The Joys of Maternity Clothes

So yesterday I went shopping with my mom for maternity clothes.  My sister was going to go, but her husband had the flu and we decided I didn't need to be exposed.  After a 6 mile run and a delicious lunch at Jason's Deli, Mom and I headed to the old mall here, which is sort of scary but they've tried to fix it up and I guess it still has some decent stores (I don't really know because we only visited two.  I do know they don't have a coffee shop and that is really unfortunate for a mall).  A friend of mine who is also pregnant said JCPenney had cute maternity clothes and Motherhood was also in this mall.  We parked at JCPenney, asked about the maternity section and made our way there.

The rule I heard when shopping for maternity clothes is that you should buy the size you were before you got pregnant.  However, in JCPenney, my size looked huge.  And maybe they were meant for someone my size in their 8th month.  Either way, Mom and I laughed really hard in the dressing room.  This could be partly to the way I stand when clothes don't fit me right.  I usually change my posture in such a way to bring out the absolute worst that is already apparent in whatever I have tried on.  Sometimes a dance accompanies this attractive posture.  So I slumped and walked really slowly to the mirror. Mom said I looked cute, but she loves me so her vision could be questionable.  My sister called during this episode and Mom told her she should be there to see this.  I said it was all her fault.  She had two cute, sweet kids, made it look fun and doable so I gave it a go and now look!  I have to wear tents!  Julie said it was Jason's fault and we all agreed with that too. 

We left JCPenney with nothing.  On to Motherhood. 

Motherhood was a little better.  They had petites (I am 5'2 or 5'3 depending on who measures), and their clothes were not quite so tent-like.  However, I am pregnant so I am going to look pregnant and these clothes REALLY brought it out.  Really.  And I don't think I realized how pregnant I looked until I got in these dressing rooms and started trying on clothes.  The day before I had been wondering if my baby was big enough for 18 weeks and in that moment I knew I did not have to worry about that!  Seeing myself in these maternity clothes was a bit of a shock. 

I tried on several dresses.  They only caused more laughter (and sighing).  I wanted an Easter dress, but there just wasn't one I could bear.  I joked that I was going to have to quit my job on Monday and just stay in the house, in my pjs, until the baby arrived.  I joked that maybe I could wear my running clothes to work.  They have elastic waistbands and in them I just look like a runner with a donut problem, especially since sports bras mask other areas of growth.

Mom was very sweet and patient as my laughter died down to a kind of pitiful look and a loud sigh every time I tried on something new.  We did find several things that worked and a shirt that looked exactly like one I'd purchased from Ann Taylor Loft a year ago.  I would cling to anything at that point. 

I have no idea if all women feel this way as they begin to need new clothes, or if I am a horribly vain and ungrateful person.  I DO want to be pregnant right now and I would not trade it for the most amazing figure or the fastest marathon in the world.  But wow.  Just wow.  That is all I can say when I look in the mirror at the changes.  It is fun but...it is something else too.  Mom reminded me it was just for a season.  Surely I can handle this for a season.  And look what I get at the end!  It has been important to me to handle pregnancy with grace and peace and excitement.  I think I have the excitement part down...and maybe even the peace.  But I am sadly lacking in grace when it comes to accepting all the woes along with all the joys.  And really, if you were to compare my pregnancy with so many others, I have very few real woes!

So Mom and I made our purchases, left the mall, and stopped by Starbucks on the way home.  I got a decaf iced mocha, and it was the most delicious thing in the world.  Shopping for maternity clothes is hard work!  Hard on the feet and hard on the mind!  It was so nice to have Mom there to help and laugh and soothe as needed.  It was a wonderful day all around and when I got home and told Jason the joys of maternity clothes, he was equally as sweet about it all. 

So in the end I suppose they are worth it.  Tents, panels and all.