And now, for the October edition of Signs!

Baby? BABYBABYBABYBABYDAY.

First, it is physiologically impossible for me to have any Real Medical Signs, so all of these are of the totally metaphorical kind.

Last night, totally weepy at the segment of AFV where they showed various reactions to pregnancy announcements. *SOB!*

Today: Spent the day at my friend’s house, being completely entertained and enchanted with 2 four year olds and a 10 month old. The four year olds liked me even after being disappointed when I showed up, not the Gretchen from Disney’s Recess. The 10 month old is just the right size, a heavy armload of pure smily goodness. She smelled good, she smiled and laughed and tried to stick her fingers in my mouth. She has two teeth (front, bottom) that make her even more adorable. Oh, she is a great baby.

After hours with small children, I went home and talked to Amy. She had seen the AFV thing, and thought of me, so we talked about how I would announce it. (I joked that I would tell my family, but not tell my friends til 13 weeks, at which point she fell dead silent. “KIDDING! Like I’m not going to obsess over EVERY LITTLE THING and then not tell you. Sheesh.”) We talked about the stuff I would need, and how she was imagining being here to help me out when the baby is born. She had even imagined bathing the baby in my kitchen, and how she just can’t freakin’ wait ’til I have one.

After a long, totally baby-fueled conversation, I turned in Oprah to watch her baby shower show. WHen I heard my own parents were coming, I turned everything off, afraid my desire would show through. They just bought a Toyota Sienna for the studio, and they were raving about it. They were trying to convince me to go look at the Matrix. I put them off (having spent the day discussing how we could totally be a one-car family, if it meant I could stay home) by just saying that my Escort is still good, and I plan on driving it into the ground. They left, and I ran in to watch the rest of Oprah. Now, if she had been giving away 600 Matrixes (Matrii?) that would have been proof positive. As it is, my parents have had minivans since they were invented (I was in 6th grade, I think, when they bought their first) until a few years ago when my mom’s was totalled in a car accident. She got an Outback, acknowledging that she didn’t have kids anymore and didn’t need the space. And now, mid-TTC, they unknowingly buy a minivan. Total sign. Heh.

After they left, I ran out to Target to get a bin for our Halloween stuff (We are amassing quite a bit this year, and still have our wedding relics to use as well) and to get a small baby thing, as per Crowjoy’s ritual suggestion. I wanted something small, quiet, and green (apparently, green is a fertility color) so I found a fish shaped teether. I unwrapped it and slid it into my coat pocket, where it will stay as my little fertility talisman. However, while I was there, it was BABY CENTRAL. It wasn’t busy, by any means, but I literally only saw ONE other cart that was sans-baby.

When I got home, King of the Hill was about fertility testing, and a teacher from school called me: the one whose kid is the one that will drive-by hug me, without ever saying a word, and reaffirms my decision to reproduce. (Working in a middle-school, that decision is called into question just about every single day.) (P: She’s also the one who used Clomid to get that kid, so this is a Double Sign.) She’s never ever called me at home before, ever, so that’s why it’s significant. She’s also the one who is allllwaaayys talking about “when [she] was pregnant, this happened. . . .” around me, or to me, but no one else. I think she can tell.

Also, it is October. My mother had no problems conceiving as planned, post-birth control. And both times she conceived, it was in October. Also, all of Dave’s family members — except him and his niece — were born in July, and likely conceived in October. Those twins? Conceived in October. In general good month for me? Yep, October.

Also, one of my favorite kids house burned down this weekend. Probably my most favorite kid, ever. She is the backbone of our class, and has had a terrible year, and has terrible circumstances to begin with, and yet rises above to be one of the best people I’ve ever known. And I’m just sick that this happened to her, and I’m worried about that, too. I don’t know what the sign is there, except that everything can change in one night.