What I've Learned..

maternity by laelle featuring yoga pants

I've seen alot of Moms-to-Be in the blogosphere share their favorite things for pregnancy and beyond. Learning from all these other ladies helped me figure out what the essentials were at times, and also the things I could skip. With pregnancy, something is always changing, and there is a new complaint every week.
But these are the constants..

The Bible.. What to Expect When You're Expecting. There's a reason there are so many editions of this book. It's awesome. Straightforward and detailed.. I probably use it the most of all the pregnancy books I own. I love them all.. but this one is tried and true. It's been fun to read up every week and see that I am having a normal pregnancy. Nothing is weird.

Moisturize.. Burt's Bees Mama Bee Body Oil. This and other products are so nice when you feel your skin stretching every day. So far my belly is stretch mark free... They say there is really nothing you can do to prevent these unsightly marks.. even with the creams. But they feel wonderful and it's nice to know I'm doing what I can. I use Palmer's Cocoa butter too. I also use a Hemp Body Oil in the shower.. home made.. and it is the most velvety and luxurious treatment of all. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm is wonderful too. I feel pretty and my lips are soft. Pregnancy can leave your lips feeling chapped.

Be Comfy.. Stretchy long tank tops from Ribbons and Target, along with foldover yoga pants are a God-send. Comfort becomes EVERYTHING in pregnancy. Sometimes for work I have to torture myself in uncomfortable work appropriate garb. The best part of my day is getting home to a soft cotton cami and uber stretchy yoga pants. Hanky Panky boy shorts are the best of both worlds. Pretty lace in any color you want.. and the kind of comfort a pregnant lady yearns for.

Cheap Thrills.. People can say all they want about Forever 21. I don't care if it's cheap, poor quality, or bad knock offs. It has cured pregnancy blues more than once for me. A stop in there on a blue day and i don't have to spend a fortune to have something fresh. If I was in California this wouldn't be necessary as I always have downtown L.A. and Ribbons to fall back on. But here in NOLA, that's all I've got. I can get a new top in a large size, a long dress, or even a sale item from their maternity line and have a brand new outfit for the cost of dinner. Thank you Forever for restoring my sanity from time to time.. Maternity on a budget.

Treats.. and finally.. Ocean Spray cranberry juice is so tart, sweet, and perfect.. I buy TONS of this stuff. And finally, Haagen Dazs.. my dear friend. Is it not the creamiest, best ice cream around? I won't have this debate with anyone. It is PERFECT. Even my homemade ice creams can't capture this kind of magic. Favorite flavors: Vanilla, Coffee, Java Chip, and Mint Chocolate.

For Sleep.. I almost bought one of those snoogle pregnancy pillows.. and I'm glad I didn't. The best thing for me has been customizing with my own pillows. I sleep with about 6 pillows surrounding my body right now, and aside from several bathroom breaks a night... I sleep
But truly, this pregnancy, comfort has been everything. A little indulgence here and there makes all the bad things go away, and a husband who picks up the slack in the kitchen for his sick and tired wife is the best thing ever. I owe Albin BIG time. He is AWESOME!