Attention lovely, well-meaning people
The calls and emails checking to see if I’ve gone into labor yet are stressing me out. I know the inquiries are all coming from well meaning people who care…but they aren’t helpful. The baby isn’t due until the 17th, and most babies come later than the due date, so…
Please… Don’t ask. No one wants this baby to arrive more than I do, but the constant checking in is making it really hard to take it as it comes.
If I don’t post for a few days, that doesn’t mean I’m in labor. I usually post every three to five days regardless of baby news.
So please wish us luck and check this space. I may go into labor in five minutes, or I may be here, still pregnant and posting about sock knitting, two weeks from now. I promise I’ll tell you when Thumper arrives. Really.
Thanks,
pregnant and grumpy in Brooklyn
Not asking. I well remember this stage. It’s hard.
Hard not to murder all those people asking, that is.
Posted by: Jennie
Dude – I am so glad I’m not the only one grumpy about this. The Moms I accept, but all of a sudden all my friends are calling in the evening to ‘check’ on me. And if I don’t answer… they get all excited! 1) I’m awful at checking voicemail. Hate it. 2) I don’t want to spend every night telling people I’m still pregnant. It’s weird and meta. 3) You will know! Between the cell phones, email and blog, THE WORLD WILL KNOW. In fact, it’ll be hard for the world to not find out in that time between the beginning of labor and delivery.
Phew – grumpy here too. But I’m due on Monday…or a week from Monday. Thanks for sharing the sentiment. Folks should be helping you NOT fixate on it! 🙂
Posted by: sophiagrrl
i so totally remember that part. i was grocery shopping while pregnant with my second and some one asked me when i was due and i nearly spit fire as i told her it was 2 days previous. bitch.
hang in there, you’ll make it.
Posted by: elaine
Maybe you could set up an automatically generated blog post that would just post every day, “still pregnant”. “yup, still pregnant”, and an automated e-mail reply to the same effect. And put it on your answering machine too. Then lie back and take care of yourself and Thumper and ignore all calls/emails.
Posted by: jodi
You know what’s worse? Getting a phone call from your aunt DURING labour. Needless to say, I didn’t come to the phone.
With my first born, two weeks before my due date I was going around exclaiming “The bun is done.” And the child wasn’t born until 2 weeks after my due date. I was pregnant an extra month! Well, not really, but it sure seemed like it.
Besides “Haven’t you had that baby yet?” I also found it smack-worthy to hear “Wow! You look like your going to pop!”
Posted by: LaurieM
Precisely why i haven’t been bugging you! I hope you understand that I’m not ignoring you by any stretch, but I wanted to give you some space. I remember what it was like for me, and it drove me a little batty. Just know that you’re loved by loads of people, and we’re here when you want some company.
Posted by: regina
Wait… hold on a minute. You’re pregnant?!?!
Posted by: Iris
Beautiful IG’s. They are such pretty whimsical dogs. Sorry about the people that apparently have no patience in this world of instant gratification. Remind them that it still takes nine months (and maybe more) to create new life. Tell them to go try creating new life for nine months and then ask you if you’re still pregnant.
Posted by: Kelli
Not asking. I well remember this stage. It’s hard.
Hard not to murder all those people asking, that is.
Posted by: Jennie
Dude – I am so glad I’m not the only one grumpy about this. The Moms I accept, but all of a sudden all my friends are calling in the evening to ‘check’ on me. And if I don’t answer… they get all excited! 1) I’m awful at checking voicemail. Hate it. 2) I don’t want to spend every night telling people I’m still pregnant. It’s weird and meta. 3) You will know! Between the cell phones, email and blog, THE WORLD WILL KNOW. In fact, it’ll be hard for the world to not find out in that time between the beginning of labor and delivery.
Phew – grumpy here too. But I’m due on Monday…or a week from Monday. Thanks for sharing the sentiment. Folks should be helping you NOT fixate on it! 🙂
Posted by: sophiagrrl
i so totally remember that part. i was grocery shopping while pregnant with my second and some one asked me when i was due and i nearly spit fire as i told her it was 2 days previous. bitch.
hang in there, you’ll make it.
Posted by: elaine
Maybe you could set up an automatically generated blog post that would just post every day, “still pregnant”. “yup, still pregnant”, and an automated e-mail reply to the same effect. And put it on your answering machine too. Then lie back and take care of yourself and Thumper and ignore all calls/emails.
Posted by: jodi
You know what’s worse? Getting a phone call from your aunt DURING labour. Needless to say, I didn’t come to the phone.
With my first born, two weeks before my due date I was going around exclaiming “The bun is done.” And the child wasn’t born until 2 weeks after my due date. I was pregnant an extra month! Well, not really, but it sure seemed like it.
Besides “Haven’t you had that baby yet?” I also found it smack-worthy to hear “Wow! You look like your going to pop!”
Posted by: LaurieM
Precisely why i haven’t been bugging you! I hope you understand that I’m not ignoring you by any stretch, but I wanted to give you some space. I remember what it was like for me, and it drove me a little batty. Just know that you’re loved by loads of people, and we’re here when you want some company.
Posted by: regina
Wait… hold on a minute. You’re pregnant?!?!
Posted by: Iris
Beautiful IG’s. They are such pretty whimsical dogs. Sorry about the people that apparently have no patience in this world of instant gratification. Remind them that it still takes nine months (and maybe more) to create new life. Tell them to go try creating new life for nine months and then ask you if you’re still pregnant.
Posted by: Kelli
Awww, I’m sorry people are pestering you! 🙁 That’s certainly no fun. I think the most important thing pregnancy has taught me is what is/is not appropriate to say to a pregnant woman. Asking about delivery? Holy crap – way off limits. Hang in there!
Posted by: Elinor
For about two weeks before my friend’s baby was born, she answered every phone call with, “Nope, no baby yet!” The best part was when I called to ask her a question (unrelated to the baby) and she yelled that. Made me laugh. Soon Thumper will be here and soon the anticipation will be well worth it!
Posted by: Rebecca
Iris made me laugh.
I’m not bugging you, I know how annoying that must be. I’m sure I’ll get the news when it comes.
Posted by: jackie
I. Will. Not. Laugh.
I went out into the woods about a week after I was due, hiked 45 minutes straight out and started ~jumping~ up and down. My husband started screaming “you’re going to have a baby!!” I screamed back “No shit, Sherlock!!”
I’m sure the squirrels were amused.
No, I didn’t give birth in the woods.
And why did you need this story? I have no idea. *g*
Posted by: Rabbitch
Tell everyone to piss off ! They’ll put it down to your hormones,in that patronisingly benevolent way that makes you want to scream…
Fun,fun,fun ! :0)
Posted by: Emma
OMG. I’m going to pass out laughing at Rabbitch. hehehe Okay, I promise never to email or phone and ask about :X . Never ever! Nor will I ask about your ankles, whether you’re sleeping well at night, or if you’re ready to have this thing over with.
How’s the sock knitting coming along? 🙂
Posted by: Laura
I…am…..CRACKING ….. UP…..at Iris’s comment.!!!!! Heeeheeeheeeeheeeee
Hey, you’re nothing special, ya know. I’m bloated and grumpy, and I’m not even pregnant. (OR in Brooklyn, now that I think about it…)
Posted by: Norma
Oh yeah. I remember that. On my due date, my father, a pediatrician, calls me to say ‘you know, Rach (I hate being called Rach) just because you have a due date doesn’t necessarily mean that the baby will be born ON that date’. No shit, Sherlock – am I am moron? If I could have reached through the phone cord and strangled him, I gladly would have. Apparently nearly 20 years later, I haven’t forgiven him…
Hang in there!
Posted by: racheld
See, that’s why I ignored your sweet comment. ’cause I’d have to have “checked on you”. I used to tell people “end of January” in an effort to thwart that kind of “caring”. But ya know how it ended up with me.
Posted by: valentina
Awww, I’m sorry people are pestering you! 🙁 That’s certainly no fun. I think the most important thing pregnancy has taught me is what is/is not appropriate to say to a pregnant woman. Asking about delivery? Holy crap – way off limits. Hang in there!
Posted by: Elinor
For about two weeks before my friend’s baby was born, she answered every phone call with, “Nope, no baby yet!” The best part was when I called to ask her a question (unrelated to the baby) and she yelled that. Made me laugh. Soon Thumper will be here and soon the anticipation will be well worth it!
Posted by: Rebecca
Iris made me laugh.
I’m not bugging you, I know how annoying that must be. I’m sure I’ll get the news when it comes.
Posted by: jackie
I. Will. Not. Laugh.
I went out into the woods about a week after I was due, hiked 45 minutes straight out and started ~jumping~ up and down. My husband started screaming “you’re going to have a baby!!” I screamed back “No shit, Sherlock!!”
I’m sure the squirrels were amused.
No, I didn’t give birth in the woods.
And why did you need this story? I have no idea. *g*
Posted by: Rabbitch
Tell everyone to piss off ! They’ll put it down to your hormones,in that patronisingly benevolent way that makes you want to scream…
Fun,fun,fun ! :0)
Posted by: Emma
OMG. I’m going to pass out laughing at Rabbitch. hehehe Okay, I promise never to email or phone and ask about :X . Never ever! Nor will I ask about your ankles, whether you’re sleeping well at night, or if you’re ready to have this thing over with.
How’s the sock knitting coming along? 🙂
Posted by: Laura
I…am…..CRACKING ….. UP…..at Iris’s comment.!!!!! Heeeheeeheeeeheeeee
Hey, you’re nothing special, ya know. I’m bloated and grumpy, and I’m not even pregnant. (OR in Brooklyn, now that I think about it…)
Posted by: Norma
Oh yeah. I remember that. On my due date, my father, a pediatrician, calls me to say ‘you know, Rach (I hate being called Rach) just because you have a due date doesn’t necessarily mean that the baby will be born ON that date’. No shit, Sherlock – am I am moron? If I could have reached through the phone cord and strangled him, I gladly would have. Apparently nearly 20 years later, I haven’t forgiven him…
Hang in there!
Posted by: racheld
See, that’s why I ignored your sweet comment. ’cause I’d have to have “checked on you”. I used to tell people “end of January” in an effort to thwart that kind of “caring”. But ya know how it ended up with me.
Posted by: valentina
OMG, what Emma said. “patronizingly benevolent tone” about hormones. I wanted to kill the nurses as I was leaving the hospital. I was crying a river (yes!) and I was told “there, there, it’s just the hormones”. GAAAH!
Posted by: valentina
I had the same thing happen to me my first pregnancy. Best advice I ever got – and used – on my next two pregnancies? We told EVERYONE the due date was two weeks after the actual date. They didn’t have time to start bugging me because the babies were here by then!
Posted by: TrixieG
My oldest turns 18 tomorrow and I just cannot believe it. The time goes so quickly. Enjoy this time but golly gee go ahead and choke em when they say things like what they said to me ” You haven’t GONE yet?” GONE where!!! I am a short woman and there was no where for my 11 pound baby to go but OUT! I looked ready to pop for MONTHS! Thanks fo reminding me 🙂
Easy Birthing and Healthy Baby wishes whenever the time comes.
Posted by: emmy
When my best friend had her first baby last year, I learned early on that it was good not to ask. So I’ll do for you what I did for her: wish you and Thumper well. 🙂
Posted by: Gina H.
I so totally am not asking because I’ve been where you are way too many times to forget how frigging annoying it is 🙂 Loved your cute belly shots though. Take care and keep knitting! How’s the lace coming along?
Posted by: Catherine
all the best.. and when thumber is ready you will be too.. hugs .. from a mother that had a daughter 10days late and one they had to go in and get out.. hee..hee.. hugs all the best.. karola
Posted by: Karola
Two key words- “Caster Oil” it works!
Posted by: gina L
Two key words- “Caster Oil” it works!
Posted by: gina L
put your computer in the freezer and enjoy the rest of being pregnant with your first wee one! it only happens once!
Posted by: dana
I feel your pain, all three of my children were several weeks late ( I don’t think the doctors let that happen these days) and I bagan to feel like people thought I was holding back on purpose! Good luck, Jane
Posted by: jane
OMG, what Emma said. “patronizingly benevolent tone” about hormones. I wanted to kill the nurses as I was leaving the hospital. I was crying a river (yes!) and I was told “there, there, it’s just the hormones”. GAAAH!
Posted by: valentina
I had the same thing happen to me my first pregnancy. Best advice I ever got – and used – on my next two pregnancies? We told EVERYONE the due date was two weeks after the actual date. They didn’t have time to start bugging me because the babies were here by then!
Posted by: TrixieG
My oldest turns 18 tomorrow and I just cannot believe it. The time goes so quickly. Enjoy this time but golly gee go ahead and choke em when they say things like what they said to me ” You haven’t GONE yet?” GONE where!!! I am a short woman and there was no where for my 11 pound baby to go but OUT! I looked ready to pop for MONTHS! Thanks fo reminding me 🙂
Easy Birthing and Healthy Baby wishes whenever the time comes.
Posted by: emmy
When my best friend had her first baby last year, I learned early on that it was good not to ask. So I’ll do for you what I did for her: wish you and Thumper well. 🙂
Posted by: Gina H.
I so totally am not asking because I’ve been where you are way too many times to forget how frigging annoying it is 🙂 Loved your cute belly shots though. Take care and keep knitting! How’s the lace coming along?
Posted by: Catherine
all the best.. and when thumber is ready you will be too.. hugs .. from a mother that had a daughter 10days late and one they had to go in and get out.. hee..hee.. hugs all the best.. karola
Posted by: Karola
Two key words- “Caster Oil” it works!
Posted by: gina L
Two key words- “Caster Oil” it works!
Posted by: gina L
put your computer in the freezer and enjoy the rest of being pregnant with your first wee one! it only happens once!
Posted by: dana
I feel your pain, all three of my children were several weeks late ( I don’t think the doctors let that happen these days) and I bagan to feel like people thought I was holding back on purpose! Good luck, Jane
Posted by: jane
I thought the “when are you gonna pop” questions at 5 months were pretty crappy too…I got very grumpy very early. Apparently very large as well….
Hang in, honey. Lots of love to you.
Posted by: Lee Ann
You could tell everyone that you’ve changed your mind and decided to stay pregnant. 😉 Then cheerfully go on about your business while they are still trying to figure it out. But then the next time they ask you’ll have to come up with something else. Maybe “Actually, I got abducted by aliens yesterday and now I’m carrying a litter of puppies that aren’t due for another month.”
Apparently, someone has randomly decided that June 10th is National Knit In Public Day. You can stab people with the pointy stick when they ask you annoying questions.
Posted by: Auntie M
hey cari, sounds like you are the patient one among folks. thanks for providing a vivid peek into the world of late pregnancy days. sending you good thoughts and more patience and sleep (ha!). xo.
Posted by: k
When I was pregnant with my oldest (she’ll be 22 this sumer), my grandparents came to San Francisco for the blessed event. Cassie made them wait for 2 weeks, and my Grampa drove me nuts – every siren that wailed would cause him to look at me and say “Are they coming for you?” I felt like saying “Yes. The police are coming for me, and he is bringing the coronor for YOU!”
Tell people the baby came, but it was easier when he was inside, so you put him back.
Posted by: Lia
Geez, don’t people freakin’ KNOW any better. Like you’d forget to announce to the world when you did start. Those same folks are all asking me when I’m going to start walking — like it’s a date I can pick. When I was pregnant and totally frustrated about not going into labor, the best thing was to start a project. I bought an entire flat of strawberries and started in on a pie when I got crazy one day during my last month with my second child and lo and behold, contractions started right there in my kitchen and 2 days later my mother presented me with the strawberry pie she’d finished when she came to town. Now, that second child has strawberry pie for his “birthday cake” every year.
Posted by: LeAnne
Oh jeez. You poor thing! I shall just wish you well. I do hope everything goes smoothly for you. I’ll check back one day soon and be surprised by a beautiful itsy-bitsy set of toesies…hugs to you!
Posted by: teresa
The thing I hated the most was perfect strangers TOUCHING my stomach – I’d even start backing up and they’d step forward! I had those weird ligament pains, too, with my second one.
I swear, the last month feels like it takes as long as the first 8. Luck, I wish you luck! Boy, are the dogs going to be surprised.
Posted by: Patti
there is something to be said about early labor- I had my baby a little over 5 weeks early…water broke. But I certainly wasn’t prepared, I didn’t even have any diapers. I felt kind of robbed of the whole labor thing. No anticipation…no is it labor pains that I’m feeling???? I didn’t even get to labor at all…Baby was super duper breech- she was butt first with her feet wrapped around the back of her neck. It took her about 2 weeks to straighten out. But I certainly miss the belly and the kicking. Ava was 5# 6oz when she came home from the hospital- she’s 9 ml old now and huge…I’m just finishing knitting an 18 mo old dress- and I think it will be too small!! bummer- that was a lot of work….
Posted by: sasha
I am soooo glad that I’m not the only one who felt like that. I worked the entire 40 weeks, as I couldn’t afford to go on maternity leave before the baby was born and every day when I came into work the constant comments from co-workers about how I was still there and was I ever gonna have this baby were enough to make me want to spit fire, and cry at the same time. I was even worse when they asked when I was due and I was like, 5 days ago… My own mom called to see if I’d had the baby or was in the hospital, as if I wouldn’t call her first! If I left the house and was gone more than the expected amount of time, everyone thought I went into labor while I was out. My mother in law would freak out if I went anywhere alone that last week. It’ll all be over soon enough, and then you’ll find your self missing the feeling of the baby inside your body. It’s weird!
Posted by: Cambria W
I thought the “when are you gonna pop” questions at 5 months were pretty crappy too…I got very grumpy very early. Apparently very large as well….
Hang in, honey. Lots of love to you.
Posted by: Lee Ann
You could tell everyone that you’ve changed your mind and decided to stay pregnant. 😉 Then cheerfully go on about your business while they are still trying to figure it out. But then the next time they ask you’ll have to come up with something else. Maybe “Actually, I got abducted by aliens yesterday and now I’m carrying a litter of puppies that aren’t due for another month.”
Apparently, someone has randomly decided that June 10th is National Knit In Public Day. You can stab people with the pointy stick when they ask you annoying questions.
Posted by: Auntie M
hey cari, sounds like you are the patient one among folks. thanks for providing a vivid peek into the world of late pregnancy days. sending you good thoughts and more patience and sleep (ha!). xo.
Posted by: k
When I was pregnant with my oldest (she’ll be 22 this sumer), my grandparents came to San Francisco for the blessed event. Cassie made them wait for 2 weeks, and my Grampa drove me nuts – every siren that wailed would cause him to look at me and say “Are they coming for you?” I felt like saying “Yes. The police are coming for me, and he is bringing the coronor for YOU!”
Tell people the baby came, but it was easier when he was inside, so you put him back.
Posted by: Lia
Geez, don’t people freakin’ KNOW any better. Like you’d forget to announce to the world when you did start. Those same folks are all asking me when I’m going to start walking — like it’s a date I can pick. When I was pregnant and totally frustrated about not going into labor, the best thing was to start a project. I bought an entire flat of strawberries and started in on a pie when I got crazy one day during my last month with my second child and lo and behold, contractions started right there in my kitchen and 2 days later my mother presented me with the strawberry pie she’d finished when she came to town. Now, that second child has strawberry pie for his “birthday cake” every year.
Posted by: LeAnne
Oh jeez. You poor thing! I shall just wish you well. I do hope everything goes smoothly for you. I’ll check back one day soon and be surprised by a beautiful itsy-bitsy set of toesies…hugs to you!
Posted by: teresa
The thing I hated the most was perfect strangers TOUCHING my stomach – I’d even start backing up and they’d step forward! I had those weird ligament pains, too, with my second one.
I swear, the last month feels like it takes as long as the first 8. Luck, I wish you luck! Boy, are the dogs going to be surprised.
Posted by: Patti
there is something to be said about early labor- I had my baby a little over 5 weeks early…water broke. But I certainly wasn’t prepared, I didn’t even have any diapers. I felt kind of robbed of the whole labor thing. No anticipation…no is it labor pains that I’m feeling???? I didn’t even get to labor at all…Baby was super duper breech- she was butt first with her feet wrapped around the back of her neck. It took her about 2 weeks to straighten out. But I certainly miss the belly and the kicking. Ava was 5# 6oz when she came home from the hospital- she’s 9 ml old now and huge…I’m just finishing knitting an 18 mo old dress- and I think it will be too small!! bummer- that was a lot of work….
Posted by: sasha
I am soooo glad that I’m not the only one who felt like that. I worked the entire 40 weeks, as I couldn’t afford to go on maternity leave before the baby was born and every day when I came into work the constant comments from co-workers about how I was still there and was I ever gonna have this baby were enough to make me want to spit fire, and cry at the same time. I was even worse when they asked when I was due and I was like, 5 days ago… My own mom called to see if I’d had the baby or was in the hospital, as if I wouldn’t call her first! If I left the house and was gone more than the expected amount of time, everyone thought I went into labor while I was out. My mother in law would freak out if I went anywhere alone that last week. It’ll all be over soon enough, and then you’ll find your self missing the feeling of the baby inside your body. It’s weird!
Posted by: Cambria W
Good luck, Cari and Thumper! 🙂
Posted by: Liz
Nope, not going to ask. I can’t even say “Know how you feel; been there, done that” ’cause I haven’t. But take care of yourself and Thumper. Good luck!
Posted by: Teri S.
lol! i cried on my due date when i was still pregnant! also i did not go out the last few weeks cuz i would heat either “are you still pregnant?” or “OMG you are bigger than last week!”. i swear by evening primrose oil (eases dialation doesnt put you in labour)! i hate castor oil/oj…which BTW only works if you are past 2cm and takes 12 hours to take effect! but my favourite go into labour “home remedy” is to make a batch of brownies and eat the whole pan. yep the whole thing!
fingers crossed for a “nice” legnth of labour…what ever that is! and no complications.
Posted by: heatherly
good thoughts for you and Thumper. good luck!
Posted by: meowgirl
we changed the greeting on the answering machine to “You’ve reached Jen and George. No, the baby isn’t here yet. We promise, we’ll tell you when it is. If you’re calling for any other reason, please leave a message” because on November 1 (I wasn’t due until the 20th) George’s 15-year-old sister called to ask if I had the baby yet. No, Gloria, I totally had the baby & didn’t tell you. Then, on November 20 she called & asked if I had the baby (I made the mistake of answering the phone) and when I said, “No, Gloria, I totally had the baby & didn’t tell you” she came back with “But I thought you said the dr. said the baby was due today.” I could hardly contain myself and actually responded, “It’s a BABY, not a LIBRARY BOOK. We’ll CALL YOU.” All of that was mitigated by James, her 17-year-old brother who asked just before Christmas if we had enough food to bring with us for Andy (who was born November 29). I told him yes, I still had my boobs, and he said, “But what about smishy-smashy peas & stuff?” I explained that breastmilk is all Baby needs for quite a while & was quite pleased when he said, “Really? COOL!”
All that to say: change your outgoing greeting, turn off the ringer, nap as much as you want to, eat whatever you feel like, snuggle with Billy & the dogs as much as you want to, and hold on because you’re in for quite a ride.
Posted by: jen
You know how they say that everything in pregnancy is just preparation for the aftermath? I think all your well-meaning friends and family members are working hard to prepare you for the inevitable “are we there yet?” of the future.
Posted by: Krista
I used to look people dead in the eye and say thoughtfully, ‘You know, there are so many stupid people out here (pregnant pause, pointed stare)that I’ve decided just to keep her inside, where she’ll be safe from all the morons.’ Then walk away.
Posted by: JoAnne
Well, really I waddled away.
Kind of destroyed the dignity of the moment that I was feeling, now that I look back.
Posted by: JoAnne
Heh. Now I want to ask.
Posted by: Patti
You just need to remember the stupid people with the stupid pregnancy comments are preparing you for the stupid people with the stupid parenting comments.
“Are you nursing?” (with a hopeful or horrified look), “You’re holding them too much/not enough”. “Sleep when the baby sleeps” (you mean not when it’s in the bathtub? Gosh, I’ve been doing it all wrong!) Blah Blah Blah Blah.
Good luck and hang in there!
Posted by: Amy Lu
Good luck, Cari and Thumper! 🙂
Posted by: Liz
Nope, not going to ask. I can’t even say “Know how you feel; been there, done that” ’cause I haven’t. But take care of yourself and Thumper. Good luck!
Posted by: Teri S.
lol! i cried on my due date when i was still pregnant! also i did not go out the last few weeks cuz i would heat either “are you still pregnant?” or “OMG you are bigger than last week!”. i swear by evening primrose oil (eases dialation doesnt put you in labour)! i hate castor oil/oj…which BTW only works if you are past 2cm and takes 12 hours to take effect! but my favourite go into labour “home remedy” is to make a batch of brownies and eat the whole pan. yep the whole thing!
fingers crossed for a “nice” legnth of labour…what ever that is! and no complications.
Posted by: heatherly
good thoughts for you and Thumper. good luck!
Posted by: meowgirl
we changed the greeting on the answering machine to “You’ve reached Jen and George. No, the baby isn’t here yet. We promise, we’ll tell you when it is. If you’re calling for any other reason, please leave a message” because on November 1 (I wasn’t due until the 20th) George’s 15-year-old sister called to ask if I had the baby yet. No, Gloria, I totally had the baby & didn’t tell you. Then, on November 20 she called & asked if I had the baby (I made the mistake of answering the phone) and when I said, “No, Gloria, I totally had the baby & didn’t tell you” she came back with “But I thought you said the dr. said the baby was due today.” I could hardly contain myself and actually responded, “It’s a BABY, not a LIBRARY BOOK. We’ll CALL YOU.” All of that was mitigated by James, her 17-year-old brother who asked just before Christmas if we had enough food to bring with us for Andy (who was born November 29). I told him yes, I still had my boobs, and he said, “But what about smishy-smashy peas & stuff?” I explained that breastmilk is all Baby needs for quite a while & was quite pleased when he said, “Really? COOL!”
All that to say: change your outgoing greeting, turn off the ringer, nap as much as you want to, eat whatever you feel like, snuggle with Billy & the dogs as much as you want to, and hold on because you’re in for quite a ride.
Posted by: jen
You know how they say that everything in pregnancy is just preparation for the aftermath? I think all your well-meaning friends and family members are working hard to prepare you for the inevitable “are we there yet?” of the future.
Posted by: Krista
I used to look people dead in the eye and say thoughtfully, ‘You know, there are so many stupid people out here (pregnant pause, pointed stare)that I’ve decided just to keep her inside, where she’ll be safe from all the morons.’ Then walk away.
Posted by: JoAnne
Well, really I waddled away.
Kind of destroyed the dignity of the moment that I was feeling, now that I look back.
Posted by: JoAnne
Heh. Now I want to ask.
Posted by: Patti
You just need to remember the stupid people with the stupid pregnancy comments are preparing you for the stupid people with the stupid parenting comments.
“Are you nursing?” (with a hopeful or horrified look), “You’re holding them too much/not enough”. “Sleep when the baby sleeps” (you mean not when it’s in the bathtub? Gosh, I’ve been doing it all wrong!) Blah Blah Blah Blah.
Good luck and hang in there!
Posted by: Amy Lu
p.s. If you decide you can’t wait anymore, Castor Oil worked for me! It was great! (as great as castor oil can get….)
Posted by: Amy Lu
ok, so *now* have you had the baby?
Posted by: jk
Just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you today and hoping you’re well.
Posted by: Rachel H
Enjoy the end of your pregnancy, and the wonderful bump that makes a perfect place for a bony little iggy butt. Ask me how I know.
Good vibes, good vibes…
Posted by: Frith
Now look what everyone has done…bugged her till she went away!
Come back please!!
Posted by: Theresa
What about now? Huh? Huh? Okay.
*tap tap tap*
Now?
I’ve been reading for a little while now. Seriously, I do hope all is well.
Posted by: Wen
I’ve just begun reading you and am working my way up from your earliest posted archives. I may even try to go backward from there if that’s possible. It’s been quite the interesting saga – the work, the co-op, the MFA, the book,the BF, the house, the renovation, the dogs and, of course, the knitting. I’ve just reached the wedding post. I’m really enjoying your blog not just because of the content but also because of the quality of your writing, its constancy, and its peek into a sensibility quite different from my own. So now you’re on hiatus, and I and your other readers most sincerely hope that all is well with you and Thumper, and that you’re merely resting with your feet up or, alternatively, insanely busy (and leaking from every orifice as new mothers are apt to do, including crying a lot – I believe it’s nature’s way of siphoning off all that extra fluid.) My older will be 25 on June 18 (and by the way, I claim that we the first in a century or so to use the given name “Lily,” and everyone really liked it, and there was a trickle, and now a flood of Lilies.) It seems like just yesterday that we were going through the last (overdue and overexpanded) days of pregnancy and the opposing thoughts of “how much longer can I go on like this?” versus “labor and delivery are scary to contemplate!” No matter which way things are, your friendly readers hope that you will be back to blogland when you’re ready.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Good Luck Cari! Please come back whe you are ready!
Posted by: Melissa
p.s. If you decide you can’t wait anymore, Castor Oil worked for me! It was great! (as great as castor oil can get….)
Posted by: Amy Lu
ok, so *now* have you had the baby?
Posted by: jk
Just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you today and hoping you’re well.
Posted by: Rachel H
Enjoy the end of your pregnancy, and the wonderful bump that makes a perfect place for a bony little iggy butt. Ask me how I know.
Good vibes, good vibes…
Posted by: Frith
Now look what everyone has done…bugged her till she went away!
Come back please!!
Posted by: Theresa
What about now? Huh? Huh? Okay.
*tap tap tap*
Now?
I’ve been reading for a little while now. Seriously, I do hope all is well.
Posted by: Wen
I’ve just begun reading you and am working my way up from your earliest posted archives. I may even try to go backward from there if that’s possible. It’s been quite the interesting saga – the work, the co-op, the MFA, the book,the BF, the house, the renovation, the dogs and, of course, the knitting. I’ve just reached the wedding post. I’m really enjoying your blog not just because of the content but also because of the quality of your writing, its constancy, and its peek into a sensibility quite different from my own. So now you’re on hiatus, and I and your other readers most sincerely hope that all is well with you and Thumper, and that you’re merely resting with your feet up or, alternatively, insanely busy (and leaking from every orifice as new mothers are apt to do, including crying a lot – I believe it’s nature’s way of siphoning off all that extra fluid.) My older will be 25 on June 18 (and by the way, I claim that we the first in a century or so to use the given name “Lily,” and everyone really liked it, and there was a trickle, and now a flood of Lilies.) It seems like just yesterday that we were going through the last (overdue and overexpanded) days of pregnancy and the opposing thoughts of “how much longer can I go on like this?” versus “labor and delivery are scary to contemplate!” No matter which way things are, your friendly readers hope that you will be back to blogland when you’re ready.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Good Luck Cari! Please come back whe you are ready!
Posted by: Melissa