Nonian, I'm with Cindy. I can't imagine caring. The pre-emptive "I'm sure you're as thrilled..." sounds like a good thing. Or, any way to tell the MIL and let her tell the FIL?

{{connie & DH}} I hope everything goes quickly, painlessly, easily and has a quick, painless, easy solution.

Cereal:

I am calling in "sick" to work tomorrow so I can get stuff done around the house *and* get some rest.

is there a MIL attached to the FIL who can be approached to give a pre-emptive clue-sticking should such a thing be needed?

She's not in the country at the moment or else I would go that route. I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but it's sort of known in the family that niece #2 was kind of a disappointment. I can't imagine caring myself, and I know DH will be happy either way. I guess if I hear anything that sounds like disappointment I will feel the need to call him on it and I just want it to be a happy experience.

Plei - thanks for the OJ tip. I've felt the baby move on and off, but I'm hoping for cooperation tomorrow. I may try OJ instead as caffeine has made me nauseous during pregnancy.

connie - much ~ma to you and DH tomorrow.

Jeepers, Nonian. You're nicer than I am - I'd be tempted toi draw blood if someone grumbled about the baby's gender. I do like the idea (if the blood-draw isn't feasible) of that "We're thrilled to tell you, it's (insert!)"

connie, ughughugh. Nasty.

deb! I missed you on TV this morning, but from everyone's reports it sounds like you looked great and were very cool.

Nonian, I think we startled Hannah Storm. I got the definite impression she was expecting me to be wide-eyed or flustered and, well, um, no.

She should have known - buffistas are never boring.

Nonian, I think everyone has great advice. Good luck!

I just got back from grocery shopping. Annabel was sitting in the child seat part of the cart, and enjoying herself hugely as she almost always does any time we take her out of the house. But at one point I looked down to discover her chewing as hard as she could on the metal of the shopping cart, the part she could reach by bending forward. Now, I'm far from a dirt-averse or germ-paranoid parent--my philosophy is that she's a strong kid, so she might as well start building her immune system sometime--but still, EWW. I tried offering her pacifier instead, but she thrust it aside and went back to shopping cart.

Silly baby.

Nonian. I will probably get shot down for this, but have you considered telling your FIL ahead of the scan of your fears? He may not realize what a downer he is being. Tell him you are afraid he will throw cold water on your joy. I have noticed that many family problems come from non communication.

I suspect that if he has any brains he will at least try to mask any dissapointment. I also suspect that he is just following a family speech pattern.

Susan, they used to sell padded bumpers that you could snap over the shopping cart handle while you were using it, and launder, afterwards. Safety First or one of those companies used to market them.