Tennessee Shower for Tiny Timchenko!

I couldn't have imagined a prettier day than September 20th in East Tennessee. Baby girl was showered with love at a pinky-peach soiree under the beautiful southern sunshine.

Vintage linens were used as table cloths and mixed with modern decor like this smashing tassel garland that will one day hang in her future nursery.

Topped with florals and fruit, there were a variety of cakes, like my grandmother's coconut cake, which was a special request since it's just out of this world delicious.

(That's a coconut cake happy face.)

It was great to catch up with loved we hadn't seen in ages...

...like this gal that I've been friends with since 9th grade. (Aren't her twins adorable?)

Everyone wrote advice for us, including my five year old niece....

...and guessed the circumference of my bump. How awesome that my brother was the winner - he was spot on!!

The men were asked to complete every day tasks, like tying their shoes, with a balloon belly. 

It was pretty flippin' hilarious. 

And oh my goodness, the gifts galore! 

My cousin put together this baby basket filled with outfits and corresponding memories...

Like one in honor of our St. Patty's together and another for our last Halloween.

And my grandmother made a pillow case embroidered with, "Nobody puts this baby in the corner."             

Because you know how perfect that is!

It was an amazing day in a beautiful setting with some of my favorite company, soaking up love and excitement.

Of course the afternoon flew by in the blink of an eye, but we'll cherish the memories for always! 

Week 29 Recap: Showered with Love

29 weeks

Over the weekend we celebrated baby girl in Tennessee with family and friends. (More pics coming soon!) It was incredible to be home, surrounded by sweetness and laughter. Quality time with loved ones ranks at the top of my most favorite activities and it meant so much to be showered with such love and excitement. The hugs, the stories shared, the tiny baby clothes! It makes my heart swell to know that our girl is cared for so much already. Of course the time flew by and aside from being homesick as ever and overwhelmed with wonderful emotion here are a few more happenings in pregnant town this week:

• I've said it before, but I'm obsessed with baby movement. People probably get tired of seeing me hold or rub my belly all the time but feeling her squirm is just the most amazing thing. (I don't want to miss a one!) Sometimes before bed we just lay and watch her wiggle. Alex says it's like looking for falling stars because you may have to stare for a few minutes before seeing anything worth noting. He also says I've started to gently hold his belly in during the night. I guess in my sleep one belly is the same as the next...

• Speaking of kicks, she beat me from the inside all the way from Chicago to East Tennessee. All 12 hours in the car. (Thanks, baby. Not!)  At times I honestly thought she was trying to punch her way out. And maybe it was from all the sitting, but every symptom I've had so far decided to come back at the same time during the trip down. From my back hurting and many bathroom breaks, to feet swelling and a little nausea, I have never been so excited to exit a car once we arrived. 

• She reeeeally likes Cracker Barrel (like her mama). Biscuits and apple butter equal kick, kick, kick! 

• We are loving our birth classes. I've always been interested in the science/miracle of pregnancy and we're learning so much. If you're in the market I highly recommend our teacher! 

• Hello Braxton Hicks. Nice to meet you. 

Hope your week was happy! 

Feeling like Fall

The warm days are dwindling here in Chicago. This weekend was unseasonably chilly, (quite the contrast from seven days ago...bye bye bikini!) and with a packed schedule ahead we decided to spend a day driving around Southwest Michigan for a toned down version of our annual winery tour. 

I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, but it was nice to break away from the city, check out a few new places, and revisit some old favorites while trying to mentally gear up for autumn. We were surprised by how much the area and market has grown since we first started these trips years ago. Breweries and wineries were packed with people, which is wonderful for business, but we did miss a little of the hidden gem charm. That said, we love this tradition and are lucky to have great escapes in close proximity for those times when you need a change of scenery and a little fresh air. Welcome sweaters and pumpkins and hot apple cider!

Week 26 Recap: Growth Spurt!

Theme-ing it up at 26 weeks

Another growth spurt this week! After a few days in a row of stretching, tight skin and an overall uncomfortable feeling, I wasn't a bit surprised when the scale said I'd gained 3 pounds in one week. It's amazing what packing on a few lbs in a short period of time can do to your movement and stamina.  In what felt like overnight bending down became difficult, climbing stairs a little slower, and rolling out of bed needed a tad more effort. (Thank goodness for hubby's strong arms to help pull me up off the couch!) The belly button is more flat, a smattering of acid reflux has started during the night, and my feet are the tiniest bit swollen. All new symptoms that I'm taking as my welcome into the final stretch. Three more months until we meet our little lady!

Amidst my final week of the "golden trimester", we celebrated Labor Day/Alex's birthday weekend with a 90's video vixen theme party and a little end of summer camping. Getting in and out of a tent at seven months pregnant is "fun", shall we say? ;) Actually, it was a wonderful trip. Aside from dark, middle of the night treks to the ladies room, it was great to breathe some fresh air and spend time with friends away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The weather and scenery were lovely, we ate like kings, and a short work week helped us ease back into reality.

Alex's "practice baby" birthday gift from friends.