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Showing posts with label maternity style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maternity style. Show all posts

#JesseCoulter - No. 21

Spring is finally here and I couldn't be more excited! Having extra sunlight at night is a huge game changer for a mom of tiny ones! It was tough trying to wrangle a toddler inside the house when it became dark super early.  Turner was full of energy, and trying to keep him entertained as well as care for newborn twins was quite a challenge. Now that it's warm and we have that extra time of sun, we can play outside or go to the park (since Alex and Turner usually don't get home till 6pm). I have yet to find the time to pack up my winter clothes, but I'm ready for sandals, shorts and dresses! Most of my clothes don't fit and are tight in all the wrong places, so I've had to become creative with my outfits. I got this top from PinkBlush (size small) and love how it's flowy and super comfy. I don't have to worry about my muffin top spilling over my too tight jeans. This would have been an amazing maternity top (which they do sell). I could also wear this as a bathing suit cover up to the pool or beach. I have a VERY strong desire to go shopping, but I'm trying to hold off since my weight is up in the air. Guess I'll be buying shoes this season ; ) 

P.S. Alex surprised me on Valentine's Day with this beautiful Madewell leather tote, I've used it once when I was baby free.

Top: PinkBlush. Jeans: Gap. Boots: KorkEase. Bag: Madewell

#JesseCoulter - No. 20

After Walt and Whitney were born I immediately lost almost 30 pounds, and I felt great. Fast forward a month, and now I feel bigger than when I was 9 months pregnant...I know that sounds crazy. I had a huge belly, but my stomach was tight. It feels like someone let all the air out of me, and I'm a droopy balloon. With all that being said, my clothing options are limited. WARNING women who have just had a baby, DO NOT try on your pre-pregnancy jeans! I made that mistake, but have come to terms that it's going to likely take a year to get back to my normal shape. It took my body a year with Turner. However, I have a feeling it's going to be a bit challenging finding the time to take a work out class.

Sweater: A&F. Jeans: Old Navy (Maternity). Boots: Kork-Ease. Jacket: Ross. Scarf: Forever 21
Tunic: Old Navy. Cardigan: Target. Jacket: Ross. Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Aldo (This photo was taken prior to weaning myself from pumping...hello boobs!)
Tee: Old Navy. Jeans: Cotton On. Shoes: Birkenstocks. Sunglasses: Forever 21. Diaper Bag: TwelveLittle.
I've been wearing leggings a ton, but it's starting to warm up here in Texas so on to shorts and dresses. I've also been wearing my maternity jeans a lot, but decided to bite the bullet and buy a pair of jeans even though I plan on losing weight. I spotted THESE American Eagle boyfriend jeans online and fell in love. I immediately went in to the store and tried on a pair. It was like heaven was shining down on me...they fit like a glove and made me feel great. They are comfy, stretchy and figure flattering...and only cost me $38! You've got to try on a pair!


I've found that doing my hair and putting on jeans makes me feel a bit like myself again, even if I'm not 100% comfortable with my body. Mamas, did you experience this after you had kiddos?

Top 5 Favorite Maternity Outfits

During this pregnancy I have found much cuter maternity clothing than I did with Turner over 3 years ago. I've picked a few of my favorite outfits to share with you mostly based on comfort!

1.) I love this Texas Tuxedo look (sorry, I don't call it a Canadian Tuxedo. My Dad sports this look everyday), because I would wear this non-maternity. I'm a jean lover, so these maternity rockstar jeans from Old Navy were life savers when it came to recreating my distressed skinnies. I do have to admit that they were a tad uncomfortable when they would sag (the side panel is comfy but tends to fall off my frame).

Top/Jeans: Old Navy. Hat: Cotton On. Boots: Justin (Thrifted). Hat: Cotton On.



2.) I bought this skirt a few years ago knowing that I would wear it for maternity since it was a size too big. I love the pop of color, and it's super flowy and comfy. It's always nice to find skirts that look flattering over the bump, especially when you're in the stage of "kind of showing". It helps people to see that it's not a beer gut!

Top: Old Navy (Non-Maternity). Skirt: Boutique in Fredericksburg (Non-Maternity). Sandals: Gap.
3.) This flannel top from PinkBlush Maternity was comfy, covered my bum, and I loved the neutral color. It was so easy to throw on with leggings and add my over the knee boots. P.S. You NEED some over-the-knee boots! I rotated dresses + leggings and tunics + leggings A LOT, but the boots added that extra flair and made me feel very dressed up. Thankfully I didn't have swelling in my feet, so I was able to wear all my boots and shoes throughout my pregnancy.

Top: PinkBlush Maternity. Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Aldo
4.) I bought these jeans at Cotton On on a whim about halfway through my pregnancy, and they have been life savers! They have a drawstring waist band (size 6), and have continued to fit my belly throughout the ENTIRE pregnancy. My maternity jeans don't even fit at this point (36 weeks). My go to for comfy tees has always been Gap, and their maternity tees don't disappoint. This top is only $14.99 right now!

Top: Gap. Vest: Belk. Jeans: Cotton On (Non-Maternity). Shoes: Converse
5.) This non-maternity Cotton On t-shirt dress has been my favorite dress to throw on with a pair of leggings and riding boots. I'm a huge fan of under the belly leggings and jeans. I bought a 2 pack of leggings from Motherhood Maternity (blue & black), and have worn them over and over again with tops and dresses.

Dress: Cotton On (Similar). Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Nine West. Scarf: ASOS. Coat: Nordstrom

These days I'm mostly living in sweatpants, and I'm excited to get back to my normal clothes. I will definitely be selling all of my maternity outfits, just not sure where. Any ideas of where I can get the most bang for my buck? Instagram Sale? ThredUp?

Dressing The Bump {Third Trimester}

Check out my Instagram here to get all the sources of the outfits, simply tap each photo. 
Dressing a baby bump during the third trimester can get a bit boring as your outfit options minimize, but there are ways to keep things interesting. Cue scarves, hats, jewelry and shoes! I haven't had swelling with this pregnancy, so I was able to continue to wear all of my shoes. My riding boots and over-the-knee boots dressed up my outfits, and I wore my high-top Nike sneakers when I wanted to slip something on quickly.

I relied on comfy leggings for pants, because jeans were very uncomfortable. Dresses and tunics were also my friend. I had thought about purchasing a winter coat, but c'mon I live in Texas. So I wore my non maternity coats and added a scarf for extra coverage when it was actually cold out.

I'm currently 35 weeks, and most of my tops don't fit anymore, so if you see me out I'll likely be wearing the same thing for the next 3 weeks. While I'm at home I'm in baggy t-shirts and sweatpants all day, every day.

Maternity Photos {Part 2}

A few weeks ago I shared with you maternity photos Todd White shot of me, and today I'm sharing the second look! I was 26 weeks pregnant {with twins} and wanted a mother earth/flowy feel to the photos. I attempted to make my own flower crown, and surprisingly it turned out ok! Although, I mainly used eucalyptus, and only a few purple flowers. The dress is non-maternity from Kohls (Lauren Conrad), and had an elastic waistband which was perfect for my growing bump. Thanks to Sarah Frey for doing my makeup!


Photos: Todd White

#JesseCoulter - No. 19 {Maternity Style}

It's come down to only leggings for this pregnant lady. The third trimester has hit full swing, and my jeans aren't comfortable (specifically the belly band area). I'm thankful for maternity leggings, comfy dresses and tops that can be easily styled with boots. My $45 over the knee Aldo boots might be my favorite purchase of the season. I'm eyeing this brown pair...hopefully I'll find them at the outlet for a steal. Over the knee boots really amp up a simple outfit that could be pretty boring. Every time I zip them up I feel a bit like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman ; ).

Dress (Non Maternity): Cotton On. Maternity Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Nine West. Jacket: Nordstrom. Scarf: ASOS
Maternity Top: PinkBlush Maternity. Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Aldo Outlet
Dress: Envie De Fraise. Leggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Nine West. Scarf: Forever21
See more of my fashion posts on Instagram here!

Dressing the Bump {Second Trimester}


Dressing a baby bump during the 2nd trimester is always my favorite. You're not too huge, but most people can tell you're pregnant (for me especially carrying twins). I wore a ton of dresses due to unpredictable Texas weather as it transitioned from Summer to Fall. When it came to pants, I only wore jeans and jeggings. I always favor low-panel jeans and side panel jeans are bearable. I despise over the belly jeans because they always end up sagging.

My advice would be to invest in a few key pieces, but choosing the right ones depends on what you do for a living. Are you a stay at home mom? Invest in some casual outfits (jeans, leggings/jeggings, tees, casual t-shirt dresses that you can easily move around in with your kiddos). If you go in to the office everyday and have to dress more formal, I would invest in a few dresses that you can dress up or down, as well as a pair of ankle length dress pants that you can wear with flats or heels. Whatever your job may be, I would own a lot of cardigans and tunics that cover your rear....it definitely grows over time ; ). Some of my favorite brands for maternity clothing are Old Navy, Gap, Envie De Fraise, ASOS and PinkBlush Maternity.

If you hate spending money on maternity clothes, look for non-maternity pieces such as tunics, a-line dresses, jogger pants, maxi dresses and a-line skirts that have stretchy waist bands. Cotton On is a great resource for tunics, cardigans and baggy dresses that work throughout pregnancy.

If you want to see my outfits throughout my entire pregnancy, click HERE!

#JesseCoulter - No. 18 {Maternity Style}

I love the contrast of these two outfits. One is obviously very dressy, which I wear to work...although I'm not required to get super dressed up, I tend to wear dresses. This dress is super comfy and sucks you in....in all the right places. The other look is my favorite uniform of denim on denim paired with my felt hat and thrifted boots from a local antique store. I'm not going to lie when I say that I absolutely hate these maternity jeans. They are so cute for outfits, but extremely uncomfortable because they constantly sag and fall down around my waist (hello plumber's crack). They are the first pair of jeans I've tried with the side panel, and I'm not a fan. I'm also not a fan of over the belly jeans because they also fall off/sag. The only jeans that seem to work for me are the low panel style. What is your experience with maternity jeans?

Dress: Envie De Fraise. Shoes: Creatures Boutique.
Top/Jeans: Old Navy Maternity. Boots: Thrifted Justin Boots. Hat: Cotton On.

See more of my fashion posts HERE! 

#JesseCoulter - No. 17 {Maternity Style}

Hello Fall! It's finally starting to cool down in Austin, and I'm taking every occasion to wear my fall maternity outfits. This pregnancy is going by extremely fast (I'm 25 weeks and in my 2nd trimester), and I might only have a few months left! Comfy layers and a good pair of leggings are my staples this pregnancy. I wish I had a few longer button down shirts or tees that go past my butt, so I could wear leggings more often! That's where long cardigans come...to cover the situation that's going on in the rear (yikes..."I think mah butt gettin' big").

Maternity Dress: c/o Envie Fraise. Cargdigan: Old Navy Non Maternity. Boots: Nine West. Hat: Cotton On
Top: Gap Maternity. Jeggings: Motherhood Maternity. Boots: Aldo Outlet (scored for $45)
Dress: Cotton On Non Maternity (On sale for $12). Cardigan: c/o PinkBlush Maternity. Shoes: Old Navy

#JesseCoulter - No. 16 {Maternity Style}

I've been having a lot of fun styling this bump, but it can be challenging at times. Dresses are the easiest option so I find myself dressing more formal. I'll likely have a capsule wardrobe by the end of this pregnancy since I don't have a ton of maternity clothes. Find more outfit photos on my Instagram here.

Dress: ASOS Maternity. Shoes: Creatures Boutique
Top/Jeans: Old Navy Maternity. Shoes: Birkenstocks
Top: Gap Maternity. Jeans: Old Navy Maternity. Shoes: Gap.

#JesseCoulter - No. 15 {Maternity Style}

I'm still waiting for temperatures to drop below the 90s here in Austin so I can break out my fall maternity wardrobe. Until then I've been living in this gray maternity tank handed down from my sis, and I enjoyed dressing up and feeling fancy for my baby shower in the Envie De Fraises dress below.

I also cashed in a gift card I won from Paypal and finally bought the Hunter rain boots I've been wanting for 3 years (Alex tried to buy them for me last year). Now I wait for rain as well.

Top: Target Maternity. Jeans: Cotton On (non maternity). Sandals: Gap. Sunglasses: Forever21
Dress: c/o Envie Die Fraises. Heels: Creatures Boutique. DIY Flower Crown
Top: c/o PinkBlush Maternity. Leggings: Old Navy Maternity. Boots: Hunter Rain Boots

Follow me on Instagram for more style inspiration!

#JesseCoulter - No. 14 {Maternity Style}

The heat is still going strong here in Texas so I'm wearing my summer clothes as much as possible before my closet selection shrinks. Follow along my maternity fashion journey on Instagram
Top: Old Navy (Non Maternity). Skirt: Bought from a tiny boutique in Fredericksburg a few years ago
Top: Target Maternity. Pants: Old Navy (Non Maternity). Sandals: Gap. Hat: Aerie
Dress: Old Navy Maternity. Cardigan: Old Navy. Shoes: Gap.

#JesseCoulter - No. 13 {Maternity Style}

My clothing options are starting to become more and more slim, and I'm living in dresses as much as possible before Summer ends. I can still wear non maternity shirts, but jeans must be maternity. Thankfully I have a few pairs of non maternity stretchy track shorts that I can wear if it's too hot. All of these outfits are from when I was 18/19 weeks along.

Dress: Target Non Maternity. Shoes: Gap. (19 weeks)
Top: Old Navy Non Maternity. Jeans: Old Navy Maternity. Shoes: Target. Sunglasses: Loft. (18 weeks)
Dress: Target Maternity. Boots: Justin (18 weeks)

Fall Wardrobe Inspiration

Dressing for Fall will be a bit different from last year, but I am still very excited for neutrals, scarves, boots, plaid and flannel. I have a feeling I'll be wearing a lot of swing dresses with tights and boots. I think I'm going to test out hats a bit more this fall, especially since I will likely get bored of my limited wardrobe. Here are a few outfit pics from last year. What Fall style are you excited for?
1.) Top/Jeans: Gap. Vest: Belk. Boots: Kork Ease. 2.) Top: Joe Fresh. Jeans: Old Navy. Boots: Gap. 3.) Top: Gap Factory. Vest: SteinMart. Jeans: Old Navy. Boots: Clark's
1.) Blazer: Jcrew via Encore Style. Top: Jcrew Factory. Jeans: Old Navy. Boots: Clark's. 2.) Sweater/Top/Pants: Gap. Ballet Flats: Old Navy. 3.) Jacket: Gap. Tee/Jeans: Cotton On. Sandals: Birkenstocks

16 Weeks {Twins}


How Far Along: 16 weeks (I'm actually 17 today, but I'm a bit behind so I'll post 17 weeks in a few days)

Babies Genders: Boy AND Girl

Things to Note: Had my 16 week Dr. Appt and ultrasound. It was extremely hard not to find out right there what the genders were, as the tech told us see could tell the sexes within 30 seconds! I definitely think there is a boy in there...I'm 98% sure I saw male anatomy. Babies were moving around and looked like they were fighting each other. Hearts and brains looked to be in good shape and they are growing at the right pace. Thank you Jesus for healthy babies, that's all I ask for.

Bought 4 pairs of baby moccasins from Old Navy for the gender reveal...I was so excited!

Symptoms: Cramps when doing Zumba, Waking up at least once a night to use the restroom
(although this was normal prior to pregnancy)

Exercise: 30 min. walk x 2, 30 min. Zumba + Strength Training. That will definitely be the last time I do any sort of dancing or jumping exercise.

Weight Gain: 8 lbs.

Clothing: Still wearing non maternity clothes. Maternity jeans and shorts are too big and the tops look like bags, so I'm sticking to stretchy shorts and using a hair band for closure on my regular jeans.

Cravings: N/A, my appetite has definitely subsided this week, but my belly looks like it grew a football inside over night!


Plan ahead

Next time Alex and I decide to have another baby (God willing), I'm going to plan it better. This summer really wasn't that bad, but I didn't realize how much better it would have been to be pregnant during the fall/winter until we had a cold front last weekend. Leggings + tunic = perfect preggo outfit. Minus the fact that I look like a "tomato on toothpicks", this outfit was extremely comfortable.  


Top: Lulu's. Tights: Express. Boots: Nine West