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One week to go, almost.
We just had our second to last appointment and the baby continues to measure big. And I am big. And tired. And sore. I just don't remember these aliments first time round.

Jack's excitement continues to grow about Rex. (at least I think...) Last night he was telling me that babies can't talk. He was demonstrating different cries the baby could use to try to talk. "That's how babies talk, Mama." He's so smart. How'd he even come up with that?

And then he told me he plans to kiss and tickle his toes. And he wondered if I realized that babies go potty in diapers.

He's obviously been thinking about this for a while.

Tonight we clear out the babies room for the painter tomorrow. I am very, very excited to get that room together. I don't know if I will wash many of "boy" items just in case. Although, I am pretty confident our boy to girl ratio will continue to grow with R2's arrival.

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I am feeling a little better about the new baby's arrival. Things are finally starting to fall into place. We've hired a painter to paint the room (there's just no way we have time to do it), the bathroom, our summer project, is nearing completion and Jack has picked his brother's name.

It's not surprising really. We just should have asked him months ago. He knows what he likes and he sticks to it. He picked Stina's wedding dress and Ma's mother of the bride dress. He just knows, and he let's you know.

We drilled him on it, mixing up the order of the list and every time he picked the same name. So, it's settled. And someday if Baby Rex doesn't like it (and no, it's not Rex) he can go after his brother. (We have also finalized a girl name just in case.)

And no, I am not going to say what we settled on. You can ask me any way you like and I won't spill it. I know, I know. It's annoying. But you know what else is annoying? Everyone's opinion. I don't need to hear it. I didn't name your kid and chances are I don't like the name you chose. So there. Fiesty, I know, but this has been a long struggle.

When we had Jack, we named him and that was it. There was no debate. Jack was my name from like 8th grade. There was no arguing. Even though some people still gave us their opinions -- both good and bad -- it was a done deal. But with R2 everyone wanted to put in their two cents because we couldn't agree. And I realized no two people like the same names. We'd throw out a name and people would give us detailed stories about why that was the most terrible name ever. Thanks for the info. Kinda rude, not going to lie. I am not sure why people feel like they can say they don't like a name. It's not like someone would say, "Hey man, what's up with that shirt?" Why is it OK to challenge the name of offspring? It really doesn't make sense.

I have a whole new respect for people who don't find out the sex or tell the name of their baby. Don't get me wrong, I am baby-name obsessed and I always want to know the sex. And I am 100 percent sure that I will still ask people. But I think I am going to be kinder about it. I certainly will never let people know I hate the name they picked. (And chances are, I will.)

Those who don't give in are actually brillant. There's no input, no feedback. Just you, your spouse and the baby sharing a wonderful secret that will only be revealed at birth.

For Baby #3, that's how we'll roll.

One small addition:
Yesterday was Ma's birthday. Jack's concerns? Did she eat cake without him?! Oh, and he wanted open her gifts for her. Happy Birthday Ma!

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Sept. 10

• It's the 253rd day of the year.
• In 1608, John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown, Virgina settlement.
• It's the day baseball legend Roger Maris was born.
• In 1963, 20 African American students first entered the Alabama public schools.

And it's the day Baby Rex will arrive. We've scheduled his birth.

9.10.07.

He will be born on St. Nicholas of Tolentino's feast day. He is the patron saint of animals, babies (sounds like a good thing), and souls in purgatory. And coincidentally, Nicholas is on our top five list for names right now.

We went to doctor yesterday and between his potential girth, my kidney issues and Joe's schedule, a planned induction was the way to go. There is still a chance I will have to have a C-Section but I really hope not.

And I also talked to my Dr. about having another ultrasound and she basically shot us down. She said in 25 years, the ultrasound technician has never been wrong. Well, that's fine. I guess will have to just see. I don't care if Rex is a boy or girl but now the suspense is difficult. I am betting we will be a house full of boys. But who knows?

Jack is in good spirits about the baby. He told us he's planning to show the baby his trains and play with him. He still insists Rex should live at Ga and Ma's house but we just try to ignore him when he says that. His world is about to be rocked. No more sleeping with his 'rents and staying up late. We need to get these kids on a schedule so I can make it through.

So this entry begins the countdown: Today is Aug. 10 ...

We have 31 days.

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Jack continues to be a speech sponge. Anything you say can and will be used against you. His latest? "Knock it off" and "Oh, man!" We have a suspect for "Knock it off" but we're just not sure where he learned to say, "Oh, mannnnn." And of course, he uses these phrases appropriately -- and often.

This weekend we went to a Baseball Tigers game. Jack wasn't pleased to find we didn't have a seat for him. Three and under gets in free. And of course, we were sandwiched by other fans so there were no extra seats. We had to negotiate to get him to give up his seat for Daddy. But he wasn't happy about it and reminded his father often that he'd given up his seat for him.

And when they announced Magglio, he said to us, "Magglio?! I know Magglio. Hey! Daddy! Magglio!" (And that's when you know there's too much baseball on TV at home.)

Potty training has been going really, really well. He's an old pro. So it really surprised Daddy when his son chickened out at the public restroom and ran out the in door. During the busy game. Leaving a frantic Daddy behind. I was in the girls room when this all occurred but Gramma said you could tell it hadn't gone well when he spotted Jack being carried down the stairs. He stuck with me for the rest of the game.

I think it will be the Saturday night fireworks that stick with Jack. He loved them all. And with each boom he'd say, "That wasn't too loud!" or "Wow! That's cool." He even made friends with a White Sox fan who couldn't resist his pure joy.

On a side note, his teachers were asking him last week if I was having a boy or a girl baby. And Jack told them, "We're having a Baby Rex." And when they tried to follow up and explain, he grew frustrated and said sternly. "No! We're having a BA-BY REX!" They thought this was hilarious of course.