A Lifestyle Blog about Marriage, Parenting, Fashion and Fitness
I am 26 weeks pregnant now, but I feel like I’m 32. Seriously. This baby feels a lot bigger than he actually is. Maybe it’s having my pregnancies so close together? I’m not sure, but this one has definitely been my toughest. I’ve been really sick again this week. I’m not sure if it is all the anxiety I’ve had lately or just the pregnancy making me so nauseous, but I’m hoping it passes very quickly.
During my pregnancy with Hampton, I bought a few things I wish I hadn’t wasted money on. Although during your pregnancy, time seems to stand still and you feel like you’re pregnant forever, you are really only pregnant for 9 (or 10?) months. Only about 6 of those months will you actually need maternity clothes. Here is a list of maternity items that are a must have in my book and a few that were a waste of money:
What to splurge on:
Maternity jeans from The Loft. They have an amazing fit and I wore them throughout my entire pregnancy. They are really great quality and I even scored mine while they were on sale! Definitely watch for those sales. Jeans are a staple piece in my wardrobe. I wear them all the time, so I could not due without them.
Maternity leggings. I bought mine at Motherhood and love them! You can get away with wearing your regular leggings for most of your pregnancy, but I loved having the tummy panel in the maternity leggings so that they didn’t leave that awkward ripple across your stomach. Leggings are a pregnant woman’s BFF. Trust me.
GapFit Maternity capris were my go-to for workouts. Again, I could wear my normal workout clothes for most of the pregnancy, but towards the end, it was nice to have a pair that had a tummy panel. They were so much more supportive and comfortable.
Pink Blush Maternity: pretty much everything on this site. Their clothes are great because you can wear most of them even post-pregnancy, and I have been very thankful for that. They are also my go-to for special occasion pieces because they are so affordable compared to other maternity stores. My Easter dress was from there along with this tunic I wore on Valentine’s day.
What to save your money on:
Old Navy, while I absolutely love them for my non-pregnant body and for my kids, their maternity clothes never seemed to fit me right. I was pretty disappointed in their pants, especially. Maybe they fit other body types, but definitely did not work for me at all.
Maternity shirts. Save your money on these. I bought one when I was pregnant with Hampton and I do still wear it occasionally, but it is ribbed on the sides and therefore I will not be able to wear it post-pregnancy. I learned that the best way to save money is to buy a size up or wear tunic style tops. These are loose and flowy so they are perfect throughout your pregnancy as well as postpartum. This way, you don’t waste money on ribbed tops AND postpartum shirts.
My favorite postpartum piece so far:
My Jessica Simpson compression tank (similar here). It is breast-feeding friendly and holds your stomach in which is so nice right after baby. I wish I had bought another one. It is so comfortable and I have absolutely loved wearing it postpartum.
Check out my post on How To Have a Stylish Pregnancy!
One thing I didn’t do a great job of that I wish I would’ve done during my first pregnancy was show off my bump. I was constantly trying to hide it because I was very self conscious of the weight I was gaining. This time around, I was determined to show off my baby bump no matter how big I got. I am growing a baby. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and every reason in the world to feel proud and show it off. So, that’s my first bit of advice. Don’t be afraid to show off that growing baby and belly! You are growing a human and that is pretty amazing!
Here are some tips for having a stylish pregnancy:
-Size Up. You’d be surprised with how much you can wear throughout your pregnancy by buying one size larger. You will also be thankful for these pieces after you have your baby.
-Leggings are a must have for pregnant women. They are stretchy, comfortable, stylish and pretty much perfect. You will be able to wear yours for a while, but you might want to purchase a pair of maternity leggings during your last trimester. They are just so comfortable and fit so much better. They also have a tummy panel so you aren’t dealing with an extremely noticeable band across your stomach.
-Tunics Are Your Friend. You won’t even have to size up for these. I loved wearing tunics during both of my pregnancies. You can wear them with your leggings or jeans and they are so flowy that you can get away with wearing them throughout your entire pregnancy. Not only that, You will wear them after your pregnancy as well. They are in style and aren’t going away any time soon.
-Belt It. Do you have a super flowy dress that makes you feel like you’re wearing a tent? Throw a belt on and Wa La! You’re showing off that adorable baby bump!
-Maxi Dresses are your best friend. No matter the season, they are always in style. I received this one from Pink Blush Maternity and wore it all the time during the winter months. They are so comfortable and stylish. The perfect combination for a pregnant woman.
-Splurge On Maternity Jeans. I don’t know what I would’ve done without jeans this winter/spring. I have worn them to death. They were definitely worth the $40 I spent on them. I know you don’t want to spend a lot of pieces you will only wear for a few months, but the chances are, you will wear them again if you want multiple children. Jeans are a huge staple in my wardrobe. I couldn’t do without them.
How did you style your bump? Do you have any other tips?
I am officially 30 weeks pregnant (and 4 days). I’ll be honest, most days, I just want to stay in sweat pants all day, and working from home makes it very easy to do that, but I always feel a million times better if I make myself get dressed for the day. There is just something about getting dressed that is an instant mood booster. I feel more confident and ready to tackle the day ahead. This top is perfect because it is cute and acceptable to wear while running errands but also extremely comfortable. I love the color block look, but the colors are what really caught my attention. I love that it is still neutral but has a little added pink. It’s simple and feminine.
I am totally obsessed with these earrings from Laguna Pearl. They can be easily dressed up or down. The dark color was the perfect contrast with this outfit. I am not a huge fan of flashy jewelry. I love simple and elegant pieces. I love these studs because they are a funky twist on an old classic that will never go out of style.
I am definitely feeling a lot more pregnant this week. My energy hasn’t been quite what it has been and my workouts have been really tough. I’m starting to have a harder time fitting in my pre-pregnancy tops, so I am very thankful for the few maternity items I have acquired. I’ve also been feeling a lot of pressure and I’m pretty sure baby #2 has started moving down a bit. I’m going to the doctor this morning, so I am really excited to check up on baby girl!
What is your go-to clothing item that is stylish but comfortable? Do you wear flashy or simple jewelry?
This Saturday will be Ryan and my 8th Valentine’s day together! It is so incredibly hard to believe. Most days, I feel like it was yesterday that we met in Gatlinburg and fell for each other almost immediately. A little over 8 years, a marriage, baby and another baby on the way later, here we are! We are still not 100% sure how we are celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, but it may include a little nugget named Hampton, so this mama wants to look good for her boys!
You may remember me talking about my latest pregnancy craving, well it’s still going strong. I am obsessing over Pink Blush’s spring line. Don’t worry, you will be seeing more of their styles on my blog very soon! I thought this dress was appropriate for Valentine’s day. It is feminine, flirty and makes a pregnant woman still feel like she’s got it. You know what I mean? Not to mention, it’s pink. One of my very favorite colors. I have been loving the color pink lately as we are preparing for our baby girl’s arrival. I recently bought her a few pink bows/outfits that are so adorable, I just can’t even wait to match her and wear our pink every Wednesday. It will happen.
I love this fun dress because I will definitely be able to wear it even after my pregnancy this summer which is awesome with a capital A.
What are your plans this Valentine’s Day? Do you know what you’re wearing?
This pregnancy I have been determined not to buy maternity clothes. I have actually bought a couple pairs of pants for work/church, but for the most part, I have done really well just working with what I’ve got. Thank goodness leggings and tunics are in style. They have really been my go-to.
I found this open cardigan at The Loft, a.k.a. my obsession over the holidays and bought it with some of my Christmas money. I have worn it every other day since. Not kidding. It feels like a sweatshirt and is so comfortable. It’s also long enough to wear with leggings and actually cover my badonk! Win/win.
So, Hampton has his 8th tooth (and maybe more?) coming in right now. For the last week he has not been himself at all. He has had a fever off and on, runny nose, not sleeping etc. but he has also started pitching fits. I know it’s because he is in pain, but wow, I wasn’t expecting that for a few more months. He will literally throw himself in the floor and start screaming and hitting at me. It has been so tough and very tiring. I have given him Tylenol as he needs it, but that seems to make him even more grumpy. Teething has definitely gotten worse as he has gotten older.
Have any of you experienced this with your young toddlers? Do you have any advice on how to manage his pain and tantrums?
P.S. Don’t forget to vote on our baby girl’s name on my sidebar!
Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite fashion trends for this winter! First off, I love that lipstick is so in. I love the added color to a woman’s face and the way it makes those pretty lips pop. It makes every woman look so glamorous. I also love that it keeps me from looking like a pale white snowman during the winter months by adding color to my face. 🙂
I’m also love love loving plaid. This is definitely not a new thing for me. I’ve been dressing in plaid since…well, birth. Maybe it’s a southern thing? I don’t know, but I do know that I love how popular it has become and that it is so easy to find. I’ve never owned a plaid jacket but was determined to find one this season. I finally found the perfect one! It is partially fleece lined and partially quilted inside. Best of all, it is very pregnancy friendly! I am 20 weeks along and still have some room to grow! This is a jacket I will have for years. I’m kind of obsessed!
What is your favorite trend this winter season?