One of the biggest stereotypes that grew into motivation for me to break the mold was the concept of being pregnant and having to hide yourself in frumpy clothes. Us women fear the thought of gaining massive amounts of weight during pregnancy and our initial instincts are to cover it up, wear layers and/or anything loose and non-curve hugging…. Kind of like what we would do if we felt slightly bloated, gained a few pounds or for some reason the light was reflecting off of some cellulite more than usual. Well, I know because I started getting the urges to purchase a completely separate maternity wardrobe. It started with the pants… I went shopping and found maternity pants that made me feel good. The band stretched to fit my growing waist and they weren’t Trues, but they were a name brand in the maternity world…. Well, I realized how quickly I was going to be emptying my bank account on items I could only wear being pregnant, so I began my hunt of stretchy stuff! First the hunt started in my own closet, then I shopped on a “need to” basis… but I always kept in mind, “can I wear this without the bump?” Here are some of the results.
My first test came with our “We Are Prego” photo shoot. What could I use that would last so I could still wear it during my pregnancy?!
A timeless, neutral and stretchy Michael Kors sweater dress, of course. Michael is known for his classic and timeless collections and therefore you will see that some of my favorite “Fashionably Pregnant” pieces
December 2012 Wearing the 2013 resort collection chain print/nautical braided chain dress…
Michael Kors Navy braided chain dress
New Year’s Day.
What the dress looks like on a mommy to be
February
Jacqueline Bracamontes and I both at 7 months prego. I’m wearing a blue and green striped maxi from the spring 13 Michael Kors collection.
Spring 2013 collection brought the perfect colors to accentuate my “Boy” belly
End Of February
Since it was a tshirt dress it was slightly loose… nothing a belt from last springs MK collection can’t fix.
What the dress looked like from the catalog
March
Wearing a khaki Michael Kors Maxi dress as a skirt. Don’t be afraid to change it up.
MK Summer 2012 Eyelet maxi dress
…paired with this Springs MK Josephine Sandal
This was the last month I could stretch into this dress, but it made it to my 8th month!!!
April
This navy and white striped Michael Kors dress was one of my favorite maternity wears…. super comfy
I was super happy when I realized I could still wear it and it was still rather flattering.
Michael Kors eyelet trimmed dress from last seasons collection.
Michael Kors eyelet trimmed dress from last seasons collection…. paired with josephine sandals in luggage.
Michael Kors navy hi-lo sleeveless dress
Wearing Michael Kors Navy hi-lo sleeveless dress for maternity shoot paired with the Carla platforms in luggage.
… so this white Michael Kors Eyelet maxi dress was used again….
… but this time as a skirt :-) This was my all time favorite prego look
This maxi dress is from Arden B and came at a reasonable price…. the gathered seams on the sides made it possible to wear during and after pregnancy.
This maxi dress is from Arden B.
So, who’s to say that you have to stick to the maternity section when you go shopping or that you can’t wear clothing that shows off your bump?! In my opinion not having to wear frumpy maternity clothes helped build a confidence and I embraced my bump. Be proud of that blessing in your tummy and rock it like it’s going out of style!
A wise woman knows when to be silent and when to summon the world to hear her words. She avoids gossip and drama because she knows it will weaken her spirit and could harm her reputation. A wise woman walks her talk, she knows where she stands and there is no need for approval. She is the kind that is nurturing, caring and loving in many ways that don’t necessarily have to be visible. A wise woman will build her home, her world and the world of those she cares for on the solid base of unconditional love, trust, compassion, freedom and unshakable faith. This same woman visualizes her dreams daily and makes each day count. When it comes to tuning a man’s heart for answers, she is an above average “expert”. She knows and understands the perfect timing to make use of her strength to level with a man. In other words, she does not trust a totally confused mind. This woman doesn’t take anything for granted. She knows she is worthy of love and consistently recalls her true worth. She is informed that she cannot be all-knowing and expects her partner to communicate their desires with integrity. She does not pretend or assume to know of what her partner daydreams. She does not degrade herself by becoming a flirty queen against her will or a petty gossiper. She does not spend her days regretting the past, but acknowledges the lessons of the past as she moves forward and changes the circumstances in her life that are lacking. She learns that her value and worth are not to be overlooked or diminished.
A confident, strong & wise woman does not appreciate gossip. When gossip comes up in a conversation she thinks classy and doesn’t contribute. In fact, she avoids it. She already knows it is not healthy and that her future evolves from what she says, what she does and what she thinks today. She is aware that the way she handles her thoughts, her feelings, and her desires determines not only the direction of her path, but whether that path is joyful and fulfilling.
Above all, a wise woman establishes herself in a foundation built in Christ Jesus. To the woman who sets her mind on God comes unruffled peace, love, and joy. Wise women guard their minds from obsessive thoughts by trusting God and His sovereign control at all times, over all circumstances.
I’m by no means an expert, nor do I ever expect to grasp all that comes along with being a mom, but I did make a promise to be the mother that Lucas needs. A role model, a teacher, his guide, his friend and an unending and overflowing source of love & support. It’s great for people to bless you and consider you on a day designated to celebrate a mother’s virtues, but I’m using it as a day to recall how blessed I am to actually be called mother. Although I have officially carried this title for 3 weeks now, these 3 weeks have drastically changed my life. For me, being a mother started from the emotional moment when I looked at the pregnancy test and read the results as my heart jumped out of my chest. I knew it was not just going to be about me or my husband anymore. Any selfish thoughts, desires or plans that we had, immediately flew out the window. I also grasped the intricacy of life, how fragile it is and how blessed I was to have the opportunity to experience motherhood ( a gift that some take for granted.) Today I celebrate the beginning of my journey into motherhood and an understanding that God will be my ultimate guide in making sure Lucas meets his maximum potential. I am blessed.
My celebration started slightly early, as I was rewarded by Peace Love World for a photo submission of Lucas and I.
What impacted me most about this reward was that I could have easily been given items that had less of a value, so that they could profit off of the more expensive pieces. To my surprise, I was rewarded with the most valuable pieces in their mother’s day collection. In the package I received were the “I am mother” white oversized comfy tee and the Love note daughter angora scarf.
Not to mention, the hubby gifted me a new Pandora charm to mark this part of our journey together.
“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She is clothed with strength and dignity,and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”
“Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”
All of our big ticket items had been checked off the list except for a high chair. Since he is nursing and we would not have been needing it for a while, I vigilantly watched prices, compared features and safety reviews… well, my patience paid off!!
Meet our new high chair:
Phil and Teds highpod highchair
•Suggested retail value: $199.99
After rewards from a few necessary purchases on Rakuten.com, shopping through EBATES on the Rakuten site and hunting online for a Rakuten promo code… My final price was (drum roll please)
☆$94!!!! Woohoo!!
I can’t wait to try this baby out. My favorite features (that were hard to find in comparable highchairs in the $100 and below range) are the option to recline, the ability to adjust the height for that taller parent (aka my husband) and the 5 point safety harness.
I’ll let the video explain what I mean.
I promise, once you get used to shopping through EBATES, you will swear by it. I have earned hundreds of dollars just by default shopping through their site and taking advantage of rewards programs like the one that Rakuten offers. Do it, every penny counts.
My sweet boy received some extra special care packages today. An amazing friend of mine sent a package that included my favorite Burt’s Bees Baby products, a baby care kit, a customized hand sanitizer for his changing table and a customized portable wipes case that will grace my baby bag.
She utilized our nautical theme to make some of the items.
Thank you Mr & Mrs Burnett
We love it!!! Thank you Niki and Kennie! Congrats again on your marriage
If you are looking to gift or purchase some customized items, check out KCN Designs.
It’s safe to say that we not only have an amazing family, but awesome friends as well. THANKS AGAIN!
You never really know what will work for you and your little family until you actually get to use the products gifted/purchased. There are some things that have not quite made it out of their boxes, but I do have some favorites.
1. Henri Bendel Baby Bag
For us women it is easy to fall in love with purses and if you are used to showcasing a nice purse on your shoulder, a vinyl floral or graphic printed baby bag just won’t quite do. I, personally was on the hunt for something different. After months of searching, comparing prices and getting opinions it seemed that 75% of those that I spoke with were willing to go and pay close to $1k for a designer baby bag and the other 25% told me they would not waste all that money on a baby bag that would eventually get dirty…. but there had to be a fashionable bag that would not make me feel guilty if I happened to spill some milk on it and that did not seem super feminine if daddy wore it. I finally stumbled across the BROWN & WHITE BENDEL BABY BAG by Henri Bendel.
Suggested retail price of $348.00
It came with the changing pad inside as well as a convertible strap that allows you to switch it from a shoulder to crossbody bag. It also has tons of space and compartments/pockets both on the inside and outside. The fact that it wasn’t common like some other designer baby bags intrigued me more and luckily enough my hubby bought it for me as my “Push Gift.” I highly recommend it for that modest mommy who still wants to make a fashionable impression.
2. JJ Cole Broadway Stroller
Are you looking for that stylish stroller that swivels, converts, lays flat, turns into a bassinet, can be utilized from newborn to toddler, compares with most high end strollers, but doesn’t break the bank?
Suggested retail price of $450 (which is almost half the price of most strollers in it’s class) the Broadway is just for you.
It comes in a standard black, which makes it gender neutral. If you want to add a dose of color, the canopies come in an array of colors And can be purchased separately.
3. JJ Cole Newport Carseat
Before you purchase what seems to be an “affordable” car seat along with the accessories that are sold separately (neck/head stabilizer, seat bealt cushions and the base)… consider the Newport. Suggested retail price of $200
The Newport brings all the upgraded items (neck stabilizer, shoulder cushions etc) and they are crash tested for their safety. Anything added to your car seat after it is manufactured is not guaranteed to be safe in the event of an accident. This car seat also has a 5 star safety rating. The best perk is that it is easily compatible with the Broadway and can be utilized as part of the travel system.
4. Medela Pump In Style, On the Go Tote
Suggested retail price $269.99
This amazing set has helped a ton. I have been able to nurse and store the extras for my little one and it has a lot of convenient extras that helped guide this new mommy. For mommies on the go, it includes the sleek tote, a portable battery kit and mini ice pack and storage if you can’t utilize what you pump right away. Also, once you open the box, you should find some coupons to help you purchase extra accessories for your pump.
5. Medela Breast Milk Storage Solutions
Suggested retail price of $39.99
This extra accessory kit is worth every penny! Not to mention, if you purchase the pump you get a coupon (I saved $5 with the manufacturer’s coupon.)
It contains storage bags that can be utilized in the freezer and 2 sets of storage bottles.
6. Lansinoh Brand Lanolin Topical Breast Cream
Suggested retail value $12.99
If it weren’t for this tube of goodness I would have been one discouraged mom. As a 1st time mommy, you don’t really know what you’re in for with breast feeding. After my 2nd day, let’s just say I FELT THE BURN!!! Had it not been for this cream, I don’t know how long I would have lasted in the nursing game. I consider it the liquid bandaid for your boobies!
7. Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Surround
Suggested retail price of $62.99
Our son hates to be swaddled and no matter how many times we try, he pulls a Houdini on us and escapes… We found so much peace having him sleep in the Snuggle Nest. We lay it inside of his cradle at night and during the day we move it to his pack n play. The main reason I love it so much is because it limits the space he has to move around in. Being a newborn, be gets alot of spasms and stretches quite often and when I get up to nurse him I often find him close to the edge of the Snuggle Nest. That leads me to believe that if he had more room to move I’d find him in random positions. Another feature that our newborn loves is that it has an option to play sounds that mimic the womb, knocks him right out! It is travel friendly, has a night light, plays music and is a good option for those that like to have their cuddle bug sleep in their bed.
8. Burt’s Bees Baby
Suggested retail value $6 and up
For years moms have been utilizing Johnson & Johnson baby products in efforts to give their children that fresh baby scent….. but for our newborn, I wanted something purer. We went for the 100% organic Burt’s Bees baby products. They are very gentle on his skin and leave him oh so smooth. One perk is he ends up smelling like a sweet honey bee, correction… mommy’s sweet honey bee. ♡
A lot of these items can be purchased at better deals, you just have to hunt for those promo codes and shop around. I saved tons of money searching for coupon codes, cashback rewards and promos. One of my many tricks is to do all of my online shopping through EBATES. I start all my purchases through their site and see what amount of cash I could earn for that purchase. Yes, they pay you to shop!!! Free money!! Then once I open a tracking ticket, I am redirected to the site I will make the purchase through (Baby’s r us, Walgreens, Target etc). If they have a rewards program, I sign up for it too. Toy’s R Us/ Baby’s R Us have a great rewards program, so make sure you sign up and link it up to your registry. I earn in store rewards every month!
At 2 weeks, these are my favs… as our baby grows, I’m sure I will have new favs… Especially since I have yet to open some of our goodies.
Tomorrow we celebrate Lucas’s 2nd week of life, but today would have been his actual due date (Cinco De Mayo).
Although I’m still learning, I have to say I have been blessed with a very good baby. He eats, sleeps, poops and burps right on schedule with little to no fussing/whining in between. When he is awake, he is always smiling and maintains a very calm temperament.
My mornings are lit up by his squinting eyes, yawns and big stretches… my evenings by his peaceful demeanor and the way he cuddles with me after he is fed.
If I had to wait the extra 2 weeks to meet him, it would have been well worth it… but his early appearance has brightened up my world and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He was born on Earth Day and we’ve been able to celebrate Mister Boy’s bday and Lucas’s 1st Cinco De Mayo
Celebrating daddy's bday
Lucas's 1st gift to daddy, w/ his Initials, birth date and birth time engraved on thw back.
Week 1: At 10:41am Lucas will officially be 1 week old! It’s been one week filled with tons of emotions, tears of happiness, new experiences and constant gratefulness for what God has entrusted me with. Time seems to be slipping through my grasp as we absorb what it is like to live with an angel. I mean, how else can I describe him.. he has managed to make my heart continue to burst at the seams with a love that is so genuinely pure and innocent. My only explanation is that Lucas is an extension of God’s own heart, he is love in it’s purest form. Motherhood is divinely inspired.
He was anxiously anticipated and desired, so…. forgive me now if I ultimately turn into “that mom” who absorbs and shares every loving moment…( I’m really not sorry )
Maybe one day I’ll share my journey in depth so you can understand the details of why being a mother humbles me so, but until then just know that I’m beyond proud to be a mommy and I don’t take this job lightly.
Here’s a little glimpse of our journey.
From the moment we found out (follow link for video…
To the moment we made it publicly official. “We are prego”
Boy or girl gender reveals
Showering him with gifts
Putting together the nursery
Capturing our belly on camera
To holding him in our arms
and cherishing him, one day at a time
We love you sooooo much Lucas!!!!
You’ve only been with us one week, but you’ve changed our lives forever!
A little over 5 years ago this princess entered my life and along with her heart of gold she also brought a love to accessorize. My niece Chloe, from her fancy little manicures to her unique taste in clothing evolved my need to share her “frilliness” with other princesses out there.
I do, still sell fashion jewelry, but I have managed to offer fashion accessories for little girls as well. You will be able to find them on Etsy at the Lil’ Miss Chloe shop.
