Red Pencil Diaries

Grammar Quiz

I found this quiz linked on Webhamster''s site. So I took it. Woohoo. I''m a grammar God!

You are a GRAMMAR GOD!

eMays Photo Booth :: Baby Ultrasounds

Dave has the ultrasound images posted in our Photo Booth now. The one he''s doctored up with photoshop is just creepy. I don''t know why he felt the need to do it, but he pasted copies of MY EYES onto the baby. And a basketball over the yolk sack?

I prefer the original, untouched version. And the side view images are nice too. In one of them, you can see the umbilical cord. Very cool. I know a lot of people say they can''t see anything in ultrasound pics, but I think these are pretty clear.
So go take a gander at our amazing baby!

World''s Smallest Political Quiz

I took this political quiz and discovered that I''m 70% left liberal. Not really surprising. Just interesting.

Top Secret Recipes on the Web

Many of you may already know about this, but I like to peruse this site every once in awhile. Some good recipes, and sometimes it''s just fun to see what they''ve duplicated and how. I''m gonna see if Dave will re-create the Bennigan''s Monte Cristo. They have a great version of this at The Ice Cream Factory Restaurant over off Dutchman''s. But making it at home will be fun. And it''s oooh so bad for you, but realllllly good. Yum.

We''re having only ONE baby. yay! We had our ultrasound yesterday, and we hope to have the images scanned and on the site tonight. We couldn''t get the scanner hooked up last night.

I''m feeling a bit relieved (I can''t imagine how I would survive with more than one!). But we still have a long road ahead of us. I''m 9 weeks and 4 days now. Yesterday the baby''s size was perfect at 9 weeks and three days. We got to see it sort of "wave" at us with its hand. And its heartbeat was very good. We''re super happy.

Still nervous about the cerclage, but trying to remain positive.

Cerclage

My doctor called the other evening. She explained that we will have an ultrasound at 14 weeks, 4 days to check for birth defects (that will happen on May 24). If all goes well, I am scheduled to have my cerclage procedure done at Suburban hospital on May 25.

I know it''s more than a month away, but I''m getting really nervous about it. Although, I am also excited b/c on Monday (April 19), we get to have our first ultrasound. I''m trying to remain positive. Now is definitely the time for hope and prayers. I guess the next seven months or so will be filled with anxiety and hope. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that all goes well.

Predict Baby Sex by Chinese age and woman conception month

So I''ve heard of these chinese baby predictor tests based on an ancient chinese lunar calendar. So I put in the information, and it says I''m having a girl. So I thought I''d test it. I put in the information from when I was pregnant last year, and it say I was having a girl, which is true.

Very weird. But it seems accurate. Just thought I''d share.

Baby Names! Baby Names! Baby Names! www.BabyNames.com

I''ve been super sick--All day "morning" sickness again. Only this time, it seems worse than before. My prenatal vitamins make it much much worse. So I stopped taking them until my doctor''s appointment on Thursday. I''ve done some reading on "morning" sickness, and many times, it''s worse with multiples! Oh, and I''ve also been super super tired, which is another sign.

Dave was saying that we were having twins. I know he was joking, but now I''m not so sure it''s not true. At least, now I think it could be a possibility. So I decided to look at some new baby names just in case. I mean, we''re sticking with Zoe for a girl and Zachary for a boy. But if there''s more than one, we may need other options...

I guess we''ll find out when we have our ultrasound on the 19th.

furtive explorations

EgAD! It hurts my eyes. It''s all pastel and too pale (it washes out on my screen) and it''s all right justififed. OMG I can''t read it. It just isn''t right.

MSN Entertainment - News - ''Idol'' Pink Slips Pink-Haired Contender

So I admit it. I watch American Idol. I''m not a freaking addict, but I try to tune in each week, but if I miss a show, I go to the web site to see who got bumped. Dave and I suffered through the performances Tuesday night. There are two people on the show who SUCK DONKEYS and don''t deserve to sing each week. But for the past three weeks, they keep getting more votes than anyone.

Jon Peter Lewis looks like a cross between the crocodile hunter and john boy walton. He has the most awful hairstyle (like it''s been greased down on his head like he wore a hat too long in the sun) and moves like he''s having muscle spasms. His voice is the worst. He cannot carry a tune. When he''s on the show singing, I feel so embarrassed for him, I almost need to turn the station. But I usually keep it on, just hoping that I''ll get some glimps of what the rest of America sees in him.

Camile Velasco also sucks equally as much. She dresses like a 7 year old picked out her wardrobe and wears no makeup. And her voice... UGH! She warbles and mumbles and is pitchy and all over the place. She sometimes manages to hit a note and hold it. But not for longer than a second or two. I see the judges shaking their heads every time she performs. But for some reason, America likes her too.

I am convinced that there are tons of young kids who call in each week who have crushes on these two and that''s why they keep making it through the voting process. Which is why I also think it''s great that we don''t let kids below the age 18 to vote in this country. They have poor judgment.

*sigh* One more week of listening to the tone-deaf duo might be too much. I think I might have to skip watching the show soon. In my opinion, Fantasia, LaToya, and George are the true singers on that show. But what do I know?