Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Waiting on The Scourge

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Scourge

By: Jennifer A Nielsen

Expected Publication: August 30th 2016 by Scholastic Press

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--As a lethal plague sweeps through the land, Ani Mells is shocked when she is unexpectedly captured by the governor's wardens and forced to submit to a test for the deadly Scourge. She is even more surprised when the test results come back positive, and she is sent to Attic Island, a former prison turned refuge -- and quarantine colony -- for the ill. The Scourge's victims, Ani now among them, can only expect to live out short, painful lives there. However, Ani quickly discovers that she doesn't know the whole truth about the Scourge or the Colony. She's been caught in a devious plot, and, with the help of her best friend, Weevil, Ani means to uncover just what is actually going on.

But will she and Weevil survive long enough to do so?

I've enjoyed Jennifer A Nielsen's work in the past. I'm excited to see what this one is about. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

My Ten Most Recent 5 Star Ratings

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is My Ten Most Recent 5 Star Ratings.

Guys, I've been really stingy with my 5 Star ratings over the last two years, but here they are...my most recent 5 Star books...

  1. Morning Star (Red Rising Trilogy, # 3) by Pierce Brown (review coming soon)
  2. November 9 by Colleen Hoover
  3. Faking Normal by Courtney C Stevens
  4. Confess by Colleen Hoover
  5. Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, # 1) by LM Montgomery
  6. Blood of My Blood (Jasper Dent, # 3) by Barry Lyga
  7. V is for Virgin (V is for Virgin, # 1) by Kelly Oram
  8. Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin, # 3) by Robin LaFevers
  9. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, # 6) by Cassandra Clare
  10. Easy (Contours of the Heart, # 1) by Tammara Webber

Monday, March 28, 2016

Walk the Edge - Review

Walk the Edge (Thunder Road, # 2)

By: Katie McGarry

Expected Publication: March 29th 2016 by Harlequin TEEN

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--One moment of recklessness will change their worlds.

Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life.

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules.

And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.

After reading Nowhere But Here, I was so excited to read Razor's story. I mean the quiet, brooding guys are always so much fun to delve into. That being said, I wasn't let down at all.

Razor is all about the Reign of Terror MC. He's just about as die hard as they come. However, when someone offers him potential proof that the club has been keeping some secrets from him he begins to wonder whether they deserve his loyalty or not. Razor has always been a little bit of a loose cannon so this knowledge can really cause some waves with him and the club.

Breanna is the middle child out of nine. She's used to being ignored, looked over, and not fitting in. She doesn't fit into the older group of her siblings, and she doesn't fit into the younger group either. Her mind works in a unique way that causes her to keep quiet in school so as to not draw attention and ridicule.

When Breanna's family forgets to pick her up from a school event one day, Razor steps in to see if she needs any help. The two begin a friendship. Only a compromising picture that looks like more than it is causes them to depend on each other and their relationship begins to get deeper.

Katie McGarry has several storylines and pieces all coming to play here. It's almost impossible to figure everything out, but there were a few things that were obvious or easily guessed. I did love how Katie McGarry touches on some topics like social media, online bullying, blackmail, and various other topics in a way that displays their dangers without really feeling like she was preaching a message against these things.

One of my favorite aspects of Walk the Edge was when Razor and Breanna have a fight. Everything is going well and good and then all of a sudden wham! They're fighting about things that I don't think they're really even angry about. It felt so real to me. I've so had these moments in my own life.

Favorite quotes:

-Everyone thinks they know me, but no one sees me.

-I find it challenging to follow as much as I find it challenging to lead.

-"I can't continue to kill myself in order to save you."

-I never knew that being fearless could be so terrifying.

Walk the Edge was really enjoyable for me. I blew through it. I connected to both Razor and Breanna and easily rooted for their relationship. I was intrigued by Breanna's mind, and I loved Razor's journey. Even though there were a few aspects that were really similar to Nowhere But Here, Walk the Edge gets 4 Stars. Have you read Walk the Edge? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Sunday Post - 189 & Stacking the Shelves - 136

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This was a really easy week. Not much to report. I'm feeling some creative juices, but I don't want to get into the specific projects until I have a few more details.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Comparison Review of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League (4 Stars) & On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Love But Haven't Discussed Lately
Wednesday: Waiting on And I Darken (The Conquerors, # 1) by Kiersten White
Friday: 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge - March Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Walk the Edge (Thunder Road, # 2) by Katie McGarry
Tuesday: Top Ten Most Recent 5 Star Reads
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday

Don’t forget to sign up for the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15, 2016 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Take Control of Your TBR Pile

I am also participating in Kimba's March Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge. I know I won't get to all of these, and I'll likely change my mind throughout the month, but for now here are my goals for the month:

  1. Banished (Forbidden, # 2) by Kimberly Griffiths Little
  2. Morning Star (Red Rising Trilogy, # 3) by Pierce Brown
  3. Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy, # 1) by Danielle L Jensen
  4. The Certainty of Violet and Luke (The Coincidence, # 5) by Jessica Sorensen
  5. Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3) by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
  6. Kiss of Fire (Imdalind, # 1) by Rebecca Ethington
  7. Winter (Lunar Chronicles, # 4) by Marissa Meyer
  8. Ruin & Rising (The Grisha, # 3) by Leigh Bardugo
  9. Ruins (Partials, # 3) by Dan Wells
  10. The Bourne Ascendancy (Jason Bourne, # 12) by Eric Van Lustbader

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Being Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker, # 1)

By: Kelly Oram

Published: June 14th 2010 by Bluefields

353 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Freebie/Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--An accident that should end in tragedy instead gives seventeen-year-old Jamie Baker a slew of uncontrollable superhuman abilities. To keep her secret safe Jamie socially exiles herself, earning the title of Rocklin High's resident ice queen. But during a supercharged encounter with star quarterback Ryan Miller she literally kisses anonymity goodbye. Now the annoyingly irresistible Ryan will stop at nothing to melt the heart of the ice queen and find out what makes her so special. Unfortunately, Ryan is not the only person on to her secret. Will Jamie learn to contain her unstable powers before being discovered by the media or turned into a government lab rat? More importantly, can she throw Ryan Miller off her trail before falling in love with him?

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Friday, March 25, 2016

2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge - March Wrap Up

Time for our third Monthly Wrap Up for the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Since the February Wrap Up, I finished two series enders: Morning Star (Red Rising Trilogy, # 3) by Pierce Brown & Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3) by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Holly has not finished a series ender this month.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the March giveaway runs from March 25rd - April 25rd. On April 25rd we will use random.org and the linky entries from all months to pull a winner.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Waiting on And I Darken

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga, #1)

By: Kiersten White

Expected Publication: July 7th 2016 by Corgi Childrens

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.

I've only read one Kiersten White before, but I enjoyed it. And this one sounds good to me! What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Top Ten Books I Love But Haven't Discussed Lately

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Books I Love But Haven't Discussed Lately.

  1. The Dead-Tossed Waves (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, # 2) by Carrie Ryan
  2. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, # 3) by Richelle Mead
  3. Fire (Graceling, # 2) by Kristin Cashore
  4. A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, # 3) by George R R Martin
  5. Slammed (Slammed, # 1) by Colleen Hoover
  6. Delirium (Delirium, # 1) by Lauren Oliver
  7. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
  8. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
  9. Reason to Breathe (Breathing, # 1) by Rebecca Donovan
  10. Ten Tiny Breaths (Ten Tiny Breaths, # 1) by KA Tucker
  11. Blood of My Blood (Jasper Dent, # 3) by Barry Lyga

Which books do you love but haven't talked about recently? Let me know!

Monday, March 21, 2016

A Comparison Review - The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding & Babywise

On Becoming Babywise

By: Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam

Published: September 28th 2006 by Hawksflight & Assoc Inc (first published February 1993)

252 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Parenting, Self-Help

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The infant management concepts presented in this book have found favor with over two million parents and twice as many contented babies. On Becoming Babywise brings hope to the tired and bewildered parents looking for an alternative to sleepless nights and fussy babies. The Babywise Parent Directed Feeding concept has enough structure to bring security and order to your baby's world, yet enough flexibility to give mom freedom to respond to any need at any time. It teaches parents how to lovingly guide their baby's day rather than be guided or enslaved to the infant's unknown needs.

The information contained within On Becoming Babywise is loaded with success. Comprehensive breast-feeding follow-up surveys spanning three countries, of mothers using the PDF method verify that as a result of the PDF concepts, 88% breast-feed, compared to the national average of only 54% (from the National Center for Health Statistics). Of these breast-feeding mothers, 80% of them breast-feed exclusively without a formula complement. And while 70% of our mothers are still breast-feeding after six months, the national average encourage to follow demand feeding without any guidelines is only 20%. The mean average time of breast-feeding for PDF moms is 33 1/2 weeks, well above the national average. Over 50% of PDF mothers extend their breast-feeding toward and well into the first year. Added to these statistics is another critical factor. The average breast-fed PDF baby sleeps continuously through night seven to eight hours between weeks seven and nine. Healthy sleep in infants is analogous to healthy growth and development. Find out for yourself why a world of parents and pediatricians utilize the concepts found in On Becoming Babywise.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

By: La Leche League International

Published: July 13th 2010 by Ballantine Books (first published September 1958)

576 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Parenting, Self-Help

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The long-awaited revised edition!

It’s no secret that breastfeeding is the normal, healthy way to nourish and nurture your baby. Dedicated to supporting nursing and expectant mothers, the internationally respected La Leche League has set the standard for educating and empowering mothers in this natural art for generations. Now their classic bestselling guide has been retooled, refocused, and updated for today’s mothers and lifestyles. Working mothers, stay-at-home moms, single moms, and mothers of multiples will all benefit from the book’s range of nursing advice, stories, and information—from preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy to feeding cues, from nursing positions to expressing and storing breast milk. With all-new photos and illustrations, this ultimate support bible offers

  • real-mom wisdom on breastfeeding comfortably—from avoiding sore nipples to simply enjoying the amazing bonding experience
  • new insights into old approaches toward latching and attaching, ages and stages, and answers to the most-asked questions
  • strategies for moms who choose to breastfeed for a short time or who plan to nurse for a year or more
  • reassuring information on nursing after a C-section or delivery complications
  • recent scientific data that highlight the many lifelong health benefits of breastfeeding
  • helpful tips for building your support network—at home or when back at work
  • nursing special-needs infants, premies, multiples, and how to thrive no matter what curveball life throws
  • guidance on breast health issues, weight gain, day care, colic, postpartum depression, food allergies, and medications
  • Plus—Internet references for further information, including La Leche League support sites and groups.

    Mothers bringing babies into a new world want sustainable, healthy, positive ways to help their children blossom and thrive. There is no better beginning for your baby than the womanly art of breastfeeding.

    I've never done a review/post like this before. I was intending to read both of these books and review them separately. But as I was reading them at the same time, I just couldn't figure out how to review them comprehensively without continually referencing the other. They overlap so much. So this review/compare and contrast will include a good bit of my personal motherhood story as well as a review of both books and a comparison and contrasting of the parenting philosophies of both books. This will be more lengthy than normal. Sorry, but I hope you stick with me here.

    Also, let me say up front that parenting is an extremely personal experience full of difficult decisions that often don't have right or wrong answers. We often see "mom shaming" because as mothers we all (for the most part) are seeking the best things for our children. But the trouble is that we often disagree on what's best. It is not my intention to imply that any parenting philosophy discussed in this review is better than any other but to only state what philosophies work for me and my family and what doesn't.

    I remember asking a cousin when we were both pregnant (her about 30 weeks and me about 18) if she'd read any books on pregnancy/parenting etc. She said the only one she'd read was Babywise because it had been highly recommended to her by a couple of her friends. For some reason the idea of reading about pregnancy and parenting was difficult for me while pregnant. My doctor's office had given me a book to read about pregnancy and I was having a hard enough time getting through that one. So birth came. Baby was born. And boy was I not prepared for the sleepless nights that came with a newborn. I mean you can't really prepare for that. But I feel like I was really unprepared for this aspect of parenting. I knew that I would love my baby--I already did while pregnant. I figured breastfeeding would come natural (it didn't) and sleep training was really the last thing on my mind. At our 2 week visit to the pediatrician, he recommended that I stick to an "aggressive 3 hour feeding schedule" during the day to hopefully get myself 3 or 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. So I started that and I also started nursing in the dark in the bedroom when Baby Girl would wake up in the middle of the night to feed. And by week 3, she did start sleeping 3 or 4 hours at night. I realized that she was just as overtired as I was. And an overtired baby is harder to get to sleep than one that's sleeping well.

    Unfortunately, getting her to nap was so difficult because as soon as I laid her down she'd pop right back awake. In order to get her some much needed rest and rest myself, I held her during naps in the recliner where I could nap too. This was great for catching up on some sleep for both of us, but unfortunately it created a horrible habit that we've yet to break (at the time of writing this review). (Update: Baby Girl is both napping during the day and sleeping through the night in her crib at 4 months old.)

    Another really important piece of my mothering a newborn story involves breastfeeding. Every single source for breastfeeding information (lactation consultant, websites, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and other breastfeeding mothers) advised me from the very beginning of my breastfeeding journey to "feed on demand". This means that if your baby shows any signs of hunger (rooting, sucking on their hands, or really a desire to suck period, turning their heads from side to side, etc) then this meant that you needed to nurse. And nursing on demand was said to be the only way to maintain an adequate milk supply. Well the first night in the hospital after my little one was born, she wanted to nurse for an entire hour. After we got home, she would have spouts of nursing for 10 minutes, falling asleep, and then waking up in an hour screaming to eat again. Or if I got up from nursing, she would wake up and protest. It seemed that my baby wanted to nurse ALL THE TIME. But don't offer a pacifier the experts say, because this might cause "nipple confusion" which can cause baby to reject the breast. After one particularly rough night where baby nursed so much that she projectile vomited what her little stomach couldn't hold, I knew that "nursing on demand" was not for me. And if that was the only way to maintain my breastfeeding journey with my little one, then surely we wouldn't make it.

    Again, the same appointment with our pediatrician that I mentioned above saved my breastfeeding experience. With the same advice to do an "aggressive 3 hour feeding schedule" in order to promote longer sleep stretches at night, he also suggested only nursing 15 minutes on each side for a total of 30 minutes. He told me that nursing for an hour at a time was not necessary. And thank God he did. I had already been struggling with the idea of maintaining breastfeeding, but if my little one needed to eat every hour for an hour at a time...well that's just not something that you can keep up. (It should be said that not only had Baby Girl regained back to her birth weight by this appointment, but she had also exceeded her birth weight. I do advise nursing on demand until Baby regains his/her birth weight.)

    While visiting with one of husband's friends from high school who has a baby 2 months older than Baby Girl, she asked me if I always wanted to put Baby Girl on a schedule and I shared with her my story about my visit to our pediatrician. She gave me a look that I wasn't quite sure how to interpret and suggested that I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

    I purchased The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding shortly after that visit. Feeding frequency wasn't my only breastfeeding issue, so I hoped the book would be a great source for troubleshooting for me. I will say that up front the authors tell you to take what advice you can from them, and disregard what you don't agree with. They tell you that not everything they discuss will be in alignment with your own thoughts. And almost immediately I realized this to be true for me. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding promotes several ideas that I knew up front that I didn't agree with. For example, co-sleeping, nursing past two years old, and nursing on demand.

    I've already said why nursing on demand wasn't for me. Aside from the mental fatigue associated with nursing constantly, I ended up dealing with an oversupply issue. You see, breastfeeding is a supply and demand thing. The more you nurse (demand) the more supply you end up with. And oversupply has issues that are unique but just as challenging as a low supply. (Truthfully, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding almost acts like low supply is the worst and most likely problem a woman can be face with in the breastfeeding journey.) One of the biggest reasons why The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding suggests co-sleeping is so that baby has constant access to nurse during the night. The book even goes so far as to encourage night waking. Every person that I know that allowed their children to co-sleep ended up doing so a really long time. And personally, I would like for my bed to remain a zone for my husband and I only. This isn't a judgment on those who decide to co-sleep. It's just what we've decided is right for us.

    At this point, I'm celebrating how far we've come in our breastfeeding journey already. I have no idea how long we'll make it. I have a rough goal of making it to one year, but I will consider anything between six months to a year as a success. But the idea of nursing a two year old is just not something that I've ever entertained. Again, this is not a judgment on those moms who do choose to nurse past a year old. I'm just pointing out that this was another aspect The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding promoted that I knew wasn't for me.

    Back to my story, I reached out to a Mommy Support group that I'm a member of on Facebook out of curiosity to see how long other babies slept at 3 months of age, and Babywise was again recommended to me. So I purchased it immediately and finished reading it in like three days--which is a record for a non-fiction book for me I think.

    Almost immediately, I began regretting my decision to put off reading Babywise when my cousin originally mentioned it to me. I've learned that I was very unprepared for breastfeeding or for handling a newborn's sleep schedule. And Babywise offers up some great advice that is fairly easy to implement. Babywise fell in line with what I was already doing--enforcing an eat, wake, sleep cycle and sticking to a 3-hour feeding schedule unless Baby Girl showed signs that she truly was hungry and not just wanting to suck for comfort. (Babywise supports a combination of scheduled feedings and feeding on demand when true signs of hunger are shown before time for the next scheduled feeding.)

    I was reassured to find that my parenting methods were actually naturally similar to the Babywise strategy. Of my own accord, I'd learned how to merge my baby's feedings from 9 feedings a day to 8 and from 8 to 7 and Baby Girl was already sleeping between 4 and 6 hours a night regularly. But according to the Babywise method, we were slightly behind where we should be (6 feedings a day with 1 dream feeding and 8 hours of sleep a night). I didn't stress about that too much. But Babywise did give me some ideas on how to adjust our schedules moving forward. (Update: I will say that even still, we do not follow the Babywise advised schedule exactly.)

    Babywise also reinforced what I already knew--that holding Baby Girl while she naps is not healthy for her or me. I had become a sleep prop for her, and she needed to learn not only how to sleep without me, but also how to go to sleep without being rocked or bounced. Gary Ezzo, co-author and creator of the Babywise strategy, was a father of triplets. He and his wife quickly learned that there is no rocking three babies to sleep at each nap and bedtime. If their babies could survive and thrive without rocking to sleep, so can mine. With renewed determination, I determined to get Baby Girl to nap in her crib with minimal help from me to get to sleep. She already slept pretty good through the night in a cradle beside our bed. Granted, getting her to sleep initially has always been a struggle, but we'd already worked her up to the point of sleeping by herself for the longest stretches of time. So I knew she was capable of it and capable of soothing herself back to sleep if she woke up. I'd just not been enforcing this behavior during the day for naps. Babywise gave me the inspiration, motivation, and confidence to tackle this feat. I will say that I wish there were a few more specific tools explored on how to correct these sleep prop problems. I ended up implementing a strategy of laying Baby Girl down for her nap awake but when I knew she was getting tired/drowsy. If she cried, I waited 2 minutes and then returned to her room to comfort her by patting or rubbing her stomach or head or holding her hand. After calming her, I would leave her room again. If she cried again, I waited 5 minutes and then returned to comfort her and left again. If she cried a third time, I waited 7 minutes (where originally advised to wait 10 minutes) and returned again. I didn't have to go more than 7 minutes with Baby Girl crying. This 2, 5, 7/10 idea didn't originate with me, but it was something I'd seen in the Mommy Support group that I mentioned earlier.

    Don't be confused though, Babywise doesn't just cover sleeping and feeding tips. I loved how the very first chapter was spent covering the importance of the parental marriage relationship. I was so impressed as this isn't the direction that most books take. I know that not all parents are married and they address that as well. But this was such a pro for me.

    At the same time, I can't say that I 100% agree or support everything that Babywise says. You can tell that maybe some information is either slightly out of date or misinformation, especially when it comes to breastfeeding. Things that specifically come to mind is when "shaking" breast milk to mix the foremilk and hindmilk when preparing a bottle. Breast milk should not be shaken as doing so begins to break it down. There were a few other small things like this, but that's where I'm glad that I've read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

    While I don't agree with co-sleeping, toddler nursing, or "feeding on demand", The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is filled with information about breastfeeding that can be invaluable. While all of the information is available online should you need to search for a specific topic or question you might have, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a great source to give you all the information you might need prior to breastfeeding or even early in your breastfeeding journey. And beyond really as the book has tips for feeding each age range. I'm so glad that I read it and I took away a lot of useful information even if there were aspects that I didn't agree with.

    Where I was impressed with Babywise's mention of the marriage relationship which is in-line with my Christian beliefs, I felt the opposite with The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. TWAoB had a more politically correct feeling by alluding to the many different shapes of the family unit these days and also referencing "nature's design" rather than God's. This wasn't a big deal as I don't expect all books to support my beliefs, but it was something I noted. Obviously some readers will love this and others will not. As The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a book that has been around in some form or other since 1958 yet has been constantly revised and updated, I'd be interested to know what stance previous versions of this book took on "nature" or "design".

    I will say that reading the kindle edition of both of these books was great because I could read while I nursed and only had to use one hand to flip pages while my other hand was holding baby. However, the kindle editions for both of these books do not make for easy "quick references" for finding a specific topic or section of the book you might want to reference or re-read. Either the kindle edition or a physical copy would work. Both have pros and cons.

    In the end, I found myself almost completely in line with Babywise when it comes to my parenting philosophies as opposed to The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Neither one is wrong, but Babywise fit me better. They both cover breastfeeding and sleeping topics and more. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding has more information surrounding breastfeeding problems, troubleshooting, and solutions. While Babywise focused more on organizing your baby's day. What I found was that if I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding for advice on breastfeeding troubleshooting and how-tos then I came away with a lot of positive information. And when I read Babywise for information on parenting philosophy and organizing my child's day, I receivved a lot of positive information. When I got pregnant my mother gave me a piece of advice that her mother had given her. She said, "When you're pregnant everyone wants to give you advice. Some of it you'll agree with and some of it you won't. Take what you think you can use and throw out the rest."

    The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding gets 4 Stars from me. It's a great breastfeeding resource, but don't think you have to take every piece of advice in that book. And Babywise gets 4.5 Stars from me. When you're sleep deprived and looking for any way to get your child to sleep longer this book is a wealth of information. I highly recommend reading them both (if you choose to breastfeed, and just Babywise if you choose to formula feed) BEFORE you give birth. Have you read Babywise or The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

    Sunday, March 20, 2016

    Sunday Post - 188 & Stacking the Shelves - 135

    The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

    I'm doing horrible on my March reading. I've only finished one book so far. That also means that my March Take Control Goals are so far out of reach. But hey, every book counts, right? I've started like 3 books, but I guess Morning Star gave me a book hangover. Nothing seems good enough to follow it up. I started a post partum workout on Thursday. Man, I'm sore. But I'm so proud of myself for finally starting something. Baby Girl is 5 months old today. I cannot believe it. She's also cut her second tooth. Allegiant slipped up on me. I hope to see it in the theaters, but I'm not sure when yet. Husband and I started Fuller House! Love it so far! We also started Daredevil Season 2.

    THIS PAST WEEK:

    Monday: Review of Forever Summer (Summer, # 4) by CJ Duggan (4 Stars)
    Tuesday: Top Ten Spring 2016 TBR List
    Wednesday: Waiting on It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

    UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

    Monday: Comparison Review of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International & On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam
    Tuesday: Top Ten Spring 2016 TBR List
    Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday

    Don’t forget to sign up for the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15, 2016 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

    Take Control of Your TBR Pile

    I am also participating in Kimba's March Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge. I know I won't get to all of these, and I'll likely change my mind throughout the month, but for now here are my goals for the month:

    1. Banished (Forbidden, # 2) by Kimberly Griffiths Little
    2. Morning Star (Red Rising Trilogy, # 3) by Pierce Brown
    3. Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy, # 1) by Danielle L Jensen
    4. The Certainty of Violet and Luke (The Coincidence, # 5) by Jessica Sorensen
    5. Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3) by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
    6. Kiss of Fire (Imdalind, # 1) by Rebecca Ethington
    7. Winter (Lunar Chronicles, # 4) by Marissa Meyer
    8. Ruin & Rising (The Grisha, # 3) by Leigh Bardugo
    9. Ruins (Partials, # 3) by Dan Wells
    10. The Bourne Ascendancy (Jason Bourne, # 12) by Eric Van Lustbader

    Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

    The Natural History of Us (The Fine Art of Pretending, # 2)

    By: Rachel Harris

    Expected Publication: April 5th 2016 by Spencer Hill Contemporary

    297 pages

    Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

    Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

    ( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

    *Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

    Goodreads description--One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

    Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

    Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

    For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite

    That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

    Wednesday, March 16, 2016

    Waiting on It Ends With Us

    "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

    It Ends With Us

    By: Colleen Hoover

    Expected Publication: August 2nd 2016 by Atria Books

    320 pages

    Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

    ( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

    *Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

    Goodreads description--Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up. She graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

    Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant and has a total soft spot for Lily; and the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head, but Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his no dating rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

    As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan, her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

    With this bold and deeply personal novel Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all too human characters, “It Ends with Us” is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

    Colleen Hoover is an autobuy author for me. So this one is a no-brainer. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!