It's a...

Family Changes

Family picture, originally uploaded by sallycphotography.

I've sat down to write this several times but have never really found the way to put it. The thing is, my family has changed a lot in the last year. Last June, my papau passed away. He was the lynchpin on my mom's side of the family - more than I ever realized at the time - and one of the most important people in my life.

After his death, tensions boiled to the surface and I become part of family fights with people I'd never realized felt anything for me in paticular, let alone such bile. Rather than get entangled, I've just stayed out of it as much as possible. As a result, my mom and sister and the only part of my family on that side with whom I know where I stand.

That's the bad part. The good part is that I've started talking more (at least virtually) with my cousins and one of my half brothers. I've married into my husband's family and gotten a wonderful uncle and a grandma out of that deal.

With a baby on the way, there are times when I really don't know how to deal with how different things are. Is it polite to send birth notices to people who don't talk to you anymore? Does it matter? If they blew off my wedding, would they care anyway? I think I've realized that the only thing I can do is give as much of my time and energy as possible to the family and friends who ARE there and who DO care. They're the ones that really matter. They're my real family.

Wordless Wednesday

barrens chat, originally uploaded by sundialinshade2010.

Gender Guessing

Since it's fun and I can, I figured I'd try out some old wives' tales and whatnot to try and determine gender. We're supposed to find out at our April 21 sonogram, so now's the time! I've already had one friend weigh in and say she's sure I'm having a girl. The first quiz I found covered most of the stuff, which was kind of nice. heh

Childbirth.org quiz:
You have a 44% chance of having a boy. And you have a 55% 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.
Boys are carried low. You are going to have a boy.
Sleeping in a bed with your pillow to the north indicates that you will be having a boy. (truthfully, I had no idea which way my pillow faces)
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 didn't have morning sickness early in pregnancy, so it will be a boy.
You are looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a boy, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is even, it will be a boy.
A needle on a thread held over your belly moves in circles, so you will have a boy.
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. (actually, I crave salty and sweet - it just depends on the moment)
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.
Your baby's heart rate is 140 or more beats per minute, so it's a girl. (and, again, I didn't really remember and didn't have my pictures handy to remind me what it was at the last sonogram)


Chinese Birth Chart
This one says boy.

Zits Mean It's a Girl
And if that's true? Totally a girl.