The Maternity Dilemma

I've been struggling with maternity clothes. Most of my regular bottoms no longer fit me, although I just purchased a bella band, so we'll see if I can eek out a couple more wears in my bigger sized pants. I'm still ok with most of my tops, especially since my sister thought ahead and bought me several empire waist tops for Christmas. I've got a few dresses and skirts that will still work, once the weather warms up (looks like 70's this week, so we should be good). The issue is deciding how much to purchase. Like most women, I want to look stylish and cute while I'm pregnant. I do not want to wear the same few outfits over and over again. Yet, I also do not want to spend, nor do I have the funds to spend a ton of money on maternity clothes.

So far I have purchased from Old Navy and Gap: denim trouser pants that I love and a pair of denim leggings that are still a bit big and really look more black than denim, but they work. I have 2 spring/summer dresses (still too big), denim capris, a couple t-shirts and long tanks that are a must. I sent back a pair of dress pants and a pair of capris that were enormous on me, even in a maternity size 2.

I mostly need spring and summer wear. I'm guessing I'll mostly want dresses and skirts for work, especially once its hot, and a couple pairs of capris or bermuda shorts. My mom has offered to make me some dresses (she sews must better and faster than I), which will be perfect.

I will need cute outifts for maternity pics too, of course. So, here's a few items on my wish list. Many of them seem pricey for something you wear just a few months, but I may cave and order a few things.

Love the maternity dresses at Shabby Apple. There site won't let me save or copy picture images, but I love this one, this one and this one.

Boden has adorable maternity dresses and tops, but they are way pricey. I love this ruffled dress.

I've also just discovered this site for cute maternity clothes, that apparently ships internationally for free. I'm debating about ordering a few items, like this dress:


this dress:


and this bathing suit (since I will be super preggo in June/July when its a million degrees here):


I've yet to visit any local maternity stores and I'm guessing I might find maternity at a consignment store or two...that's just time I don't have right now. Much easier to online shop. Any other ideas for good maternity options from you mommies out there?

Dreaming

So I should be studying, but instead all I want to do is surf baby stuff and nursery galleries.I already had a couple color schemes in mind for the baby's room, depending on boy or girl. Now that we know we are have a sweet little boy, my wheels have really started turning. I've pretty much decided on white furniture, gray walls (I may keep the color that's already in the room, which is a slate blue/gray color) and fun, cheery accent colors. I'm thinking turquoise, yellow and red...but we'll see where my dreaming takes me.

This week I order some yummy blue sky alpacas organic cotton yarn (on sale) for yet another baby blanket I plan on knitting. The one I'm working on now is a sweet lacy pattern in a nice apple green. It's about 1/3 of the way done. But, once I saw this blanket, I knew I had to add this to my "to knit" list:


Here are the colors I'll be making this blanket in:



The green may or may not be included...I debated about orange too, but decided I'd hit my budget with 5 yarns.

Here are a few other things inspiring my nursery ideas:

Lots of prints. Like this one:


and this one:

and this one (though not as bright of colors as I'd like):


This mobile:


This cute guy and other fun stuff found here (thanks Em):


This bookshelf:


This arrangement:



and a growing file on my pinterest here.

The baby madness has really only begun around here. Apparently its contagious too, as the grandmas and aunties are probably worse than I am. Have I researched strollers and high chairs and carseats and important functional stuff...um no. But this is so much more fun!

Because....

I have finished my power point, 7 post bacc assignments, lesson plans and prep and lots of household to do's. Now I get to play. For a few minutes anyway until I go vacuum and mop. And go to a 2pm meeting. And run to UPS. Here's what I am doing with my few minutes of free time:

Life by the Numbers

• Today I am 19 weeks pregnant.
  
• Which means if my due date is correct and I deliver full term, I have 21 more weeks to go.
• In 4 days, we should know if life is going to be full of pink and sparkles or blue and cars.
• I have 9 assignments I should get done this weekend.
• This weekend is a 3 day weekend.
• I saw 7 of these in the sky on my way to work this morning:

• I have eaten at least 7 tangerines or oranges this week.
• I have only cooked 1 time this week (unless you count making quesadillas, in which case, I have "cooked" twice).
• I crossed 4 things off my to do list today.
  
• Shawn has made me 3 ice cream cones this week.
  
• I currently have 10 games of Words with Friends in progress.
• Today it was in the upper 60's, tomorrow it will be in the 50's, this past weekend it was in the upper 70's.
  
• I wore 2 pairs of new pants this week (both maternity).
• I had 141 emails in my inbox this evening.

Tuesday 10

1. Leggings are my friend.
2. Post valentine's classroom apparently equals crazy classroom. Tantrums, hitting, screaming, crying, time outs...fun stuff.
3. Picked up Mexican for dinner after my meeting this evening and it took so long for my order, I may have eaten half my food on the drive home....pregnant and hungry is not a happy combo.
4. Am not getting things done in the evenings this week and instead am crawling in bed and watching Pillars of the Earth on netflix.
5. Happy birthday to my mom (and thanks for the cupcakes)!
6. Rearranged my classroom this morning and I'm liking the new set up. Thankful there weren't too many meltdowns about the changes.
7. Wishing I had the energy to work on my project life. I'm a couple weeks behind with my album, but loving this method of documenting my year.
8. Looking forward to the upcoming 3 day weekend, even though i'll spend most of it doing homework.
9. Was told I looked pregnant today, even though I have on an empire waist, a line dress. Apparently I'm "totally showing" now.
10. Thinking an early bed time is in order tonight, despite the extra long to do list looming over my head.

happy Tuesday!

Happy 10

Because I've been stressed and need a happy list....

1. K-3 field day today, meant I only taught 3 kids (with 2 other adults in the room) for most of the day. I sent the rest of them out to play
2. half day + field day makes for a pretty easy teaching day
3. professional development training this afternoon got done early
4. my late afternoon client canceled, this combined with an early end to my training got me home about 3 hours earlier than a normal Tuesday
5. being home earlier meant I could get some grad school work done
6. and make chocolate chip cookies
7. my new jeans leggings (not a fan of the "jeggings" term) are way more comfortable these days than my skinny jeans, which are getting hard to button
8. the weather was beautiful today
9. am very happy I decided to order Project Life (with some amazon gift cards). I'm keeping it low stress, but love how its coming along so far
10. grilled cheese with tomatoes for dinner tonight. yum!

What was your happy today?