In which our heroine sustains a blow to her self-esteem

I've felt pretty good about my post-baby body. Lots of changes took place for sure, but a year after Peanut's birth I was a few pounds below where I was before getting pregnant. I chalked this up to lots of breast-feeding and the miles and miles we walked in those earlier months when I was trying to get out of the house and regain some sanity on those days when Peanut just wouldn't nap. Regardless of how or why it happened, things seem to be on the upswing so-to-speak these days. A few pounds here and there and while I can't say I'm worried about it, the winter clothes are feeling snug. Especially when you consider that I'm so cold in my in-laws' house (which I HAVE mentioned has no central heating right?) that I'm usually wearing a haramaki, long underwear, a turtleneck, a sweater and often a fleece on top of all that. Needless to say, things are tight.

Knowing all of this is true doesn't make the following any easier to take. Tonight after dinner, my mother-in-law asked if my stomach was okay. I thought she was asking if I'd had enough to eat (in some round-about fashion) and while she may have been doing just that, she then went on to say I look like I have a second baby in my belly. Ouch. Considering we more or less haven't been "not-trying" to have another baby lately if you get my drift, with nothing to show for it (here we go again), this was a blow to my self-esteem on multiple levels. Guess it's time to start my exercise regime again. You know. In all my spare time.