Boy or girl? An Old Wives' Tales post

I am a few days from baby bean being half baked, which means we'll be finding out the sex soon! I know everybody loves to make their guesses, and I have fun playing along, so I thought it would be fun to look up all the old wives' tales on how to guess the sex. I'll let you know later on which ones were correct! After all, they all have a 50/50 chance. With some of these I had to ask Alex because I am the worst when it comes to determining something about my own looks.

Here's my 18 week bump, so you can come up with your own opinion/predictions!

Carrying High or Low?
This is a well known old wives tale – so many people will want to look at your belly and think they can guess just from looking! So as the tale goes, if you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.  
 Alex says high = girl

Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?
If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way.
Soft = girl



What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
First, to set the record straight, until it’s born, your baby’s heart rate will not be affected by it’s gender. But so they say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm. A study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine (1996) has dismissed this theory, as has other research. Your baby’s heart rate will change often during a pregnancy, depending on the baby’s age and it’s movement. Anything from 120-160bpm is normal for an unborn baby.
The heart rate has been anywhere between 152-180bpm = girl

Your Flowing Locks
Has your hair become thinner and dull? Or full-bodied and glossy? Thin and dull says girl, gorgeous and glossy says a boy.
My hair has been thicker and fuller, but also drier and a bit dull = ?


Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy kilos are said to give us an insight into your baby’s gender! If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you have been carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!
I think most of it went to my tummy, but some of it did go to my hips/love handles = boy
Alex's weight is the same as it was 10 years ago...= boy


Numbers…
If you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.
Conceived in Oct, and I was 22 = 32 = boy


Sweet, Salty or Sour?
Another well known old wives tale!!! Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? if so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy. It’s also said that if you are having a boy, you will crave protein like meat and dairy.
I was craving spicy food, and I want sweets, but I'm very particular about which ones...they have to be "fancy" sweets, like lindt truffles, cheesecake, homemade pie, etc. Store bought cookies, and boxed brownies just don't do it for me right now. And meat is somewhat revolting. = girl


Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl.
Pendulum = girl

Got Morning Sickness?
Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.
None at all = boy

How About Those Cold Feet?
If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!
I think they're the same = girl

How Do You Look?
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favours? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too fresh, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
Alex says better than ever (he's so sweet!) = boy
I don't feel like I look as good = girl

Pimples, Schmimples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.
Definitely breaking out! = girl

Are You A Lefty or a Righty?
When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.
I usually start on my left, flip to my right, fall asleep on my left, and continue turning all night = ?

Check Out Your Wee!
Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl. On a serious note though, if you have dark urine, up your water intake as you may be dehydrated.
Dull. I've been doing my best to stay hydrated anyway! I think this is one of the silliest OWTs ever = girl

What Does Your Belly Look Like?
A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.
Alex says watermelon = girl

Hairy Legs?
Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy.
 Mine have been normal, maybe even slower! = girl

If a toddler shows interest in you, you are having the opposite sex of the toddler. For example, a girl toddler expresses interest in you means you are having a boy.
Jacob has been quite clingy = girl

If you are moody, you are having a girl because of all the extra female hormones. 
Yes! I have been insanely moody = girl

If the linea nigra stops at the belly button, it's a girl. If the linea nigra goes all the way to the bottom of the rib cage, it's a boy.
Don't have one at all =?

If your face swells and gets rounder, it's a girl. Long and narrow face, a boy. 
 I have never had a long narrow face, but I think mine has gotten a bit rounder = girl

If you find yourself clumsier with pregnancy, it's a boy. If you remain grounded and still in control of your body, it's a girl.
Not any more clumsy than usual...most of the time = girl

The final tally is:
15 = girl
5 = boy
3 = ?

The long-time coming pregnancy rant

In case you missed it...which -unless you're a facebook friend- you have. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant with baby number 2! I guess this post is my blog announcement.

Now, when I was pregnant with Jacob, I thought I experienced some pregnancy hormones. And obviously I did cause pregnancy changes hormones, but compared to how emotional, irrational, and easily irritated I am with this pregnancy, those "hormones" were a walk in the park.

We all know the phrase "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." And for the most part, I have done that (except when talking to Alex about all the irritating things people do. Poor man, he has been a saint putting up with me lately)

It was brought up to me that maybe doing a once a month "pregnancy rant" blogpost might be a good way for me to vent, and it might reach some readers who find it amusing or familiar. So I figured it might be worth a try. But, for the sake of feelings all around, I won't mention specific people. I will try to keep my ranting to things that the general public have done that drives me insane. (I might have some about myself, and maybe one or two about hubby if he's okay with it ;)

Driver's, they drive me insane (haha, see what I did there?) For the sake of staying active, and getting me and the little man out of the house, I go for a walk pretty much daily. And I live in town, which means busy roads, crosswalks, and parking lots to venture across. Before I was a pedestrian such a huge percentage of the time, I didn't realize just how inconsiderate motorists can be! The biggest things that irritate me lately are as follows
*Cutting off the pedestrian (which = me and Jacob, and sometimes my neighbor and her little boy) We'll check the traffic and start across the sidewalk that crosses the entry/exit of a store parking lot when suddenly someone speeds their way in or out of the parking lot. Usually cutting us off, or getting so close behind us we can smell their exhaust. They have literally been so close at times I could have touched the vehicle, had I attempted it.

*Not waiting for the pedestrian who has the walk signal. Now some of the crosswalks are tricky, as they give me the signal to walk at the same time as the people in the turn lane get a green light. I believe it is technically the law that they are not supposed to go as long as a pedestrian is in the crosswalk at all. Now it doesn't bother me too bad that people don't wait until I am completely across the road before turning in front of or behind me...but when they barely wait for me to get out of the lane they're turning into?? It drives me insane. It is so very dangerous, and uncomfortable for me. Keep in mind that almost 100% of the time that I am going for a walk, I have Jacob in his stroller and am pushing him.

And sort of on the same subject, it irritates me every time I see this cute little card posted online:

And this is the nicer version..

I am almost 5 months pregnant, pushing over 30lbs, and you stopped for me. Do you really think I'm going to sprint? Although people seldom stop to let me cross. When they do I make sure to wave my thanks, because I appreciate it so much.

*Pulling halfway -or more- into the crosswalk at a red light. There are lines there for a reason, it's called a crossWALK for a reason, back your big stinky truck up two feet so I can fit where I'm supposed to. The 2 feet are not going to make you late because you're that much farther back when the light turns green.

*whew* I feel a little better already ;)

Cigarettes also bother me. A lot. I am normally quite sensitive to the smell, and when I'm pregnant it is many times worse. There are now laws in place about smoking in public. The main one being that you have to be at least 10 feet away from an entrance to smoke. People do not obey this law, especially when it's cold. I will be walking out of the store and there is often someone smoking right there...about 2 or 3 feet away. I (only halfway jokingly) told Alex I was going to start carrying a tape measure and re-adjusting people. Seriously, cigarette smoke makes me ill, and when smokers don't follow the law, I have no way of avoiding it. And yes, I will go out of my way to go in a different door if possible. It's that bad.

People talking to Jacob implying that I'm a bad mom "Where's your hat?? It is too cold outside!"
Yeah, the hat is in the stroller, he takes it off and throws it when the chin strap gets in the way of his drink. Where's your hat? And yes, he is in his pajamas. No I'm not too lazy to dress him, I think his feet being warm is more important than him being in "real clothes", the fact that they are footie pajamas keeps him from being able to pull his shoes and socks off. Which he does as soon as he can, and throws them when I'm not looking. He's lost one of each in wal-mart.

The other day I was so emotional that while we were out to dinner, when Jacob said hi to a couple that was leaving, and they ignored him, I wanted to cry.

I sometimes cry if Alex doesn't get the chance to call during his lunch break.

It is extremely sad to have a mail day where we don't get anything. Junk mail is even better than nothing.

I very easily take things too personally right now, and if you suggest that something I'm doing is unhealthy or dangerous, I may just jump to the conclusion that you're saying I'm a terrible mom and don't care about the health of my unborn child.

I think that is all for now. Ladies, have you ever been extra hormonal? What were some of your craziest moments?

Jacob 13 months

This morning I had a bit of a shocking moment. I was watching Jacob play and I realized that he looks like a little boy now, not really a baby any longer.

His top teeth are coming in now. He got the two side top teeth first, and now the middle ones are coming in.
Last time he was weighed and measured  Jacob was up to 20lbs and just over 28 inches. Jacob runs now. He is an active little man and always wants to be on the move, he has such short legs that he ends up with a very unique run. Just over the past two days he has started dancing while walking too.

Jacob has started copycatting too. Whether coughing, laughing, clapping, using a tool, "knocking on wood" etc. He tries it as soon as he sees it done. A good reminder to Alex and I that we are his role models, and that a lot of what he does depends on what he sees us do.
Jacob will eat almost anything, though he dislikes some meats. His latest favorites have been life cereal, peas, kix. Pretty much anything he can pick up and feed himself. He likes feeding himself with a fork or spoon too, and makes much less of a mess than he used to. His main problem is getting loose foods to stay on the utensil he is using.
We still can't figure out which hand is Jacob's dominant hand. Just this evening I was watching him eat dinner with Alex and he was using both hands equally to grab and feed himself food. Maybe he's ambidextrous?
Jacob's also learned "where's your nose?" and for "where's your belly?" he points at his chest, so, close. He gets bored though and once he's learned something new and shown it off a few times he wants to go on to something new and will seldom do that "trick" again.

Jacob has made some major improvements in sleep! I am so proud of him, and so upset at all the problems he was dealing with that we didn't even know about. When we took him to the doctor for his one year check up, the doctor said he may have allergies, since he has had almost chronic coughing, sneezing,runny nose, and rubbed his nose a lot as if it was itching. So, he was prescribed some baby clairitin. The doctor also said that if the previous tenants had been smokers or had pets, the residue from that may also have been causing problems. Not a week later Alex and I realized there was yellow stains running down the nursery wall...and we assumed it to be nicotine. Long story short, after a month of stress, little help from the landlords, and continuing health problems and sleep trouble with Jacob - we moved him to the spare room as we completely clean, primer, and repaint his room. We'll also be paying to have the carpets cleaned. Besides the nicotine we've also discovered mold, and that there was a gas leak outside the corner of the house where Jacob's room is. In one week he has improved so much that he no longer needs Vick's on his feet, we no longer give him tylenol just before bed, and he went from sleeping 4 hours straight at best, to sleeping 8-9 hours straight, then another 4 before getting up for the day.

All in all, Jacob is growing and learning like crazy, has no end of energy, talks constantly, and brings Alex and I such joy and amazement that we can hardly stand it sometimes.What a blessing our little man is!