The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Going on thirty-three weeks! (Updated to say: I actually am 33 weeks today. This photo was taken a few days ago, hence the “going on.”)
This is the point of my pregnancy at which I start to hear, “Oh! So when are you due – must be soon!?” (Well… “soon” is a relative term.) “Oh, it's just your jacket… that makes you look…”
Characterized by a significant protrusion? Heavily forward-oriented? …Big? Yep. And that's sweet of you but no, it's not the jacket. I know I have a torpedo belly. We don't need to pretend otherwise.
In the photo above, I am standing with my best posture and engaging my core. And somehow photos always make my appearance look a little less… precarious than it looks in person. Yesterday, another brother of mine went ahead and told me – through his loving laughter when he saw me enter the room – that I look like a “low-budget film depiction of a pregnant lady.” I keep reading these pregnancy update emails that are reminding me, “this is the time of greatest growth for your baby. Your baby will grow by about half a pound every week from now until birth!” He. He.
This week's links! Just miscellany for you today:
- Part of any event is preparing for that event — this post reminds us of the old church's way of preparing the faithful for Lent, gently…
- A short blog post from a priest about the “priesthood of Mary,” a reflection on the question of male and female: Feminine Priesthood.
- A cute little video about how kids in a British school are growing and improving their behavior after the introduction of a goat club (yes, real goats).
- If you have access to flowers and washi tape, you could do this cute, quick Valentine's Day decoration!
- An interesting reflection on the way that judgment, rather than dialogue, is built into our social networks. I just think it's always helpful to be thinking about the effect of new means of communication. Thanks, Lisa!
From the Archives:
- About this time four years ago, I was announcing Finnabee's existence here on the blog!
- The Second Sunday of St. Joseph is tomorrow! Read an old blog post about the Seven Sundays Devotion.
- What Should a Family Room Look Like?
In the Liturgical Year:
- Today we celebrate Our Lady of Lourdes!
Joy in Alabama says
I think you look beautiful! And what a wonderful prize at the end of the race!
Deirdre says
Aw, thanks, Joy! And yes, absolutely!
Diana says
You and baby both look just lovely!! Congrats as you wind down toward the final stretch!!
I am just three weeks ahead of you, so we too are preparing for a rapidly approaching birth. Everything speeds up in these last weeks! 🙂
Katherine says
When I was pregnant with my third child, I went to a homeschooling conference. As I was waddling around the vendors hall, a woman sitting behind a table loudly exclaimed, “Whoa! Are we going to need a doctor here?” I had 6 weeks left and, as you can imagine, her comment made me feel huge. It was hot and I was wearing a very loose cotton dress, so maybe it did make me look “ready to pop” but no one else at the conference was rude enough to mention it, except this woman handing out pro-life literature. She definitely needed to work on her PR.
Deirdre says
Whoops! :-/
Katherine says
Well, I did have a positive stranger-experience when I was pregnant with my 7th baby (10 years ago). A woman first confirmed that I was pregnant (a good move when you are an “old mom” in your early 40’s) and then complimented me on how I was dressed. I was wearing a traditional maternity top, something my mother would have worn, but updated. This stranger said she was so sick of seeing pregnant women wearing regular clothing and trying to stretch it over their expanding bellies (often not successfully). You could tell it really bothered her and she went on for a while. She ended up thanking me for dressing appropriately! Yeah, me! I brought some beauty to my corner of the world!
Kimberlee says
You look like a lovely pregnant lady! Your brothers are a riot. My most memorable comments from my seven pregnancies are the time I said that I felt as big as a house and our (male!) friend replied that actually I looked like an apartment complex. Then there was the time I was in the baby store buying sippy cups for my toddler and the check out lady remarked how nice I looked, ‘ready to deliver.’ Except I was only four months along.
Thanks for the reminder about the Seven Sundays. We chanted the Litany of St. Joseph last week before our family rosary, but I’m not sure I would have remembered again this week. You ladies are the best.
Oh, and I clicked and looked back at the old post on the family room. What is the story behind that amazing family photo in that post?! What a blessing!
Deirdre says
“Apartment complex?!” Haha oh gosh! Not very kind. And “ready to deliver” at four months! Here’s a thought: just don’t suggest to a stranger that she looks “ready to deliver!” Gosh!
Yes, we had the honor to meet, as a family, then-Cardinal Ratzinger at the Holy See when we were on a pilgrimage to Rome for Christmas in the 2000 jubilee! It was pretty awesome. 🙂 I was just a moody preteen at the time, but I recall him being extremely gentle and kindly.
Lisa says
Oh, you look lovely. All baby. If it makes you feel better, when I was 5 months pregnant with my 1st, a man exclaimed “due any now, huh?” No, kind gentleman, 16 weeks to go. I blame my short stature. No where to go but out.
I really enjoyed the social media article. So timely in the context of the recent election.
Deirdre says
“No where to go but out” — yep, I hear ya! Haha!
Betty says
Welcome new little on-on-the-way! This post made me smile–and such funny comments from your brothers! 🙂
Deirdre says
They are hilarious guys. 🙂
Stephanie says
What sweet brothers lol… The social media article was awesome, thank you for sharing it. My mind is racing with what to do about it all? And then, it comes down to a thinking love and building a totally different culture in our homes right? He mentions the hope for blogs to maybe be a way to form better internet communities..um yes…like this.
Deirdre says
Yes, I agree about the article. I didn’t find myself totally on the same page with him, but I did think it was thought-provoking. And such thoughts are always a reminder to do more and invest more in the home and realtime community, etc… and hopefully blogs like this keep up good communication where those things leave off!
Victoria says
I carry really low too! My brother made a similar comment that I look like a kid pretending to be pregnant by stuffing a basket ball under their shirt! Lol. My third baby is a couple weeks old now (enjoying all the newborn cuddles for sure!) but people were asking if I was about to “pop” any day and I’m like… “no, two months to go…”
Deirdre says
Yeah. I don’t mind too much but one downside is that it makes people very nervous around one! When they start to expect you to “pop” when you’re 7 months, it’s stressful (for THEM) to see you at 8-9… 🙂
Dixie says
It’s also funny because it’s as if they don’t know that no, you won’t *literally* pop or something all of a sudden right in front of them. I think maybe people sometimes think all labors start with spectacular gushes of water all over spectators’ shoes? “Nope, not expecting to pop, actually. Probably there will be several days or even weeks of wondering whether or not I’m in labor, and then I’ll have some bad contractions, and then maybe my waters will break, but really, probably not on your shoes, lady, and I’m pretty sure you won’t end up catching the baby.”
Cracks me up.