bucket of candy. you are calling my name.

It's Halloween!

Today I will decide by eating 30 of each at least- once and for all which is better. Twix or KitKat.

I will let you know.


What is your favorite Halloween treat? For the first time during a pregnancy I am not in morning sickness phase so bring on the candy!!! At 22 weeks I can handle it all and then some. With Ruby I had just realized I was pregnant and about 8 weeks when Halloween rolled around. I was still nauseous at Thanksgiving and Christmas so that was a bummer too. Elkë I was sick Christmas through Easter!

I promise to try and balance out the candy weight gain with some healthy choices. Like candy covered apples.

photo: Country Living

is your doctor like dr. chill?

This week over at my Pregnancy & Newborn Mag Blog I discuss advocating for your own health care. Is the first person who will touch your brand new baby the one you really want "down there"?

Something to think about!

the cuteness

I just love how they grasped each other's hands for the photo, naturally. I didn't even have to ask!

Here is my Ruby (5) and my Elkë (2). They have six occasions this Halloween to wear their costumes so as soon as they put them on for the first time I snapped a quick photo. Within hours the costumes were covered in sunflower butter, green "slime" juice and pizza grease from Party #1 of the week. But that's okay!

mama's night out

Over at my Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine Blog you can read all about my recent night in 3 and 1/2 inch heels. At 20 weeks pregnant I don't highly recommend it, but I do just LOVE these shoes. Royal purple "grape" satin. Delish.

The wedding was lovely, however my Deluxe Satin dress by Ripe Maternity was an unfortunate fit. I am annoyed that to some designers (and expensive ones at that) "maternity" means "big all over". Please somebody give me a wad of cash or a job at a maternity clothing company so I can design lovely maternity evening wear that we really want. We want support (especially up top), we want elegance, and we don't want a stupid tie in the back. We don't live on the prairie, we are just with child. thankyouverymuch.

due date buddy

It is always fun to become friends with people (or have friends) who are pregnant at the same time as you. But I have an exact due date buddy! I have never met her in person, but maybe some day I will. Some of my best friends are women, mostly moms who I have met online through my work and Casi is no different.

Casi Densmore-Koon runs CupcakeMag a very fashionable blog. She and I are both due with our third babies on March 7, 2010.

She is having her third girl, while I decided to switch it up and have a boy after two girls! We tweet and email often about how we are doing and it is so much fun.

Let's see who "goes" first! We are 21 weeks 1 day today!

ok so mama bought some jeans

Yesterday between inconvenient life happenings such as bringing the mama mobile to the body shop (after cracking it up two weeks ago) and seeing Dr. Chill, I had 45 minutes to do something for myself. I was near the only mall in the area with a brand new Destination Maternity shop and I made a beeline. I didn't even stop to pee or eat. I had a mission. Find some jeans that were a good length, fit my thighs and booty which when pregnant grow at a rapid rate, and get out!

Destination Maternity is the family of Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod. Motherhood is known for being budget friendly and having a huge selection of casual to formal wear and A Pea in the Pod is more upscale.

As you may recall I recently wrote an article for Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine pretty much swearing off jeans. I am still loving and rocking my leggings and tunics almost daily but living in upstate NY where it has suddenly become quite chilly, jeans are still a necessary wardrobe staple. I am not sure if it is because I am having a boy this time, but the ass is getting large people, and I feel very uncomfortable squeezing into my pre-preg jeans. Nobody should have to feel uncomfortable. Not when you have great maternity clothing options.

I tried on at least 15 pairs of jeans yesterday and finally found a pair that I can truly boast about. They are by Motherhood and are fashionable as well as functional. Motherhood Maternity has a new (well since my last baby) patented secret belly band fit. It is like a big hug for your growing belly, and they cut the jeans properly so that they fit in all of the right places as well. Now with all things from Destination Maternity I do warn about drying, so hang or flat dry your jeans, tunics, etc. However if you need jeans that fit you and your budget, try these ones. The 5 Pocket Fit and Flare. Retail $54.98.

To me if you look really fast, they sort of resemble True Religion jeans in the way that the button back pockets are designed. I like this, I like detail. I especially like it because True Religion (Maternity styles available in the A Pea in the Pod section by TR) is a lovely jean. However I do not live on Chardonnay and yogurt, so I will never fit into them.

I am happy with my purchase and I strongly suggest you stop sucking in your baby belly and suffering with too tight in the thigh, butt, crotch maternity jeans and get some stylish, stretch ones too!

pee pee pants

Let's be perfectly honest here moms- the further along in your pregnancy that you get the more um pee tries to sneak out when you don't want it to.

I didn't pee my pants or anything but at 20 weeks I now have the familiar discomfort (let's just call it pain) and not so fond memory of baby vs. bladder.

Today at Dr. Chill's office, his lovely nurse whom I adore for her wit and charm and straight-forward-ness shrugged her shoulders and said "it sucks". My pee tested fine in the cup, and I don't have pain when I go, I just literally get shooting pains while walking as if my bladder is being poked. Then a little bit of pee comes out.

For now I will work on my kegels (Google it) and wear protective undergarment items. Luckily we don't need Depends but I still have 18-20 weeks to go. Gosh that sounds like a long time. So don't make me laugh to hard and if I suddenly get up and run to the bathroom, don't worry. I will be back.

little man

This week over at Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine you can read all about my Little Man and my excitement over oxford shirts!

well that's a boy if i ever saw one

The imaging center just sent me a disc of my ultrasound photos from monday. 19 weeks, measuring 20w2d.

That's my boy!!!

1/2 way (for me anyway)

Currently over at my Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine blog I recall how I have never carried a baby past 39 weeks. If your first was early was your second? third? fourth?

tell me!

this is my 18 week belly shot. Like my shoes? Me too.

six years ago today

I married my husband.

Tonight I celebrate my love for him with a meal pretty much (at least 90%) by Aldi. I love Aldi and I refused to buy something fancy or go out tonight when we have food here to make and are trying to use our money wisely!

A Chicken Cordon Bleu for him, a Kiev for me, some Caesar salad (my current pregnancy crack) and some wild rice. Oh yeah! The rice and his beer are not from Aldi. Neither is my gourmet lemon I will spritz atop my salad.

Living on love- fine by me! Plus the more money I don't spend on silly things like dinner which doesn't last long, the more I can send on fab shoes, bags, and maternity clothes!

make room for baby

My article this week over at Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine is up.

Take a look and see why the photo below of my mom and her sisters in 1957 reminds me that everything is going to be fine.