What pregnancy looks like

For me, pregnancy looks pretty much what non-pregnancy looks like. Meaning a slightly flabby belly that still fits into my size 8 jeans (albeit snuggly). I'm at 21 weeks now, folks, well into my second trimester. And what do I have to show for it? A pile of hand-me down maternity clothes I fear I'll never use.  


A woman I met this weekend actually patted my belly in that adoring way women do when they find out you are pregnant. This is the first time this has happened to me. I won't say I was bothered by it (I know this can be a point of contention for some women but for me, I say finally, hallelujah!) However, it was slightly awkward because to the casual observer, it might have looked like she was just congratulating me on finishing a whole cheesecake. 


Well, there are other ways to know when a woman is pregnant, right? Like when she "glows". Now I'm not sure if I'm glowing or not, but at least I'm not green with nausea anymore. I see that as a step in the right direction. Or when she waddles. My husband accused me of starting to waddle last week but truth be told, I was just gassy and exhausted and trying to shake out a leg cramp. Also, when she wears one of these:

Now I've looked through the boxes of hand-me-downs and I can't for the life of me find one of these. Luckily my mommy friends have better taste than that. And that's probably a good thing, because I'm starting to get desperate on my morning commute ferryboat ride for an empty seat, and why can't people see that I'm 21 weeks pregnant as I lovingly rub my muffin top?!? Is chivalry completely dead? 


My sister actually suggested even though I can fit pretty comfortably into my own clothes, that I start wearing the maternity clothes anyway "for the fun of it". Now I don't know about you, but I do have my limits, and I will not resort to wearing pants with that stretchy panel thingie I'd have to stuff with onesies just so people will be nicer to me. Besides, I'd hate to suffer some kind of pre-natal wardrobe malfunction. Like what if those big pants drop to my ankles as I'm running to cross the street before the light turns red? Mortifying. And potentially dangerous to my unborn child.


So for now, I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with the fact that yes, my baby is growing normally even if I'm not (phew!). And, I will have my reward, it's just that it's not due for another 19 weeks or so. But until then, I might have to get myself one of these: