I Survived Maternity Shopping and all I got were these clothes...

Maternity clothes shopping is the most horrible thing ever.  Having to strip in front of those florescent lights, stuff your strangely shaped body into and then out of a million different shapeless garments, and having to look at yourself while this is all taking place is not for the faint of heart.  I am so glad I did it finally!  I was running out of options with my regular clothes, and clasping and unclasping the safety pin on my one pair of remotely fitting pants 10 times a day for frequent bathroom trips was getting a little ridiculous.   Now I have some clothes that fit, and I'm going to share them all with you!

This is a lightweight jersey dress that I found at Kohl's.  I plan to wear it for my student recital this coming Sunday. It is very loose and airy feeling. 

Here is the whole en sem - is it teacherly enough?  The word at the office is that current maternity style is skin tight.  Um, I'm not ready for that.  

But apparently I'm ready for it on the internet!  I think this is hilarious because this looks like a body suit or something, but this is really a pair of incredibly comfy yoga style pants that reach all the way to my bra.  Yes I'm in a bra on the internet, but isn't giving birth and motherhood filled with modesty stripping moments?  I'm just preparing myself.  Anyway, these pants are the greatest thing ever.  I put them on immediately when I get home.  

This is the top I put on when I get home.  It was handed down to me from my friend Libby, who got it from a friend.  It is the best. shirt. ever.  I wish I could find it in every color of the rainbow and wear it every single day.  I like that it is lightly warm and comfy, and also that it appears to diminish my hugeness.  Maybe that is my imagination upon seeing this picture.  But I am definitely going to have to share this miracle of cloth with the next lovely lady in my life to be in need of the miracle shirt.  Who's next?  When I'm done with it, of course.  

The essential wardrobe staple:  jeans.  I got away with wearing my other jeans until about 20 weeks along, but it was soon a lost cause and I was craving some denim.  These appear normal enough!  The top was one of the only tops at Target I didn't hate.  It has lots of ruffles and pleats and makes me feel like a box.  Which is better than some shapes out there.  

Here I am like a magician revealing the secrets of maternity fashion:  how do those pants defy gravity?  The answer my friends is stretchy waist bands that go over your belly button!  Luckily, the fashion disaster part happens under your shirt so no one knows your shame except other moms.  (I'm going to be a mom!)  And now you all, looking at this blog.  I love how there are pockets and detailing where they would normally hit on low riding jeans so I can pretend I'm still in fashion.  

I usually push down these ridiculous bands below my belly.  The pants still stay up pretty well.  Free range belly shot!  

 This shirt was a gift from my mom!  She knew I was dreading the shopping experience and did some for me.  If you ask 18 year old me, this would probably be a dress, but I'm thinking it is a shirt.  I already have mom opinions!!  I've worn it out on a couple date nights probably because it is shiny and low cut.  I like that it has lots of fabric because I'll probably need that when I'm a lot bigger!  I'm wearing them with a pair of trouser maternity pants.  I know you can't tell but trust me, they are work appropriate!  

So that's the end of the fashion show, I hope you enjoyed it! 

Organizing the Armory

We have been working on organizing the utility room!  Since Jason's office is going to become Grace's room, Jason will be relegated to the basement.  The utility room was until recently covered with random tools, which didn't really matter until now.  

Jason decided to organize his tools by installing a peg board. 

And as we all know, since every household task requires the purchase of a new tool, here is Jason using his new favorite tool:  a cement nail gun!  It really is a gun because it requires 22 caliber cartridges!  He needed this because he couldn't drill into the cement very easily any other way. 

Aren't you impressed by the arsenal of weaponry my husband has amassed in the last year??  It is very manly and impressive wall decoration, that is for sure.  

Now this room is quite a bit more roomy!  I have been moving some boxes around and getting rid of stuff.  I feel a bit pathetic because I get out of breath lifting even one small box.  Jason has a back injury, and he isn't supposed to lift anything over 25 pounds, so we're both pretty pathetic right now.  The air compressor is STILL sitting on our dining room from when he was working on the crown molding because we're too weak to carry it back down the stairs.  

This side of the room is going to be the office area.  Jason's desk will go along the wall where the vacuum is sitting.  The storage boxes on the left contain Christmas and Halloween paraphernalia, as well as a box of clothing of mine that I will toss out once it is certain I will never fit into it again.  Here's hoping!  Tosca will have to show some serious enthusiasm for this cat tree if she doesn't want it to find a new home!