He's here! I'd like all of you to meet my sweet baby boy, Miles Anthony Sye. I'll be sharing his birthstory in an upcoming YouTube video but I thought I would introduce him to everyone first. My father's middle name was Anthony so we knew that we wanted to incorporate that in somehow, but struggled with deciding on a first name for almost the entire pregnancy. We had thought about 'Miles' for a name a few times but it never seemed like the winner until about a month ago. I mentioned it again to Stan and we both looked at each other and knew it was the one.
I went into labor late Friday evening and he was born at 9:41 a.m. on Saturday, November 4. He weighed in at 6 lbs and was 19.5 inches long with almost a full head of hair! He has a very gentle and calm demeanor and my mom, Stan and I (and Elmo) are just crazy about him. I've shared a few more pics and videos of him on Instagram and Insta-stories though I'm trying not to overdo it (which is nearly impossible because he's so cute!).
I actually had my mom and Stan help me put up all the holiday decorations so it would be done when I went into labor. And coming home to a festive environment was the best way to welcome Miles. As we speak, I am sitting on the couch typing this post while Miles is snuggled next to me and Elmo is curled up right next to him and the Christmas tree is all lit up next to the couch. I may even turn on the fire tonight and take this entire scene over the top cozy. LOL
Thank you to each and every one of you for all the kind words, supportive comments and uplifting messages sent my way during these past 9+ months. Pregnancy can be such a nervous and stressful time but I feel grateful to have received so much positive encouragement!
Sweater - H&M | Jeans - AG (maternity) | Boots - Sam Edelman (the most perfect classic suede boot that comes in a TON of colors!) | Bag - Saint Laurent (amazing dupe here) | Hat - Brixton
I wore this outfit this past Friday and when we took these pictures, Stan and I were debating whether baby boy would come during the weekend or closer to my actual due date (Nov 9th). Well, he decided to make his debut Saturday morning, though I went into labor late Friday evening. So while I am super happy to not be pregnant anymore, I do adore looking at these photos thinking that only a few hours later our lives would change forever. I'll be sharing a full birth story on my YouTube channel soon, and doing a quick birth update announcement post this week so stay tuned for those! However if you follow me on Instagram, then you know I have already shared so many details on our little guy.
But before I wrap up this post, I feel it necessary to ensure that my absolute favorite part of this outfit gets your attention. LOL Last year, I was crazy for these Sam Edelman ankle boots and wore them (and still do) all the time (remember this post, this post, this post and this post?). So the equivalent of them this year (in my fondness for them, not necessarily style or shape) are these Corra booties (more colors here)! The shape is chic and appropriate for jeans, skirts, dresses, etc, the heel is high but surprisingly easy to walk in, the colors are all wearable and the price point is so great for how expensive they actually look. Sam Edelman has quickly become one of my favorite shoe brands for more affordable styles that still manage to look expensive when on. Here are a few more of his styles that caught my eye: these lace-up boots are currently sitting in my cart, these rain boots seem like a foul weather must have (and are only $55!), these leopard pumps are pretty and preppy at the same time, these are great flat OTK boots and these flat boots are a great staple that I see them put out each year.
I swear I should have named my blog "A Little Bit of Leopard" with how much I adore leopard print. It's surprisingly not a print that I always gravitated towards but once I began buying a piece here or there, I couldn't stop. And with my propensity towards wearing neutrals, I could easily work the print into my wardrobe.
Recently it has been leopard scarves that I've been crazy about adding to my outfits and picked up this one I'm wearing, this one and this one which were all at such great price points! I searched around for all the scarves I could find with the best leopard prints and put them all in the widget at the bottom of the post.
And if you feel like falling down a rabbit hole on my blog looking at tons of leopard pieces I've worn and styled, here are a few of my favorite looks/items that I have featured:
I'm all about having classic and/or timeless pieces in my wardrobe, and that definitely extends to pregnancy and ultimately maternity clothes. While there are tons of maternity options out these days as opposed to years ago, a simple stretchy black dress like this one is a lifesaver. It's comfortable and flattering, but also so easy to create outfits around. For this particular day, I paired it with a moto jacket and boots, but I have already worn it running errands in a long sweater and sneakers, out to dinner with heels and a clutch, with a denim jacket and wedges when we had a recent warm spell - frankly it's a great maternity piece to invest in while pregnant. I also love the turtleneck version or short sleeved version as well.
Some of my other favorite key maternity items to definitely purchase are jeans (this post shares info about my two favorite pairs), stretchy tees (I like the fit of these the most), comfortable tanks (these aren't maternity but work perfectly with a bump of any size - I have already purchased 5 pairs of them), leggings and some nice cardigans to mix and match with all these options. Obviously there are numerous maternity items to possibly get during pregnancy, but these pieces can all be worn over and over and combined with various accessories to create a ton of different looks.
Cozy clothing is one of the best parts of fall, amiright?! Sweaters, scarves, hats and all the hot drinks. I still like when it's cold enough for a sweater like this off the shoulder number, but I don't have to start layering it with a coat, vest, parka, etc just yet. I have mentioned a few times here and there, but Loft has truly been one of my favorite places to shop at during my pregnancy (remember this post, this post, this post and this post) . I've worn quite a few of their pieces these past few months and always manage to purchase them during their amazing sales. I think it's the fact that they offer petite sizing and the cut of the clothing seems to work with my bump without me needing to size up. It's actually quite remarkable because I know all of the things I've purchased can work after my pregnancy as well.
In addition to Loft, my two other favorite places to shop have been Old Navy (loved these shorts the whole summer and lived in these dresses from this post and this post) and GAP (still loving and wearing this dress, this one, and loved the cardigans I've shown on Instagram). Both places have such great sales so I'm not breaking the bank with ordering pieces that may only work during pregnancy (but to be honest, I only have less than 3 or 4 items that fall into that category from them). And both retailers offer maternity options as well so I can often mix and match during my shopping trip. Obviously I've shopped at other places these past 9 months but as I look back those three have definitely been my standout favorites.
Shop more oversized off the shoulder sweaters for fall:
Dress - Lou and Grey | Vest - Target (similar here and here) | Boots - Sam Edelman (from last year but similar here, here and here) | Bag - Chloe | Sunglasses - Fendi (similar here and here)
I'm only 3 weeks away from my due date so there is no better time than now to write my final bumpdate (read my prior one here)! Grab a snack, because this is a long post. :)
How I've Been Feeling
No surprise here, the third trimester has been much more challenging than the 2nd for me. Overall, I recognize that I have had a relatively easy pregnancy, but I still want to share my experience and symptoms. Fatigue took over almost as soon as the 7th month began and I felt much like I did during the first few weeks of my pregnancy. I had days where it was hard to even make it through the day, and I would need a nap for a few hours in the late afternoon. Swelling in my lower legs and feet has been a constant battle so I really try to cut out as much additional sugar and carbs as I can because I definitely see a correlation between the two for myself.
I have still tried to remain active though I had to stop doing yoga a few weeks ago because it was getting harder and harder to get into many of the poses. I go to pure barre 2-3/x a week and walk the other nights. While I didn't have much of an issue motivating myself to work out through the first half of my pregnancy, it has really been a battle these past 2 months. However, as I spoke about in this post, I remind myself that I feel soooo much better after and it does wonders for helping my swelling, energy, mood and overall well-being so that normally gives me the boost I need to go.
Sleeping has become virtually impossible over the past 3 weeks because I cannot find a comfortable position. Either he is up in my ribs if I sit up, or the weight of him pulls my stomach down (even with a pillow underneath) if I sleep on my side so I just toss and turn all night. My back will lock up occasionally and I often need to wake Stan up to have him help move me or get me up to walk around. My leg cramps have gone away for the most part which I'm grateful for because those used to really scare the heck out of me in the middle of the night.
The one symptom/issue that has been the most challenging to deal with has been the mood swings. I'll be very transparent here and say that there are some days when I feel so anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated or depressed that it makes it very difficult to just get through the day. It really plagued me during my first trimester as well, so I have been extremely open with my doctor about all these symptoms. I know this isn't an indicator of postpartum depression or postpartum issues, but I have already prepared myself as much as I can that it could be something I struggle with after he is born. When I am having a major down episode or feeling like I can't handle what is going on at the moment, I am very communicative with those around me that I am having an episode and to try and bear with me. This way they understand that it has little to do with them and please not to take it personally. Because it has been so prevalent for me during this trimester and early on, I can often identify when the shift is beginning to happen and try to remind myself that this is not permanent, I will not feel this way forever and try and ride out the "storm" so to speak. It's easier said than done, but it has helped me not feel like something is wrong with me, rather this is something I will go through temporarily and try to separate it from who I am as a person. This has worked for me most of the time but it can still be tough if I'm feeling this way for many days. My doctor and I do discuss this at each appointment and I try to give her a reading on how things have been since my last visit.
I'm excited for his arrival, but I would be lying to you if I said that the unknown doesn't scare the heck out of me. I have been doing my own thing for so long that I am nervous how my life, schedule and routine will change. I do not thrive well on a chaotic, crazy or unorganized lifestyle, but I have been lucky to have many of my friends give me feedback on how they have still managed to keep a structured life with kids. I'm actually quite comfortable with change and try to remind myself of all the major curveballs life has thrown at me over the years that I navigated successfully, so that brings me comfort.
The most emotional thing however I still face is thinking that my Dad is not here to meet my son. Being so close to my parents my entire life, I couldn't wait for them to be grandparents and be in my children's life as they grew up. To be honest, I truly can't even think about it most days because it hurts too much to even bear. I know people tell me that he is "still there" and will get to meet my son in spirit but I guess I'm just selfish and want him to be here physically to experience the whole thing with me. Even now as I type this out, I can barely breathe because the pain is still so intense and I miss him so much. I hope in time I can tell my son about him without feeling like I may break in two from all the hurt.
Clothing/Hair/Skin During Pregnancy
Switching to a lighter subject (though I had to come back to this post a few hours later because writing about my Dad had me in tears for the rest of the afternoon), the third trimester has definitely presented more challenges when it's come to getting dressed. I have dabbled in maternity pieces here and there (my favorite maternity jeans were in this post, and I have been living in these tees from the GAP), but I have stuck mostly with fitted pieces throughout these remaining months since I do find that they are more flattering on me.
I do get questions from readers asking me about my preference towards heels versus flats in my final months and while I am always someone that has worn heels, I have been shocked at how much discomfort I feel when I wear flats right now. A slight heel often helps my back and I notice less swelling in my lower legs by the end of the day. Additionally, I really do find that I feel so much better about myself when I'm dressed up and have on heels. And I am of the mindset of doing whatever makes you feel your best during pregnancy! It's such a challenging time that I think it's better for a woman to choose those things that make her feel happy, comfortable and allow her to enjoy this time as much as possible.
My hair hasn't changed that much, but my skin has continued to move away from being oily, though it's not as dry as it has been. I'm not sure if that is because I added in an additional omega 3 supplement to my diet a few months ago or I'm eating a ton of good fats, but it's more normal to dry now. Dark spots are still popping up on my cheeks and my neck scar (from my spine surgery in December 2015) has gotten so much darker. I am confident that most of these pigmentation issues will go away after pregnancy so I try not to obsess over them. I do have a Linea Nigra down the front of my stomach, but no sign of stretch marks yet. I've used whatever body creams and oils I have on hand rather than something specifically geared towards pregnancy and have found that to work fine in keeping my skin supple and well moisturized.
Baby Products I'm Excited To Use and What I'm Packing In My Hospital Bag
I obviously don't know what will be his favorites but there are things that have arrived in the past 2 months that I am looking forward to using. I talked about a ton of things in this bumpdate, but I have some things to add to the list. While we did receive this carrier from our baby shower, I did also purchase one of these wraps which I have heard great things about. I'm wayyyy behind on decorating the nursery, though I have the major furniture pieces purchased. I got this crib and dresser, and then this glider. However, I plan to keep him in our bedroom for the first few months so this bassinet was a must have! I love all the features that it has and it is the perfect height so I can get to him easily.
I researched for quite some time about what stroller we wanted, and finally decided to go with the Uppababy Vista. However, I felt the carseat that worked with the stroller was too heavy and was really impressed by the Nuna when I went to see it in store. I ended up going with the Nuna and hope I will like it as much as all the positive reviews I have seen. Clothing has obviously been one of my favorite things to buy for him, and I have picked up a little bit of everything to be honest. We have some outlet stores near our house so I have had some success at GAP and Saks Off Fifth, and then bought one of these onesies which I will promptly be buying more of because they are seriously so soft!
As far as my hospital bag, that is a bit of a hodge podge of things. I bought more of these tanks that I have worn most of my pregnancy, a nursing bra, traditional nursing tank and more of these leggings which have been my favorite during pregnancy. For something a bit looser, I grabbed these joggers from H&M as another option to wear home. My mom bought me a maternity robe for the hospital but I have already been wearing it non-stop and wish I had purchased it sooner because I love it! I decided to buy a corset as well and went with this one which seemed to have good reviews. I also put together a makeup, hair and skincare bag, and then some other necessities like flip flops, depends (yup, I heard these were a necessity), cozy socks, my own pillow, headphones and my curling iron. I'm sure I'll be adding things last minute, so if you have any great suggestions feel free to send them my way! :)
The countdown is on and we are so looking forward to meeting our little boy! For all of my past pregnancy related posts, click here to read them. Also, I have all my maternity outfits tagged so you can click here to see what I have worn throughout my whole pregnancy. Thanks again for all your kind words, comments, messages and emails - it has been wonderful sharing all of this with you and I feel so grateful to have a community of readers that have been so supportive.
Sweater - Ella Moss (currently 25% off!) | Jeans - AG (maternity but non-maternity option here) | Shoes - Gianvito Rossi (great budget option here and here) | Bag - Saint Laurent (this budget option is almost identical and so perfect for fall!) | Hat- Rag & Bone | Necklace - Nashelle Designs | Bracelet - Alexis Bittar
I've been loving statement sleeves for a while now (remember this post and this post), so this sweater immediately spoke to me. The longer shape and oversized fit made it comfortable for my bump, and the color was right up my alley. #teamneutrals I've done the rubber band trick throughout pregnancy with many of my jeans, but this pair of maternity jeans is still one of my favorites. They are incredibly pricey but I would buy them over and over again because of how flattering and comfortable they are to wear.
Since I am nearing the end of my pregnancy (I will be sharing a final bumpdate in the next week or so - read my other one here), I thought I would touch on how I've stayed motivated. This isn't an advice-giving post, but rather some personal insight into me and how I've navigated these past 9 months. I will preface this by saying that once the initial first trimester ickiness went away, I have had a relatively smooth and easy pregnancy which helped me the most in staying motivated. I still have energy most days and my symptoms have been mild and manageable. But these are some of the other ways that I have kept myself motivated during pregnancy:
1. Habit - I have worked in the beauty industry since right out of college so I truly believe much of my ability to get ready every day comes from habit. I worked crazy hours (#retaillife) at the beginning of my career and my boss made it clear to me that even if I have to be at work at 6am after leaving the night before at midnight (this was often the case during the holiday season), I was expected to have a full face of makeup, hair done and a presentable outfit. So that became my norm, and this expectation continued as I advanced in my career. I would do my hair and makeup almost every single day regardless of how I felt and would have to factor in that time each day (i.e. running out of the house in 15 minutes was not an option, I needed at least a full hour to get ready so my alarm was always set earlier than I would prefer). Fast forward to now and I find it an automatic to still do this routine almost every day.
2. Remembering how I feel after I get ready - I had a day early on in my pregnancy that I remember clearly where I was feeling so fatigued and nauseous but had a full day of errands and 2 afternoon meetings to attend so I knew I had to attempt to get ready. Later that day, I actually remarked to myself at how much better I felt overall when I was showered, dressed and put together. So I actually remind myself of that when I want to stay in my sweats all day or pass on putting any effort into myself. And while I still take time to rest when I'm tired or stay in bed when I'm truly not feeling well, I can recognize when I'm just being lazy and remember how it will be worth it if I just put the effort into myself to get out/put makeup on/do my hair/wear real clothes.
3. Visiting somewhere I enjoy - Living in NYC for so many years meant that I could run to the store in my pajamas to get something, but there was no way I could hide it. Now that I drive everywhere, I can use that as an excuse to stay in my pjs and do drive-thrus or quick pop-ins to the store. Because of this, I will often make a point a few times a week to go out to lunch at a fun restaurant, work from a cute coffee shop, visit my favorite boutique, etc which gives me a reason to forego the drive-thru/pj fiasco and truly get ready.
4. Comparison (but in a good way) - Comparison can be the thief of joy in many instances, but it can also help put things into perspective in a good way. Over the course of my career in the beauty industry, I worked with a TON of pregnant women. And while I never gave it a second thought at the time, working at a cosmetic counter for 10 (or more) hours a day in heels, full makeup/hair and fitted clothes while pregnant is no easy feat (I realize that now). Many of the women I worked alongside would commute daily for hours on the subway or train, in the worst weather conditions, at all stages of pregnancy while still needing to look fully professional, pulled together and often quite done-up because our job required it. And as my career advanced, I would see many of our top executives working crazy hours while pregnant, all looking their very best because of the industry we worked in and the need to represent the brand in it's best light every day. It's funny how I think about these ladies when I am complaining to myself about not wanting to get ready. Obviously like I said, if I am feeling ill it's a different story, but most of the time I feel fine and use those women as my inspiration.
5. My blog - My final bit of motivation that has helped me through this pregnancy and brings me immense joy on a daily basis is my blog. I love sharing my fashion, beauty and lifestyle choices with all of you who enjoy these things as well, and that passion and excitement for what I do often helps direct my motivation. I also feel incredibly grateful that I have been able to take what was once a hobby for myself and turn it into a business so I don't ever want to take that for granted. I take pride in what I do and want to put the time and effort into my content which allows me to find the motivation each day to push through some of the pregnancy blues.
Hope you enjoyed hearing a bit more about how I stay motivated and even learning more about me as a person! And if any of you can relate to these things or they help you find a bit of your own motivation, then that's even better!
Over the past few months I have been slowly pulling together ideas for the nursery and trying to decide on a theme/color palette. I really love the look of the furniture being mostly neutral (surprise, surprise) because it allows any toys, artwork, decor pieces to be a bit more whimsical and fun. I am thinking of doing an accent wall behind the crib with either decals or wallpaper since the crib I purchased is white. I'm always drawn to a black and white theme in rooms but am never bold enough to full commit to that, so I will probably use gray as my main accent color and pepper in black pieces, maybe some greenery (LOVING the cactus wallpaper) and natural wood elements. Some of the inspiration images above are overly neutral but there are bits of each photo that appeal to me and help give me some great ideas.
Which nursery photo is your favorite?!
Shop nursery decor pieces that have caught my eye:
