Hey Jakey,

Ta-dah! It's a.... well, we still can't tell. Went to my first official appt with my OB yesterday. She was actually very pleasant and accommodating. I don't know what I was expecting, but she was nicer than I remembered her to be.

I don't know how *other* ladies prepare themselves for trips to the OB/GYN, but it's a very long, drawn-out process for me. Everything must be shaved, loofa'd, scrubbed, rinsed and moisturized within an inch of its life. You'd think this kind of hygiene should be an everyday ritual, but really, there is a difference between "clean" and "clean enough to visit the OB/GYN."

Everything's going along fine so far, found out that I'm about 12 weeks along, which is about 4 weeks less than I thought. Kinda depressing, especially with me ALREADY feeling like I'm 8 months along. It's going to be a long year. Expected due date is 25 November, Thanksgiving Day.

She gave the stamp of approval on my BP (so far), and with the Unisom/B6 regimen, and gave me all sorts of options regarding fetal genetic testing. I guess there have been great advances just in the past couple of years, so that the dreaded amnio just might not be called for this time around. I discussed with her just how traumatic that was for me last time, and she gave me a couple other options. Whew.

Determined from the ultrasound (oh... someday I'll tell you about the "bottoms off" version of the ultrasound; I feel so violated....) that whatever it is, it's human, it's got a heartbeat and it's moving around. AND that there's only one of 'em in there.

Okay, working on the magazine again. Can't believe it's already been three months since the last one. More later. Love you!