My Heart is So Full

My Heart is So Full

Melanie Tioleco-Cheng
Doctorly Musings

Our house isnā€™t ready for Christmas.  My stack of cards, unaddressed, is still sitting there.  We donā€™t have our tree up yet because weā€™ve been sick.  Our stockings arenā€™t hung by the chimney with care.  (Though Mr. Bookworm has taken our Christmas boxes down from the attic.)  And though we have lots of presents, none of them are wrapped.  There is no guarantee of any of those things actually getting done this weekend eitherā€”not with us being sick.  And thatā€™s okay.  

The only thing that MUST get done today is the movies.  Because weā€™re off to see The Last Jedi today. 

First Pages: Gift Ideas

First Pages: Gift Ideas

Melanie Tioleco-Cheng
First Pages, Dr.Bookworm Book Rec, Gift Lists

Last year I posted a 12 Must-Have Picture Books for the 12 Days of Christmas.  The list contains  some classics and some newer ones, but they are all picture book 'must-haves' for any young bibliophile (or older ones too).  My friend suggested that I make a list for older kids that other people could reference for great gifts for different age groups. 

Well,  I don't feel exactly qualified to do so.  Why?  Because while I have read thousands of picture books, I am not as well read in early chapter books, middle grade books, or YA books.  So I may curate a list with some input from some other knowledgeable friends, but in the meantime, I thought I'd place all my First Lines novels in one place along with book summaries in case you might want to gift one to a friend or family member this holiday season.

Featured Fridays: Caring Bridge

Featured Fridays: Caring Bridge

Melanie Tioleco-Cheng
Featured Fridays

I posted a letter to Macy on my Caring Bridge site on her one year birthday.   At the time of my pregnancy with her, it was my lifeline to my supportive family and friends. 

I wanted to share what was going on with us, but I did not want to have to say my story over and over again.  So I did what I do best: I wrote about it.  I wrote and wrote, and so many people sent me messages of support, either on Caring Bridge itself, or by email, or in person.  Or even verbal messages through my sisters and parents. 

Rainbows

Rainbows

Melanie Tioleco-Cheng
Doctorly Musings

Every since Mini Me was little, we've talked about different types of families.  We've talked about families with just one parent, with two parents that are boys or girls or one of each, and with different households. 

Let's Cook a Treat

Let's Cook a Treat

Melanie Tioleco-Cheng
Book Review, Dr.Bookworm Book Rec

Every so often, Mini Me will check out a cookbook.  For a very long time.  We're terrible about hoarding our books and keeping them too long. This time around we've been hoarding Let's Cook a Treat: A Step by Step Guide, which is from the DK family of books.

I don't normally post our crafting or cooking processes because I don't come up with new recipes or craft ideas.  I tend to do a mish-mash of craft ideas I've heard of, unless I'm problem-solving a costume.  But since the holiday season is coming up, I'll tell you that this book was great for baking with a 7 year old! 

Special Delivery Book Anniversary and Selfish Holidays

Special Delivery Book Anniversary and Selfish Holidays

Melanie Tioleco-Cheng
Doctorly Musings

Celebrating the 5 year book anniversary of Special Delivery:

What's Special Delivery?  It's a children's book that I wrote when Mini Me was two years old and I was pregnant with Macy, my daughter who lived only briefly.  One sleepless night I couldn't get these words out of my head as we were figuring out how to tell Mini Me that her sister was likely going to die. 

Eventually, for Macy's funeral, we had five  books printed at a local shop.  And then, in 2012, we received a grant from Sappi Ideas That Matter to have the book published so that we could distribute them to other families, free of cost. 

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