Oh, I love the community of mothers! Although my husband and I live in a remote area, I am still (on a daily basis!) blessed and encouraged by fellow mothers. There is a new yearning for me to have contact with The Women who have been through this before, to ask them a million questions, hear their stories and take notes on their advice. Where I once viewed mothers/motherhood as a wonderful task, I now add awe and amazement. Whether it is from someone as close as my own mom and my mother-in-law, or from a mom-blog, I am basking in every second of communication!

Having said this, here are my two new mom-blog discoveries (thanks, Natalie!):

http://www.thewonderlove.com/
I cannot WAIT to try out some of her projects!

http://www.thewonderlove.com/
I love love LOVE this mom!

oh my!

discoveries

Here are four J.Crew, almost-maternity-ish, gorgeous pieces.
There were a lot more - for instance, there are so many sweaters that can work brilliantly (because J.Crew just loves over-sized sweaters at the moment) - but these were my favorites. Also, the first probably won't work as well as the others, but it was too pretty to leave out.

Maternity Clothes

I have read over and over again about the wretched state of current maternity clothing stores. The bemoaning is everywhere! This doesn't intimidate me or dampen my excitement to wear clothes made for the belly my dear baby is making, but it does tempt me to avoid them altogether and go straight for thrift stores, hand-me-downs from sisters and family, nice-stretchy-normal clothes, and homemade wearables. It's not that I will ever mind going into a maternity store if the opportunity comes (I actually think it will be fun), but I do trust (to an extent) in the real dismay of other women who find them discouraging. So! Although I know that I will probably eventually search for a pair of maternity skinny jeans (they must be out there...and I must have them), here are my two absolutely wonderful discoveries to dispel any garment worries if they happen to arise:

1) The crazy-perfect blog www.jenloveskev.com. I just discovered this adorable girl and I love love LOVE the outfits she put together from her closet while she was pregnant. Every time I read it, I am inspired to look at my current pieces and find what can work when I am bigger (and I do!). Adoration!
2) Finding things on J.Crew that will fit a growing belly. I am so thankful that I will be biggest in the summer! (I wonder if I will regret those words later on...)

My brother's facebook information, under 'Education': Well, I am pretty much schooling life...

And you know what, he pretty much is! I love my brother.

So Much!

It has been so long! I haven't seen my blog in months! Although it seemed like a good while, it was a much needed break, for the most wonderful thing has happened...in December, Joel and I found out that we are pregnant! For the past three months I was too sick for the all-of-a-sudden-awful task of reading and writing, but I only have a couple more weeks and I shall be done with the nausea and enter the happiness of a baby belly! Actually, I already do have a bump, but I am afraid that it is partly a result of eating everything I see, all day long. Right now I am in front of the fire with a layout of steak, roasted veggies, a salad, mushroom ravioli and delicious coffee (decaf!). sigh. What a lovely day it is! And the snow from last night is still on the ground!

So many new things:

1) We are pregnant!! Our baby is due on September 15th, and I have NO idea how I will be able to wait that long. I am looking forward to sewing baby things, trying out the world of maternity clothes (I have some ideas about this...) and having the constant company of my own little baby with me for nine whole months!

2) My husband's wonderful parents and littlest sister were here for a week-long visit! We spent the first two days in San Francisco, eating amazing food and exploring parks and museums. We then drove down to Pebble Beach and stayed for lunch in my new-favorite-city: Carmel. Oh, it was a week of absolute bliss as my gracious mother-in-law made me soups and pasta, shopped with me, and cleaned my house! I was able to rest and be refreshed by their company and goodness...Thank you, Gray, Mac, and Rebekah!

3) I have pictures to post! All are from this past week, and I am very excited to share them. Joel and I also want to start a weekly belly (covered, of course!) photo shoot, and I am hoping that this will start today. I want my momma to see her baby's baby growing!

4) It snowed! It is not suppossed to snow on the beach of Northern California, but it did last night and I was asleep for the whole event. Once it started, Joel ran upstairs to tell me, but at that moment snow was a very ordinary and petty thing compared to the throes of nausea. Thankfully, there was still snow leftover this morning, and I was up for a walk to the car (the car lots in Sea Ranch, by the way, are pretty far from your nice warm houses) to enjoy it.

5) I can't wait for my husband to get home today!