Ohmigod all I want to do is cry now. I got a list of Arlington county day care centers from a pregnant colleague today (thanks, Janet) and called a few to find out basic information about their facilities. The two Bright Horizons facilities I called sound and look fabulous, and will be impossible for me to get into. The one at Ballston -- minutes from my house -- has a wait list of up to two years for its 9 infant slots, with priority given first to NSF employees, second to Federal Government employees, and third to members of the general community (i.e., me). The woman there told me that people do actually sign up once they decide on trying to conceive, rather than wait until actually pregnant. How hypercompetative yuppie is that?? The one at GW -- minutes from my office -- has a similarly long waitlist for its 13 infant slots. The woman who answered the phone discouraged me from even signing up for the wait list, but reluctantly agreed to send me information anyway. Sounds like we are pretty much screwed.