A sense of humor

Every now and then God likes to remind me that he has a great sense of humor. Today was one of those days.

I had my big mid-pregnancy ultrasound this morning and was SO excited to find out if we were having a baby boy or a baby girl. I had the whole family at the ultrasound and was just giddy with excitement. (I'd even been up since 4am with anticipation!)

Baby, on the other hand, had different plans. Baby was all curled up in a little ball and after much poking and prodding just would not budge. There was just no way to tell if it was a boy or girl.

I'm horrible with surprises. I am notorious for snooping for presents and shaking presents under the Christmas tree. I also can't keep a surprise a secret (I always end up telling Jim what he's getting before he gets it...). Not knowing something is just torture for me. But, this morning I wasn't in control. We're just not supposed to know right now and there's nothing I can do.

Even though I didn't get all the news I wanted this morning I really can't be upset about it because we got tons of other great news. Baby is developing perfect. All the arms and legs are accounted for. The bones in it's legs, arms, ribs and spine are all developing properly, which rules out almost any chance for skeletal deformities. All the fingers and toes are accounted for. The brain is developing properly and has no abnormalities. The face is developing just the way it should. We even saw Baby's little mouth moving!

We also confirmed the due date for January 15, which puts me right at 20 weeks. I feel great. I had an incredibly easy first trimester and, other than a growing belly, my second trimester has been just as smooth.

We have so much to be thankful for with this pregnancy and I love that God constantly reminds me that He is in control and that his timing is perfect.

Maternity Style

I love to shop, so you would think I would be thrilled about the chance to buy a whole new wardrobe. Right?

...Wrong.

I just can't justify buying clothing that I can really only wear for the next 6 months or so.

Over the past 4 weeks I've gone from wearing a bikini at the beach to not being able to button my pants. So I've had to bite the bullet and invest in a few key pieces.

Here's my top ten list of maternity essentials:

1. Leggings. I am in LOVE with my Ingrid & Isabel Capri Belly Leggings. They are perfect for around the house or paired with a flowy top for running errands. I also have a fair amount of travel planned this fall, some for work and some for play, including a trip to Dublin in September. These leggings will definitely keep me and Baby comfortable for the overseas travel.

2. Date Night Dress. Just because you're preggers doesn't mean you have to forego date night fashion. The key is to buy a dress that you can wear throughout the rapid growth that takes place in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. I snagged the Ingrid & Isabel Waterfall Dress at a great sale price and I'm really happy with it. I can dress it up or dress it down and it will take me through many date nights, events, holiday parties, etc. over the next few months.

3. Work Pants. For me the work wardrobe is going to be a challenge. The first to go were my favorite pair of wide leg trousers. Thankfully after some searching around I found a great pair of wide leg maternity pants at A Pea in the Pod that are perfect. They are a little pricey, but for me they are essential part of my work wardrobe, so I had to splurge.

4. Jeans. Since I'm going to be very pregnant in the Fall and Winter, jeans are a staple I won't be able to do without. Maternity jeans can definitely break the budget if you go designer, but I found a great pair of Liz Lange Maternity jeans from Target for just $35. Awesome, right? The fit is good and the wash is dark.

5. The Wrap Dress. Okay, so this one isn't exclusively maternity and is a staple I already had in my wardrobe. Don't be scared to look through your existing wardrobe to see what will work and what won't, you'll be surprised, I promise. My essential wrap dress is the Banana Republic Gemma Wrap Dress. They always have it, and depending on the season the colors will vary. Since it is a stretchy jersey material I'll be able to wear it at least through my second trimester which makes it a winner in my book.

6. The Basic Cami. Undergarments are crucial to looking smooth and confident throughout your pregnancy. With a rapidly growing belly combined with belly supporting maternity clothing things can just get bumpy and bulky. Invest in at least 2 maternity camis (one black and one white) to help smooth things out. They are a little longer than regular camis and will keep your belly fully covered. I found and love the Be Maternity Seamless Cami from Target.

7. The Basic Tee. Invest in a few maternity t-shirts. Target, which will become your best friend if you are on a maternity clothing budget, and has a great selection of tees that you can wear now and throughout your pregnancy. I bought this Liz Lange tee in a number of colors and I'm very happy with the purchase.

8. The Cardigan. Again, not exclusively maternity. I have a bazillion cardigans that are already a part of my closet. My work wardrobe fall back is to wear cardigans over one of my maternity tees and tank tops to help stretch my options. When I get to my 3rd trimester I might have to invest in some maternity cardigans with a little extra room, but until I get to that point I'm going to hold off, save some money, and work with what I've got.

9. The Ballet Flat. Who doesn't love a great ballet flat? And, most likely, you already have a pair or two or three (if you're like me). My favorite flat is the Emmie Flat by Lucky Brand. It comes in lots of colors and patterns, plus they are super affordable. My belly hasn't grown big enough to throw off my center of balance, but when it does I know I'll be glad to toss the 4-inch heels and pull these babies out to run around town and the office in comfort and style.

10. Accessories. By keeping your wardrobe simple and working with existing accessories like scarves, statement necklaces, etc. you can completely transform outfits into something really unique. And, best of all, you don't have to worry about outgrowing your favorite scarf or piece of jewelry.

I wanted to keep my maternity clothing expenses between $300-400 at most. By shopping around, looking through my existing wardrobe, and getting creative I've been able to do that. I have enough options to keep me and Baby comfortable, stylish, and looking professional for the next 6 months. Hopefully these tips can help you or your significant other do the same. 

Boy? Girl? Boy? Girl? Boy? Girl?

Is It a boy or is It a girl?

The suspense is killing me!

Next Tuesday we have the big ultrasound to find out just what It is. I cannot wait. I can't wait to start calling Baby by name and preparing for this little bundle of joy to come in to the world.

To ease the suspense I got crafty and made a onesie for the future baby-to-be. Since we don't know what It is I made two. I designed the little graphics on my computer and used some amazing iron-on transfer paper that prints in your home printer. It was super easy and I think they turned out pretty cute.

Now all we need is a baby! :-)

Oh, baby!

We have some very exciting news to share...we're having a baby!

I know, shocking, right?

We are a little surprised, but beyond excited. I'm a little over 12 weeks along and it is due at the end of January. In a few short weeks we can find out what we're having. Whether it's a boy or a girl doesn't really matter to us, we just want a healthy and happy baby.

God's timing is perfect and we can't wait to watch our little family grow!