Yes, I Am Pregnant

After learning I was not able to get maternity uniforms, at my next OB appointment I mentioned it to my doctor so he checked AR 670-1, the Army Regulation governing the uniform. 

If a maternity military uniform was not available, the soldier was permitted to wear civilian clothes (business attire) but the Army name tag had to be worn and as much as possible, placed on the civilian attire as close to how it would be worn on the military uniform.  I had to still wear my hair pinned up and no nail polish, etc.  All the other military uniform regulations.

I wasn't thrilled with that idea either.  I happened to really like my Army uniform --I just didn't want to be in maternity BDU's or combat boots.  It seemed wearing a uniform was going to be the easiest and least expensive option.  They did have a maternity Class B uniform, which was the green pants (or skirt) and green dress shirt.  I liked that option the best.

And . . . turns out, that ended up being what  I wore.  Clothing Sales finally got the maternity Class B's in but the BDU's were still on back-order.  I got myself 2 skirts, 2 pairs of pants, 2 short sleeve shirts and 1 long sleeve shirt.  We still had to wear pantyhose with Class B's so I got myself several pair of maternity hose.  I wasn't about to wear low-quarter shoes (very ugly uncomfortable orthopedic looking shoes) and high heels were not a good pregnant option --so I also purchased myself a pair of low-heeled black shiny shoes.  They had a very small wide heel which was a perfect option for my maternity state and yet, still fashionable.

I was to the point where my regular clothes no longer fit in fact, I was wearing maternity civilian clothes off-duty but I was still trying to squeeze myself into my regular uniform--and I finally decided my baby needed room to grow and  wearing my regular BDU's with all the buttons undone wasn't the most comfortable way to spend an 8-hour duty day . . .

So one day I walked into the JAG office, much like I did every other day, but this time I was in a maternity uniform ----

And mouths just dropped open and people stood there starring at me . . .

---Are you-----I didn't know you were -----is that uniform -----are you --------

Yes, I am pregnant.
Well no, I have not told anyone.
Of course you could not have known.
You thought I wasn't married?  Oh well, I'm not.
Yes, he's a soldier. 
No, he's stationed in Germany. 
Of course he knows.
We are talking about getting married.
I feel fine.
November 15.
I just didn't know how to tell people.
The maternity BDU's are on back order. 
I know I have still been running PT.  My doctor said it was okay.
Yes this is a maternity uniform and so yes, that does mean I am pregnant.

Those were the things I said over and over and over that day.