Dana Burland

I just got back from a mini vacation in my hometown. I had time off I needed to use, lots of baby shopping to do, family to see and an adorable geriatric pug to cuddle. My brother is still dog sitting , and Mollie the 12-year-old pug is still in a state of permanent pissy adorableness. She’s an independent lady who enjoys cuddling and belly scratches—as long as both occur on her terms—and who is not a fan of daily eye drops, or being forced to wait more than 2.4 seconds for dinner. Which honestly, I get. My whole family has fallen in love with her. Mollie has fallen in love with my brother, following him around, sneezing in his face, pawing at him and whimpering when he leaves. She’s also quite fond of my mom, probably because of a mutual dislike of other people and an intense desire to be left alone. Within the next two weeks Mollie’s parents will come home and our obsessive love for her will have to be drastically tempered. Send therapy and sympathy gifts ...

Babe’s first race! And my first walking a ton and still feeling crazy accomplished crossing the finish line! I signed me and Ben up for this race weeks ago when my brother mentioned he’d sign up too. I figured I could always skip it, walk it, duck out halfway. The options for tackling this safely were plentiful and acceptable. I’ve been running sometimes, but not often. When I do its in 3-4 short minute spurts punctuated by a lot of walking. I had no goals for this race. No intentions of running the whole thing, no intentions of starting it if it were too icy out, no intentions of finishing it if it didn’t feel right. But dang, it felt good! Mentally, (mostly) physically, pridefully. I ran the whole first mile with the boys. I walk/ran the next mile and chatted with a former coworker who I found on the course. With one mile to go everything felt tight—my hips, back, pelvis, quads, calves. I was patient with myself and walked when I needed and ran at whatever pace I needed. ...

Oh baby! It’s wild how spoiled we’ve been with so much fun and excitement surrounding Baby B! This past weekend, while in town with our families, we held breakfast gender reveal parties. Ben and I brought over bagels with pink and blue cream cheese. It was so fun to gathered around the table with everyone and to open our bagel to show a color-filled center. Today at work we both held work gender reveal parties. I don’t particularly love making the show all about me, but two work girlfriends ask/demanded a party. I gathered about 12 supportive coworkers around at lunch to find out with cupcakes filled with colorful frosting. Neither of us had a preference for gender as long as baby was healthy and looking good. I really didn’t have an inkling either. To me the ultrasound looked like baby was staying firm on crossed legs, but it didn’t take our ultrasound tech long to say “oh yeah, I know what it is!” Ben said he thought he could tell it was a girl, but we were both ecstatically su...

Let’s talk about this pregnancy! TBH my second trimester so far hasn’t left much to be talked about. I feel good--mostly like my non-pregnant former self--though do get winded after a flight of stairs, fall asleep with ease before 8pm and nearly cry during every yoga class and at strangely not emotional scenes in La La Land. I’m so grateful to be back to my standard, mostly healthy, eating habits. Greens are back in! Eggs are back in! Chicken is still not that exciting, but maybe that’s because chicken in general is not that exciting. I don’t have any noticable food cravings but do crave someone else in charge of dinner on nights I’m extra tired. Even some workouts have crept back into my routine. I’ve been doing lots of walking, weekly yoga, some strength training, stationary bike riding and occasionally a bit of running. It all feels good in the moment--the next day not so much. 18 weeks I’m sprouting more and more of a baby bump and while I can still “hide” it wit...

Within the last few years I’ve come to really love Hollywood award shows. I’m not entirely interested in the latest movies, music or TV shows; but I do love the parade of beautiful dresses, cheering for celebrities I only moderately have interest in, and seeing emotional responses for such a large recognition. Maybe that’s why I feel the need to make my own acceptance speech without having won a thing. Life isn’t a contest, and I’ve always hated the idea a life decision makes anyone superior in any way. But the recent support, love, encouragement and excitement we received for our Baby B news--and that I received for my birthday--has me flooded and feeling compelled to grab the mic for a moment before the symphony pit gently plays me off stage. Throughout pregnancy thus far I’ve felt very protective and private. Maybe it’s early motherly instincts, but I want to shelter this little baby from how wild and unpredictable the world can be. But on Wednesday morning after we saw for the ...

It’s been a little quiet around here, no? If you noticed, or didn’t, I’ve been harboring an unbloggable secret--we’re expanding our team! Yep, I’m pregnant!!! If you read here, this probably isn’t news to you. We wrapped up telling family, friends, bosses and coworkers about six weeks ago--and we’ve spent every night of the last five months telling each other over and over again in a can you believe it?! kind of way. It was incredibly sweet to bask privately in our joy for so long. It offered us peace to feel all the feelz as our world exploded into giant confetti fireworks--and space to digest it all as the pieces landed back into place. On one hand I so enjoyed that quiet time where our home felt like a cozy protective nest of wonder, joy, trepidation and blissful uncertainty. Seeing the thrill, support and love pour out from our support system has been an amazing second act to witness. Little baby slippers I surprised Ben with to tell him the news While we were quiet...