Cassandra

Lately I've been seeing a crop of articles about the "Most Annoying Things to Say to a [Pregnant Woman/New Mother/Space Alien, ect] Some of those things annoyed me- and some didn't. Whether your kids are babies or teenagers, what is the most annoying comment or question you've had to deal with? How do you usually respond to it?

We're waiting for our son to get his shots before he goes out in public places, however, I still feel strange about letting strangers touch my son. I've seen other people have it happen to them all the time, even when the children are covered- people will lift the covers to touch the baby's head, or stick their face in.

Did anyone else feel this way with their children? Is it just being extremely protective? What did you do?

So my husband and I recently had our first child together last Wednesday and were released home on Friday. Since then, it's been a nonstop parade of people in and out of the house- something I can't stand. Now, my FIL only lives 10 minutes away, so it's not like he has to fly back home and won't ever get to see the baby.

I'm exhausted, and sick of having to play hostess. He'll come over two or three times a day, occasionally with other family, just showing up without calling or anything. They'll stay for an hour or two or three, battering me with unsolicited advice and still expecting me to cook for everyone. The other night they stayed until way passed dinner [which I had only planned for my husband and myself] and then asked "Well what's for dinner?" When I explained I hadn't planned anything for a crowd, they complained that they were hungry too.

I really want to find a way to deal with this without ending up in a family war. Any advice?

Or is it just whenever anyone feels like it? We had no set breakfast or lunch time growing up, but dinner was usually around 5:30, when my dad would get home from work.

Tomorrow my sister is having a small family party before graduation [about 15 people]. We're getting a large meat and cheese tray for sandwiches, as well as a cake. Someone is already making pasta salad and deviled eggs and my mother already baked every kind of cookie imaginable. Any ideas for something easy and good to make? Usually I'd do dessert but there's already plenty of that.

I'm still a little early to be worried about this, but from all the horror stories I've heard about being induced, I'd rather deal with a C-section. Has anyone had this done? If you've been induced, how did it go for you?

I'm down to the final few weeks of pregnancy, and for the past few days I just can't help but feeling depressed. I want him out, and I'm excited to be able to meet him, but at the same time there's this overwhelming feeling of sadness too. Ive heard of postpartum depression, but not of anything before the baby comes. Has anyone else had this?

[Please, I don't want to hear, "Go to the doctor." I just want to know if anyone else has felt this, and if it faded.]

is it okay to just use regular syrup, like Aunt Jemima or Mrs. Butterworths, or do you HAVE to buy the expensive stuff? I just don't want to buy something that will hardly get used, BUT I also don't want to ruin the recipe. It's for Sweet Ribs, and calls for two tablespoons.

I'm spilling out over my current bras, [33 wks] but can't see the point in buying an expensive bra I'll only wear for a few weeks. Will I go back down to the size I was before, or should I plan on staying this size and buying more bras?