8 more weeks my friends! (although I feel like she is going to come a little early- I dont know why just wishful thinking I guess) and I have to say I am pretty darn proud of myself for not having bought a lot of maternity things. I have really just been super lucky in the dress department lately. Goodwill, Savers and Salvation army have been my life saves. Modcloth as well! I have picked out some great dresses from there that have worked perfect for expanding bellies. You just need to look for: higher waists (empire), elastic waists, a longer hemline (its got to lift up over the belly), Long cotton tanks or cute elastic waist skirts (there are lots out there right now!) I think the trick too is just trying everything on. I have been pleasantly surprised sometimes trying on something non maternity just to find it fits me great. Others times of course not so much, but you start to learn what will work and what wont. The only things I have bought that are maternity specific are:
1. a pair of jeans (worth it!) I don’t like belly bands. Why would you want to walk around all day with your pants unbuttoned? Not comfortable for me at all
2. 2 pairs of Maternity shorts (same reason as jeans)
3. I did buy 2 of these maternity tanks from target, but they could have been any long tank instead. I do however love them. They are long and soft and stretchy and perfect to wear under about anything. Smooths out everything nicely as well.
4. and as of the other day I did buy a more modest maternity bathing suit top. I am ok wearing a 2 piece around most people (kev+friends) but its nice to have the extra coverage around others to make you a little more comfortable with yourself.
And now my little rant on maternity clothes… Why do you have to suck so bad? I am sorry maternity clothes are absolutely terrible and yes I know Forever 21 has a new maternity line, but have you looked at it? Its still just regular tee shirts and a long tank basically. I searched and searched for dresses at thrift stores because I refused to wear 9 months of plain cotton tee shirts. ugh! I am excited for Forever 21. I hope they continue to expand the line and actually make some cute things because it is a market that needs some major help. I wish I was a fashion designer because I know where I would start. Has anyone been into a Destination Maternity/Motherhood store? You walk in and you feel like you are walking back in time. It’s very upsetting. I set foot in one once at the beginning of my pregnancy and have never gone back. Even Targets maternity stuff is terrible. I mean really, really terrible. I hope whenever you are pregnant, you will challenge yourselves to not feel like you have to settle on all this crappy stuff. It doesn’t make you feel good about yourself when you wear it. You should feel cute and beautiful. I mean as Kev keeps telling me “you are more beautiful now than ever” and ladies you are! When you are pregnant you really are even more truly beautiful. So make sure you are finding clothes that make you feel that way!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenloveskev/4773881477/
Ok, one more thing. There is nothing like a little self reflection while pregnant to make yourself feel good about how your body use to look. Does that make sense? haha. I guess what I am trying to say is after getting use to seeing my chubby ankles, my no longer existent waist, bigger hips and well everything else comes along with baby, I have very much enjoyed looking back at all my old style files. I think back to pictures where I was afraid to post them because I felt so insecure about them and think now “wow, I looked pretty good in those.” I have never been a super stick thin girl and I was ok with that. I like my height, I like my curves and I liked my strong healthy body. I think looking back is a good thing. Reflection is a good way to move forward. I really hope that mentality carries thru to post pregnancy. I know it will take time to lose baby weight, but I hope that after all this I will end up on the other side proud of my body for what it was, what it has been thru and how it will change with giving birth and becoming a Mom. I do have to say I am really, really looking forward to my first marathon post baby. I feel like that will be a great accomplishment after pregnancy. ahh just to run again!! hehe
Dear Baby Girl:
I want to write your name when I start off these letters but its still a big secret. We are 100% sure now though. Your daddy is convinced! He is so excited for you to come. He keeps saying the sweetest things I have ever heard when he talks about you. You have no idea how much he loves you already. We were both a little scared of what they were going to say when they gave us your estimated weight the other day. Your daddy was a big baby, almost 10lbs, so honestly we were a little afraid of what you were going to be too. At the sonogram they said you were weighting in right now at 4.6lbs and that you should grow 1/4-1/2 pounds a week till you are born. So that gives us a range of 6.6-8.6, and I am ok with that. She said that you gaining a 1/2 pound every week was very unlikely. So I think you will be in the 7lbs range.
This sonogram was absolutely amazing. Your Daddy said to me later that night while we were in bed that it was one of his favorite moments of his life so far. You are so close to being here, so when we saw the pictures of you on the screen you were like a real little baby. We could really see you. You had the most adorable little face, little puffy cheeks, and the most dead on little bubble nose- just like your mom!! Its really funny because your Auntie Amy has always called your Daddy and me, Roman and Bubble because of our nose shape. I have a very distinct bubble and your daddy has a very roman shaped nose. Its been a joke this whole pregnancy what kind of nose you will have. Your Auntie Amy even sent us a card one time that has a pop up crib and in the crib she had cut out hundreds of little noses from magazines as a joke wondering what type of nose you would have. At the sonogram, the tech was moving around the picture and then all of the sudden she came up to your little face and out burst your dad “oh my goodness”, we both instantly started laughing so hard. It was plain as day that you have the same little bubble as me. It is seriously like the cutest, most adorable thing ever. I don’t normally share your sonograms pictures because we like to keep them private, but I am going to show this particular picture we had the tech take of the outline/underside of your cute little nose. (We got better detailed pictures of her and her cute little face but this one shows her little nose the best!)
Love you with everything we have,
Your Mamma
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