Growing babies is hard work…

might as well look good doing it.

So I don’t know if you heard, but Meghan Markle had her baby this week. And— like a total superwoman— looked super chic for her first post-partum appearance. I’ll be honest, it got me a little nostalgic thinking about my own pregnancy fashion. So I’ve decided to do a recap of my top ten pregnancy looks for you all. Just in case you are new here and didn’t get the chance to follow along in my #dressingthebump journey! I started my recap during the second trimester because that’s when my little bump really started to pop. What do you guys think? Which is your favorite look?

Look 1: Emerald green slip dress

LOOK 2: Shades of Red

Look 3: mix it up with Plaid and Florals

Look 4: Gettin’ Wild in Cheetah Prints

look 5: luxe Layers

look 6: Stay active

look 7: Dark as Date Night

look 8: (ice)Cream and Sorbet

look 9: Wrap Dressin’ it up!

look 10: She’s coming BERRY soon!

Shopping Guide

Want to recreate these looks? Some of these items are from last season but you can find similar styles in the shopping guide below.

Labor and Delivery - Mommy Monday

My doctors had been saying, “she’s going to be a big baby” for awhile. I guess my body knew best, because 2 weeks and 3 days before my original due date (Feb 5th) my water broke.

“I hope my water doesn’t break in public” 

“I hope my water doesn’t break in public”, I remember saying to my friends. I would then google and see that more often than not women’s water doesn’t break until they’re already in labor. It’s an 8-10% chance it breaks beforehand... making the chances of it happening in public very low! 

Well, at approximately 12:55pm on Saturday January 19th, after eating breakfast at Marina Deli with Coulter and his sister, I stood up and thought I peed a little. I rushed to the nearest bathroom and realized, “this seems different."

I walked out to Coulter and said, “Can you pick up the pig so we can walk to the car faster? I think my water might have broke...” His sister started to cry, he kissed me and we started to almost cry, and he picked the pig up as I uncomfortably rushed to the car, raced home to drop off the animals, and headed off to triage to see what was going on! 

WALKING MILES DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

(FOR ME) 

Triage said I was in labor, but it was just the very beginning so they sent me back home until I was further along. Fast forward to being back home for hours and being antsy with excitement. We walked, and counted contractions, and walked some more. At 11pm, the contractions were close enough together and we headed back in, but I kept having peaks for a while, then it would die off. Not active labor. 

SUPER WOLF BLOOD MOON

It was the night of the eclipse that only happens every 18 years, and apparently a lot of babies decided they wanted to be born that morning. We stayed in triage all night and didn’t get moved into a room until 7am. Triage beds are not all that comfy, and poor 6’5” Coulter slept on the floor using his sweatshirt as a pillow (for part of the night until I realized that’s what he was using and asked for a pillow for him haha). 

PITOCIN

The other thing I hoped wouldn’t have to happen during labor was Pitocin. I read it makes contractions more intense and frequent, and basically to avoid it if possible. 

Side note: when your water breaks they like you to go into labor within 24 hours to avoid chances of infection. 

So, at 7am what happened? Yup. Pitocin. 

And we were off and running, from 8-10ish I felt contractions. Decided, these aren’t for me. And asked, “so when can I get an epidural?” Pitocin contractions are horrible, plus it gave me the shakes so between contractions my whole body would shiver violently.  It was exhausting. 

10am - epidural 
I was terrified of getting one. I saw my sister, Savannah, get hers when I was in the delivery room while she was having Everleigh. It’s a huge needle and it’s very very scary looking! 

Honestly, it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be. The numbing is the part that hurts, not the mega-massive needle. Go figure. But my anesthesiologist was incredible and after injecting the numbing cream said, “welp, that will be the worst part of your entire day”.  Haha... he was honestly right. 

I went from my insides being squeezed to death with every contraction (and the shakes!) to that feeling you get when your arm goes dead, from my waist down. 

I LITERALLY CAN’T MOVE MY LEGS

We said hi to Coulter’s mom and sister & then my mom and sister arrived at the hospital and they came in, then we took a nap. All four of them came back in and I remember Coulter sitting and rubbing my feet as we all chatted. He sat my foot down at the edge of the bed and it just completely slid off the bed! “Babe, I literally cannot move my legs at all” I said cracking up, as he quickly heaved my dead leg back onto the bed. 

TIME TO PUSH

At around 3:45pm we realized I was at over 9cm dilated. We kicked everyone out and my amazing nurse started talking me through what would happen next. 

From 4-4:30 I started to push and then the nurses had to switch shifts. I was frustrated because I was in love with our nurse. Also, I was getting in the zone and had to sort of break while they switched and got the new nurse up-to-date. 

Then it was back on! Baby girl had a few times where her heart rate would drop and we’d take little breaks. Coulter counted to 10 more times than I care to recall. All of my family decided it would be appropriate to stand outside the door giggling and chatting.... Coulter took a counting break and told them all to go back to the waiting room (haha)... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Three times with every contraction. She kept coming and then sinking back down. The third time she was almost out I decided I wasn’t letting her sink back again and continued pushing after the 3rd set of counting.... 

SHE’S HERE!

I laid back, happy and exhausted, but poor Coulter saw her head with the umbilical cord wrapped around it. Twice. The doctor unwound it, all while I laid there thinking all is well and I was done. “Push” I hear from my doctor, “you have to get the shoulders out”. I just remember thinking, “but? What? Ugh... I thought I was done!” Haha. 

AND THEN…

5:24pm
The best moment happened. They laid her on my chest! It really is as magical as people say. I had had it explained to me so many times without any justice being done. So, I won’t even really try. All I will say is that I truly hope you get to experience that moment sometime in your life. It’s beautiful. 

At our hospital they put the baby right on you before weighing her, washing her, or anything. It helps the baby with nursing and bonding. Nurse she did. About 20mins of snuggling later she started nursing! Then it was Coulter’s turn for skin on skin time. The nurse said, “I bet you’ve been dying to see this cute little butt!?!?” As she took Senna off my chest and turned her around so I could see that cute little tushy. Yep. It was a cute little thing! Then she passed her over to Coulter. Lying there watching them together for the first time made me cry all over again, and I just started crying again now as I typed that. I felt so insanely lucky to have such a loving sweet husband, and watching him as he became a father was the sweetest moment imaginable. I still feel so lucky, and I still adore watching him stare lovingly at her every time she’s on his chest. Thanks for talking me into having a baby the second we got married, Coulter :)

WE DID IT

About an hour and a half after we had Senna, our family finally all came in to celebrate with us! I held little Posie, my sister’s new little girl, while Savannah, Everleigh, and my mom went to meet my little girl (who was now being measured and weighed). I am so blessed to have such an amazing family, and I can’t believe I have my own little family of 3 now as well (Well 5, can’t forget Smooch and Prosciutto)! 

Holding my niece, Posie, after giving birth.

My sister, Savannah Labrant, and neice, Everleigh, with Senna!

THE END

I absolutely loved the experience. Yes, there is pain, but there is also a reason mom’s usually do it more than once. It’s not THAT bad, and the rewards far out weigh everything else. 

Love you, Coulter for being such an amazing support! Love you, Senna for being such an angelic sleepy little nugget. 

With love, 
Chantelle Paige-Mulligan

MY MOMMY ‘MUST HAVES’ AMAZON LIST! 

PREGNANCY STYLE: Leggings and Oversized Sweaters...

It's what I lived in towards the end of my pregnancy, and let's be honest... it's what I'm still living in now! Here are some of my favorites that will take you through your pregnancy and beyond.

With love,

Chantelle

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Shopping Guide:

Check out the guide below for similar favorite items

What I packed in my Go Bag!

Packing a Go Bag can seem overwhelming, how can you really know what you will need … and what you won’t use at the hospital? Well, here is my list of exactly what I packed to be baby ready!

For you: 

✓ comfortable leggings 

✓ loose fitting shirt, 

✓ Loose dress (in case of a c-section) 

✓ a robe

✓ granny Pantie underwear 😂 I went and got third love ones so I felt less gross. And knix cause they absorb so just in case the pad ... ya know ....

✓ nipple cream (hatch mama)

✓ socks, 

✓ rubber band for hair (invisibobble)

✓ nursing bra (third love, bravado, and belly bandit)

✓ toiletries 

✓ Gatorade

✓ water

✓ high protein snacks (lots of snacks) 

✓ head phones

✓ Your baby care plan in a folder 

✓ Gum

✓ Mouth wash

✓ Face wipes

✓ Pads

✓ Eye mask 

✓ Diffuser 

✓ Oil  (so your hubby / partner can rub you!)

✓ Pillows with bright cases or just not white 

✓ Glove (Amazon)

✓ Carmex 

For baby: I put baby stuff in my diaper bag 

✓ Swaddles 

        ✓    Receiving blanket

✓ Baby one piece outfit (2) nothing with leggings because of umbilical cord

        ✓    OUTFIT TO COME HOME IN 

✓ Pacifier

✓ A few newborn diapers (they will also have some at the hospital) 

✓ Diaper wipes 

✓ Beanie

✓ Diaper rash cream

✓ Car seat

Shop this list

IT'S A BOY!!!! JK... It’s an OOTD!

I've been LIVING in Chaser this pregnancy! Their sweats (and clothes) are SOOOO soft and amazing! Check below to shop my full look.

With love,

Chantelle

Don't be a CHEETAH!

...but do wear it.

During pregnancy, elastic waistlines have become my new best friend. Seriously though. I was honestly a little worried to try out this skirt since it's high waisted and I currently have, well, no waist at all! To my surprise though it worked just sitting above the bump.  I usually wear XS or S and have been getting a size M (for reference)... the belly is getting very big though so we'll see how long this lasts, haha. Skirt is from Vici, but I've also attached similar skirts in the widget below! Love this rust color sweater with it, since it's all the rage for winter. 

Frye booties, they were an old fav brand that recently became a new favorite brand. SUPER great quality shoes. Worth the investment! And then a cheetah purse from Becksondergaard, a Copenhagen accessories brand I've become OBSESSED with... because why not accent your cheetah skirt with a cheetah purse, right?

Have fun with prints, take a chance. It works, I promise. 

With love,

Chantelle

Shop this look

Don't be afraid to be bold with your sweater colors. While I do have a few neutral go-to colors, I find that I honestly end up wearing my baby pink, bright green, and red sweaters the most during holidays. I mean the weather is starting to get a little gloomy and the world is a little less colorful, so why not add some color to it instead of blending in..... ammmmmaaaaaright!?

This sweater is from Vici but I've linked a few similar as well in the widget. Also, lets talk MATERNITY JEANS!!!! I literally had been living in leggings, no joke, until I got these goodies from DL1961 #LIFESAVERS I'm a huge fan of the stretch they have and the below the belly fit. While I am normally a tuck everything in sort of girl with high waisted pants and maternity leggings that cover the belly (or can be folded.... see my fav below in widget from Beyond Yoga. Another lifesaver for the pregnant mama), I wasn't loving the maternity jeans that go over the bump.... these jeans are great below cause you genuinely can't tell they are maternity unless you look INSANELY close at the extra stretch they give you on each hip. I promise you'll love them!!!! 

With love,

Chantelle

Shop this look

We had our gender reveal party this weekend and we are so excited to announce that we are having a....

Oh, please. You didn't think I'd make it that easy for you.... 

Before we share the big news, here are some photos from our wonderful gender reveal party with family and friends. And if you are totally impatient, scroll to the bottom for the big reveal!

Now for a little football... and our big reveal!

IT'S A GIRL!

And now for our reactions...

We couldn't be more excited to welcome this beauty baby girl into the world next year! Thank you to all of you for coming along on our little journey!

With love,

Chantelle Paige-Mulligan

We are having a baby!

We are officially becoming parents. We did it, and wasted no time. I figured I'd share our baby announcement, baby announcement video, and let you know that the blog now officially has a Mommy and Me section. Yay! I don't want to overwhelm IG with baby facts, but for anyone curious I wanted to journal about pregnancy and share the ups (and downs) along the way. This will be where that all happens, and I am so insanely excited about it! 

First of all I will address the timeline, I get lots of questions since I'm 9 weeks pregnant but got married only 7 weeks ago. Here's how it works and something that can be a little confusing. At the doctors, they calculate your due date based on the first day of your last period, which was 2 weeks before my wedding day. Thankfully my period tracker apps tracked correctly. I chose my wedding day hoping to not be on girl time. Thank goodness that worked out. All that to say, we probably got pregnant a few days after our wedding day, as that's when the tracker said I was ovulating.

Okay, now for the day I found out. May 27th, 2018.

To be completely honest, after the excitement of the EPT letting me know I had a mini human growing inside of me, I had a moment of sheer panic. YES, I'll admit it. I panicked! I'm sure not all moms have this moment, but I'm positive I'm not alone. After the baby buzz news fades, you sit down and realize that you have only 9 months of selfishness left. It's a mind-boggling thought, at least for me. I will never again be thinking of only my wants and needs. Yes, married life is very similar but at the end of the day Coulter, my hubby, can fully take care of himself (well he can 80% take care of himself). A baby though, that is forever changing. So, if you're like me and had the moment of panic, I just wanted you to know... you are not alone!

The optimist in me however always finds the positive. I have four sets of grandparents who will adore this baby and help, an amazing husband who gets to work from home a lot, babysitters are always available for hire, and at the end of the day, I can and will continue to follow my passions. I don't have to stop working if I don't want to. I can keep being selfish, sometimes when I really really need to. And at the end of the day, I realized that not much would change, I would just have a little buddy to do everything with (although the amount of time it takes to do things will be exponentially longer!). 

I am SO excited to have a mini-me/Coulter. I am SO excited that my life IS indeed going to change. I am SO excited to become a mommy. It's such an amazing and fun time.

Now for more realness.

I didn't realize just how tired you are during your first trimester. OH. M. GEE. I've been lucky with having light bouts of morning sickness, my sister was sick daily. I do feel nauseous often but realized eating little bits and keeping my stomach "coated" helps. Due to this, I've already gained 5+ lbs because of this new found need to constantly eat. Oh well! Plus did I mention the insane bloating? BYE JEANS! Next up is the sleepiness, you basically find out there's nothing you can do but embrace it and sleep and relax more. I'm still trying with that one.

At the end of the day, my body is doing something extraordinary. I am growing a human! Of course I'm sleepy, nauseous, lethargic, hungry, and all the other amazing 1st trimester symptoms. I'm taking the ole' "if you can't beat em, join em" mentality and embracing it.

Coulter is ECSTATIC, he talked me into having a baby FAR sooner than my original timeline. I suppose it's not the norm for the guy to be convincing the girl to hurry up and have kids, but we live in a very feminist age so I loved it. He plays cool in this video, but he is GENUINELY far more excited than I am, with zero hesitations. It's adorable and inspiring and keeps me in amazing spirits... even when I'm throwing up or waking up at 1am, 3am, and 5am to pee.

We cannot wait to meet our little girl/boy! ... and I am so excited to share this journey with any of you who want to come along for the ride. Be sure to keep checking back on the blog for more updates throughout my pregnancy and more behind the scenes into my journey to motherhood.

With love,

Chantelle Paige-Mulligan