You Look Great

I have to say, I have never experienced so many people commenting on my appearance in my life before this. It's kind of odd. The conversation generally goes like this (even with complete strangers):

Query about stage of pregnancy

Query about state of health

Comment re appearance: invariably, "[transition word], you look great!"

I have been trying to figure out what this means. The way the statement is presented, it always sounds like this "looking-great" is somehow unexpected.

Do I look so much better than I did when not pregnant? (Did I really look that bad then?) Do I look better than they expect pregnant women in general to look? And in what aspect? Does it mean I look hot? Happy? Healthy perhaps? Are they trying to reassure me, because in fact I don't look so "great" to them, or because they think that since I'm pregnant, I must be neurotically concerned about looking huge?

Really, I haven't been that concerned about my appearance. When I remark that I've become "huge," it's more that I'm amazed at what's going on, and am still surprised that this big wiggly bump is on me. It's not that I am afraid I'm "fat" or think I'm suddenly "ugly" or whatever.

Although last night when I was sitting on the couch I did notice some new weight gain in my thighs. And that was a strange feeling. Also, my behind now measures 3" more than previously (it's keeping pace with my belly). But I think that's where the nursing weight normally goes; hips and thighs.