This is the outfit that almost didn't happen. We were headed to a wedding last weekend when I asked Anderson to zip me. He tried, then started to pull and pinch and pull a little more. He told me it wasn't going to zip; I told him it would, because I was "Going to wear this outfit ONE more time!" And I did. Who cares that I had to be cut out of it at the end of the night? Ha! Just kidding! We forgot to take pictures, so after the wedding we took these with the "point and shoot" in a parking lot. :)

Skirt and Top: I bought them in Hawaii a few months ago.
Shoes: Steve Madden

Dressing funky or stylish or fun (or whatever you like to call it) while pregnant is starting to be a challenge for me. Not impossible, just harder than normal. When I wake up in the morning I never know if the cute skirt I picked out yesterday is even going to zip today. And if it doesn't fit I change into something else, then realize after a frustrating look in the mirror that I look like a big frump and change yet again. Some days this goes on for a while, and it's NOT FUN! I'm starting to realize why people get the "I give up" mentality and wear track suits every day. Ha! So I've decided to give myself a little challenge over the next few months and try to come up with cute outfits every week and post my favorite here.

Some of you will think I'm nuts; some of you will totally get it. :) It's the little things, people!

So...here's my first Maternity Outfit of the Week:

Skirt: Target. I bought it new-with-tags from the thrift store the other day. Score! It's not maternity, but I sized up.
T-shirt: Ann Taylor. Also new from the thrift store.
Leopard Wedges: Target.
Necklaces: Vintage (from my Grandma) and Betsey Johnson.

And just for fun, you have to see what my college bud Marlena just sent: love it!

My parents rented a lake house for the week, so we went and spent a few lazy days with them on Jewel Lake. Good times!

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What a fun day! Anderson still hasn't stopped smiling. :) Everyone in the doctor's office was laughing at him, because he was SO excited.

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Anderson made the video...it made me cry. :) I prayed the baby would wave at us (cheesy, I know), but he did!

Let the shopping commence! We should probably stock up on baby hair product for the inevitable fohawk.

Pregnancy really has been rather uneventful for me so far. No sickness or fatigue (or any other weird stuff). Thank you, Jesus!

I feel so good. Keeping up with running seems to be helping a lot. I still hate doing it but always feel great afterwards. I've started going late in the evenings to avoid the crazy heat, but I'm pretty sure I sound like a water buffalo breathing no matter when I do it. :) Last night it rained on me the whole time, and it was great!

We're starting to get excited. Up to this point it hasn't felt "real". People told me I would cry when I had my first ultrasound. Are you kidding me? Cry out of disappointment maybe. I couldn't see anything! And even when they printed off the picture I couldn't make out a shape of any kind. Ha! But now that I look a little more than bloated, it's finally starting to sink in. And we find out very soon if I'm growing a boy or a girl. Of course we have no clue, but every time I picture the baby I see a boy. Weird!

Now that I'm starting to get a belly, I'm receiving fun little tidbits of unsolicited advice. "Honey, you really shouldn't wear those tall shoes while you're pregnant." "Don't you dare paint the baby's room. The fumes are toxic." Toxic fumes? Do people not clean their houses for 9 months?! "Wait until that baby is born. You will finally experience true love." Okay, I know what they're trying to say, but that's just sad. Sad! "Lunch meat carries bacteria. Don't eat it." Well, I'll just pray extra hard over my turkey sandwich before I eat it in a minute. And oh the looks from other women when I'm carrying a Starbucks cup. Whatever, ladies! I think it's more important for the baby's well being that I don't kill Anderson.

I'm so thankful for my Mom. She's been really helpful for us. I was almost in tears about trying to clean out closets to make room for baby stuff, (if you saw my closets you'd cry too) and she just came over and did it. I sat on the floor and told her where to put things. Pathetic, I know. But I'm pretty sure she knew I was teetering on the edge of a breakdown, and she just jumped in and did what needed to be done. She's going to be such a good Grandma!

The old wives tales are really cracking me up too! I eat A LOT of spicy food; so naturally, I'm also eating a lot of Tums lately. But anytime I mention heartburn, someone knows why I have it.

"Your baby is going to have lots of hair."
"You're having a boy".
"Your baby is going to have red hair."

I had to stop that last lady right in her tracks and ask her if she's ever seen my husband. If we have a redheaded baby I'll have a little explaining to do. I do think the first one might be right though. I'm pretty sure this kid is going to have an afro. I've seen Anderson's baby pictures!

I think God's trying to teach me to be kind and graceful when responding to all the pregnancy experts out there. So far I haven't snapped at anyone or told them just how ridiculous I think they are. :)

Anderson says I haven't had any mood swings...yet.