What I've been reading

I actually finished Blink some 3 or 4 months ago. I found it completely fascinating. Gladwell is able to write about some rather technical and complex ideas in a vernacular that makes it all seem so understandable and entertaining. This book caused me to take a look at the way I think about things, the way I make decisions, and the way I watch commercials. As I got to the end of the book, I got a little frustrated because it seemed that he was arguing both sides of a debate: is it better to go with your gut (because there is so much that we subconsciously understand) or is it better to really reason things out. It seemed to me that he spent half the book in either camp. But his concluding chapter reconciled all this. He describes how gut instincts are best for certain kinds of decisions, while reason and comparison are best for others. I won't spoil it by telling you which is which. :D

Of course, we picked up The Deathly Hallows as soon as it was released. I'm proud to say that life as we knew it did not get put on hold for an all day read-a-thon. Our whole married life long, we've read these books together. Yes, we sit side by side and nod to each other when we are ready to turn pages. Actually, it is a really fun way to read a book because we can speculate about events as they unfold. But last summer, we were toooooo busy. I think I started it during our camping trip at Payson Lakes, and finished it on the way to Woodbadge. Cori didn't read it until a little later. I had to keep all my thoughts and predictions

to myself as I read. But we loved it, of course. Not only for its great literary merit (please read my sarcastic tone here), but for its wonderful fantasy and adventure. And we just wanted to know how it would all turn out. It was a fun little ride.

As soon as we got home from the hospital, I started a few re-reads. On Becoming Babywise is the sleep-guide book I referenced most when Gracie was a baby. I noticed a few months ago that this issue of baby sleep was being discussed a whole lot in my little bloggy circle. It can be a bit of a touchy subject. I really love the approach and most of the methods suggested in this book. I never had to "Ferberize" Grace, and she started sleeping through the night fairly early, and has been a good sleeper overall. Though, I should say that I have nothing against the Ferber method. I don't find it cruel or abusive. I'm just very grateful I didn't have to use it. (Yet) Grant is a more fussy baby than Grace was, but he is developing good sleep habits too. I really attribute their success to following the methods in this book. I also like the book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.