Last week while visiting my sister and family, I went to a few of her Zumba classes. (Best Zumba instructor, ever!) Before going, I made the comment that I was going to look a bit ridiculous shaking my booty with my ginormous front side. My dad said, "You just think everyone's watching you, but they're not." I said, "Normally, I'd agree with you. But when you're 8-months pregnant in a Zumba class, everyone really is watching you." I was right. I went to two back-to-back classes with my cute (also pregnant...just not showing yet) sister, and after each one, several people came up to me to offer their thoughts and advice. "Are you trying to go into labor?" "You really should probably slow down a bit." "When are you due?" "I was watching you during class thinking...that girl's baby is going to pop right out!"
Is it really so odd to see a pregnant girl working out? Dancing and hip shaking...maybe so. But it's not just Zumba. While lifting weights last week, a man stopped and asked me all sorts of questions about whether I felt the baby moving while I worked out, whether my exercise was "doctor prescribed," and whether I thought it was "safe." After a Spin class, a funny lady asked when I was due, then exclaimed "Are you sure there's only one in there? Because I just kept thinking 'That girl's about to have her baby!'" Today in church, a teenage girl saw me and a friend (who's scheduled to have a C-Section in two weeks), and yelled, "When are you guys due, because you both look like you're about to pop!" Watch out, everybody, my belly's about to explode!
Yes, my friends. I have been blessed with a short torso, so there's really nowhere for the baby to go but OUT. I'm just praying that all of the you're about to pop comments aren't predictions of anything soon to come. I've never actually gone into labor before (I even drank castor oil with my first), and this pregnancy is the first time that I really don't want to...until my actual due date! Here's why:
- I'm terrified of having THREE kids.
- I handle pregnancy a lot better than I handle the newborn-sleep-deprived-engorged-with-milk-out-to-my-elbows stage.
- My husband is running the Wasatch Back (a 2-day, 180-mile relay race) two days before my due date.
- My mother-in-law (AKA babysitter) along with several other family members are also running the race. If I go into labor, the kids are coming with me...crap!
- We don't have a name.
- Every other reason in the book that having a baby in June just isn't convenient for selfish-me!
So maybe I should stop Zumba-ing, Spinning, and Lifting. But before I have a baby, my workouts always seem to get more intense. Not because I'm trying to make any body changes, but because I know post-baby workouts are much harder to come by. I'm taking advantage!
And as anti-baby as I sound, I really am actually looking forward to holding my sweet little girl next month. As hard as newborns are, there's nothing like having a piece of heaven in your arms. A piece of heaven that grows all too quickly! One of my favorite quotes on motherhood (thanks to my friend, Evelyn) is this:
Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. -Elizabeth Stone
My belly is ever-expanding, and my heart is about to split into three. Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done. Carrying a child is the rudest thing I've ever done to my body. But I thank my Heavenly Father EVERY DAY that he's loaned me these precious children. I can't imagine my life any other way.
So am I offended by those who take it upon themselves to analyze the shape and size of my body? Not at all (or at least not much)! A miracle is occurring inside of me, and as much as I want to have my old body back, I'm trying to enjoy every last minute of this pregnancy. I get to bring a real person into this world. I am blessed, and I can't wait to meet her!
11 comments:
A) I'm sorry that people are asking/saying all those things to you. It might get a bit annoying!
B) I think it's just great that you stay active even when you are very pregnant. I admire how you don't let that slow you down.
C) What a blessing to have THREE children soon! Feels like this pregnancy of yours has for some reason gone buy really fast! I can't believe you're almost due soon.
D) I LOVE that quote by Elisabeth Stone. It truly expresses so well what motherhood is all about.
Love Ya!
Oh, I love all the attention of being pregnant. :) I always just had to laugh at people's comments while pregnant, and after! I had one co-worker tell me that I was starting to show (1 week postpartum). The last time he saw me I was 16 weeks. It was the best thing ever to tell him I already had my baby and watch his jaw drop. lol.
I am so excited for you! I think the unknown is so scary. But it seems that most third babies, especially girls, are easy peasy. You have two great kids to help you out. An amazing husband as well. And you are so much stronger than you think. Hang in there! :)
You're such an inspiration to me! That you stay so active while pregnant helps to get me motivated so forget all those people! Haha and Sorry if I've been one of those to say you're about to pop (I may or may not have been).
Robyn, if you go into labor with this sweet little girl during Ragnar. I will take your two other kiddos in a heartbeat. I am not even that far from the hospital. I always think you look awesome pregnant.
All I can say is - you GO girl! People say the STRANGEST things to pregnant women. I don't know WHAT it is. The "having two" thing is absolutely ridiculous. Obviously in a day of ultrasounds, that comment could be nothing short of an intended blow to one's esteem?
I think that super cute you can still do zumba while pregnant (just make sure you can carry on a conversation and you should be fine - ACOG guidelines so you DONT go into preterm labor)! I actually really want to look into zumba - its next on my list - that and gyrotonics, which I just blogged about.
And I am TOTALLY there with you about the short torso. Being short torsoed also lends itself to a bigger diastasis postpartum - so I really hope you are doing seated tuplers while preggo to minimize it!
Most of all - just hold your head up high - you will laugh about all those utterly stupid comments in a couple of months :)
I totally agree with you on being a magnet for unsolicited comments on my body and belly during pregnancy.....! And do random people come up and pat your belly? That drives me crazy!!!! Good luck.
I loved reading this -- you have such a gift for expressing things we all feel. I agree that newborns are like having a piece of heaven in your arms--nothing quite like it, especially for a mom. And . . . when the baby comes, we'll be there, ragnar or not ! !
Good post! I'm due June 26 and still exercising regularly. I just like it too much to quit. Last week a lady at the gym told me I should be home eating doughnuts. Hmmm...I just do that after I work out. And friends have asked me if my belly bounces when I run. I didn't really know what to say to that, other than "ummm, no."
Ready to pop or not that little tike better stay in there until after Wasatch Back. Please tell her that...daily.
Robyn!! This sounds just like all the comments I got my third time round. I seriously thought "maybe my doc. has it wrong and I do have twins in there." Thank goodness it was only one though. I totally feel for you though and am anxious for you to have your third little one. I kind of think your heart actually grows with each kid. Please call me if you need anything.
I love how candid you are! You totally just lay it all out there. I think it's great. But I don't know how you could write this post + not include a picture of your ginormous belly?! I'm ever so curious now as to how big it really is...
I think it's fabulous that you exercise so much so far into your pregnancy. Kudos to you! I hope that little one stays in there until you're good + ready for it ;)
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