Random Comments from Strangers

So I'm at the gym the other day, in the locker room, and a woman asks me how far along I am. "7 months," I reply. "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" she says. I tell her it's a girl. Then she says "oh my she's gonna be a big baby! How big were you when you were born??" It doesn't really seem all that appropriate of a comment, in my opinion. Of course there are women who say the opposite, like "wow you look great for 7 months!" I like those comments better, but really I could do without either kind of comment. Every pregnant woman is going to look different, and you never know when you're going to offend someone, so why make any comments at all? I just don't get it. Anyhow, I've only gained 20 pounds so far and I don't have any stretch marks, so I feel pretty good about myself regardless of what random strangers think (or say)!

Today is our 32 week appointment. I'm hoping the doc can tell us which way she is facing, not that it completely matters at this point since the baby can still move around fairly well. Although, I have noticed that she jabs a lot more now than she does roll. I'd still like to know if those jabs are a foot or hand or elbow or head, or what. Then on Saturday Lawrence and I have our "Preparing for Childbirth" class. I guess we're going to learn pain-relief techniques (both the drug and non-drug kind) along with some other particulars about the whole birthing process. It should be eye-opening for both of us, although I've now read several books on the topic :) Next Tuesday we have our "Late Pregnancy" class and hospital tour, so over the next week, childbirth is going to start to become real!

Just 24 more days of work before maternity leave - yay! I've started researching what my next work rotation will be when I get back. I'd like to have a few options identified before I go out so that I don't get stuck with another half-baked project that leaves me either bored or scrambling when I come back to work. I figure a full 40-hour work-week will be better for keeping my mind occupied than something less, and over 40 hours will just be stressful because I'll want to be with the baby. But who knows how I'll feel.

Lawrence has also started discussing the particulars of being off work with his boss. He's planning to take 2 weeks off once the baby is born. We're thinking we'll both take bonding leave later when the baby is older, maybe even together. A good time for him will depend on the project he's working on, and for me I think it would be good to go out after my second rotation when the baby will be about 10 months old. As for the short maternity leave time, my mom is coming mid-June through mid-July and Lawrence's parents will be here for the last 2 weeks in July, so I think there will be plenty of support. My dad is coming in early July as well, but he'll probably just want to meet the baby versus actually helping out :) I know it's going to be a little harder for us since our families are both 5-hour flights away, but it's great that they can make it out for such an extended time right after the baby is born.

Well, that's about it for now!