong to never look for the Spirit's leading (many more traditional churches often fall into this problem).  Also, the point that hit me most is that we often are focused on where we think the Spirit is leading us for the future (should I be a missionary? go back to school? move? adopt?) that we miss how He calls us daily.  I plan to reread this book a little more thoroughly --and maybe take some notes!

What I have read/still have left to read: 

Book Club Books 

1. The Stranger by Harlan Coben

2. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (and *possibly* the sequel, China Rich Girlfriend)

ADDITION: Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (my July book)

Home and Marriage

3. The 7 principles for making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman

4. Eight Twenty Eight by Larissa and Ian Murphy

5. A Beautiful Mess Happy Handmade Home by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

Southern Fiction

6. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles

7. The Right Thing by Amy Conner

8. My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh

French Reads

9. Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz

10. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

11. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

12. A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable

13. The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan 

ACCIDENTAL ADDITION: Paris Hangover by Kirsten Lobe

General Fiction

14. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

15. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

16. The Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins

17. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

18. Paper Towns by John Green

19. The Life Intended by Kristen Harmel

20. Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand

Religious Reads

21. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Quireshi

22. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist

23. Undone: A Story of Making Peace With an Unexpected Life

ADDITION: Forgotten God by Francis Chan (We read this book for our dinner club/small group Bible Study)

NonFiction

24. The Fringe Hours by Jessica N. Turner

25. 11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative by Dr. Paul Kengor

Beach Bums

"Let that igloo cooler mark your piece of paradise" - Rascal Flatts

Summer is quickly passing by - and what a fun summer it's been!  Since I kindof stepped away from blogging to enjoy relaxing, I thought I would do a little catch up. In mid June, my family all met up in Florida at the beach! Well, everyone came except my brother who was in summer school and was supposed to be able to come but then there were changes in class dates, test dates, professor, etc -- poor guy had to stay home and we missed him.  Not quite a family vacation without him!!

We headed to one of my FAVORITE places -- the beaches of 30A which is a 2 lane highway that runs along a strip between Destin and Panama City.  This area is more cute little beach towns, local restaurants, cute shops and less big condo buildings and put put golf parks! If you are southern, you have probably been to this slice of heaven - and if you are not southern, you might want to look it up and consider it for your next vacation. The beaches are white fine sand with lovely emerald water. It's very family friendly - and if you stay in a little beach town/community, you can walk everywhere!

We stayed in the Seacrest community- which is right next to Rosemary Beach, so we got to enjoy the benefits of both little communities!

The past winter was a rough one - and I so desperately needed to get away, stick my toes in the sand, dive into a book, enjoy a great cocktail and get some sun - with some of my favorite people. Dave and I were so counting down for weeks.  We are used to spending portions of our summers in Florida (and sadly, Maryland beaches just don't compare!) so we were so eager to get back! You would have thought we were planning a trip to Hawaii of Mexico with our level of excitement! Nope, "just" Florida!!

I love the way my family does the beach -- we eat in most nights. We come back to the house mid-day to have a casual lunch. We wear casual clothes and rarely put on makeup.  We sip cocktails and play board games (although none were played this year??) and watch movies and just relax. There is no pressure to try local restaurants or get gussied up! We just relax! 

I miss Florida beaches. Dave and I have talks about when we will move back south - and I must admit, 2 big pulls (right behind family and friends) is to be closer to beaches and college football (and hunting and fishing, for Dave) These two things are so much a part of me - and I feel a bit more myself when I am there.

When we left, I told Dave that I was sad because I am a better version of myself at the beach! It's true! I love to travel - but when touring cities and countries, I stay incredibly busy. However, travelling to the beach forces me to slow down, take walks, enjoy conversations, laugh and relax.  It's an excuse to not be overly planned, organized - a chance to just be!

Here are some pictures from our time in Florida. I usually got up with my nephew, Gil, and we went on a walk.  A couple mornings, I took Jack for "chocat donies"  We usually split our days between the pool and the beach and enjoyed lovely homemade meals in the evening!  Such happy moments!

we are "in this" together

Entertaining the nephew - by letting him bury me....

Love this pool!

our little slice of paradise for the week......

this kid can put away some donuts and some ice cream (his two fav. foods!)

Morning Walks with Gilbo!

Everyone's favorite children's doctor - always being a goofball!

Love me some sweet gil and his mama!

On his way to the beach for the very first time!

We are "close"

Pool Time with Mom!

Jack loved castle building more than the ocean (my uncle builds AMAZING castles -- maybe Jack will follow in his footsteps???)

Oh to be young and thin enough to willingly have a bikini picture taken and posted on social media....

With my dad....

I was fortunate enough to get to have ice cream with this college friend followed by dinner with some law school friends.

That's just a little peek into our first summer vacation (our second vacay happens to be in early September, so a fall vacation I guess?)  We alternate family vacations each year - so next time, we will take time go out of town with Dave's family and we are so excited for that getaway.  When we go home to Mississippi, we have extended family and friends to see, plus often times, our parents or siblings still have work to do! Or, we are home for an event or holiday which is always busy! So, vacations away with just our immediate family mean a lot of time together, no obligations or distractions!

Summer Reading List: July Book Reviews

Whoaaa, I really need to update my blog. It's been a month since my last post. I promise a full update on life soon! I guess blogging idleness is the sign of a good, happy, busy summer right? And it has been FULL-- full of visitors, friends, family, trips and lots of rest. Part of rest has included reading - I tackled several books off my list this month and am ready to offer reviews. 

Same disclosure as last time - If you read one of these books and hate it, remember that I am not a literary critic or an English teacher. I just like what I like, so take my opinions with a grain of salt. Your cup of tea might be different than mine!

You can check out last month's reviews here.

July Readings and Reviews

Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dove

Rating: 4.5 stars

This was not even a book on my summer reading list. It was my July book club book, so I had to make a little detour from my list and I am so glad I did. I loved this book and had not heard of it, so I probably would not have read it if not for the fact that it was required of me. The book is set in Sonoma County at a family winery when all of the family is in town for the harvest party and a family wedding.  From the beginning, the reader is aware that each of the family members has his or her own struggle, with some of the conflicts and hurts within the family. This is a tight close knit family that is trudging through loss, change, hurts and disappointment with each other. Even more, they are at a crossroads where they have to let go of part of their past in order to move into the future. None of the characters are "bad guys" per se, so you find yourself rooting for each one, flaws and all. I really wanted to see healing, opportunity, hope and love come to each character.

What I loved about this book is that I (and probably many of you) could easily relate to this fictional family.  I, too, come from a close knit, in-your-business, type of family. A family filled with traditions - sure, these traditions aren't "harvest parties" but football games and tailgates, holidays, cookouts, etc. A family with its own share of hurts, both within and outside of the family walls. So, I could easily identify with the characters - the ones hurt by their family, the ones who did the hurting, the ones who were hurt out in the world and came home for comfort, the ones who were scared of change, etc. 

The book wasn't perfect, but it was very enjoyable and actually hopeful - but not in a cheesy fairy tale kind of way.  It doesn't have a "perfect" ending, but instead it has a real ending.

Eight Twenty Eight by Larissa and Ian Murphy

Rating: 4.5 stars

I love this sweet couple. I mean, how can you not? These two were seriously dating with Ian saving up for a ring when a tragic accident placed him in a coma (and then traumatic recovery) and derailed their future plans. Despite a brain injury, they decided to keep dating and eventually, go ahead and move forward towards their goal of marriage - and their marriage looks far different than they had planned.  How incredible to commit to "for better or for worse" even without the marriage covenant binding you!  She is totally sacrificial in her love of him and he is totally trusting - two areas I could definitely improve on.

My one complaint is that the book does seem to jump around a bit - and sometimes I had a hard time keeping up with the timeline. But, the Murphys are not professional authors, just two amazing people sharing their story. Also, there were parts of the story I wanted to know more about - for example, I wanted to know more about when and how he woke up from his coma and what that was like. However, it's not my story to tell - and she told their story so tenderly and honestly, obviously sharing what she saw as the most important moments in their journey and Ian's continued recovery.

For those who read this  book, you will fall in love with them both and you will cheer for them and cry with them and hope right alongside them.  You can follow their blog here.

Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz

Rating: 4 stars

This book is a short easy read and quite entertaining! I found it to be a great little metro/lunch break read as I could easily ready a couple chapters in a short amount of time.  The author is a world renowned chef and cookbook author who fulfilled his lifelong dream of moving to Paris after his partner unexpectedly died.  Some said he was running away, but he saw it as one chapter ending (sadly) and using the ending as a chance to take another opportunity.  He tells about the good, bad and ugly of French living - how the French cut in line constantly, how everything takes longer, how sales people aren't always helpful- but he also tells about the great people, great food, wonderful little shops with expert sales people and all the charm of this city. After all, every culture has its pros and cons.

The book also includes some of the author's recipes and a list of his favorite restaurants in Paris.  I hope to make use of both!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan

 Rating: 3.5 stars

I ended up liking this book, but I must admit, it started out slowly (for me, at least)  But, to be fair, I was reading a few books at once and some of them flowed quickly so this may have sounded slow by comparisons.

The main thing I loved about this book was that it was set in Paris - and at a chocolate shop. Paris, chocolate - what's not to love? The book focuses on two English women - Claire who is in her late 50s, a divorcee, mom of 2 and cancer patient, but spent a glorious summer in Paris 4 decades prior - as a nanny. She fell in love with Paris and a chocolate shop owner - and has always remembered that summer as her happiest of days. The second woman, Anna, is 30 years old, in need of a life change and a former student of Claire's. With Claire's prodding, Anna leaves for Paris to work in the same chocolate shop owner. Finally, with Anna's help, Claire makes one final trip to Paris, a city where she found love and a different version of life forty years prior.

What I liked about this book is that there were second chances at life and love, reconciliation, forgiveness, deep friendship between women 25+ years apart and also, a realization in all the blessings life provided along the way.  After all, life isn't always romantic summer flings in Paris, but it can still be filled with family, commitment, happy moments.

The book is not life changing, but it is a happy little piece of chick lit set in one of the world's most romantic cities.

The Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins

Rating: 5 stars

Oh, I loved this book. I could not put it down!! It is not my typical type of book as kind of dark, but it is a page turner and keeps you guessing (and I was quite proud of myself for solving the mystery before the murderer was revealed)

The book's main character, Rachel, is not really very likable. She is a depressed unhealthy drunk woman who rides the London commuter train that passes her former house (where her ex, his new wife and their baby still live).   The train also passes a house with what she imagines to be a happy couple. She watches them on their patio and has created a happy life for them in her head.  However, when the woman in the couple goes missing, Rachel places herself into the investigation, providing insights and also realizing that people aren't always who you imagine them to be.  Also, throughout the book, you slowly start to like Rachel a bit more as you realize some of the reasons she is the way that she is.

I can't say too much about this book without giving away critical information, but if you want a page turner that you can't put down, this is your book.  Many have called it the next Gone Girl!

Undone: A Story of Making Peace With an Unexpected Life by Michelle Cushatt

Rating: 3 stars

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would - but the good news is, that by the end of the book, I liked it a lot more than I did in the beginning.  I think my frustrations were because I imagined the book to be a Christian Living self-help type of book (is it pathetic to say self-help?) with advice and scripture on how to handle life's unexpected troubles.  I just came off a very hard 6 months and I wanted some encouragement on living with unexpected life turns.

However, the book tended to be more about the author's journey - with occasional advice mixed it.  Her writing was vulnerable and expressive, but to me, it read more like a memoir of a rough few years in her life instead of an encouragement book for others. I did enjoy the book because I became involved in her life story, rooting for God to show up in big ways amidst some really hard troubles (cancer, wayward children, sick family members, foster kids, etc) and truthfully, even without instruction spelled out in clear black and white, I did gain encouragement from her story. However, I would have preferred a little bit more clarity - here's how to get through life's detours, here is encouragement for when life feels undone.

So, not a bad book, but not quite what I had hoped for.

What I have read/still have left to read: 
***You can read my original list and thoughts here.

Book Club Books 

1. The Stranger by Harlan Coben

2. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (and *possibly* the sequel, China Rich Girlfriend)

ADDITION: Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (my July book)

Home and Marriage

3. The 7 principles for making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman

4. Eight Twenty Eight by Larissa and Ian Murphy

5. A Beautiful Mess Happy Handmade Home by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

Southern Fiction

6. Natchez Burning by Greg Iles

7. The Right Thing by Amy Conner

8. My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh

French Reads

9. Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz

10. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

11. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

12. A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable

13. The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan 

ACCIDENTAL ADDITION: Paris Hangover by Kirsten Lobe

General Fiction

14. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

15. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

16. The Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins

17. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

18. Paper Towns by John Green

19. The Life Intended by Kristen Harmel

20. Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand

Religious Reads

21. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Quireshi

22. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist

23. Undone: A Story of Making Peace With an Unexpected Life

NonFiction

24. The Fringe Hours by Jessica N. Turner

25. 11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative by Dr. Paul Kengor

Looking forward to several new books this month. I have already started on "All the Light We Cannot See" to fully get in the France mood before our trip. Anyone else read anything great lately?