7 Quick Takes Friday, #16

1. Yesterday I mentioned that I was feeling a lot better than I expected to after having my wisdom teeth removed. Not so today. It's gotten worse, but no worse than the awful pain of the week before when the teeth were all shifting around. At least this pain is accompanied by a sense of finality. The swelling is considerably worse today as well. I'm not nearly as cute as that cheeky chipmunk from yesterday; instead, I bear a striking resemblance to John McCain. Now I'm sure he's a lovely man, but his jaws do not belong on this 26 year old's face.

2. Garden update: I think I overplanted. The broccoli plants are ginormous. The tomatoes plants are vast. The cabbage plants are mammoth. The bush green beans are spreading like an understory below the tomatoes and cabbage. The carrots are the only things not getting bigger than I planned for. And that's probably just because they're underground and I'm unaware of their true size.

3. I have loved having Justin home from work for the past two days. He's been an enormous help with the kids, and I've been able to laze around while I heal. Husbands are the coolest. Today, though? I'm pretty sure he sprinted happily out the door to get some well deserved rest at the office. Poor guy.

4. I just finished reading another Jodi Picoult novel, Keeping Faith. I love that woman's writing. She captivates me every time, and takes me so far into the world of her books that I am left thinking about them for days, weeks afterward. If you've never read her before, you should check out one of her novels soon. You won't regret it.

Well, unless you are more of a frilly love story with rose-colored pages kind of reader. Then you may not fully appreciate her raw, real-life glimpses into someone else's reality. Thankfully, I like just about whatever genre of book I pick up, so I'm happy with either. But Jodi Picoult? She's fabulous.

5. Today is my niece, Evelyn Joy's, first birthday. I got to be there for her birth, and it was something I'll never forget - it was magic. It's totally different getting to watch somebody else's baby being born. Even though I'd been through the process myself, it was amazing to be there to see every detail and experience it from a different perspective.

Here she is one day after she was born, next to her BFF, Lauren Jade. (Here's a fun story about the two of them.)

This is Evie at about 8 months old, participating in her favorite activity - eating!

And here she is a around Easter time. I'd snuggle that bunny for sure.

Evie is so sweet...Happy Birthday little darlin'!

6. Lauren is nursing again! I called the lactation consultant to double check the pediatrician's guidelines, and she told me it was completely fine to breastfeed while I'm on this certain pain medication. I tried to not use some of it yesterday for a while, hoping to be able to nurse quicker, but the pain won out. I was feeling so bad for Lauren who just wanted her mama, that when the lactation consultant told me we'd both be fine, I just about jumped out of my skin. But I managed to contain myself long enough to go take a pill first. Priorities.

7. Mia surprised me again last night with her preschool knowledge. We were walking around the yard after dinner, when we saw a tiny snake by the side of the road. Normally, I'd get away from a snake faster than Paris Hilton would run from a Wal-Mart store, but this snake was seriously tiny. Less than 3 inches long and it didn't move very fast, so we stopped to investigate. After Mia lost interest in the snake, she noticed a line of ants crawling close by. And here's what she said.

"Those are ants! They have a head, a thorax, and an ab-duh-men!"

Here's what I said.

"?!?!?!"

She's a 3 year old genius.

Enjoy this early summer weekend, and go check out some more Quick Takes.