Tip 1:  Extend the life of your non-maternity wardrobe

Don’t give up your pants just yet!  Take a hair elastic and loop it through the button hole of your pants .  Use the open end to attach to the button.  Wear a long shirt, tunic, or jacket to camouflage your “make-shift pants-extender.”

Search your closet for all wrap dresses, extra large clothing, and anything with a little stretch!  You probably have more than enough clothing already to make it through your first and second trimesters; you just don’t know it yet.

Take a little time and search your closet thoroughly.  When I was pregnant I discovered a drawer full of cute t-shirts never worn because I thought they weren’t fitted enough.

Tip 2: Don’t buy any maternity clothes until you need them

Many women rush out as soon as they find out they are pregnant and buy a ton of maternity gear. You shouldn’t do this because there is no way to predict what size you will ultimately be during your pregnancy.  As you begin to no longer fit your non-maternity wardrobe that’s when you should shop for maternity wear.  So save your money until you need to spend it!

Tip 3: Shop maternity sales

If you haven’t noticed already,  maternity clothes can cost a pretty penny.   Of course,  being the bargain hunter I am I made a great discovery. Maternity stores stock their clothes just like regular clothiers, seasonally.  Search the sales racks!

If you follow Tip 2 then you will be searching for clothing you can wear immediately, meaning if it’s on the sales rack it is still in season.  I went to The Gap while I was pregnant and ended up leaving with about 10 items (all $5.00 dollars or less), and ended up passing all of it on to pregnant family and friends!

Tip 4: Buy stylish practical items that can be worn after baby gets here

Long tanks, tunic shirts, bubble/tulip & maxi dresses are all in style right now, and they are perfect for baby bumps.  So go ahead and shop in the non-maternity section.  You will probably surprise yourself with what you find and you will be very happy with how fabulous you look.  And the best part of all, you will have some cute comfy clothes to wear after your baby gets here!

Follow these tips and you will be a very Fly Mommy-to-be!

Happy Shopping!

We’ve decided to wait on finding out the sex of our baby.  Still my mind is traveling even faster than normal these days with my imagination taking me already to where our child is seventeen years old asking to use the car.

I’ve been working out extra hard because I realize that as soon as baby comes, the real cardiovascular activity begins.  Many of you know that I love to write things in lists.  So, here are a few things that I’ve learned thus far in this process:

• It’s not your wife! As Seth Rogen said in Knocked Up, “It’s not you, it’s the hormones!”  Everyday has not been a ball of sunshine, but the Mrs. is still my heart and I know ultimately she means well.
• People do care how I feel. I’m not really a sensitive person, but I must be honest, for a minute when everyone would ask how my wife was doing, I was feeling neglected because very few if any, actually asked how I was.  Then it finally hit me!  Obviously if your wife and child are doing well, then of course you are too.  How’s the saying go?  “Happy wife, happy life;” whatever it is, it’s true.
• Enjoy every moment, time goes by quickly. I had a chance to see my niece over the past weekend and I still can’t believe how grown, or at least how grown she thinks she is.   A tear literally came to my eye, when I noticed what a beautiful young lady she is becoming.   I was just picking her up and sitting by her bedside the other day it seems.
• Things really are about to change. The other night my wife and I were just casually discussing what we wanted to do for the evening.  Ah, such freedom.  Yet, we both knew that would soon be a thing of the past.  I don’t sleep much now, so hopefully this will help me down the road.   Speaking of sleeping, I know everyone is saying “get your sleep now.”  Really? As if I can store these extra hours up and save them for a rainy day.  However, I understand the sentiment.
• She is your queen. From mood swings, to neediness, the mother of your child defines beauty.  As men, we will never know what it feels like to carry a child.  But, I think I discovered why women go through these symptoms.   Here it is……..this is the closest a man will ever be to carrying a child!  Think about it, we get to cuddle them, make sure they get the nourishing foods they need, put them to sleep and try to discover what’s making them cry, yell or laugh, sometimes all at once.
• So much has gone on thus far on this journey.  God has shown Himself like never before.  I’m both humbled and grateful for the life lessons that have been taught to us.
• From trying to get pregnant to all the visits/reports/scares during the pregnancy, it truly is an emotional rollercoaster.  That’s why I realize the only thing in this world that is constant is God.  So instead of placing our faith in man and the Internet, we’ve grown to just get deeper into the Word and let God’s work speak for itself.    You would be amazed at how many negative reports were quickly reversed unbeknownst to the doctors.  So when people ask me what I’m hoping for, I realize I already got that, and that’s a blessing.