I was at my parents’ house last night, nursing Annabeth in the office upstairs while everyone else was hanging out in the living room. There’s a big bookshelf in that room that seriously might collapse if one more book gets crammed in it. Authors get sent all kinds of free books from their publishers, so our family never lacks in that department. I entertained myself by attempting to read the various titles, willing my blurry vision to focus. My eyesight is usually fine, but it’s been getting fuzzy at night since I’m a little sleep deprived. I was having trouble with one particular book title and then I realized it was Get Out of That Pit in Portuguese or something.
My husband, who loves to read books just as much as he likes to watch ESPN, certainly married into the right family. When we were newlyweds, he worked on the youth staff at the church we attend now. The church had a bookstore in it and staff members could have the cost of their purchase deducted from their paychecks. It was a little too easy, to say the least. Curtis came home with one or two new books every single week. He was only working part time and still finishing school, so it’s not like we had a lot of money to burn. I used to go in there and beg the manager not to let my hubby buy any more books. Jeanie, if Curt comes in here just tell him no! She always grinned and never made any promises.
Then for a season Curtis kept getting big boxes of old books given to him by his grandpa’s neighbor. Sure, these were free, but now there was the matter of space. Our house was absolutely overflowing with books. They were everywhere – under the bed, stuffed in our one small bookshelf, laying on the bar, stacked in random corners, and even filling our cars. It was madness. What finally saved me from losing my mind over those books was that with his next two jobs (including his current one), his offices had a whole wall lined with bookshelves. And there they all went. Give God some praise!
But don’t worry, we still have this next to our bed.
And since I cannot possibly leave you with such a tacky photo, here are some new ones of Annabeth. She was a month old on Tuesday. Can you believe it?
Here she is with her Big Pink Bear. I’m going to try to take her picture with him every month to show her growth.
She was obviously having some issues just now during our photo shoot. 
This was my first attempt at taking her picture with Big Pink Bear at just a week old. Apparently she’s just not that into him. 
The Journey Continues ~
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Isaiah 54:13 (KJV)
AMANDA & ANNABETH ~
Precious, Precious, Precious!!!
Love to read ~ My husband and I are remodeling a home and putting in a library for ALL OF our BOOKS & photo albums. Urghh!!
My sons can see their lives by year in our photo albums. Friends love to come over and grab an album to see if they are in it.
Dave loves to hit the thrift shops now to find OLD books
(there is a great thrift shop in San Luis Obispo with a Christian area ) If any of the Siesta's are in California on the Central Coast just go down Broad Street to the thrift shop!
Amazing deals!
Questions for Amanda :
1. How many hours of sleep are you getting?
2. How is Jackson doing with little sissy?
3. Is Bibby & Papa + Curtis' parents spoiling them both with love and smooches? 🙂
4. When will you take your first shopping spree with AnnaBeth?
5. Are you able to drink Starbucks while nursing? Decaf?
Have a SUNSHINE weekend and I am sending you a Siesta HUG!
With "Heaven Bound" blessings,
Kim Safina
http://www.kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
My husband is a book hog…there is no christian book unworthy of his glance and most probable purchase. He has filled 3 bookcases and I am stalling on buying another one. Guess I can’t complain – he could be “into” something much worse!
Sweet photos……. and my end tables and night stands look like yours!
My books are ALL OVER THE PLACE!!! My husband is hopefully going to build me a nightstand one day soon….and I NEED IT! 🙂 Oh, how I need it! And I need one that will hide a bunch of books, pens, paper, journals, etc. 🙂 🙂
Annabeth is so precious!
Rebecca
Oh dear, I am relieved to know that I am not the only one who is enamored with books….your nightstand looks a lot like mine.
I am supposed to be getting ready for a garage sale our neighborhood is having tomorrow and had hoped to rid our shelves of some books, but I’m afraid its to hard to part with most! I most definitely have all your mom’s books and workbooks and then some….
Your baby girl is beautiful. Congratulations and although it doesn’t seem like it now, those restful nights WILL return again!
Sincerely,
Michelle in CA
I literally gasped those pics are so cute of Annabeth. Way to go with the bows. My mom always said “the bigger the bow, the better the mom.” Looks like you’re on the right track!! 🙂
Love,
Rebekah Boone
from Bryant, AR
CAROL ALBUQ NM
THE PICTURES SURE ARE DARLING HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND CAROL
You need to write a blog called “weird things we have done while sleep deprived and nursing”.
I had a strange need to eat avocados and watch late night television. Thank goodness that hasn’t continued. Still like avocados tho.
I do remember longing to just sleep and sleep and sleep.
Now my babies are teenagers… and they sleep and sleep and sleep.
I remember nursing my oldest girl and the utter sweetness of it. She turned 18 this week. I’ve just thought so much this week of all the stages she’s been through as she’s grown. Its all been sweet. Cherish each moment, she’ll grow so fast.
Heidi in Fayetteville GA
Little Momma:) This post makes me happy:) I have to confess, my man and I are starting to accumulate books around the house. He caught my reading bug~I love your pics!! That bear is as big as Annabeth! Her bow is precious:) You make me laugh…she’s not that into the bear~funny:):)
((HUGS)) for you:)
katiegfromtennessee
Psalm 40:) He is it.
Surely she’ll grow to love that precious pink bear. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
Just a suggestion, check and see if there is a Half-Priced Books, store near you. They buy your old books!!! My daughter works in one in Madison WI and she says the Christian Book section always sells fast! I have also seen some Barnes & Nobles that do that too. Check it out. Of course that way you can buy more books without feeling guilty!
Amanda,
The baby is so precious – what a miracle!
As for the books – your hubby and I could be related, as that is what my nightstand looks like as well! I’m glad to know that there are others who have more than one book going at a time!
YES!!! My husband’s over-sized, abundant, and out of control library is the same way!!! I have refused to pack them anymore! You have really struck a nerve with this! But in all the fussing over the clutter of books, bibles, CDs, tapes, Commentaries, devotionals in EVERY room, I realize that his enormous appetite for the Word has made him the man of God he is today. Often a word or phrase will trigger a thought process and another great sermon is born! Honey, where are the boxes?
Over the years I have bought so many books. I’m always loaning them out and sometimes I get them back and sometimes I don’t. Then I get brave and fill a box for Goodwill. One time I sent a huge box to a friend in AZ who was bored and wanted to read. When your mom did the Book Nerd post, I went searching for my favorite books and most are nowhere to be seen. So at least a couple of them will have to re-bought. Is that kinda like being redeemed?!
That is one precious little fella! Keep up the bear picture… it won’t be long before that bear will be sitting in his lap!!
hahaha.. did I say fella?? I meant sista! oh well! She is still precious!
Oh my goodness, how in the world is Annabeth a month old ALREADY?
She is precious. Taking her picture next to the pink bear every month is a brilliant idea. I hope you will keep posting the picture here so we can all watch her grow!
Awwww! She is absolutely beautiful!
Carol in Carrollton:
I love books too Amanda, and I have them overflowing everywhere.
Good pictures of Annabeth. She is so cute. I know your mom is having a great time buying little outfits!
God bless ya’ll.
Hi Amanda,
I am like Curtis with books. My visual is Pig Pen from the Peanuts comic strip, the diffeance is that instead of dust, there are always books flopping around me. Praise God He is using everyone of them to heal a wounded but repariable heart!
xoxoxoxoxoxox I love you all sooo much! Baby Annabeth is
D-A-R-L-I-N-G too! (Wish I could bold that!)
Hey Amanda,
I’ve been trying to get the guts up to announce that I had my sweet son about 3 days after Annabeth was born. He turned a month old on Friday. I was one of the Siestas that was pregnant and due really close to your date (I think I noticed one other one on the comments). I think our babies were even due 3 days apart too!
My son’s name is Benjamin David, and we call him Ben. He is also our second child, though we have a 2 year old daughter, named Caroline Grace.
Just in case you were interested! And I just wanted to add that my vision is a little blurry right now, too 🙂
Congrats on Annabeth! She’s absolutely beautiful!
I love it!!!
She is so sweet. And about the bookshelves. I have the same problem. Josh is convinced that he’s eventually going to have to buy a new house just to keep my books!!!
Amanda,
Loved the pictures of Annabeth with her big pink bear. I did the same thing with my daughter, only it was Bugs Bunny. I love looking back at the pictures to see how much she grew each month during her first year. The hard part is remembering to take the picture every month!
Enjoy your new blessing!
Sheri in NC
Simply precious!! Awww it makes me want another one sooo bad. Oh, I need to step away from the computer to gain my senses, just a sec.
OKAY… back to normal!! 😀 I understand about the books, we have them piled upon each other all over our office/catch all room. If only we could get a bookshelf to hold them all. Exhausting I tell you, simply exhausting. I feel your pain girl!
Much Love,
Groovewoman
Annabeth is BEAUTIFUL!! I missed her birth announcement since I’ve been busy with my own twin boys born on January 6th and haven’t checked the blog in a while. Congratulations on your precious little girl!!
What a sweet little baby!!
Don't stress about the books. My family is just as bad. We have books in boxes that won't fit on our bookshelves, etc. We can't go to Hastings/Barnes & Noble b/c we'll all find some book we just "need".