Lookin' Fly On My Delivery Day in My Hot Mama Gowns

I have a confession... A big one. See, before I was pregnant I made fun of pregnant people... Well, not really, but I made fun of some of the things they do... Like bringing their own gowns to the hospital.

Yep, I saw it on a blog once and had to laugh and write a post about it. I thought it was the funniest/ lamest thing I had ever seen. Now here I am... Not even two years later bringing not one, but TWO gowns to the hospital. Yea, I'm feeling a little sheepish (and hypocritical) seeing what I wrote before.

My oh my, how time can change things, I'm a testament of that! I also said I'd have a Beemer before a Baby or a Lexus before a Little one and Lawd knows that didn't happen either! I'm sure this eating my words thing will become a regular commodity as I journey through motherhood.

To my defense, the gowns I got are WAY cuter than the others (also more than $50... But hey, I'm making more money than I was then), and they also double as great nursing gowns and totally beat the regular old gowns they give you at the hospital. And I, my friends, am ANYTHING but regular.

Some people care about having an unmedicated birth... I care about feeling good. And looking good, will help me feel good. I'm just being me and doin' me (as said in my birthing theme song "Over", by Drake) and doin' me is looking fly... Or at least trying to.

This will be the biggest, most exciting day of my life, next to my wedding day, and I was sure to look good for that day, so I want to look and feel nice for this day too.
So, what better way to look fly than to wear a Hot Mama Gown? I first heard about them when they donated one of their beautiful gowns during my March of Dimes fundraiser raffle! I knew once I got pregnant I'd be getting one. Luckily, they love me and my blog so they offered to send me one to review. My problem... I'm too indecisive and couldn't choose just one, PLUS they came out with new swaddle blankets that made my decision even more difficult. So what I do? I bought a second gown and a matching blanket. It was a pregnancy present to myself, and the only "maternity" wear I've bought my ENTIRE pregnancy (I never went and bought those maternity jeans... Or anything else for that matter).

The nice thing though is wearing my gowns won't have to stop once I give birth to Lil' J. It's perfect for nursing, and a nice nightgown to wear around the house.
I know some are probably saying "Umm girrrrl... You don't even KNOW how messy and gross it gets during labor" You're right... I don't. But I DO know that these gowns are made with a fancy organic cotton that can be easily ridden of stains.

So, what I think of them? Well, I think they're great, they're comfortable, they button down the back, so they're easily accessible for hospital staff, but your booty isn't showing when you're walking around (I'm oober shy when it comes to nakedness). They're not cheaply made to be worn one time, which I love, because I'd love to just wear them around the house when Lil' J and I are at home during my leave. There's so much thought and detail in every snap and closure, it's not just thrown together. It's made to last. They also have amazing access for breastfeeding which will come in handy especially at the hospital, but at home too!

They look nice enough to where I can answer the door in them, and not look like a crazy old lady in my PJs but not so fancy to where I won't want Spawnie's poop on them. Well, not that anyone wants poop on them... I mean it's not super delicate, and washes well.

FYI, the pictures of me in these gowns were initially taken by my husband, but just as much as he hates being in pictures, he hates taking them too, and the ones we took together didn't look as good with the flash, so I did my own self-portrait shoot in the nursery.
So, want to know my plan for wearing them? I bought the pink Grace gown to wear during labor. I wanted to buy pink to remind me of Cora's Story (a must read, beautiful baby who reminds me to get Lil' J her first Congenital Heart Disease test). I bought Lil' J a matching swaddle blanket that hopefully we can put her in shortly after she's born for pictures.THEN, after I'm all cleaned up, I'll change into my Antoinette gown, which I think looks GREAT for pictures. My hair and makeup will be touched up, and we'll be ready to go.
On a side note... Other fly-making things in my (pre)hospital bag are: Fake eyelashes, hair rollers, and makeup (just the natural-looking kind). Hate all you want... I'm doin' me!

Be sure to check out HotMamaGowns.com or follow @HotMamaGowns on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest deals and styles!

Perfect Babymoon Attire: PassionSpice Giveaway

So I admitted to some of my self esteem issues with my big belly. It's really weird, some days I love it and other days I'm trying to hide it.

I'm back and forth the same way with my husband. Some days I'm like "Look at my fat belly!" and other days I'm wrapping it up in a robe. I definitely know the more confidant I am with it the more appealing it is to everyone... Myself included.

We both requested a three-day weekend this coming week and I'm looking forward to having a little getaway... Possibly our last one before Little LadyBug arrives. Since we have our first childbirth class in the middle of it, and because we need a dog-sitter we may not be doing a full-on babymoon, but I'm still wanting to plan some fun activities like a Temple Trip, maybe a visit to Sea World, and going on a gondola ride on the River Walk.

Now when it comes to what to WEAR for part of the babymoon... I've got that covered. I know my blog is called "Baby Making Machine" and I'm sure there's been many-a Googlers who've come to my site disappointed by my content and while I'm about to share a very fun product that is great for *ahem*... fun in my condition, I'm not going to say anything else more risque than that... Sorry perve Googlers.

But beware of photos coming! Old ladies shield your eyes, I'm about to show you some totally adorable and sexy (ok I said the "S" word) maternity lingerie!!Earlier this week I told you about a pretty nightgown I had and my fascination with the abundance of maternity lingerie, well, it doesn't stop there.

PassionSpice has an awesome, VERY AFFORDABLE line of maternity lingerie that's for SURE gonna turn your baby daddy's head.I'm not gonna tell you which one they sent me cause I'm saving you those mental pictures, but I did get one of these items and I LOVE it! It's also something that will be fun post-maternity. It's not flimsy, but durable and easy to get on and... Well, you know.
All of their sets are under $30 right now! Can you believe it?! Watch out Victoria's Secret!

Their slogan "being a mom doesn't mean you have to stop being a woman." SO true!! Here's a little more about them:

"PassionSpice Maternity and Nursing Wear is committed to providing pregnant and nursing moms with an alternative to the boring undergarments most women are forced to put up with. PassionSpice is committed to helping women feel confident and sexy throughout their pregnancy and beyond. PassionSpice carries a line of maternity lingerie to keep the spark alive during pregnancy, as well as nursing bras for post pregnancy. All of their maternity products were designed to be worn throughout the pregnancy, and even beyond pregnancy. The nursing bras were also designed with the new mom in mind. They feature soft fabrics, fun colors, and gentle detailing to remind new moms that they truly are sexy women, too!"

They also have a great line of beautiful nursing bras which are adorable, but also convenient for nursing. Not sure what size you are? It's easy to check their charts to see what size you are if you don't know.Right now, they're having a sale and everything is 30% off! They have a nice range in items from bras to undies to garter belts and baby dolls. Keep up with their Facebook Fan Page and their Twitter Page to see more deals.

So you can check out their site and BUY something cute.

Or you can try to WIN a $25 gift card to PassionSpice and use it towards a nice new ensemble for your special drawer.

{{{How to Enter}}}
Visit PassionSpice and leave a comment telling me what you'd get with your $25 gift card

{{For Extra Entries}}
Be(come) a follower of my blog
Let me know if you had or recommend a BabyMoon!
Follow @PassionSpice on Twitter
Become a PassionSpice Facebook Fan and comment on their wall letting them know you found them from here!

Contest Ends May 10th at 11:59pm
Winner will be chosen via random.org good luck!

*Big thanks to PassionSpice for sending me an item to review and feature and for sponsoring the giveaway. I was not compensated for this post and all of the opinions expressed are from yours truly!*

***Spoiled Mama Giveaway Winner: Comment #123 The Taylor Family***

My Big Belly and Self Esteem

When I first found out I was pregnant I couldn't wait to get a big, cute, preggo belly. I wanted to flaunt it and look cute like all of the other pregnant women I saw. i was frustrated at the rate which my stomach was growing... It just wasn't fast enough. But now that I find myself bumping my belly into spaces I use to be able to squeeze through, and not fitting into shirts I waged would be long enough to last me through pregnancy, things are starting to change.

A pregnant friend and relative of mine recently asked me what I thought about wearing bikinis while pregnant. She LOVES being pregnant, showing off her stomach, and she's glowing beautifully. She was wondering if I (and you... some of my readers) thought it was appropriate to wear a bikini while pregnant.

My initial instinct when I picture myself with my outstretching belly in a bikini is "eeeew." I wore bikinis day and night at the beach, and on trips before I was pregnant, I loved my abs and wasn't afraid to show them off. Now, well, now I guess I don't feel as comfortable in my skin.

There are plenty of people who wear bikinis and speedos, who maybe, for the sake of people eating on the beach or cruise ship, shouldn't, but I kind of take the stance of "if you feel comfortable, more power to ya."

Looking at photos of pregnant women sporting bikinis is beautiful to me. I LOVE pregnant women, I think they are so cute... I just don't think I'm that cute. Or maybe I just don't like everyone staring at me and thinking about my knocked-up state, I'm not sure.

When I compare these two maternity styles, I'd LOVE to have the confidance to wear the one on the left, but I know I'd much prefer to wear something like the one on the right.

Regardless, I'm not much of a swimmer anyway (I know it's great exercise for pregnant women but I have this thing with getting my hair wet) and most likely you won't catch me in a bathing suit the last nine, very hot weeks of my pregnancy.

Another thing I think is so interesting is the plethora of maternity lingerie! Who knew there was such a market for it? I've been one to scurry into my flannel pants and t-shirt as quickly as possible, but having this blog has given me the chance to experiment with a few maternity night-wear items.

Sweet Dreams Maternity sent me this little white number, which I like so much I wear it to lounge around in. It's nice being able to feel cute but also not uncomfortably exposed.

I think part of the reason I have some sort of unexplained prudeness lately is maybe cause I feel more "motherly" or something... Does that even make sense? I don't get it! I mean, I never dressed skanky before but now I almost want to dress like a nun.

So anyway, whether you're feeling like a sexy mama, or nunish Sweet Dreams Maternity has some cute stuff to choose from.

Sandra also has an adorable kids accessories line and she sent Spawnie an adorable B Baby Bling bib. Can my baby please be as cute as this one?

Now if you're pregnant and feeling REALLY confidant, be sure to stop by my blog for a giveaway Sunday... No wait, maybe Saturday, it doesn't seem fitting for a Sunday. I have yet to try on the little number I'm reviewing (I was waiting until I got big enough, but since I have, I haven't been brave enough to wear it) and NO there will be no photos of me in it but *ahem* some of you ladies may really like this line.

I wrote a post today on my Project Pregnancy Blog about a woman who was totally rude to me this week and made fun of my adorable shirt (and the size of Spawnie). Here's an excerpt of "Did I Ask for Your Opinion? ... I Didn't Think So":

"Since day 1 I’ve been calling my growing baby 'Spawnie', so I was sold when I saw this 'Alien on Board' tee-shirt from Spegg Wear. I got one and started wearing it the moment my bump started to show.

Now every time I go out with it on I get compliments. I’ve worn it to my OB appointments and to the mall. People always say they love it, and compliment me on how original and funny it is… Which explains why I mistook the woman taking my order behind the burger counter as saying my shirt was “adorable” instead of what was actually calling 'horrible.'

With a big smile on my face I said 'Thank you!' And patted my belly.

'Thank you?' She questioned my reaction, obviously annoyed that I didn’t get her insult...."

You can read the rest here.

It's Not That I HATE Prego Pants But...

Before I was pregnant I secretly envied women in their cute maternity pants. Sure, I thought they were extremely weird looking with the huge stretchy blue band that eats up their belly, but I kept hearing about how comfortable they were. Plus, how cool are pants that are especially made for your state of being?

That theory has changed since I myself have become pregnant. At the beginning of my pregnancy, when my belly was still unnoticeable, I looked forward to the day that I wouldn't feel embarrassed shopping in a maternity store. But I hadn't started showing, until about 22 weeks or so. Obviously then I'm already more than half way through my pregnancy. I don't have a personal vendetta against maternity pants or anything, but since I hadn't bought then then I started challenging myself to see how long I can go without buying maternity pants. I'm about two-thirds of the way there now, and now I'm sorta I'm determined to make it through without getting a pair.

Call it a sick bet with myself. I'm not sure what it is. Part of me thinks it's my ultra-bargain-shopping self who doesn't want to spend money on clothes I'll only wear a few months. I mean honestly... I still have skirts from middle school. And shopping for Ladybug is much more exciting than shopping for myself.

I wear a size 4-long jeans (I'm about 5' 11"). I've always had a somewhat slim figure and my tummy seems to be one of the only parts of my body that's swelling up so far. Oh yea, and my feet. Since most of my jeans and pants are fairly low rise and my Ladybug seems to be sitting high, there's no problem squeezing them on.

I do have a secret weapon that helps... I have a few BellaBands that I wear over my pre-pregnancy jeans and pants. I started wearing them around 10 weeks or so when I was ultra-bloated and my bloat was low and squishing my gut. I would just unzip my pants, and slip it on. That's been a lifesaver when it comes to sticking to my "no maternity pants" plan. I also have several skirts with elastic waists that I wear a lot. There have been a couple of times where I've grabbed a random skirt or pair of pants that's not low rise and I'll tell you what... Those don't fit!

Sometimes I'm tempted to give in and join the scrunchy pants club, but other times I can see myself in the home stretch. Every pair of pants I save on is like another little outfit for my little girl. That's one way to think of it.

I hear their comfortable and great, and that I wouldn't regret getting them. Part of me thinks if I'm going to get some I might as well now because if I need them when I'm even bigger later that'll be even less time to wear them. Hmmm, perhaps I'll give in and try them out. But then again maybe I should have done that MONTHS ago. What do you think?

Where's the best place to shop for them?

For the record... I know there's more important things in life than maternity pants. This is a version of a story I originally wrote for my Project Pregnancy blog for Parenting.com, and one of the (anonymous) commenter's made it sound like I don't care about my baby cause I'm writing about maternity pants *sigh*... Idiots. You can read my "Avoiding Maternity Pants" post here.

Also, I got a bunch of cute things in a Pregnancy Essentials kit courtesy of BellaBand. An everyday cami I literally wear almost every day, rushed tank, belly leggings, and an organic black BellaBand and a white BellaBand which I LOVE. There's a ton of online retailers that sell them here.