Sugar and spice and everything nice.

Ok, so I've had about 8 hours to digest the news that we are having a girl.

I wasn't scheduled for an ultrasound today. Just the heartbeat and belly measurement. So, Big Man opted not to come because the visit takes, like, ten minutes. I had a super-nice nurse who asked me if I knew if the baby was a boy or girl. I told her that I was dying to know but the baby wouldn't cooperate. She asked me if I wanted to try to find out, and I was like YES! So she grabbed an ultrasound tech, and ran me down the hall to squeeze me in for an unauthorized peek between scheduled ultrasounds. Ultrasound tech said it would have to be quick and if they couldn't tell right away, I would be out of luck. Then she said, "Those are girl parts." And, they were. Even I could tell. Big Man missed it.

So I leave the doctor, and call the Big Man to tell him the news, with the theory that maybe the penis was tucked in, kind of like the serial killer in Silence of the Lambs, but he wasn't buying it. So, we have the "at least the baby's healthy because that's the most important thing" moment, which you say, because that's what your are supposed to say and mean it. And, I will, I'm sure, but at the moment, I'd still prefer a boy. Yeah, I know I'll love the little girl and stuff, but girls are just so scary. What if she turns out like me? Exactly what I need, a little mini-me know-it-all Bethany Jr.

Plus, girls are all insecure, and what if she wants to be a cheerleader? Or what if she wants to play with Bratz dolls or doesn't like football? We just might have to give her away.

According to the nice chart on my blog, I have 111 days to get used to the idea.

**disclaimer**
Dear little baby, by the time you are old enough to read this, it will be because you know about my blog, and therefore we loved you a lot and did not really give you away because you were a girl. So, please (a) lose any thought that you will ever be a cheerleader; (b) don't get pregnant until you are done with college; (c) don't ever listen to your best friend from college and get an ill-placed tattoo (trust me on this one); (d) know that your dad and I did love you a lot from the moment you were conceived, even if you turned out to be a girl.

In other news, a couple came to see our house for the second time; maybe we will get an offer, but they have to sell a house in order to buy. This would make the entire transaction like a crazy set of dominos--The sellers of the house we want to buy have a contract to buy a new house contingent on their sale; we have a contract to buy contingent on our sale, and our potential buyers would have a contract to buy our house if they can sell. Interestingly, the interested couple have a newer, totally renovated house, and really want an old house. Too bad we didn't meet them sooner; we could have traded.

Lots more is on the horizon life-wise, but not ready to dish it out yet. Big news to be forthcoming though.

Taking tomorrow off to spend the day with the Big Man. Possibly a day trip or something. We shall see.

Anyway, have a name picked out for the wee one; I had decided some weeks ago when the Big Man would only entertain Bethany Jr., because we didn't think we were having a girl. Anyway, he liked it enough, so we're set on that at least.

Ok, I'm ready.

The Bears game is almost over; they are going to win. So, damn the rest of the football watching day and let the uterine cramping begin, please?

Baby, kick it into high gear; I'm ready to go into labor now. OK?

In other positive news, Bratz dolls have been ordered by a court to be discontinued after the holidays, so my little girl will never get to play with the little trampy things! Woo hoo!

That at least settles one of my concerns about having a girl baby from my post of August 26, http://betsyboothhill.blogspot.com/search?q=sugar+and+spice

Two days to go; hosptial pre-op tomorrow afternoon, unless I can convince my water to break sooner...here's hoping!