Great New Site for Book Lovers

So I'm officially on maternity leave and I've been spending my days looking for freelance writing work. While J is at preschool, I browse the internet, searching for my big break. I'm trying to break out of the teen industry and into parenting publications, but I'm so not disciplined when it comes to freelancing. Right now, I've got the tv on and my mind is wandering. My most productive times are at night when I can't sleep, but don't necessarily want to get out of bed to scribble in a notepad.

Anyway, in my web travels this morning, I came across a really cool website I thought some of you might be in to. It's called BookCrossing and it's a free site that tracks used books "released into the wild".

If you've got a book you don't want anymore, go to BookCrossing, register it and list where you're going to release it (a coffee shop, a park bench, pretty much anywhere). Other folks use the site to search for books in their areas, go hunting and, voila, your old unwanted book is now in the hands of an intrepid explorer.

Cool huh? And, if you're an author, it's a neat promotional tool. Whenever you're out and about, release a copy of your own book into the wild and post it on the site.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/

Coming into the Homestretch

March is finally here. I can't believe I made it this far. Not that I really had a choice, but there were definitely days I wanted to give up. This pregnancy has been really difficult for me. Today I went to the doctor and the nurse said there was a trace of protein in my urine, which doesn't mean anything, but I found myself thinking, "Jesus Christ, what else can I possibly put up with?"

Anyway, I feel so out of the loop, kind of like I did when I first started blogging. I've been reading things here and there but I haven't been able to spend much time on the Internet. J has been a handful. Probably because I've been so limited physically. All she wants to do is play ~ all...day...long. I can't even sit on the floor anymore, that's how big I've gotten and how painful it is. Poor thing just wants her mommy to play hide and seek and play outside in the snow (what little we got). I just don't have the energy or the patience. Especially now in the final days. I wish I could lay on the couch all day long.

I'm at the point where my clothes don't even fit anymore. I mean the large maternity clothes that are supposed to cover your belly. I'm reduced to wearing my husband's shirts. I can't reach my legs to shave properly. I can't even see my vagina. Lord knows what my bikini line looks like. I try to do the best I can but it's exhausting. You should see me trying to get dressed in the morning. It's a pretty pathetic sight.

Everything is uncomfortable now, too. Washing dishes, going food shopping, getting in and out of the car. It really sucks that life has to go on when you're pregnant with your second. I wish that my hubby could take these next two weeks off and just give me a break.

And now the panic has started to set in. Like, what the hell am I going to do when the baby actually arrives? Is labor going to kill me? The anticipation is enough to drive you crazy.

You know what's weird? I have never wanted to exercise so bad in my life! I'm not really an active person, but because this pregnancy has been so painful, I haven't been able to do much physically and now I crave activity. I actually want to run around and jump on the bed with my daughter.

Well, for now I'll just take it day by day and keep my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly. I'm not really worried how J will react with a new baby around. I think she's going to be a great little helper. I'm so excited to see her face when the baby that mommy's been carrying around in her belly is finally here.

I'd love to hear any advice you have for bringing home baby number 2. Anything I should know that might help ease the transition?