I'm not fat, I'm just gestating

My belly is getting bigger, and I think it's kind of cute. It was funny hearing one friend try to tell me that I'm starting to show more without making it sound like she was saying I'm fat. It's okay to admit I'm getting bigger, people! I'm not going to be one of those women who looks like she has a volleyball under her shirt and can fit back into her jeans a week after giving birth.


Up until now I'd been getting by on low-rise capris and the pair of maternity shorts that I accidentally bought a couple of years ago. (They were mis-filed in the regular section of the store and incredibly comfortable - what can I say?) Then I started having to do the rubber-band thing on the button to expand the waistband of my pants, and wearing long tops to cover that up. Fortunately the current shirt style with empire waist and/or extra fabric in the front is really expanding my options for tops. It begs the question, though: Why would women with normal figures want to wear these?! They even make models look pregnant!

Yesterday I finally sucked it up and went shopping for maternity pants. A lot of stuff was on clearance (Kohl's, Old Navy) and Ross recently got new maternity merchandise. Target/Liz Lange is leaving a lot to be desired, but that may be because of the change of seasons (at least in retail world - don't try to tell me it's almost Fall!). I like how maternity clothing technology advancement has led to pants with a normal-looking but stretchy waistband instead of a gargantuan panel of odd-colored knit fabric that makes a horrible seam right in the middle of your belly. Of course there are now pants that have a normal-looking waistband and then have a stretchy extension above it ("Secret Fit Belly" shown here) so it fits up and over a pregnant belly. Sounds like a great idea, but I'll hold off until I need that extra layer of warmth, thankyouverymuch.


Now I need to break out the fusible tape to hem some things. I think my orthodox-seamstress mother was horrified at that notion (ha! no pun intended!), but I told her it will be better not to chop off & sew maternity pants to fit my short legs when I'll inevitably be bequeathing my maternity wardrobe upon someone of average height. I did find denim thread (the orange/brown kind) at Target, so I may machine-sew a hem on my new jeans because they're a little heavy for fusible tape. Otherwise I'll save my sewing for the quilt.