22 Weeks: Maxi Dress

Dress and Shoes: Forever 21

Dan says I look "really pregnant" and I kind of have to agree with him. Gone are the worries of "Can anyone tell I'm pregnant?". There's no question. There's a baby in there. This week I feel swollen. The humid Tennessee summer is upon us along with epic rain storms and balmy evenings. It's going to be hot and humid until baby brother gets here. I'm still running but it's about time to get inside on the treadmill. Air conditioning will be my saving grace! Baby boy is the size of a spaghetti squash and is moving and kicking lots. He still doesn't have a name but we're working on it. We're not sure if we'll announce it before he's here. So, stay tuned.

So, this dress was at Forever 21. I really only bought because I thought it would work - and it does! I'm wearing it to weddings; one that I worked and one that I attended. I think I'll be able to wear it for a few more weeks - even months! And I'm sure it will fit next summer, too.

Nashville Wedding: Ashley + Greg

Ashley and Greg came all the way from Michigan to tie the knot in Nashville. Their beautiful, intimate ceremony was at the Schermerhorn. After they were pronounced husband and wife, we traveled through town on a party bus and took portraits at the Parthenon before retiring to the Horton Group for dinner (which included pancakes!) and dancing. Ashley and Greg, thanks for having me! All the best!

21+ Weeks : Weight Gain and Dress Up 'Jammies

Being pregnant is awesome and wonderful and so incredibly awkward. I never realized how hard it would be to get dressed., how many feelings I would have about my growing body or how big I would actually get. I'm only 21 weeks and no one has commented on how big I am (Thank, God!) but I cant quite wrap my head around how big this bump is going to get. It seems about the right size right now but I know that bebe is only 11" long and weighs less than a pound. We've got a long ways to go!

I've been pretty much the same size my entire adult life, save for two times when we lived abroad. Like most women, I gained weight after I got married (three words: free Alberta beef). We were working at a church in Canada, just on the outskirts of Edmonton. Most of the congregation were farmers. It was winter for 9 months straight and we had a freezer full of steak. I was happily married and "done school" (a little Canadian phrase for ya) and so I gained about 20 pounds. It all came off pretty quickly when we moved to Tacoma, Washington and I became a personal trainer and started eating like a normal person. I also gained weight when we lived in France (one word: croissants). The scales were in kilogram so I'm not sure how much I gained but the weight came off incredibly fast and I was skinnier than ever after just 4 months back in the U.S. of A. 

Now, at almost 5 months pregnant, I think I weigh more than ever. And to know that I've got 19 more weeks is a bit overwhelming. Most of my jeans still fit with the help of my Belly Button Band. but for the most part I'm wearing enormous skirts that look like tents on me. I wore heels with a pencil skirt and cropped Tshirt the other day and I felt very exposed. I dont want to cover up in moo-moos but I dont really want to flaunt it all either. That's why this outfit does the trick. It's modest and trendy and I'm comfortable in it. It flaunts the bump but doesn't show off too much. Plus, I felt like I was in my PJs. Basically, this outfit wins and none of it is from the maternity department.

Mamas, did you feel overwhelmed about dressing the bump? When? And how did you, if at all, overcome?

Top: H&M, Pants: Gap, Shoes: Forever 21.

20 Weeks : The Perfect T-Shirt (2 Ways)

I would like to be a stylish pregnant woman. I have never had to constantly consider my wardrobe as I have these past 20 weeks or so. I've never had a belly before! The pregnant ladies on Pinterest make it look so easy, don't they? I have been so inspired by so many other expectant mamas lately so I thought I'd join in the fun and attempt a weekly outfit post. I'm showing you two today. The first is just an outfit I wore around town with Dan. We had a day date: lunch and a long walk while Liam was in school.

I've gained weight all over. I figured out a few weeks ago that I'm not going to be the little lady who looks like she's got a basketball under her shirt and I'm totally okay with that. My body is doing something amazing and I am so grateful for it. I'm eating healthy and still running regularly so there's not much else I can do. But I think most strangers think I'm just a chubby girl so, when I feel like I'm being scrutinized, I do the classic hands under and/or on top of the belly pose, like so:

Shorts, T-shirt and Sunglasses: Forever21, Shoes: Saltwaters, Hat: thrifted.

I'm determined to not buy a TON of maternity clothes. After all, it's been over 3 years since I became a mom for the first time and we moved across the country so we need a lot of things for Bebe No. 2! Plus, it's summer from now until my due date so I'm trying to keep it minimal and make some of wardrobe work. For instance, vintage stretchy-waist skirts over a tank top or a T-shirt tied over a maxi dress. So far, it's working but I'm only half way! In an attempt to keep my maternity clothes to a minimum, I hit up the ultimate bargain store: Forever 21. I scored these shorts for $17.90 and that T-shirt for $3.90. I'm a sucker for anything olive green. It brings out the color in my eyes. This lightweight T-shirt was in a pile (what else would you expect at Forever 21?) it caught my eye and I had to have it. Check out the adorable pin stripe on these casual, comfy shorts! I'm certain I'll wear these throughout my pregnancy and probably next summer, too.

So, guess what? Bonus time! I've included a 2nd outfit. It's been my go-to because maxi-dresses cover a multitude of sins (if you included not shaving your legs a sin). Tie your favorite tank or T-shirt over a maxi and BAM. Effortless style.

Maxi dress: Forever21.

Hope you all have a happy weekend!

Our Gender Reveal Party

A gender reveal can be so cheesy but we really just wanted an excuse to throw a party. Dan's only home for a week so we thought we'd hit 30 birds with one stone by throwing a pre-summer gender reveal party in our backyard. (Although, it was 87 degrees today so it felt like summer to me!) We served hot dogs and pizza, pink and blue punch, s'mores and watermelon. I had an elaborate vision of hanging streamers from the beautiful tree in our backyard and rigging the "wrong" color to fall with the simple pull of a string. We decided, after a hilarious conversation in the aisles at Party City, that we should just do balloons coming out of a box but we didnt have a box that doesn't say HOME DEPOT on all 6 sides so we decided we'd use our old trunk. We gathered everyone around and popped open the trunk! It's a boy! Liam was the MOST excited about having balloons and getting to stay up late with some of his best friends. We were so blessed by everyone who came. We are totally overwhelmed by the love and friendships we've found here. Baby Boy Read, you're being welcomed into a beautiful community.

It's a...

That little baby right there is A BOY!!!

We are currently having a gender reveal party with our friends in Nashville and didn't want the rest of you to miss out.

BABY BOY READ! 2 BOYS! AHH!!!