Maternity vs. XL: The Internal Debate Continues

The transition into maternity pants was easy... who wouldn't want to wear an elastic waist band?? COMFORTABLE! However, jumping onto the maternity tops bandwagon hasn't been as smooth. It's just that maternity shirts and dresses look so... maternity! This is the one time a woman can purchase something cute and trendy because she'll only need to wear it for 9 months. By the time it goes out of style, the baby bump is gone and the clothes are off to Goodwill anyway. But instead, they make maternity clothes in "classics". Black trousers. White button downs. Blah patterns. Stripes! Polka dots! I'm over it before I've even begun purchasing them.

I was in Target this weekend returning the dreadful prego pencil skirt, and decided to browse the maternity section to see if there was anything new. NADA! Unless you count the white, black and gray t-shirt assortment. Oh -- and prego booty shorts. Wrong for so many reasons... So I ventured to the non-prego wear and lo and behold -- cute stuff that actually fits over my belly! Tons of stretchy dresses, long shirts and tanks, cute stretch pants. A lot of which was on clearance! So I found the XL to accommodate my new, rounder shape, and went on my way.

I'm wondering how much longer I can carry on this charade... they do indeed make XXL at Target for when my belly grows even bigger! : )

Has anyone out there been able to go their entire pregnancy with just buying bigger sizes? If so, give me some tips... I may turn it into my new mission.

Prego Pencil Skirt? UPDATE

I have two words to describe the prego pencil skirt from Target: SO WRONG! It was TERRIBLE! AWFUL! As soon as I took it out of the box, I knew Target made a huge mistake with with this prego design. Picture a big, black rectangle. No shape. No style. Just an elongated square with a half-round elastic waist. Where is my prego belly supposed to go in this getup? Last time I wrote about the skirt I felt like a bulky easer -- now I am more like one of those large packing tape dispensers. Pencil skirts + roundness = fashion tragedy. I think they tried to class it up with a "satin" lining -- however, the lining was only tacked in at the waist, and went halfway down the skirt (or just below my booty) once the skirt was hiked over my belly. NOT PRETTY. I couldn't wear it to work. Back to Target it goes this weekend... I knew it was too good to be true! BOO!

Nap time? Not so much

I was scanning over a weekly newsletter I get from BabyCenter.com Here was their words of wisdom for the week:

Afternoon energy booster "If you're finding it hard to get through the afternoon at work without a little nap, find a place you can escape for 15 to 20 minutes (close your office door, use a conference room, even sit in your car). Bring a small travel alarm clock and set it for 15 minutes." — Laura

Ummmm... Seriously? There are a few things wrong with this "advice" in my opinion:

1. Close my office door: The walls are thin at my office. My snoring would penetrate through the halls. People might think it is a fire alarm and evacuate the building.
2. Use a conference room: Where? Under the table? Or maybe on top of it. Nothing weird about that! Maybe if I put a notebook over my head, no one would notice.
3. Sit in your car: If someone saw me laying in my car, they would probably think I was dead, call 911, or smash a window to rescue me. And the walk back from my car to my office would tire me out anyway.

I have a tip for a mid-afternoon boost. A 100-calorie pack of chocolate covered pretzels. YUM! And it limits the chance of massive embarrassment - unless I get chocolate on my face, of course : )