Loss.

Obviously you can tell that the regularly scheduled programming 'round these parts has been far less regular and far more irregular. 

I was very excited to find August was here upon us, which means for us as a family super slow days and plenty of time to just. get. stuff. done. already.  For me that included making my sewing room super organized and efficient, getting clothing ready to sell or give away, and sitting down and posting here as often as possible.

But, bam, August 1st arrives, and while waiting for August to come I realized something else had not come the way it was supposed to, so on that Friday morning, I asked my husband to stop at the CVS on the way home and buy me a pregnancy test.

And because I have already had many pregnancies under my belt, I knew that there was no way it would be negative, but since most ob/gyn offices won't invite you to come on in to discuss your pregnancy without a positive test, I took one as soon as enough time had passed for it to be anything but a baby on the way.

Yep.  I was pregnant. 

We were never not okay with having a fourth child, we just had it in our head that we shouldn't, and we took the time to ensure we weren't going to have a fourth.  Well, my OB said that as women age, you can actually ovulate earlier, and so even if you are fairly sure of your NFP signs (we are devout Catholics and do NFP--more on that here), "advanced maternal age" moms will ovulate earlier.  Oh, is that right?

So upon realizing our pregnancy, and sitting a bit slack-jawed, we both really came around to the idea and were thrilled at having a new little one in our lives.

Then Sunday, August 3 came, along with a bit of blood.  Scared out of my mind and sure I was losing the baby, I told my hubby.  He looked pretty crestfallen, too.  Then the bleeding stopped completely, and Dr. Google told me the baby may be okay.

So Monday comes and I go to see the doctor, and all looks good and she seemed not too concerned about the blood, but told me to watch for it in the future.  She also took my bloodwork, and by the next day I found my HCG levels were very high, and my progesterone was a bit low (but still in the "acceptable" limits).  She made me get some progesterone to help me and the baby, and all was good. 

For a week.  The next Tuesday (the 12th) at night I once again started bleeding, and while it was not a huge amount, it never stopped.  I called the doctor and she said to get an ultrasound the next morning and see what's going on...

Of course we immediately scheduled something the next morning, and nervous as hell, I walk into the ultrasound room, and as quickly as she got the gel on my belly, we saw the heartbeat.  I started weeping in happiness that the baby had a heartbeat.

The ultrasound showed the bleed near the baby, though, and they told me the doctor at my practice would let me know more about what to do.

But because we had seen the heartbeat and evidence of where the bleed was coming from, we figured we would be okay, especially if I took it easy and didn't do too much. 

I made sure the office wanted me to keep my appointment for Tuesday, August 19, and they confirmed that they still wanted to see me. 

After seeing the baby and the sweet little heartbeat, the bleeding continued, never especially heavy, but there was evidence that maybe everything wasn't okay, including clots and cramping, but Dr. Google said a lot of women had those, too, and their babies were just fine.

Armed with that knowledge, I went into the appointment ready to go.  Well, it wasn't so great.  Turns out my doctor was really uncomfortable with the amount I kept bleeding, and the cramping made her unsure of my pregnancy's state, so she said to steel myself for a 50/50 chance of miscarrying the baby.  And she made me go in for another ultrasound, "ASAP."

The next available appointment was the next day, and through it all, I was fairly convinced that everything would be okay, and if it wasn't we would see a baby without a heartbeat (which would be awful, obviously). 

What we didn't expect was that the ultrasound tech would see NOTHING in the uterus, no sac, no baby and the heartbeat, nothing. 

Turns out that I had miscarried and hadn't even known it. 

I was STUNNED.  I literally couldn't talk. 

See I have miscarried before.  TWICE...both before Rex came along.  And both of those didn't show up as miscarriages until the ultrasound showed either a baby with no heartbeat or an empty sac (blighted ovum).  The miscarriage I had with the baby with no heartbeat was HORRIBLE, PAINFUL, AWFUL, and frankly was the reason why I was petrified at the prospect of having another one.  So to have a miscarriage and not even notice it was happening (seriously, very little pain, not that much blood, etc.) seemed unreal.

Finding out made me sad and blue, of course.  The kids were super sad.  (We told them only because of the heartbeat, in the past, for us anyhow, heartbeat equals kid is cooking properly.)  I wasn't sure how to process the events that had been swirling around me for the past half a month.  It was all too much. 

I will never regret getting pregnant for the sixth time.  The potential of an extra baby in the house was thrilling, if a bit scary financially and physically. 

I have no great ending to this story, except I really wanted to tell it.  Humanity shows its greatness in times of grief, and if this story helps someone else out there with one of their own struggles, then I am happy to have told the tale.

I also wanted a record of the baby that was and then was no longer with us.  And by telling this baby's story, I have told the story of my other babies that didn't make it. 

I know that I am now back to being semi-close to normal, and progress has restarted on plans I had to put off in early August.  I feel ready to go back to what we were meant to do, instead of planning for something we weren't thinking we would do, but returning to that was HARD since the new plans were more than okay by me. 

I guess that's all.  I wish I had more to share, but maybe this is just enough. 

I will be back tomorrow with more frivolity and silliness and clothing and stuff, but I couldn't restart that without writing the above.

Mommy Style Monday #29: Pregnant, Postpartum, and Nursing, Boden Sale Edition.

I was asked by a blog friend, K., if I had any advice for her on choosing perfect pregnant/postpartum/nursing styles from the upcoming Boden clearance sale (set to drop anywhere between this Friday and next week).  She is currently 13 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of the second trimester.  She wanted to plan for her pregnancy and future postpartum/nursing needs by seeking out the best prices on the very best options that Boden offers.

Having (obviously) just finished my pregnancy and (most of) my postpartum period wearing a whole buttload of Boden, I definitely know what worked for me and what should work for the vast majority of pregnant ladies.  There are some things that Boden does lack, and I will be mentioning them, but if you are savvy, and you do plan well, you should be able to grab the best prices on items that can work for the full ten months of pregnancy and beyond.  :)

I specifically chose items that can work year round, with the exception of the most hot and most cold days of the year. 

Below the photo of each item, I have included a link to the item, along with an explanation of why it works for either pregnancy, postpartum, or nursing.  I will also make note of if it will work for any other period, for instance, if a top works for pregnancy, but can also be useful for nursing.

Onto the picks!

Pregnancy:

Border Print Tunic.  Did any of you suspect I would go here first?  LOL.  I truly believe this is a magical clothing item as it worked on me during pregnancy, during the postpartum period, and will still fit me well five years from now.  The stretchy jersey fabric is amazing and stretches to accommodate a belly but doesn't looked stretched out after pregnancy.  It is worth the full price, but you can always get this with at least a 15% off.  However, there are likely to be at least a couple of popbacks on this item during clearance time, which means my friend could try and get it for the best price of the season (probably will be 35% off if past years are any indication).

This is not a great top for nursing, however.  As much as I love it, the longer length proves to be a hassle to pull up and the v-neck does NOT pull over enough for easy access for the baby.

Kimono Dress.  Like the Border Print Tunic, this is a great fabric for a growing belly, with the added bonus of looser armholes.  This is a nice feature if you happen to gain weight in your upper body, shoulders, or arms in pregnancy.

This would also be lovely during the postpartum period since it is super soft and a bright and cheery fabric. 

Again, not the best choice for nursing, for the reasons I listed under the Border Print Tunic.

I suspect this will go on deep discount, seeing as it is 40% off now.  It may stay at 40% off for a while, but if the stocks stay high, my friend can get it for much more off when the second cuts happen (usually three weeks post the start of the clearance).

Leggings.  Yes, I do mention the Boden Maternity leggings, but later.  For most of my pregnancy, I wore regular leggings.  Here's why...I happened to have a belly that sat super high and regular leggings fit fine on my legs and right beneath my belly.  Now, if your belly grows and sits lower, you will likely need maternity leggings earlier, but for most folks, especially in the first and second trimesters, you should be able to get away with normal leggings.  :)

These will work for nursing as well.  I do NOT recommend these for the postpartum period, especially if you had a c-section.  Your body needs soft, NON-constricting waistbands, and these elastic bands, while normally comfortable, can feel noose-like right after having the baby.  Do your body a favor and wear the loosest fitting items, at least until your body heals.

Leggings are such a staple that these MAY NOT go to sale.  If that happens, you can still grab them by calling the company (at clearance, any "normal" priced items disappear).  Or you can wait until the fall stuff comes on-line and buy it with whatever promo happens to be around then (it usually starts off at 15% off with free ship and returns).

Plait Trim Top.  Again, a non-maternity item for pregnancy.  I wore mine well into my third trimester and fell in love with the stretchy, soft material.  I also love how the neckline forces the eye up and away from the belly.

This top will work for postpartum AND for nursing.  It's a great buy.  It is nearly sold out, and I doubt the savings will be significant in clearance time, but still, 35% off is better than full price. 

Special Day Tunic.  I have this in the yellow color and I adored how pretty it made me feel.  It worked great with jeans and leggings, but now that I have had Gus, it works well as a mini-dress.  If you are a bit shorter than I am, you could wear it as an actual dress after you have the baby.

I believe this could be worn postpartum, but I hesitate to suggest that because of its blatant "pregnant" style.  Since you carry a lot of extra weight in your middle postpartum, it could make you look still pregnant.  Once you shed that weight, the concern goes away, but bear that in mind if you want to wear it post-baby but pre-loss of baby weight.  :)

Boden Maternity does NOT go to clearance sale for the current season (for most of the items, anyhow).  This means the spring/summer maternity items will go to clearance next fall.  That does mean, though, the fall stuff will go to sale this upcoming week.  That works very well if you are going to have your baby anytime between October and January!

That said, the Boden Maternity stuff does sell FAST if it goes to clearance, especially to the very audience looking for it, so be quick if you see your item in the pink "low stock" box.

Postpartum:

Alfresco Top.  Yet another one of my favorites from the postpartum period.  This soft as silk top is able to stretch, but does not look like it is straining in any way if it goes beyond its garment measurements.  Its v-neck and empire waist highlights what is, for most postpartum women, their thinnest parts. 

This top would also likely work for a pregnant lady (not the late third trimester, though) and definitely will work for a nursing mom (wore mine last week, in fact).

This should go on some deeper discount but is also popular, so will need to be picked up within the first few days of the clearance.

Evie Dress.  I felt so good in this dress three weeks after Angus was born, I truly thought I had a whole new body.  In reality, I did still have many lumps and bumps, but the silk jersey fabric skimmed over my curves instead of clinging to my curves.  You may not want to leave the house after having the baby, but it is really nice to have a dressy option if you do end up going out for dinner (which you should, btw, you 100% deserve a nice night out!).

Great dress for pregnancy, I wore its precursor while in my early third trimester, but definitely not a great option for nursing as the v-neck is not capable of being pulled to the side.

Maternity Leggings.  Yes, I put the maternity leggings here, instead of in the "pregnancy" part.  I really, truly feel that the soft, non-binding, high waistband of these leggings are so SO nice for the first week after giving birth, that I want and insist all pregnant women buy them.  I was SO happy I had them to wear home from the hospital.  :)

Now if you do need the higher coverage leggings earlier, obviously these are fantastic for the pregnancy, but like I said above, many of you can get by with regular leggings for 3/4s of your pregnancies.

These will probably not go on sale, but their current price is more than reasonable.  

Wrap Jersey Top. I actually have seen this top on a non-pregnant lady, and she looked so comfortable and happy, it immediately struck me that a postpartum woman would feel wonderful in this top.

This could also work for pregnancy (stretchy fabric again) and nursing (pull the top up rather than moving the v-neck to the side). 

This is literally the only color left in stock.  It will likely be the only one to make it to clearance, and it won't be super-super cheap.  I do know you will get a lot of use out of it, though!

Nursing:

Drapey Jersey Cardigan.  I added this cardi with the rest of my nursing choices because the extra fabric there in the front is AWESOME for covering up baby when you are nursing.  I know some ladies can easily nurse with the goods all out there (and it is protected by my most states, so you all know), but I am not one of them, so I always have a cover-up with me.  This cardi, though, could easily take the place of the cover-up, so bravo for that.  Definitely not a summer option, especially around here.  ;)

Obviously a cardi can work whenever, so enjoy while pregnant and postpartum!

This will make it to sale and should make it to a great price.

Elegant Summer Maxi.  I am not crazy suggesting you get a maternity dress for postpartum...I promise.  Hear me out.  Since Boden is notorious for making shorter length maxi dresses (hello ANKLE length, lol), the extra length the fabric has for the belly will make the dress nice and long up front (and much more like a traditional maxi dress).  But here is why it is the perfect nursing dress...it can be pulled down from the straps for access to baby's breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. (I show the back of the dress...if the straps on the back are defined and separated, you can do the pull down maneuver, if the straps are not visible on the back and instead you see a swath of fabric, the front strap portion cannot be pulled down--not good for nursing).

This one can clearly be worn during pregnancy, and postpartum, but keep it around for later.  :)  It comes in a nice neutral so that in winter you can dress it up with a sparkly jacket or cardi and call it a night out.

This will not likely go to sale, but if you fancy longer gowns, then its current price will probably be decent enough to justify it (especially if you will wear it often).

Favourite Jersey Maxi.  Like the one above, these straps can be pulled down for easy access.  I own this one in the pink pansy color and loved it for that very reason.  I plan on wearing this for many years to come, but this was an added bonus.  :)

You can definitely wear it pregnant, but bear in mind that it will be shorter in front the further you get into your pregnancy.  It is definitely soft enough for postpartum, but it might be a touch too difficult to get over your head, so if your body is saying no to putting it on, just don't.  LOL.

Will go to clearance in this shade, but will sell fast.  I am willing to bet on that one. 

Gathered Front Vest.  This has the pull down straps that I prefer to use (I don't mind tugging the shirt up, but it leaves my belly exposed, which I don't care for) and has the added bonus of being infinitely layerable.  Great on its own with some jewelry in summer, wonderful in the fall and spring with cardi on top, and perfection in winter with a jacket and scarf.

Usable in pregnancy, but may be too short for use in the last bits of pregnancy, especially if you have a long torso and/or bigger belly.  Definitely nice and cozy for postpartum.

This one should make it to sale, and be a decent price.

Oil Cloth Slouchy Bag.  I decided to add a bag to my "must have" lists because this one is so utterly right for the nursing momma.  It has a fabric that can withstand spills and gross bathroom floors (use a cleansing wipe on it afterwards), plus its large size and long strap mean that it can hold a lot (pumps! wipes! 5 size 2 diapers!!!) and can be worn across the chest (hands free, woo hoo!).

Yes it can be used by all sorts of women, even worn the silly way that Vanessa is holding it.  :)

It is fully stocked in the floral shade above, but sold out in the ditsy pattern in the lower photo. 

Shirt Dress.  Made from linen, it isn't my favorite fabric (bonjour wrinkles!), but it is definitely exactly what a nursing mom needs, easy access and a cool fabric.  This one has a placket that extends deeply, so you can unbutton the dress as far down as you need to (for me, I typically need to undo four or five buttons).

I don't recommend this for either pregnancy or the immediate postpartum period as those awesome easy access buttons will be gaping like mad with growing or shrinking bellies. 

This will make it to sale, but not at a super great price.  I have noticed Boden's linen items sell fast, too.

Strappy Beach Dress.  I love love mine, but only once I found the right fit.  I am a big fan of the straps which make Angus's life easier because he doesn't have to wait for food as long (these are the pull down type of straps).  Unfortunately all colors are sold out except for the top shade (still lovely, though).  I do not expect there to be a great reduction on this one even if a color pops back during clearance.  For all the sizing issues people had with it, the dress sold like hot cakes.

Not recommended for pregnancy (early pregnancy, maybe) or postpartum (possibly after a few weeks gone, though).

Notes on Sizing
I say in jersey fabrics you should buy your normal size if you are postpartum or nursing.  If you are pregnant and want to wear it pregnant, buy normal size if you are fine with not wearing it the last few weeks OR buy one size up if you want to wear it all the way to the due date.

Boden Maternity is sized generously.  I always take a size 4 in their dresses, tunics, and tops, and was taking a 6 in their maternity leggings.  I did NOT give their pants a try because they got pretty dismal reviews and I already had a stockpile of AWESOME duo Maternity (JCP) pants from my prior pregnancies.  I could have sized down to a 2 (!!!) for some of the dresses and tops because Boden gives a lot of room for growing bustlines, which mine did not (grow, that is).

In regular fabrics, the decision is harder.  I would say size up one if you want to wear something immediately after birth, but plan on getting a tailor to help you bring the item in once you have lost all your weight.  If you have never had a child before, I highly recommend waiting until you know what your body does.  My body does return to its normal waistline fairly quickly and I don't have porn star sized ladies (sadly, lol) ever, even at Angus's most hungry.  But I knew that from my past experiences.

So if in doubt on sizing, especially with non-jersey items, don't get it.  Boden will likely make something just as lovely and be on sale when you need it in the future.

Boden is Lacking?
No shorts!  I lived in my maternity shorts when I was pregnant with both CW and Angus (thank you, freaky warm winter).  This is a big oversight for all of us warm-blooded American women.  (They really don't have much in the way of shorts for non-pregnant ladies, so I am not all that surprised.)

Great Prices Elsewhere
Remember ebay.  Many great past season jersey items are available there, so definitely look into that avenue if you so desire. 

Good luck to all my pregnant, postpartum, and nursing mommas out there.  Hope this upcoming sale does you well!  :)


Any thoughts from any of you all on some possible good buys for this blog friend?

OOTD: Leftover Shorts Shots.

I have a love/hate affair with shorts.  I really truly love them in the middle of summer when it is so hot and gross that I don't want anything coming close to my skin, but then it (often) turns to hate when I discover that I like having longer pants and skirts on because I hate my legs sticking to the car seat and each other.  And linen shorts that are just linen?  They are of the devil because over the course of a day they will wrinkle to a point where the front of the shorts are substantially shorter than the back, making my wardrobe choice look ridiculous.

I also think someone should start a company where all they sell are tall shorts and skirts.  Almost all companies sell tall pants now, and many sell tall dresses, but almost no one sells tall shorts and skirts.  How often have I turned away from a cute pair of shorts solely because I knew that a pair would be too short, too tight, and far too low in the rise?  And no...I do not only want to wear walking (bermuda) shorts.  Skirts, too!  18.5 inches for a mini seems reasonable, 15 is not reasonable, it is nearly scandalous!  ;)

Onto my leftover shorts shots (I almost always get excited by my dress ootds, and always publish those fairly quickly...as you can see, I even have a shorts shots in here from back when I was pregnant!)...

No tee ball gown that day!  I decided for one of Rex's recent tee ball games I would break out a pair of J. Crew wide stripe board shorts (size 10, I usually size up in shorter inseams).  The shorts were comfy and because they have some nylon (you can take them swimming, if you so desire), they didn't wrinkle.

I topped off the shorts with a blousy Anthro top from a bagizillion years ago, some Cole Haan sandals, and the Anthro Gramercy Shades.

Angus's onesie matched mine!  :)  (Love this momma/me pic!)

From the front.  That blouse is probably a bit too blousy, I may need to sell it (it is a medium, back from when I weighed more).

I love these patchwork madras bermuda shorts from J. Crew.  I bought them years ago and wear them every summer without fail.  They feel good, ya know?  These are another pair that wear well and look almost better worn-in than fresh out of the wash.

I love the garment dyed linen cable knit sweater, mainly because the pink is just SO VERY PINK.  CW saw me in it and exclaimed, "Oh, momma, that is my most favorite shirt that you have EVER worn."  She is easy to please.

The neckace and clutch (Brompton clutch in safari cat) are from J. Crew, as well.  The Naturalizer shoes are from DSW.  I wasn't sure if nude colored loafers were a good idea, but they actually work okay with this outfit.

Close up of the cables and color of the sweater and the flowers on the necklace.

This outfit made me feel cool.  I just wish I could have used another pair of shorts with the outfit, but I am still pulling them out of pregnancy storage (the four seconds of time I have in my day when I am not feeding a child or two or three, or putting out child "brush-fires," or running errands, or blogging, I try to get some storage related things done, but that usually gets chopped).

These shorts are mimi Maternity and fit, but are pretty saggy through the crotch because of the whole "I am not pregnant anymore" thing.  Blegh.

I think I will try using my loft black shorts the next time I wear this particular ensemble.

The top is Boden Limited Edition, the sunglasses are A.R. Trapp for J. Crew, the clutch/bag is Hobo International (TJ Maxx, you and your awesome deals), and the sandals are Target.

I am glad I was able to pull out this top and wear it again so soon.  I was a bit worried that it wouldn't fit (it is a US 6 and ran a bit small), but thankfully it did and was fairly comfortable, to boot.

This one is FROM TODAY, you all!  :)

I put the info on the pieces in the photo, but I want to make a couple of review/remarks about the top and shorts.

The top is the Girls Flutter Tee in Dizzy Anchors, size 14.  I can only ever wear crewcuts tops and this one just fit.  By the end of the day it fit better, but I wasn't sure if it was going to stretch much.  I liked the look, though, so I held onto the faith that it would stretch out a bit.  The cap/flutter sleeves are nice for balancing out my pear shape, but if you hate cap sleeves and/or have broad shoulders, I would stay away.

The shorts are Madewell's Bungalow Stripe Panorama Shorts, and I found them to be supremely comfortable.  Unfortunately the front of them wrinkled a bit by the end of the day, leading to the weird front is shorter than the back thing that linen does, but because these are 100% cotton, it did so in a less obnoxious way. 

I also took these in a size 10, and while the waist is a bit big (the belt was only decorative), the hips/thighs fit, which in the end is what matters.

Dizzy Anchors and a Panorama. by dinagideon featuring giraffe jewelry

Above is the polyvore of this outfit.  I also felt a bit hipster wearing this ensemble, but mainly because of the higher rise on the shorts and the more closed off neckline.

I was about to have Angus when this photo was taken (may have been two weeks before his birth).  It was yet another insanely hot day in Northern Virginia (weirdest winter ever), so I pulled out my ancient ringspun fish tee from J. Crew, a pair of Motherhood maternity shorts, and my Cole Haan loafers and called it an outfit.  :)

CW and Rex really wanted to pose in this photo, and CW even included her "Serta" sheep that she had been given the night before by a really nice SA at the local Sleepy's (the store we ultimately bought our king sized mattress--ah, best home purchase made in all our years of marriage!).

Okay, I guess that's it!  I will be commenting back on the sweet comments you all have been making here lately in the next day or two!  They are all being read, I promise!  :)

Mommy Style Monday #27: Third Trimester Files: I Can Still Wear Dresses!

Note: Rather than bother with individually archiving the end of my third trimester outfits, I am going to do two separate Mommy Style Mondays highlighting my two "basic" outfits of the day. This week will be on how dresses are a SAVING grace for anyone "blessed" with a MASSIVE HUGE BABY BELLY (which is usually most pregnant ladies). Next week will be on how to do "stylish casual" during the last few difficult weeks when every part of your body is aching.

I also believe that many of my early postpartum outfits will also be part of the Mommy Style Monday series, however, I do intend to have at least a few of them be separate outfit of the day posts.

I have written on both of these subjects before in Mommy Style Mondays...here is one on dressing your bump, here is one on when you start to show, and here is one on how to dress either a first trimester belly OR a diminishing belly in the postpartum period.

Also, if you are interested, in the very first few months of this blog, say between January of 2009 till around May of 2009, I was still very much losing my baby weight from CW. My postpartum period this time is MUCH different (which I will probably get into at some point in the future in another post), and I sincerely doubt I will be in postpartum clothing in a few months. I did start this blog as a way to help emphasize fun fashion and style for all mommas, regardless of weight or shape, and even though I don't think what happened with CW will happen post-Angus, I do stand proud of my desire to work with what I had post-CW, EVEN if my style and fashion sense has changed since then. ;)

Okay, SO...here goes...what to do with that BIG OLE BABY BELLY in the last few weeks, when literally nothing else fits, even the "maternity" clothing that fit at 35 weeks?

I am so pregnant here, I believe this was one week before I gave birth to Gus.  You can even see my "popped" belly button. 

No matter what I put on, everything fit extremely poorly.  I was only able to wear super stretchy fabrics that gave over the belly but also could be fitted enough to fit my smaller bustline and shoulders.

This is a Motherhood Maternity dress that I lived in during CW and Rex's pregnancies.  Until the last weeks of my pregnancy with Gus, I couldn't wear this dress as it was too big (overall I only gained thirty two pounds with Gus, with CW, I gained forty, and with Rex, I gained fifty). 

But MAN was I ever grateful to have this dress in the circulation, it felt good.  Like G-O-O-O-O-O-O-D good.  The stretch jersey fabric is super soft and the yummy bias cut skirt helped keep airflow on my legs.  (It was hot that day.)

Sunglasses: Target.
Shoes: Bensimon with Liberty Print Fabric.
Necklace: J. Crew.

I also appreciate how the cap sleeves and v-neck help draw the eye to the neckline and face rather than the belly.

CW is precious here.  She insisted on the hat.  ;)

This is yet another dress that I wore constantly with Rex and CW.  However, like I said with the above outfit, it was too large (especially in the neckline and shoulders) for most of this pregnancy.

I guess I am advising you, if you have the tendency to a very large bump, to invest in one or two "one size larger" dresses for the very end of your pregnancy.  Even if they lay dormant for months at least you will have something that you can feel decent in, pretty in, and be more than glad to put on because it gives you room to breathe and lots of comfort.

The dress is another Motherhood Maternity, in a size medium (typically wear a small with them).  I love the fabric, liberty-esque without being Liberty (yikes on those prices for a dress worn a few times in total).

Earrings and Shoes: J. Crew.

I wore this to one of my last doctor's appointments, may have been my very last one in fact.  I kind of really dig this photo.  I have only a handful of me truly appreciating the bump, but this one shows how much that I like being pregnant, even with all the hassle and hurt.

I adore this dress as it does fit regardless of point of pregnancy.  I can wear it earlier on (as I did here) or later on, as I am doing above.  The smocked top of this dress really works, especially if you have a pear shape...it will always work with a smaller upper body no matter what your lower half wants to do.
Dress: Pea in the Pod.
Bag: Anthropologie.
Shoes: J. Crew.
Bracelet: J. Crew necklace made into a bracelet, see next photo.  (Plus an additional traditional J. Crew bracelet and my Tiffany's Chain Link Bracelet.)
Earrings: J. Crew.

The red "bracelet" is the necklace (in-store only) wrapped three times around my wrist.

Rarely do I wear my glasses when dressing up, but I couldn't manage the contacts and makeup and accessories and dress.  Ya know.  Exhaustion and all.

About two weeks prior to giving birth, Mr. Dina and the fam and I went to a Thai restaurant together, and I loved the opportunity to get a little more dressy, yet even I realized there was no way in heck it would include heels, any sort of true tailoring or structure, or heavy accessories.

This dress is non-maternity from Garnet Hill.  Here and there I will buy a piece of two from Garnet Hill.  I had worn this once last fall (it never made it to the blog, though), and I wanted to see how far its stretchy jersey fabric would go.  (Turns out a whole lot.)

Jacket: J. Crew.  Wore it once before in the pregnancy, here.
Shoes: Target.
Earrings: J. Crew Factory.

When I am not pregnant, this dress features a very full skirt, which is great for my larger hips and bottom.  While pregnant, that volume easily accommodates the belly.  I HIGHLY recommend buying jersey dresses from non-maternity lines if you don't have a ton of money for a maternity wardrobe.  (And stretchy leggings--again from a non-maternity line...)

If you must (and I get that, I have been there, you all should have seen my wardrobe budget during my first job, everyone on three, say it, Chadwicks!) only buy things that can work before, during, and after pregnancy, do the jersey dress and leggings route, you can get a ton of wear and very little tear (these are sturdy fabrics) from these staple items.

I love the jeweled neckline.  This is sweet and elegant, without being especially fussy.

I popped the tie-fabric collar for a bit of fun.  By then end of the meal, it was down.  I only slightly cared.

I did a review of the necklace here, so if you read that review, you have seen the outfit before, but for some of you this is new.

This is a size medium Liz Lange for Target dress that I bought a while back.  It was huge on me, but because I have done this whole being pregnant thing two other times, I knew the dress would work for reals at the end.  And it did become a godsend.  I am not one to say this often, but black is certainly slimming.  (Well, kind of.)

Necklace: Boden.
Shoes: J. Crew.  (CW wants a pair of her own glitter golden flats.  One day...I suppose.)

Okay, that's all! 

My quick takeaways:

1. Dresses are a wonderful option at the end as they allow for freedom of movement and will easily accommodate a larger belly, even if the rest of you hasn't gotten larger. 

2. Always seek out jersey fabrics, as they allow for the MOST flexibility between a smaller upper or lower half and a very large waistline.  (At one point my belly measured 42 inches and my bustline was 35 inches.  Jersey fabric was, hands down, the most comfortable of all the fabrics.)

3. Look outside the maternity stores.  If there is a store whose jersey dresses work for you (my faves are J. Crew, Boden, and Garnet Hill), seek them out in longer lengths and with fuller skirts.  Chances are they will fit you the entire time you are pregnant and flatter you.

4. Have one or two maternity dresses that are one size bigger than your traditional maternity size.  (This is truly key if your belly gets abnormally big compared to the rest of you.  If this is your first pregnancy it is hard to tell what your body is likely to do, but by two and three, you should have an idea.)

5. Know that you don't have to try so hard at the end.  If you only throw on a dress, some lip gloss, a cute bracelet, and some adorable ballet flats, you are giving 110%.  It is HARD to lug the weight around, it is DIFFICULT to feel pretty, and it is a time when every. single. person. gets it.  No one wants you to work harder than you need to...if the heels and statement necklaces bug you at the end, well, yeah, give them up.  In a few months, you totally will be back to enjoying your whole wardrobe.  Promise.  :)

Any other tips from moms who have been there?