:)

A few comments from my students regarding my pregnancy (I'm sure the first of many of this type of blog):

"Mrs. Abell, are you going to have a baby?" (1st grader)
"Yes I am! How did you know?"
"You have a BIG tummy."

Same student with more first graders minutes later: "Mrs. Abell, do you know what your baby is going to look like? Will it be a girl baby or a boy baby? Do you like girls or boys better? Do you know if it will have your hair? I think it should, because your hair is pretty... Could you bring the baby to school?! We'll be really nice to it..."
"We'll see honey, the baby won't be here for a long time. I'll definintely bring you a picture when I come back to school"

I went to help a student who couldn't follow teacher directions, was hitting the teacher, and wouldn't stop screaming and crying at the top of her lungs. I quietly and calmly explained that she needed to calm down so she could hear her teacher's directions so that she could know what to do next. Her response: "Mrs. Abell!! I bet your baby does NOT like all my yelling. I should stop now." And, she stopped. Completely. :)

K students (as I was leaving the no-longer crisis): "Mrs. Abell, can I give your baby a hug? I love babies!!" "Mrs. Abell, I'm SO GLAD you are having a baby. I know you'll be a nice mommy." "Mrs. Abell, I made you a present for your baby" (Handing me felt wrapped up with crate paper)

4th graders 15 minutes after being told I'm pregnant:
"Mrs. Abell...we're going to have to have a sub aren't we?! I don't like subs!!"
"Yes, you will, but I'll come back to hear how great you were!!"
"Good!! So you'll only be gone like a day to have the baby, right? Then you'll come back?"
Another student's response: "No silly!!! She'll be gone for like 5 days to take care of the baby, then she'll be back!!"
"5 days?!?! That's a really long time. I don't know if you can be gone that long..."
me: "Well, it'll actually be longer than that, but I'm sure you won't even notice..."