Oh, August, I have such mixed feelings about you. You signify a transition back into a routine, to which I’m always slow to adjust. But you’re still part of summer, which I adore. And this year, you’ve been so much cooler and pleasant weather wise.
Still, how are we already here? Being more than halfway through the year doesn’t seem possible.
Even while going back and forth with my emotions toward August, I’ve managed to learn some things …
1. Rachel can climb out of her crib.
It’s been an adventure training my 23-month-old girl to sleep in a toddler bed because, hello, freedom. But she’s doing well at nighttime and is hit and miss for naptime.
We had been thinking about moving her out of the crib because we’re traveling in September and a couple of times in November and she has already mastered escaping the pack-and-play. I was hesitating because I didn’t want to totally give up the crib, but Rachel made that decision for us when she climbed out with ease this month.
2. So many good books are coming this fall.
I’ve been getting books to review and joining launch teams, which are definitely perks to my blogger life. Stay tuned for more, but these are all books you’ll want to go ahead and add to your list:
- “Why Motherhood Matters” by September McCarthy (Come back Friday because I have a copy to giveaway!)
- “Fiercehearted” by Holley Gerth
- “Daring to Hope” by Katie Davis Majors
- “Church of the Small Things” by Melanie Shankle
- “Blind Spot” by Dani Pettrey (It’s third in a series, which I’ve loved!)
Stay tuned here because “Peace in the Process” by yours truly will be available soon!
(And those are just the ones I know to recommend. I have no doubt there are others!)
3. The totality eclipse exceeded my expectations.
I did wonder if I was going to be disappointed because of all the hype, but I totally wasn’t! I loved watching my oldest get into learning about it – she even researched and wrote a report just because she wanted to! We watched the eclipse about 15 miles from home in Hardin, Ky., where we had 1 minute 51 seconds of totality and some really great snacks!
4. Getting back into the school routine takes time …
… even for momma and toddler! The big kids like their teachers and are glad to be back at school, but we’ve all been slow to adjust to the earlier wake-up, get-going times.
5. Swimmers ear is no joke.
I’ve had ear infections before, but, goodness, “just” having swimmers ear still hurts. The drops definitely helped, but I had so much sympathy for my boy who had swimmers ear twice in July when I had it last week.
6. I won a photo contest!
I was so excited to win a photo contest the company that put in our pool hosted on Facebook. Not surprisingly, the contest involved what summer days at the pool looked like. And, also not surprisingly, I shared a photo of Rachel. I ended up winning a $220 poolside basketball goal that my husband and son were especially excited to have.
(See my winning photo here! Thanks, Aloha Pools!)
How’s your August been? And, really, how do you feel toward the month in general?
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Congrats on your photo contest win, Kristin! I’m also on some of the same book launch teams, and I’ve started reading the advance copy of Peace in the Process–it’s very good! When is the publish date? I want to leave a timely book review on my blog close to the release. Thanks!
Hey, Sarah! My goal is Sept. 14, but I’m still waiting to get it back from the people helping me format the interior of the book. Hopefully I will have more info to share with the launch team soon. Thanks for reading it.
How exciting that you won the photo contest! What an unexpected blessing for your family! 🙂
We are adjusting back into the idea of school here too…..we start tomorrow and it feels exciting and hard at that same time. Giving myself (and my kids) grace to adjust is my goal!
And the books…..all the books. My TBR list is growing by the day! I wrote about Church of the Small Things and a few others this week 🙂
So many books. 🙂 Church of the Small Things may not be my favorite Melanie Shankle book but I really enjoyed it. I hope y’all have a great start to the school year! Glad you’re here, Becky!
Good list! I have so many books I want to read it ain’t even funny. Congrats on the photo contest too!
So many books. My Amazon wish list is growing by the day! Thanks for being here, Meghan!
Hey, you multi-talented author/photographer!
I’m sitting on the fence with you about end of summer and beginning of fall. I love the freedom of summer days, but am thankful for the structure that comes with back to school. My youngest son and I were comforting each other with these words: At least now we know what day of the week it is!
Thanks, Michele! 🙂 It’s true that I’m better about which day of the week it is. But my pool still needs and wants to be used!
I saw the photo win on FB. How exciting! You and your family live a God-honoring, fun life. Keep it going! xo
I needed that encouragement today. So thank you.
so glad you won! what a cutie – you can show it at her wedding rehearsal dinner…
Yes, that’s a good idea, Sue!
I love the photo you won the contest with. So fun and truly captures summer days. I was not in the path of totality but we did get like 80% but that day I was moving so really didn’t get to see any of the eclipse. 🙁 Excited for so many of those new books too!
Thanks, Tara! Always glad to have you here!
How fun to meet you over at Emily’s today, Kristin. I’m with you, in no rush at all for summer to end. I’ll wait til September 22nd to go there.
maybe …
;-}
Yes, yes, yes. Thanks for stopping by, Linda!
Congrats on the photo contest! So fun! Your book list looks very similar to mine. I love how many amazing female authors there are producing solid content these days!
Solid is a good word for them. SO MANY GOOD ONES! Thanks for coming by, Beth!
You have added to my long list of books I want to read. I need more hours in my day. Thank you!
I need more hours in my day for reading too! Thanks for being here, Maree!