Image Map


Teaching Sam and Scout

Teaching, Motherhood, and Life In-Between

What I’m Wearing: Maternity DRESSES for the Working Mom

One of my favorite things to wear during pregnancy is a dress!  Honestly, as much as I love a maternity waistband, dresses are really the most comfortable option available. I especially like them with tights (to keep everything in its place) and boots in the fall and winter.

When buying maternity dresses, I look for styles that can easily be adapted through at least a couple of seasons – for example, with tights, boots, and cardigan in the fall, and bare legs and sandals in the spring – and that would work for teaching and church on Sundays, a date night, or even a social event. Also, I prefer stretchy material and especially like wrap or shirt-style dresses that could later be worn to hide postpartum pudge AND work for nursing…

Here are a few of my favorite maternity dress options in stores now:

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 11.04.19 AM

Old Navy – Still my “go to” spot – you really can’t beat the prices, and it is one of the only stores that actually has a maternity section on site (as opposed to only online). I’m actually going there today to look for that gray and black color-block one. I don’t usually go for the super form fitting looks, but I think the black panels on the sides would be flattering here.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 11.09.28 AMGap – Gap is quickly becoming one of my favorite maternity lines.  I have a few things from them – including the corduroy dress and the pink and blue plaid one shown – and really love them.  Their styles are so classic that I feel like they would work for subsequent pregnancies regardless of how much time is between them; and, they have a huge selection of cute shirt dresses.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 11.14.12 AM

Ann Taylor Loft – I LOVE The Loft’s maternity line because it is basically the exact same as their regular line only with extra belly room.  Unfortunately, their prices are pretty high for something you will only wear for a few months – but I’m sure the quality is good.  (I don’t own anything from there, yet.)  That said, they run great sales and some of their items – like the chambray one shown – are an additional 40% off already marked-down prices right now.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 11.33.38 AM

ASOS – I’ve actually never ordered anything from ASOS before, but my best friend gave me a dress from there for this pregnancy, and I love it (sorry, it is no longer for sale).  They have so many options and are the most stylish of all the maternity styles I’ve found.  My biggest complaint is that many of the styles look SUPER short (of course, some of you might be able to pull that look off); but, if you look hard enough, there are plenty of longer styles too.  They also have some beautiful more formal options, but I’m going to save them for another list another time. Prices vary from over $100 to under $50. * P.S. That long black one has a hidden nursing patch so you can feed your baby while wearing it. GENIUS! (Also, how cute are those last two for a spring shower?)

What do you think? What do you look for in a good maternity dress? Do you have a favorite?

E

Pregnancy Update (17/18 Weeks)

IMG_5284

I will be 18 weeks pregnant with Baby #2 on Saturday.  The first twelve weeks – when I wasn’t feeling well – went really slow, but the last six or so have gone quickly.  Ever since I entered the second trimester, I’ve been feeling much better and – other than that big belly of course – most days I could easily forget I am pregnant.

That’s  not to say, of course, that I don’t think about this baby all the time.  Jeff and Sam and I are SO SO excited.  I think Sam is at a really fun age where – for the most part – he really does get it.  Sometimes, just randomly, when we are out with friends or something, he will blurt out “Did you know I am getting a baby?”  It’s so precious.  I know there will be hard parts too, but I literally cannot wait to see him as a big brother.

 

I wear maternity pants and leggings almost exclusively and my tops and dresses are about 50/50.  Lately, I’m really into wearing leggings with non-maternity jersey type dresses and long cardigans.  Thankfully, though I still feel pretty huge, I’m beginning to be a little more comfortable with the changes in my body and feel like things have evened out at least enough to where people don’t freak out when I tell them I’m not due until March…

 

One of the hardest things about this pregnancy so far has been that I’ve not been sleeping well. My doctor thinks it may be related to restless leg syndrome and/or an iron deficiency, but all I know is that I’m TIRED. It is really frustrating being exhausted at night but still unable to sleep. It also impacts my mood and my ability to be “all there” for my students, my family, etc. I’m really trying not to whine about it too much (except to Jeff – I whine about it A LOT to him), but it is rather unpleasant – especially since sleep has NEVER been a problem for me before. Hopefully we will get it figured out soon and come up with some way to fix the problem. In the meantime, if you have any tips or suggestions, I’m all ears. (I already have a pregnancy pillow, FYI.)

Another big thing that has been different this time around is that I am SO emotional.  That might be (probably is) related to the not sleeping, but it really is crazy.  I cry over EVERYTHING.  Case in point: I forgot to write down an open house for work that was scheduled for tonight on my calendar (we’ll blame that on “pregnancy brain”) and had already bought tickets for Sam and I to go to a play with friends at the same time.  When I went up to tell my boss about my mistake yesterday, I literally cried in her office.  Who am I? (She was wonderful and, thankfully, gave me a free pass, by the way.)

I’m not feeling any movement yet – which is slightly unusual for a second pregnancy – but we got to see the baby on ultrasound at my last appointment (16 weeks) and everything looked perfect, so I’m not worried.  I didn’t feel Sam move until close to 28 weeks because of the way my placenta is placed, so I expect it will probably still be a little while with this one too.  I can’t wait!

Speaking of things I can’t wait for… Our anatomy/gender scan is scheduled for early November when I will be 20 weeks. I’ll be out of town the weekend after we find out, so we are planning a little gender reveal party (just for family) the next weekend – November 15th.  It will really be simple, but I’m going to do a Superhero theme and play up Sam as a “Super Duper Big Brother.”  In addition to announcing the gender then (I think I will let Sam bust in to a piñata to uncover pink or blue treats), I also just really want to celebrate him and get him even more excited.

That about sums up how things are going for me lately… I’m VERY busy at school right now (it is already the end of the first nine weeks – which means I’m 1/3rd of the way through my school year). At night – when I’m not sleeping – I just lay in bed picturing our life with a new little one. In some ways, that stage with a baby feels SO far away and hard to imagine doing again; but, in so many other ways, it feels exactly right.  It will be here in just five short months!!

E

P.S. The boots I’m wearing in the photo are the Target riding boots I had on my Fall Wish List a few weeks back.  I bit the bullet and bought them for myself, and, so far, I really really like them! The wide-calf are a perfect fit, and i get lots of compliments on them. I definitely think they look like they came from somewhere a lot fancier than Tarjay… AND, if you want your own, I just got an email telling me that they are on sale this week (of course) at Target.com.

What I’m Wearing: Maternity TOPS for the Working Mom

Hi friends! Welcome back for another “bonus” post on your Wednesday afternoon!  Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite maternity TOPS in stores today for my fellow pregnant gals or those of you that just really really value comfort. 😉

I honestly haven’t been wearing a whole lot of maternity tops yet because so many of my regular shirts are long and flowy and still fit over this hunk of a bump; but, the time is fast approaching.  (Did you see my photo on Instagram Monday? I can seriously barely see my feet and I’m not quite seventeen weeks pregnant yet.  This could be scary in another few months.)

I’m calling this series “for the working mom” only because I think these are tops that can transition nicely from the office (or classroom as the case may be) with black skinny pants or cords to the playground with jeans on the weekend.  Since I don’t have an endless budget to spend on maternity clothes (and it really wouldn’t make sense to do so even if I did have it), I’ve tried to be very particular about buying mostly basics and things that can be mixed and matched easily.  I am also particularly drawn to button-up blouses etc. that can be worn again after the baby is born in March and I’m nursing/hiding a still-looking-pregnant tummy.  And, finally, I try to avoid anything that has a elastic tab in the back or dorky ribbon around the waist screaming “1980s maternity” imho.

I don’t own all of the shirts pictured below (I starred the ones I do), but it is a nice representation of what I’d like to have to complete my maternity wardrobe, and all items can be found for great prices at regular stores like Old Navy, Target, and Gap.

Here you go:

Screen Shot 2014-10-08 at 6.53.42 AMStripes.  I love this Maternity Drapey Turtleneck from OldNavy.com in navy stripe because a.) I have an obsession with stripes, b.) pregnancy is one of the few times I’m comfortable enough to wear a tight fitting shirt like this, and c.) Oh Joy told me that pregnant women should always wear shirts with gathering on the side like that. 😉

Dots. I think this Maternity Dot-Pattern Shirt from Old Navy in black dot is just adorable.  I have a non-maternity version that I wear all the time, and I love that this one is long enough to pair with thick black leggings and boots all fall/winter.

Chambray. In my book, a good chambray shirt is a must-have all the time, so this Maternity Chambray Pullover*, also from Old Navy was one of the first things I bought post plus-sign. I love it with black pants, white jeans, colored cords, etc. etc. etc. And, it is easy to style with a fun necklace or scarf on days when I feel like my wardrobe is too limited lately.

Plain White Blouse. There is really nothing more classic looking than dark jeans, flats, and a plain white blouse (pregnant or not).  This one – from Target – doesn’t look too maternity-ish to me, but it still has the option of being belted if you want a more tailored look.

Nice Solid Tee(s). One of the things I’m most looking forward to about being pregnant in the fall and winter is being able to wear (most of) my regular cardigan sweaters etc. open over a more fitted maternity t-shirt. Also early on, I bought two of these Pure Body Short-Sleeve V-Neck Tees* (in black and white) from Gap Maternity early on.  I’ve been too afraid to wear them thus far – mainly because I’m just moving into the pregnant/ not-just-chubby stage – but I anticipate lots of wear in the future.

Dressier Silk Top. Mostly I like to keep things pretty simple, but having one or two nice dressier tops – like this one from Target – seems like a good idea to me.  I like that I could pair it with a sparkly necklace and dark jeans for a night out or black pants and a cardigan to wear to work. Plus, it’s only $15.00.

Plaid Shirt. I just love the look of this Fitted Boyfriend Plaid Popover from Gap Maternity; plus, plaid is totally in this season.

Neutral Drapey Cardigan. This Maternity Open-Front Drapey Cardigan in teak from Old Navy.com is perfect for cooler days when I’m feeling too large in charge to rock my regular sweaters.  Plus, I really like the neutral color and that it could easily be paired with a shorter top (like one of the tees above) and still cover my bum if I wore it with leggings.

Alright, so there you have it…

What are your go-to tops for pregnancy?  Where do you shop? 

*Check out my Maternity PANTS for the Working Mom post too if you missed it.

E

(P.S. I just noticed that Old Navy online is offering 20% off with the code DEAL through tomorrow 10/9.)

What I’m Wearing: Maternity PANTS for the Working Mom

I posted my first official bump photo on Instagram yesterday and shared a bit about how fast I “popped” this time… Without being super repetitive, I’m feeling a little insecure because – although I’m not quite 14 weeks pregnant – I have the belly of someone who is more like 5 or 6 months along right now.  You guys were SO sweet with your comments about showing so much faster with the second pregnancy etc. and made me feel so so much better – thank you for that!!

Really, I shouldn’t be surprised.  My stomach wasn’t flat to begin with (not even close), and I was big early even in my pregnancy with Sam.  Plus, my mom is tiny and she was HUGE with both of her pregnancies – sorry girl – so it’s just in my genes to not be a dainty little pregnant gal.  But still, seeing your body change (and putting up with all the incredibly insensitive and crazy things people say to you) when you are pregnant, can be tough.  This time, however, I decided early on (like 8 weeks early) that I wasn’t going to go around feeling miserable in my clothes, so I made some changes to my wardrobe ASAP and have slowly but surely embraced maternity wear once again…

I can re-wear many of the things I wore with Sam but, truthfully, my style has changed a lot in the last four years and maternity options are SO much better now than they were.  SO, I’ve been trying to make some practical, classic purchases that will last me the next six months (or so) but won’t break the bank or overwhelm my closet… SO, for the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing some of the basics I’m “investing” in to make a simple, but somewhat fashionable and very comfortable, maternity wardrobe fit for the mom who has to get up every morning and look presentable (i.e. can’t live in yoga pants and hoodies – don’t I wish).

Since I can (mostly) still wear my regular tops right now, I’m starting off with my most beloved form of pregnancy attire – otherwise known as God’s Gift to Pregnant Women – MATERNITY PANTS!  There is no denying it, I love them!! Truth be told, I would wear them all the time if it was more socially acceptable (and I did wear them until I was almost six months postpartum with Sam).

Here’s what I look for when buying:

1. Can be worn for work OR play.  Ain’t nobody got money to buy two separate wardrobes.  I need something that I can wear to teach all day and to the playground or swim lessons in the afternoon.  Heck, bonus if I can also sleep in them. (Just kidding… Kinda.)

2. Full panel if possible.  You’ll notice that one of the pairs below is only a “demi” panel, and that’s just because I couldn’t find a pair I liked with a full.  But, in general, I’m all about the full coverage! Rock it while you can ladies!!

3. “Skinny” or “Fitted”.  Obviously, there is nothing skinny about me these days, but that doesn’t mean my pants need to look like M.C. Hammer.  Since most maternity tops (or even the loose tunic tops I’m wearing now) are bigger, I think it’s important to wear something a little tighter and form fitting on the bottom.  (Just not so tight that you’ve got underwear lines and/or cellulite.  Just no.)

4. Versatile.  You’ll notice I chose four pairs of pants in very basic colors with only one “fun” look (and even if that isn’t too wild).  I like to be flashy sometimes too, but – at least for me – pregnancy isn’t the time for that.  I want my wardrobe to be minimalist and, therefore, items need to go with a lot and be easy to mix and match etc.

5. Inexpensive. As a general rule, I follow the “cheaper the better” principle when it comes to maternity clothes.  I’m just not going to be wearing them long enough to make it worth spending lots of money on.  I think my black pants were about $40.00 and that’s the MOST I would spend on any one item.  The other pairs were less than 30 – now we’re talking.

And, here are four pairs I consider “must-haves” for the (pregnant) working mom:

Screen Shot 2014-09-17 at 8.50.10 AM

Gap Demi Panel Skinny Pants (True Black) – Black pants are ESSENTIAL for work.  In all honesty, I will probably wear these three out of five days most weeks.

Old Navy Maternity Full-Panel Skinny Cords (Winter Wine) – I love wearing skinny cords in the fall/winter when I’m not pregnant, so these were a must for me.  Plus, I like that the color is fun, but still neutral enough to wear with lots of tops, etc.

Old Navy Maternity Full-Panel Skinny Jeans (Dark Wash) – Obviously. I will LIVE in these things every Friday thru Sunday from now until at least next September. 😉

Target Maternity Over Belly Skinny Pants (White) – Because I’m not afraid to wear white after Labor Day, and these go with so much. I found mine on clearance about a month ago and have already worn them TONS.

*I also plan to wear A LOT of leggings with very long sweaters/shirts and boots as it gets cooler.  I just ordered these from Old Navy, so we’ll see.

So, there you have it.

What do you consider “basics” when it comes to pants? How early did you wear maternity?

E

Thank You & Thoughts

I’m having some issues with Word Press today, so I’ve written this post five times now. Each time it has gotten shorter. Sorry. Or, You’re Welcome.

Mainly, I just want to say thank you for your sweet comments and congratulations here (and on Instagram, FB, etc.) in response to my announcement yesterday. Jeff and I (and Sam – although he is still living in a little bit of a dream world and asking if I could please just have a “big kid” in March instead of a baby) are so excited and grateful for the opportunity to bring another little life into our family.  

Screen Shot 2014-09-12 at 10.58.49 AM

Am I nervous?  A little. As many of you know, my transition into motherhood with Sam wasn’t nearly as smooth as I (naively) thought it would be.  Last night I was at a women’s event at my church and the speaker (Priscilla Shirer via video) was talking about how we have to get to a place of “doing our very best and not being quite good enough” before we really learn how to rely on God.  That thought took me right back to the early months (year?) with Sam –  feeling empty, exhausted, and like maybe I should have just stuck with teaching and writing and things I was “good at” and left parenting to the blog/Pinterest expert-moms.  That season (although so precious is so many ways), was kind-of an ugly one for me. It was a hit to my pride and to my spirit; but, ultimately, I learned to LET GO a little bit and rely on the Lord.  As Shirer said last night, I had to run out of myself in order to run in to God. I am a different person than I was when Sam was born three years ago… Of course, I don’t know how this person will handle parenting two little ones or if the adjustment will be any “easier,” but I do know that I don’t have to do it alone this time.  This time, I won’t even try. 🙂

On that note, it was especially fun hearing from lots of you who a.) walked through that season of new parenthood and transition with me back in 2011 when Sam was born and b.) who have recently welcomed second babies (or third or fourth) of your own, and offered words of encouragement and support.

I also LOVED hearing that several of you are also expecting babies this March/early spring! Yay!! We will totally meet up for middle-of-the-night Twitter chats (or something). 😉

 

Anyway, I’m incredibly thankful for this community and looking forward to sharing this leg of my journey with you all…

Love,

E

P.S. Jeff sent me a link to this article yesterday, and I loved it. I totally agree that – while I may be more tired, less social, and chubbier than I was pre-kids, I’m also SO much happier. 🙂