Maternity staples

Last pregnancy my maternity staples were a little different as I worked through most of it, and it was a different season.  This time around, there are definitely way more casual outfits and while I do miss wearing dresses and nicer accessories, I'm probably much more comfortable this time around.  I bought quite a few maternity items last pregnancy, and this time around way less.  Partially because I didn't need much, but a lot because I wanted to buy things I could wear again, not pregnant. Here are a few of my maternity staples this time:

Sweaters/Cardigans.  I've gotten a handful of sweaters and cardigans this season and wear them all the time, especially the farther my pregnancy gets, as they all still fit.  Super comfortable and nice because I'll be able to wear just about all of them after the baby too, as they are all non maternity.  

Tunics/dresses.  I may be borderline inappropriate as I do support not wearing leggings as pants, but I feel like you get a little extra grace when you're pregnant.  I usually wear a longer tank top under my tops, although those are starting to get a little too short too!  

Long tees.  I found this white v-neck maternity on clearance at Target for $7 and love it! It's long enough for leggings, and super comfortable.  I just bought another one in grey for $10 and now wear them both often. 

Scarves.  Scarves are about the only accessory I wear these days.  I don't have any coats that fit me, so it's nice when it's cold out, plus makes me feel a little more put together.  Thankfully I have way more scarves than I need, so lots to choose from!

Vests.  Especially since I don't have a maternity coat, and it has not been nearly as cold as it normally is by this point, vests are good option.  Plus non are maternity, so it's nice you can wear them all again.  This time around I definitely bought less actual maternity clothes and more things that I will be able to wear next Winter when I do not have a pregnant belly!
Leggings.  I mean that's a given.  I'm pretty sure just about every picture minus a few are with leggings.  I bought one pair of maternity leggings from the Gap that go under my belly and I wear them a lot.  The other two I wear often are from Old Navy and are non maternity.  I'll probably have to get new ones after the baby as the waist is of course super stretched out, but I'm pretty sure they were $5 so no big deal!
I'm sure some day I'll look back at these pictures and miss having a pregnant belly!  Right??

Maternity Staples

Looking through my maternity outfits this was probably my favorite.  I got this dress from Old Navy for $5 and felt comfortable and pretty in this dress. 

I thought I'd share some of my favorite and most worn maternity items.  I've mentioned before that I bought way more maternity clothes then I needed, as I bought some before I was even pregnant and then a good amount at the beginning before I knew what I would really need.  I was just too excited to be able to buy maternity clothes and found some for really good deals.  

Black skinny jeans. I bought a pair of black skinny maternity jeans from H&M and really liked them.  The only thing I didn't like about them is that they were really thick and made me really hot so once the weather got warmer I couldn't wear them.  

Jeggings. I think the best thing I bought for maternity wear was these mint jeggings from Walmart.  I had a black pair as well and wore them all the time.  They weren't maternity so I just bought a bigger size and they were only $10.

Skinny jeans.  I looked for awhile for a pair of denim skinny jeans(with the full belly panel) and ended up finding these at Ross for $11.  I wore these a lot!  I had found a few pairs of maternity jeans from Target that I bought before I was pregnant but wore these every time instead. 

Old Navy v-neck tees.  I bought a handful of v neck tees from Old Navy in a size bigger for about $5 each and wore them all the time.  Most of the ones I have are the vintage kind and are so comfy and stretchy.  It surprised me that I wore these non maternity shirts over the maternity ones I had but loved these much more. 

Maxi dresses.  Once the weather got warmer I started wearing maxi dresses all the time.  Most of the ones I wore were non maternity, which worked until the very end when I was really pregnant.  I already had a few maxi dresses and bought a few more and am happy that I can wear them all post pregnancy. 

Maxi skirts. And I know you are well aware that I wore a lot of maxi skirts, especially at the end.  That grey maxi skirt (from tjmaxx a few years ago) was an at least twice maybe three times a week outfit the last few weeks of pregnancy.  And again I love that I can wear these after as they aren't maternity.  

I think the biggest thing is that you have to find what is comfortable and works for you.  And what works for one pregnant lady isn't going to work for another!  But I hope this could be helpful if you're looking for some maternity items that you'll be able to get a lot of wear out of. 

Purple Poop

I wrote this post weeks ago and forgot about it.  Thankfully while I do still have moments of feeling unprepared, I am not quite in this panic mood.  I think that must be one reason you are pregnant for 40 weeks.  Because you get to a point where you are so ready for this baby that it outweighs some of your more irrational fears. 

I remember one of the first times I flew by myself and I was really nervous.  I hate flying, hate crowds of people and hate doing things I haven't done before.  I should be embarrassed to add that I was 20 when this happened.  And married.  I missed my flight and had a bad experience with an airport employee who was not helping me.  I called my mom in tears.  I remember thinking "I am old enough to be married, but am I not old enough to travel alone and handle this?" 
Well I had a similar experience a week or so ago.  I had gone shopping with my sister at Target earlier in the day.  Realizing shopping at 8 months pregnant - not quite as enjoyable.  (Thankfully being with my sister far makes up for it).  That morning I was trying to find a pediatrician and figure out insurance stuff that was not working in my favor.   I was headed to a doctor's appointment by myself because Chris was out of town.  I have been extremely blessed to have Chris go with me to almost all of my appointments so far.  Tears started as I began crying because (on a more selfish level) I felt fat and worried that I'd never enjoy shopping and wearing clothes again, that I wouldn't find the right doctor for my baby, insurance would be too expensive and I didn't want to go to the doctor without Chris.  

Then more tears as I thought, "If I can't handle these little things, how in the world am I going to be responsible for this baby?"

To add to it my doctor was talking to me about our pediatrician visits after the baby and said something about going after four days of being home, unless we have an urgent reason to visit like our baby's poop is purple. 
Um, purple poop? What? I was too afraid to even ask if that was a real thing.  
But now that I am 39 weeks I say bring it on, even if it involves purple poop - I am ready! 

You should know

tank top: target   pants: walmart   wedges: old navy

that this outfit picture is from two weeks ago, so if you think my belly is shrinking it most definitely is not.  But I am not about to let an outfit picture go to waste these days. 

that you should not tell me that I look like a pumpkin in this picture.  Already noted. 

that I don't always wash my fruit before I eat it.   that I would happily eat breakfast foods for every meal.  Especially yogurt, fruit and granola. 
that I spell the words physical and supposed wrong the first time about 99% of the time.  Thank goodness for spell check. 
that I use Ponds moisturizing lotion for my face every night and my sister makes fun of me and calls me a grandma.  My mom and grandma both do use it so I guess she is kind of right. 
that my thumbs must be too fat because whenever I leave comments on instagram or text and mean to put multiple exclamation points it comes out like this !***

that I sat outside one day last week while my niece and nephew played in their little pool and burnt my stomach in a real attractive circle just on the top of my belly.  
Lucky for you I didn't take a picture of it.  

that I still kind of fear that my baby will come out and be a boy, which would definitely be a problem since I'd have to dress him in all these girl clothes. 

Dressing my pregnant self

dress: Monica's Closet Essentials

This dress may be my favorite maxi dress I own.  I won a credit to this store and am SO happy with my choice. I know I will get lots of wear out of it! 

After this last pregnancy recap, I intended to do another at 30 weeks but here I am four weeks late. Oops! 

While one of the biggest lessons I have learned is that every pregnant woman is so different, and you can only take so much advice from someone as I think you have to live it yourself, I thought maybe it'd be helpful to share a few things I've learned about dressing my pregnant self: 

1. I'd have to say that weeks 27 to 33 were probably my favorite weeks in terms of how I looked pregnant.  I was passed the stage of just feeling like I gained a lot of weight and finally had a hard, pregnant looking belly.  

2. I probably bought way more maternity clothes than I really needed, but I'm okay with that as I was SO excited to finally be pregnant and still did not spend much money as most were pretty cheap!  I bought a handful of things well before getting pregnant when I saw them on sale and then most of the rest near the beginning.  If I would've held off a little longer I would have realized that I there were some items that I didn't end up liking or really needing.  

3. I wore more maternity clothes the first trimester and first half of the second trimester, which seems backwards to me.  But once I had a real "bump" I felt much more comfortable wearing some of my non-maternity dresses and tops, where at the beginning I loved the looser fitting, maternity clothes.  

4. I bought a few of the maternity jeans with the under the belly panel thinking that would be more comfortable.  I was WAY wrong and can't imagine choosing those over the full panel jeans.  The idea of wearing pants with a button ever again sounds foreign.  (which makes me nervous). 

5.  A lot of clothes I thought I could wear when I was pregnant aren't even close to possibilities.  There have been so many times I thought of a dress or a top that I thought would be so cute, only to put it on and have nothing to do but laugh at myself.  (Okay I wish I could say I laughed every time, but there definitely were times of crying getting dressed).  Not only has my belly drastically grown, but my growing chest has made many clothes far from an option! 

6.  There have been many days or even a week at a time that I've been happy with and loved my pregnant belly and then days or a week that I feel the exact opposite.  But this happens not pregnant so I shouldn't be surprised!

7.  My most successful places to find cheap, comfortable, and cute maternity clothing has been old navy and shade maternity.  I've found many tops and dresses for under $5 online at both places. 

8.  I keep reminding myself that I am only pregnant for a short time and should do my best to enjoy all these changes as it will be over soon! 

The greatest blessing

 

skirt: target     cardigan: loft    necklace: groopdealz 

There are so many things I am thankful for.  My husband, my family, our house, my job, this precious baby girl that I will get to met in July. 
These things are amazing blessings that God has given me.  But without a doubt the thing that I am most thankful for, and often take for granted, is that God sent His perfect Son to pay the price for my sins so that I could spend eternity with Him.  
Reminded on this day of the price He paid for my sins and praising God for the greatest gift I could be given.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (2 Colossians 2:13-14)
Happy Easter!
He is Risen.  He is Risen indeed.