Birthday Blog

Thursday, July 31, 2014


Another candle on the cake means I've been blessed with another year!

We celebrated last night with a divine meal at Pump Room in Chicago's Public Hotel (the food never disappoints and the service is stellar) and my wish this year was for a healthy baby girl.


It's hard to believe this is my last munchkin-less birthday. Over dinner, we talked a lot about how our lives will change (for the better!) and all the things we're looking forward to doing with her and teaching her. (I hope she likes theme parties.) And even though I haven't given birth yet, being pregnant brings a whole new appreciation for "birth" days. So thanks to my Mama for bringing me into this world 33 years ago!

And thank YOU for all the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram love - so sweet and thoughtful!


Week 21 Recap: Grandma's in Town!

Monday, July 28, 2014


My Mom was in town this week and I was in absolute Heaven. Living far away means I don't get to do the day-to-day things with her, and even though we talk each morning, having her in person for ten days of girl time, catching up, and baby stuff was so special for me. There's nothing like a mother's love and I feel so lucky that we share such a bond.  I honestly don't know how I'd function without her - she's my greatest friend, biggest supporter, on-call therapist, and I can only hope to be that for our daughter someday. Now that she's back home I miss her like crazy. Thank you for a wonderful week, Mom, and all of your help and love!



21 weeks big!


In baby news, our girl's the size of a pomegranate but because my nickname is Peach we've started calling her Apricot since they look like mini peaches. She starts kicking every night around 10:30 and sometimes a little throughout the day. My pre-pregnancy clothes are getting pretty snug; roomy tops and dresses that I hoped could see me through the end of summer are suddenly not an option but maternity clothes still seem too large and ill-fitting. I can count at least three closet meltdown moments this week. Each time I try on something that'll no longer go over my hips or belly I have a mini heart attack even though I know it's only temporary (hopefully). Having your body change so rapidly is a very strange sensation. Mentality you "get it" but that doesn't mean it isn't frustrating sometimes. However, I'm trying to enjoy the curves and my newest accessory as much as I can, I only hope you guys don't get tired of looking at stretchy skirts just yet. Otherwise I'm feeling fantastic and think the nesting has begun - I've become a purging and cleaning maniac over the past few days. A friend gave me some baby name books and I bought another as well, but nothing's doing it for me so far. I have a feeling that picking her moniker is sure the be the hardest part aside from giving birth - wish us luck!


Week 20 Recap: It's a....!!!

Thursday, July 24, 2014



What an incredible week!! My mom flew in from Tennessee on Thursday and was able to attend the 20 week ultrasound with us. It's always an amazing treat to see our baby on that screen. You spend so much time thinking and dreaming about the little one, that getting this glimpse makes all the more real. There was so much wiggling (again!) and so much growth since last time - the length of a banana now compared to the size of a peach in week 13. I'm trying hard to wrap my mind around how we've made it to the halfway mark already and semi-wishing I could slow things down just a little. We got a healthy report back for this point, which was a huge relief for me. Since the beginning, I've worried (probably a little too much) about all the things that can and do go wrong and have spent many a moment in prayer for a healthy, happy baby. Even though neither of us have a gender preference either way, we'd always planned to find out. But as the day approached it felt more and more bittersweet knowing that the abstract days were coming to a close. For a split second I thought about backing out but since we had a reveal party on the books later that evening I knew deep down the planner in me couldn't wait that long we had the tech write the baby's gender and place it in two envelope's - one for the party store, the other for us (in case the party store lost it - I need something for the baby book!)

Since Alex was leaving town the next morning we'd planned an outdoor reveal soiree for later that evening on the same rooftop where we celebrated events like this and this, which seemed fitting given our love of theme parties. (I knew I didn't want to find out in the doctor's office, that just felt too sterile and hospital-y for such an incredible event.) So after the appointment came the mad dash of prep like wrapping our balloon box, explaining to the store associates what we needed without having the surprise ruined, a last minute grocery store run, and an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. (I had purchased the most beautiful blue silk dress shortly after I found out I was pregnant hoping that it would accommodate the bump later in the the summer. Since we'd decided to wear the color of the gender we suspected and my feeling all along was boy, I was dead set on this dress. However, the zipper had other plans. It wasn't the bumps fault, just shoddy construction, and after tugging and trying as hard as the three of us could it finally snapped and I was left scrambling for a back up outfit. I guess it's good practice for when the baby spits up on a future planned ensemble...)

We arrived at the party with what felt like minutes to spare and as our friends trickled in I became more and more anxious with each passing moment! Soon we would know if a sweet little boy or precious little girl would be making us a family of three.


But first, snacks. 


And socializing. 


Pappa pops the champagne in preparation for the reveal. 


Our friends donned diapers with their gender picks, Team Girl...


and Team Boy.




And the moment we've been waiting for... 
It's a ..........



Words can't explain how amazing it was to share that experience with my Mom and so many of our friends. Though I initially wondered if finding out the sex early would take away from the actual birth day moment, after experiencing such excitement and outpouring of love that night, I have no regrets. From the thoughtful little gifts (unexpected, unnecessary, but so appreciated!) to the loads of hugs and cheers immediately following, my heart is full with love and warm with the thrill of it all that won't soon be forgotten. We knew we wanted something visual to share with the loved ones who couldn't be here, and I hope this makes them feel part of the festivities. Celebrating in the spot that's housed so many wonderful memories, in front of the skyline that's been our home for nine years, could not have been more meaningful. One day, I can't wait to share these pictures and video with our little one and remind her how much she was loved before we'd even met her.  

This is where the pictures get a little blurry because they're screen shots from video. 












To say I was shocked would be the understatement of the year! 

Since the very beginning I just *knew* it was a boy. From boy-leaning old wives tales to the way we kept referring to the baby as "he", having a girl never entered my mind, even though we would have been happy either way. People would ask if we wanted a girl or a boy and when I'd say I honestly had no preference whatsoever, just healthy, they'd act bored and basically accuse me of lying. But I've felt/feel so honored to be able to be part of this miracle, and hoping/doing all I can to grow a strong babe, that it felt too selfish to wish either way. I believe we'll get what we're meant to have and if it's one baby girl, two of each, or three of the same, nothing could change my mind about that. However, even as I write this a few days later, I'm still getting used to all the pink. I guess I had four and a half months of thinking blue so it might take some time to convince my mind otherwise. But I couldn't be happier. 

A daughter
Alex will adore her. 
And I can't wait to share shoes with her. ;)






Kisses, baby girl! 



P.S. The night after the reveal I felt her first "kicks". Although I'd been feeling bubbles and flutters for a few weeks, the midwife had asked the day before if I'd felt any biggger movement yet and described the early sensation as "being punched through a pillow", which I hadn't. But at bedtime the next night, little tap, tap, taps from within started and I was melted. It feels exactly like being punched through a pillow, if you imagine the tiniest fist possible coming from the sweetest of babies, pushing on the softest of pillows. Yeeep!  Lying in bed at the start of a new day, or end of an old one, feeling her wiggles and seeing parts of my tummy move up and down on it's own is my new favorite thing. It's our little moment and it's so surreal! 


Summa Time: Week 19 Recap

Monday, July 14, 2014

Week 19

The weather this week was beautiful (minus the rainy few hours pictured above) so we took lots of walks around the neighborhood soaking up the sun and breezes. I'm living in stretchy skirts and tunic tops these days, as well as maxi's and flowy sundresses with room for the bump. Getting dressed is an interesting challenge being a new size and shape what feels like daily. Baby is the size of a mango and I'm continuing my unintentional trend of eating lots of whatever food the baby's size corresponds to so I had a mango smoothie every morning, and mango with sticky rice one night (which tasted like Heaven). I can’t believe we’re one week away from being half way there and in just a few more days we’ll know if it’s going to be bows or bow ties for our little nugget! The beginning felt slow, I guess because we were anticipating a heartbeat and waiting to break the news, but time is truly flying now.


A few more snaps from the weekend:

Mojito doesn't appear impressed, but he loves to snuggle on my belly.
Michigan Avenue looked beautiful this weekend.
Greek fest for dinner on Saturday night, summer food is the best!
This dress fit a lot different a few weeks ago...

Wishing you a wonderful week!


Making it in America: July 4th / Week 18 Recap

Tuesday, July 8, 2014


We had a groovy weekend.

Our 4th was spent boating with friends...

                       
...the bump was huge...



                            ...we went 'Merica inspired, hence the head coverings and neck tat...

...and the skyline was beautiful as always.


On Saturday, we attended a friend's annual BBQ which had a 70's vibe this year. 


Someone joked that if I wanted to dress as a pregnant hippie that they make pillows for that and I didn't actually have to get pregnant. But I politely reminded them that when I commit to a theme, I commit. (*wink*)




By Sunday, 'lil mama was exhausted but spending time in the sun, with friends, celebrating our nation's mid-summer holiday was worth it. Overall, I felt so much better this week. Most of the growing pains were gone, just a few here and there, which made life a lot more bearable. Baby was the size of a sweet potato and I happened to eat one for dinner nearly every night - it just tasted sooo good. I haven't any cravings (as in "I need ice cream and pickles stat!") yet, but I do have kicks where certain foods will be my favorite for a few days in a row, and luckily so far, those items haven't been too unhealthy. The farmer's markets are in full swing so we're enjoying making dinner with fresh produce (and of course, a few sweet treats from an Italian grandmother who makes the best mini cherry pies of your life).

Hope your week and weekend were wonderful!




Garance Doré for Rifle Paper Co.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014



Blogger favorite's Garance Doré and Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. have teamed up for an epic collaboration.

I'm in love with all the black, white, and yellow! But let's be honest, every piece is pretty awesome.

P.S.  Lucky Magazine has a 15% code until July 11th!