Smooth Sailing

Dinner out on the town with the baby? No sweat.

Dress: H&M
Sunglasses: H&M
Diaper bag: Timi & Leslie
Wedges: Kensie Girl

Last week I tweeted that I bought three dresses at H&M for $29.97 total. It was perfect timing, too. The summer heat finally decided to show up in Seattle and prior to my shopping trip, I was drastically unprepared, wardrobe-wise. I saw this dress in a magazine a couple of months ago and kept my eye on it. For $10, I couldn't ignore it any more. Plus, I think this dress will be very versatile for the summer months ahead as well as a good maternity dress in the years to come. If you are pregnant right now, I highly recommend checking out H&M for dresses. Their current selection is full of empire-waist finds that will work for your body now and postpartum.

I'm also going to brag now about the progression of my mobility skills. When my son was first born, packing up my bag was stressful and full of lessons learned about the aftermath of being forgetful (ahem...wipes). My trusty Charlie bag is now stocked with all the essentials and dinner with friends was a breeze. Plus, no spit up on my new dress which is not something I can easily claim these days.

Morning Laughter

I woke up and shared smiles with my beautiful baby boy.

Blouse: Forever 21

Jeans: Joe's (similar)

Necklace: Anthropologie

Purse: H&M

Heels: Urban Outfitters (on sale right now for $29.99!)

I cruised into Mr. Mack's room this morning, only to see him rolling around in his sleep sack, chewing on a wash cloth. Confused, I quickly realized he'd reached through the crib bars to the changing station and snatched up his prize. With a belly laugh, I said, "Well, aren't you proud of yourself?" He dropped the cloth and began laughing. 4:45 AM has never been brighter.

The morning started off so light and happy, I wanted to keep the feeling through the rest of the day. I pulled out my lightest, most airy blouse and my favorite red heels. I even curled my hair instead of going to my standard I'm-too-tired bun. Even as I type, I'm grinning about the thought of cruising through my Friday so I can get home to more laughter from my little washcloth thief. 

Casual Friday

 

Well, no. Technically, I wore this on Wednesday.

Sweater: Splendid, Nordstrom Rack

Tank: H&M

Pants: H&M

Flats: Steve Madden

Have you ever had one of those days where everything just comes together? The puzzle pieces just fall effortlessly into place. That's how I feel about this outfit, as well as about my life right now. As far as life goes, I found a place for us to live in San Francisco and I gave my official notice at work. I'm wrapping up loose ends and gearing up for a major house prep this weekend so we can quickly get it rented. I'm scratching things off my list and feeling the load lift. 

As for this outfit, I wanted to look cool, comfortable and collected to mask my inner panic about all that needs to be done.  And I'll  be honest - this is one of my favorite outfits in a long time. I was functionally prepared to be a woman on the move and I felt awesome doing it. By pairing my favorites of classic stripes and neutrals, the most simple outfit felt stunning. Happy Friday, everyone!

Keep It Simple, Silly

 

The less I do, the better I feel these days.

Sweater: H&M

Jeans: Joe's

Bag: H&M

Necklace: H&M

Watch: Michael Kors

Heels: Nine West

I've heard women say that the texture of their hair changed after they had a baby.  I'm not sure if this is true for me or if I've just embraced my inner curl.  It's out of necessity.  My mornings are now dedicated to a smiling baby that has learned to roll from tummy to back to tummy again and I have little time for trivial things like hair dryers.  Since I'm putting such little energy into my hair, I went with a no muss, no fuss outfit as well.  A thin sweater worked well for the Seattle chill last week and heels took it out of slouch mode.  Thank goodness the weather has heated up.  Skirts and dresses to come!

Urban Safari

What? They don't wear Coach loafers in the wild? Well, they should.

Hat: Urban Outfitters

Tee: Gap

Pants: H&M

Necklace: H&M

Diaper bag: Timi & Leslie

Loafers: Coach (similar)

Like all Seattle-ites, when the sun comes out, I go out. I headed to the Woodland Park Zoo with my family. My fedora seemed appropriate for our jaunt into the urban wild.  I decided to really get rugged in the jungle, roll up my khakis and strap on my trusty travel (diaper) bag. It should be noted that last week, I wore my Ralph Lauren heels at work for way too long.  To keep with the zoo analogy, let's just say my lions were roaring. For this trek, I slipped on my Coach loafers and quickly realized that comfort is the priority over sticking with my safari theme. I sincerely doubt that people are cruising among the tigers and elephants in the Sahara in Coach, but I bet I have less blisters than they do.

Meal Planning

The sights at the aquarium were stimulating; the outfit was low-key.

Jacket: Banana Republic
Shirt: Gap
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind (similar)
Belt: H&M
Diaper Bag: Timi & Leslie
Flats: Steve Madden, DSW

On Sunday, my family and I went to the aquarium.  Going out with the baby on big daytime excursions can be challenging.  You have to plan everything, like when he will eat, where you will feed him, and how easy the access to the (ahem) food source will be.  If you wear the wrong outfit while breastfeeding, it can become a horribly frustrating endeavor or a wildly inappropriate peep show.  This outfit may look very low maintenance, but it was very particularly planned out. I'm wearing a nursing tank under my shirt so when I yank up the top layer, I don't have to worry about my bare belly flying out.  The jacket helps hide any side cleavage, should my nursing cover slip.  The flat shoes made walking through the aquarium a blister-free experience.  And the jeans are just the right length so they don't drag on the ground with flats.  You see?  I'm more meticulous than I look.

Retail Rapture

There was no way I was going to let the rapture happen without one last shopping trip.

Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch
Tee: H&M
Pants: H&M
Necklace: H&M
Flats: Kenneth Cole (similar)

Apparently, I wasn't alone.  People must have figured if they were gonna go, they might as well spend that cash burning a hole in their pockets because the mall was super crowded.  All I knew was that I was in the mood for shoes and watches.  Therefore, flats that could be easily slipped on and off were in order and I chose a cropped jacket for easy wrist access.  I scored a new pair of nude Steve Madden flats from DSW and I found my dream watch in a Michael Kors chronograph.  I have to go back for the watch later this week but I will be flashing that chunky hunk of beautiful metal around by week's end.

And wouldn't you know it?  6:00 PM came and went and I was still here.  I headed home with a delicious Cinnabun in hand and cuddled with my baby.  Now that is heaven.

Expecting Chic Turns 1 Year Old!

Na-na-na-na-na-na....you say it's your birthday!  Na-na-na-na-na-na...it's my birthday too, yeah!

Blazer: Ben Sherman
Blouse: Gap
Jeans: Joe's
Bag: H&M
Earrings: Arden B.
Necklace: H&M
Boots: Target

Well, here I am.  One year after starting Expecting Chic, I have gained and lost 45 lbs., garnered Facebook followers,  gathered Twitter followers, and oh, did I mention I had a baby?  This blog began as a way to prove to myself and the world that dressing for pregnancy can be fun, fashionable and affordable.  It continues to be my creative outlet and driving motivation to not lose myself and my personal style expression to motherhood.  Along the way, I've made some great friends with fellow bloggers and I've relished every comment from you, my dear readers.  You have stroked my big, giant pregnant ego like the luxurious coat of a Siamese cat.  Actually, my ego is not that big.  Trust me - a pregnant lady's ego is tiny enough to be crushed underfoot into dust most days.  But for all your kind words, I humbly thank you.

I feel like I've been a bit of a drag these past few posts, so I'm here to say I've cast aside the gloom and I'm stepping out with a smile.  Last night, I went out for a drink with a good friend and felt fantastic.  I was able to dress up - in spring colors, no less.  Seattle saw some sunshine!  The conversation revolved around things other than drool and poop (though I did manage to slip in a good poop story where Keagan really blew it out on an especially disaster-ridden car ride) and I was able to revisit the long, lost art of happy hour.  Good times were had.  One year later, and my life is better than I could have ever imagined.  Thank you for following along!

Bjorn To Do It

All of your positive support after my last mopey post pushed me out the door.  Thank you.

Sweater: H&M

Tee: Old Navy

Hat: Target

Jeans: Joe's

Boots: Kenneth Cole

Carrier: Baby Bjorn

Panda Hat: Gymboree

Onesie: Carter's, thrifted

I'm grateful for the positive and understanding comments from my last post.  I know that I'm not the only mom who has felt the stomach knots that come with leaving your little one.  To hear others simply say, "I hear you" is enough.  I'll take the support now and give it back to others once I get back into my groove.

In the meantime, I'm still without a camera charger until later this week, so here are some low quality pictures of some high quality time with my little guy.  The Bjorn has become a go-to item since all he wants to do is take in the sights.  He also doesn't want to sleep at night, so that means I'm running ragged in the mornings. No shower equals hat and a comfy cardigan.  That is the math behind my look.

All Tuckered Out

These photos are what happens when you lose your camera battery charger - camera phone shots in front of your guest bathroom.  Sigh...

Dress: Tucker for Target
Belt: Forever 21
Earrings: Forever 21
Boots: Aldo

I have a confession to make.  I'm in a bit of a slump.  I wouldn't go so far as to call it post-partum depression because I feel that would be disrespectful to women who have truly struggled in that arena.  I would call it the blues.  There are days where I don't want to travel past the living room, where all is set up for my baby's needs.  Taking a walk outside sounds horrible.  Meeting up with friends sounds appealing, but too labor-intensive.  I feel really, really tired and it can't be blamed on the baby because he is sleeping nearly through the night.  And sorry to any of my coworkers reading this, but I am not excited to return to work, not because of you or even the job, but because it means leaving my little guy and all the wonderful things he discovers each day. Yes, yes, yes, I know.  Look on the bright side of things, most mothers go through this and it will be okay, you have so much to be happy about, etc., etc.  All true.  Pity party, table for one.

I had a bit of a crying jag about it all and my husband's wise solution was to take a long shower, remove the spit up covered nursing tank I'd been living in for two days, and do something I love to do: get dressed up.  I may be tired and I may be blue, but I will never turn down an excuse to dress up, especially if it is so I can wear my Tucker for Target dress that I got on sale for $19.99.  And I'm not going to lie.  A pretty dress did bring up my mood a little bit.  Did I leave the house?  No.  But I'm baby-stepping my way out of my funk.

Hipster Mama

I didn't mean to look like a hipster.  The day just evolved that way.

Tee: H&M
Jeans: Joe's
Sunglasses: H&M
Necklace: H&M
Diaper bag: Timi & Leslie
Flats: Kenneth Cole

These were taken on Mother's Day.  Do most moms wear Guns 'n Roses shirts to celebrate their special day?  Probably not. But I have my reasons. The original plan was to go to see the Nirvana exhibit at the Experience Music Project and this shirt leaped out at me. I realize that Nirvana and GNR had a bit of a feuding history, so perhaps it was inappropriate attire, but I've always been a bit more Paradise City than In Bloom.  However, plans changed throughout the day.  The baby was uninterested in napping and very involved in eating.  By the time we were ready to go, the day was nearly gone and we decided to go to the Fremont Farmer's Market instead.  It was there that I realized that since I had changed out of the heels and leather jacket that I had planned for EMP into flats and the only shades I could find as we darted out the door, I'd morphed from rock chick to hipster.  And I was shopping vintage thrift markets, no less.  I got a sweet deal on a vintage print.  Whoa, who am I today?

I'll tell you who I am.  I'm a proud and happy mama.  My husband spoiled me rotten all weekend long.  And look at this guy:

I love this little monkey...and his sweater, too.

Fit and Flared

Squeezing back into my pants, one flare leg at a time.

Blouse: thrifted
Pants: Rock and Republic
Necklace: San Francisco street vendor
Wedges: Kensie Girl

My husband asked what I wanted to do for my Mother's Day weekend. That's right, I said weekend.  I like to drag holidays out for as many days as I can get.  He knows me so well.  Is it weird that what I wanted to do was clean house and get organized?  Perhaps it is because my closet is overflowing with clothes that I'm not even sure fit anymore.  I pulled out these old corduroy favorites because a) I love the design on the back pockets and b) I still haven't found any new denim to satisfy my need for flares.  Because I have about 8 lbs. of baby weight holding on tight to my mid-section (and possibly half of it resides in my nursing bra as well), I'm still sporting quite the muffin up top when I put these on. A flowing blouse was in order to keep from revealing what is baking.

Ask me if I did any organizing or cleaning, though.  OK, I managed to wash the couch slip covers since they were covered in dog hair and spit-up. But any other plans I made were all in my mind. Instead, I gorged myself on the feast my husband prepared for dinner and played with Keagan and his new Exersaucer.  This mama was happy all weekend long just hanging out with her family and planning to getting her last domestic moments in before maternity leave harshly ends in a couple weeks.

Ladies Who Lunch

Raise your glass to new friends and getting out of the house.

Jacket: Banana Republic
Skirt: H&M
Tights: BCBG
Bag: Banana Republic
Boots: Aldo

I experienced a multitude of emotions when I was invited to lunch with Kimmie of Blue Paper Lanterns and Emily of Bright Tights Cloudy City: flattered, excited, thrilled, happy.  I've been following their blogs after linking in with a Seattle style bloggers group and I'm a true fan of each of them.  They are even more lovely in person.  We talked blogs, dogs, babies, relationships - you know, regular ladies who lunch type of stuff.  The best news is we all work in the same neighborhood so I now have the perfect excuse to slip out the door for a lunch away from my paper-covered desk when I return from maternity leave. 

I'm not sure if I was more excited to meet these fine ladies or to have an excuse to wear my new skirt and blog about it.  It was a close call, but once I met Kimmie and Emily, the skirt came in second place.

Hair Today, Blond(er) Tomorrow

I started the day looking like this...

Jacket: H&M
Tee: H&M
Jeans: Joe's
Scarf: gift
Sunglasses: H&M
Boots: Old Navy

...and I ended the day looking like this:

What is the difference, you ask? Balayage, my friend.  I had my hair done, hand painted a few shades lighter than my brunette.  It doesn't show up as well as I would have liked in these pictures, but there is a subtle difference and that was my goal: natural highlights. While I enjoyed the switch to my brown roots, my inner blond has been calling out to me and I needed to lighten up, literally and figuratively.  Perhaps it is because I'm heading back to work in a few weeks, and things are returning to "normal".  Or perhaps it is because I need a pick-me-up to mentally deal with said return.  Or perhaps it is because I am really into this caramel colored jacket and I want my hair to match.  It could be a combination of all three shades of emotion, which could also be another metaphor for my hair.

Shout outs to Steven at Steven Barrett Salon for his master work.  I shouldn't be giving him such public praise because then everyone will know he is an artist and want to go to him and I'll be super irritated when I can't get a quick appointment.  But his talents are too good to keep secret.

Poolside Lounging

A cloudy day won't keep me from laying by the pool.

Tee: H&M
Belt: H&M
Shorts: Old Navy
Sunglasses: H&M
Flip-flops: Old Navy

The sun came out intermittently over the course of one of our last days in California, though mostly clouds prevailed.  I was a bit disappointed since this was my only designated day to lay out by the pool.  Undaunted, I layered up and soaked in as much as I could while finishing Tina Fey's Bossypants (which, if you haven't read it yet, go.  Go immediately.  I laughed the whole way through in delight.  She is my idol.)  Even if the sun was shy, I felt very boat-ready, very poolside cabana fresh in my striped tee and sun-yellow linen shorts.  Like a spray tan, sometimes you just have to fake it.