The 8 best-ofs of Pregnancy

1. An explanation for the bloated tummy. In fact, the only time when it is appropriate to "show off" a pooch.

2. Excellent skin with absolutely no product. I actually can attest to this because I ran out of good skin cleanser ages ago and have resorted to using a bar of soap. You got it: rinse, lather, lather some more (bars of soap don't lather easily), apply, rinse.

3. People will offer you their seat just by virtue of having something growing inside of you (the fact that it's about 3.5 ounces (or 100 grams for non-americans) is inconsequential).

4. You can eat as much as you want. Ok, so you can't eat whatever you want but at least you don't get looks when you get up for a second helping of acceptable food (i.e., alcohol-caffeine-raw-unpasteurized free food).

5. You don't feel guilty about not seeing a gym in ages. Kind of relates to point #4 but is so pleasurable that it warrants its own point.

6. You can take naps in the middle of the day. This is more limited when you're at work but one of my co-workers actually suggested that I shut my door and put my head on my desk when necessary. I haven't had to do this yet but I try to take full advantage on the weekends.

7. It gives you something to talk about other than the weather. It's amazing how many people feel like they can relate to you once they know you're pregnant. Especially when they find out it's your first. This brings on all kinds of conversation in situations where you have to make conversation and there's been clear blue skies for weeks.

8. It gives you extra motivation to finish up all those house projects. I know this doesn't really sounds like a "best" thing about pregnancy, I mean who likes house projects (other than a certain DIY person I know), but it's something I really like to have done but find so hard to motivate myself to do (it does however, compete with number 6). Nothing like a ticking clock to set this in motion.