Matt and I "met the doctors" at BI hospital last week.  It was an Q&A session where pregnant (and there were A LOT!) women and their "partners" got to grill the OBGYN doctors that could potentially be delivering their babies!  First off... there were a LOT of pregnant women there.  One couple brought her parents and Matt thought it was the 2nd coming of Abraham and Sarah.  The entire auditorium was packed and EVERYONE was HUGE!  I by far was the smallest there, but also because there were not a lot of May delivery dates there...

Secondly... we were VERY unprepared.  These women had LISTS of questions to ask the doctors.  I on the other hand had nothing.... and was too occupied trying to figure out if that burrito I just downed will give me heartburn.  Does this make me a bad mom?  They were talking about birthing plans gallore... Matt and I turned to each other and said our birthing plan is to have the kid... isn't that everyone's plan?  What happened to the days where you just go and the doc makes all the decisions...?

Lastly.... ignorance is BLISS!  These women asked questions gallore... using terms I've never even heard of.... So before I went to this "informational" meeting, I wasn't really thinking about delivery.  I was just trying to get through pregnancy.  Yeah I heard it hurts, but it wasn't real at that point.  After listening to everyone's worst case scenario questions... I was scared.  Matt said I looked pale...I would just rather not know.  Right there and then, I called it quits.  I don't know if labor and delivery is right us...

Then, we did the stupid thing of going on the tour.  WHY?!?  I don't know.  Seeing the labor and delivery room did not appease my fears.  Having the eager woman next to me ask if they would get to have mirrors in the room grossed me out.  Right there and then, Matt called it quits, basically asked me why I was pregnant.  It grossed Matt out to the point he asked why couldn't it be like the olden days when the men waited in the waiting room.  I told him, that he better be in that room... and not looking at anything but my pretty face.

Maybe if i was younger... more fearless, it wouldn't be that bad.  I feel with my old age, I'm getting more cautious... less days of throwing caution to the wind, less days of wanting to tackle an issue head on. Everyone says that it's all about the 'after'... when the child is in your arms, you forget and it was all worth it.  I don't know.... is it?  Adopting a child is just as worth it... no?  Sometimes.... not knowing is better.  Sometimes, going into a situation blind is priceless. 

For Matt's Christmas present, we're not finding out the gender of our child.  He says it's more fun.  Me?  I'm curious as curious george and am dying to find out.  I'm that woman that face is 2 inches from the ultrasound monitor trying to figure out if I can distinguish a finger from a penis!  People have asked why don't I just find out and not tell Matt... That's not even an option b/c I would just blurt it out.

Every morning, I ask the magic eight ball if it's a girl or if it's a boy.  So far, boy is winning.  I'm 60% convinced b/c it did predict that L and A's babies would both be boys.  I've also looked at lists discussing old wives tales in gender determination.... except, it's a toss between boy and girl....what the hell...case in point, see below... Maybe the baby is making it hard for me to find out b/c it knows that its dad doesn't want to find out.  My friends that are moms told me that they knew it was a boy or girl... me?  one day it feels like a boy, another it feels like a girl....  I guess this non-stop guessing is supposed to be fun!?!

• You did not face morning sickness in the initial phase of pregnancy - no
• Your unborn baby's heartbeat count is less than 140 beats each minute  - it's right around 140
• You are carrying additional weight out front - i carry weight everywhere
• Your belly appears like a basketball - not much of a belly at 20 wks, more beer gut than belly
• Your areolas have darkened very much - what's much?
• You are carrying low - yes, but it's also b/c it attached on the low side
• You want to consume salty or sour foods - depends on the day, yesterday it was cake and popcorn
• You are craving protein like meats and cheese - no
• Your feet remain colder in comparison to the time prior pregnancy - yes, but it's winter
• The hair of your legs has grown quicker during pregnancy - it's the same
• Your hands are quite dry - not noticably
• Your pillow faces north while you are asleep - i don't understand this
• The dad-to-be (your husband) is putting on weight along with you - he did at first (1-2 lbs), but got food poisoning and lost it all
• Pregnancy has made you look better than before - no
• Your urine is bright yellow in hue - some days
• Your nose is spreading  - what?
• Your wedding ring moves in circles when hung over your belly - haven't tried yet
• You are experiencing headaches  - once in a while.. but i thought it was a pregnancy symptom
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number  - YES

•  You experienced morning sickness in early stages of pregnancy - no.. no sickness at all
• The heartbeat rate of your baby is at least 140 beats each minute - right around 140
• You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear  - I've always carried weight in hips and rear
• Your left breast is bigger in comparison to your right breast - haven't compared
• Your hair gets natural red highlights - no
• You are carrying high - no
• Your belly looks like a watermelon - no.. like a beer gut
• You want to have sweets - some days...
• You are craving fruit - once in a while
• You want to have orange juice - for a week early in the pregnancy
• You do not appear quite as nice during pregnancy as during normal times - does anyone look nice pregnant?
• You are moodier than usual during the phase you are expecting - i thought this was every pregnant woman
• Your face breaks out more than usual - for a couple of weeks early on
• You decline eating the heel of a loaf of bread  - no, bread is one of my favs a the moment
• Your breasts have really blossomed! - i thought all womens' boobs get bigger..
• Your pillow faces south when you are asleep - huh?
• Your urine is a dull yellow in hue - some days
• Your wedding ring moves from side to side when hung over your belly - haven't tried
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number - no

So basd on my answers, what is it?  Girl or boy?  We're in the process of picking names... it's not easy when your hubs likes to veto everything.  I gave him a list of 30 names, half boys and half girls... he picked 3.  So far we have Luke and Naomi as the leading contenders.  But that may change in a day... we'll see.

My sister decided to move her stupid butt over to a land of warmth, sunshine and blond hair, aka California.  My sister, the native east coaster, has suddenly become a BIG proponent of the west coast.  And why? b/c it's warm.  HELLO, she has east coast blood in her, warm was never a priority.

Anyways.  When she comes to visit, we have a blast.  We tend to eat a lot, cook together and shop.  Not to mention playing games (wii, scrabble, and anything else we compete at).  We got to talking, is it better to have someone you love visit you periodically where you have a blast for a week or two, or is it better to have them live close by so you can see them whenever you feel like it?

I do think if she lived down the street, we'd probably fight more, and not spend so much "happy" time together.  But then again, it would be great to see her on a Sunday night to have dinner together and catch up.  She did mention that we probably wouldn't call each other as much if she lived down the street.  I was wondering, does distance truly make the heart grow fonder?