Things I never realized until I got pregnant...

So, I am learning a few things now that I am pregnant that I never would have thought of before. This is aside from my normal gripes about people not having a filter, or how they think its ok to touch you, or give you unwanted/unwarranted advice. This has more to do with quality/variety of options when it comes to things for your baby.

I will warn you...I am picky when it comes to certain things. Especially baby clothes and what the baby's room will look like. While I never thought in a million years I would be having a boy (my family doesn't have boys...we are ALL GIRLS), I am beyond excited for the adventure. However, it definitely put a dent in my plans for a super girly vintage nursery of retro/vintage paper dolls and dress up. Actually, had Bean been a girl, I would have wanted this bedding from the Land of Nod:

But since Bean is DEFINITELY a boy, I was desperate to find something just as cute, and just as different. I am tired of all the boring cookie cutter bedding that is out there right now. Everything looks the same to me. Especially for boys. There is nothing different or unique about 99% of boys bedding out there. I could have generic sports, generic animals, generic transportation, or just plain polka dots and stripes. BORING BORING BORING! I won't even get started on the Winne The Pooh crap that's out there. A whole nursery of Winne the Pooh? Bleh! A piece here or there that is vintage looking is ok, but otherwise, I will definitely pass. There is nothing unique or different about it when that is all you can find in any baby store and even online (unless you want to spend a FORTUNE on baby things). Until I found our bedding, everything looked the same. Its no wonder I love our bedding...it was discontinued last year, and you can't find it many places. And while our bedding is awesome and I love it...the exciting part isn't necessarily the bedding itself (though it is absolutely adorable), but rather all the options I have to decorate the room! I want classic vintage toys on shelves, old books, and maybe even a pedal car for Bean to ride when he gets a little bigger like this one:

Its going to look like a classic little boys room, with plenty of options for him to grow into as he gets older.

The same problem goes for clothes. There is nothing unique or different...or even cute for that matter about little boys clothes. Not like there are for little girls. I don't want stupid cuddly animals on everything he wears...our boy will be sweet and cuddly, but he's definitely a boy, and will definitely look and dress like one. I also want him to look comfortable and normal...not in some stuffy little boys dressy romper like this:

I also don't want everything to just be solid colors and boring. Why can't there be some sort of happy medium? Something that definitely screams "little boy" not "my mom was hoping for a girl, and now I have to suffer the consequences of it" (see the photo above) and also that doesn't cost a small fortune. I really don't think it should be that difficult. Cute design does not really have to mean high cost, unfortunately that is usually the case.

Maternity clothes are the same. Unless you want to spend a small fortune (which I don't), you are stuck with poorly fitting, frumpy, lame looking clothes. Does everything have to be empire waisted and tie in the back? Or look like a MuMu? Is there a a rule that says maternity pants cannot stay up no matter what you do? How about everything having to have flowers or some sort of print on it? Its just wrong. I have figured out that a select few of my non-maternity tops still fit (though probably not for much longer). And every time I wear them, I get compliments on how cute they look and how people think they are maternity...which they so aren't! Now if only I could find more clothes like those that will fit a little longer...hmmm...

Anyway, my whole point is, I don't understand why everything maternity/baby related has to be boring unoriginal cookie cutter designs, and cost a good 20% more than their non maternity/baby counterparts (that are better quality and design). Do people just see something and decide they want their baby to look like every single other baby in the world, and that they want their house to be boring generic wannabe copies of something that should be in a Pottery Barn Kids catologue (only not done as nicely)? Its ok to break the mold. You want your child to grow up to be creative and unique, but yet you surround them in things that look like everything everyone else has. Nothing creative about it, and how will they learn. Its ok to try and do something different and show your and your baby's personality. If Bean starts to grow up and decides he hates all things vintage? That's ok! He will have the option of choosing what he wants. If he wants super modern and sleek. Ok, that's more than ok! But for now, my child will be different. And he will definitely not look like every other child out there...he will look like Bean. A perfect mix of F and I.

And for all you other moms and moms to be that want to be different and creative and don't want cookie cutter children, well one of these days I hope to change all that. Until then, I am still on the hunt for all things cute and different (and if they are kinda vintage looking...BONUS!)