21Weeks

21 weeks was a biggie.

• Dan moved out of his office, built a wall upstairs in the attic and is in the process of moving all of his work/school stuff to make room for the nursery stuff.
• Thankfully, we have received so many baby essentials from friends and co-workers. This week we also registered for a high chair, stroller, pack 'n' play, clothes and a whole bunch more. 
• I'm taking a belly dancing class through Milwaukee rec (aka odd-ball instructors teaching random skills in some sort of gym or community center).
• I finally look pregnant...in tight clothes!  
• The red bumps on my arms are going away! After multiple visits to my dermatologist, years of exfoliating, purchasing multiple lotions, creams - who knew that the best way to get rid of these annoying little buggers was to get pregnant! I guess this happened to my mom too!
• We drove up north for Thanksgivings with our families. Dan stayed in LaCrosse to spend time with his Dad's family and work while I drove to Minnesota. We both had an amazing time relaxing with our families and dropping a total of three pounds. I gained two and Dan lost five. Neat.

Baby Atkinson is now the size of a small grapefruit and looks like a miniature newborn. Random - blood is traveling through the umbilical cord at four miles an hour - does anyone else think that's really fast?

Harper

Harps-acord, Harp, Harper-tron, Tron, kumquat - whatever you call her, she's my little Harper and she's the best little mutt ever. When we decided to take the plunge and get a dog, Dan and I thought we knew what we were signing up for - we both grew up with amazing dogs: Rhubarb, Nutmeg and Smokie - but getting Harper was another thing entirely.

Growing up, my dogs were never my first thought in the morning and I never had to figure out who would take care of her if we went away for the weekend. Sad to admit, I never I had the same relationship or love with Nutmeg or Smokie as I do with Harper. When we were little we never had to search for a dog for months on the Milwaukee County Humane Society website, read multiple Cesar books in preparation for their adoption, were the primary "walkers" or had to pay for a vet bill.

Harper has caused multiple headaches over the past two years - eaten multiple loaves of bread, gnawed on books, DVDs, shoes, eaten her weight in kitty food and her most recent development - panicking at the slightest hint of a noise - like clapping. She's been the center of so many good memories. I love her for:

• Waiting for Dan or I to wake up in the morning before coming in our room
• Fake yawning and sneezing 
• Keeping her noise to a minimum
• Her ridiculous dainty prancing  

This weekend, I took a nap after registering for baby Atkinson and Harper sheepishly jumped on the bed with me and put her little head on my tummy. She didn't even know how much I needed that sweet gesture - let's just say registering = me not knowing anything about babies. Babies R Us should serve massive amounts of alcohol to dads or any non-pregnant person that dare to enter - and at least a cookie to all pregnant ladies. What - a cluster fuck. 

Mmmm peanut butter, ugh Kong.

Can I please have a pudgy pie?

I love taking naps with this redhead.

Swimming at South Shore beach

Spotted: another dog, bird or squirrel.

Love is in the Crisp Fall Air!

I picked up the wedding photos from our photographer this week and had a blast going through all 800 of them!

My coworkers in Alabama coworkers felt the wedding was beautiful as well. They put together this thoughtful post on our Plate and Pattern blog. Little do they know that my palette was inspired by the Harvest M&Ms.

If I could do this all over again - I would be sure that our cousins and friends from out of state could attend. Other than that - it was such a perfect day!

Suck the Nectar

At my core, I'm an optimist (and a realist) but during the early weeks of pregnancy, you would have guessed I was a doomsday theorist. Seriously, I would think of the worst case scenario for everything - my pregnancy (how fat WILL I get...), classes (I'm going to meet really lame moms!), labor (What if I don't get the epidural in time? What if I don't want one?) and on and on went my chattering inner monologue.

Can you say exhausting? I don't know what tomorrow will feel like, but I do know that today is wonderful. I have such generous friends and family. They have offered their support, gently-used baby goods, advice and kind words. And encouraged me to slow down...

I've annoyed Dan by fist-pumping to the phrase "suck the nectar." A 2010 version of "live life to the fullest." Pregnancy has literally forced me to put my to-do list down, listen to my body and not push it. I viewed my lack of energy as laziness but now I understand it's just little baby Atkinson asking me to slow down and take a nap.

20 Weeks

One of the best weeks ever!

I was overjoyed for my friends to tie the knot and was honored to stand up in their wedding. We kicked off the weekend on Friday with spa treatments. If anyone is wondering what to get me for Christmas (besides Target gift cards and baby stuff), feel free to treat me to a prenatal massage. Ah-mazing. After the rehearsal at Gesu and dinner at Milwaukee Ale House we enjoyed cocktails with Market at Miller Time Pub and crashed in the Hilton suite. Saturday was the big event followed by dinner at the Wisconsin Club. It was hands-down the best wedding I've ever attended (besides my own - I think everyone has to think that) because of the genuine happiness expressed by the Fischers, the personal touches (our flowers were amazing!) - and the elegant-unstuffiness of the whole event.

I understand why some love being pregnant. I am starting to really enjoy it too! On Saturday I felt energetic, vibrant and was told that I had "that prego glow" (sweat?).

Basically, we all had an amazing night of good food, friendship-love and flying around the dance floor celebrating the Fischers.

Baby Atkinson update: He or she is now the size of a cantaloupe and down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day (his/her taste buds are actually working!). I'm trying to get a diverse diet too - studies have shown that after birth, babies respond best to taste they've already had via amniotic fluid. I'm predicting that he or she will have a love for cheese, soup, apples and frozen yogurt (ok, all treats...).

Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings….

These are a few of my favorite things: apples, yoga, NPR, Mad Men, national parks, flavored lattes (oh, how I miss you), fall, baked sweets, Harper, knitting, cowboy boots, Mason Jennings and cooking. Cooking simple, seasonally and healthful meals.

Food wise, bambino (or bambina) Atkinson’s favorites are limited to: grilled cheese, tomato soup, fruit, meat and Sour Patch Watermelon candy.

Giada De Laurentiis is my favorite chef to watch and envy (that cutting board! those beautiful nails! her overall amazingness!). She grew up in Italy, went to cooking school in France and I heard her husband works for Anthropologie. Seriously? If I didn’t love her so much, I’d hate her. Her approach to cooking is clean, simple, and colorful – plus, she’s never afraid to use cheese.

During my pregnancy, I average at least one grilled cheese a week. This classic combo is so comforting. It’s like a Christmas tree-scented candle or a Sunday afternoon Packer game with hot ham and rolls. Snuggle on down and enjoy a bowl of this hearty, satisfying tomato soup. Feel free to exclude the creme fraiche - it's not needed!

19 Weeks - It's a...

At 19 weeks, we had our second and final ultrasound and found out that we're having a...oh, it's a big fat surprise!

I always assumed I would know if I would be welcoming a little bambino or bambina prior to delivery - but when it comes down to it, it's all about gender specific clothing. And I'm confident that we'll cloth our baby just fine. Our grandparents figured it out, our parents figured it out - we'll do the same. There are so few surprises in life - I can't wait to hear "It's a _____" in 21 weeks!

As I learned, people do not feel the same way. "How will you dress him/her? That is going to cost you a fortune! How will you decorate the nursery!" Um, Hi, Are you new? My kid won't have a pastel room with butterflies or trucks.

People also have strong opinions about:

1. Delivery
2. Registries
2. Breast feeding vs. formula (honestly, I do too, but who am I to judge something I've never experienced)
4. Sharing your potential names
5. Names
6. Everything!


Pregnancy is overwhelming and I listen to my friends and families' opinions with an open mind - but when complete randoms insert their opinions about the list above (and everything baby related) I just want to take a nap and do the complete opposite of what they are so kindly instructing. I think people just like to hear themselves talk - I guess I'm no different. 

I'll jump off of my soapbox and share that our last ultrasound was unbelievable! I can't believe that at a mere 19 weeks, baby Atkinson looks like a baby!

18 weeks

At 18 weeks Dan and I tied the knot! I would have never planned my wedding in less than 30 days - or a backyard bash - but after basking in the wedding day glow - I wouldn't have changed a thing. Scratch that, I would have bought two pairs of tights.

The day was full of laughter, strong drinks, good food, family and friends. Everyone rallied together to pitch in, cook amazing dishes - and ended the night dancing - and in a great mood. We were thrilled to have Dan's friend Jaynee photograph our wedding. She captured some beautiful moments!