Public Service Announcement #1

WHY do people (read, strangers in public settings) feel the need to comment on pregnant ladies? Have we really lost all sense of decency and privacy in this day and age? Usually I don't mind the occasional, good-natured comment or ribbing from people I know, but this is crossing the line:

Teenage male walking down the street yells out:
Him: "Hey is it a boy?"
Me: "Excuse me?"
Him: "Yo' baby. Is it a boy? Is it a girl?"
Me: "I don't know." Keep walking.

Customer at work who I helped previously a few months back in very loud accusing voice:
Her: "What happened to YOU?!"
Me: "Excuse me?"
Her, pointing at my belly: "You're huge! WHO did that to you?"
Me: "My husband!"

Another customer, in his greeting to me:
Him: "Hi Little Mama...oh wait, no it's Big Mama now."

Yet another customer, talking to my boss as I walk by:
Him: "Wow. She's big!"
Her: "What?"
Him: "She was pregnant last time I saw her! Is she pregnant again?!"
Her: "Let me finish helping you here..."

Random man in the City Office when I went to pay a bill:
Him: "You look like you're going to pop!"
Me: "No. 6 more weeks."
Him: "Hm. Ladies don't get as big as they used to."
Me: "????"

Note that most of the offenders here are male. Let this be a warning to all you males: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMMENT ON A WOMAN'S WEIGHT/BELLY. In fact, you should not comment on her weight or belly unless you are personally responsible for said condition. Pregnancy hormones are funny things - you may end up with a fist to your face. You have been warned.

End of public service announcement.

Our Guinea Pig

...is a bear, actually.

Poor Teddy is getting the brunt of the bad parenting, as Papi and I practice diapering, dressing, car seat placement, and strolling in preparation for the "real thing". Teddy is also the practice "dummy" for our childbirth class on breastfeeding in two weeks (NO pictures to follow).

We are taking childbirth classes at the hospital where B will be born, along with 14 other expectant couples. That's a lot of pregnant hormones in one room! We learn lovely things like how to breathe ("breathe in...and out"), what pain medications are available (whodda thunk there were so many options?!), and what to do if your water breaks in the grocery store ("clean up on aisle 5"). We will also have a tour next week, which is the main reason we signed up for this class, as opposed to the one offered by the OB's office.

PS - Check out my birthday present...the cool new ride for B! :) Just what I wanted. (Really!)

SHORT Sale?!

Short sale:
1. "a sale of real estate in which the proceeds from the sale fall short of the balance owed on a loan secured by the property sold." (wikipedia.org)
2. "a short sale in real estate is not always a pleasant transaction." (about.com)

Guess which definition we are experiencing?

That's right, friends, after 145 days of waiting and waiting and waiting for a decision on the offer for our prospective dream house, we heard today that the bank wants us to wait 30 more days before they make their decision. They have given us absolutely NO hope and absolutely NO promises that our offer is even being considered.

Our answer? "NO WAY". We are moving on...and good riddance and adios to C-wide. No wonder you went out of business if that's the way you handle real estate transactions! We are starting over with a blank slate and a new realtor.