I am no expert, but from what I can gather, hatch year males will only show a small patch or two of colored gorget. I would guess that any with full gorgets are at least 2nd year adult males. I am believing that this is a hatch year (juvie) male. I am guessing here, so if I am wrong, please speak up. Thanks. Dave

gibby3000: "I sound like an "old" person talking about how we walked five miles to school in a blizzard...." - and uphill both ways, as my dad used to say. It might have something to do with the way our parents were raised, at least mine. My parents were born in 1929, the beginning of the depression and then were 16 when WW II ended. Times were tough and so many kids had to work to help support the family. They probably expected their own children (us) to do the same. They expected their own children to get out and make their own way. There is an adage (how true it is I don;t know) that one parents differently than they were parented. My parents gave me 6 months from university grad to get out of the house and basically to never bother them again. When grandkids started to come along they moved out of the city so they couldn't be babysitters. As an adult I do not have a close relationship with my parents. As an aside - Schooling is more expensive, at least here it is. Tuition and books have gone up by more than 10X since I was in university but minimum wages have definitely not gone up to keep pace and have only gone up 5X as much, grants are not as readily available for financial assistance. I just can't treat my kids the way I was treated. For me, it isn't a matter of spoiling them or not letting them grow up, it's more a matter of showing them that families are a life long family unit and commitment. It's showing them that our lives are forever intertwined, not in a stifling overbearing way, but in a supportive way. I was not raised this way. That is to say that the way I was raised wasn't wrong but it isn't the way that I will raise my children. Slightly OT - I've already told my 2 sons that when their dad and I die that they are, along with future wives and kids (if that happens) each others families. When I mentioned that to them, it was at a time when they weren't getting along very well, they looked at each other quite surprised. Since then, I have seen a change in them in that they accept each others differences but at the same time have each others back and have begun to like each other.

Is this for real? He has a 28 years old woman who he met 11 years ago. This is not a daughter of his. Its his ex wifes daughter or ex girlfriends daughter. If there is no romantic involvement then there should be no issue in him saying, this is my house, this is my wife to be, new girlfriend and your stay is now overwelcomed,. Make other arrangments you are moving out. Period. Do not move in with this man. He must do either several things. 1. Sell his house and tell this 28 year old woman to get a life and stop leaching off of him 2. Tell her to get out of the house, and stop leeching off of him. 3. Tell her to move in with a friend. Decorating is between you and your boyfriend. Don't give a hoot how long she has lived in this house but obviously she feels its her home and its her business. Are you completely sure there is no involvement between these two.? If not then there is something wrong in her brain. She obviously thinks its her territory.She needs a wake up call and this can only be done by your BF and he needs to ship this woman out. This is not your SD or HIs. THis is a grown woman leeching off of another person. Your BF needs to wake up. Talking is over! Get his action in gear and tell her to get out!

Thanks everyone! We're SO excited! It's starting to actually sink in today. I was pretty sick through all 3 previous pregnancies so I am REALLY hoping to escape it this time around. The nausea would make our schooling quite challenging! Teresa, yes, it was Dances who made the awesome poop shirt for Sophie. I still have it, and I have pictures of Sophie wearing it. She's not 9 YET, but she will be at the end of September. She's been planning her birthday party for the last 6 months. :) Benjamin will be 6 in October, and Oliver turns 3 in November. Patti, I've been around, just don't post often. I pop in to read often, though. I'll post kid pics soon! O.J., it would be great to see you again sometime. Let me know if you're ever in the Toronto area! As for the S.O.B., Sophie figures we should name the baby something that start's with an S so their combined first initials will spell BOSS. :)