Quick hello!

Friday night we spent an exciting evening shopping for strollers at Buy Buy Baby, but tonight we're celebrating my birthday!  In honor of the date night, I got a manicure!  I am la la loving Luxedo by Essie!!!

Essie is safe for pregnant bodies because it doesn't contain the big bad "three" - formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).  When going to a salon, you just want to be careful that it is well ventilated and I take my own tools so that I don't risk infection from anyone else.  Mind you, I never did this before, but now I'm extra careful for baby's sake!

Doing something nice for yourself is super important - ALWAYS! :)

The other thing I wanted to share with you before my big night out, is my recent blog post on the Lucky Lil' Darlings blog .  They have asked me to be a monthly contributor throughout my pregnancy and this was my debut!

Gotta get beautified....more later!
xo,
Jolynn


 

Fall fashion & fun!!!

So here I am at almost 22 weeks and I think I finally look pretty preggers!!

Keep in mind, this was BEFORE I had the Ben & Jerry's :)  Rob and I just spent a lovely weekend in Stowe, Vermont...it was our First Anniversary celebration!!!  I can't believe it's been a year~and what a year it's been!

While we were away, we felt the baby kick for the FIRST time and it was nothing short of amazing!!!  I mean to think that something the size of a carrot has that much power!  I can confirm she will either be a Rockette or he will be a field goal kicker for the Giants...nope, we don't know and I don't know if we'll find out.  EVERYONE has their opinion on whether or not we should, but we're happily not taking anyone's advice.  Not even yours eager Grandma, sorry :)  Who knew my VERY traditional mom would be dying to know, and I quote, "what kind of baby I'm having"...as in her, not me...because this is what happens when your mom waits 40+ years to be a grandma...it becomes HER baby :)  And Grandpa Baca has declared this his most stressful pregnancy to date!  Keep in mind he's a father of three, but being a grandfather of one to his Advanced Maternal Age daughter is VERY stressful for him.  Funny, it's been pretty darn enjoyable and non-stressful for me :)

Look, I even hiked up a mountain this weekend...

Begin at Smuggler's Notch and hike a 1.1 mile trail climbing up 1000+ ft in elevation, and you will be rewarded with Sterling "Pond".

We had a FANTASTIC weekend full of activity and it wasn't even ski season!!!  I HIGHLY recommend Stowe, Vermont as a relaxing destination and the Stowe Mountain Lodge as a place to stay.  They took EXTRA special care of us because it was our Anniversary and can I just tell you...the spa treatments were AMAZING....the facial has really helped my baby acne :) Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for finding these amazing spots and letting us carbon copy your trip!!

So, remember my last preggers post I talked about the lack of maternity fashion?  It is NOT just my imagination, there really is NO resource for this!!  I even consulted with experts...

 

That's my friend Vinnie and me with fashion expert Stacy London from TLC's "What Not to Wear"!  We met her at this year's Fashion's Night Out and I asked her about maternity fashion.  First, it must be said that she gave my cropped leggings and crocheted dress a thumb's up...yippee!  Ok, so Stacy (we're best buds on a first name basis now) said I was right!!  There IS no place to go for advice so she gave me some of her own, which I will happily share with you!

 

1-Jersey is our friend, it will show off our bumps yet hug and hang in the right spots.

 

2-Dresses are easier than pants.

 

3-Wear open closure jackets (in other words DON'T button a blazer).  We want to still show shape in our upper body as our lower body begins to expand.

 

4-For petite pregnant peeps, keep your hemlines no longer than knee length...longer lengths will cut us off and make us look shorter and wider.

 

5-In the early months of pregnany, continue to wear regular clothes...maybe just go up in size.  Many styles still work!

 

She really is THAT good...this delicious advice was given in under three minutes!!  I can't wait to check out her new book "The Truth About Style" when it hits shelves on October 2! No, I'm not getting paid to advertise, I just like her!

 

Armed with Stacy's fashion tips, we headed out on our vacation and because I don't get to dress in "regular" clothes that often, I thought I'd use the weekend as an opportunity to try out some maternity fashions!

OK, so these are maternity skinny jeans BUT the sweater is not! This is my fall look :)

sweater is Kirna Zabete for Target, jeans are Citizens of Humanity BUT purchased at the fab Charlotte, NC maternity consignment shop, Womb and boots are my faux Frye's also from Target and have lasted several seasons!

Again, not YET maternity, but a great empire waist, knee length hem dress by Susana Monaco that I got several years ago and still looks great! Notice, mama can still rock the high heels as long as we're just going from car to Anniversary dinner :)

This was my comfy road trip wear...back with the maternity skinnies cuz they don't have a waistband or button to bother my belly in the car!  The top IS maternity from Michael Stars Maternity again purchased at the fab Womb consignment. I'll admit neither my bust line nor my belly quite fills it out....yet!

Here we go with the open closure jacket!! Nothing is maternity...in fact, the top is a dress

from Everly that I tucked into my new Kirna Zabete for Target faux leather pants!  They stretch like leggings and fit under my baby bump so they're comfy!  Notice...open closure vest?!?!  This was a Christmas present from my fashionable hubby (who pays attention when I say "oh that's cute")...it's faux fur from Rachel Zoe.  I die!!

 

So that was my weekend in a fashion nutshell.  It was so much fun dressing up and trying new things, now it's back to...

But that's ok, I'm having fun displaying my baby bump in my workout wear too!!!

 

I am finding my own way in this new body and LOVING it!!   I am also enjoying taking a daily nap, I like guessing what we're having, it's fun to read about all of the incredible things going on in my body and with our baby, and I relish the fact that if I need a snack before teaching class I have it cuz no one can tell if I'm bloated or just pregnant :) Case in point....

 

Last week I saw someone I used to train for the first time in months...she asked me how married life was treating me and I rubbed my belly and said, "pretty great".  She replied quite seriously, "Woah!  Who's cooking, him or you?"  She was pretty embarrassed when I said, "No, I'm pregnant,"  and I'll admit it, I kind of enjoyed that! 

 

I said it before and I'll say it again, this is AMAZING!!!! 

 

Here's one last pic, it's the 5 month bump shot (taken two weeks ago):

I'm not gonna lie...in the past few days this baby has POPPED!  I can't wait for next month's pic! 

 

Whadya think of my fashion finds?  Have some of your own?  Comment below, I'd love to hear!

 





Does this (baby) make me look hippy? :)

Actually YES!  And that's beautiful!!

 

OK, I promised blogs on my pregnancy progress and here we go!  You should know, that I have Rob's blessing to share this amazing journey with all of you, but there will be no sonogram pics...just belly :)

 

If you knew me as a teenager, you heard me ask every time I put something on I'd ask, "Does this make me look hippy?"  It was such a common phrase for me, that when I bought my first car, my family teased me that they were surprised I didn't ask if my car made me look hippy when I sat in it!

 

Over the years, I have made a living using my body (to dance and teach fitness) and work hard everyday to keep it in great condition.  I exercise everyday and eat really well.  It's a lifestyle and having a strong, healthy body makes me feel fantastic!  I still have curves..in fact the ONLY boyfriend jeans that have ever fit right are the ones J Lo, Queen of the booty, produces...thank you girl!  I knew being pregnant would be an adjustment, but I didn't KNOW.

 

The moment I found out we were expecting, people said it would be hard for me to adjust to my changing body.  I had been told that at first you just feel fat, not pregnant.  I WANTED to be pregnant, I marveled at the idea that my body could create and sustain a little life inside, I loved the idea of being a cute pregnant woman, I understood that gaining weight was a great thing in this case and that FINALLY I would be able to eat loads of ice cream :)

 

Here's the thing, knowing and ACCEPTING are two entirely different things.  For years I have been in control of my body, ME!  Now, I have no control over how it's growing and expanding.....and it doesn't happen in the usual, "I've eaten three slices of pizza and I feel bloated way."  My body is changing to make it easier for me to give birth, for my baby to live comfortably inside my belly and I have started with a body that weighs around 100lbs and stands only 4' 11.5" tall...there's NOT a lot of room in there for my little peanut!  So of course things have to move, starting with guess what?  My hips!!  Yup!  All my years of joking that I had child bearing hips and turns out I had no idea. 

 

What I found incredibly frustrating, was that although the scale wasn't moving very much, my clothes were NOT fitting right.  Well of course not!  I'm pregnant, and those white fitted jeans I love to wear so much in the summer are fitted....not fitted with room for three months of baby. 

 

Let me stop here and say I am LOVING being pregnant!  There have been no crazy cravings, I have been blessed with no morning sickness, I am still eating incredibly healthy items because I understand that I am feeding my baby with every bite, yes I am still exercising because it's good for both of us, and every night I read to Rob from a book that tells us what's happening today with the baby and me and then I rub my belly and talk to the baby.  We are creating a miracle and I couldn't be happier!  As soon as this baby acne subsides I'm sure you'll be able to see my pregnancy glow :)  This bog entry is simply to acknowledge a big realization I had, that I'm sure other expectant mothers face...which is why I'm sharing. 

 

So, back to the day of the white jeans.....here was where the shift happened.  Trying on maternity pants....that changed everything....just ask Rob how happy those $17 on sale at Target, Liz Lange maternity pants made everyone :)  All of a sudden, I didn't look like a sausage trying to squeeze into my snug summer pants, I felt good and confident, like the cute pregnant woman I imagined.  Who knew that elastic waist bands could be so comfortable?  I had literally outgrown myself and the moment I stopped trying to fit into that old skin and accepted the new, I felt liberated...giddy really.  I bought two pairs of pants!! 

 

Now we've created a bit of a monster....I've been exposed to a whole new world of retail!  There are TONS of cute maternity clothes out there!  I am having so much fun outfitting my new body...my favorite items are the ones that hug my belly so you can tell I've got a little baby in there...I am now 4.5 months or 18 weeks pregnant and I still have to tell people I'm expecting :)  Let me show you...

 

12 weeks                                                                      16 weeks

 

 

No 18 weeks pic yet....my photographer, daddy, is still sleeping.

This is the most AMAZING thing I have ever done!  Some days I cannot believe how lucky we are and that there is a little life growing inside of me...now the size of a bell pepper.  I have incredible amounts of energy right now, I also have incredible amounts of hormones flowing through me, so everyday is an adventure...probably why daddy's still sleeping. :)  He's the one, who held me when I had a crying fit about "What am I doing with my life and why am I suddenly so crazy?" and calmly said "Honey, you're pregnant, I think you're a little emotional right now."  Or when I stood in front of the mirror and screamed, "The baby doesn't live in my hips and ass, why don't my pants fit?" he replied, "Babe you're pregnant, that's supposed to happen."  That was the day he took me maternity clothes shopping :) 

THIS IS AMAZING and I am loving every minute of it in my elastic band pants! (Which I just discovered are intended to be ankle length pants, but not on this gal...perfect floor length and no hemming required!) I have released my old skin and am embracing the new!!

Recently my sister took me to a GREAT maternity consignment shop in Charlotte, NC called Womb
We had so much fun trying on all kinds of things...including a baby bump!

Moms-to-be, embrace the belly band (lets you wear your current pants longer, unbuttoned!), try the elastic waist...you'll like it, just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you can't look good, rouching on a top is our friend and quite flattering. This is NOT shallow, this is human nature. When we look good, we feel good.  And you know what?  Shame on the fashion world for ignoring us!  Right now everyone has their thick fall fashion issues on the stands, but there is not one magazine or website that shows us expectant moms how to make the most of OUR curves!  Yes, I get this is not the most important part of pregnancy....my primary job is to care for my baby.  I AM!  But I can look good while I'm doing it can't I?