Midwifery books

Recent Reads and All Sorts of Cuteness

I feel like I haven’t talked much about reading lately, so this post is going to change that!

I’ve been camped out in the book of James (in the Bible) for a while now, just rereading it over and over. Also loving Psalms and Proverbs. Soon, I’ll begin studying Jesus’ birth as the holiday season is approaching! I finished my Women of The Bible devotional and really enjoyed it.

Coffee and Bible

I’ve read a few birth/midwifery/pregnancy-related books recently: Midwife: A Calling by Peggy Vincent, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin, Midwife: A Journey by Peggy Vincent, and Baby Love by Rebecca Walker. Of those four, I most enjoyed the books by Peggy Vincent. I could read midwife memoirs all. day. long. 🙂

Fiction-wise, I read Dog Crazy by Meg Donohue and The Balance Project by Susie Orman Schnall, both of which were good reads. Non-fiction I’ve read lately includes, This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick and Cherish by Gary Thomas. Both also wonderful reads.

I’m currently reading The Runaway Midwife by Patricia Harman, and it’s pretty good. I’m interested to see how it will end! Also reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren during my devotional and Bible time.

I think that’s everything in terms of books, so how about some cute dog pictures?! I have been taking Mavis pet sitting with me in an effort to socialize her more, and it’s so much fun.

Cocker spaniel puppy and havanese puppy sitting together

She has now spent time with small dogs, big dogs, playful dogs, and calm dogs. She’s been in other people’s houses, in the car, and even had a “tea party” with the puppy above! And by tea party I mean they shared food, haha. Also, Lola continues to impress me with how patient she is with Mavis.

Black lab and cocker spaniel puppy cuddlingCocker spaniel puppy and corgi puppycocker spaniel puppy and Boston terrier mixChocolate lab and cocker spaniel puppy

Mavis also spent an evening with her cousin, Indy (my sister’s puppy!), and had a blast. They get along really, really well. Hannah and I just love seeing them play together. I can’t imagine what it would be like to see our actual children play together. I think my heart would explode from happiness?!

Cocker spaniel puppy and golden retriever puppy playing together

In other news, Jimmy thinks I’m becoming a dog. So much so that when I took a nap after a full day of dog walking, he took this picture of me with a snapchat filter.

Girl sleeping dog snapchat filter

It’s okay, though, because I deserved it for creeping on him while vlogging. I just love hearing whatever random things he says when he walks in the door after work, so whenever I’m vlogging I try to catch him in the act. I creeped on him in the vlog below around the 7:40 mark.

Alright, this post is getting quite long and I need to get my day started!

Have you read any good books lately?

The Best Books I’ve Read Lately (Plus a Book Roundup)

I really enjoy reading posts by other bloggers about the books they’ve read. Usually, I end up adding a few more books to my ever growing to-read list. I thought it would be fun to share some books I’ve been loving lately along with a roundup at the end of this post!

As I put this post together, I realized all three of the books I’ve read lately are nonfiction. Two of the books are memoirs about pregnancy, and the other is about marriage. I tend to read a lot of memoirs and books about midwifery, pregnancy, and family life. It’s definitely an interest of mine!

Look at You Now: My Journey from Shame to Strength by Liz Pryor

In the late 1970s, Liz Pryor found herself pregnant at 17-years-old. She came from a good family in Chicago, so when her mother dropped her off at a locked government-run facility for delinquent and impoverished pregnant teenage girls three states away, she experienced a culture shock. Liz’s parents wanted to keep her pregnancy a secret, so she was forced to spend six months in involuntary hiding from life as she knew it. Liz developed special bonds with the other girls and began to question what she knew about her life in Chicago.

I absolutely devoured this book. I wanted to know what was going to happen, how Liz would hold up, and what the other girls lives turned out like.

Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage by Gary Thomas

I actually can’t say I finished this book yet because I checked it out from the library and had to return in within a week or so because others were on the waitlist. I requested it again, and I can’t wait to dive back in when it’s available!

In Cherish, Gary Thomas unpacks how marriages can thrive if husbands and wives learn to Cherish each other. He gives a lot of real life stories and practical advice, which I love!

Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story by Sara Connell

Sara Connell struggled through a incredibly painful journey to motherhood. She went through multiple rounds of IVF, lost pregnancies, experienced stillbirth, and so much emotional anguish. In 2011, her mother became her surrogate and gave birth to Sara and her husband Bill’s son, Finnean.

The way that Sara wrote her story was so raw, honest, and real. I especially loved learning about how Sara and her mom formed a beautifully strong bond through their journey together.


Now, onto the roundup!

Other Books on Pregnancy and Motherhood I’ve Read and Enjoyed

Surrogacy
Then Came You: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner
Goodnight, Beautiful by Dorothy Koomson

Teenage Pregnancy
Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far by Bristol Palin
Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan
The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir by Gaby Rodriguez
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
Not my Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

Pregnancy
Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury
Baby Proof: A Novel by Emily Giffin
Something Blue: A Novel by Emily Giffin
Rattled!: A Memoir by Christine Coppa
The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler
Inconceivable: A Woman’s Triumph over Despair and Statistics by Julia Indichova

Parenting
Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott

Adoption
Where We Belong: A Novel by Emily Giffin
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie J. Davis
Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury

Family Life
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky

Midwifery
The Reluctant Midwife: A Hope River Novel by Patricia Harman
The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife’s Memoir by Patricia Harman
The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth
Arms Wide Open: A Midwife’s Journey by Patricia Harman
The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife by Patricia Harman
The Midwife by Jolina Petersheim
A Midwife’s Story by Penny Armstrong
Diary of a Midwife: The Power of Positive Childbearing by Julianna van Olphen-Fehr
Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent

What’s your favorite genre of books?

Have you read any of the above books?