Orville Redenbacher

Lately, I've been feeling like one of those microwave popcorn bags. It takes a minute or two to warm up and you get excited for the first couple of pops, then before you know it, there are bumps and explosions all over the place and the poor bag is stretched to maximum capacity. That's my belly. Every little bump from Chickpea feels like she's* expanding her living space. In turn, I feel stretched and bloated and not a little strange. Still, it's exciting as Dave can feel more movement and I seem to get more empathy from strangers.

In the past week or two, I've had several casual acquaintances, strangers and shopkeepers at shops that we frequent infrequently offer unsolicited congratulations. I was a bit taken aback at first. Isn't it the ultimate taboo to comment on a woman's delicate condition without incontrovertible proof? If you're reading this, you probably know that I suffer from an incurable case of spontaneous indignity, so I have to step back occasionally (at least twice a day) and contemplate my motivations. Upon reflection, I realized that I really don't care if anyone assumes I'm pregnant. I look pregnant, I act pregnant, and even if I weren't, I'd be perfectly comfortable saying, "Thanks for your warm wishes, but it's just gas," without taking offense.

Speaking of spontaneous indignity, has anyone read what Kanye West and Kim Kardashian named their baby? More specifically, what they are planning on calling her? In case you were wondering, it is the very special and unique nickname** that Dave and I came up with in the event that we have a girl child. I can't even believe I'm letting this affect me. Honestly, I'm almost over it, but how annoying can a person be, especially a person I don't even know? The answer is supremely annoying, maximally annoying, I-can't-even-speak-her-name annoying. Okay, now I'm over it 'cause names can't be trademarked and, well, there's not a darn thing I can do about. Just don't you dare ask me if we got the name from so-and-so's famous offspring.

Hong Kong Maritime Museum

The school year is nearly finished, so Dave and I have been taking advantage of reduced duties and half-days here and there. On a recent afternoon, we visited the HK Maritime Museum, conveniently located near the ferry to Lamma Island. It's definitely worth a visit, with beautiful models of ancient and modern ships/boats as well as detailed info about Hong Kong's seafaring history. Take heed, though, as the only restroom facilities are located on the first of three levels at the entrance. So, either take an empty bottle or plan your potty breaks carefully, unless you relish traipsing back through the entire museum several times. I speak from experience.

Dave and me at the Form 6 Graduation Dinner - 22+6 weeks

At the end of each school year, the outgoing class of students hosts a luxurious dinner buffet to thank all of their teachers for their hard work. The dress code is listed as "smart casual" but most students use this as an excuse to dress a la prom. You expect the typical range of very-classy -> this-was-the-shortest-skirt-i-could-find. The principal makes a speech and the students play an awkward video montage thanking each teacher individually. Dave and I received a heartfelt thank you from our student-friend, Yanki, which nearly brought a tear to my eye. 

After the slideshow, I really did feel like crying- the food was that beautiful. It was a pregnant lady's dream - all -you-can-eat at the Shangri La followed by luxury desserts. I know it's not technically on the "allowed" list, but I risked it and ate about 20 servings of smoked salmon with capers. Dave followed suit with the carved to order rare roast beef. All that and we still had access to mini creme brulees, tiramisu, deadly chocolate cherry cake, shortbreads, cheesecake...I ate three of everything. It was a tad embarrassing, as the servers stopped bussing in the middle of my dessert feast so they could serve coffee. I really hate that you can't reuse the same plate at buffets, so you end up with a stack of plates advertising just how piggy you can be. By the way, the above photo is an "after" shot.

Upcoming events: My next doctor's visit is tomorrow. The typical two hour wait for 60 seconds of is-everything-okay-fine-thanks with a listen to the heartbeat. I like that part. Wednesday is our first prenatal class at Annerley Maternity. We'll be learning about birth, labor and relaxation/breathing techniques. Countdown to summer vacation: 23 days.

*This is not a subtle hint. We just settled on feminine pronouns because "it" is too impersonal and "they" is just too painful for certain grammar sticklers.
**Our current feminine front runner is Eleanor. It's a bit of an old-fashioned mouthful, so we thought "Nori" was a very cute nickname. Unfortunately, so did a Kardashian.