Happy 2nd Birthday DJ

First and foremost, let me say Happy New Year to all of you, my Ali’s Fashion Sense family. I hope you all had an amazing holiday season and have had a great start to a prosperous, successful 2018! It has been a whirlwind of a start to my 2018 (in the best way possible). My family and I moved to a new state (California) and new city (Carson, which is south of Los Angeles) on the other side of the country (from Warner Robins, GA).  We will discuss the move in a later blog post, but today we are shifting our focus to a very special individual in the Anderson household (which I'm sure you've figured out by now from the pictures). 

Today is the day a young king was born. The day that I was forced to say hello and goodbye to my sleeping angel…DJ! Can you believe he would have been 2 today? These past 2 years our family has had to learn how to try to reassemble the shattered pieces into a life that honors the legacy of our lost angel. While Grayson, our rainbow baby, has brought about much joy and laughter into our hearts and home, he is not, nor will he ever be a “replacement or substitute” for DJ. Just because you are blessed to have a rainbow baby does not mean the hurt, sadness, and pain evaporate with the baby you lost. In all honesty, as a baby loss parent/mom your heart operates on two separate frequencies; one of pure heartache from the loss of your precious baby and one of pure harmony and joy for the fact that you are/were able to birth a new life.

So on this day, January 18th, I want to honor my little munchkin and let him know, life has not been the same since the day I was forced to leave him behind in the hospital while I was rolled out empty handed and broken hearted. I think of him daily and wish he was around (in person) to experience the love and joy that we as a family (immediate and extended) have reserved just for him. I hope he knows that his presence is truly missed and that he is irreplaceable no matter how many additional children fill our home. Most importantly, I hope he knows just how much of an impact he has had on his daddy and I; and how we hope that through our lives we are able to be advocates of parents of baby loss and ultimately make him proud. 

*This photoshoot was a small token of love I've been planning since the end of last year, to show my baby boy DJ, just how much he means to our family. It was nice to honor him not only with my hubby but to have our rainbow baby Grayson take part to show respect to our little munchkin who is gone but certainly not forgotten. This is probably my favorite photoshoot I've done to - date because we were able to incorporate our tiny family of 3 + incorporate our angel all while being captured by my dad and mom (who was behind the scenes taking candid photos on my iPhone).*

GRAY FAUX FUR COAT//via H&M - old, similar here - BLACK DENIM//via GAP, similar here - BASEBALL T-SHIRTS (MEN'S, WOMEN'S, & TODDLER)// via Hobby Lobby -  "WE LOVE YOU DJ" GRAPHICS//via CraftyQueen (@CraftyQueen88) - FRINGE BOOTIES//gifted, similar here - SUNNIES//via Charming Charlie's, similar here for cheap

So this one is for you DJ! We love and miss you dearly! You will always be mommy and daddy’s first born son. We hold you in our thoughts, dreams, and hearts even though we long to hold you in our arms. Rest easy baby boy on your 2nd birthday! 

Hugs & Kisses DJ,
Love Mommy, Daddy, and Your Little Brother Grayson

If you have not heard DJ's story before I invite you to check out this podcast I did last February (2017) with my fellow baby loss advocate Jheanell from Angel Mom Alliance. It is a little lengthy but gives you a glimpse behind the dark side of pregnancy loss in a light - hearted way. 

P.S. 

To all parents: known (Mashira & Richard - Max, Alisha -Jamari, Elizabeth - Baby Ezra, Amanda & David - Baby Kendall Hope, Tiffany - Baby Eliot Jr. & Baby Elijah, Renee - Baby DJ, Jheanell - Baby Jolie) and unknown who have suffered loss in any capacity whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, infant loss or any other tragic situation this post is for you. I want you to know I am constantly praying that God will mend your broken hearts and that He will give you the peace to go on to make your angels proud! Here's to our sweet angels dwelling in the presence of God.

6 Month Blogging Hiatus

Hi, my name is Ali and I'm a [fashion] blogger lol! I felt like I needed to reintroduce myself since I've been on a 6 - month long hiatus. A lot has changed over these last six months.  I got a part - time job working retail at Charlotte Russe. I turned 31 on February 9th, and my husband received his Private Pilot License. But the biggest change of all is the size of my expanding belly. My husband and I are expecting Baby Anderson number two in 7 more weeks. Our due date is scheduled for April 14, 2017, so we'll see when my son wants to make his debut to the world. 

Mannequins I styled at work
Outfit Details: Faux Leather Baseball Cap: Forever 21 (Old), Blanket Poncho: Forever 21, White Button Up: H&M, Distressed Jeans: Charlotte Russe +

My positive affirmation that I said to myself on my birthday: The Best is YET to Come!!!

My hubby all smiles after passing his private pilot exam

The way my husband and I announced we were expecting to the world, along with his gender

All smiles in anticipation of our rainbow baby, Grayson
Outfit Details: Custom - Made Velvet Off The Shoulder Gown: AshleyMonique, Faux Fur Headpiece: AshleyMonique, Broach: Hobby Lobby

The smile on my face is indicative of God's love and promise to our family

After losing my first son DJ, I fell in love more with my husband because he has been my rock through the ups and downs this past year has presented us #TeamAnderson

Grayson at his 28 week ultrasound showing us his lovely profile

Grayson looking out at us during his 28 week ultrasound 

Grayson at his 31 week ultrasound appointment which also doubled as Valentine's Day! What a perfect gift

Initially I stopped blogging because I didn't want anyone to know I was pregnant because of the anxiety I was facing on a daily basis trying to grapple with the fact that I was going to be carrying another life into this world. I didn't want to announce prematurely and be met with the same fate that I was dealt last go round with my sleeping angel DJ. So my husband and I decided we would only share our pregnancy news with our immediate families. So that's exactly what we did! 

I found out I was expecting at the beginning of August but didn't share with others (family and friends alike) that I was expecting until December 2016! I partially told because I was starting to really show and could no longer hide my protruding baby bump.  Of course when I announced everyone was super excited for us as I've been very vocal about what pregnancy and loss looks like with our first pregnancy. So to be able to say I've walked THROUGH the valley and have now seen my rainbow on the other side means a lot. I couldn't have made it through the past year of darkness without my faith and my amazing support system! While I'm not fully in the clear I know, God will provide and deliver on His promise that I will be an Earthly mommy to a bouncing baby boy, Grayson Anderson, in a month and a half! I look forward to mommyhood and looking my baby in his eyes for the first time. I anticipate hearing his cry for the first time as I never got that intimate experience with my angel DJ who was born in a peaceful silence. 

So as I transition into preparing for my special arrival I want to document what's left of my pregnancy and transition my blog from a fashion - centered blog and expand it to a lifestyle blog where we can get candid about everything from love, fashion, marriage, mommyhood, health, and much more! I hope you're excited about this journey like I am! Hopefully you're still rocking with Ali. I missed you guys! Stayed tuned, Friday I will be chatting about my Rainbow Baby Shower that occurred last Saturday (February 25)! You won't want to miss it.

Birthday Selfie

Slight birthday slay
Outfit Details: Lace Kimono: Charlotte Russe, Graphic Tee: Charlotte Russe, Leggings: Kohl's, Faux Fur Jacket: Forever 21 (Old), Jessica Simpson Sandals: Ross, Rose Tinted Sunnies: Charlotte Russe, Faux Fur Purse: Charlotte Russe, Choker & Layered Necklaces: Charlotte Russe

Loving on my munchkin 

Running errands trying to look presentable with swollen feet #preggoproblems
Outfit Details: Floral Kimono: Charlotte Russe, Sleeveless Knit Bodycon: Charlotte Russe, Bow Sandals: Banana Republic Outlet, Rose Colored Sunnies: Charlotte Russe, Necklace (Old)

What's something you are committed to re-starting or jumpstarting TODAY? A health regimen? A new found mindset? A new hobby? Applying for a new job? Today marks the start of a new month, so why not use this clean slate to jump into the new found YOU!!! Here's to new beginnings.

Peace and love,

-Ali

Gray Coat + 574 New Balances

First things first, Happy New Year! I cannot believe that it is 2016. Like it is a new year. 2015 flew right by. I hope that you all have a great year and that all the things you desire come to pass this new year. Now back to our regularly scheduled program....This past weekend was super chill. On New Year's Eve (12.31.15) the hubby did a half day at work and took me to see Creed and to my favorite burger joint "Five Guys." It was the perfect impromptu date. I try to enjoy the little moments with the hubby since we only have approximately four more months left with just the two of us. Once we got home we watched football, chilled out, took naps, then we prayed, did a Sparkling Grape Juice toast, and captured a kiss before seeing the ball drop at midnight. It's amazing how when you're younger the fanfare that comes along with New Year's Eve. You know the sparkly dresses, the perfect makeup, the toast, who to kiss. But I was perfectly content snuggling with the hubster in our quiet space. It was absolutely perfect.

I had a pretty chill day Saturday, so I wanted my wardrobe to reflect it. The temperatures have been constantly dropping over the past week with a bunch of rain but Saturday we had a chilly yet sunny, day (I'd take the sunny and cold over the rain any day). I wanted to bundle up, be comfortable, and of course look "cute." The outfit I came up with was very simple, but I centered it around my 574 New Balances that I purchased in New Orleans a couple months ago. These are the most comfortable sneakers that I've ever owned, plus I love the unexpected pop of Neon in the N. I paired them with my faux fur gray coat that I scored from H&M a few years ago, a simple gray long sleeve shirt, and my stretchy Lauren Conrad skinny jeans that I recently purchased from Kohl's. To make the look more athletic I paired it with my suede baseball cap that I bought from Forever 21 and a pair of Google Sunnies that I got as a freebie from church that match the neon N on my 574s. 

Outfit Details: 574's (New Balance Outlet), Black Lauren Conrad Skinny Jeans (Kohl's), Gray Long - Sleeve Shirt (H&M), Faux Fur Coat (H&M), Suede Baseball Cap (Forever 21), Google Neon Sunnies (Received as Gift)

I really like the look. And it did its job of keeping me warm, comfortable, and cute. What's your go - to look that keeps you warm (for my Ali Fashion Senser's that live in cooler temperatures) yet stylish? Are you a lover of sneakers or do you like a more dressed up approach?  I'd love to know in the comment section below. 

Do me a favor and lets make today AMAZING!!!!!
Smooches,
-Ali