1: Pets Sticker Book (I have a “Getting Dressed” one for our return flight) 2: Pipe cleaners 3: “At the Zoo” wipe-off book 4: Noise-reducing headphones for toddlers 5: Crayons 6: Bee Backpack from Skip Hop 7: Ugly Doll bat keychain 8: Gallop! by Rufus Butler Seder 9: Silly Putty 10: Applesauce in a squeeze packet 11: Lemur stuffed animal 12: Cool wooden puzzle 13: Hello Kitty Band-Aids 14: Travel Kleenex

Not pictured: Empty sippy cup (to fill up after security), peanut butter granola bar, Annie’s fruit snacks to help her popping ears

When my brother and I were younger, our family traveled a lot. On each trip, my mom took care to pack a special airplane bag for each of us full of new treats and distractions to keep us content on a long trip. Sitting with a nearly two-year-old on my lap for the duration of a packed flight was my idea of hell, but the backpack helped a lot.

The biggest hits with Alice were the pipe cleaners, snacks (of course), and band-aids. We’ll save the rest of the stuff for the ride home on Sunday!

What do you take on long trips to keep your kids happy? Is there anything I should grab for next time?
xo
meg

In the meantime, I’ve been making headbands for babies by popular demand! I don’t like a lot of baby headbands and Alice won’t wear them, so they have never really been on my radar as far as a product that I identified my brand with. But the requests kept coming and I decided to challenge myself–what does a Princess Lasertron baby wear? Here’s what I came up with–just these four at first:

bee baby headband - $35

drew baby headband - $40

sasha baby headband - $35

lucille baby headband

All of these little beauties are available at shop.princesslasertron.com now! I also uploaded a few new embroidered flower pins, so check those out too.

Today I had a great photoshoot with Daniel Muller and the girls who are planning Lovestruck 2012 with me–I haven’t said much about that yet because I like to wait until the website is up for things like that, but I’m working with Candace Kalasky and Lesley Pick to bring a nontraditional wedding fair-type event to the Midwest here in Omaha. In the next few weeks we will launch the website so I’m sure I’ll say more then. In fact, I’m sure you’ll get sick of hearing me say more.

As always is the case.
Thanks for reading and make it pretty!
meg

So I know a lot of you are longtime readers, but for those of you who are new and expecting, I give you my week-by-week maternity outfit roundup. Next week I’ll also do a future post as well about my favorite key wardrobe pieces for any cool maternity wardrobe, so keep an eye out for that!

xo
meg

Week 18 :: Week 19 :: Week 20 :: Week 21

Week 22 :: Week 23 :: Week 24 :: Week 25

Week 26 :: Week 27 :: Week 28 :: Week 29

Week 30 :: Week 31 :: Week 32 :: Week 33

Week 34 :: Week 35 :: Week 36 :: Week 37

Week 38 :: Week 39 :: Week 40

Loves the pool. Hates going home.

Dear Alice,

This month you are fourteen months old. I put off writing this letter to you for a while because I haven’t found the motivation. It’s been such a busy month full of unexpected changes and successes and problems and expenses and great news and anxiety and nervousness…and you’ve continued to grow and develop and learn faster than I can keep up with you. Every day–absolutely every day–I tell myself that these are the best times of my life. That I must pay attention to everything going on, absorb the details of my surroundings, and appreciate the rarity of each moment. I think I am doing okay, but it’s so amazing how everything becomes more significant after you become a mom.

It’s been a super hot month, with the heat index over 100 degrees most days. This week our air conditioner broke so whenever we are home, you get totally naked. We play with cool water in the tub, eat frozen watermelon, and yell into the fan Dad bought for us and hear our voices change in modulation. We also go swimming at least once a week in Blair where Grandma and Grandpa live. The pool there is really nice–there’s a free baby pool, where you swim and play by yourself, and there’s the big-people pool where you can go when we are holding you. You HATE being held in the water, and you want to swim by yourself. Sometimes I let you go, thinking that when your body submerges and I pull you out of the water you will learn that you have to hold on to me, that you can’t swim by yourself yet. But as soon as your head is above water you push me away again, reaching and straining for the open water.

That’s been the growing theme of the last few months–pushing off, clamoring for your own independence and learning about what happens when the safety net is taken away. Hey Alice, I hear what you are saying. You don’t need your food cut up. You can use a fork. Yes, you can get out of your stroller. You can go down the stairs by yourself. You can play with the hose. And you’re right–it’s okay. You have to try.

What else is new this month?
…Your new favorite snack is frozen watermelon.
…You like to make piles and put things away.
…You can find your eyes, nose, hat (top of your head), hair, ears, lips, teeth, tongue, toes, and belly button.
…Still nursing. That’s not new.
…You could eat 25 bananas a day.
…I can no longer put you to sleep–only dad can get you to go down for the night.
…You love climbing.
…You hold my camera up to your face.

…There are lots of little chairs for you at our house and CAMP that you are so satisfied to sit in.
…Your love for animals is growing. You want to hug every dog, kitty, bird, and toad you see. And everything is a “woof-woof” until we tell you the right word.
…You are starting to take on more of my personality aspects–bossy, curious, needing to be involved in everything–and you have learned to be so sociable.
…You sleep with your finger in your belly button
…Four teeth on top and two on the bottom, but your top teeth never show when you smile.
…You snore and sigh loudly in your sleep.
…You are so fearless. You jumped off our coffee table onto a pile of pillows. You want to touch every animal.
…But you don’t want to be held by anyone but mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa. Starting to warm up a little to Shannon and Emma.
…And you are so TALL!!! I think you’re already half my height.

Right now it’s two o’clock it the morning and we are at Grandma and Grandpa’s house and you are asleep upstairs in my old room in the wooden trundle underneath my bed, surrounded by soft pillows, your crocheted blankie, and Flocki the Bunny. It took forever to get you to sleep. I can see that you have trouble calming your mind and quieting your thoughts. I watch your eyes trace the room, your hand involuntarily reaching out for things you long to touch and investigate. “Heh?” you ask absentmindedly, as your brain continues to work and learn and your limp, tired body relaxes on my shoulder.

We’re waking up early to go home and get ready for a 9am photoshoot and interview. Someday I hope you remember these times with me as you grew up, shadowing me at work, as fun and special. I know that not every little girl gets to do interesting job things like this with her mama, but not every mama gets to have a sweet little baby sidekick either. We’re both lucky.

I’m going to go jump into bed now and fall asleep listening to you snore. When you wake up in the morning I will listen to your little song and baby coos and I will tell you everything that happened while you were dreaming. Everything you do is significant, and it’s my greatest gift to be the keeper of these memories, the nurturer of your wonder and fascination, and the shadow standing behind you who gives you the courage and fearlessness to try everything for the first time.

I love you.
mama

Dear Alice,

On Thursday, I was at a meeting with Brook Hudson, one of the Omaha Fashion Week organizers. We were planning, laughing, getting sidetracked, talking about our plans for the future. Somehow we got on the subject of you and started talking about your birth. Brook said, “What was it like when they put her in your arms?”

When I first held you, it wasn’t strange at all. I wasn’t uncomfortable and I didn’t feel helpless. It was like meeting someone who I had always known, who had been a part of me forever. When I first looked at your face–the first time I saw your bright blue eyes and your tiny button nose and your big ears–I just thought, “You’re Alice. It was you all along.”

Pregnant Megan circa 2010 would be surprised to hear how confident I feel as your mother. But now I know how babies are resilient. Babies tell you cool things, if you can listen. And babies love their parents. When you were born and I felt your weight in my arms, felt your legs and arms squirming against my bare chest, and I wrapped you in my robe and it was so comfortable. So easy. It was you all along.

Brook said, “You gotta write about that.”

Whenever anyone asks me about when you were born, they always mention how painful it must have been. I say that I could have lived with the pain forever, but what broke me down was the exhaustion. My muscles were working so hard to push you out that it was as if the rest of my body was just shutting down.

I wonder how old you will be before I stop re-hashing your birth story.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Anyway.
This month. Thirteen months old.

We are on the upswing of the bell curve that charts How Fun You Are to Hang Out With. When you do things like follow me around at work bedecked with your necklaces and scarves, laugh maniacally after a string of baby babbling, point curiously at a new object or an animal spied in the yard and say “Ha?” I try to store all of those loving moments from you for me to look back on when you are a teenager. Or until your next tantrum. You are getting SO independent and you get so frustrated when you can’t communicate what you want or when I don’t let you run away in a store. Or run into the street. Or run holding an uncapped Sharpie. Or run across hot cement without your shoes on. Or run holding a knife. Such injustices are enough to reduce you to a sobbing pile of sadness. It’s so hard being one.

You like to copy movements, leaning forward when we lean forward, leaning back when we do, waving when we do, bouncing, clapping, toe-tapping, throwing, and my favorite–collapsing onto a pile of pillows. You laugh when we break the pattern or make a sudden movement.

You’re also starting to take orders–I can’t believe how many words and ideas babies can understand before they can talk. “Can you put all of your toys in this box?” “Can you put all of these clothes in the laundry basket?” “Can you feed yourself?” “Can you go pick out a necklace?” You can also point out family members–even Turbo, your grandparents, and your Uncle Matt. “Can you fold these clothes?” is one of my favorites, because you sit with a pile of 4-5 articles of clothing and just re-pile them over and over again. It is so cute. You are also starting to put clothes on yourself, but not quite successful yet.

Pointing to things and wanting to know what they are–I had been waiting for this phase since you were a twinkle in my eye. This period of quick learning and ceaseless inquisitiveness is so exciting to witness as a parent.

What else are you into now?
…Making animal sounds–What does a dog say? What does a kitty say? What does a fishy say?
…Woofing at wild animals in our yard
…ONLY FEEDING YOURSELF. You will not open your mouth for a spoon or fork from either of us. You just want to do it yourself.
…Pointing to parts of your body, and anybody else’s. Nose, mouth, ears, “hat” (head), toes, belly button.
…Wearing necklaces, bracelets, hats, and scarves.
…Running away. Wandering everywhere. Leaving mom. “Put me down.”
…Holding things with both hands. Lifting heavy things. Pulling heavy things. Carrying a small object in each fist at all times.
…Hugging Turbo the Cat.
…Looking at books by yourself.
…Sniffing flowers and plants.
…Humming and singing along to music. You like Brazilian music and bossa nova.
…Going to the playground and going down the slide.

This month, the Missouri River near where we live began to flood and many people in our community had to evacuate their homes. Even my workspace at CAMP is under threat of flooding between now and August but I decided not to move out yet. Your grandparents have watched the waters flood from the river bank all the way up to the valley beneath their house in town over the last week, covering county roads and forcing so many residents to evacuate. The climate is probably going to get more and more wild as you get older, and 2011 is already a exemplary year of extreme weather. It is hard to know what to do other than to respect nature. To understand that all the things we have are so temporary and unimportant compared to the big picture–our family, our Earth, and our relationships. Other humans. Well-being.

You are a beautiful girl. We love you.
xo
mama

Eleven months ago today, you were born.

Last night around 3am I was driving home from a late-night meeting, and it occurred to me that I was probably doing the same thing exactly one year ago. Super pregnant, cramming in as much work and activity as I could before you would arrive, driving between work and events and meetings until the early morning. Then you came to us, and in less than a year you went from being a little caterpillar completely dependent on me for nourishment and comfort to a screaming banshee running down the hallway, feet slapping against the floor, with a mouthful of string cheese. From scrunched up larval human to “Bye mom, have fun at your party. I’ll turn off the lights.” It’s like you are this little human with ideas and a personality and intentions and opinions. I can’t believe how fast you grow and how quickly our lives have changed in that eleven months. It’s been a moment and forever all at once.

There are a few games that we made up this month that you really love. One is called “What?” one is called “Can You Put That Back?” and the other is called “Throw It!” I don’t know about the Throw It game–it’s dad’s idea–but whatever. “What?” happens with a big pile of pillows. I tilt my head faaaaar over and flop down on a pillow while saying “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?” and you do the same thing (“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?”), mirroring me, then burst into a fit of giggles.

To play “Can You Put That Back?” you bring something over to me and go “Haa?” Then I point to where you should put it away, and then I clap and cheer for you. This goes on and on and on. Finally, “Throw It!” is just what it sounds like–it’s your dad’s game. He gathers a selection of a few toys, holds them in his hands, and excitedly yells, “HEY ALICE! HERE ARE THREE THINGS!!! PICK ONE UP AND THROW IT!!!” over and over–”two things,” “one thing”–until they’re all thrown.

This month you also played outside for the first time which is exhausting. We have a tiny frisbee (from when I was a little kid) that we toss to you and you throw back (thanks to dad’s “Throw It” game). The other neighbor kids across the street can’t wait to play with you.

What else is new?
…You can put a tiny ball in a little hole
…You love to be chased
…You love to push the dust mop around at CAMP and the swiffer around at home (birthday present idea!)
…You are nursing less–not much in the evening now, but at night, in the morning, and a few times in the afternoon.
…However, you eat everything. And huge quantities of everything. Sometimes I share my dinner with you and I’m still hungry because you ate so much.
…You love shoes. You love smelling shoes, chewing on shoes, throwing shoes, putting shoes on your hands.
…Speaking of smelling, that’s a big hit now too. Calmly sniffing things, then the look of realization spreading across your face.
…Today you made a pile of dirt in your lap outside and carefully picked all the rocks out of it and handed them to me.
…You love to hand things to people, and be handed things. Trading. This is fun at mama’s office especially with all the workers.
…You like to lift and move heavy things around the room.

You are also getting very brave. Sometimes you like to walk everywhere by yourself and you push me away when I pick you up, and sometimes you get a little nervous and need some extra closeness. It’s nice. You can follow me to the car when we leave a store or restaurant with a few distractions along the way–a planter full of hostas, a patch of gravel, another shop window. A dog. A lady with a baby in a stroller. We aren’t in a rush and we make it back to the car, and you feel proud to have walked the whole way.

One time at Anthropologie this month I put you on the floor and your feet were off and running, toddling all over the store, observing everything. You ran your little hand over the row of silky dresses hanging in the sale room, you sniffed candles that I held up to your nose, and you shoved your arms elbow-deep in a barrel of stuffed animals on the floor. You looked at all the animals and picked a grey stuffed bunny with a pink nose who you carried around the store for the rest of the trip. I bought it for you and you take it everywhere. I think it is cool that you picked it out yourself–it’s the first thing you have ever seemed to want. You hold it at night when you fall asleep, and you rub its pink nose with your finger as you drift off during your naps. We named her Flocki.

We also left you alone for the first time this month. For uncle Eric’s birthday we went to Chicago and left you for the weekend with my parents. They had a lot of new toys and stuff for you to play with and the report is that you didn’t miss us too much. It was probably harder for us than for you!

Your good friend Carrie comes once a week to watch you and help me around the house while I go to work. She’s the first non-family member who you’ve warmed up to. We’re so grateful for her help and I like seeing you having fun with other people. Next month is your first birthday and my 25th birthday. I can’t wait for our party, I have so many great ideas–you’re going to have an awesome time.

Every day I am learning more deeply what it means to be a mother, to have a baby in our lives. I knew it meant getting less sleep, buying a car seat, and tying up our curtain cords. I knew it meant bibs and toys and tiny socks to fish out of the washing machine. I’m slowly realizing more about the depth of the gift of motherhood–to be the bearer and protector of a life, a soul. The joy of loving something the most. Love that opens a window to make you free.

Alice, you are my favorite little companion. I am lucky to be with you every day. Your intense focus, every one of your belly laughs, and little questioning “Hoooo?”s, and the way you sway to music and sing to yourself tells me that none of this is trivial–you’re becoming the person you will be forever. You are where I find happiness in the messiness and fumbling of life. You are continuously amazed, moved, and delighted, and nothing could make me happier. Nothing is more important than your joy.

love you forever
mama

Dear Alice:

Today you are ten months old. I don’t have as many photos from this month, but I have lots of videos of you doing things like walking, laughing, carrying armfuls of heavy things around the room, and making loud declarations with your arm stretched to the sky. That’s one of my favorite of your funny little behaviors–you raise your hand up in the air, Shakespearean actor-style, and let out the longest, loudest string of babbling. Like “I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.”

Last week your dad and I talked about how we think your personality is shaping out–who we think you are, deep down. We think you are a showoff like me. You always yell “MAM. MAM. MAM. MAM.” for me to watch you. When you do one of your cool tricks you wait for us to praise you. Like me, you are unceasingly persistent and determined to finish every project. But like your dad, you are patient and thoughtful and you like to see how things work. Creating an independent human is absolutely the best thing about being a parent, but it is fun to see a little but of myself in you too.

Almost like how I got a “nesting” bug in me this time last year, I’m starting to get a little bit of a “homemaker” bug right now. I change our sheets all the time, and you sit in the middle of the big bed while I shake out the sheets over you like a tent and you fall backwards, laughing maniacally. You sit in your high chair and pick up cheerios from your tray in the kitchen while I wash dishes. When we fold laundry, I always give you a pile of washcloths to “fold” while I do the rest of the clothes. We work on folding each washcloth in half and piling them up. You know not to knock the pile over, but sometimes we do for fun. You will be able to fold a washcloth yourself soon I think!

What else is new?
…You love dancing to music or playing along with one of your instruments whenever a song is playing. You don’t have the beat yet, but you sure love to sing and hit your drum!
…You stop when we say “no.”
…Whenever I am on the phone you yell constantly, like “oh, are we all talking now?” You are so conversational. We talk to each other all day.
…Pushing your tiny shopping cart that you have stuffed full of your animals and toys around our living room is your favorite way to get around.
…We put up baby gates to keep you from going in the kitchen where Turbo’s cat food is. We realized you had hidden a stash of his food and were going to it throughout the day and eating it.
…On a related note, you will eat anything.
…You have stopped putting every single thing in your mouth–you can look with your eyes and hands, not just with your tongue.
…You share a bowl of cheerios every morning with me.
…You imitate everything we say in intonation and meter.
…You can climb all the way up the stairs.
…Kindermusik is still kind of hard for you, but you get better and more comfortable there every week.
…You can look through books by yourself, turning the pages and looking at each page.
…SOMETIMES you fall asleep by yourself. Maybe just a handful of times. But before this month that never happened.

Your dad and I see your body grow and your mind develop with every passing day. All of the interactions you have and all of the words you hear and pictures you see and people you meet shape you and help you bloom into an individual with your own voice, opinions, likes, dislikes. You are becoming part of existence and the earth is better for having been touched by your soul.

All month long I make little mental notes about everything you are doing and learning, every funny story and every lesson learned. I get anxiety about forgetting something. I can’t believe you are already nine months old and I still keep thinking I have a tiny baby, but you are growing and changing every day and becoming so independent. As heartbreaking as it is to watch your infancy drift farther and farther away, these days are the most giggly, silly, loving, joy-filled days yet. You are really turning into a little shadow. You are reacting to us as a person would. Like a real human. You laugh at us and glare at us and ignore us and reach for us and have your own ideas about everything.

As you become a Real Human you are also revealing a Real Personality. I am calling it now–I think I am in for a life with a very strong-willed and challenging little girl, and it’s probably exactly what I deserve. You are a boss. You can be so serious and humorless. And bossy. And did I say bossy!?

You took your first steps early this month and now you are testing your limits constantly, letting go of the table or couch and carefully stepping forward three or four steps, holding your arms out like a tightrope walker for stability. When you eventually stumble, I cheer and clap, but you never celebrate. When you fall you are clearly miffed and frustrated, and it’s hard for you to keep at it because with each fall, you get more exasperated until you give up and do a noisy, yelling, sloppy, half-assed crawl toward me and bury your head into my shoulder. It’s okay little bean. You will be running around before you know it.

Your dad and I were so lucky to both be there when you took your first steps. We were at CAMP sitting about two feet apart on the floor playing with you and suddenly you STOOD UP from the ground and took three steps from your dad to me. We were so surprised and incredulous and we started yelling and cheering so loud and called all the grandparents to tell them the great news.

Your number-one favorite thing to do is get things out of bags. I pack a bag full of things and leave it in the room for you to find and paw through. It can keep you busy for up to an hour. You pull each thing out, touch it to your mouth, turn it around in your hands, carefully examining and considering it. Then you absentmindedly throw it over your shoulder just as casually as you had been meticulous.

We’ve finally got some toothies too! You got your first tooth a few weeks ago and just today I noticed a second one up right next to it. Just today. My little tooth-having baby.

So what else is new, girl?
…You’re straight-up standing. For as long as you want.
…You learned how to climb stairs and you could do it all day. I am totally fine with this, as it exhausts you.
…You yell for attention when you would like to be looked at–”HAAA! HA! MAM! MAM! HAAAAA! MAAAM!” (“Mom. Watch. Mom. Watch. Mom? Mom.”)
…You have started to throw things.
…You’ve also started to hit, and are continuing to yank hair–especially while nursing. I understand why most moms quit breastfeeding at this time. We’re still being consistent though with consequences for hitting and yanking.
…This month you started going to Kindermusik every Thursday with Grandma. There are two other older kids there and I hear you are pretty shy and observant in class. You hate the scarves and massage, and love the drums and maracas.
…You can say “mama.”
…You can slowly repeat “papa” but don’t know what it means yet.
…You’ve never been sick.

…You got into the freezer and ate the ice cream.
…You love pushing your carts around the house and figured out how to turn them.
…Your “holding still” skills on the changing table have markedly improved.
…Napping you are not good at. When I really need you to sleep for work, I take you in the car and work in the parking lot at dad’s work, using the wi-fi.
…You won’t wear hats. And you’re still totally bald.

…You are the peek-a-boo champ.
…You eat anything. Favorites lately include toast, raspberries, bits of cheese, and the old favorite of both mama and baby, applesauce.
…You learned how to roll a ball back and forth with us.
…You know how to give kisses. Open-mouth sloppy kisses.
…You will only fall asleep in our arms. It’s only a bad habit if we don’t like it, and we don’t mind. I just try to cherish the closeness, dependence, and snuggling while I can.

There is another new game that you love–chasing. The game starts when you quickly crawl a few feet away from us, then turn back to look at us and giggle. You do this over and over, with less giggling, and more yelling (HAAA! MAAAA!) until you get our attention, and then the game is on. Through the living room, into the dining room, around the kitchen, to your bedroom, into your bed. Then you are busted. Then there is tickling.

This month a lot of tragic and tumultuous things have happened in the world and I often think about how lucky and fortunate we are to have what we do. We have our health and we will always have each other. I often think about the pain and reality of life on planet earth and feel a twinge of existential guilt about not being able to shield you from it forever. All I can do to assuage that guilt is fully dedicate myself to serving you as a parent.

Your father and I promise to raise you as a citizen of the world because we never want you to be afraid of the world. We promise to show you compassion and understanding because we wish for you to experience others through a lens of empathy. As a parent I do not just feel responsible for you and your upbringing–I feel responsible for raising this baby I brought into the world to be a positive contributor to it. You have been born with your own gifts and we promise to help you know them and share them.

You and dad are all I need.

I love this baby time so much. You are friendly, social, and fun to bring everywhere we go. You love chatting and waving. I still can’t believe I’m a mom. I just feel like a busy woman with a little shadow who goes everywhere with me. I love you, busy bee.

xo
mama

If you are a new mom (or a seasoned vet!), you already know about the new foundation garments of a post-partum wardrobe–nursing tank tops (the ones from Target are my favorite!) and bras…maybe a little bit of shapewear or a new pair of Power Panties…but what about the rest of your clothes? Looking at a closet full of stuff that doesn’t fit is hard enough without trying to scrape together outfits that allow easy access for nursing mothers. I’m still going through that myself, and so I wanted to put together a style guide as well as some of my favorite pieces that are perfect for the fashionable new mama! Obviously these pieces aren’t limited to new moms–there are plenty of sweet styles for anybody to scoop!

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Find jersey garments with interesting details–having some extra stretch around the waist and neckline is wonderful for a post-partum wardrobe, and having something embellished or unique about it adds more value and style than, for example, a plain t-shirt or tank. I also love wearing blouses and tops that crossover or wrap–it’s always on-trend and easy to find beautiful styles.

1. The Simply Swell Tank has beautiful ruffles and I love the crossover design. 2. The Team Mod Mini Dress is the ultimate in statement style. 3. I would pair the Kite Flying Top with a sequinned skirt–the subtle difference in pattern on the cuff is cool too. 4. The way the Coin Licorice Top floats away from the body is the perfect fit for nursing moms. I’d wear this with a pencil skirt, colored tights, and flats for running errands! 5. I think layering this Maiden Lane Blouse over a nursing tank would make me feel post-baby pretty.

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Cardigans and button-ups are great, but don’t learn the hard way that the closures and buttons should be closer together at the bust! When Alice was born, I was happy to go back to wearing my old cardigans, but my bust was not the same size. Either buy bigger sweaters, or keep wearing fitted ones by adding additional snaps or finding pieces that close without gapping at the bust. Or you can play it safe and get zippered tops!

1. The Keeping Pom-Pom-ises cardigan is just one of the most special pieces I’ve ever seen. 2. The Ingocnita Hoodie with its Dolman sleeves offers my favorite–and most forgiving–silhouette. 3. Another embellished zip-up I love is the Thrills and Frills hoodie! 4. The Heart Act to Follow cardigan has buttons that are close enough together to prevent gapping. 5. The Guest House Sweater is demure and darling.

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After I gave birth I loved wearing long tunics and sweaters with leggings and a belted waist–they were the easiest pieces to grow into or out of as my shape continued to change.

1. The Daydreams of Omaha top not only has an awesome name, it has length, front buttons, and a chic drawstring waist! 2. The cowl neck of the When You Met Tunic would perfectly frame a chunky necklace. 3. I love the gauzy fabric of this Papyrus Scroll tunic–it would look great with some strappy sandals and leggings. 4. The Herbal Tea tunic could be worn over leggings or tucked into a skirt. It’s easy for new moms because it has plenty of stretch to pull up or down. 5. I love the zipper placement of this Ski Lift Tunic and how it creates such an interesting neckline!

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I love wearing sweaters and tops with draped lapels that can be pulled over baby’s face when nursing. Alice also loves snuggling, wrapped up in the extra fabric.

1. The Since the Fawn of Time jacket is so versatile–the asymmetry is perfect for nursing discreetly,and it has plenty of pockets for all of your stuff. 2. Another incredibly versatile piece is ModCloth’s Reverie Cardigan. 3. The Manta Ray sweater is perfect for layering over a nursing tank and transitioning between seasons. 4. Sheer, tiered ruffles on the Fabulous Voyage cardigan are perfect for pulling over baby’s face. 5. The Must Mean Business jacket has an asymmetrical zip for plenty of fabric to cover up!

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One thing I have missed the most is the sleek silhouette of a boatneck dress or coziness of a turtleneck tunic, but nothing is harder for nursing a baby than trying to unzip a dress–and in public I just can’t go that far (maybe you can, kudos!). When I’m with Alice though, I gotta stick with a button- or zip-up. Luckily there are tons of exciting and gorgeous dresses with this kind of construction! I’ve even been known to wear a beautiful, well-fitting coat as a dress, and ModCloth rates the warmth of all of their outerwear so you can choose something that isn’t too bulky or hot! Nothing makes you think outside the box like pregnancy and nursing.

1. The beauty of ruffles meet the functionality of a button-up with this Angel in Blue dress. 2. A chunky signature necklace would look beautiful with this versatile No Valley Low Dress, and keep easily bored babies occupied with something to grab on to. 3. The top of this Stellar System Dress is elasticized, making it ideal for nursing moms who need a dose of something extra fabulous. You could dress it down with a simple cardigan or dress it WAY up! 4. Bows and are my favorite motif and wrap dresses are my favorite day-to-day staple, and the Wrapping and Bows dress offers both! 5. The Cocoa Cozy dress is another versatile wrap silhouette that could be easily dressed up or down.

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It probably goes without saying, but your entire postpartum wardrobe should be machine washable. That’s why all of the pieces in this post are ones you can wash yourself at home!

A final word about nursing tanks and underpinnings–I usually wear either a loose jersey tank top that can be stretched with a bra or a nursing tank under my clothes, but I am always disappointed at how plain they look. Arranging three or five (I’m into odd numbers) vintage brooches at the neckline or pinning a felt flower over the clasp of the tank top hides the hardware that makes the nursing tank functional and adds some style.

I didn’t learn anything about what I would need for a postpartum breastfeeding wardrobe until I got there–and when I was searching for the right functional garments without losing the pretty, I wished that more people talked about what a challenge it is to dress well when you have to be able to feed an infant on demand. So I just wanted to share my advice and some of the best pieces out there for you to add to your new wardrobe. These are all great basic clothes (with a little something special) to take you from single living to married mama, and anything in between!

xo
meg