Dana Burland

Two down, one to go. Wow, one to go? Part of me feels like Bub will be here so soon and waiiit, stoppp, how are we here already!? The other part of me—the back aching, struggling to tie my own shoes, exercise modifying, slow to get off the couch, constant bathroom visiting part of me is wondering how July is still so far away. Mostly I feel good—sometimes like my non-pregnant normal self, other times like I’m wearing a front backpack full of dumbbells. This trimester has also been full of very sweet milestones, which have really made the last three months shine. In early March (20 weeks) we learned we’re expecting a boy ! I felt him kick for the first time mid-February (18 weeks) and Ben first felt him kick two weeks after that. I’m days away from being able to take video of my stomach moving all alien like on its own—which is very surreal. We have a VERY active little boy among us. He kicks every day, mostly after each meal I eat and from 6-11pm nightly. We call it “karat...

We’re coming out of a period of mourning over here. Recently we finished all the available Netflix episodes of The Great British Bake Off. Please send positive thoughts and perfectly baked petit fours. Thanks. Surprisingly, both Ben and I love this show. Neither of us care for baking competition shows, but this one is so entertaining. The hosts are hilarious, the judges are great, the accents are fun and 95% of the challenges given to the contestants are to create something neither of us have ever heard of. I found season one last year and was thrilled to see Netflix added two more seasons recently. Well, we cruised right through those and now just dream of Paul Hollywood’s icy stare asking the contestants if their meat choice will result in a soggy bottom of their Victorian raised game pie. I can’t count the number of times Ben asked me to Google a place we can get Great British bakes in Grand Rapids. I did find a macaroon shop and two other local bakeries which my semi-professi...

Things are looking different around here. I’m ever-expanding, Ben is knocking off pre-baby chores like a one man militia and our spare bedroom is looking… less than spare. With a new rug down, new curtains up, old furniture out and loads of gear piled neatly on the floor our old spare room looks totally new. In less than four months baby will be here and while we’ve gotten a lot done (all baby furniture has been purchased!) there’s still plenty to do. Seeing this once ignored corner of the house slowly bloom to life is a heartwarming reminder of our progress and of what’s coming. New and different is good. New and different is great. Before the above shopping trip! New and different wasn’t my primary objective when I tried to make deconstructed lasagna a few weeks ago—but it turned out good. Actually, great. I was aiming for a faster, less fuss, version of standard lasagna. I really wanted a big hearty dinner, but to be honest standing in the kitchen for the almos...