Expecting what? Where’s the evidence? These and other questions my colleagues asked.

No, dear reader, the above photo was never me. Even in a million years, I did not stand a chance of being that popping. Two pregnancies later, the mysteries surrounding both are still just that…mysterious—for me to explain.

From how I only gained 8 lbs. during my first pregnancy to losing 7 lbs. my second time around. I was just as intrigued as the outstanding medical professionals who cared for me.

At times, I was also scared something was wrong with me.

I recalled at one of my appointments during my second pregnancy, the nurse completed my weigh-in and shook her head. Another time, she commented:

“Same as usual.”

With zero weight gain, month after month, it was becoming old. I panicked inside. Why was I losing weight while my baby was growing? What was wrong with me? In the end, though, everything worked out superbly. Both boys weighed 7 lbs. at birth, and the kicker was that I had zero baby weight to lose.

Talk about a sweet deal. This was one.

I know there are many medical marvels globally, and I am not one of them. However, in my world…I was the talk of my household and workplace and became the comical queen.

Pregnant?

Where?

Who, you?

Nope.

Can you show us the proof?

Well, below is the only proof I had on the day I announced my 7 months pregnancy? Can you see the popping bump

Announcing my pregnancy to my employer was no easy task for me. I shared this fantastic life event at seven months but was still without any visible bump to confirm the news I shared.

The questions came fast and furious from my female colleagues, to which I assured them I was pregnant.

And almost 11 years later, I’m still waiting for folks to retract their words and how they doubled down on their doubts about me. No, I was not making stories up or delusional.

And while I can craft a great tale, this was not one of them.

I know I was carrying a child. Besides, time eventually reveals all the truth, and pregnancy is no exception. I would have the last say. And I did 🙂

On the verge of becoming a first-time mom, I was recently promoted to Senior Analyst in another division.

In anticipation of my upcoming delivery and the fact that I would need to take maternity leave, I felt guilty that I would leave my colleagues and supervisor in a difficult spot. To complicate what felt like a personal predicament, another colleague from my division was scheduled to be off around the same time I would begin my maternity leave. That colleague was about to get married the day after my anticipated delivery date.

Talk about timing and life events colliding.

Still, as a conscientious employee, I wanted to share the news of my pregnancy to allow my employer time to adequately plan for reassigning work while I was expected to be on leave.

And so, with all the courage I could gather, I walked into my Assistant Director’s office and shared the news that I was seven months pregnant and would be requesting maternity leave in the upcoming months.

Yes, seven months, along with zero baby bump as proof.

Much to her surprise, or rather a shock, she congratulated me. Again, the most significant evidence was missing; I had no growing stomach to accompany my announcement that I was pregnant.

“Typically,” at seven months, expecting “something” should have been showing by then is reasonable.

Nope. I had nothing.

And so my Assistant Director took my words by faith that my “baby bump” would appear and requested permission to share my news with the rest of the department.

I agreed.

Questions started within minutes of the department-wide announcement

It took only a short time for four female colleagues to arrive at my door simultaneously. Their mission was twofold:

First, hearty congratulations were in order, and second, they refuted my pregnancy claim. One colleague even conjectured that it had to be the following year that I would be due because, with two months out, it was unbelievable that I had no stomach.

It was all in good fun and jest, though.

I was happy with anticipation for my baby and felt blessed and supported by my colleagues. Later, they hosted a beautiful baby shower for me, bringing me to tears.

Becoming a mom has been the single-life-defining event that changed me

Reflecting on my experience and journey with my sweet baby boy turning eight years old in two weeks, I am delighted with profound emotions — too intense for words to express.

As I’ve written prior, motherhood has been a single, life-defining experience for me. No other role, title, accomplishment, position, or experience has challenged but yet dually fulfilled me as a mom to my two darling boys.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes, I feel selfish for having this much satisfaction from my experience as a mom.

However, this is my path, my story, my experience. Hence, I remind myself that my children are my treasures. They are also a heritage from the Lord, and I enjoy them immensely. And yet, there are days when motherhood becomes overwhelmingly challenging, and I want a quiet timeout in my head. Just for an hour, a minute, maybe two, pretty please?

But alas, each day eventually works out…somehow.

And the greatest joy is always when I return to the basics of these two precious souls for whom I was handpicked by the Divine to be called mom.

Phenomenal.