top // watch // jeans // loafers // sunglasses // purse // necklace
I’m finally back to Houston after a whirlwind long weekend in NYC. And boy was it a whirlwind! This mom-to-be is completely and utterly exhausted, and oh-so-glad to be back home in Texas!
Today I’m sharing a bit about my recent trip, this insanely comfortable maternity look and an 18-week bumpdate!
NYC was seriously so amazing! I couldn’t have asked for a more fabulous mother-daughter weekend! With my mom living several states away, I’m lucky if I get to see her every other month. So being able to meet up with her in New York was wonderful!
But one thing I’ve got to mention, nobody tells you how exhausting New York City is when you’re pregnant!!
I’m well into my second trimester, and totally feeling like my old self again. But wow, walking the streets of New York for a few days in a row really did me in! There were a couple of points where we just headed up to our hotel and spent several hours watching reruns of Fixer Upper just so I could rest. Then we’d cab it to someplace fancy for dinner and a bit of shopping later in the evening to make up for lost time exploring.
Baby Kerley definitely ruled the roost on our NYC trip, but I have a feeling that’s how things are going to be from here on out and I’m totally okay with it! I’m just so glad I was able to step away and get some rest and that everything is still going perfectly fine.
Our baby is growing so quickly, she’s now the size of an artichoke! At almost halfway through my pregnancy, my wardrobe has taken a shift and I’m wearing more & more maternity pieces.
This Breton Striped Top from Seraphine Maternity is probably my favorite maternity item I’ve tried to wear so far. I’m a sucker for stripes, and the way this top is cut totally flatters the bump! And see those nifty embellishments at the shoulders? They unbutton allowing you to pull the top down for nursing one the baby arrives.
Which at the moment, seems so far away to me!! But I know it’ll be here before I know it.
I paired my striped top with my maternity citizen jeans. I ordered my regular jeans size but wish that I’d sized down. They’re super stretchy and I’m not sure I’m going whether I’ll actually grow into them or not throughout the pregnancy. What I am sure of, however, is that I absolutely adore how comfortable maternity jeans are!!
Paired with comfortable and stylish slip-on loafers from Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn, a big trend for fall, it’s safe to say that this is my favorite outfit in my closet at the moment!
striped top c/o || watch c/o || maternity jeans // slip-on loafers c/o// sunglasses // bucket bag // monogram necklace c/o
And now time for the 18 Week Bumpdate!
Baby is the size of: an artichoke, sweet potato, coke can, & bell pepper. The fruit & food comparisons never cease to amaze me!
Cravings: Pastries and fruit!!
Clothing: I’d say I can only really fit into about 30% of my tops and a few of my jeans with the ol’ rubber-band trick. Shift, empire waist & tunic dresses are my new besties!
Energy Levels: I have a ton of energy! But I can tell I shouldn’t be using it. NYC was a wake-up call and big reminder to take it much easier while there’s a baby on board.
Nursery: Her crib and mattress have arrived!! Eeek!! We also picked up a few pieces of art (this one in particular) and some stuffed animals for her recently. (Love this Chelsea Cat Doll!) We’re planning on moving before our little one gets here, so right now all of her stuff is just chilling in our guest room. I want to unbox her crib & set it up so bad, but we’re going to wait to do that once we’re finally in our new space. Patience is a virtue, Alice!
Name: We’ve settled on a first name! We’re going to try to keep it under wraps until she arrives, we’ll see how that goes! It still feels kind of crazy calling her by her name, though. I haven’t wrapped my head around it just yet! She’s still “little baby” to me at the moment!
Movement: YES! I mean, I think so? It feels like a little “pop, pop, pop” – almost as if a popcorn kernel is popping in there. It’s hard to know exactly if it’s her moving around, but I’m assuming it is!
Second Trimester Favorites:
- My Snoogle: I caved and ordered one. And they are just as amazingly wonderful as they are cracked up to be. I’ve been out of town a lot lately, and Patrick’s been using it while I’ve been away! (LOL) It’s seriously THAT comfortable!! And helps this stomach sleeper snooze on her side. 😉
- This Robe: My favorite oversized tees that I lounge about the house in don’t seem so oversized anymore. This cozy robe from Cake Maternity is lightweight enough for Houston summers and covers me & my bump while I’m getting ready in the mornings.
- These Adorable Bubbles: My cousin has her very own clothing line, Peg & Kris, and creates the most precious of children’s apparel. I can’t wait to dress our little girl in these oh-so-cute bubble onesies paired with a big bow in her hair!
- Palmer’s Cocoa Butter: A few of my friends, my mom included, were telling me how they swore by this stuff when they were pregnant, putting it on morning noon and night – without a stretch mark to even show for it! After hearing that, I thought I best follow their lead! I try to use it at least once a day … stay tuned to see whether or not I think it works! 😉
That’s about it for now! I’m going to try to keep up with these bi-weekly bumpdates, not just for y’all but I enjoy writing them and I’m sure I’ll enjoy re-reading them later. Already I’m looking back on my week 15 post (just there short weeks ago) and I’m laughing because I thought THAT was a big baby bump! Can’t wait to see what this bump looks like three more weeks from now!
Other moms out there … what were some of your favorite things about the second trimester? Any recommendations on baby must-haves? Getting advice from you all has been one of the most enjoyable parts of blogging, and super helpful for my life too! So keep it all coming!
And as always, thanks for stopping by the blog!
—
alice
photos by Lauren Beatty
