The Belly is Back

Nothing like writing a really depressing post, then disappearing for a week, huh? I do want to thank you for the sweet comments and emails after my little 'Brigid doesn't like me' meltdown. I know I'm being just a bit ridiculous and over-reactive to the situation, but this parenting thing, man...it's tough. Kids get pretty good at tearing your heart out when you least expect it at a very, VERY young age, apparently.

COMPLETELY related, I feel like I need to go back and apologize to my parents for everything I ever did when I was growing up that may have hurt their feelings, because goodness knows they deserve something from me, now that I know how hard this whole thing is.

Also completely related, maybe you could send some sunshine and rainbow thoughts my way starting tomorrow, when Steve leaves us for a four night trip to Denver, if you have any to spare? I don't want to get beaten by a three-year old again, if I can help it.

On a more positive note, a lady at the gas station told me I looked cute today. So I've got that going for me, which is nice...

T-shirt: Target

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Exponential Growth

Do you see that belly, right there? That is a 34 week pregnant belly in size, at only 30 weeks of pregnancy. I weigh less than I weighed with Brigid, and yet...34 week belly. This is impressive, no?

And did I mention the part where I am going to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of my lovely former roommates from college on November 3rd? I'm going to see her this weekend for her bridal shower, and I am FULLY expecting her to take one look at me and say, 'Nope. I take it back. You're out.' Not that she would, or anything, but...holy aesthetic destroyer, batman. I am going to request that I stand behind EVERYONE during that photo session...
 

T-Shirt: Target

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Belt: Land's End Canvas

Bracelet: the beach

Shoes: Nine West

Another Week

Last week was a week, and I didn't get around to posting anything at all because I was too busy dealing with doctors and croup and 'roid rage in a two-year old, but I'm determined to make up for it this week.

THIS WILL BE A GOOD WEEK!!!!

And just to start things off right today, I went into Hobby Lobby with a list of two things that I needed, and left $70 lighter. Today? I'm counting that as a win.

Happy Monday!

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Boots: DSW

That's better...

Today, my friendly 'your hips are getting bigger' co-worker told me she liked my style.

She also told me she doesn't remember me getting this big, this fast with Brigid, but I'll take what I can get.

(And honestly, in her defense? I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING THIS BIG THIS FAST WITH BRIGID, EITHER!!! I DEMAND A RECOUNT.)
Sweater: Motherhood Maternity Jeans: Motherhood Maternity Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet) Necklace: ebay

Still Trying

It is so very much easier to dress a pregnancy in the early stages than it is once you start measuring four weeks ahead of schedule, but unfortunately, sweatpants are STILL not considered office appropriate attire, despite my best lobbying attempts. So, dress I do. I usually try to add a scarf or a belt to liven things up a bit, but after being up all night with indigestion last night, I just didn't have it in me.

I just hope the bright colors distract people from the size of what's under those colors...

(Side note: Those of you willing to come help me out if I paid in tacos and taffy? You are sooooooo my kind of people!)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

T-Shirt: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Target

The Yellow One

I knew I'd worn a version of this necklace once before, but I couldn't remember which one it had been when I was getting dressed this morning. Luckily, my almost-three-year-old has a much better memory than I do, as she informed me this morning that I was wearing a pretty yellow necklace, but she liked the pink one I'd worn last week much more.

She's good to have around, that kid.

(Also, when I wore the pink one last week, I wore it with this exact same dress. The necklace really only works on me when I wear it with a higher neckline, and for some reason, this is the only maternity item I own, dress or t-shirt or blouse, that doesn't have a v-neck. I'd think that I should maybe rectify that, but I only have about three more months left, and I just don't want to. I just want the rest of my wardrobe back!)
Dress: Motherhood Maternity Sweater: Gap (outlet) Necklace: ebay

Giving In

Yes. That's right. I did it.

I jumped on the bubble necklace bandwagon. *sigh*

And yes, I'd be so super ashamed of myself for giving in to peer pressure, too, except that I kind of (absolutely, 100%, completely, totally, etc) adore this necklace.

I picked up one in pink and one in yellow, and it's taking every ounce of self-restraint left in my body to keep myself from going back and buy it in red and green and blue and turquoise and EVERY SINGLE OTHER COLOR THEY MAKE THIS NECKLACE IN because, yeah...
It's kind of pretty, you know?

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Loft (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: ebay

Getting By

Oh, you guys. Today...

Today has been a day.

All I can say is that it's a good thing it's Friday.

(Oh, and entirely unrelated to my day and a half that I'm having, could you all do a NO RAIN dance for me for this weekend? I'm going to see Jason Mraz tomorrow night, and you should know that if I'm willing to brave an outdoor concert in the middle of August, at 5+ months pregnant, then that concert is kind of a big deal to me. If it rains, I might cry. And you don't want that on your hands, now do you?)

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

Belt: Express

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

For Every Season...

The last few days, it's been in the 70's when I've left for work. And even though it has been closing in on 90 everyday when I head home, those sliiiiiightly cooler mornings have me thinking fall.
And nothing screams FALL!!!!!!! like sweaters and tweed, right?

Sweater: Motherhood Maternity

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: I wore these yesterday and totally forgot to check...

Camouflage

If you need me, I'll just be over here, pretending you can't see my baby belly behind my extra large scarf.

It just felt like a good day to hide, I guess...

Dress; Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

Scarf: Cost Plus World Market (from Jess in her last scarf swap)

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Land's End

No Filter

Yesterday, an assistant on my team who was out of the office last week took one look at my stomach and said, 'Damn, girl. I wasn't gone THAT long!'

(YES. THAT IS A DIRECT QUOTE. I SWEAR!)

This is the same lady who told me that she knew I was pregnant before I told her that I was because she could see that my hips were getting bigger.

Seriously.

I know she means well, but come ON!

My beach ball baby and I are just going to start working from home for the next few months, I think...

T-shirt/Tank: Target

Cardigan: Loft (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Target

Optimism Is a Good Thing

Unfortunately, the purple top on this dress just does not photograph well, at all. And that's too bad because honestly? That pretty purple top is the only reason I bought this dress in the first place. But you know what IS nice about this picture?
A black skirt, a blurry iPhone camera, and a slimming mirror.

If you need me, I'll be over here ignoring EVERY OTHER MIRROR in my life that is trying to tell me that I look much, much bigger than this. Welcome to my happy place, friends :)

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Belt: Land's End

Shoes: Target

Countdown

It's August, y'all. Seriously.

 

August.

 

This means three weeks until my final Gulf Coast vacation of the year (and maybe next year, too, because who wants to drag an itty-bitty baby to the beach?). Four weeks until I can justify getting my Halloween decorations out (Yes, I decorate in September. No, I am not ashamed of it). Ten weeks until Brigid's birthday. Eleven weeks until my anniversary. Thirteen weeks until Halloween. Thirteen weeks and one day until I can listen to Christmas music. Sixteen weeks until Thanksgiving. Eighteen weeks until my due date. Twenty-one weeks until Christmas, itself.

 

And now, I've exhausted myself just thinking about it.

 

It's a good thing I love this stretch of the year!

Dress: Target ($8 on clearance. My favorite kind of purchase...)

Cardigan: Target

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: J Crew

Wishful Thinking

I have reached the point in this pregnancy where I don't mind looking at myself from the front, but I have looooong since given up on trying to make myself look ok from the side. Especially when wearing a dress, my butt and my stomach kind of combine into one, large, round mass that more or less makes me look like I should be giving birth tomorrow instead of 4-ish months from now.

You know how there are some people who do the cute, belly-only pregnancy?

(Like the very, very skinny pregnant girl I was with in the elevator yesterday? The one who looked like I could eat her in one sitting?)

Yeah, I am not one of those people.

But the end result is worth it, so it is what it is. And in the meantime, I will make myself content with pinning adorable fall outfits on Pinterest that I won't be able to wear until next fall, since I won't be fitting into any of my cute sweaters this year.

It's a good thing I'm resourceful, y'all.

 

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Tank (which is actually mustard yellow, but looks nothing like that in my lovely iPhone pictures): Target

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Bracelet: Target

Necklace: Old Navy

He's just lucky I love him...

My husband's comment when he saw me getting dressed this morning?

You look like the 1980s. Or maybe early 90s. I swear, I had a windsuit with those colors in it. But I mean that in a good way!

And this is why my husband should stick to 'you look nice' in the mornings, and leave it at that.

 

Blouse: Motherhood Maternity (outlet)

Sweater: Express

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Came off of a different maternity dress

Did you hear?

I announced it on my family blog and on Twitter yesterday, but if you aren't following either of those, then you might not have heard that we found out baby number two is, in fact...


A GIRL!!!

My husband is in for such a world of trouble around here, isn't he?

Dress/Belt: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelets: Mango Tree

On my mind...

Tomorrow, I go in for my second ultrasound, and if all goes according to plan, I should know if baby number two is going to be a boy or a girl. And it is LITERALLY ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT TODAY.

I should just go home and go to bed until my appointment tomorrow, right?

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: Kate Spade, Gorjana, Charlotte Russe

It's the little things...

Last night, the power went out in our neighborhood for about five hours. Considering what people in DC and the surrounding areas have been facing these last few days, I realize that I am incredibly lucky it was only out for five hours, because things could always be much, much, MUCH worse.

Perspective. I have it.

However, no amount of understanding could prevent me from swearing loudly at the tree that fell on our lines at 6:30PM or at Georgia Power for not having our power back up and running in an hour and a half, because do you know what happened to me last night?

I MISSED THE BACHELORETTE HOMETOWN DATES!!!

Perspective. It's hit or miss with me, really.

T-shirt: Target

Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: J Crew

Bracelet: Macy's

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Overactive Imagination

I thought I was dying of some crazy, stomach-on-fire disease this weekend, but it seems as though I just have indigestion.
So...I've got that going for me.

How was your weekend?

(And, uh, week, too, I guess, since it's Wednesday now. Seriously, how is it Wednesday already?!?!)

Dress: Motherhood Maternity (from Brigid's time)

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelets: Mango Tree

Baby Bump: Milk Duds and Pizza

Summer!

GUYS!! IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!!!! WOO!!!!

Well.

That didn't work at all.

I'm trying to get myself really excited about this season, because really, I LOVE the summertime. But I mostly love the summer because it means outdoor beer festivals and jet skiing on the lake and not changing out of my bathing suit for days at a time.

But this year, there is no beer. And there is no jet skiing. And as I have yet to find a maternity bathing suit that I actually like, well...there's not much of that, either. At least, there won't be once the ruching gives out on my Land's End non-maternity swimsuit, anyway.

(Please join me in a silent prayer to the powers that be at Land's End: For the good of my sanity, just let that suit last me until my vacation is over in September. That's all I need. Please. Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.)

And, you know, winter will be bringing a baby with it this year, so I'm kind of in a hurry to get to that part of things, too.

Only six more months to go!

(Haaaaa. ONLY six months. That's, like, forever in baby-waiting years...)

Dress: Motherhood Maternity (also a Brigid-era purchase)

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Target