BABY SHOWER

For a hot second I thought I might not want a baby shower but I’m so glad I changed my mind. I think the idea of a shower seemed awkward because it's basically a party that exists so that you can get presents. Strangely, I don’t apply this logic to when I go to other people’s showers and I love giving gifts, but for some reason I couldn’t visualize being in the middle of a baby shower. Thankfully, my dear friend Saena insisted on throwing me a shower and pulled it all off beautifully. It was particularly impressive because she had to fly down here from NYC the night before and put it all together in a speedy amount of time.

I am so grateful for everyone who came and showered me and baby with well-wishes, and all the gifts definitely made me feel more prepared for the baby. If you think about it, the concept of a baby shower is awesome because it’s a party for someone who doesn’t exist yet, but who is really loved anyways! (Baby, you are loved by so many people already!) I too felt very loved and encouraged; thanks everyone!

And here are just a few photos from the day:

33 WEEKS

This week I’m under the impression that the baby is squished in there. It feels like her movements are those of someone trying to get comfortable and this means my belly takes on werid shapes as she shifts her entire body around. I’m feeling less and less like this belly is my own, because of how big it’s getting and how it seems to take on a life of its own. It’s still hard to believe that it’s my body that she is in, and as K. said last night, that I’m a plural. The bigger she gets the greater the reality…

Baby, are you squished? 7 more weeks of growing to do!

 

PRETTY THINGS

The Boyscouts

Soft Chevron iPhone case

Ink & Spindle dress

Penguin postcards

Cuisine Couture Apron

BELLY FULL OF LOVE

What a weekend! My baby shower happened which was lovely (thank you Saena!) and I shall post more about that later. We also got to see the inside of our nearly finished house and since my sister was with us she snapped these photos for us. 

And here she is! So glad that she could make it back from her trip to be here this weekend.

A SLOW ROAM

This past weekend, Grace, who I've known forever but hadn't seen in a while came through RVA with her husband for a visit and we did a quick hop, skip and roam through Carytown. It was good to catch up with an old friend and it was good to have an excuse to check out pretty odds, ends, and trinkets on a hot weekend day.

GETTING OLDER A'INT FOR SISSIES

A fun article by a tried and true stylin' lady (she's 90 now!) who keeps it together and dishes out some good advice.

32 WEEKS

I feel large. Sometimes I feel like a graceful large lady, other times I feel like an uncomfortable and sweaty large lady.

There’s no more guessing or mystery anymore, strangers straight up ask me, “When are you due?” This means that there is absolutely no question in their minds that I am a pregnant lady.

I get easily excited about little girl/baby outfits.
I also get easily excited about home décor. Thank you, Pinterest and HGTV.

Strangely, or maybe not so strangely, one of the things I’m really looking forward to about not being pregnant is being able to sleep on my back.

I’m starting to get really specific in my prayers about what the labor is going to be like. First order of importance is that the baby gets in a position optimal for birth. C’mon baby, you can do it.

- At 8 months - 

Pros: We are that much closer to her arrival

Cons: Back aches, leg aches

Currently craving: Watermelon

Outlook on the coming of baby: I hope you are healthy!

Feelings about husband: This time of preparing/nesting/waiting together is sweet and precious. It will never be like this again and I must remember to savor these last few weeks. 

MEXICAN CORN AT THE CONTINENTAL

Watermelon is my summer staple food. Corn is a close second, especially when it is grilled. We can’t use our grill right now, but thankfully The Continental has this amazing Mexican corn on the cob on their menu to address my hankerings. It’s fresh corn on the cob with lime butter, cumin, and cheese, and it is delicious. I will probably be going back for the main purpose of ordering some more of that corn, and to maybe also try their lobster roll.

It was as if the weather knew that it was a long weekend and the sun decided to shine on in all its glory. It was hot and humid and I liked it. I also liked all the things we got to do this weekend (even though we never got around to strawberry picking, no matter how many times we tried.) It was a great weekend, but do we all agree we could use another couple of days off?

HAPPY FRIDAY

Happy long-weekend Friday! You made it! Let's celebrate with some quick pictures and links from around the web that I've been looking at this past week: 

If you don't live by the sea and can't take morning dips before work in order to get fabulous sea salty hair, try this! 

I LOVE this pillow from lemlem. It's a tad out of my price range, but I'm daydreaming about having a couple of these on the sofa in our new place.

How awesome is this dresser transformation? More here. 

a lovely long crinkle skirt for the summer!

perfect for the memorial day weekend. 

FAREWELL BUT NOT FOR SO LONG

It really stinks when friends have to move away. It’s not as stinky when you remember that they are moving for a great reason and that moving on and up is always a good thing, but still the tendency is to want to be a little bit selfish and hoard the good quality people all to yourself. I’ve been having this feeling repeatedly the past few months as I’ve heard news of friends moving away and will have to insist that no more friends move away please. Well this past weekend, there was a ‘FINE-Memphis-you-can-have-them-but-not-forever’ party for Jon and Amanda, and all sorts of people showed up to share in this sentiment and we hope they felt the love. Onward and upwards, Tobins!