Maternity + Nursing Dress

I have been living in this black dress! It's so comfortable, you guys. I seriously feel like I'm in a comfy robe when I'm wearing it. The bonus about this dress is that it doubles as a nursing dress. I know this dress will get a LOT of use after the baby comes. I really struggled with what to wear and feeling like I didn't have a lot of options when Ryder was born when it came to clothing and nursing in public. This dress is super stretchy and allows easy access to nurse in public without all the fuss. I'm so excited to have some pieces that truly work for being majorly pregnant AND nursing. Double bonus (insert high five)!

Speaking of nursing... I am so nervous about how I'm going to balance the full-time job that nursing is with a toddler. Friends have told me that I'll learn to multi-task and nurse while she's in a carrier on me. What?! I know this will need to be a talent I learn. But I'm seriously concerned! LOL I have the Moby carrier, which I used twice when Ryder was little. I felt SO hot when I wore it. And all that fabric! Ugh! It just wasn't my thing. If I needed Ryder to be on me in a carrier, I preferred my LilleBaby Carrier. It was just more structured and I didn't have to think about how to put it on and what piece of fabric went where... I just snapped it on! But I'm thinking it will be hard to nurse her while she's in this carrier because it is more structured. Any tips for balancing nursing 24-7 with a toddler are greatly appreciated!! How to strap her on me so she's comfy while eating, how to distract Ryder while I'm feeding her, etc.

Anyway... I wore this dress out at a concert this past week and felt so comfortable. I stuck with some of my most comfy flip flops and an easy bag. BAM. Done. Easy. It was a hot night (the concert was outdoors at Coors Field) and I love having flowy clothes on (as apposed to tight, thick clothing that just seems to trap the heat even more!). Because everything seemed simple and plain, I decided to go with a bold necklace. I love this necklace because it will always and forever remind me of our maternity photo shoot we did while I was pregnant with Ryder. It's crazy how attached I get to random things because of the memories they hold!

Black Nursing Dress // Flip Flops

Clutch // Necklace is old, similar here

            

Just Peachy

This peach dress from PinkBlush is adorable! It's so lightweight and we all know that is necessary when you are pregnant in the summer heat. I love dresses lately because they are so easy. I really like that it doesn't take much thought to get ready when wearing a dress, especially when they have cute patterns like this one! The dress is a statement in itself and you don't need much else to make the outfit interesting.

Belt // Necklace

My fringe booties are no longer in stock. Majorly crushing on these beauties though!

This dress is already out of stock! But here is another that I love!
Hope you're all having a fab day!
             

Sunday Funday

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! We got a late start today thanks to a very late night watching fireworks. But Ryder loved it! Staying up past bedtime is a rare occurrence for him and I think he enjoyed hanging with the "big kids". 

This outfit is so simple and easy. This dress is a go-to for me lately! It's not maternity, which I usually don't gravitate towards, especially at this point in pregnancy. But it's so comfy and it's long enough that I don't feel like I have to tug at it to stay in place and cover what it needs to cover! I've also been loving tying thin sweaters or button ups around my waist (hmm... I guess that isn't my "waist", is it?! HA!) lately. I love this style and having the option to throw this on if I get chilly in the evenings. But who am I kidding? I'm rarely "chilly" these days! :-D 

I love this necklace I got it ages ago from Stella and Dot. I feel like it's so casual and goes with everything! Same goes for these glasses. I have a love affair with aviators and these always match no matter what I'm wearing. 

And this tote... I love it! It's reversible, so you get two bags in one, which I love. I have this bag in two colors and grab them all the time when I don't need everything in my diaper bag or I am running errands without Ryder. 

I was checking out at Target today and the woman helping me took one look at me and said "WOAH!! Are you past your due date?! You look like you're about to pop!" Ummm... No! I am not past my due date, but THANKS for that boost of confidence! LOL She went on and on about how I must be sooo uncomfortable and I'm probably "gonna get a LOT bigger" because you gain "SO much more in the last month". Ugh, really?! HUSH IT, lady! Aside from the heat, I actually feel pretty good. I've been able to get decent sleep most nights and try to stay in the A/C when possible. My biggest struggle is keeping up with my Ryder man. He's a busy-body and he's heavy! So carrying him around is hard on my body. But I actually feel pretty good for the most part. 

My emotions have been all over the place this pregnancy. A lot of the time I felt like "OMG, this is never going to end!" But now that I am so close to the end, I'm getting kinda sad that it's going to be over before we know it. I really do love being pregnant (even though some parts of it SUUUUCK) and I think there is no cuter accessory than a baby bump. I LOVE feeling her move in there and I think pregnancy is the coolest thing ever. I also love bitty babies and can't wait to snuggle my little girl. Ohhhh, the baby snuggles. Is there anything better?! 

I got a mani/pedi this afternoon and the lady next to me had a 6 month old sitting in her lap while she got her pedi. This squishy little boy was so adorable! He was so giggly and snuggly and it took everything in me to not BEG this woman to let me hold and cuddle her baby haha! He was so cute and OMG I just looooove babies. I never asked to hold him. Instead I just sat there for about 45 minutes starring at him and smiling like an idiot. I think I was kinda creeping her out but I seriously couldn't look away. LOL I can't wait to meet this baby girl and just the thought of smelling her sweet baby skin, kissing her chubby cheeks and dressing her in cute pink clothes makes me smile like a fool. Less than a month left! Yahooo!

Dress // Plaid button up is old, but similar here

Similar MK aviators here

Tory Burch Wrap Bracelet

Alex and Ani Bracelet

Reversible Tote // Bar Necklace

Similar Key Chain Wallet

Tory Burch Flip Flops

Similar Stella and Dot Necklace HERE

              

Kimono Love

Struggling to stay cool over here with this big bump! But hooraaaaaay for our A/C getting fixed!! FINALLY! I slept great last night, minus the crazy pregnant dreams. Ha! And I am loving this kimono top that is so thin and cool, but I still feel covered. I love that I'll be able to wear this with tanks underneath while I breastfeed as well. I remember really struggling with what to wear so I could easily nurse while on the go with Ryder (without having to take my entire top/dress off!).

I've been crushing on this necklace for a while and Tooth got it for me while we were in Chicago for the birthday. I love it! It's SO cute and I love colorless necklaces that can go with everything.

These shorts are also super comfy and I wore them for a while even after Ryder was born because they are stretchy and forgiving on my tummy in the fourth trimester. When I'm pregnant, I'm usually more comfortable in pants/shorts that have the "secret belly" fit because the fabric going up over my belly is more comfortable. But these are so stretchy, they never bothered me. And once you do have the baby, you don't need all that extra fabric to go up over your stomach, so the low, stretchy cut under the belly felt better after the baby was out.

Kimono // Tank

Mine are old, but similar here

Flip flops // Necklace

Hope you're all having a fab Friday! Happy early 4th of July! :)

        

Keeping It Cool

I've been loving flow-y dresses lately. I usually gravitate toward fitted clothing when pregnant because I feel like loose things can just make you look bigger! But ... anything to stay cool in the blazing heat! This bump of mine sure is getting big. But I'm starting to realize that it'll be gone soon and I'm going to miss all her kicks and movement in there.

This dress is not maternity and I love that I will be able to wear it again after this big bump of mine is gone. I have a hard time spending money on clothes at this point in pregnancy because I know they won't get a ton of use. So buying things that I will be able to wear for now and again after the baby is here is always a bonus. I've also been loving this bag. It matches everything and when I don't have to take my diaper bag somewhere, I just grab this and go. 

Dress // Same bag, different color here

Shoes are old, similar here // Necklace

        

Date Night

This outfit is so comfy and easy to wear while chasing around a crazy toddler. I wore this for a date night with Tooth, otherwise I would have had flip flops on! :) These H&M khakis are really stretchy and I love that I can run errands and be busy without getting the "grandma knee" look. HA! 

I also LOVE this new clutch. It also has a chain attached to it, which is so convenient. I love having the option and I also love being hands free (even without a toddler around). My wedges look really high, but still really comfortable because the platform is making them look taller than they actually are. I love platforms for that reason! I also love that my hubby is 6'5", so I can get away with any shoe height. 

Quick thank you to all who have reached out to me about going into the hospital yesterday. My contractions haven't completely gone away, but they are much better! I should probably be taking it easy but I have SO much to do before this baby girl gets here. We have gotten a lot done today and I'm starting to feel a little more prepared for her arrival. Next up: packing hospital bag! 

Clutch // Pants // Basic T

Shoes are old, but similar here

       

Casual in Denim

I’ve been struggling with the heat this past week! It makes a HUGE difference when you’re in the last months of pregnancy! Yikes. I’ve been pulling my hair up into a messy bun or ballerina bun almost every day just to stay cool. I love these leggings and chambray top because they are so cool. And I can easily take off the chambray top and just wear my tank underneath if I get too hot. This is an easy outfit for me to wear while chasing a very busy toddler!

I was laughing so hard when I saw these pics becase sometimes I forget JUST how big this bump is. LOL I swear I don’t think I can get any bigger and then – BAM! This belly gets bigger! I’m loving feeling her move and now Tim can easily SEE her moving around in there and I love that. I really can’t believe she’s going to be here so soon!! AHHHH… I’m so excited but also having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that I will be a mom to TWO little ones. And a GIRL. I still can’t believe it! I can’t wait to see Tooth with her and just the thought melts me. I don’t think he realizes how much she’s going to have him wrapped around her finger ☺ 

Leggings // Tank Top // Chambray Top - old, but similar Here

Sandals - old, but crushing on these

        

Hues of Blues

Hey guys! Just trying to keep cool over here in this 95+ degree heat! 

These white capris are pretty comfy and this outfit is so easy to throw on when you have 5 minutes to get ready in the morning. This is my new MK watch I got for my birthday. Been loving that it’s so over sized! I fell in love with these earrings the second I walked into the store and love that they are so lightweight. 

Staying in the shade (or better yet, AC!) is a must these days. If I do go out wearing heels I always throw a pair of flipflops in my car juuuust in case ;-) My feet and back get achy quicker than usual these days. 

This past week our AC unit stopped working! Oh. My. Gosh. You guys. It’s 80+ degress in my house and beyond miserable. The thought of having 5 more weeks makes me want to cry in pain and also relieved that I still have time to get things organized around here. It’s a very confusing mix of emotions! LOL Hopefully we’ll have someone out to fix this problem ASAP. Until then, we have 6 fans in the house and I may or may not fall asleep with an ice pack on my neck!

Tank // Capris // Earrings // MK Watch

Shoes are old but similar Here

Wish me luck in surviving this heat while making a human. NBD ;-)

            

Surprise 30th Birthday Trip to Chicago!

Two days before my birthday my hubby took Ryder and I out to dinner to start my 30th birthday celebration. We ate at the Rio (Mexican has been a pregnancy craving of mine!) and he told me after dinner we were gonna go pick out a new camera/lens for my birthday present from the kids! I was so excited! I have been wanting a new lens and couldn’t wait to get it home to try it out.

On the way home I got to open my birthday cards where one informed me that Tooth would be taking me to Chicago the next day for my birthday! I was in shock! I couldn’t even respond! I had NO IDEA that he had this planned and was completely convinced that we were done traveling before the baby gets here this July. I was so excited but of course had a million questions for him. “When did you plan this?”, “Who is watching Ryder?”, etc.

By the time we got home two of my best friends and their hubby’s were there with cake and (non-alcoholic wine – I didn’t even know that existed!) to celebrate my birthday with us! I was so surprised and felt so lucky to have such a thoughtful hubby and wonderful friends to set all this up for little ol’ me.

Of course after cake I immediately started packing, showering, doing laundry, etc., to get ready to leave the next day. It was such a whirlwind but SO much fun. My hubby is always surprising me and has always been SO beyond thoughtful for my birthdays!

We stayed at the Trump Hotel and got in late Friday night. Tooth went all out and got us a suite and OMG it was amazing! We had a great experience at the hotel and enjoyed a lot of time relaxing in the great room with room service, movies, naps, etc.

We shopped ‘til we dropped (which didn’t take long because OMG, my pregnant feet!) and explored the city. SO much fun. I’m so lucky that I married my best friend! The night of my birthday we ate at Spiaggia. The restaurant was so beautiful and the food was AH-mazing. They surprised us with birthday dessert and it was a really fun dinner.

We also spent one afternoon exploring the Navy Pier (which was so cute and fun) and then went over to the Willis Tower (previously named Sears Tower). Tim really wanted to go there because he hadn’t been since he was a little kid and it was cool! Heights kinda freak both of us out but you guys… the views. SO BEAUTIFUL! I mean. I could not stop taking pictures. Such a beautiful view of the city and lake. I felt like such a tourist with the camera wrapped around my neck the entire time saying “look! It’s so pretty!” LOL There is also a spot where you can step out onto glass and look at the city to see how high up you are. It’s really freaky! Tim wanted to get my picture out there and because there was a huge line behind us, he was being kinda pushy saying “go!” but it seriously freaked me out! Once it was his turn to come out into the glass box to stand with me, he understood! LOL He was just as freaked out as I was and it’s like you want to take baby steps and hold onto something even though there is no reason to. HA!

The last night of our stay in Chicago we ate on the Terrace at the Trump Hotel where we were staying. We got lucky that the rain never came that night like we were told it was supposed to and got to sit outside in the perfect, cool weather. This view… so beautiful! Amazing service and an amazing view. Does it get better than this?

We had so much fun on the trip and I wouldn’t have wished to spend my 30th birthday with anyone else. But we did miss our baby boy and couldn’t wait to get home to him.

I am forever grateful for these opportunities to travel and hang with my hubby. Time alone is never taken for granted. He really is the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met and is always making holidays so special. But specifically on my birthday, he makes me feel so special, celebrated and wonderful. I just love him so much!

The quickest I have ever packed my bags! 

But no plane ride baby-free is complete without my Us Weekly

First day off exploring the city and shopping

At the Willis Tower

These views though!

At the Navy Pier

Birthday Dinner at Spiaggio's

Last night in Chicago. We ate dinner on the Trump Terrace 

where the view was outstanding!