a list

2 days before giving birth, I made a list.

I was sitting in church and should have been thinking about church things, but I wasn't.  

I was sitting in church and had just responded to all the "you're still here?", "any day now?" and "I didn't think I would see you today" greetings.

I wasn't offended. I couldn't be.  I was the one who told everyone the week before "hopefully I won't be here next week!" 

BUT 

hearing those greetings got my mind reflecting on other late pregnancy "compliments" and commentary (some of which I was slightly offended or at least annoyed by). 

SO

I made a list (in no particular order, no responses and completely anonymous- won't say man or woman, stranger or friend). 

 

Feel free to comment with suggested responses (since I didn't include my real responses as part of my list)

OR share similar commentary you may or may not have received  while pregnant or may or may not have given to a pregnant woman.

Here's the list:

1. "You're so big, it's awesome."
   
2. "I saw your belly about 5 minutes before I saw your face" (coming around a corner)
   
3. "I can't believe you're still hangin' in there!"
   
4. "You have the most pokey-outey-est belly I have ever seen."
   
5. "Your belly has definitely dropped.  You'll probably deliver any day."
   
6. "Your belly is still high.  You've probably got a good few days left." (this was the same day as #5)
7. "You've really popped out a TON these last few weeks."
8. "It looks like we could stand under your belly and get a little shade"

and finally a more refreshing comment that made me laugh and moved the guy up a few notches on my non-existent favorite person list.

he approached me in all seriousness at the end of church that day and said

"Can I ask you a personal question?"
I reluctantly answered "sure" hoping he wouldn't ask anything about cervical dilation, membranes or whether or not I've tried this or that labor inducing trick.

Thankfully he didn't.

he asked: 
"Are you and John expecting another baby?"

(he was kidding of course, it was just refreshing to hear some comedy and a different take on the pregnancy comments)

photo taken the night before I went into labor.  We were going for another cool silhouette, but we didn't quite capture it with our little point and shoot.  As much as I don't like the photo- I thought it should be included for the sake of posterity as well as for all you inquiring minds who wanted to see belly shots along the way.  I do get rather big and rather "pokey outey", it's "awesome."