Old Wives Tales

So I occasionally read what I affectionately call the "Crazy lady birth board" which is an internet message board for ladies also due in August 2013. And by occasionally, I mean it's like a car wreck and I can't stop looking even though I know it's so wrong. And Nick doesn't seem to appreciate all the updates I share with him, but I can't help it. I'm a feminist and don't want to think this way, but ladies are nuts.

Anyway, one lady posted a collection of old wives' tales so now that I know about the Girl Cannoli, I thought I'd review the tales and see how many were right:

Old Wives Tale #1: Heart Rate If the baby's heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy.

Prediction: Girl

Old Wives Tale #2: Shape of Belly
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it's a boy. 

Prediction: Boy

Old Wives Tale #3: Ring Test
Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth and it's a boy if it swings in a circle.

Prediction: What? Eh, I didn’t do this.

Old Wives Tale #4: Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, it's a girl. It is thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.

Prediction: Girl. I look like a 15 year old right now.

Old Wives Tale #5: Cravings
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy. If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl.

Prediction: Girl

Old Wives Tale #6: Time of Conception
The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is the opposite of what the baby will be.

Prediction: Uh, I guess girl.

Old Wives Tale #7: Legs
If your legs get really big, you're having a boy. If your legs stay in shape and lean, it' a girl.

Prediction: Girl.

Old Wives Tale #8: Moodiness
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there's a little penis inside you.

Prediction: Boy. That sentence about the little penis creeps me out.

Old Wives Tale #9: Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived.

Prediction: Boy.

Old Wives Tale #10: Mom's Beauty
Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. It is said that the girl "steals" the mother's beauty. If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, a little boy it is.

Prediction: Girl, I guess, due to zitsplosion on my face.

Old Wives Tale #11: Dream of Sex of Baby
If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. 

Prediction: Boy. I had one dream and our baby was Indian and had huge curly hair and a big nose.

Old Wives Tale #12: Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she's having a girl. If she becomes clumsy, she's having a boy.

Prediction: I wouldn’t say I’ve been particularly graceful or clumsy. Pass.

Old Wives Tale #13: Side You Most Rest On
If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she's having a boy. If she prefers resting on her right side, she's having a girl.

Prediction: Boy. This one is stupid.

Old Wives Tale #14: Dad's Weight Gain
If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it's a girl. If he doesn't gain weight, you're having a boy.

Prediction: Girl. Sorry, Nick.

Old Wives Tale #15: Breast Test
If a pregnant woman's left breast is larger than the right breast, she's having a girl. If the right breast is larger, it's a boy.

Prediction: Girl. But it’s always been this way.

Old Wives Tale #16: What Do You Think?
71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.

Prediction: Boy.

Old Wives Tale #17: Morning Sickness
If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it's a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.

Prediction: Boy

Old Wives Tale #18: Areolae
If your areolae have darkened, it's a boy. If they haven't, its a girl.

Prediction: Boy.

Old Wives Tale #19: Protein
When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy.

Prediction: Boy. For the first time in my life I expressed interest in a Philly cheesesteak.

Old Wives Tale #20: Feet
Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant? If so, you just might be having a boy. If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you're having a little girl. 

Prediction: Girl

Old Wives Tale #21: Headaches
If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.

Prediction: Boy.

Old Wives Tale #22: Baby Names
It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby.

Prediction: Girl. But I’ve been thinking of this particular girl name for years, and boys names are a lot less fun to think about.

Old Wives Tale #23: Urine
What color is your pee? If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy. If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl.

Prediction: I guess Girl, but I drink a lot of water. This seems like a hydration issue more than a baby thing.

TOTAL GIRL: 10
TOTAL BOY: 9
TOTAL INCONCLUSIVE: 2

20 weeks!

OK oops, I forgot to blog for like 3 months. I'm still here and still pregnant, and in fact am half way through!

Since my last blog post:
- I've gained a belly, and while I still feel energetic and pretty normal, I seem to be showing enough that random strangers ask me when I'm due. I'm still taken aback by this, and borderline offended until I remember that, oh right, I actually am pregnant and not just extra chubby. I still think those people are taking a risk and sometime I should be like "I'm not pregnant...(awkward silence)" just to be hilarious. But I probably won't.
- I've realized how terrible maternity clothes shopping is. I mean, really terrible, and I sort of don't get that. Ladies are pregnant all the time, you'd think this wouldn't be so bad.
- We found out we're having a Girl Cannoli! I really thought we were having a Dude Cannoli, but I was wrong. In my next post I'm going to examine all the old wives' tales with this pregnancy to see just how wrong they are.
- We've decided on a name, but we're keeping it top secret. I wouldn't even tell the cashier at Wegmans today in case my mother in law decided to question her (just kidding!).
- We've ordered a rug for the nursery and will start working on that soon.

Other than that, all is well. This has been such an easy pregnancy that I guess I can kind of see how some ladies don't know they're preggo. I mean, if you don't track your periods and sometimes go through chubby phases and have to pull out the fat jeans... I probably won't be saying this in a few short weeks though!

Christmas 2012

N and I delivered the news to N's family on Christmas. We had agonized over whether to tell them now, or wait until the first ultrasound in three weeks. In the end, we decided we'd tell but ask the family not to spill the beans until February 1st. Not sure how well N's mom will keep it in, but it sure was one heck of a Christmas gift. My mom joined us at N's family's brunch, and while she already knew, it was special to have everyone together.

N's entire family takes a big fishing trip to Canada every July (aka, 1 month before the Cannoli is due). We decided to announce the pregnancy casually by saying "I don't think we're going to make it to Canada this summer... because M is pregnant." The news was greeted with the expected excitement; I was just as awkward as you could imagine. N's dad has been fighting cancer for over 3 years now, and we learned from N's mom and he was just saying he wished that we'd have a baby soon. That made it even more special.

So, Christmas 2013 will be accompanied by a new Cannoli, and traditions will suddenly mean more. Since N and I have been together, every year we have ended up just the two of us at our favorite sushi restaurant on Christmas Eve; I'd love to keep up this baby family tradition amidst the frenzy of the holidays. This year's sushi dinner was a couple days early, but the meaning was still there. As the snow from the first big storm of the season falls outside, I realize I can't wait to develop more traditions for our family.

Morning Sickness Prevention Plan

Remember my allusion to dreaded morning sickness symptoms in my last post? Well, I'm really serious about avoiding that whole bit. I know, I know, everyone wants to avoid that whole bit, but I feel like I really need to avoid it! I'm that girl who proudly goes years without puking (last puke, Portland, OR 2006. Holy cow, 6 years have gone by?!), and when I do puke I cry like I did when I was a kid. I can't imagine waking up feeling crappy, puking and still being expected to be on top of things at work. It seems like way too much to handle. I'm right on the verge of when the morning sickness could start and I really need to not puke and feel nauseous for 10 weeks in a row. Please?

In the interest of morning sickness prevention I've done some research and learned that I should a) stay hydrated and b) not get too hungry. So in addition to my usual bottles of water, this week I brought the following to work: Saltines, almonds, coconut water, tangerines and string cheese. I may just be using this as an excuse to get some extra snacking in at work, but so far so good.

This week we had our annual holiday dinner at my bosses house and I was noticeably the only one not drinking wine. I am sure some of my coworkers are gossiping about a possible pregnancy. If my coworkers have an inkling, I think I'll tell my mom and best friend soon. Seems only fair!

Cannoli

So, we're expecting. Or, should it be more like WE'RE EXPECTING!!!!!? I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel and I suppose I don't care. I'm excited, but scared. Thinking of all the things that are going to change in the next few months. Being on the lookout (or... feelout?) for dreaded morning sickness symptoms. Reminding myself not to buy any new pants right now because I soon won't be able to fit into them. I'm sure this is normal, and I'm doing all the things I'm supposed to do now that I know there's a Cannoli in the oven.

No one knows but N and me, it's still early. According to the interweb, I'm just finishing up my 4th week. When we found out I read aloud to N all the things that are going on inside of me; I substituted the word "baby" for "cannoli" because it's funnier that way.

I took the test on Monday, and scheduled my first prenatal visit for January 14th. I need to go in to see my OB once before this visit to confirm the pregnancy. N keeps asking if he should come to this confirmatory visit, but I'm pretty sure I just need to pee in a cup and have them say "yep, you're pregnant." I'm lucky to have a husband who wants to come to these things; I tell him to start thinking about things he'll want to ask at this first prenatal visit.

On Friday I made it through my first social event without drinking. A surprise 30th birthday for a friend, complete with bottles of champagne and 9:30pm dinner reservations. I sipped on some ginger ale in a stemless wine glass until I couldn't stand the taste of ginger ale anymore. I told someone I had an ear infection and was on anti-biotics. I asked for separate checks at dinner because I couldn't stand the thought of paying for everyone's booze. New Year's Eve should be interesting.

I haven't slept well all week, until last night. I slept til 10:30 this morning, woke up on and off throughout the morning feeling hungover. N brought me water and Saltines. 

My go-to when hungover is burgers and fries, so, we got a burger and fries for lunch. If pregnancy is like one giant hangover, I might have a problem.