NEW VIDEO! | Emma Turned 1 (and other things you've missed these past 6 months)

Hey there, it's been a minute since my last video. Here are some clips from January on (including Emma's 1st birthday party, Emma's adorable reaction to Jake coming home from work, playing in her ball pit she got for Christmas, getting chicks from Grandma and Grandpa for Easter, learning to walk, playing in her kiddie pool, etc!). Our little family is doing great, we've just taken a break from YouTube!

Last time I uploaded a video, we just bought our first house around the holidays, and then life got busy! We're now settled into our house and still loving being homeowners. Emma just turned 1 1/2 years old. Since you've seen her she's been going to physical therapy and learned to crawl, cruise, and finally walk! She learned to do all of that in about 4 months. She's now walking and exploring everywhere. She is still wearing her SMOs (ankle braces) but we're hoping she doesn't have to much longer!

I also now watch two other little ones in my house during the week so that keeps me very busy! I'd love to try and start filming more and uploading weekend type vlogs. Let me know in the comments if you'd like to see that.

I'm still reading all the time (I just haven't taken the time to film a review video in a very long time). If you don't already, follow me on Goodreads if you want to stay updated on what I'm currently reading!  https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12842423-jessica-priceiswong

One more thing... If you saw my last post here on the blog (or my Instagram page) you recently saw my post about Minimalism. I'm not a minimalist yet, but I'm inspiring to be. I've already gotten rid of a lot of things in my life that I just don't find any value in anymore. I'm also in the process of getting rid of a lot of books. If you find that interesting at all, let me know and maybe I'll try and film a few videos about it soon.

An Inspiring Minimalist

I’m currently reading Everything That Remains by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. (The Minimalists) I’m almost finished and then I’ll pick up Minimalism: Living a Meaningful Life.

Have you read either of these? Do you consider yourself a minimalist?

It’s been really eye opening reading these books, searching online about Minimalism, watching their documentary on Netflix, watching YouTube videos, etc. I did a little decluttering while pregnant and nesting late 2016. I also decluttered before moving into our first home late 2017. This is different, a bit more extreme. Last night I donated a carload of random clutter that no longer has any value in my life. And I'm just getting started...

Toys. Emma is only 18 months old (tomorrow) but has a lot of toys. Like a room and play room full with a bunch in the living room too. I joke to Jake that we'll have to sell and get a new house just to have room for another child! It's gotten so out of hand. She received so many gifts from her 1st Christmas and Birthday. She also has family members that just get her gifts often (just because). She's very blessed with a loving family, but she's just accumulating too much stuff. In my reading, I've been learning about how less is more with kids. How all the clutter and toys can actually be overstimulating for them and cause them to be stressed. (I know it stresses Jake and I out.)

I did buy her some new toys since she's turned one. I thought that it was fine because it was all mostly secondhand and cheap. It's like I thought that she wouldn't be happy if she didn't have all these toys to play with or something.

These past couple of days I've only left a few toys in the living room and she has surprised me with playing with them so well. She isn't just dumping stuff and walking away. She's actually sitting down and trying to figure out the toy and spend more than just 2 minutes with it. (I also watch two other young children during the week and they are reacting the same way as Emma). None seem unhappy with less, in fact they seem more interested in the few toys that are out.
You know I counted 42 stuffed animals? 42. How? And since she's not even 2 it's not like Emma is asking for them. They came into the house all mostly from family.

I don't want to raise a spoiled, ungrateful daughter that doesn't appreciate what she has. Who always wants more. Remember Dudley in the first Harry Potter book counting all of his birthday presents? "36. That's two less than last year." Ya. I don't want a Dudley.

I was reading about a mom that was surprised when she heard another parent tell their child, "Now we're just getting a few things at Walmart, no toys." She thought, why would she have to tell them that? They're so used to getting random, impulse buys that it's important for the parent to have to explain that beforehand. This mom said that her children only receive toys on Christmas and birthdays. That makes sense to me. And this isn't to deprive your child. I promise Emma will always have exactly what she needs. I'd just rather she have good quality toys that she will use to be creative and use her imagination. Playing outside, arts and crafts, building blocks, a plush doll, a truck, etc. Instead of stupid electronic toys that she pushes a button, it lights up and entertains her and she doesn't do anything.

Books. I've always been a big reader, and since about 2013 I've also become a big book collector. I started receiving books to review from authors and publishers and was getting books quicker than I could read them. I now own hundreds and most I haven't read. These books just sit and collect dust on my shelves. Every single day I see them and feel so guilty I haven't made time for them. I'm currently going through the process of downsizing and trying to just keep my favorites (that I would like to reread) as well as a few unread books that I really think I'll enjoy. There's quite a few YA on my shelves I don't think I'd enjoy anymore anyways... Time to sell or donate and let someone else get some use out of them!

I'll stop there. I could go on awhile about the things I've gotten rid of! I'll link a couple blogs and things for you to check out if you're interested in learning more about Minimalism.
https://www.theminimalists.com
http://alliecasazza.com/blog/how-minimalism-impacts-kids

Emergency Contact | GIVEAWAY

Emergency Contact
By Mary H. K. Choi
From debut author Mary H.K. Choi comes a compulsively readable novel that shows young love in all its awkward glory—perfect for fans of Eleanor & Park and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.

Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him.

When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.

Read more about the book

Enter the Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Strep has hit our house again!

Emma is in the tub and I'm sitting on the bathroom floor typing this blog post while my laptop sits on my toilet. #MomLife

--

The past week hasn't been easy. Last Monday was Physical Therapy (we've started going once a week instead of twice.) Tuesday was my Women's Bible Study (and Emma went to nursery for 2 hours). I'm so so proud of her! In the beginning I had to pick her up early from being so upset. Then she started making it the whole time, but she was basically held the entire time. Now she plays on the floor the whole time and seems to enjoy it! I think she likes seeing the other babies. 

Wednesday my mom came to visit and Emma was fussy. That's the day it all started. I thought she was just teething (I can see 4 teeth coming in on top). Fevers, crying at night, etc. I was going to take her in to get checked out, but when I called Friday they were full. Then the next day, on Saturday, she was acting normal! Playing and crawling around... no fever. So we didn't go.

Saturday we visited our friends Karlee and Darren (and Emma's Godparents) while Jake was working in St. Louis. Jake was planning on meeting us at my parents house and we'd spend the night there, and see his family the next day. If only I'd known what would happen... I definitely would have stayed home! 

Emma got a rash on her face and then eventually her stomach, neck, by her ears, all over her bottom, etc. She was so fussy... She would be okay for a little while, and then it would hit again. Monday morning I called and took her into the doctor's office for them to say she has Strep Throat. AGAIN. She's had it three times! That's terrible... I've never even had it!

I'm happy we now know though and she could get her medicine! She's been taking her medicine for 48 hours and so she's not contagious anymore! She seems back to normal to me. 

Today hasn't been super fun to be honest. I've cleaned and sanitized most of my day. The rest of the day I was just lazy and watched TV and played with Emma in the living room. I've had no motivation...

I'd love to go visit my Grandma, Mom, Sister, and Nieces and Nephew tomorrow, but we'll just have to see. I have a cold (I was terrified I got Strep from Emma!) I don't want to get anyone sick! And Emma is still recovering of course so I don't want to push her too much.

--

Off topic, but look what Emma got in the mail! Emma got a lovely Easter package from Jake's Godmother, Jan Stinson! It was so sweet of her! The unicorns are too cute!
**I then remembered Emma has strep throat and is very contagious at the moment and I put it all away. I already have a ton to clean :D

I'd love to blog more and do a better job of doing updates for Emma. I know I'll love to look back on them. I'm also reading more again so I'd like to do a better job at doing book reviews here! Maybe make this blog two part, motherhood and book blog. I'm thinking I'd like a new layout too for a refresher! 

If you've read this far, do you have kids of your own? Have you ever dealt with Strep? 

Also, what are you currently reading right now? 

Let me know in the comments!

The Bone Season Book Review

The Bone Season

By Samantha Shannon

Published August 2013
Goodreads

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine and also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut.

WOW. So happy I finally picked up this book! It's sat on my shelf for a couple of years and I wish I'd read it sooner!

I read this in 2 days. If that doesn't show how much I enjoyed it...

Being book one of a fantasy series (with lots of hard to pronounce names) it took me a little while to feel like I understood what was really happening. There were also a few parts where info was dumped pretty heavily, but it wasn't too bad. I'm really intrigued by this new world and I don't feel like I've ever read anything quite like this. I quickly loved it and can't wait to see where the series goes from here!

Oh, I also just found out that there's supposed to be SEVEN books in this series? For some reason I'd always heard this was a duology so I was only expecting one more! It's like Christmas!