The good news is in!

[Out of Order]

Wishing you all the best!!!!

[Shasta]

Agreed, but when I was younger, I loved the idea. Then one day it occurred to me: I can name my child Khrystyne if I want, but everyone who meets her will automatically think "Christine." So not only will very few people realize her name is "different," she'll have to spell it dozens of times a year for the rest of her life.

Thank you for seeing the light!

We've had a girl and boy name picked out forever. The girl name is Olivia Catherine Elizabeth, the two middle names being after both of our mothers, and we chose it long before "Olivia" became popular. If we are ever fortunate enough to have a girl, I can't imagine calling her anything else. I'd prefer if she were the only Olivia in her class, but I guess I couldn't blame the other parents for loving the same beautiful name we do.

I LOVE the name Olivia. I'm really into classic names. They'll always work - which is why they are classic - much like Evelyn!

I think when you know a person well, your perception of that name changes to fit your perception of that person. That's why it's so difficult for people to give their children names of people they dislike. This may come as a shock to some of you, but my real name is not Todash. I know right. It's Evelyn. When I was a kid, I was not super fond of the name, let me tell you, because the only people I knew with that name were at least 70. But you know ... it's grown on me. I like it now. It's who I am, and I wouldn't change it for anything. My name didn't mold me; I molded my name. I am who my family and friends think of when they think of the name Evelyn.

Naming is important! But you'll figure it out.

Not Todash....

No. I can't accept it.

I didn't like Shasta for years either.

I really like Scott but my husband didn't like someone with that name so it's a no!

[Lily Sawyer]

Dana J.'s right - disposable diapers stockpiled for overnight trips where you know you won't have access to a washing machine for the cloth diapers. My grandparents gave my parents a year's worth of diaper service when I was born and they both said it was HEAVEN. They did have disposables for when they took trips, but those were far and few in between.

Get an OB lined up. Start interviewing them. You'll want to be comfortable with whomever is the Designated Deliverer. (Well, I should say intended deliverer, shouldn't I? Sometime the best-laid plans are shot to hell with an insistent newborn.) Figure out if you want to deliver at a birthing facility vs. a full-on hospital.

Folic acid. Neesy's right. Start taking it now. It's cheap and yes, you need the supplement. Multi's don't usually have enough of it for pregnant women. And guess what? Not all pre-natal vitamins are created equal. Ask your OB what he/she prefers you take.

Lady Pain's right on getting your body into the best physical shape possible. And you know what else? Mr. King even had it spot-on when his narrator in "The Breathing Method" likened a woman's body to an engine when it goes into labor. The better-running the engine, the easier the go during a long drive.

A few PMs to HipMamaJen might not hurt, either.

Hey, maybe you'll decide not to have a biological baby - maybe you'll decide to adopt. Groovy either way. Don't let nuthin' or no one tell you otherwise.

And forget trying to name the baby now.....you'll change your mind a dozen times between now and the time your bundle of love arrives.

Just please promise me you won't opt out of vaccinations. There's no reason an infant should die of whooping cough when there's a vaccine against it. The supposed links between vaccines and autism have been debunked multiple times by several well-respected entities. PM me if you want more info. :-)

Congrats on the decision! This is big! And wonderful!

[Moderator]

Only one out of my 4 deliveries was attended by my OB. I'd been introduced to their on-call alternates at one of my prenatal visits so at least they weren't a total stranger but Lily's right about not expecting that the doc you've had all along will be at the delivery so important to know who would be on call.

Also make sure your whooping cough vaccination is up-to-date. If infected, the mom can pass it along to her newborn before they've had a chance to be vaccinated with dire consequences.

[GNTLGNT]

Please don't be funny. I think I have a pretty good sense of humor and can find something to laugh at in most situations, but people who name their kids thinking how witty they are ... it's just not the time. Unless it's really funny. And it never is.

...I'm sorry, guess I don't get what you're meaning-I'm not joking about anything except in the first line...all other suggestions are meant to be helpful-and if you took them some other way-it was not my intention....

[GNTLGNT]

I really like Scott but my husband didn't like someone with that name so it's a no!

..weep, sniffle, snort...

[not_nadine]

Not to be a bummer, but did you guys get yourself's checked out for some unseen fertility issues?

That's a whole nother story that I know too well.

Good luck!

[Shasta]

...I'm sorry, guess I don't get what you're meaning-I'm not joking about anything except in the first line...all other suggestions are meant to be helpful-and if you took them some other way-it was not my intention....

Nope, she wasn't directing that at you. She was telling me not to do that. No worries!

[Shasta]

Caroline and Marsha - Thanks. One of the reasons we are doing this now is that I want my doctors before I move to Portland. I didn't even think my doctor might not be there nor did I even consider where to give birth. And I just realized my doctor is quite far away from my house, especially in traffic. And if I have a problem while at work - oy. It could take me HOURS!!!

And I'm big on vaccines. I'm convinced kids are getting autism from hormones in meat so I'm not worried about vaccines. I didn't think that I should get them as well but I will definitely talk to my doctor about getting them. Thanks!

Caroline - I don't know that I could adopt. I'm not that selfless. That may sound terrible but at least I'm self aware.

GNTLGNT (aka Scott) - I know, right? He's nuts. All of the Scott's I know have been wonderful people. Unfortunately in the baby-naming department we get unlimited vetoes.

Nadine - I can't go there yet. I'd like to just go forward and hope everything happens as I'd like it to first!

[Shasta]

Okay, so I'm going to hijack this thread but I feel like it's okay because it's mine. I got more good news today!

For a very long time my step-sister's husband has been very ill. And this is the only step-sibling I have that I'm close to. He's needed a kidney and a pancreas transplant for about two years now.

Well, we got the phone call today. Trey is in surgery and has already receieved a pancreas. They are waiting to make sure he doesn't reject it immediately and if he doesn't he'll get the kidney as well.

I can't think of better Christmas gift for our family.

It does make me very sad, though, that someone had to lose their life so my brother-in-law could continue his but I also think it's wonderful that that person's death is doing so much good.