Blogging. More than 500 unique visitors read my series on Jordan Holm this week. I am so grateful to Jordan for sharing his story, and I hope that readers got a good sense of who he is. I’d like to thank those of you who shared the links on Facebook—you are wonderful! The ratio of comments to visitors was a little lower than usual for this series, and I suspect that for many of you, it’s hard to know what to say, especially if you don’t know Jordan personally. Even if you weren’t comfortable leaving a comment, I hope that it made you think. I’m planning to do more human interest stories here in the future.
Lists. On Sunday mornings, I plan out the meals for the week and write a grocery list. I love knowing exactly what’s for dinner each night, and I only need to make it through Thursday, because Friday is take-out night in the Wilhelm family. This week, it was Indian food, and Linnea—who has always loved eating the plain basmati rice—ate the alu gobi, too. But back to lists. Perhaps my favorite list is the one that Josh has insisted that I write for him on a regular basis. That’s right—he asked for a honey-do list. I’d been feeling overwhelmed, and he reminded me (again) that he’s willing to do pretty much anything I ask of him. I am loving him, too!
Donuts. Well, sugar in general. It seems that this pregnant mama has entered a new phase in which sweets are of vital importance. Please, oh please, let my gestational diabetes test from last Thursday come back negative. This morning, Linnea and I went to our new favorite donut shop after our Sunday grocery ritual. We picked out a half dozen lovelies to take home, including a maple long john with a whole slice of bacon stuck in the icing, as well as some old standards. The whole way home, Linnea muttered, “No share donuts with daddy.” Apparently, she has inherited my sweet tooth.
Walking. Staying in shape this pregnancy has been such a challenge compared to last time. Two winters ago, I only missed one day of my two-mile dogs walks. This year, I’ve been lucky to go four or five days a week. When I was pregnant with Linnea, I also went to prenatal yoga twice a week. This time, I’m using my free time to work on my memoir. It sucks to feel less fit, but I’m striving for overall balance, and I’m doing quite well, given all that I’m trying to accomplish. So, when I do get out there to walk, I really, really appreciate it, even in the bitter cold, when my mascara runs all over my face because my lashes freeze. Hot.
Lullabies. I’ve been singing to Linnea at bedtime for most of her life, and in the last couple of weeks, she started singing along. It’s absolutely precious. She must have been storing away the lyrics carefully for months, because one day, she just opened her mouth and belted out a whole song. I often close my eyes while we rock and sing, and she’s picked up on that, too. When she’s particularly committed to a song, she closes her eyes and sways her head back and forth. She looks like a young, white, female Stevie Wonder. Awesome.
*****
Any thoughts on blogging, lists, donuts, walking, and/or lullabies?
What are YOU loving right now?
Yo-yo!
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Yep. The delicious Yo-Yo Donut Shop. LOVE that they are peanut-free.
Will Linnea share donuts with Gramma? I LOVE donuts!!
Linnea and I will pick some up for Grandma sometime. She did share her donuts with daddy after all.
I have my glucose test Friday and am hoping I don’t fail either because my big love is still dark chocolate oh and lately eggrolls dipped in ranch dressing. Random, I know.
I am loving my pregnancy walks/hikes as well. Wish we could go together!
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Good luck on your glucose test!
Yes, it would be lovely to have another pregnant mama to walk with!
I’m loving a lot of things right now: the stillness winter hibernation can bring, my lists (especially about my favorite things!), outdoor winter running, precious moments with our sweet daughters who make paper, markers and Scotch Tape into a special gift for me. Since the beginning, I have LOVED your writing and am especially loving your journalistic viewpoint w/ Jordan’s story! What a fantastic series and I do think you are onto something by writing more human interest stories…it’s one of your strengths! My blog this week is on the theme of Love & Lists…with a twist. GREAT work, Emma. I love reading your blog as part of my Sunday routine.
Thank you, Tammy! Great list of things you are loving! I am jealous of the outdoor running. I can’t wait to get going again this summer!
Emma, it is too, too funny that you mention you love lullabies right now. I have literally just been thinking about that. It’s one of my FAVORITE parts of our daily routine with Sylvie, and makes me feel so close to her and gives me a chance to reflect on how blessed and lucky we are to have her in our lives (even if it’s been a particularly crazy day). There’s something meditative about singing and rocking in the dark. I have been singing lullabies to her since she was born, and she is also loving to now sing along. In fact, she’s become quite obsessed with lullabies and especially “Hush Little Baby,” and “Rock-a-Bye Baby,” which she sings to her baby dolls as she holds and soothes them to sleep.
She confuses the lyrics a lot for Hush Little Baby, though, because we have a book by Sylvia (how appropriate) Long with a new take on the old song. Rather than buying your baby things to make her feel better, it focuses on sharing things in the natural world with them to enjoy. It’s a beautiful book that you would love. (“Hush little baby, don’t say a word, mama’s going to show you a hummingbird. If that hummingbird should fly, mama’s going to show you the evening sky.”) It’s so funny to hear the two songs combined, though, because now mama is buying things that she just can’t buy (like crickets calling). We also sing “You Are My Sunshine,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle.” She also often sings herself to sleep, after we’ve finished rocking for a bit. It’s so cute to hear her versions of our favorite lullabies softly coming out of her room. 
Oh my gosh! I sing the Sylvia Long version of “Hush Little Baby” to Linnea, too! I love that book! We are so on the same wavelength, mama!!
The donuts sounds DIVINE. Alas, no donuts to be found in HK. My thighs are relieved. I envy your list savvy. Sigh. Blogging, ditto. Walking, is there anything better, really? Lullabies, I’ll get back to you on that one:)
In no particular order, I am loving…
My new Vibram Barefoot Running shoes. It is the dawn of a new era and my body is happy. No more knee pain. No more tight ham strings. Amazing feeling of flying across running trails. Oh happy day! Also loving my new book, Born to Run.
The weather in Hong Kong. The Year of the Rabbit has been announced in HK with pure blue sunny skies, unadulterated sunshine and crisp breezes. Bliss.
Cold leftover steak. Our friends gave us some of the city’s finest imported beef as a Chinese New Year present. My mouth waters just thinking of it.
Fresh home-baked bread. Chad Robertson of Tartine Bakery, author of Tartine Bread, is ROCKING my world. My natural yeast starter (home brewed, mind you) is health, happy and rising and falling after being “fed.” It is producing the most scrumptious loafs of bread imaginable, which would not be possible without Le Creuset cookware, which I am also loving, despite the price tag.
Twitter, and Twitter lists. My new go-to resource for receiving and giving information. Mind blowing.
And last but not least…
I’m loving Niseko, Japan, where I am headed in a couple weeks. Counting the days until Kane Ramen…
xoxoxo
Great list, Pua! I am especially inspired by your bread baking. I make my own pizza dough quite regularly, but I haven’t made a loaf of bread in years, and it sounds amazing. Fresh loaves of wheat bread were a weekly treat in our house when I was a child. I loved eating it while it was still warm. I am loving, twitter, too! I find all kinds of interesting links (and people there). Enjoy the beautiful weather! You should see our yard here. Ridiculous!!
Finally got to reading that blog series, VERY good writing. Very captivating story. As for blogging…yea, I love it, especially when I get such a response to something. I had a few posts recently that got tons of feedback and it felt great that so many put time into their responses back. one of many reasons blogging rocks, doesn’t it?
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Yes! It can have its ups and downs sometimes, but overall, it has been a very positive thing for me!
What a sweet post. Literally and figuratively. (I NEED a donut now. Thanks for that!) I am so impressed with your Sunday lists and meal plans. So impressed. Signed, the girl who barely has the energy to pick a place from which to order takeout. Ah, one day, right? Now, off to find that donut!!
Lucky for you, there are probably a LOT of great places to get takeout where you live!
First I have to say that I think it must be donut season–I had to stop and get one the other day. So impressed that with all you are doing that you still get out there to walk at all! Hoping your week has been a good one so far! I’m loving the promise of everything right now, including spring just around the corner.
xo mary jo
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