I am going to try a new Sunday Salon format to match my new look.

Reader

In February, I read:

1. The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro – audio – 4.5 stars
2. The Ghost Runner by Blair Richmond – ebook – 3.5 stars
3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer – audio – 4 stars
4. The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet by Neil deGrasse Tyson – audio – 3 stars
5. The Life You’ve Imagined by Kristina Riggle – print – 3.5 stars
6. Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio – audio – 4 stars
7. Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans – print – 4 stars

As you can see, I am a bit behind on reviews. But, I did manage to actually get some reading done. Yay!

In addition to The Ghost Runner, I reviewed Apollo’s Angels; City of Bones; Every Day; Rapture; The Book Thief; The Casual Vacancy.

Dancer

Between the illness that plagued our house and a photography workshop I took, I only made it to class once this month. But man it felt great once I got back.

Runner

My running suffered for the same reason – the baby was sick and I was sick. Now I am having some back issues again, but I hope to get running again soon. I had originally planned on running the 5k at Gasparilla last weekend, but I’ve learned my lesson and I won’t run another race without training at least a little bit. I am going to sign up for a Mother’s Day 5k, which should allow me plenty of time to get back in running shape. We are also planning on joining the YMCA so I will have no excuse.

Mom

Evan is nine months old. He’s still sch a joy to be around. We’ve regressed a little on sleep, but I’m hopeful that will change soon. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I can’t predict the future. A few weeks ago, Evan started refusing breast milk bottles and preferring formula. I fought him on it and tried everything to get him to take them again. But earlier this week, I decided to let it go and let him just have the formula. At nine months, the fight isn’t worth it. I’m sad that we’re one step closer to weaning, but I do love the freedom from pumping (only 1x/day!).

We’re having lots of fun cruising, clapping, waving, and playing in our new playroom.

How did February treat you?

It’s that time again. October in review.

Reading:

This was not my best reading month. I am still trying to figure out how to be a working mom and find time to read. Bear with me. In October, I read:

1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle (audio) (reread)
2. The Doula by Bridgit Boland (audio)
3. With My Body by Nikki Gemmell
4. Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr (audio)
5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Blogging:

In addition, I also reviewed Perfect; The Chaperone; The Ugly Duchess; and A Land More Kind Than Home.

I shared the baby products I couldn’t live without; I asked for opinions about listening to audiobooks with the baby; and, most importantly, read my own books!

Baby:

Evan is five months old. Can you believe it? He’s rolling over both ways, trying to sit up, and interested in grabbing EVERYTHING. It’s really fun watching him grow and change and develop a personality.

And now I am off to run a 5k. With absolutely no training. Wish me luck.

Reading:

I owe you all an apology. I have really let the blog go this month. I posted only 4 reviews (one for a book I didn’t even finish) and only 1 other Sunday Salon (gone are those leisurely Sunday mornings where I could whip one up last minute). I will try to be a little more organized in October and actually review some books for you.

I feel like I barely read anything in September, but looking back, I managed to finish 7 books. So I suppose I did a little better with the reading than I did with the blogging.

I read:

1. Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading
2. Redshirts by John Scalzi (audio)
3. A Million Suns by Beth Revis
4. Messenger of Truth by Jaqueline Winspear (audio)
5. Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate
6. Battle Royale by Takami Koushun (audio)
7. The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James

My favorite this month was probably A Million Suns. But Redshirts is a close second.

I am not going to list my other posts for the month. There are so few that you can just look to the right under “Recent Posts.”

Baby

It’s hard to believe Evan is four months old. But he is. And still just an incredibly happy baby. He’s reaching and grabbing, trying to sit up, and sleeping 6-8 hours in one go at night. We’ve gotten into a good work/daycare routine. Our next great adventure is cloth diapering – I’m giving it a trial run in October.

Photo-a-Day

I am still participating in Fat Mum Slim’s Photo-a-Day challenge. Head over to my tumblr to see the September pics.

What have you all been up to lately?

Reading

Well, the fun had to end sometime. Now that I’m back at work, I am not reading nearly as much as I was when I was on maternity leave. Since Evan is also much more alert and active now, I’m not sure how much I’m going to get done on the weekends either. But I did manage to finish six books this month. So I’m not going anywhere yet.

This month I read:

• The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
• Yok by Tim Davys
• A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash (audio)
• The Kill Order by James Dashner
• Across the Universe by Beth Revis
• The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen

• The Iron King
• The Boyfriend List
• Passion
• The Death Cure
• The Unbearable Lightness of Being
• Insurgent

Baby

Three months old, and Evan continues to just be an awesome baby. He is so easy-going and such a joy to be around (even at 2am). He handled the transition to daycare like a rockstar. He loves watching the older kids (there are four other one- or two-year-olds there with him) and adores his daycare provider. I am very thankful that we found something close to my office. I go over there at lunch most days to see (and nurse) him.

Evan continues to grow and learn. He’s rolling over, reaching and grabbing, and my mom even taught him how to blow raspberries last weekend. I wish he had a doctor’s appointment this month so I could get his official measurements.

My favorite picture of Evan from August:

How was your August? Back to school? Ready for fall?

January ended up being a pretty good reading month for me. Probably because I did all of those mini-reviews in December so I had to keep reading in order to keep blogging. Nothing like a little pressure to get me going. I read a pretty diverse pile of books as well (and look, Ben, only two YA books!).

In January I read:

1. The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar
2. Out of Breath by Blair Richmond
3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling (audio)
4. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker
5. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach (audio)
6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
7. When Elves Attack by Tim Dorsey (audio)
8. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
9. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

In addition to the links above, I reviewed The Poisonwood Bible, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. I also shared the authors whose next book I am anxiously awaiting, Ingrid Michaelson’s new album, and I posted my 2011 wrap-ups: reading stats and new goals; my favorite albums; my husband’s top ten of 2011; and my favorites of the year.

My favorite book this month was The Fault in Our Stars. Naturally.

I must go now and continue my weekend of doing grown-up things like going to the theater and buying houses and naming babies. But leave me a comment and let me know how 2012 started out for you!