We had an old secondary school (high school) friend over for lunch yesterday. She lives in a suburb north east of Toronto with her husband and 3 sons. She is also preggers and her fourth child is due approximately 2 weeks before PD's ETD. We had lunch at her's before Christmas so it is ironic that we were both sitting at her dining table then wholly unaware that we were both preggers. She is hoping for a girl, and after spending the day with 3 very well behaved yet boisterous boys aged 7,5 and 3, we are rethinking the whole wanting a boy issue. They are a different breed altogether. We are also now THOROUGHLY CONVINCED that 2 is the LIMIT. Well, for me 2 has always been the maximum, and I would have been happy with Sash, but D was as yet uncertain...hmmm, maybe we should have had the boys over for lunch last November. He was so affected that he called his Dad to ask how having 7 kids did not drive him absolutely insane...hahahaha..FIL said "What makes you think I'm not?". Having said that, Sash was having a grand old time trying to keep up with the big boys (and yes sweetie, you will be doing this your whole life), wanting to mimic their every action during our walk to the park after lunch, from throwing snowballs into the stream to jumping into every puddle she came across. She was so taken with them that she even tried to get into their minivan as they were leaving...and to think we were worried about her socialization at one point.

We are planning to meet up again, hopefully soon. Probably during the Summer after we have both delivered. Her Mum will be flying in from USJ (a suburb outside KL)to help with her confinement, and as she will be confined at home for the duration, we will be the ones going to hers as I will not be allowed outdoors. If all goes as well as Sash's delivery, we will be back in Sherwood Park for our walks as soon as PD is home. She did ask me what I am doing confinement wise, and she seemed surprised that I am not following the traditional route in that regard. I, on the other hand, found it rather curious that she would be going through all that trouble and expense to stick to a tradition which really is only practicable if one has the required support system (cook, masseuse, nanny etc). She asked me if I wanted her Mum to get me some massage oils and herbal baths for me. I had to decline nicely and explain (again nicely) that it would be slightly challenging for me to entertain Sash, take care of the newborn, and still take time for a herbal bath. And I really don't have the time, or inclination, to take a "Massage yourself" class. Very sweet of her to offer though. She also asked if I am at least restricting my food intake to confinement food. As I have no idea what the heck confinement food is (apparently contains lots of ginger to heat the body), my food intake will be restricted to the many restaurants in the area that deliver, preferably sashimi or penne arrabiatta, and as for the heating the body issue, it will be in the middle of August for Gods sake..nature will heat my body fine. I get the feeling that she disapproves of my non-conforming to appropriate post-natal behaviour. I however would rather poke my eyes out with blunt wooden chopsticks than eat ginger infused bland food while under house arrest at the height of Summer. Ok, maybe I will relent slightly and check out the Shiatsu massage center round the corner.

During lunch, we were chatting about the boys' personalities. Friend's hubby mentioned that while on a Disney cruise they took a few years ago, the boys were asked to pick one toy. The eldest chose a Minnie doll, while the other 2 chose Mickey dolls. Hubby tried to persuade eldest son to choose a Mickey instead. He refused. Hubby is relieved though that eldest son recognizes that his choice may have been sissy-fied (in his own words) and he only sleeps with Minnie when he is alone and hides it in the closet when visitors are about. I generally do not criticize anyone for their parental strategies, but I just laughed and said that it is strange that he would think that way. If it were my son, I would be much happier that he sleep with Minnie than Mickey. Heck, a Barbie would even be better. I just said this on a lark, but I think Hubby plans to go straight home and hide the Mickey dolls. D told me later that night, as we were having our hot cocoa, that PD can sleep with a cross-dressing baboon doll for all he cares. Just as long as he never feels the need to hide it from anyone....