Week 13

The second trimester is literally around the corner. My progression picture this week is pretty true to myself. I'm not a huge fan of layering on makeup everyday, but I tend to do it anyways, thanks for that, society. However, when I'm pregnant, makeup is really the last thing that I want to worry about. I look like a goblin, but somehow I feel beautiful :) My little man (Ezra, 21 months) is not feeling well today so this mama has other things to do than worry about my face ;)

It's been a pretty eye opening week for me now that things are back to normal. Now that I am becoming noticeably pregnant, I am receiving congratulations, but sometimes stares. I am younger with two younger children, and now sporting a belly bump, so I knew that was coming. I know that comments and questions will only increase as my belly expands, but I'm learning how to respond to strangers. It's easy to just accept them from people that I meet in the grocery store, but how do I respond to those that I see on a regular basis? My daughter (Paisleigh, almost 5!) is in ballet and gymnastics where some of the moms have began to notice. I don't walk up to people and start the conversation with "Hi, I'm Kailey, and this is not my baby." Honestly, I try to avoid the "baby conversation." The ONLY reason I want to avoid it is the mixed reactions I know I will eventually come in contact with. I have received nothing but positive responses because I've surrounded myself with positive people who support my journey. Strangers that I encounter, however, I cannot foresee their reactions. There's a huge stigma that comes with surrogacy that the surrogates are low income, poverish, and uneducated women. This could not be further from the truth. At least through my agency, we are not. Very few of us are stay at home mothers. Although I am none of these stereotypes, I don't want to have to justify or defend my reasons for becoming a surrogate to a stranger during a two minute exchange with a being I may never see again. This is something I knew I would have to face once I become a surrogate, but now it's here, and I'm going to learn to deal. As the encounters come, I will post about them and let you know how I dealt with them so hopefully it will help future surrogates :) I have never been one to care what people think, and I sure as hell will not start now. I would just rather avoid the ignorance.