The last pregnant pictures...

I'm not going to lie...I think I'm going to miss being pregnant.

Toward the end, I admit, it got rough, but it was really a pleasant experience.

Sweater: Abercrombie via Plato's Closet, Tee: Liz Lange, Skirt: Banana Republic (similar), Shoes: Blowfish via Marshall's, Necklace: Silpada (similar)

Being able to feel baby growing and moving and resting throughout the day was an amazing feeling.

There were obviously some hardships throughout pregnancy and a lot of restrictions,

but they didn't bother me much.  Nothing could really trump the fact that I had a healthy baby boy growing inside of me.

Sometimes I forget that I'm no longer pregnant and I do things that I did or I don't do things I didn't do while I was pregnant.

Like, the other night rather than rolling from my stomach to my side, I literally did a 360 in the bed to get where I wanted to be.

Or when I attempted to balance my bowl of lasagna on my stomach only to realize there was no stomach to balance it on.  Can't be too mad about that.

Sometimes, even, I forget that I can fit through narrower spaces now - there isn't that belly there protruding and bumping into people or things.

Winning Belly Looks

Since the majority of 2013 was spent pregnant for me, I thought I would go back through and share my favorite outfits I pulled together over the course of the (almost) 9 months I was with belly.

Do you have a favorite?

P.S. Happy 2014!

Unedited

These photos are unedited (as if you couldn't tell).  I'm still adjusting to mommy-hood and sometimes, life is messy. It's not an easy transition even when you do get to stay home 24/7.  

You can also see that these pictures were taken pre-baby.  I'm almost 9 months pregnant here.

Remember when I told you how my wardrobe was getting extremely limited, my shoe selection in particular?  Well, this is what I typically wore to school the last week (or three) of pregnancy.

It was comfortable and it fit my fat, swollen feet.

Sweater: Motherhood Maternity, Vest: GAP (old, similar), Pants: thrifted, Shoes: Dansko

I got these pants early on in my pregnancy and joked to my mom that I may never get to wear them because they were so big for me when I bought them.  Ha.

I found them in Goodwill with the tags still on them for $3.75.

I started to think twice about this post and whether or not it was okay to share unedited photos and the fact that I haven't posted consistently in two weeks because, as of yesterday, that's how old CT is.

Then I thought, you know...

we need to see the unedited version of life once in a while.

So much of what is on Pinterest and what I see on blogs and Instagram is edited.

And it can make you feel a little intimidated or flare up the green-eyed monster if you aren't careful.

What we typically share on here is the good stuff - not the bad.  We don't like rehashing the bad so why would we document it?  So, I've made a decision just now that I'm going to be brave enough to share all of it...the edited and unedited versions.

When Your Hubby Surprises You

*If you missed it, I have a great giveaway going right now from LillyBean!  Check it out here.*

Last week my husband randomly asked me one afternoon if I would be interested in going to a Duke game Friday night.

Interested?

I practically jumped out of my chair and had to actually reconsider what he had just offered.  Duke tickets are sacred and unless you know someone who knows someone who knows someone whose had season tickets for decades, you just assume you'll never get to go to one.  Or okay...you could be a Cameron Crazy or something, but pretty much - not happening.

Sweater: Old Navy, Tee: Liz Lange for Target, Jeans: Liz Lange for Target, Shoes: Blowfish via Marshalls, Earrings: c/o Dress 2 Kill Closet, Necklace: eBay

Obviously none of my Duke t-shirts are going to fit this belly and it would be silly to go out and buy one to fit it since I won't be able to wear it later.  

So, what do you wear when you are 8 months pregnant and your hubby randomly surprises you with Duke tickets? 

All the Duke blue things you have in your closet.  

Confessions of a Pregnant Woman

Button-up: AE (option), Tee: Liz Lange, Jeans: Liz Lange (thrifted), Booties: UrbanOg (love these)

+ I sweat.  A lot.  It comes out of my hands and feet (pee-youuu) and by the end of the day, my hair needs to be washed again.+

+When people tell me they don't think I'll make it (in reference to my due date).  I want to pat them on the head and say, "Don't worry.  Lots of women have had babies and survived."+

+I get most of my calcium from ice cream.+

+No matter how far along I am, I will never be okay with someone commenting on the size of my belly.+

+I've gotten so used to feeling my babe move around inside me I forget to tell my husband to come feel it.  Oops!+

+I have cankles.  Honestly, I don't care as long as they aren't swollen cankles.+

+Your skin is like a balloon.  Seriously, I can't believe how much it has stretched.+

+The body is weird.  Even more weird than you think it is.+

+Boogers multiply when you're pregnant.+

+If you can't laugh at yourself, don't get pregnant.+

The Middle of Nowhere

Sweater: Burke's Outlet (similar, similar), Jeans: Old Navy Maternity, Boots: Steve Madden (similar)

I was on my way to have brunch with a girlfriend one Saturday and I had brought my tripod and camera thinking there might be a cute place nearby to take some pictures.  As I was driving, I rode right by this old building with this message on it.  It literally made me stop in my tracks, turn around, and come back to take pictures.  I couldn't resist.

What a great place to take some outfit photos?!  Right, smack dab, in the middle of nowhere.

P.S. Non-maternity sweaters make great maternity staples because they so quickly gather back their shape when washed appropriately.  Keep that in your pocket for a preggo day. 

The best kind of weekend.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

A.A. Milne

That quote explains exactly how I feel right now to a "T."  Couldn't have said it better myself.

Sweater: H&M, Jeans: Old Navy Maternity, Shoes: Steve Madden, Necklace: Premier, Bracelets: Forever 21

It's difficult to really express the weekend I just had.  If you get to see your family on a consistent basis, you may think I'm a total freak for thinking I had the best weekend when I did a whole lot of nothing, but got to do it with the people I love most.

Prior to last Tuesday I hadn't seen my parents since July.  That's a long time!  Especially when one is incubating a baby...there is a lot of growth in those months!  

Last Tuesday I got a wild hair and despite promising myself I wouldn't miss a day of school before baby, I decided to leave at 3:00 and head to VA to spend the night with mom and dad.  I found someone to cover my late bus duty, our ball game was cancelled so I didn't have ball game duty, and I took the next day off work.  It was worth every second of vacation time I used.

We literally did a whole lot of nothing on Wednesday, but we did it together.

We ate a big breakfast, scoped out Goodwill, and went through 2 huge garbage bags full of baby clothes mom purchased for Baby G!  They are adorable.  He is so spoiled already.  Obviously mom has the same thrifting gene I do - wonder where I got that from!

Over the weekend, hubby and I went back up to spend the weekend with them at the campground and we did a lot of sitting around the campfire, laughing, and making new memories together.

It was a bombDOTcom weekend.

Thursday Treats

Sweater: Abercrombie via Plato's Closet, Top: GAP maternity via online yard sale, Jeans: Motherhood (gifted)

Thursdays I dress a little more casually for work.  I always waited until Friday to wear jeans and even then I would dress them up with a nice top, cardigan, or dressy shoes.  That day has now turned to Thursdays.  Thursdays make Friday seem a little further away right now so comfort is key.

See, on Thursdays I get to work by 7:15 and I don't get home until about 8:40 p.m.  I teach 95 8th graders all day and then I have about an hour break (in which I typically run on the treadmill at school) before heading to my master's class from 4:00-8:15.  If I'm expected to do all that in one day, I want to be comfortable while I'm doing it.

Since Thursdays can seem so long, sometimes I treat myself to something special as a reward for doing all that in such a short amount of time.  Sometimes I forgo my run and I just...

• wander around the children's section at thrift store for 30 minutes
• stop at Sonic for a cherry limeade or caramel sundae
• read blogs for 30 minutes after school
• window shop online

What do you treat yourself with?

Thrifted Corduroy

Scarf: Gift, Top: Liz Lange for Target, Pants: Old Navy Maternity (thrifted)

I've always been a fan of corduroy.  Especially corduroy in browns.

I've also always been a big fan of thrifting, upcycling, and yard saling. (Thanks mom!)

So, when you walk into a thrift store and all women's tops and pants (including maternity) are $2 each and you find Old Navy brown maternity corduroys, it's a no brainer.  They go in your cart and come home with you.  Macklemore would be so proud.

Pair those $2 pants with a few other items and you have an entire maternity outfit for <$20?!  Amazing.

I realize this outfit may be a bit frumpy because the pants are slightly big on me.  Fact of the matter is, they are comfortable and I will grow into them in the next 3 months.  Therefore, I'm not going to do a thing to change them.  I had thought about taking them in, but negative!  

What great deals have you scooped up lately?

Just the 2 of Us

I've really been soaking in these weeks with just baby and me.  When I first announced my pregnancy my MIL shared with me that she thought it was so neat that for those weeks when even you don't know you're pregnant, it's like God's little secret He shares just with you.

Top: Bass Outlet non-maternity (similar, similar), Pants: Mimi Maternity (similar,non-maternity option)

Bracelet: Groopdealz, Shoes: Steve Madden

I've been thinking more and more about that because it won't be long and I'm going to have to share this little boy with others.  Right now, it's just the two of us and I really like it that way.  Don't get me wrong, I want to share him with my husband and my family, but this is special.

In just a few short months other people are going to want to hold him, snuggle him, and kiss him.  I will share him for bath time, play time, feeding time, all the time.  He will still be mine, but others will want their time with him, too.  

So these last few months, I'm going to cherish.  I plan to make less plans.  To be alone with my babe.  To take him for long walks, runs in the cool air, and just sit and appreciate the fact that we can be together these 9 months when no one else can be.

I read this quote the other day by Pink and I think she put it so perfectly:

"What surprises me most about being a mom is that there were ever moms that didn't enjoy it. I know it's a lot of work and it's exhausting and it's a lot of pressure, but what a blessing and a gift."

For real though, how can anyone not enjoy this amazing time?  The time when you share your sweet little one with no one else.  It is so precious and priceless and absolutely miraculous.

A pop of Sunshine

The beautiful Manda nominated me for the Sunshine Award so I thought I'd spread some sunshine today.  These are the rules in case you get tagged:

1. Include award logo in a post or on your blog.

2. Link to the person who nominated you.
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself. 
4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award. 
5. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated

Now for Manda's questions...

Scarf: gift, Top: Liz Lange Maternity, Jeans: Liz Lange Maternity

1. What made you start blogging?

I was reading several other blogs.  Particularly ones about sewing and sharing different tutorials.  After really connecting with some of those bloggers I decided I wanted in on the community that blogging provides.  So, I started my own space and haven't looked back since!

2. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

I think if I could live anywhere it would be somewhere all of my friends and family lived.  There are certain places I would love to live, but it would put me far away from my loved ones so as long as I could take them with me I'd be good.

3. What's your favorite vacation spot or dream vacation?

I love our honeymoon; we did things on that trip that we knew we might never be able to afford to do again.  However, we would both really like to go to the west coast and rent a car to drive up and down and I would love to visit Italy and France.

4. If you could meet a blogger you haven't had a chance to meet in person, who would it be?

There are a few!  I would love to meet Manda because we text back and forth so much, I feel like we have been friends since childhood.  I would also really love to meet Merrick and Leanne.  They are 2 I originally started reading and they are SO talented.

5. What's your dream job?

I would love to be a stay at home mom.  I know I've been in school for many years, still paying debt on my loans, and that I just completed my National Boards, but I really want to just stay home with my babes.

6. What's your perfect date consist of?

I think the perfect date would be a walk on the beach with the dogs and a quiet dinner with live music.

7. What's your favorite bible passage or saying and why?

Psalm 46:5 God is within her; she will not fall.

8. If you were stuck on a desert island what would you bring?

Sunscreen, a filtered water bottle, and bug spray.  Bare essentials. 

9. What's your favorite thing to do on a free day?
I love free days.  Waking up early, enjoying a cup of coffee or cocoa, lighting some candles, and just easing in to my day.  Then I love sewing, making a Target run, or just being home.  I'm a huge homebody.

10. What would be your favorite gift you've ever received or given?
I have to admit my husband is the best gift giver, but I must say the priceless gift of being a mommy is the BEST gift I've ever received.

My questions:
1. Who is your blogger inspiration?
2. What is your biggest dream?
3.  How do you gain inspiration for your writing?
4.  What is your favorite holiday tradition?
5.  If money were no object, what would your perfect weekend entail?
6.  What is your favorite fall activity?
7.  What is one passion you may or may not share on your blog?
8.  What is your exercise routine?
9.  What was the last book you read?  How would you rate it?
10.  Share one thing about yourself.

My nominations:
Fitness Blondie
Mal Smiles
Because Shanna Said So
Still Being Molly
Head to Toe Chic
Mia Maree
Camp Patton
For Lauren and Lauren
Bliss to Bean
This is Happiness

Linking up for the Trend of the Month

PinkBlush Maternity

When you are pregnant and you find an article of maternity clothing that makes you feel beautiful;  something special that makes your body feel like it still belongs to you and even though you are sharing it with a miracle, it is gorgeous.  When it is swollen, heavy, and tired... you get it.

I am not complaining about pregnancy - honestly, I've felt more beautiful with a bump than I did without one the months leading up to my pregnancy.  Something about a pregnant woman has always been gorgeous to me.  

When I found PinkBlush Maternity and realized that they provide trendy maternity clothes for great prices, I was so excited.  They have the cutest dresses, skirts, tops, and bottoms.  Knowing I had several weddings in the fall, I purchased this navy blue lace dress thinking I could style it differently so that I could wear it to each event and no one would know the difference!  

I will go ahead and say, most maternity clothes are very comfortable and this dress is no exception.  I felt beautiful all night long and I was even able to dance to Ice Ice Baby!  Can't wait to share that with Baby G when he gets here!

Link up your own celebrations below then scroll down to sign up to win a gift from PinkBlush!

Lucky for you, PinkBlush is offering one of my readers a $25 shop credit!  Just enter below to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spruce up your bump (2)

Pregnancy is no excuse to fall victim to the yoga pants blues.  You know, that point where you decide there isn't anything that is ever going to fit over that big bulge in your front or the newly defined hump on your backside?  Tell me, I'm not the only one.

But really though, maternity clothes are expensive, limited, and very basic, I get it.  Last week I shared some accessories that can be used to spruce up your bump and this week I'm sharing regular pieces of clothing you can use to spruce it up. The luxury of these pieces is that you may already own them or if you add them to your closet, you will be able to wear them after baby as well.

spruce up your bump2 by coachgaines featuring a v neck vest

I am a lover of layers and luckily, the majority of my pregnancy, or at least the big months, are going to take place in September through January which means I can use layers to stretch my pregnancy wardrobe.  I think putting effort into my outfits will help to make me feel like "me" and more beautiful as I continue to blossom.

Loose sweaters are a great way to keep the bump cozy and warm and also hide a post-bump belly once baby comes.  They will also look great paired with boots and skinny jeans once body by baby is gone and mommas got her groove back.

Button up shirts and vests are perfect to wear in lieu of cardigans to spruce up an outfit.  I especially love the army green fad going on right now.  I'm on the hunt for a vest to add to my own wardrobe.

I'm also a huge fan of the open cardigan all the time, but I especially like ones without buttons right now because they make it appear like the cardigan was never meant to be buttoned in the first place.  Let's be honest, it ain't buttoning right now!

Last, but not least, I have vowed I will not purchase a winter maternity coat.  Mainly because I know they will be expensive and I know I won't wear it for long because winter's in NC are so mild.  I live in down vests in the fall/winter here because that's really all we need.  So, I'm planning on layering a down vest over my belly with scarves and mittens and hoping to stay warm enough with those layers.

What pieces do you incorporate to your maternity wardrobe?