State of the Blog: A Fun Wednesday Update

Aug 3, 2022

The past two months have not been easy.  Like many pregnant women, I developed a severe case of anemia during my third trimester.  Energy levels plummeted, and then, the heat dome came — triple digits almost every day for two weeks.  The person who said pregnancy was a marathon and not a sprint didn’t mention that you’re running uphill, through sand, on a hot day, dragging a Mack truck behind you.

But I’ve really missed having the creative energy to blog, especially when I read an article telling me women are wearing sneakers with resort wear to the office (say what?!).  So I thought: Why not put all of the jumbled suggestions and thoughts currently floating around my brain into a short post?

+ Did you know the Delia’s catalog is back?  And sadly, the younger generation has killed it by turning it into a Hot Topic homage.  It’s like an arrow to the heart that this generation of teen girls will never know the joy of running to the mailbox, dog-earing every page, and then begging your Mom to call the 1-800 number to order that must have baby-doll dress.

+ My Anniversary Sale purchases arrived too late for me to share them while the sale was going on.  The clear winner were these Zella relaxed leggings.  They’re amazing.  They are so soft, and comfortable.

Plus, the wide waistband means I can wear them at 8-months pregnant.  I already paid full price for a second pair.  They also come in plus-size.  And the matching top is on sale.

+ Have you ever heard of Home Dysmorphic Disorder?  It’s essentially when social media (aka Instagram) causes you to believe your home is hideous and needs to look like photos on the Internet.  And as we struggle with the inability to get nursery furniture (thanks supply chain issues), I am feeling it.  I just have to keep reminding myself that my daughter needs very little to survive and thrive, and that her nursery does not need to look like Shea McGee designed it.

+ Of course, Architectual Digest’s celebrity home tours do not help this problem.

+ Need the Friday work dress to get you through August Recess?  You need this Halogen wrap.  It’s everything.

+ Due to COVID, the hospital near our home cancelled all of its birthing and baby-rearing classes and did not bring them back as promised.  So we found Tinyhood and Sarah Lavonne.  Both make videos on labor, delivery, and caring for your baby.  (Now, if I could just stop falling asleep halfway through.)

+ Bug bites got you down?  No joke, the Bug Bite Thing actually works.

I’ve been working on an outfit post for tomorrow featuring some August Recess aka Business Casual attire that I’m pretty excited about, so look for that.  And also, on Friday, we’ll have this week’s episode of The Edition.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go indulge in a short nap and an iron tablet.  Pregnancy is so glamorous.  Seriously, if men birthed babies, they would have resorts where you spent ten months, all government funded, before recuperating at home with full-time nursing care for weeks after.

xo, Abra

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  1. Chelsea says:

    I actually liked this newborn video from Mt. Sinai hospital better than TinyHood! https://youtu.be/2vqhTU16Dr4

  2. Jules says:

    That last sentence, And maternity leave would at least be 12 months- required!

    • Nadine says:

      Right?! I just about choked when Abra mentioned buying clothes for her return to work in the fall. Here that would mean fall 2023, but I suspect that’s not the case for her.

  3. SS says:

    Can you please turn this line into a cute social shareable?!

    Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go indulge in a short nap and an iron tablet. Pregnancy is so glamorous. Seriously, if men birthed babies, they would have resorts where you spent ten months, all government funded, before recuperating at home with full-time nursing care for weeks after

  4. Lindsey says:

    Karrie Locher on Instagram is a lactation consultant and labor and delivery nurse who delivers approachable, interesting, fun baby care tips in a way that makes you not even realize you are learning. She honestly feels like you are following a friend. I learned a ton from her even on my second kid! And she saves all of the highlights so that you can find them when it is two am you are dealing with some inevitable baby problem.

  5. Diane says:

    I love the Bug Bite Thing! Carry it with me in my purse everywhere. Before I had it, I would just suck my kids’ bug bites with my mouth, much to the same effect. The Bug Bite Thing is probably cleaner.

    When I was an aspiring opera singer with no money, all my recital dresses came from Delia’s. Sigh.

    So funny story- my first child was born at 33 weeks, a week before our scheduled birthing class. We had no name, no pediatrician, no crib, no car seat, nothing. My Husband spent the afternoon after she was born at Babies R Us buying the only car seat with a 5lb weight limit. We borrowed a Pack n Play from a friend. We didn’t even know that we had to bring clothes for her to go home in and the nurse raided the NICU closet for us. It was all very fine in the end. She was released from the hospital four days after she was born much to our surprise. Which is all to say, we think babies need a lot, but they really don’t.
    At any rate, my next two kids were born at 39 and 40 weeks and with both of them, I thought, “These last six weeks really suck! Who would want to do it?!!!! So much easier to just have the baby out at 33 weeks!”
    I would give you some kind of self affirming pep talk, but my OB always would say chirpily, “You got this!!” And I always wanted slap her.

    • K says:

      Same here! My first was born at 33 weeks and I had had no birthing classes. I vividly recall the doctor telling me that I was pushing wrong during the whole process. Big hey, the kid still came out and was labeled Baby My Last Name. And we had no clothes for him so he wore the same shirt for three days when we left the hospital because they told us we couldn’t steal clothes from the NICU. And he slept in literally a cardboard box for a month in a hotel room because the place we were going to rent wasn’t ready. We never bought a changing table and just used the bed and floor for both our kids. It’s true. The internet makes you think you need so much, but really, very few of it is need. All the extras might be nice, but the reality is you’ll be fine without them and also won’t know any different if you don’t get them.

  6. TheLOOP says:

    A co-worker once said to me “if men had to breastfeed or pump, formula would be free.”

  7. Anna says:

    I went to a professional panel last week where one of the panelists was in a matching silky floral ensemble consisting of a crop top (with belly showing), shorts, and one of those robe caftan things. What is wrong with people now????

    Also, I know that having a lot of stuff stresses me out, plus the pressure of buying a lot of things, so I’m purposefully keeping things simple. Baby is sleeping in our room for the first six months (safe sleep rec plus I have no desire to walk across the house in the middle of the night), so no need for a nursery. Repurposing a dresser and putting a changing pad on top, crib, stroller with bassinet that we’ll use for living room naps, a few onesies, car seat, and the rest is just extra and getting put into storage until he’s old enough to need it. This is my first, so I don’t know if this is a good strategy, but there are enough things to stress about.

  8. You got me all nostalgic about the Delia’s catalog! I used to love flipping through it then berate myself for not being comfortable pulling off a crop top. Ugh. Why are they back in style?

    And amen on all the pregnancy hard stuff. I had my first in August in Louisiana so I understand the HEAT when pregnant. All the best to you!

  9. Jill says:

    This three part prenatal class, free on YouTube, is the best prenatal info I’ve seen. It’s delivered by a Canadian midwife practice and just feels very honest, easy to understand, no agenda, not trying to sell you anything, etc.

    https://youtu.be/j7YucfJuziU

    I hope you get your rest! Thank you for posting today. Even your jumble of brain thoughts is interesting to read.

    • TG says:

      I agree! I watched this series a few times and it was incredibly helpful. I had my baby during COVID and all classes were cancelled, but with this engaging class I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything.

  10. Kim says:

    I still need to use Rocky Mountain Soap Co’s Breakout Buster stick after using the bug bite tool for 24 hrs or so. But it has definitely shortened the duration of my suffering.

    If nursery supply chain issues are getting you down, get a second hand bassinet locally for your bedroom and that will likely buy you 2-3 months after you give birth for your nursery furniture to show up.

    Hang in there. You will get to the end and eventually pull you together back into one piece eventually. Just give yourself enough grace to not expect that process to be too quick.

  11. Anna says:

    If you tire of iron tablets, Floradix (liquid iron) is super popular with pregnant women. It’s expensive but way easier to digest. I think it works faster, too. And I totally agree about the Maternity Care Midwives videos.

  12. Tiffany says:

    Amen! Pregnancy is not for the weak – keep putting one foot in front of the other (that can be pointed toward your bed so you can take a nap!) and you’ll be on a different, but wonderful rollercoaster ride soon!

  13. ANna says:

    Just here to reiterate how little you need for newborns. My first baby arrived in July 2020 so all our family who was going to help us put together the nursery ended up not coming. We kept baby in our own room (bassinet) for 5 months and still change her diaper on the floor (good exercise). Safe sleeping place, diapers, a place to change, a little clothing, and bottle supplies if you need it. I’m right behind you on pregnancy number 2, so I feel your pain.

    • Belle says:

      We are def. running a minimalist operation over here. Bassinet, changing pad, formula, diapers, onesies, sleep machine, swaddles. The supply chain just made it all such a challenge.

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