wee wardrobes: twenty-one

Before I say anything, let me say Happy Thanksgiving! (Can you believe 2011 is already almost over?!) I’ve finished my Thanksgiving meal and keep alternating between lounging on the couch and waddling to and from the kitchen trying to decide if I want to try to stuff more food in my mouth (although I’m certain my stomach can’t handle another morsel of food at this point). I’m not complaining, though—I’ve been able to spend the day with my favorite people so I am a happy woman. I think some of that happiness can be chalked up to the fact that have passed the halfway point in my pregnancy--it's a good feeling. So. Ready to talk baby?

My estimated due date is: Thursday, April 5, 2012. I am 21 weeks pregnant today and have 19 weeks remaining.

According to WhatToExpect.com, the baby is the size of: a banana at 7 inches and 11 ounces.

So far, I’ve gained: 12 pounds. I’m not as spastic about my weight gain as I was last week. All I can do is eat right, exercise and remember that my body is housing a rapidly growing, banana-sized human being at the moment.

My sleep habits: have started to improve. It’s hard to get comfortable (even with a body pillow) so I toss and turn a lot, but for the most part, I’m able to get a decent (and uninterrupted) night’s sleep. Plus, I sometimes manage to squeeze in a quick nap during the day, so I’m sure that helps.

My eating habits: don’t matter today. With a kitchen full of turkey, ham, dressing and gravy, deviled eggs, greens, corn, yams, and cornbread, I can’t bring myself to worry about poundage or calories. Although I am worried that the baby might not have much room to move around at the moment due to the insane amount of food I devoured earlier. No, I’m kidding. Sort of.

My exercise habits: ceased to exist this week. Normally I exercise after I drop Micah off at school, but he’s been out of school all this week, so I’ve been sleeping in instead of walking. I plan to start back up next up (I’ll have to bundle up, though. It’s going to be chilly!).

My wardrobe: consists of what’s comfortable, which usually means anything elastic and loose-fitting. Take today for example—notice how there’s no picture today? Yeah, that’s because I look like I should be inducted into the Hot Mess Hall of Fame. I’m wearing one of The Boyfriend’s long-sleeved shirts, a pair of athletic shorts I’ve had since high school, mismatched socks (one of which is blue, due to the fact that I accidently washed it with a load of denim jeans a while back), and glasses. And let’s not even get started on the hair. I can’t. I just…can’t.

The baby’s movements: have me thinking that this is going to be one laid-back baby. Movement is still pretty predictable, but sometimes when I want to know that Baby is doing okay, I’ll lay on my side for a minute, which gets those movements going for some reason.

Micah: alternates between being excited about the baby and being completely indifferent. I really try to prepare him—I guess it’ll get easier as my due date approaches. I don’t want him to feel left out, but my heart tells me he’s going to be okay with a new baby around.

I feel: mellow. I’m used to feeling to spastic and hormonal and moody (usually all at once), but right now, I just feel…happy. Maybe it’s the holiday. Maybe it’s the fact that I can’t think about anything but my bloated belly right now. Or maybe it’s the fact that this has just been a good week. Whatever it is, it has me feeling pretty content right now. I like that.

One thing I really miss is: my common sense. Pregnancy brain is real, people. You’re forgetful and clueless and dim-witted (or is that just me?). Your once-clever retorts are replaced with blank stares and you suddenly want a refund on your college education. Nineteen more weeks, Jones. Nineteen more weeks.

One thing I really look forward to is: being able to eat more without feeling like my innards are being squished. Can you tell I really want to get another helping of food? Because I do. Bad.

My ‘wee wardrobes’ Want of the Week is: a custom-made, hand-stamped sterling silver ring with the names (or birth dates) of my kids [MommyJewelry, $68]. If I don’t wear any other jewelry, I almost always wear a ring, so I would love to have one with Micah’s name and the name of his soon-to-be sibling.

words sans wardrobes: daddy's little girl

He’s the first man I ever loved—and the first man who ever loved me.

He’s the man from whom I inherited my strong nose, my gap-toothed grin, and my bowlegged walk—three things I loved as a child, hated as a teenager, then learned to love again as an adult.

He’s the man whose shoulders I cried on for a week straight during junior year of high school when I missed qualifying for the state track meet by three-tenths of a second—and his proud arms are the ones I enthusiastically ran to when I finally qualified the following year.

He’s the man who fixed my flat tires, made sure my oil changes were up-to-date, and let me borrow his car whenever mine was in the shop—although I think he’s secretly glad I have a new mechanic, in the form of The Boyfriend.

He’s the man who told me I was beautiful, talented, intelligent. He’s the man who helped build my self-esteem and self-confidence. He’s the man who convinced me that I could be anything I wanted to be. He’s the man who taught me to never allow anyone else to determine my self-worth. He’s the man who fiercely believed in my dreams and abilities—even when I didn’t believe in them myself.

He’s the man who taught me how I should be treated by the opposite sex—and the only one I knew I could count on to never break my heart.

He’s the man I fervently pleaded with God not to take away from me nearly five years ago when he was in the hospital suffering from an unknown medical condition—and although he’s happy and healthy today, I was finally forced to confront the issue of parental mortality.

He’s the man who rushed me to the hospital when I was in labor with my firstborn child—and I have never seen him drive so fast in my life.

He’s the man who has been with me through thick and thin, good times and bad, laughter and tears—and has always helped me put things in perspective.

And for my entire life—or at least since I could talk—he’s the man I’ve called Dad.

When I was younger, I always thought that the older I got, the less I would need him. I thought I would graduate from high school, graduate from college, and conquer the world, cloaked with an armor of independence. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I think I’ve needed him more over the last 12 years of my life than I did the first 18 years. Poor grades, broken bicycles, and teenage hormones were nothing compared to colossal career failures, adult heartbreaks, and quarter-life crises.

When I was at my lowest, he shared my sorrow. When I was high with happiness, he shared my elation. When I was low on funds and could only afford a three-dollar birthday card, he accepted that card with the excitement of a million-dollar lottery ticket holder—and then carefully stored it in the file cabinet that houses every single other birthday card I’ve ever given him (handmade and store-bought), in addition to newspaper clippings (authored by yours truly), poetry from my younger years (when I thought I was a mini-Maya Angelou), and quite a few other sentimental pieces that only a proud father would treasure.

School plays. Parent-teacher conferences. Birthdays. Track meets. He never missed one, and as I type this, tears are rolling down my cheeks—happy tears, grateful tears, proud tears. Tears for every single memory I can recall, tears for the sport we shared that strengthened an already unbreakable bond, tears for the man who has forever changed my life.

Violette DeSantis is quoted as once saying, “Hopefully we were all Daddy’s Little Girl. He was, and hopefully still is, wrapped around our little finger…not to take advantage of, but more just for the comfort of knowing he is there.” Sometimes I wonder what my life would have ended up like had he not been there. Sometimes I wonder what things would be like if my prayers weren’t (positively) answered back in 2007. But most of the time, I’m just appreciative of the fact that he’s here. Now.

So happy birthday to my confidant, my voice of reason, my hero, my role model, my biggest cheerleader, and my number one fan.

I love you, Dad. You the man.

Love,
Your Little (or Not-So-Little) Girl

wardrobe recap: audacious launch event

If you’re a long-time reader of words & wardrobes, you know that I’m all about statement jewelry. I mean, I like simple pieces too, but there’s nothing like a bold piece of jewelry to accessorize a basic outfit. So when I received a tweet about the launch of a local accessories company—Audacious Accessory Collection—I jumped at the opportunity to get my hands on some eye-catching jewelry and, despite my recent complaints about feeling fatigued, tired, and just straight exhausted, I managed to be first in line at the event…and let me tell you, K.C. (the owner, who was beyond nice) did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, the only thing that was disappointing was the fact that I didn’t have more cash on hand (well, that and the fact that I had to decline the complimentary cocktails). From hats (fedoras, to be exact) to handbags (specifically, clutches) to gorgeous jewelry, Audacious had it all—and prices were very reasonable. I spend most of my time eyeing the stunning layered pearl necklace above, amongst other things, but I ended up taking home two silver rings, pictured at the bottom of the post. I’ve been stalking the Audacious website, though, and can’t wait to get some more things, especially since Christmas is right around the corner…





















Like what you see? Want to see more? Check out www.audaciouscollection.com.

wee wardrobes: twenty

After weeks of nonstop nausea, fatigue, and mood swings, I’ve reached the halfway point in my pregnancy (and my body has traded in the aforementioned symptoms for a whole new set of discomforts). The second trimester is supposed to be the “easy” trimester, but I’m still sluggish, moody, and have reached a point where I can no longer make a move without grunting. The lack of motivation is the worst. Last week I created an editorial calendar so that I could get on a more consistent blogging schedule. This is my first post this week, so you can see how well that worked out. In my defense, I had a really busy weekend—Micah’s fall festival at school sandwiched between a launch event and a fashion show on Saturday, and a birthday party for one of Micah's classmates on Sunday. It doesn’t sound very hectic, but when your usual get-up-and-go has gotten up and left, it doesn’t take much to feel pooped. Nevertheless, I’ve made it to the halfway point and I’m excited to give you guys another update.

My estimated due date is: Thursday, April 5, 2012. I am 20 weeks pregnant today and have 20 weeks remaining.

According to WhatToExpect.com, the baby is the size of: a mango (still), but a tad bigger at 6.5 inches and 10 ounces.

So far, I’ve gained: 11 pounds. I managed to gain 3 pounds this week, which has me a bit spastic. I mean, am I having a baby or a baby elephant? With Micah, I gained 30 pounds, most of which was gained closer to the end of the pregnancy. So a sudden gain of three pounds now has me nervous to hop on the scale. Sigh.

My sleep habits: aren’t much better than they were last week. I still wake up around 4 o’clock in the morning and lay in the dark for a while, then get drowsy and fall asleep again—right before it’s time to wake Micah up and get him ready for school.

My eating habits: need to be reassessed. Seriously. I’m convinced that I have gestational diabetes (which also has me a bit spastic), but I haven’t had it confirmed yet (and yes, I self-diagnosed—thanks to Google and WebMD. Don’t judge me.). It’s definitely something I’m going to bring up at my next appointment. As I mentioned last week, I tend to snack instead of eat meals, but apparently I really need to modify my diet. Oh joy.

My exercise habits: still include walking, but I’ve been looking into prenatal yoga. I figure it might be one more thing that’s beneficial when Labor Day rolls around. I’m still a bit fatigued so I cut my walking mileage from three to two this week. I wonder if that played a role in my weight gain. Hmmm.

My wardrobe: is growing slightly since I’m finally starting to buy bigger (non-maternity) clothes. I’m only halfway through my pregnancy and I already can’t wait to get back to my pre-pregnancy wardrobe.

The baby’s movements: are getting stronger and can be felt from the outside. The baby was on the move yesterday morning…and again at lunch time…and again during my nap. We’re really going to have to work on the timing, kid.

Micah: finally felt the baby move. He was so excited. He loves rubbing my belly and still asks, “Is the baby coming out now?” on a daily basis. He refers to the baby as Baby Micah and insists that the baby is going to look just like him. I think he’s going to be a great big brother.

I feel: pregnant. And by pregnant, I mean uncomfortable. And gargantuan. And sick. Basically, I feel like my body has been hijacked. Twenty more weeks to go, Jones. Twenty more weeks.

One thing I really miss is: living a life without lists. During pregnancy, there are lists galore—there’s the list of things you shouldn’t eat, the list of things you shouldn’t drink, the list of things you shouldn’t do, the list of things you shouldn’t use. So, yeah, I’m feeling a bit restricted these days. Oh well. At least it’s temporary.

One thing I really look forward to is: looking at baby names. We still don’t know if the little one is a boy or a girl, so The Boyfriend and I will look at names for both. So in addition to my monthly magazine reads, my nose is now buried in baby name books (or websites).

My ‘wee wardrobes’ Want of the Week is: the ‘My Mom doesn’t want your advice!” onesie [CafePress, $16]. The amount of unsolicited advice that comes with pregnancy is teeny compared to the heap of advice you get once the baby gets here. This onesie gets the point across without having to say a word. Besides, who’s going to argue with an chubby, adorable baby?



[JEANS, SWEATER, and NECKLACE: Target; SHOES: Bakers; BRACELETS: Forever 21; RING: Audacious (purchased at the launch event on Saturday); HANDBAG: Mimi Boutique]

moo-vin' on up...

…to Moo Business Cards, that is. For nearly a year, I’ve been using Moo Mini Cards but when I ordered new cards a few weeks ago, I decided to forgo the tiny cards and replace them with the full-size version. I was somewhat hesitant because I thought the Business Cards might be a bit ‘cumbersome’ compared their miniature counterparts, but I really like the bigger size (and the extra white space on the front of the card). I have a pretty packed calendar over the next few weeks—volunteering, fashion shows, preview parties—so these cards will definitely come in handy, especially tomorrow night…

wee wardrobes: nineteen

When I announced my baby news (and followed up with the details) five weeks ago, I pledged to keep the baby babble to a minimum. Yeah, that’s kind of hard to do. Fortunately, I have some really awesome readers who have e-mailed me requesting updates on the little one in my tummy, whom we’ve dubbed Baby G. (‘G’ is The Boyfriend.). Ready to hear some babbling?

My estimated due date is: Thursday, April 5, 2012. I am 19 weeks pregnant today and have 21 weeks (or 147 days) left—and believe me, I’m counting. It’s hard to believe that I’m only a week away from being halfway through the pregnancy.

According to WhatToExpect.com, the baby is as big as: a mango (6 inches, .5 pounds).

So far, I’ve gained: 8 pounds. I expect that number to rise rapidly as we approach Thanksgiving. And Christmas. And New Year’s.

My sleep habits: are kind of craptastic at the moment. Between trying to find a comfortable sleeping position, going to the restroom every five minutes, and feeling the baby doing acrobatics in the middle of the night, I’ve had a hard time resting. Plus, I tend to wake up around 4 o’clock every morning…for absolutely no reason at all (other than the fact that I just can’t get back to sleep). I’m pretty sure you could stuff a week’s worth of groceries in the bags under my eyes.

My eating habits: are pretty unusual. I’ve been sticking to a lot of the same foods and snacks lately. I’ve always been more of a snacker, and that hasn’t changed much. Because the baby’s growing, all of my internal organs are shifting and compressing and all these other things that make it hard to eat more than a bit of food at a time.

My exercise habits: include a three-mile walk…when the weather permits. When I was pregnant with Micah, I walked every day and I think it really helped with my labor and delivery. As a matter of fact, I was in the middle of my daily walk when I went into labor with Micah…

My wardrobe: is collecting dust. I’ve looked at maternity clothes, but I hate the idea of buying something that won’t be part of my wardrobe six months from now (or a year from now). I’ve visited a few thrift stores for maternity clothes on the cheap, but I haven’t really found anything yet.

The baby’s movements: are predictable. I pretty much know what times of day to expect the in utero gymnastics sessions, but I’m not complaining.

Micah: is excited and asks every other day (while playing with my belly button), “Is the baby coming tomorrow?” Poor kid. I’ve explained that there’s still a long time before the baby comes, but he hasn’t quite grasped the concept of time just yet.

One thing I really miss is: having energy. Although I feel better than I did during the first trimester, I’m still experiencing a lot of fatigue. That’s not a good thing when your six-year-old has the type of everlasting energy that would put the Energizer bunny to shame.

One thing I really look forward to is: finding out the gender. I was supposed to find out this week, but now I have to wait a bit longer. Hopefully, I’ll find out before Thanksgiving. As cliché as it sounds, I don’t have a preference, but as I mentioned before, I’m convinced this one is a girl. But I’m ready to find out for sure so I can start buying baby clothes instead of just eyeing them from afar every time I set foot inside a clothing store…

[SWEATER: Zara; JEANS: Old Navy; SHOES: Bakers; CLUTCH: Thrifted]