One of the objects in Will's world is a mirror. A few days ago rather than just staring at the mirror, Will started making cooing nosies towards the mirror. I think that he thinks he's a pretty cute baby. We do too.

well, well

Well, well. Here I am. 38 weeks 5 days pregnant. But who's counting? I'd post a picture, but man alive, I am swollen, starting to get sick (again), and the Internet is forever.

My first bit of mother's instinct made me think that Baby Atkins was a boy. Well, I was correct on that one. But, I did have a 50/50 chance of being right. My second bit of mother's instinct lead me to think that our boy would celebrate February 12th as his birthday. Well, predicting due dates is trickier than predicting gender, and I got that one wrong. Part of me wants Will to come right now, but I know that babies come when they are ready. It's good for him to stay in my belly for another week or so. Also, in the big picture, it doesn't really matter if he come on the 14th or the 25th. I am thankful that I get to carry my son and feel his kicks and his little bum.

Baby Will's Nursery

Here are some pictures of Will's nursery. It doesn't really have a theme to it, but I think that it looks cheery and I can't wait to welcome him in it.

J's grandparents were really kind and bought Will the crib and mattress. I put some pieces of fabric together to fashion a white crib skirt. This way you can't see the linens and the owner's manuels that we have in the drawer. I hung up those yarn balls because I think that they look fun. I hope that Will likes looking up at them. The poster is a line from the Doxology that says "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." Little Will is one of the biggest blessings in my life and I always want to remember to thank God for him. The pillow on the wooden rocking chair is from Ethiopia. It is a picture of Jonah and the whale from the Bible. Way back in 2005 someone told me that it would look great in a children's room. Seven years later it's in my child's room. Maybe one day we'll have Ethiopia babies and they will have that pillow too. The wooden rocker is really just for decoration. My parents bought us a comfy rocker that we'll keep in the living room. My grandma knit the white blanket on the back of the rocker.



Here's Will's bookcase. The books are mostly from my childhood and some are new ones that friends and family gave us. The baskets below have things like carriers, blankets, and toys. On the wall I hung a framed a map of the London Underground. I'm not sure what year the map is from, but it's missing the Victoria line, so it's from earlier than the late 1960's. I used to ride that light blue line all the time.



You've already seen a little preview of the dresser and changing pad. I didn't want to spend money on another dresser, so now J and I share one and Will got my old one. The pictures above the dresser are color copies from a book called Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car. It's a cute story and I liked the colors.

our chicken cat

Sometimes people ask me if I think that Tesco, our wonder cat, is ready for the baby. It's safe to say that this baby cat has no clue that a baby baby is about to come and take over his spot as the cutest atkins. However, I will say that Tess enjoys the baby's resting spots.

If I'm in the front room, Tesco will often take his afternoon nap in the baby's car seat.


Then, after his chicken dinner and a game of catch with J., Tess will put himself to sleep on the baby's changing pad. Newborns put themselves to bed too, right?

Before I got pregnant, I was so eager to have a baby that I didn't fully understand how there would hard days. Well, today was a hard day. I'm 40 days from my due date, I'm exhausted and battle continuous heartburn. At times 40 days feels like forever and other times it feels around the corner. I don't want to pity myself because I have nothing to pity! I have a sweet baby boy who gets the hiccups in the evenings and who tries to make an exit through kicking me on my right side. Hurry up, baby, we can't wait to meet you.

thoughts for the new year

In 2013 I want to...

give birth to a beautiful baby boy, nurse him and love him well.

drink more red wine, coffee, and water.

run like the wind and run 26.2 miles on

pray and put scripture in my heart.

learn how to and take charming photos.

knit my baby a sweater.

cook yummy meals and weekly bake for my family.

journal and read.

grow tomatoes, peppers, greens, and herbs.