My Chicago Pregnancy

Posted Monday, January 26, 2009 3:35 PM

Third-time mom-to-be Carrie Leman dishes on the highs (that second trimester glow) and lows (being two weeks overdue) of her pregnancy.

Q: How did you and your husband spread the word that you were expecting?

A: We broke the news to our family right away. We made a little video with our two older girls saying, "We're going to be big sisters!" Then we sent it to their grandparents via email. Of course they loved it. It was so cute!

Q: What little indulgences or cravings did you give in to during pregnancy?

A: When my girls were napping, I'd sit down with my favorite snack, usually something involving chocolate, and read a magazine or just watch TV and relax. Having that moment of peace and quiet to myself, without having to worry about housework or laundry, was truly a luxury for me!

Q: What about maternity clothes? Did you have fun shopping for them? 

A: Absolutely! I hopped at Mimi Maternity a lot. My favorite summer maternity item was a sundress. They are absolutely the coolest, most comfortable things to wear when you are pregnant. I also like to splurge on one really nice pair of maternity jeans for each pregnancy. It's worth it to spend more on something you are going to end up wearing every day. This time around, I got a pair of Joe's Jeans from A Pea in the Pod. They're my favorite!

Q: What were your favorite activities during your pregnancy?

A: I took a wonderful prenatal yoga class in the park with one of my pregnant girlfriends. It really helped me to relax, and it was so nice to get out for an hour by myself. My husband, JD, and I also love walking with our kids. It helps to have a destination in mind, like heading to downtown Oak Park for ice cream!

Q: Your advice for other new moms-to-be?

A: Some of the best advice I ever got was that you can never create a bad habit. Babies are so flexible. Parents get so worked up about doing things perfectly. After three children. I can look back and see how I did things differently with all three, and how everything seems to work itself out. When it comes to pregnancy, remember to take the time to recharge and refresh. Start that pattern when you're pregnant, because it's more important than ever once you're a mom.

Carrie loves the maternity and nursing styles at Majamas in Oak Park. (708) 524 - 9668.

> Want to share your Chicago pregnancy story? Email it to kstanford@theknot.com.