Tag Archives: Follow Mai's Pregnancy

headband: Petite Plume

Amelie turned 1 month old on January 18th. She's getting closer to two months now, and I can't believe how fast time has flown by and how much she has grown. Within the first few weeks, she outgrew her newborn sized clothing and moved onto 0-3 months. In order to record how much big she gets, we will take photos of her every month with the same stuffed animal, her giant polar bear squishable.

Josh and I were always afraid of holding newborn babies, but once we held Amelie in our arms for the first time, it just came natural to us. The first few weeks were the hardest, but after getting used to her time schedule, it really wasn't so bad. It's definitely hard waking up multiple times in the middle of the night, but once I look at her cute little face, it is all so worth it! She sleeps longer through the night now, so we're able to get some more sleep too.

It is so amazing to see the little skills that she gains throughout the month; there's something new every week. The best one of all was seeing her first smile. Each time she smiles, it melts my heart! She's able to recognize objects and toys, but loses interest in them very quickly. She's more interested in looking at everything around her, like the ceiling fan, or the book shelf.

headband: Petite Plume

Amelie has enriched our lives so much! People were right -- things have changed, but definitely for the better. Our weekends are spent at home playing and taking care of her, but there's nothing else we'd rather do. Josh and I are so excited to go on this new journey together as parents.

xo,
Mai

♥

In case you missed Mai's Maternity series, take a look at it here, and if you're looking for something adorably cute for your own baby, shop our children's collection too!

Newborns are already cute, but this is what happens when you put a crown on a baby -- too much cuteness! (Okay, maybe we're a little biased because this is Amelie, but you have to admit she's a cutie-pie.)

And this is what happens when you add a knit pom pom beanie and a big red bow. ♥

Photographer: Ning Wong

In case you missed Mai's Maternity series, take a look at it here, and if you're looking for something adorably cute for your own baby, shop our children's collection too!

xo,
Ruche

A few maternity photo tips: I highly recommend bringing props. Just little details (like baby clothing, shoes, and toys) really add unique and fun elements to a shoot. Also, make sure to request detailed shot from your photographer. They're some of our favorites!

More updates and photos of our little one are on they're way. Stay tuned, everyone, and thank you for your well wishes!

xo,
Mai and Josh

♥

In case you missed it last week, click here to welcome baby Amelie!

Back in July, Josh and Mai (the founders of Ruche) announced their first pregnancy. Mai posted weekly photos, and at 18 weeks, they discovered they're having a little girl. They debated on a name, and eventually fell in love with Amelie. They spent weeks decorating the nursery at home and after planning their baby shower too, the party was a success. Together, they anxiously awaited Amelie's arrival. ♥

Josh couldn't wait for his little one to arrive.

And on Tuesday, he finally got to meet her. :)

Congratulations, Josh and Mai!

xo,

Ruche

 view the maternity party outfit:

peplum cardigan, printed blouse, maxi skirt, bangle set, colorblocked flats

One more week to go... hopefully! I went to the doctor and there is a possibility that she might be a bit late. Amelie just feels too comfortable, I guess! I've been walking around more often lately, which is supposed to help the process. There are tons of myths about eating certain things to help induce the baby. I'm not sure if any of them work (or if they're safe) so I'll simply stick with walking for now. The longer she says in there, the bigger she's going to get! Wish us luck!

xo,
Mai

See Mai's previous maternity posts here and click below for her nursery inspiration and maternity-friendly clothing picks!

view Mai's cozy winter maternity outfit:

sweater dress, swan-printed cardigan, winter lace-up boots

Two weeks left! I often get asked if I'm nervous about the labor process, the pain, etc. Is it weird that I don't think of it at all? I feel optimistic about it and in general, I think I'm the type of person that will just deal with it when it happens. My mentality through the whole thing is: it is going to be very painful and intense, yes, but most women don't mind doing it again... so it's going to be okay! The truth is, I'm actually more nervous about what happens after her arrival. I've been so used to life with just me and Josh, and now our lives are going to change with addition of our very own baby, Amelie. It'll change for the better, of course, but the first few months are going to be tough -- breastfeeding, sleepness nights, unending diaper changes, and running Ruche while all of this is going on. This makes me more nervous than labor itself, but I know we'll get through this and it's going to be the most amazing experience ever. Amelie, we're ready for you.

xo,
Mai

See Mai's previous maternity posts here and click below for her nursery inspiration and maternity-friendly clothing picks!

view the maternity party outfit:

metallic gown, colorful cardigan

Hi everyone! With holiday parties (and my due date) quickly approaching, I've been on the hunt for the perfect holiday party maternity dress. It hasn't been easy though. I wanted a longer dress and something with more elegance, so when we found this dress for A Glistening Occasion, I fell in love with it. It's so comfortable and it fits over my belly! :) I can't wait to wear it after Amelie comes too. It's officially December, so she'll be here this month... Josh and I can't believe it. We have a few things left on our to-do list, but we're just about set!

xo,
Mai

See Mai's previous maternity posts here and click below for her nursery inspiration and maternity-friendly clothing picks!

view the maternity outfit:
cableknit cardigan, printed dress, studded flats, necklace

We had our co-ed baby shower a few weekends ago and I've finally gotten a chance to gather up some photos. Due to the direct sunlight, we weren't able to get amazing photos, but I'm so glad we got a few cute ones! The setting was much prettier in person though, I promise! :) As mentioned before, we created a vintage hot air balloon theme. We had a sweets bar full of popcorn, candies, and cookies as our party favors. And of course, a baby shower must consist of some dirty diaper games! Overall, it was a very special day for us. We had a chance to spend time with the special people in our lives before the big journey begins. I had mounds of energy throughout the entire party, but once it ended, I was so exhausted and just laid in bed the rest of the day!

All the paper goods (hot air balloons, cupcake flags, etc.) were designed by our graphics artist and are available for download!  Enjoy! Links to download files:

http://shopruche.com/media/shopruche/downloads/hot_air_balloon_baby_shower/circle_tags_printables.pdf
http://shopruche.com/media/shopruche/downloads/hot_air_balloon_baby_shower/floral_flags_printables.pdf
http://shopruche.com/media/shopruche/downloads/hot_air_balloon_baby_shower/hot_balloon_printables.pdf

Our cake was from Wholefoods and the (amazing!) mini cupcakes were from Sweet Embellishments. We received the beautiful flowers from Star Events Floral Designs. And in case you're wondering, I wore this dress with this sash for the shower!

xo,
Mai

See Mai's previous maternity posts here and click below for her nursery inspiration and maternity-friendly clothing picks!

view the maternity outfit:
fall cardigan, striped tunic dress, pants, affordable boots

I'm down to my last month! When it comes to my style, I haven't had the need to buy maternity clothing. Besides a few pairs of maternity leggings (they're cut low and fit below the belly), I've gotten away with sizing up on regular leggings and tights. I basically live in opaque tights, leggings, or jersey maxi skirts. Because of the big baby bump, most of my dresses are too short to wear by themselves so I wear them as tunics and pair them with leggings/tights too.

Every weekend consists of prepping for Amelie's arrival now. Josh and I have been working on our hospital bag and I'm reading a ton of advice from moms on what to pack. Bringing a "going home" outfit is an essential, so I'm considering this onesie for Amelie. There are a lot of little details left!

xo,
Mai

See Mai's previous maternity posts here and click below for her nursery inspiration and maternity-friendly clothing picks!

view the maternity-friendly outfit:
cozy scarf, striped dress, fall boots, cardigan, bangles, colored tights

Josh and I officially decided on a name! We've been calling her Amelie for awhile now and we still love it. There's a small chance we still might change her name at birth (hehe), but we're 95% sure our baby girl's name is Amelie.

Fun story: Before my baby shower, I stopped by a bakery to pick up the cake. While waiting, I met a lovely lady in line and we started talking about babies. She was picking up a birthday cake for her one year old and can you guess her daughter's name? It's Amelie! It's not that common of a name, so what are the chances? It must be a sign, right? :)

xo,
Mai

See Mai's previous maternity posts here and click below for her nursery inspiration and maternity-friendly clothing picks!