That's ME!!

I love sharing food. If someone comments on how good my food smells/looks, I have to buy/cook it for them.

I love giving gifts. I love the expression on a person’s face when they receive a gift they weren’t expecting.

I love getting gifts. Any gift. As long as I sense it is being given with sincerity.

I cannot cry in front of people I don’t like. I think I have mentioned it before.

I can laugh and carry on a good conversation with people I don’t like. They will never know unless I decide to make it obvious – and I don’t have the heart to do that to ANYONE!

I get pissed by parents who don’t “parent” – leave their kids to run around and demolish other people’s property, let them bully/hurt other kids’ feelings knowingly and, worst of all just shrug off their kids’ tantrums/bad behavior with “What can I do? He/She doesn’t listen to me”. Well, for goodness’ sake, show them who the parent is – will ya?!!

I give advice too easily and readily. Have been working on overcoming that but I guess that is an inborn trait with all Leos :P So, if you aren’t looking for an advice, tell me so before you start your sob story :- ) I am a very good listener – so do tell me the story.

I like commercials (especially in Indian Television programming) better than serials.

I like to read murder mysteries, adventure thrillers and stories/novels about old times which reflect the lifestyle during those days. I loved reading “Gone With the Wind” for that reason. I was fascinated by the description of how girls were expected to dress and behave in those days.

I used to yell at my daughter quite often. Then I realized how scared she must feel with someone double her height (that was waaaaaaaaaaaay back when – she is a tall kid, going to overtake me in height real soon) yelling at her. I have controlled that habit very well now – I rarely yell at her (or at least so I think!)

I can’t enjoy foods I used to anymore in this pregnancy. Yesterday I took one bite out of a pizza slice and LEFT IT ON MY PLATE!!! I never thought I could do that! I used to devour the WHOLE pizza!! (I kid you not)

I can remember first names and last names with correct spellings even for the most complicated names for ALL the users I support (over 50 currently).

I CANNOT remember names of people I meet in social settings (like a party) just 10 minutes after meeting them. I guess I should assign them all user names and then I will remember them :P

I don’t hate anyone. I intensely dislike only a few people. I get along well with most.

I get truly embarrassed if someone keeps on praising me for something. I like it the first time, I get uncomfortable the second time, I ask them to change the subject the third time, I change the subject for them after that. Happened to me recently, after I spoke on behalf of Teaching Assistants of my daughter’s school at a Board of Ed meeting.

I love my daughter dearly. I sometimes worry if I will love the new baby with same intensity. Is that totally insane??

I prefer email communications over phone conversations. If you really want me to get back to you about something, guess what you shouldn’t do? Leave a voice message or write an email? :D

I work well under pressure because then I really can prioritize and get rid of the unnecessary tasks. That cuts my work in half! :D

I love receiving hand-written “Thank you” notes. I save them. (maybe because there are so few of them???)

I can sit still for long periods of time – but not completely. My fingers/toes twitch when I do that :-)

I can carry a tune, but I can’t sing. I would love to learn to sing and dance.

I want to write at least one book. And being a Leo, I want it to top the charts :D

I want to get either an MBA degree or a Ph.D.

I want to open my own “Chat Corner” when I am ready to retire from IT. I have been told it will be very successful. I already have a client base drooling over the possibility :-)

If I eat something at a friend’s place that has been terribly cooked, I want to grab them and show them how it should be done – that “leo” in me again! In the least, I want to cook it at home as soon as possible so I can really enjoy it. But I NEVER say I didn’t like it to the person who cooked it (I might keep mum and not say ANYTHING) – the thought of all the effort he/she must have put in it makes me keep my mouth shut.

I can’t give false praise.

I used to love my husband a lot.
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I STILL love him – "LOTTER". Gotcha with that one!!

One more hurdle - Crossed!

We had been waiting for the First Trimester Screening results. I had the test done last week - it involves an ultra-sound and some blood work. It indicates the risk level that a woman has of delivering a baby with Down's syndrome or Edward's syndrome. For my age, the risk was 1 in 220. This test has a high rate of false positives. Our doctor suggested we go for amniocentesis which is a 100% accurate. We were very apprehansive about that because there is a slight risk of miscarriage associated with it. Then I found about Genetic ultrasound that is totally non-invasive and can predict with upto 99% accuracy, the chances of the baby being born with chromosomal defects. But now it seems none of that is necessary (and Boy! Am I giddy with relief while typing this!!) - my First Trimester Screening results came back with a risk of 1 in 3,420 for Down Syndrome and 1 in 7,001 for Edward's syndrome! That is around the level of risk that a 20 year old woman has of delivering a baby with chromosomal defects. So, now I am waiting to ask my doctor if I can officially declare that I am 20 years old! :-) A coworker mentioned how I was "glowing" and my hair seemed darker. My reply? "Of course, because I am just 20 years old!" You can tell I am enjoying this :P

Another coworker told me a blonde joke :

A blonde finds out she is pregnant and goes "Oh my God! I hope it is mine!!". I said without missing a beat "Oh, I sure hope this is mine since I had it with IVF!" What?? You don't find it funny? Come on!!!

Oh well...

My daughter told a friend of hers the BIG news. This is how the conversation went -

Daughter - My mom is pregnant!
Friend - No!
Daughter - Yes, she is!!
Friend - NO WAY!!
Daughter - YES Way! (This seems to be turning into a shouting match)
Friend - She can't be - you're 8!!

I still smile when I think of this.

I have just begun the 4th month and I have already been feeling this flutter in my lower abdomen. I wonder if it is gas. I like to think it is the baby's movement and don't you say otherwise becasue then you'd be messing with BIG TIME pregnancy hormones!