Maternity Photos: Part One

Head to Toe: Dress, Free People // Earrings, Dissent Pins // Boots, Seychelles (old)

A couple of weeks ago, Sean and I met the lovely and talented Mindy Briar in Stratford's Boothe Park for a maternity photo session. I wore a festive Free People velvet dress (not maternity), with a baby doll silhouette to accommodate the bump. We're officially in "any day now" territory, and while I'm anxious for her arrival—and not the most comfortable—I'm trying to soak in these last few days and weeks of just being a duo. I'm so in love with these photos and will cherish the special moment they capture. Thank you, Mindy! 

Photos by Mindy Briar Photography

Baby Girl Nursery Tour

We're just about to that "any day now" phase, so I am excited to share our little girl's nursery tour! Of course, she'll be with us in her bassinet for the first few months, but I'm happy to have this sweet room as a home base for all of her things. 

I was fell in love with these mini ombre rainbow wall decals on Pinterest months ago, and ordered them before we even bought our house this summer. The muted rainbow theme grew from there, and the room was already a sweet peach color, so we decided to keep it. I used a Magic Eraser to clean up some scuffs, but it really didn't need any additional touch-ups. 

Much of why I love this room so much is all of its personal touches. My mom custom made the hand-braided wool rug in our color palette, and it really ties the space together. The cane rocker is a hand-me-down from my parents, an antique that has been in our family for some time.  

I purchased this vintage wicker bassinet on auction for $1 and upcycled it in white chalk paint. It has seen better days, so it's not up to actually holding the baby, but it's perfect for storing blankets, toys, and stuffed animals (including a Raggedy Ann, another family tradition). 

There are more meaningful tokens in this sweet corner. The dresser (which we'll use as a changing table) is a hand-me-down from my grandmother, who painted the bee and flower stencil. Above, we hung a group of Winnie the Pooh illustrations drawn by Sean's grandfather. Next to the dresser, my childhood American Girl dolls are camped out in an antique children's rocker. 

We displayed the cute clothesline guest book from my baby shower above little girl's dresser. The final piece was to hang some shelves for our growing collection of books—some classics and some we'll discover for the first time. With the nursery officially done, I think we're ready for her arrival. It makes me so happy to walk by this space and picture what she'll be like, and how her energy will fill our home...soon! 

October in Review: Baby Moon to Halloween

It's funny to look back at my most recent post (October 1, woah!) and think that, at the time, I thought my belly was huge. I was still feeling pretty good back then, and fall fun was in full swing. Now, six weeks later, I'm struggling with daily aches and pains, exhaustion, and the extra hustle and bustle of preparing for maternity leave at work. We're also getting ready for another COVID lockdown, and have cut back our exposure with numbers rising in Connecticut.

So even though I let October come and go without a post (and we're now halfway through Novemer), I wanted to check back in and round up my favorite moments from the month...since it was pretty great. 

In mid October, Sean and I decided to take an impromptu baby-moon to upstate Connecticut. We rented a little cabin on Airbnb near the Massachusetts border where we could hunker down and enjoy some time away to ourselves (my parents even watched the fur babies). From our cozy home base, we explored the gorgeous Saville Dam in Barkhamsted, shopped for records in Torrington, and stopped at some cute farm stands along the way. 

The weather was pretty chilly, so we enjoyed meals in our Airbnb and had one fun but frigid dinner out with a private space heater. Overall, it was a much-needed, low key few days away from fixing up the house and unpacking baby boxes. 

The next weekend, Sean and I hosted our fourth-annual Halloween party. Of course, like most things in 2020, this year's celebration looked a little different. Instead of an indoor, evening bash we hosted a small group of friends outside and during the daytime to stay warm and accommodate for social distancing. Thankfully, the weather cooperated and we had a fun afternoon lounging in the backyard over festive drinks and treats. It was great to see friendly faces and enjoy some normalcy. Even from outside, it really felt like a house warming, as well. 

For Halloween itself, Sean and I lit a bonfire in the backyard and watched for trick or treaters from afar (they were few and far between). When it got too chilly to stay outside, we headed in to finish up the evening watching scary movies. 

And just like that, it's November. We've been spending the weekends preparing the baby's room and getting ready for all the changes that are coming our way! Baby girl will be full term next week, and we're exactly a month out from my due date. In the meantime, I'm trying to make things as easy as possible. This last stretch is getting difficult, but it's still nice to enjoy this quiet time as a family of two — for now!

October Hues: Maternity Leggings With Long Cardi

Head to Toe: T-shirt, Amazon // Cardigan, Free People // Pants and shoes, thrifted

Happy October! September really flew by, but what a great month. I had a beach-filled Labor Day weekend, a gorgeous baby shower, snack-filled football Sundays, and we even made it to the Elephant's Trunk last weekend for some great secondhand finds. The new month is coming right along with a cold front in Connecticut, so it's the perfect time to slow down, relax, and enjoy some spooky time at home. 

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A post shared by Annie Loynd Burton (@style_me_annie) on Sep 30, 2020 at 10:45am PDT

Sean and I watch a scary or festive movie every night in October, so I made a little graphic below to share our picks if you'd like to join in! They are in no particular order—we rotate based on our mood, time (old classics tend to be pretty short if you're pinched), and how scary I can handle before bed. The Exorcist is a Saturday afternoon only watch for me. 

For October style, I too am embracing comfort and whatever feels good over this bump. I found these Motherhood Maternity dress leggings at Savers. (Expecting mammas—they have a whole section of maternity pants.) They are so comfy yet look put together, and I love them with my burgundy Foc Martens—also bought secondhand! What's your signature fall look? 

Horror fans, follow Sean's Instagram for more scary picks. 

My Happy, Hybrid Baby Shower

I know I've said this before, but being pregnant during a pandemic can be a little strange. People don't come up to you in the grocery store to ask how far along you are (and you wouldn't want them to). Birthing classes are hosted virtually. Hubbies aren't allowed to come along for doctor's appointments. 

And then there's the baby shower. A few months back, I resigned myself to the idea that I probably wouldn't have one, but my dear friend Becca proposed hosting one at her new cottage, equipped with a roomy yard with plenty of space for social distancing. I knew we would have to keep things small for safety, but didn't want to exclude friends and family who live out of state. We came up with a hybrid concept that let us enjoy the best of both worlds.

A group of local gals came for a picnic lunch (complete with coordinating picnic blankets and custom matching masks made by my mom). Everything was individually packaged and served to avoid the need for buffets, catering, or cooking. We were able to spread out while still being close enough to chat and enjoy the afternoon.

Then, we logged on to Zoom to join friends and family from afar to play games together with the in-person group. Sean and I had a special table with the laptop, and a flat-screen TV was connected to display the participants. It really made it feel so special and as if we were all there gathered together. 

We had a beautiful afternoon of perfect September Connecticut weather, and the decor was adorable. I felt so much love and support for our growing family, and I can't wait to bring our baby girl into such a sweet community. So many thanks to my dear hostess, my mom, and all my friends who helped the day come together and go off without a hitch—in person and from afar! How are you making celebrations special during this crazy time?