It’s been a cold week here in Washington and I saw one too many pregnant women bundled into ill-fitting, 
non-maternity coats these past few days. You all know this is one of my pet peeves, and despite receiving numerous nasty emails about this issue, no one is going to change my mind on this. It’s an easy-to-remember fashion rule–if you can’t button it, it doesn’t fit.
The sight of so many cold, dissheveled pregnant women prompted me to check out whether there are any warm maternity coats currently still on sale. And I realized that though I’ve never blogged about the clever “M” maternity coat before, it really does provide the perfect option for the pregnant woman who lives in a cold climate, but is holding out on buying a maternity coat because she just can’t justify the purchase for just one winter. Luckily, I just found the “M” coat on sale here in Evymama’s online maternity boutique for CAD $384 (USD $389) and in Hautemama’s maternity boutique here for CAD $346 (USD $350) and at Milkface nursing boutique here for CAD $385 (USD $390). (The coat usually retails for CAD $480). This coat is designed by Canadian Spirit Dowsnwear, and is the only goose down maternity coat I’ve ever come across. The “M” coat, which launched on the maternity market in Canada a few years ago, is premised upon an extraordinarily clever and practical concept. The coat is intended for wear at three 
separate, distinct stages of a new mom’s life: 1) the pregnant mom-to-be, 2) the new mom toting a newborn around town, and 3) the sleek, postpartum mom who has lost her baby weight and no longer needs a maternity coat. Check out the photos at right for illustration of all three stages.
OK, I admit, the “M” coat does not initally appear to be crucial to a fashion-forward woman’s wardrobe. I don’t tend to usually be a fan of convertible maternity wear and that triangular, zip-in insert isn’t exactly the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen. The faux fur trim is removeable and so is the hood, if the parka look isn’t necessarily for you. But again, this coat is specifically designed to fit a pregnant physique and to keep that physique warm. And I do really like the ability to take the triangular insert and use it to bundle up your newborn, rather than having to use a separate snowsuit for the baby. Soon-to-be new moms–just wait until you have to take that snowsuit on and off your little one a few times each day and you’ll be ordering yourself an “M” coat pronto.
The ability to reach for this coat even after you are done with your baby making and baby carrying is also important–some days, it is just so cold, you might not care 
what you are wearing as long as it is warm. And that beautiful shearling coat you can’t wait to fit back into once you’ve shed all your pregnancy weight? Take it from me when I tell you that toddlers and shearlings do not mix very well. The boys seem to enjoy rubbing their gooey faces and chins all over me in the cold weather and I have dried little boy boogers all over my prized Searle shearling this winter. I know, absolutely disgusting.
The M coat is available in 8 different colors, so make sure to check out all of the sites I’ve linked to above for your ideal color/size combination.
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Just a quick note to let you know that J Brand has expanded its maternity collection to include a maternity version of its popular straight-leg corduroys. The waistband it already uses for its maternity denim collection is the same–the elastic is built into the waistband on the sides, providing a very discreet, under-the bump fit. Because of the very subtle way that the elastic is incorporated into the waistband, J Brand’s maternity collection is a must-have for the postpartum weeks. J Brand’s straight leg corduroys are currently my favorite pants and I bought them in several colors and wear them just about every day. I know, how boring. But they are so comfortable and work well with boots or with flats. J Brand’s decision to make a maternity version of their stretch corduroys is great news.
If you’re pregnant and showing, you are probably having a difficult time finding a white maternity blouse that looks nice and isn’t too bulky to layer under your winter sweaters and jackets. The ideal white maternity blouse is difficult to find, and I’ve devoted far too much time and money to experimentation. You all, however, will not have to slog through all of the poorly tailored white maternity blouses out there if you take my advice, and simply head to Paulina Maternity 
Use code “PFCOUPON” at checkout and receive 10% off your purchase. Jamie, the founder of Milkstars, just sent me one of her Michelle shirts, pictured at right. This is a perfect shirt for wearing with jeans on the weekend or for wearing under a suit once you head back to work and need to pump in a tiny bathroom stall without spilling milk all over your clothing. I wish I had a stylish Michelle to wear when I was pumping at the office, I would have saved a great deal of money on dry cleaning bills.
Pregnant Fashionista’s “Maternity Item of the Week” at TheBump.com this week is from one of my favorite new maternity designers, More of Me Maternity. I blogged 
I am just back from an absolutely filthy afternoon of riding horses and climbing farm tractors. Now that James and the twins have evolved into bona fide little boys, I am starting to catch glimpses of what my future with my children is going to involve and it is unfortunately not going to include my own personal favorite activities, such as shopping trips and visits to the spa for manicures and pedicures. These boys are absolutely obsessed with tractors, diggers, excavators, garbage trucks, etc. and it seems the dirtier they are, the better. I may even have to break one of my cardinal rules and start wearing sneakers during the day when I take them out (I can’t stand it when moms wear sneakers to anywhere but the gym). Here is James taking Oliver for a ride on his mini John Deere tractor. This is our new favorite activity and driving/riding on the tractor is the primary topic of discussion throughout the day. Oliver is wearing a helmet because, contrary to James’ own opinion, James is not yet a skilled tractor driver.
Veronique Maternity in Manhattan has also posted its fall collection online and if you, like me, spend a lot of time lusting after Italian maternity designer Nicol Caramel’s clothing, this is your one and only opportunity to find the Fall/Winter 2009/10 collection for sale in the United States (click 
I’ve been trying to make sure the boys have a true New York experience this summer and I figured there was nothing more New York than a summer afternoon baseball game at Yankee stadium. 
I am not sure exactly what I was thinking taking three toddler boys to a baseball game. We had a good time and they seemed to enjoy themselves but I won’t be doing that again. It was absolutely mayhem. Here are a couple of photos of the boys taken during the few seconds when they were actually sitting still–they all got new hats, but the ice cream was clearly the highlight of the game. I never did manage to get a photo of all three of them together, because the three of them never once sat still long enough to take one.
I do get mildly excited when I locate a favorite clothing maternity item that is sold out in most places but inexplicably pops up in a small, online maternity boutique. I have this navy blue Ruffle Strap Maternity Camisole from Juicy Couture, but I haven’t seen it on sale anywhere in a while and therefore haven’t blogged about it. But, I just noticed it is still available 
I’m thrilled to be back in New York for the summer, but after an excruciating 11-hour overnight flight home, I have four severely jetlagged babies and consequently, I am functioning at a very low level right now. This will be a short posting. But a pregnant friend just asked me to recommend a stylish, denim maternity skirt and I discovered that my must-have Citizens of Humanity Maternity Denim Skirt is currently on sale at Nordstrom. I haven’t blogged about this skirt before, because it was very overpriced at USD $163. But it’s now 33% off and can now be yours for a much more reasonable USD $108.90 
My apologies for the infrequent blogging last week. James’ nursery school director abruptly decided to cut the school year short by a few weeks (such things are acceptable here, you just have to go with it) and so as of last week, he has been home with me all day. Being home all day with four boys under the age of two and a half does not allow for a lot of “me” time. Suffice it to say, I did not even manage to shower every day last week, let alone update my blog. James did participate in a very adorable “graduation” ceremony in which he performed the chicken dance. Here he is in his chicken costume, a yellow tutu. Now, I know I often complain about complete strangers here in Israel offering me unsolicited advice, but the problem reached its pinnacle at James’ graduation ceremony. At the graduation, one of the other parents decided it was appropriate to take me aside and explain to me that he thought James was a “troubled” child and that I was well-advised to purchase two sheep, have them slaughtered, and give the meat to the poor, all as a sacrifice in James’ name. This way, he said, James will be protected from whatever was causing him to misbehave. When I explained to this father that I felt James was simply an average, naughty two-and-a-half year old boy and under no circumstances would I be buying two sheep and having them slaughtered, he asked me if I was a vegetarian. As if the only obvious reason I would not engage in an animal sacrifice ritual in my son’s name was because I was a vegetarian. Twenty days and counting until my plane lands in New York City for the summer…
While I spend my days fielding parenting advice from strangers, I seem to spend my nights nursing…constantly. And while I have experimented over the past 7 weeks with various nursing gowns, I keep returning to Bella Materna’s nursing gowns.
Bella Materna’s nursing gowns are simply the best out there–they provide enough support so you don’t have to wear a nursing bra underneath, they don’t stretch out (even after three pregnancies), they are made from this great nylon/lycra fabric that dries very fast, and they are even kind of flattering. The Bella Materna nursing gown comes in a knee-length style 
