A Sailor's Life for Me

Yo-ho, yo-ho... I didn't intend on looking remotely nautical, today, and the style of my outfit is far from it. But the stripes and ocean-like flow of my beloved maxi just remind me of standing on the bow of a boat in the wind.

 top (skirt): Made by me, skirt: Old Navy, shoes: Shoe Department, necklace: Made by Whitney

I found this little nook in the trees and it was shady and beautiful... until I set up the camera. And then it was sunny and beautiful and my photos became washed out. Ah, such is life. 

Because of the lighting, you can't really see my hair color, but I dyed it back to my natural-ish hue. The super-blonde was way too much maintenance with how busy I am right now and let's face it, bleach blonde hair with dark roots is just not hot. Hopefully I can get a more true-to-color photo of the hair this week for ya!

That Forever 21 Dress

... you know the one.

I wear it every other day, but it never looks quite the same. Thank goodness.

 dress: Forever 21, tank: Old Navy, belt: Target, sandals: Target, sunnies: New York & Company

I wore a variation of this to a coffee date on Saturday (different belt and shoes), but decided to wear it again for errands, today, because it's a fool-proof nursing combo. The dress is strapless (because I chopped the top section off!), so I just pull the top up, dress down, and it's very inconspicuous. Also, the most important of all the things: I'm dressed and comfortable. Winning combination.

Dressed and Mombots

Confession: I'm afraid the moms at Little S' school are going to fry me up and eat me for lunch. They are of three types:

1) The Real Housewives - They are perfectly tanned, perfectly highlighted, donning designer dresses and jewelry, and all run to hug each other at the door of the school.

2) The Gymbots - They drop off and/or pick up their children in workout gear (skin-tight) and look like they exercised for 7 hours straight. Although sweaty, their hair is beautiful, make-up in-tact, and they are gorgeous.

3) The "Me" People - Normal

Nonetheless, I am afraid of them all. Maybe it's because I'm one of two new moms at the school and the other is quite anti-social. I'm not. But I'm scared to talk to the mombots. They're all well-versed in how to be a part of the little Montessori community and well, they're sort of perfect (at arms' reach). I'm sure they all struggle with the same stuff with which I do. But it's the least I can do to get out of my nursing top and panties in the morning, much less into a gorgeous outfit with make-up and hair or to the gym! I did get dressed this morning, but just because I felt like I had to.

Maybe feeling like I "have to" will get me back into the swing of feeling like I want to?

 shirt: Old Navy, skirt: Made by Me, scarf: c/o Happy Scarf, sandals: Target

Whether or not you're a busy mom, what motivates you to get dressed in the morning? What struggles do you face? Do you feel better when you start your day in an outfit you like?

Outfit Fail

I think I'll be having quite a few of these outfit fails while I'm trying to fit my between baby and normal body. Should be fun. This dress is a go-to for me whether pregnant or not. It's just been an awesome tent that I can belt or wear a cardigan with. I even want to get a slouchy sweater to wear over it in the fall for a completely shapeless look. Sounds sexy, right? I think I lost my style over the last year. I've got some work to do. Anyway, I wanted to wear my dress, but it's strapless and I'm nursing... I really need a good, supportive nursing bra and can't go strapless right now. I thought if I threw a top over and belted it, I'd still get the boho vibe I love from the dress and cover my straps. In looking at this, though, I remember how much I really dislike short sleeves and man, I look matronly. I tried.

 dress: F21, top: Old Navy (it's going to Goodwill), shoes: Fergie, belt: Old Navy

awesome lioness hair: c/o Summertime

I need to do myself a favor and not wear a belt until the belly is all the way gone. And while I'm at it, I'll do myself another favor and not wear sleeves this length, ever. Win some/lose some!

Baby, You're a Firework - A Week Late

Everyone shares their holidays a week late, right? Our first "big event" after Bean was born was July 4th. We didn't travel to visit family, but we had our own little cookout at home and ventured out to the local Town Commons for a beautiful fireworks display. There was a ton of walking involved between the car and the lawn and back. Add a massive stroller system and a toddler and I was super tired and sore by the end of the night. S loved the fireworks with remarks like, "Wow, beautiful!" and "Super cool!" after almost each one was set off. Bean slept the whole time. I'd forgotten how loud fireworks were and freaked out, putting my hands over her ears after the first one, but she was none the wiser.

Bean- dress: Faded Glory (consigned)

Me- dress/flip flops: Old Navy

S- dress: Old Navy, sandals: Target (gift from Aunt Whitney), bow: Local Artist

So I hope everyone had a very happy Fourth of July with friends and family. Better late than never, right?

Mom Jeans?

I'm baaaaaack!

It's been two weeks and three days since my little Bean was born and it's been busy to say the least! Sorry I've been MIA, but juggling the visitors, nursing, sleepless nights, two sweet little girls, and reminding myself to eat somewhere in between has proven too much for blogging! But... I'm here and I plan to keep going forward! Hopefully I can keep up, but I probably won't be updating at my normal rate for a while. Expect to see 2-3 posts a week until I get my bearings on this new life!

 on S- dress: Cracker Barrel, shoes: Kohl's, bow: Local Artist
on Bean- jumper: Baby Gap (consigned)
me- top: Oh Baby, jeans: Charlotte Russe, flip flops (GAH, these are NOT shoes): Old Navy, shades: NY&Co.


I got out of the house yesterday. FINALLY. I feel like I'm on lock-down and it's horrible. I like to go out and be moving and sitting around the house, waiting to heal up from my c-section and being on the baby's schedule has been challenging for me. Now, I realize I'm going to be on the baby's schedule for a long time. Hopefully I can figure out how to nurse outside of the house better! I've tried a few times and neither Bean or I can get comfortable. It's just a mess! I have to have my boppy with me and I forgot to take it around when I got to doctor's appointments or Babies R Us. Man, my life sounds like a ton of fun, doesn't it? IT IS. I swear. I'm so happy with these little girls. Bean has been such a total blessing and S is a wonderful, loving big sister. She hasn't shown any jealousy at all and I'm pretty shocked, to be honest. I'm sure once all the hype dies down and we don't have family coming and going, she'll realize she's not the center of the universe and it'll hit home. I pray for strength on that day.
In more exciting news... I'm wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans already! It took 6 months after I had S and 2 weeks and 2 days after I had Bean! I guess that's the difference between gaining 27 pounds and 50 pounds during a pregnancy. Granted, the jeans weren't comfortable, per se, they were on. Jeans are no bueno for post-cesarean incision pains. Just a tidbit of helpful information if you're ever in my shoes.

 Someday, I'll wear real shoes and dresses again, but for right now, all I can manage is to get dressed in something that's not a nursing tank and yoga pants. Everything has to be nursing friendly, even when I leave the house. I like the little list Kimmie put together about mom attire, here. Check it out!
Glad to be back! I've missed you guys!

Baby Bean Update: 36 Weeks & Mommy Moxie Winner!

First of all, I am officially dubbing myself the bravest plus-sized, pregnant style blogger because I'm posting 36 week pregnancy photos of me in a bathing suit.

#winning

Also, this has been my uniform as of late and I didn't wear anything else today, so...

 bathing suit: Merona for Target (last year-not maternity), flip flops: Old Navy

Well, you can't really see me anymore than that, right? This is Bean and me at 36 weeks and 1 day. Please excuse my amazingly sexy tank top tan lines. I've been wearing a tank top in the sun for the past year and a half while watching kids run around, so I think it might be semi-permanent. 

In other news, I touched up my roots (by myself! without a box!) and then got some highlights just to make things really evened out for my maternity pictures, which were yesterday. My best friend, Jackie, was here with her two youngest girls and we had a BUSY time. Crazy busy. But it was awesome to have her here and I can't wait 'til she gets back to stay for a week after Bean's born.

Pregnancy? Well, it's going... slowly. You know that hip adductor machine at the gym where you have the weights between your thighs and press together? Or maybe you'd understand riding a horse better... Either way, I feel like I've been doing those for a week straight. My inner thighs are killing me and I have absolutely no idea what the deal is. Pressure? Anyone experience that before? My hips, pelvis and low back (especially on the left side) are hurting all the time and about 75% of the time, my left bum cheek and left leg are numb/sore (sciatica). Being in the pool is 100% my favorite feeling right now, because it takes all the pressure off of my ginormous body. Oh, also, swelling is so happening. My flip flops and fake wedding ring no longer fit. So, yeah. Needless to say, I thought I was ready before, but I'm super ready, now. We have our 36 week appointment on Wednesday and are having an ultrasound for size and position. I pray that she's head down and wants to come out on her own before my surgery date. If not, oh well. It's in God's hands.

Big thanks to Mommy Moxie for having the awesome giveaway last week on my blog! We had a great turnout with 95 entries and the winner of the maternity hospital gown is MICHAELA! Congratulations! Michaela said she was going to use the gown as a shower gift for one of her many friends who are expecting soon.

If you haven't visited the Mommy Moxie shop recently, stop by! You can now order your own The Little Bit hospital gown and there are some awesome new items in the shop, too! Check out the Custom Minky Crib Sheet and Custom Changing Pad Cover! I'm definitely going to be getting one of those changing pad covers. Too cute!
If you entered the Mommy Moxie Giveaway last week and are interested in receiving a 20% shop discount on your next purchase, please email me for a special promo code!

Baby Bean Update: 31 Weeks

Ohhh, 31 weeks. We have seven weeks and 4 days until Bean comes. As soon as that sounds when I type it or say it out loud, it really feels like ages and eons away. I am so ridiculously uncomfortable and there just isn't enough room for a whole lot more stretching. I'm praying and praying that my previous c-section scar stays in tact with how low the baby is and how much pressure I feel. Quote of the week from innocent bystander: "Hold onto Jesus, girl." That was in reference to how big I am and how much longer I have left.

 dress: Old Navy Maternity (gift from Whitney), shoes: Sbicca from Ross

I sang the National Anthem at the Down East Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday morning and it wasn't horrible, but it didn't go as well as I'd hoped. As much as I'd practiced, I really thought I would nail it, but I was so nervous and shaky that I felt like I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth. Fortunately, I stayed on pitch and hit the high notes just fine. It just sounded like I had an outrageous vibrato since I was shaking so badly. And I was EXTRA uncomfortable because the MC was quite literally 6 inches away from me. I wanted to move, but couldn't make sense of sashaying 4 feet to the right in the middle of the song. Anyway, I wore this and it was light, breezy, comfortable, and almost patriotic. Thanks, Whitney, for buying it for me!

Symptoms include, but are not limited to: Lots of baby rolling around movements and not so much jabbing, long spurts of baby not moving at all and giving me serious anxiety, Braxton Hicks contractions that are getting stronger and a bit painful, growing bigger every day (so much so that maternity clothes that fit me two weeks ago are too tight, now), cravings for watermelon and strawberries (strawberries replaced pineapple due to the pineapple contractions), swelling in my hands, ankles, and feet, low and mid-back pain... I guess it's all normal. I'm thankful that I'm not nauseated, but still can't believe that my symptoms are so strong and I'm so uncomfortable and I still have almost 2 months to go!

 My husband thinks it's hilarious to start walking around me like what he thinks a fashion photographer would do, point the camera in my face and moving all fast at different angles, saying stuff like, "Oh yeah, that's good. Yep, like that! Keep posing. Smile, pretty lady." Sometimes I laugh. And sometimes I'm really pregnant, hot, uncomfortable, and hungry... so I look like this.

Two of my best girlfriends, Whitney and Jen, sent lots of awesome stuff for Bean and S this weekend. Well, Whitney visited (ie: no blog post over the weekend) and brought the stuff from Jen (and Jim!). Bean has enough clothes to probably wear 3 outfits a day for her first 3 months. And she has a sporadic sprinkling of jammies, onesies, and t-shirts for 6, 9, and 12 months. I hope that eventually, she'll fit into S' stuff, but they're so far off season that I'm not sure how it'll all work out. I guess spring and fall are pretty interchangeable as far as weather goes. I'll have to investigate the attic. S got some princess makeup (don't worry- it's for liiitttle girls), shoes, and a big sister/little sister doll set. SO CUTE! My little girls are so blessed to be so loved and I'm blessed to be loved and taken care of. 

Turquoise & Magenta

I've only worn this dress once before and decided it was time to break it out, again! I love the color and how pink is almost as versatile as black! I also decided I won't be wearing belts for a whole lot longer because as much as it's not too uncomfortable to wear one, there really just isn't space for them. Even the skinny ones!

 dress: Old Navy Maternity, belt: Old Navy, shoes: Target, necklace: The Body Shop

I love getting dressed for bible study. It's about the only thing (along with church) for which I get really excited to put on a dress. Sure, I dress myself when I go out on errands with S, but I don't wear dresses all the time. Those cuffed jeans are sort of my zone right now. I'm alright with that, though. Jeans = getting dressed, right? 

One Last Cool Weather Day

I wore this to church on Sunday but had such a painful day that I forgot to photograph it! I put the whole McDeal back on just to take pictures in my awesome back yard just so I didn't miss out on sharing! I do think this is the last time until Bean comes that I'm getting this skirt on. It didn't want to come over my top or my bottom... That felt pretty good.

I was planning on editing out our less than attractive grass and the sidewalk chalk all over my porch, but you know what? This is my life. I kind of love it... minus the grass. Having S' art work all over our porch makes me happy every time I open the curtains! As soon as it rains, I ask her to go out and fill it all up, again.

 top & skirt: Old Navy, scarf: c/o Happy Scarf, belt: New York & Company, boots: Silhouettes

Bean and I had our 30 week appointment yesterday. She's perfect and we're right on schedule. No VBAC for me, at least I got some answers and understand the decision. I'm so ready to meet this little one!

Baby Bean Update: 30 Weeks {and Counting...}

... and counting, and counting, and counting.

I would lie if I said I wasn't counting and complaining. Yesterday, I said to my husband, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe we still have nine weeks until Bean gets here. It seems so long!" And his response was, "Yeah... it really does." I said, "You just want her to come sooner so I stop complaining!" And he didn't argue. "Well, yeah." It was sarcastic, of course. And then I told him I'd be a bigger boat load of fun while healing from a c-section and starting to re-learn the whole breastfeeding gig. I got an eye roll. Deservedly so, because just about the only words that come out of my mouth these days are, "Owww, my back hurts" or "Oh my gosh, I'm so done with this!" To be fair, I feel like someone is constantly either stepping or stabbing my sacrum.

I'd also be lying if I told you I dressed better than this, today. Part of me thought I should shower and put on a cute dress to take my 30 week photos and the other part of me thought that would be really dishonest. The truth of the matter is that I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, threw on this fancy outfit and my husband's baseball cap, and scooted to Old Navy for the $8 dress sale. What I didn't read in my email was that only ONE style of dress was $8. The large was too small in the belly and the XL was too big in the chest. I came out with three things and not one of them was the sale dress.

top: Old Navy, tank: Old Navy Maternity, yoga pants: Old Navy, hat: Longwood University, flip flops: Joe Boxer (jacked. oops.)

Bean is getting low, friends! I mean, she's been low for a few weeks, now, but she's really moving down the gravy train. Ew. That sounds disgusting. I had this awesome idea when I was lying in bed yesterday morning. I decided I'm going to ask my doctor if I can nix the planned cesarean and go into labor like normal. The worst she can say is, "You're crazy! It's unsafe for you AND the baby. Come on, Kimberly... of all people! You're the most dramatic person in the world and you love a schedule. Let's be real." Yep, I already planned the conversation out in my head. But as long as I'm already prepared for the worst, I figure I'll ask. My appointment is Monday, so I'll let you know how that goes.

I don't usually wear baseball caps, so this seemed like an appropriate way to pose. Don't ask what my face is all about because I'm not really sure. I felt pretty official until I saw the photo. Now I know why people don't take me too seriously when I'm trying to be official.

This is an epic post. I would just like to note that I'm still under a 13 lb. weight gain at 30 weeks and am very proud of myself. With S at 30 weeks, I'd gained 30 lbs. I would also like to talk to My Man, JC, since I know He reads my blog. Jesus, why is it that I only crave watermelon and pineapple? Every time I put a bite of food in my mouth, I wish it was pineapple... and then I remember that every time I eat pineapple, I have contractions. Then I crave the next best thing: watermelon. There are obviously a whole lot of worse things in the world, but I'm just wondering why this is happening. I would really like to devour an entire fresh pineapple every 2-3 days.

Amen.

And if you needed just a little more reading to do (readers are the smartest!), you should know that my lovely friend, Megan, over at TFD, is giving away FREE MONEY. No, this is not a scam.