Do I have to vote?

I'm here to provide a safe environment for the babe to grow and develop. My emotions and eating habits are all over the map - I need a good cry much more often than the non-pregnant version of myself and any little thing can bring tears to my eyes; I really need something sweet, just a little something - wait, salty - wait, vegetables - wait, yet another pickle - no, what I really want is a doughnut, a HOT Krispy Kreme doughnut. :) My belly is expanding so that if something drops from my mouth or fork it doesn't fall to my less-conspicuous lap, but to my belly. I realized I was to that point when I looked down after Young Women in Excellence last night to see two spots on my shirt at the top of my belly. Hopefully I acquired them after I stood up in front of all of the YW and their parents. Yep, I'm just here to provide that safe environment and let my entire world be changed. I'm just the mom. So why should I have a feeling one way or another what the gender is of this little person I am housing? Why should I be so privileged? :)

I even took this highly scientific test :) and these were my results:

Congratulations!

You have a 50% chance of having a boy. And you have a 50% chance of having a girl.

And Here's Why...
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it's a boy.
The hair on your legs is not growing any faster during your preganacy, so it's a girl.
Girls are carried high. You are going to have a girl.
Sleeping in a bed with your pillow to the north indicates that you will be having a boy.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a boy, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has not been very dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a boy.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You have a craving for salty or sour foods, which means that it is a boy.
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving meats or cheeses, so it is a boy.
Your baby's heart rate is below 140 beats per minute, so it's a boy.
You have no desire for orange juice, so it's a boy.
You are having headaches, so it's a boy.
Your belly looks like a basketball, so it's a boy.
You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
You use the handle of a mug, so it's a boy.

See what I mean...so scientific! :) I see that many of you have voted on what you think this babe is going to be. It's been neck-and-neck the whole time. I guess that shows exactly how I feel. I don't have a clue. I would be equally happy with either one. I would love to have a girl; a mini-me. Well, that is unless she has my childhood temperament. I want a girl-version of Ty. I want all of our kids to be a lot like their dad, actually! I would love to dress her and do her hair and just see what it's like to have a little woman around. A little friend for me. I would also love another little man. I am so in love with the one I already have! When Max was born 17 months ago I quickly became convinced that I would like a whole mess of boys, like my mother-in-law. She had 6. I know that some women have a "feeling" one way or another and sometimes I feel like I'm kind of an out-of-touch mom since I don't have that, but I just don't. I'll be waiting to see with the rest of you. Friday at 3:00 will hopefully be the "hour of truth"!

I know that I sounded sarcastic in the first paragraph, but if you had a sincere conversation with me you would know that I really, really love being pregnant. I love the way I look (most of the time). I love that I have this incredibly personal bond with this miracle who I will soon hold in my arms. I love that I get to feel the movements and by so doing get a bit of a feel for his/her personality. I love the moments when I am alone - meaning without Ty or Max or anyone else - but I am not really alone. I have this precious time to put my hand on my belly and sit in awe of this amazing process and the spirit that will be housed in a tiny, helpless body that I get to care for and raise. I feel honored to be the mother to this new tiny person - girl or boy.