Pollock people

I was so happy to see this on Google today.  I recognized.  I knew.  I stared.  I appreciated.  

I really enjoyed your work at the SLAM a few weeks ago, and I look forward to seeing more of you.   

Happy birthday Jackson P.

Have you no tact?

On the first day of our childbirth class, we were invited to introduce ourselves and share one thing that we like about being pregnant and one thing we could live without.  When we arrived at the last woman in the circle, she said, "Well, I really haven't enjoyed anything about pregnancy, so I could probably just live without being pregnant again."  Hmmm, OK.  

Well, I don't think pregnancy is so bad.  Sure, 5 months of morning (more like all day) sickness, incessant back aches and unattractive clothing get old pretty quickly.  But I've really kind of enjoyed being pregnant.

However, I've discovered in my 8-ish months of pregnancy that many people say some of the most tactless things about pregnant women.  I have been the victim of these verbal episodes from thoughtless individuals.  Following such an encounter, I typically a) feel stupid myself, and b) can't believe how stupid the other person just made him/herself appear.  

So here's my list of some of the funny/odd/even rude things people have said to me recently:

---  I don't remember getting so BIG.

---  March?!  Are you sure you're going to last that long?

---  How long do you have left?  A couple of weeks?  (Reply:  No, try more like 8 weeks!)  

---  Woah, you're about to pop!

---  You have baby today, right?  (as said by Asian woman at Chinese restaurant I went to for the first time)  

---  You don't look that bad.

---  Don't worry, you'll lose all that weight in your face.

---  Oh man, you're pregnant!  

--- You're just all baby.  

---  How much weight have you gained?  

It's awkward enough waking up one morning to a tummy that gets bigger by the day.  It's discouraging enough when you try on three or four different dresses/skirts before church and none of them fit (and your husband laughs).  It's uncomfortable enough when you drop your cell phone in the car near the gas pedal and you can't reach down to get it.  I don't need someone else stating the obvious.

So, to all of you, take the advice of Dave Berry:  You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.  ("Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn.")

I like being pregnant.  Don't ruin it for me.  

Maria Maria

Baby Maria Elizabeth Wallace made her entrance into the world...at last.  She arrived Monday, January 12.  My sister Megan is one of the all-time strongest women I know.  

Megan and Grandpa Waterfall.

I miss them.

And I really miss her.