Pregnancy

The morning we left the hospital with our newborn baby I was so happy to take a hot shower and finally wear real clothes, even if they were maternity clothes. I got ready, pulled back my clean hair, and even put makeup on. I was feeling pretty good, until my husband took one look at me and said, “You still look pregnant.”

I sure love him, even when he says the wrong thing.

At 38 weeks pregnant I had this crazy notion that within one month I’d be wearing normal clothes again. A few days before my due date I even packed up all my belly-draping shirts and expandable pants, except for my favorite few.

Now here I am, one month after giving birth to my adorable baby and I still have a not-so-adorable pudge and a pair of maternity pants that has definitely overstayed its welcome. “But I’m only 24!,” I keep telling myself. “The baby fat is supposed to melt off when you’re this young. Why, I know girls my age who were back in their normal jeans by the third week.” Well I am not wearing my normal jeans. Sure, I’ve tried them on—I can even button them. But no amount of camouflage can hide the bulge that results.

The worst part is that this summer is turning out to be the most beautiful summer I’ve ever seen. And now I want to bust out some cute summer clothes…

…like this

…or this

…or even this.

But it looks like I’ll have to stick to something a bit more like this…