Discovering Dickens

‎"Thus, a strain of gentle music, or the rippling of water in a silent place, or the odour of a flower, or the mention of a familiar word, will sometimes call up sudden dim remembrances of scenes that never were . . . " -Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist


     If you know me at all, you know that I'm always working through a book. I've been that way since I first learned how to read. Now, I am not a fast reader--so I might be seen carrying the same book around for months at a time--but still, you don't have to read fast to love reading. For me, reading gives me goals and a sense of accomplishment.  My somewhat-perfectionistic side has given me the will to finish pretty much any book I start. If I set my mind to it, I usually enjoy anything I read. However, there was one author who always set my face sour. Yes, it was him--it was that darn Dickens.
     I don't know what flamed my ardent dislike for this famous author. It could be that my younger sister always liked his works, and I always attempted to "be the older sister" by NOT liking whatever she liked (this could be my stark jealousy at her ability to read AND understand a book quickly--and I mean QUICKLY). It could be my hatred for anything to do with the abuse of children--movies like "Oliver Twist" and "Nicholas Nickelby" quickly send me boiling into the next room.
     You can imagine my attitude when I saw that there are at least THREE of Dickens' novels on the list of 100 books that I want to get through this year. I decided that I had to get it over with. So, despairingly, I reached for my dusty rendition of "Oliver Twist" that I had TRIED to read years ago, only to yank myself through 1/3 of the book before putting it away and declaring that "Dickens is dumb" again. This time, though, he wasn't gonna beat me. I found where I had left off and quickly started to finish what I had started.
     Oh my, how differently this author appears to me now! It was as if my eyes had been healed from a long-faring illness. It isn't the story of Oliver that I particularly like--it is the way in which Dickens writes it. Why had I not caught on to this before? There's something about his words--something about the way in which he writes them--that just simply leaves me satisfied after each portion of reading. I'm not saying he's become my all time favorite author or anything--after all, I still have 100 pages of Oliver left! But I no longer detest this author. Quotes like the one at the beginning of this page make me realize there's something special about him. He somehow makes you realize why his good characters are really good and why his bad characters are really bad . . . not only due to their actions, but their upbringing and mindset as well. I could go on and on about the character Nancy alone in "Oliver Twist" and how Dickens depicts an awful character brutally and honestly in such a manner as to make me partially sympathize with her . . . but I won't go into that. Dark and dreary as his stories are, he really understands life and is able to put pen to paper in a way that helps me better understand it too.
     So, as an inexperienced Dickens reader, what do you fellow literature lovers think about him? I am just now becoming his student. I am eager to learn!
    P.S.--yes I have actually read "Tale of Two Cities." I read it when I was younger, however, and now would like to read it again to discover it's renown.

Snuggly

    My Little Snuggly is cuddled up in her bassinet right next to me, soundly asleep. If you knew my baby, you'd know that this is a rare occurrence for me! She's not like the knocked-out newborns you see at the hospital. No, my little sweetheart has decided that she's too cool for sleep. This might be okay if she would enjoy her swing or boppy pillow so that I could actually take a shower and get dressed every day. But no, she likes to be up and about--preferably nursing--and if she's not, she's usually fussing. But things are looking like they're getting better. Almost every other night this week she has slept 3-4 hours inbetween feedings! For us, that's a lot of sleep. But who's counting? Look at her face. My 5-week old is full of cuteness and is impossible to be agitated with for long.

     Speaking of babies, little Eva has a new cousin just a month younger than her! Elliana Butler was born yesterday morning to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Janna Beth and Benjamin. Although she was only an ounce bigger than Eva was at birth, she seemed sooooo tiny when I held her--and all of a sudden, my infant seemed so much bigger! But I'm happy to have a healthy little niece as my birthday buddy.
    Yes, I turned 22 yesterday. If you know me, you know that I have this really strange disdain for even numbers . . . I was trying to prolong 21 as long as possible. As far as this year is concerned, though, 22 is looking great! I have a sweet baby who daily fills me with so much joy, and John is graduating early August. I'm so proud of all his hard work and can't wait to have him home more. I'm still stalling as a junior in college . . . I plan to go back for at least one or two classes this fall, but Eva gets to call the shots. :-)
     I'm veryyyyy ready to fit back into my pre-preggo jeans. I'm not too far from my goal, but I haven't been able to cook anything good or exercise at all with a baby who won't sleep :-/ Hopefully a morning nap like the one she's taking today will become a habit for her. For the first time I was able to do a postnatal workout video AND take a shower afterwards. I even warmed up last night's grilled salmon for lunch! I feel GREAT. I think I'll feel even greater if I lay down next to little Snuggles here and rest a bit before she wakes up . . .

You smile, I smile

     'Cuz when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for awhile

     With the sun streaming through the windows and the sound of my baby breathing in and out as she sleeps next to me, my heart is overflowing on this first day of March. Life has changed so dramatically. The air just smells better. 

     Eva is almost a month old--no, I REALLY CAN'T (and don't) believe it. Her sweet smile pushes me through sleepless nights and tiring days. She has QUITE a dramatic personality. One of our favorite little antics of hers is when she's sleeping--her little face goes in-between wide smiles and wrinkly frowns interchangeably. It's quite hilarious and one of the cutest things on earth.

     Motherhood is alot of work for me and leaves little time to think about myself at all. I'm tired all the time and don't wear as much makeup as I did 3 1/2 weeks ago. In return for work, I get smiles from this sleeping little angel next to me. I wouldn't trade one of her smiles for a thing I'm supposedly missing out on. I always knew this was what I wanted to do. I may not have the energy I dreamed of while doing this thing called "being a mom," but I have more blessed moments and sweet hours than I could have imagined in a lifetime.