Nana B and Papa

My parents were able to come out to visit. My mom got to come out for a long time, my Dad only a week. I am so grateful they came out to see us. 

Maxine immediately took to her Papa. She wanted him to play, chase, and dance with her constantly. My poor Dad was exhausted after spending a day with her. While at my grandparents house, Maxine was dancing around all of us. She went over to my Dad and said, "dance!" He promptly started to dance while sitting in his chair. She said, "feet, down". There is no mistaking her message there. He stood and started dancing with her. She also didn't want anyone to get her out of her crib upon waking up but, "Papa!!" 

Although she loves her Papa, she loves her Nana B too. She gets spoiled by her Nana B. It's so fun to see. She calls her B. If my mom goes to the bathroom, goes outside to make a phone call, or leaves the room, Maxine is immediately on the lookout, "Beee??" 

My girls are so blessed to have such wonderful Grandparents on both sides of the family. We've been so blessed to live close to their Mimi and Gimpa and to have had this visit from Papa and Nana B.  

Ruby

Ruby Lynn Atkisson

Born February 12th, 2012, 9:32 AM. 

Weight 7lbs 14oz

Height 18.5in

We love her.

Pregnant For a Few More Weeks

I am now 37 weeks pregnant. Almost done.

I'm getting excited to meet our newest little one. I keep pulling out her little 'hospital outfit' and looking at it, imaging a tiny body inside. Even though Maxine has no idea what's about to happen, I'm so excited for her to meet her sister. What a wonderful moment it will be to hold both my girls and introduce them to each other. I know they have met before, and this reunion on earth will be great. I'm excited to see Seth with a newborn again. He's such a wonderful father.

I'm dilated to a 2, but that doesn't mean a thing. I hope she doesn't come too late, but whenever she's ready, I'm ready.

Oh man, two kids is going to be tough, but I'm excited. Bring it on babies.

First Snow

It finally snowed enough to stick here in Utah. So we (mostly Seth) promptly dressed up Maxine in her winter gear then took her outside on Sunday to see what this thing called winter is all about.

She liked it.

Seth even took her for a quick wagon ride. He's such a great Dad. Also, I love this stage of terrible pictures. I can't ever get her to look at the camera or smile anymore. Oh well.

Birth Control

I saw a lady walking into the pediatricians office today with three blonde haired girls that all looked under 5, and a baby in a carseat. I told Maxine, "Someone needs to tell her about birth control."

Then I realized, some people probably think that about me.


Less than two months till my due date, crazy.

A New American Gothic

I have two nieces that live in Phoenix. I wish they lived closer. After bugging Bree for pictures of the girls for a month, she finally posted a stream of pictures taken consecutively trying to get a good one. Her plight was unsuccessful in her eyes, but not in mine. I am convinced she has haphazardly taken the best photo in history.

I'll now share it for your benefit.

Now, let's compare this picture to a famous American art piece.

Does anyone else see how amazing this is?

I love these girls.

Pin - interest Madness

For the first 4 or so months of joining pinterest, I called it pin-interest. It wasn't until one day, my sister-in-law said, "I love that you call it that." I had no idea what she was talking about, to which she replied, "I'm pretty sure it's pin-terest, not pin-interest." Immediately, I thought of all the people I had conversed with about the site, for months, and how no one mentioned I was pronouncing it wrong. Humiliation. At least I have Bree in my life.

Well, I've done a statistical analysis of the effects of pinterest on my well-being. The report is finalized. There is a high correlation between time spent on pinterest and weight gain. Now, some of you might be thinking, 'Yeah, but you're pregnant...that's why you're gaining weight.' To those I say, "Way to be critical thinkers, but even so, the data does not lie." Even factoring in the pregnancy, pinterest has caused weight gain above and beyond the acceptable amount according to the Body Mass Index for one Jackie Atkisson. (Well, I'm exaggerating, but I feel like it - blah).

It makes me hungry, ok? There are so many good recipes on there. I've gotten a few winners, and a few losers as well. But, I try to stay away from the dessert pins.

Not only is this website crammed with many great ideas. It also has some completely ridiculous/hilarious recipes. 

Let's take a look at a few.

This is brownie batter, poured over oreos, which are layered on cookie dough, which is then served with ice cream.

I'm a little disappointed in this recipe. I like to have peanut butter, cream cheese, and caramel, with my ice cream, brownies, cookie, and oreo bars. 

Here's another doosey:

Snickers, cheesecake, caramel cookie

Let me just run down the list of ingredients for these, ah hem, cookies. 2 cups chopped snickers bars, graham crackers, a butt-load of sugar, butter, 2 packages cream cheese, and Hersey's caramel topping. Pretty much any of those things on their own are delicious, so let's add them all together! And then be diagnosed with Diabetes!

I've seen a pin for Homemade Nutter Butter Bars. Only three ingredients! One of which is, yes, you have it, ACTUAL NUTTER BUTTER BARS. In my old lady English accent voice, "Let's make homemade nutter butter bars! First things first. Get in your car and drive to the store to buy Nabisco Nutter Butters. Then come home, crush them and add a bunch more calories. Bake them and wha-laa! Isn't homemade soooo much tastier than store bought? Quite so."

I have to make a dessert for our Ward Christmas party tomorrow. I think what I'll do is grab my mixing bowl. Throw in grandulated sugar, butter, caramel, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, brownie batter, nutter butters, oreos, ice cream, hot fudge, whip cream, cherries, and some graham crackers. Mix it up good. Maybe throw in an egg to make it healthy. Bake and then Wha-La! Dessert!

Then of course I'll have to pin it, on pin-interest.