Another little something that I don't remember from the first time around...strangers are fascinated with the pregnant. Maybe it's because I was in New York last time and most people were paying attention to my stomach only long enough to decide whether or not they needed to offer up their seats on the subway. Here, random folks are constantly commenting on my "condition" and my appearance or asking about my due date or the baby's gender. Yesterday two teenage girls gasped as they walked by me and one said, "Ooh, she's pregnant." I couldn't tell if it was more like "Ooh, you smell good" or "Ooh, you stepped in something." Probably something more along the lines of "Ooh, your stomach is HUGE."

About two minutes prior, a man had pointed out that I was expecting ("Indeed.") and then asked how far along I was and whether I knew what I was having. And just before that, another stranger sitting next to me struck up a conversation about how girl babies have faster heart rates than boys and how back in her day that was how you knew what you were having.

All in all, I don't mind. I think that it's sort of sweet. And not such a bad thing to be shown some general goodwill when out and about. Especially in these last few weeks, when I vacillate wildly between feeling on one hand immense and slow and sweaty and on the other brimming with new life and miracles and secrets.