The Big Shop on my day off

I took the day off work today, as Gran offered to mind BallFiend for the day at their house. What a treat!

After a slow start to the day, and a hair-raising drive over to Gran and GrandPaul's house on the wet roads (yes it has rained in Melbourne again!! Amazing!!! but for some reason when it is rainy, people seem to think that they must drive more stupidly), I dropped BallFiend off and went on my way.

Spent most of the day shopping for maternity wear (ugh). For my first pregnancy (BallFiend), I scrimped and made do - I figured that I would only be wearing the stuff for a few months (my belly didn't really stick out until I was 6 months gone), and I wasn't ever going to have a second baby, so it wasn't worth spending much on maternity clothes. My maternity wardrobe consisted of two pairs of pants for work (this gets really tedious when you are working full time), three or four tops and a Belly Belt combined with a 'belly-band' (like a boob-tube for your tummy area) which allowed me to keep wearing my normal clothes right up to 8 months. I added a black Boob nursing top to the mix when BallFiend was about 6 months old.

This time, I know better. I will be wearing this stuff day-in, day-out for the next 6 months, longer if I take a while to shake the post-natal baby-bump. Plus if the items are chosen carefully, many can be worn as regular clothes later on (though most likely I will be sick of them if my first pregnancy experience is anything to go by). The other alternative is that CutLuce or DesignerSis might soon be requiring maternity wear... hopefully! BallFiend needs cousins!

I decided on Pea in a Pod's factory outlet and it was a good choice - a one-stop-shop! After trying on about 50 different items (pants, skirts, tops, etc.), I left with 4 pairs of pants, 4 tops, a knitted wrap and a free belly band, all purchased (on credit) for $324.00. I hate shopping so it was a hard slog for me, but I now feel relieved to have got all my clothing needs sorted for the rest of the pregnancy. My sincere thanks to the patient and helpful staff member who kept me motivated (even if she did tell me I looked good in certain items when I clearly didn't!).

Rounded the evening off with dinner at Gran and GrandPaul's then rushed home at 8.00 pm to get a yawning BallFiend off to bed.
--