Sunday musings...

Top: Piperlime clearance, dress version here//3/4 sleeve version here

Skirt: J. Crew (old), current version here//similar here

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Lips: Nars

I spent the whole summer looking for a white peasant top with blue embroidery and finally find one just as the summer is lagging to a halt. I originally loved this one but it was too pricey and waaay too short when I tried it on...so I was pretty excited when I found this one on popback at Piperlime (I used a 40% off coupon). The length is perfect and it's nice and light for summertime.

If I look tired in this picture, it's because I worked until 4:30 a.m. The pediatric ER was crawling this weekend which didn't lend itself to getting home on time  (side note that I had some really interesting cases...including my first case of Kawasaki). And on the plus side, having a baby is probably the best way to train yourself to function on very little sleep.

We walked to mass this morning and when the priest saw Stephen Gabriel, he said "That's a new one!", which is funny because he seems so big to us now. I'll be spending the day with my little guy before I go back to work tomorrow. Have a lovely Sunday (linking up with FL&P).

Sunday blues

Dress: EShakti c/o

Shoes: Sole Society

Earrings: Stella and Dot

You guys, this dress! It's comfy, A-line (hello flattering - even two months post-baby), the brightest/prettiest shade of blue, aaaaand it has pockets! Could a girl ask for anything more?

EShakti contacted me when I was pushing 9 months preggo and asked if I would review one of their dresses. After confirming that they really did want me to review a dress in my soon-to-be postpartum state (ha), I happily obliged. I picked this dress because of the color, post-baby friendly cut, and because it looked breastfeeding compatible (it is!) which is excruciatingly hard to find. But there are so many lovely options like this one, this one, and this one. The best part? EShakti will customize a dress for your measurements. This is gold for a girl whose chest is consistently several sizes bigger than her dress size (and when you add in breastfeeding - almost impossible to find any dress that fits properly). You can also customize the sleeves, length, or neckline if that's your thing. 

This is the perfect Sunday dress and I'm linking it here.

On being parents (+ what I wore Sunday)

It's so funny how Stephen and I used to go on dates all.the.time before the babe was born and we totally took it for granted. That along with watching movies, free time (reading blogs for me, playing computer games for him ha), and sleeping. Our lives are changed forever, harder but completely for the better of course. It makes the time together seem sweeter (although the two times we've been out alone since he's been born I've constantly texted my mom to make sure he's ok...maybe that'll change eventually?) Also, coming home to this face is the best:

It's crazy how much being parents has enriched our relationship. Little Stephen Gabriel has made us laugh harder than we've ever laughed (although there have been tears too, at least on my part) in his short life and we just love our little guy to pieces. And seeing Stephen as a dad has made me love him in a way that I didn't know was possible.

And for what I wore Sunday:

Linen lace tank: J. Crew (on super sale!)

Pants: J. Crew (on super sale!)

Cardi: J. Crew

Sandals: Sam Edelman

On being postpartum...

Stripes: J. Crew Factory (only $14.50 right now!)

Skirt: J. Crew (factory version here, retail version here)

Shoes: old, similar here

Despite everything that women say about it, the weeks postpartum are kind of like labor: nothing can really prepare you for it. I hit the rut that people talk about this week; the scale decided to stay at a standstill, I'm still just barely squeezing into my pants, and a look in the mirror shows flab where I never had it before and the little squiggly red lines that appeared on the sides of my stomach at 39 weeks pregnant.

It's funny because any time I've mentioned how awful labor was (I'm working on my birth story by the way - just not quite satisfied enough with it to share just yet) or how discouraging the postpartum body changes are, people always respond "Oh, but it's worth it, right?!" Of course it was worth it, 1000 times over. But that doesn't mean that labor wasn't horrible, or that postpartum body changes are more disconcerting than I thought they would be.

Anyways, I was more than thrilled to find this skirt in my closet from last summer which actually fits - thanks to the elastic waist, but I'll take it. Speaking of elastic waists, I just discovered that pull-on (a.k.a. elastic waist) shorts are totally in this summer. Perfect timing for the newly postpartum...I ordered these and these on sale to try, and I also found these from Old Navy.

And this is what Stephen Gabriel and I wore to mass yesterday, so we're linking up with FL&P.

39 weeks + graduation thoughts

Well, we made it to 39 weeks. I think everyone is a little shocked, including me. Yes, I know all too well that it's most common for first-time moms to go right around their due date or a little late, but with all the cramping early on and stress that I was under courtesy of medical school, no one thought that I would go late. And I know that I'm not late yet...but baby M is not showing any signs of coming any time soon. So what have I tried? Well, raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, pineapple, a pedicure, a prenatal massage, long walks, tons of squats (I've been doing either prenatal pilates or Summer Sanders just about every day), and a few other things. All of which has only served to reaffirm that a) there's a reason that these strategies aren't scientifically proven (at least to my knowledge) and b) baby M will come when he very well wants to.

All in all, 39 weeks isn't that bad. Regardless of how I may look, I don't feel that huge (for the first time in my life, I'm so thankful for my uber long torso) and the fact that the baby dropped way down two weeks ago has taken away a lot of my pregnancy symptoms (hardly any more acid reflux! yay!). I will admit to continued crazy mood swings (so sorry Stephen...and everyone else that I've been around). The main reason that I'm so anxious though to have this baby is not preggo symptoms but the fact that we need to move in the next few weeks so that I can start residency orientation June 16. If this baby decides to wait past 40 weeks, we will be in quite the situation (also complicated by the fact that Stephen's brother is getting married the weekend before I start orientation, it is no where near my residency location, and we are both in the wedding). It's all in God's hands though, right?

This past weekend was a little tough. I decided not to go to my medical school graduation - chances were just too high that I would go into labor and deliver 7 hours away from home...and if not that, I was afraid that the car ride (14 hours total) would be miserable. I guess I didn't realize that it would feel so bittersweet. It was sad not to see my classmates and say goodbye before we go our respective ways, and it also kind of felt like the end of medical school was anti-climactic. I know that part of my feelings were from pride too. I was one of three people in my class to graduate as a member of both medical school honor societies, and I guess the human part of us always secretly wants to be recognized. The end of the story though, is that this new baby and our family are so much more important than any of that. I feel some regret right now about not going (easy to say now that I did not go into labor this weekend) but I know that it will be the very last thing on my mind after this little guy arrives.

Dress: Gap

Cardi: J. Crew (my favorite!)

Sandals: Birkenstocks

Necklace: Express (old)

Prayers for baby McMahon are much appreciated! And a very happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! Sweet Stephen brought me these in honor of my first Mother's Day (even though baby has yet to arrive ha):

Linking it up with FL&P.

White denim + 38 weeks, baby

Another Sunday, another week closer to baby, another maxi skirt (see exhibits A and B). My recipe for 9+ months preggo style is either loose yogas or a maxi skirt (obviously more church appropriate, hence today's outfit), one of my H&M Mama jersey tees, compression tights (see yesterday's post) and maybe a jacket, scarf, and/or fun earrings if I'm feeling especially motivated.

And we are, quite obviously, 38+ weeks. I'm still not really sure how I got to this point, and still a little bit in denial that this little guy is making his appearance any day now. My belly button is probably as close to being an outee that I will ever come, and painfully obvious through shirts (see above). I guess it's just a waiting game now...I have no idea when our little guy will show face. Since the cramping and nausea that kept me awake on Friday night, I haven't really had much of anything to speak of so your guess is as good as mine (and probably much better if you're not a first-time pregnant mom). Right now I'm voting for Mother's Day, which would be so sweet and happens to be 5 days before his due date.

Jacket: J. Crew via Twice ($10 referral credit link), current version here

Fav pregnancy tee: H&M

Maxi skirt: J. Crew Factory

Scarf: thrifted

I wasn't so sure on the white denim jacket thing, but then I found this J. Crew one when I was browsing Twice (link to $10 referral credit link here) and it looked just like this one which is approximately $100 more than the one I purchased on Twice. When I got it in the mail, I kind of loved it (and if I didn't, Twice has free returns which are the best - I don't shop on Thredup for that reason). Anyways, I think it'll look great with jeans and a grey tee (or black, or navy, or pretty much any color) and I also like the white-on-white thing. I asked Stephen whether I should wear my regular denim jacket with this outfit or the white one; he voted 100% white.

And a little close up of the jacket and the 38.3 week bump:

Happy Sunday! Hope it's a lovely one.

Linking up with WIWS and Sunday Style

37+ weeks...

37 weeks + 2 days. It seems surreal, like I never thought I would actually reach the point of being only days (ok maybe weeks) away from meeting this little human person that has been growing inside of me for 9 months. Now that I'm done with medical school and finished with getting the nursery ready (as of today), I have this occasional flickering of anxiety/disbelief/excitement that the big day is almost here.

There's not really much that's different on the pregnancy front...same symptoms of moodiness (ha) and the typical trouble sleeping, some hip pain (although I have yet to experience the back pain that everyone keeps asking me about), and surprisingly not feeling quite as big as I expected to feel at this point (looks apparently are deceiving). I'm still exercising every day (walking + pregnancy DVDs) which I think is helping a lot. 

I'm off now until residency orientation, and honestly I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself until this baby arrives...at the same time, I'm not nearly as anxious as I have been the entire pregnancy for him to be born early. A few extra days to finally read my labor and baby books (Ina May and Happiest Baby on the Block), spend some time with Stephen, and get a pedicure (he gave me a spa gift certificate as a graduation gift!) is just fine with me.

 Top: H&M

Skirt: Etsy, similar

Earrings: Stella & Dot

 Linking it up with FL&P.

 And a sneak peak of the nursery:

WIWS + a mini babymoon

Dress: Isabella Oliver via Ebay

Scarf: Forever XXI

Boots: Frye

The snow is finally melting and all that I can think about is this song. And the fact that I will be taking a walk every evening this week if it truly stays in the 40s and 50s. I'm now banned from the elliptical (which makes me very, very sad) but I guess it's ok if I can drag Stephen around the block with me like I did tonight. It was a shocking revelation though that my legs felt like lead - not sure if it is the fact that my activity has been restricted this week, our 3 hour car trip today, or the extra 20+ pounds I'm carrying around with me...

We're on the homestretch, 34 weeks + 2 days. I had to show Stephen this picture to confirm that my bump really is this big and the picture isn't just emphasizing it, but he assures me that this picture is true to life and he thinks the bump is awesome (while simultaneously claiming that it's not that big - liar). This week the little babe grew more than I've ever noticed before - I literally woke up one morning and noticed that my belly button was tight and pulled down into this funny shape due to the rapid expansion of my uterus. Pregnancy is truly amazing.

And we went on a babymoon of sorts this weekend. We originally really wanted to go to Florida, but no matter how hard I tried we just couldn't make it work because of the expensive flights and my limited time off. It's a good thing that we didn't plan anything major, because I started having a lot of cramping this week. I'm still too inexperienced to know if they are contractions or not, but they certainly aren't painless and I've had some signs of cervical change so we are being really careful. My doctor had me home resting for part of the week and we cautiously went away for a night to a nice hotel with a jacuzzi tub in the room (all I really wanted - at a pregnancy-safe temperature of course). The hotel was near Marian shrine that Stephen and I have visited a few times, so we went to mass there today and lit a candle for our little baby.

Happy Sunday! I hope it was lovely.

Linking up with WIWS and Sunday Style.

What I Wore Sunday + 33 weeks

Scarf: Etsy

Shirt: Target maternity

Skirt: J. Crew

I just realized that today's outfit is reeeallly similar to this one. Oh well...my continuously dwindling wardrobe definitely makes it easier to decide what to wear. 

The priest at mass tonight (who I just love...he always gives the baby a blessing when I go up for communion) encouraged us to think back on our lives to moments where we really felt God's presence, look back on these moments with gratitude, and keep them in mind as times of light when we feel like we are facing darkness. I thought that was really beautiful, and I guess I have some soul-searching to do. A couple times that immediately came to my mind were the missions to Ecuador that I did at Franciscan and our wedding day.

I can't believe that we are 33+ weeks. It still seems surreal that we'll meet our little guy in just a few more weeks. I feel like his little personality shows more and more...he is incredibly active (he contorts my stomach into some crazy shapes) and he always moves around more when there is music (he's actually been doing this since 24-ish weeks)...he hates when I cross my arms over my belly (tries to kick them off) or lean my stomach against pretty much anything. Despite how excited we are to meet him, I think I'll miss him in my belly a little...but I won't miss the awful leg cramps, heartburn, or anxiety (although I hear it only gets worse when they are out in the real world).

Linking up with Fine Linen and Purple.

WIWS and thoughts on blogging...

Blazer: J. Crew Factory (this year's version, but the same I think as the older one that I'm wearing)

Lace top: Motherhood (last seen here, when the bump was much smaller!)

Minnie pants: J. Crew

Wedges: Target (old, similar)

We went to mass tonight, so I'm posting my Sunday outfit now...also so I can continue to keep up with Jen's 7 posts/7 days challenge. I'm so glad that I linked up with her challenge (which seemed a nearly impossible feat one week ago) because it's been good for me. I've had lots of posts that I've thought about or rough-drafted and never felt like were good enough to share, but I've realized that I've probably missed out on a lot of semi-decent posts that way. I've also realized that I really want to write more personal posts, like Wednesday's, and more spur-of-the-moment posts, like Thursday's. So even though I can't see myself blogging 7 days in a row again anytime soon, Jen definitely inspired me to post more often and more freely.

Our priest asked how many weeks I have left after mass...which is, um, 10 (or I could be optimistic and say 8, since we'll be full-term then and please baby come a little early). I took it as a sure sign that I'm looking biiiig, or at least much bigger. I've also had a few people come up to me lately and see "Oh, you are expecting!" as opposed to getting fat I guess...it's just funny since I've been thinking everything could tell I was pregnant for months :)

Like I mentioned on Wednesday, I'm getting a little disenchanted with my maternity wardrobe so I'm going to try to mix in more non-maternity pieces. I found this blazer (which I got a couple years ago but apparently is still available from J. Crew Factory here) when I was going through some boxes of clothes and deciding what to donate/sell. I forgot how much I love it...Also a disclaimer that I did not actually wear the wedges outside in our mountains of snow (too cold and too hazardous for the off-balance prego). Instead I wore my Sorel's of course.

29+ weeks and counting!

Happy Saturday night!

WIWS + some updates

Top: Gap maternity/Pants: J.C. Penney maternity/Scarf: Etsy

This Sunday's outfit was a mostly uninspired one consisting of my favorite maternity top (which is starting to pill already from wearing it so much) and my favorite maternity pants (my dear mom purchased me a second pair for when the first one is in the wash). 

We went to mass yesterday evening which meant that for some reason I went half of today thinking that tomorrow was Sunday and than was pretty disappointed when I realized the weekend is over already and I'm back to the hospital tomorrow. Clerkships are starting to drag a bit, which I guess is to be expected when graduation is only about two months away. 

Stephen and I went to Target today to finish up our registry (any suggestions for mostly clueless first-time parents?) and left with our first little outfit purchase. We both loved the tiny anchor and adorable bow tie, and originally intended on putting it on our registry but there was only one 3 month size left and so we ended up just purchasing it. We purchased a couple things for the nursery also, a sweet little print for the wall and a nursery organizer for diapers and little clothes. And his pretty gray crib is on it's way to our house now, a gift from my mom. I feel like we are making small dents in getting ready for his arrival and it's so exciting (and kind of surreal).

And what a difference a month makes! I thought I was getting big on the picture on the left (6 months) which I now think is pretty funny compared to 7 months (on the right) and I probably will be laughing again a month from now.

Random pregnancy round-up:

Highlights: feeling (and seeing!) him move oh so much/random pregnancy stories from strangers/starting to get the nursery ready

Cravings: fruit (esp. strawberries and blackberries)/Sprite/anything sweet (not looking forward to my glucose tolerance test tomorrow)

Exercise: 20-30 minutes on the elliptical most days and a prenatal Pilates video a couple times a week (I've found if I don't exercise my back and hips hurt and I have way less energy)

Weight gain: I've been afraid to check since last week, when it was a total of 16ish pounds (*hoping* to keep the total weight gain to around 25)

Symptoms: oh the usual but overall not too terrible - tired and achy, the occasional tear fest (poor Stephen), weird dreams, and some trouble sleeping

When we logged into our Target baby registry, I saw that we only have 82 days until our due date which is crazy/scary/exciting. Can't wait to meet our little guy.

Linking up here.

Red maxi

I wore this last night to mass and our church's yearly married couples dinner. We went to the dinner last year, but this year was different both because we are now old married folk (ha) and no longer newlyweds (at least not fresh newlyweds), and this year we are expecting our little guy (they have a special blessing at the dinner for moms-to-be).

Funniest moment of the night was when I went to get some punch that I thought was pink lemonade, and one of the college students volunteering at the dinner practically jumped over the punch table to grab it while she exclaimed "That one's alcoholic!!!" Glad she saved the pregnant lady.

Maternity dressing is tough. A few weeks ago all I wanted was loose tops and leggings, but those tops are incredibly unflattering (and not so loose) right now and I've found that tighter things that show off the bump are better.

Cardi: J. Crew

Top: H&M Mama

Skirt: Nordstrom (I think the Red Velvet color is sold out; similar here or here)

I love that a red maxi makes an outfit all by itself and so all you really need is a neutral top (and maybe a cute clutch?):

Via my Pinterest

I just can't resist these holding-the-babe shots lately. I'm kind of fascinated (and slightly scared) by how much my bump has popped out these last two weeks. Pregnancy is crazy. 

Linking it up here and here.

What I Wore Sunday

Stephen was off work today and it was a balmy 12 degrees (instead of the norm lately, -10) so we snapped a couple pics after mass. I'm finding that I have less options as my belly grows, but leggings and a tunic plus a big scarf are always a good idea. And speaking of leggings, these are the best I've ever found (they trump Lululemons and come recommended by Britt).

This past week was one of my roughest thus far (the week I was in the hospital trumps of course). All the nights of troubled sleeping started to get to me (my new pregnancy pillow is helping some but is no miracle worker). Coupled with a couple stressful life things that aren't really worth writing about, I was an emotional wreck. Poor Stephen bore the brunt of it. I also discovered what pregnancy brain is; I started off the week pre-rounding on the wrong patient in the ICU (so I basically gathered 45 minutes of data on the wrong patient and then realized that I had 10 minutes to see my actual patient before rounds). I then somehow lost my phone in a parking lot; fortunately we live in a small town and it eventually made its way to some kind lady who called "Mom cell" and 15 minutes later I was picking my phone up at the local bowling alley (still trying to figure out how it ended up there). The worst part of the week, though, was feeling the baby move much, much less on Friday night and Saturday. It's probably just because I got used to feeling him move almost constantly last week (and because I'm overly anxious lately), but I woke up in the middle of the night Friday and panicked that he didn't seem to be moving. I got up, listened to his heart with my Doppler (like any normal pregnant almost-doctor I guess) which sounded just fine. I still wasn't reassured so I drank a glass of orange juice (resulting in four more bathroom trips that night) and laid on my side until I felt him kicking again. Today he was thankfully back to his normal crazy self.

It's all worth it for our little boy, of course, and I'm determined that this week will be much better. I started exercising more regularly again, 20 minutes on the elliptical and 20-30 minutes of pregnancy Pilates which I'm hoping to continue this week. Crossing my fingers that it helps with the sleeping (and to curb the four pounds I gained in the last two weeks).

26 + 2 weeks

Scarf: Etsy

Tunic: Old Navy ($7! not online anymore but they have some similar maternity tunics)

Leggings: Zella (the best)

Boots: Sorel Joan of Arctic

Linking it up with FL&P.

24 Weeks

Well I'm not exactly sure what happened over the last couple of weeks, but hello baby! I really can't believe that 6 months has passed. His arrival seems more real every day.

Just when I think I'm getting used to this pregnancy thing, some new symptom appears. It was lower back pain this weekend, which I think is more from sleeping funny (can't, can't get used to the side-sleeping thing) than from the belly (but who knows). I did start doing this pilates video which seems to be helping.

And a mostly underwhelming What I Wore Sunday outfit:

Tunic: Splendid via 6pm.com

Pants: J. Crew 

Boots: Hunter

23 weeks + what I wore Sunday

A few pregnancy updates: 23 weeks and he apparently is the size of a grapefruit or an eggplant and as long as a green onion. He moves around constantly, which I love (maybe I won't love it as much when he starts kicking me in the ribs). I've gained about 10-12 pounds and even though the baby was a small-ish 19th percentile on his 20 week scan, I'm positive he's had a growth spurt since then. I had a really easy second trimester until I ended up in the hospital with the flu at 19.5 weeks, and I feel like it's kind of been downhill from there. I still have sinus drainage and a sore throat (although whether the sore throat is from the sinus issues or the awful acid reflux I've been having is up in the air). I'm also overwhelmingly tired which I thought wasn't supposed to happen in the second trimester? But it started with the flu and hasn't gone away and now that I'm just a few weeks away from the third trimester, I guess I'm resigned to it just being part of the pregnancy.  Also sleeping has started to be difficult...I'm a diehard stomach sleeper which is not working out so well anymore. I'm contemplating getting one of those pregnancy pillows to keep me on my side...but enough complaining. 

We did have a little scare last week where I started having intermittent cramping. I gave it an hour and a half and then called my doctor, who sent me to the OB floor. They monitored the baby, who looked just fine, and monitored me for signs of labor progression. Fortunately the cramping stopped after about 3 hours...but I've kind of been ill-at-ease since then. Part of the problem is that I know too much (influenza A puts pregnant moms at a higher risk of pre-term labor). They did do another ultrasound at the hospital and got the most beautiful profile of our little babe:

In other news, I *think* I'm done with residency interviews (I still have one more scheduled but will probably cancel). I haven't written much about it partly because I was struggling internally with my decision and partly because I'm leery to put anything on the blog until my rank list is due at the end of next month (in the off chance that some program should stumble on my little corner of the internet). I definitely will share more about it when the time is right. I think that my decision (which is really just as much Stephen's decision - he's been so supportive) for my top four or five programs is pretty much made, which is exciting but frightening all at the same time. I also got my Step 2 boards score last week, which far exceeded any of my expectations and I'm just thanking God and St. Gianna because I know that I couldn't have done it on my own.

On to what I wore Sunday (linking up here). I probably changed my outfit three times yesterday, sigh. But neutrals are always a good decision, and tops that drape in the right places are a lifesaver while my body changes in ways I didn't know it could. This top was a deal of the week at veryjane.com, and even though it isn't maternity it's long enough to work right now. It does have dolman sleeves, which I didn't realize when I ordered it and have always thought look sort of like bat wings...but it was cheap enough and fits well enough that I'll accept the bat wings. Funny sidenote about mass yesterday that when I knelt I felt like I barely had enough room between the kneeler and the pew in front of me for my uterus (which apparently is almost the size of soccer ball). Even funnier since I know it's about to get much bigger....

 Infinity scarf: J. Crew (old)

Top: veryjane.com

Denim skirt: Noppies via Amazon (but I should have waited because I spotted a perfect maternity one on thredup.com)

Boots: Frye