Bargain, baby...

I resisted buying maternity clothes throughout the duration of my pregnancy with Lola, entranced by the stereotype that so often surrounds them.

Because let's face it.

When you wander into a maternity store and see those horrifying "belly pockets," it's enough to make even the strongest of heart turn on a heel and run.

As a result, I stretched out nearly every shirt I owned and lived in gaucho pants for the better part of my last trimester.

This pregnancy has been different in so many ways, perhaps the most significant being the rate at which my bump has expanded each week.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING is comfortable anymore, with the exception of my very stretchy yoga pants.

Seeing as how I'm a mere eighteen and a half weeks along, things can only get tighter and more awkward from here.

So I decided to give in and wandered into the maternity section at Old Navy.

I took it a step further and actually tried on the clothes, something I was much too afraid to do the first time around.

But from the moment I walked into that dressing room and pulled on my first pair of maternity skinny jeans (oxymoron?), I was a changed woman.

This changed woman was even more converted when she looked at the price tags on these miraculous articles, and nearly went into labor when she discovered all clearance items were an additional 40 percent off.

In short, I stocked up like it's the apocalypse tomorrow.

I kid you not (because I never, ever kid about sales), I brought home five pairs of pants and a dress for under $30.

I will never go back to normal pants again.

Well, probably someday, hopefully (replied Reece when I uttered the above comment).