Did you think it was awfully suspicious how, seemingly moments after conceiving, piles of junk mail from Babies R Us and Wal Mart and every other major retailer arrived at your door? Are the digital pregnancy tests rigged up with GPS trackers now or what? We are going to need to be outfitted with the necessary items to keep our baby clothed, clean, fed, and healthy, but while I’m pretty sure I don’t need a (seriously unattractive) matching glider, ottoman, and crib skirt, I’m not entirely sure of which items I really do need within easy reach.

We realized that we needed to get serious about our budget, both due to the economic situation and to the fact that our pregnancy was a surprise -- we weren’t planning to pay for diapers in the immediate future, let alone establish a college fund. My husband’s work also slowed way down after our honeymoon, and we had to re-evaluate a bit. But there is a bright side to all of this.

My belly’s really ballooned in the last week or so, and I’m not due until mid-February! How does winter maternity wear work? What have your style-survival strategies been?