A "Dear John(nies)" you'd LOVE to receive!!

I'm sure that when most of us think of hospital gowns, the word "luxury" doesn't come up in the same thought. When Matthew was born, I had one of the hospital-issue gowns and didn't think twice about it. It wasn't until afterwards that I saw that "bring your own" gowns existed and I thought about how nice that would have been, to look good in pictures and be comfortable at the same time. So I decided I might just need one when baby #2 came.

If you do a little research, you'll find that there are several "BYO" hospital gowns out there. I really don't like to badmouth a product, but first I tried "Girlie Gowns" and I'll be honest... I think I'd be better off sticking with the standard hospital one. I thought they looked cute, and the price wasn't too bad, so I gave it a shot. I was so disappointed - the pattern was cuter in the picture than in person, and the fabric was stiff and uncomfortable. The fit wasn't much better... I looked like I was wearing a small tent!

I was going to give up on the "BYO" gown since I figured it's really more of a "want" than a "need" item... but I was SO lucky to receive one from dearjohnnies. Let me tell you - what a difference! As soon as I opened the package, I was impressed with how soft and comfy the fabric is. The pattern (they sent me a "Finlay" gown) is adorable - soft green with white polka dots. I was so excited that I tried it on that instant, and was so happy with the fit! Like it was actually made with a pregnant woman in mind! I love my dearjohnnies gown. I guess it's true when they say that you get what you pay for - at $68, the DJ gown is a bit on the indulgent side, but it is so worth it! Can we say "baby shower gift?" They have so many gorgeous fabrics to choose from (check out the "Mimi" gown in the photo) as well as options for monogramming, matching robes and blankets for baby!

Aside from how much I love the fit and fabric of the dearjohnnies gown, I really like that these gowns are for more than just laboring Moms. They would make a wonderful and thoughtful gift for a friend who has to be hospitalized for chemo or other medical treatments. It's not just about looking cute... it's about being comfortable and feeling good about yourself. If you buy the "Lucy" gown, 10% of the sale goes to breast cancer research!

The company also has a "dearjohnnies junior" line for children. I hate to think of anyone's little one needing to be hospitalized... but it's a great way to give them a little "pick me up" and help them get better faster! And I absolutely love that 5% of the kids' gowns sales goes to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, a charity that David and I regularly give to anyway.

So I have to say a huge "THANK YOU!" to dearjohnnies for my gorgeous Finlay gown... I really have my eye on the Coco, Rory and Pia fabrics, and now that I know I'll be in the hospital for 4 days, I think I may have to go ahead and splurge :). Plus you get $10 off *each gown* if you order two or more gowns, so that's reason enough for me! Please go and check out the entire line at www.dearjohnnies.com