Anyone who knows me knows what a complete fashion addict I am.  To say that I love fashion would be an understatement … I teach Fashion Marketing to the youth of America each and everyday, the sales associates at over two of the stores in our local mall know me by name & career (and, in fact, gave me a “mini-celebration” the other day when they noticed I was buying merchandise from the maternity collection, and my shoes are categorized & labeled in clear shoe boxes in my walk-in closet, which happens to be one of my favorite places on earth.

So … as you would likely suspect … the idea of an expanding waistline in the months to come is slightly daunting.  Obviously, the end result will be well worth it and the perks (i.e; your favorite foods with less guilt) are an extra bonus.  However, today my due date calender dates me at less than three months pregnant, and I am already out of my favorite skinny jeans and a majority of my slim cut dresses. 

Thankfully, “Santa Claus”/MY MOM! knows me well and got me the ultimate maternity style book for Christmas a few days ago.  And after hiding my head in the book ever since (in an effort to figure out this “style with child” mystery … I have a renewed faith in the months to come. 

TASK ONE – described specifically in chapter one – is to put away all of those too-tiny clothes, which can be taken out again after you give birth to that bundle of joy and are back to your pre-baby body.  So today, I followed directions, and spent the afternoon packing away many of the close friends who have been very good to me over the past few years. 

 Although it sounds like a painful process, as each piece of clothing certainly has its own speical memories, I am confident to reunite with them soon.  They are folded neatly & ready for Mr. BB to carry to the attic when he gets home from work … and in its place is already a few stylish maternity pieces I have happened to pick up the last few weeks. :)

I don’t think there will come a day (no matter how old I get … or for that matter, no matter how many children I have) … that I won’t be the slightest bit sad at the conclusion of Christmas day.  Obviously, the holidays bring with them a considerable amount of work & pressure – buying the perfect gifts for all of those special people in your life (and then some), then wrapping those gifts with just the right wrapping paper and festive bow to match, and keeping up with all of the holiday social gatherings (and in my recent case, while feeling rather bloated, nauseated, and fatigued … without giving away the reason as to why).  But again, even with all of that, the months of November and December remain quite certainly my favorite time of the year and after the last gift is opened and festive dessert is eaten … I always feel nostalgic.

The end of this holiday season, however, makes us that much closer to a new chapter that begins this July.  And as previously posted, my husband and I were able to take advantage of the family gatherings at Christmas to share our own holiday gift that “is in the process of being made.”  

Sharing the news with family and friends (and seeing their surprised & exhilerated reactions) is one of those moments that makes it feel that much more real.  And at the same time … thankful that our baby-to-be will certainly be loved.

Undoubtably, one of the hardest parts since finding out our life-changing news has been keeping it secret.  For one, I have never been one with a talent for keeping information hush-hush.  I can’t help it … I get super anxious, exhilerated, and pretty much feel like I could burst (with even the smallest of news, such as my mom’s upcoming Christmas present from my dad).  So obviously, the news of an upcoming bundle of joy is one that I would pretty much like to shout from the rooftops … or at the very least, post onto facebook much like when I got engaged.

But as I have learned since becoming “with-child”, seeing the positive line after peeing on a stick doesn’t necassarily mean to start alerting the presses.  In fact, most doctors and baby books suggest to “patiently” wait until at least 10 weeks, or even better, the start of the second trimester. 

So in an effort to “play by the rules” … Mr. BB & I have (kind of) done just that. 

We waited a week to tell our good friends (story to come), another week to tell our families (second story to come), and since have only shared our special surprise with a few co-workers/friends here & there.

And as the ten week mark approaches this weekend, we are preparing to bring our joy to some more of our family on the appropriate occastion of Christmas.

I can’t think of a better gift for the season.

Fa-la-la … la-la. 🙂

As I previously posted, Mr. BB & I are pretty much walking on air after being awarded with our future baby’s first portrait yesterday.  In fact, we were wondering if we showed BACK up at the doctor’s office today, if they would let us go through the experience all over again.  (Do you think that’s a normal request?  It was my husband’s idea … not mine!).

So of course, even though very few people at my school know about the number one thing on my mind these days … I slipped the ultrasound photo into my bag this morning, just so that it would be close to me as I made it though another school day.  And when I did reveal the photo with a confidante/fellow teacher sometime during my second block this morning, she shared an old wives tale that I thought I would share with you …

Although our baby’s first photo is hardly clear & concise (but still precious all the same), at our appointment, one significant point certainly was.  And I couldn’t have been more ecstatic about it … to see a strong, rather fast, heartbeat staring back at Mr. BB and I.  We discussed how intense the heart beat was until the later hours of last night (not that we are used to seeing them!) and predicted that it’s cause was the hyperactivity of my own husband, who had likely passed on that trait to our future child.

When I shared this report with my co-worker, she explained that this was the sign of a … girl to come.  And of course, immediately after I turned to Google to test it’s validity.  Sure enough, the Old Wives Tale exhists, and clearly states that a faster heart beat is connected to a future in pink rather than blue.

Truly, I am more than content with a healthy baby … but it’s all in the fun of guessing.  

I am sure it won’t be the last prediction for one gender or the other. 

It’s official.  I am back. Only this time … it’s for a different purpose. 

Mrs. BB is my abbreviated name from my previous identity as a blogger, The Burgundy Bride.  Throughout the 18 months planning my wedding, http://www.theburgundybride.blogspot.com/ was a close companion of mine.  In fact, I visited most days of the week and my husband gifted me with a complete printed & bounded copy of my entire blog the morning of my wedding.  I always knew I had a passion for writing, but it wasn’t until I discovered the “blogosphere” (is that a word?) that I understood how cathartic writing everyday could really be.

So it could definitely be said that I have missed my afternoons pouring my heart out into cyberspace.  And in my defense, it wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say … because I always do … but had to do more with my “superstitious” nature.  I didn’t want to speak too soon, and also didn’t want to ruin a surprise for any of my family or friends.  (Who doesn’t love a good surprise in life?)

I am now 100% certain that you have picked up on the fact that the secret I have been keeping (and still am) is that I AM PREGNANT.  It’s still crazy to say.  And even though I want to scream it, shout it, and cheer it from the rooftops … I haven’t said it to many special people in my life as of yet.  I am waiting for the perfect time to share our special news, which is why most don’t even know I have returned to my hobby as a blogger. 

Today, however, seemed to be the ideal time to mark the beginning of my new blog, and stage, of life.  This afternoon, we had our first doctor’s appointment and ultrasound.  We were actually able to see our baby’s heartbeat, and as I write, we are still admiring the first official photo of Baby BB. 
Pretty unbelievable & groundbreaking – it only felt right to document it. 🙂