Warning: Belly is for Display Purposes Only. Please. Do. Not. Touch.

I am 38 weeks pregnant and rather large.  My belly is quite huge and my waddle is in full force.  My calves and my feet have molded into a single body part and my toes look like they've been injected with collagen.  I feel, um, how should I put this…ready to BUST at any moment.  I love when people compliment me in my last days of pregnancy.  Even though I want to say "LIAR" to every "oh, you look so cute" comment, I really do appreciate it when people are generous with their well wishes.  There is something about a new life that brings about excitement in friends and strangers, and I like it.  Earlier this week, however, I was a little freaked by an overly aggressive woman at my work that I barely know.  I see her every now and then in the hall and we exchange pleasantries.  Today we stopped and chatted a bit and she told me I was glowing.  You mean the sweat on my face caused by my built in oven??  Yes, that does make for a nice glow.  So we talked a bit and then she reached out her hands to touch my belly.  As her hands hit my baby bump, she asked if she could touch it and then proceeded to rub it several times while we continued to talk.  This caused me to "glow" even more as my sweat glands were in full force from the awkwardness.  Hmmm, what to do, what to do. 

So, I might suggest to all of you that not all pregnant women like to have their bellies rubbed while pregnant.  Touch is probably last on my list of love languages, so maybe it's just me.  It is very strange to me to have friends or strangers touch my baby bump as if I were a canine seeking my next great belly rub.  I appreciate the excitement, but the belly is off limits.