Joshua's Sideways Look

Joshua saw the ophthalmologist on Friday to get a general check-up for 4Q related concerns and to investigate why he frequently looks out the side of his eyes.  Joshua does not have any major eye problems, thankfully, but the doctor did diagnose him with astigmatism, so as of this week, he gets to start wearing glasses (pictured below).  The hope is that glasses will help him look at things at a distance head-on, fall less often, have a better sense of depth perception, and just generally be more comfortable.  He is not a huge fan of the glasses and it's unclear whether they are helping much, so we will see if this is a lasting change.  

[Note added later:  Joshua saw his neurologist in October 2015, and the neurologist believes that he has oculomotor apraxia.  This means that it's sometimes easier for Joshua's brain to process what he sees if he tilts his head or views it by looking sideways (you can see him doing this in all the pictures below).  For now, nothing needs to be done to "treat" this condition - he doesn't need additional therapy or surgery - we should just let him keep looking sideways / head tilting since that seems to be most comfortable.]

   In any case, the main reason I did a whole blog post to announce that Joshua is getting glasses is because I wanted an excuse to post a gallery of some of the pictures we have of Joshua doing his most classic expression - the sideways look.  Here they are:

With stuffed Buster, checking out real Buster on the couch.  

At Autumn's 2014 summer tea party - here he's playing hide and seek, "hiding" behind the plant.  Photo credit to Hope Hepner.

At the Virginia Beach farmer's market but getting in touch with his Nebraska roots.

At Scheel's in Reno (which is allegedly the world's largest sports store), checking out the bridge shaped aquarium.

In Lincoln for Christmas 2011.

At California Pizza Kitchen in Virginia Beach.  Photo credit to Judy Coleman.

First time playing in the snow, in Lincoln, Christmas 2012.

Second Annual Books-I-Read-Last-Year Post

Here's a picture of all the books I read in 2014.  Last year, I rated them all, but this year I'm switching it up and doing a series of Top 5 lists (below the picture):

Five Books that I'm still thinking about:

1.  The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
2.  Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss
3.  Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
4.  Wonder by R.J. Palacio
5.  All books in the spiritual formation category (below)

Top Five Novels:
1.  Lila by Marilynne Robinson
2.  Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3.  Where'd you go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
4.  The Secret History by Donna Tartt
5.  The Children Act by Ian McEwan

Top Five for Spiritual Formation:
1.  Prayer by Tim Keller
2.  Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller
3.  Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
4.  One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
5.  Seven by Jen Hatmaker

Top Five that Exceeded Expectations:
1.  What I Talk About When I talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
2.  Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
3.  The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
4.  Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist
5.  The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Five that you should skip:
1.  Blue Mind
2.  Someone Else's Love Story
3.  The Book of Jonah
4.  Stitches (i LOVE some of Anne Lamott's other books, but this one just did not do it for me)
5.  The Headmaster's Wife
*BONUS* category of book that you should skip:  all potty training books ever written.  They will not help.  

Last year, a few people saw my reading post and asked me how I managed to read so many books.  The short answer is that I probably have more time than many of you since I don't work outside the home and my kids are usually in bed by 8:30 pm.  (For those of you who are in this same stage, I'm not meaning to say that this stage is easy - I'm usually tempted to go to bed at about the same time as my kids - just that this is where I find the time.)  But in the spirit of The Top Five, here are my five tips to fit more reading into your life:

1.  Find good recommenders - whether it's friends or the New York Times or cruising around Barnes and Noble display tables, find reliable sources that can help you pick out good books.  Text yourself immediately when you see a good book so you can remember for later.  Keep a list of books you want to read.  Goodreads.com is a great place to do this.  There is nothing that motivates reading like having a book on your nightstand that you actually want to read.
2.  Use the library's online hold system.  It saves money, it keeps you stocked with books you want to read, and it gives you a 3 week deadline to finish the book.
3.  Keep a book with you all the time.  There are all these moments of the day that you spend waiting:  at the doctor's office, when your gas tank is filling up, when you get to the school five minutes early - these moments are all a good chance to get in a couple minutes of reading.
4.  Switch it up - if you usually read fiction, throw in some non-fiction.  Mix heavy reads with light reads.  Try something in a genre you would usually not try.  I feel like this energizes all my reading, both in and out of my comfort zone.
5.  Join a book club - there's nothing like monthly peer pressure to help you get through some additional books.  I do a virtual book club with my mom and sister and it's been really fun for us, and also a good way to try out books that I would otherwise never think to read.  

What books did you read in the last year that you would recommend (or recommend skipping)?