38 weeks

Today Ham is the size of a pumpkin. That's right. A pumpkin.

The dress is vintage from +Etsy, the shirt is also vintage, but I stole it from my dad's closet. The cardigan and purple tights are from Primark.

I swear this baby is coming early, but what do I know. Pregnant women probably always say that their first time around. I just can't imagine being more pregnant than I am right now, but somehow it keeps happening.
I don't think I've ever felt a Braxton Hicks contraction. My mom says that if I'd had one I would know. Does every pregnant woman get them? Did I miss something?

I'm not nervous or afraid, but I am getting a bit anxious with all the waiting. It could be today or it could be in three weeks. Am I ready? I hope so.

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Maternity essentials

Now that I am a million months pregnant, I am looking back and making an inventory of good/bad purchases I made. Here are what I consider to be good investment, "buy the day the stick turns blue," maternity essentials:

Bump pack £14.99, +New Look

I mentioned this before in my what to buy a pregnant lady cor Christmas post. It really covers the basics so you will be comfortable and stylish through your pregnancy.

Nightie £78, +Free People 

Probably the best investment for your pregnancy. A nightie is comfy and key in your sleep wear wardrobe when you have several bathroom trips a night.

Shop Intimately Free People!

Jeans £225, Blossom Mother & Child

As I said in my maternity jeans post, good jeans are one of the best investment you will make. Don't try to make it through without them; do yourself a favor, go to the shops, and find yourself the perfect pair asap.

Tights £24, Spanx

Do you really need maternity tights? YES. You won't need them in the first trimester but you will be really glad to have some that actually fit your body later in your pregnancy.

Blazer £169 £101, +Isabella Oliver 

A blazer is the perfect layering piece so you can stay warm but look chic and professional.

Basic Tee £10, +ASOS

This is kind of a no brainer. Do I really need to explain?

Dress $76, Michael Stars

You need a dress that is simple, comfortable, and flattering so that you can accessorize it and make it fierce.

Shop MichaelStars

Wrap cardigan £49.89, +MAMALICIOUS 

My wrap cardigan has become absolutely key to my pregnant wardrobe. It is so versatile to keep you comfy and warm. PLUS this is a piece that could be part of your regular wardrobe as well your pregnancy and nursing wardrobe.

Maxi dress £90, Madderson London

Maxi dresses are great for layering but they also bring the glamour. If you want to make an impression at a holiday or maybe your baby shower, then work it in a classic floor length dress.

Everyday wireless maternity bra £40, +figleaves.com
Ok, don't buy this the minute the stick turns blue, but buy it in your second trimester for sure. Do not try and wear your old bras, unless you really want to punish yourself for some reason. Your chest and cup size will go up steadily through your whole pregnancy, so get something you can grow into.

Sturdy fashionable flats are absolutely essential. You gotta find some great shoes so you don't look frumpy without your heels.

Sandal £46.39, +Nasty Gal 

Oxford £100.73, +Nasty Gal 

Shop Nasty Gal!

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36 weeks

Today Ham is the size of a honeydew melon. Woah.

(Happy birthday Mr Stardust)

I've had my first craving: mineral water. I would drink the stuff before I was pregnant but never really had much of an opinion about it. Now I want it, crave it, need it.

Other than that I am just hanging around feeling enormous and uncomfortable. Ham is still kicking all day long; is there a point where the amount of kicking is too much? I wore this to go get my blood drawn. Mostly I hang around in old t shirts that used to be baggy and sweatpants unless I have to go somewhere. It's a good thing I'm not back home in that polar vortex or I would never leave the house.

The dress and shoes are vintage, the tights are from Primark. The headband is home made.

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Outfit: New Years Eve

The dress and shawl sweater are vintage. The shoes and tights are from +Target.

The woman that cuts my hair says it looks like the wispy bits around my face are new growth, not breakage. That's good news I guess...but I feel like my hair most often makes me look ridiculous. I was happy to find this hair style tip from a +Free People blog post. I used my homemade headband and tucked it in just like they say.

Shop FreePeople.co.uk!

It's been a really mild winter. Coming from Illinois, it feels strange to walk around in the sunshine during the holidays. I am so excited to bring in the new year, 2013 was a good one and the next will bring a lot of new, well, everything. My friends are throwing a party and they got me some nonalcoholic wine!!!

Cheers!

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The perfect headband

You know how you buy new headbands and they give you a headache because they are way to tight? I do.

These headbands are perfect. They are exactly as tight as they need to be and incredibly comfortable. And I made them myself out of old tights I was going to throw away. Just tie the stocking around your head and tie a knot. Take it off and tighten the knot as much as possible. Then snip off the ends leaving a bit of material so the knot doesn't slip undone. That's it.

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Do I really need maternity tights?

They're all stretchy so what's the difference? Can't I just go up a size if I need to?

No. BUY MATERNITY TIGHTS.

You can get away with wearing non-maternity tights for the first and maybe even second trimester but come the third you will want maternity tights. You need to wear things that will accommodate your bump, especially if they squeeze you around your tummy.

The main reason for buying tights that were actually made to fit you rather than going up a size is that you may not have gotten any larger around the legs. Baggy tights are not cute. You are a lot bigger in one place so get some clothes that conform to your flesh balloon. Don't try and make it work with droopy tights. Just buy some tights that fit already!

You don't get the variety in maternity like you normally do but here are some basic options:

ASOS £8

Spanx £24

Isabella Oliver £24

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ASOS Maternity

+ASOS  has a lot of on trend maternity clothes. Like I keep saying: just because you have to wear maternity doesn't mean you have to look matronly. They have lots of cute dresses and a huge range of accessories and shoes so you can sass it up. I've got to get my hands on those tights!

Floral Dress (£25.00)

Smock Dress (On Sale £20.00)

Leather and Plaid Clutch (£45.00)

Zig Zag Necklace (£8.00)

Check Trousers (£22.00)

Slipper Shoes (£35.00)

Denim Dress (£40.00)

Black Tights (£10.00)

Bodycon Dress (On Sale £12.50)

Peter Pan Collar Dress (£35.00)

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American Apparel Wishlist

American Apparel doesn't technically have a maternity line, but there are a lot of trendy staples and accessories that could fit in your pregnancy wardrobe and flatter your bump. Maternity doesn't have to mean matronly, you can still be sexy and stylish.

Two Color Pantyhose (£14)

Printed Twist Scarf (£15)- My favorite kind of scarf! They stay put and keep the hair out of my face.

Turtleneck Dress (£22)- I'm a sucker for a curve hugging black turtleneck.

Cat Eye Sunglasses (£30) Oo la la

Camouflage Backpack (£44)

Wire Bracelet (£15)

Wooden Sandal (£80)- I said no heels but these look stable, pair them with girly socks!

Lace Ankle Sock (£8)

Spaghetti Strap Maxi Dress (£36)- A great basic.

**Note: I do realize that the black turtleneck dress, if worn by a pregnant body, would likely either not fit right or would be stretched beyond recognition. I may or may not be in denial about my lack of a waistline. **

Chiffon A Line Maxi (£58)- Glamorous and flattering

Grid Leggings (£36)

Printed Babydoll Dress (£54)- Pretty and bump accommodating.

Glasses (£49)

Fleece Crop Top (£23) - Crop tops are ideal for layering during your pregnancy.

Taux Demin Braided Belt (£12)- The perfect maternity belt

Shawl Cardigan (£60)

Denim Carry All Bag (£56)

Triangle Earrings (£16)

Pink Lip Leggings (£24)- I love this pattern!

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Outfit 30/10/13

Note to self: don't wear tights to the midwife. 

This is a really stupid outfit to wear when you're going to get your belly measured. Cute but stupid.  Take my advice and wear jeans and a shirt so you don't have to hike up your tights in front of an audience.

So I can't zipper my beloved +Topshop leather jacket, so what? It can still keep my arms warm. The dress is +H&M maternity and the shoes are Target. These tights are the most perfect vivid red. They are brilliant and opaque. I got them from Hot Topic about a million years age, so they last ages.

The hat I got recently from Primark because it reminds me of Steve Zissou.

Bang on.

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