The Gender Prediction Project Two: Part Twelve

Sorry. It's been a little longer than I had planned between posts. August is a busy month for us around here even when we aren't trying to prepare for a new baby. :) I skipped it last week because of all of Sebastian's birthday festivities, (I can't believe he's three!) but I'm back and excited about this week's predictions! You might even get two posts of predictions this week. Who knows? (Maybe not. This week is the beginning of our school year, and Parker will be headed off to his first day at the Home School Academy on Tuesday! Expect a teary post. Or two.)

Don't forget to go and make your own prediction on our online baby pool. I will be reviewing those predictions in a post sometime in September. What you think matters. ;)

Dull or Bright?

Warning: If you are adverse to discussing bodily fluids, skip this one. I'm about to discuss urine. 

Most of us know that the color of our urine says a lot about our hydration, which is an important thing to keep track of even when you aren't pregnant, but the Old Wives have added another meaning to your urine color. They say it can tell you the sex of your unborn little. Cool right? Or gross. I'm leaning more towards gross, but I felt that I needed to add this one to the Gender Prediction Project or else how could I honestly say that my "research" was as accurate as possible?

Is your urine dull and pale? Apparently, there is something about female hormones that cause this, meaning you can expect to have a little girl in your arms in just a few months. Is the color of your urine bright and cheery? Thank the little boy growing in your uterus. (Or drink some more water, because you need it.) 

I have no idea what this was for the boys. I honestly didn't want to spend any more time than necessary peering into a toilet bowl, so I avoided it at all costs. This time around I've been paying more attention, because I take this work very seriously, and I can happily report that I seem to be getting enough to drink this Summer. In Old Wive's terms: I can expect a little girl in 6 weeks or so. 

Little Red Riding Hood?

This has nothing to do with a cloak or cape, but I'm running out of clever ways to name these predictions. I hope you can forgive me. This prediction concerns your hair instead of a cape. More specifically, it concerns your hair's highlights. (Natural highlights, not highlights that you got at the salon. Sorry ladies.) According to the "experts", if your hair starts to develop reddish highlights during your pregnancy it means that you will be having a little girl. Any other color, or no highlights at all, and you will have a little boy. Simple, right?

Most people experience some change in their hair color during the Summer months, particularly if you are one of those people who spend a ton of time outside. Often people with darker hair will notice that they get a series of sun kissed blond highlights over the course of the Summer. (And they will pay big bucks to keep those year round too. ;) ) I've never been one of those people. When my hair starts getting it's Summer time highlights they are always more auburn or reddish. This year has been no different. Based on that, I should have a little girl in October. However, my hair always does this, so it could just be how I'm made and have exactly nothing to do with my growing little. (I'm leaning towards the latter theory, but you never know.) 

Linea Nigra

Even if you have never seen one, I am sure you have heard of it. That dark, vertical line that about 75% of women get on their stomachs during pregnancy. It's the linea nigra, or "black line" in the Latin. (Though it's really more of a brownish color.) Scientifically, it's caused by the same hormone that causes darker nipples when released by the placenta. Non-Scientifically, it can tell you the sex of your unborn child.   

Some women only get this line from their belly button down. (I suppose it would also be possible to get it from only your belly button up, but I've never seen it.) This is a "half" linea nigra, and it predicts a little girl for you according to the Old Wives. It is also possible to get a "full" linea nigra, which stretches the entire height of your stomach, belly button down and belly button up, and it predicts a little boy for you. Congratulations.

What about that other 25% though? Those women who don't get a linea nigra? Again, Science says that the lighter your natural pigmentation the less likely you are to have the linea nigra, and that seems to be true for me at least. I'm pale enough to reflect sunlight at a blinding level, and I've never even had a hint of the line. Unfortunately for me, and anyone else who has the same issue, this means that there is no way to predict the sex of our baby using this method. Luckily there are many, many other Old Wive's Tales to help us out. For the rest of you, what are you predicted? Does/did your line say that you have a little girl or a baby boy on the way? Is it accurate? The 25% are curious. :)

My Heart Burns For You!

...Or because I've recently eaten a salad. Either way, it burns! There is a bright side to the pain though. The Old Wive's think that heartburn can tell you many things about pregnancy, one of those being the sex. Is everything from wings to water making you feel like your insides are on fire? Blame your daughter. No heartburn regardless of what your cravings are and you can thank your new son. 

Despite the complete and total misdiagnosis of my severe gallbladder issues as "heartburn" during both of my previous pregnancies, (and after) I didn't actually experience heartburn during either of my first two pregnancies. Since both of my boys are very much little boys, I can say that this prediction method has 100% accuracy for us so far. Though I, thankfully, have no gallbladder/Pancreatitis issues this pregnancy, (Thank God I finally found someone who could take care of it for me!) I have experienced heartburn this time around. Not much at the beginning, but as Bean has grown so have my instances of heartburn. It's a new, and not entirely welcome experience for me, but it means that the Old Wive's would predict a little girl for us this time around.  

Heartburn is also said to be an indication about how much hair your babies have. I had a sizing scan last month, and the tech went out of her way to mention how much hair she saw. I laughed and said I would believe it when I saw it. Of all the things my children have, mass amounts of hair is not one of them. :) (Though Sebastian's was so dark that it seemed like a ton of hair compared to his brother, who was white blond at birth.)

Unusually, this post heavily leans towards team girl! As a matter of fact, our of 4 Old Wive's Tales in this post, there are NO predictions for a little boy, 3 predictions for a little girl, and 1 method that doesn't apply to me. The boys are still in the lead overall, with a total of 33 predictions for a boy vs. 22 predictions for a girl. (The ladies finally broke into the 20s!) If slow and steady wins the race maybe the girls have a chance of closing the gap a little more over the next several weeks. I wouldn't bet any money on it, but it could happen. ;)

Until next time, happy predicting!  

*Disclaimer: This, and all posts for The Gender Prediction Project, is something I am doing for fun. I am not a doctor, and I make no claims that these methods of sex prediction work. This should in no way shape or form be taken seriously. Please do not go out and buy clothes, furniture, toys, paint, or wallpaper based on any of the prediction methods you see here. These blog posts should be taken with a grain of salt, and if you choose to participate in them along with me, realize that there is no way to know the sex of your baby 100% until they are in your arms and you are looking at the evidence with your own two eyes. Even ultrasounds can be wrong, so join in at your own risk! ;) Happy predicting!*

The Gender Prediction Project Two: Part Eleven

We have a little less than two months to go before Baby Bean will be here Earth side. As a matter of fact, yesterday was exactly two months until my "due" date, though I am not sure the baby cares about predicted dates much. The boys certainly didn't. (Though Parker was closer than Bash was by quite a bit.) I am very excited, and a little impatient, but I have a lot to keep me busy in the next 8 weeks. (Including finishing up the nursery, Parker starting school, and our Halloween costumes.) Bean can take all the time s/he needs. As much as I look forward to holding him/her, I'm not in a rush either. I'm enjoying being pregnant.

Can't Get Enough OJ!

Who knew that juice cravings could help you figure out your baby's sex? The Old Wives knew. ;) If you can't get enough of the sweet, fruity drink (pulpy or not, doesn't matter) then you are expecting a little girl. If you absolutely hate orange juice and everything it stands for, you can expect a little boy. It doesn't make sense, but I think it is safe to say that I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't have to with these predictions. They just are what they are. 

I've never hated orange juice, but I don't remember craving it more than usual with the boys. Of course, no one said you had to crave it, just that you had to like/love it. I suppose that makes this tale one that has been completely wrong for us so far. I've enjoyed, and even craved, a fair amount of OJ during Bean's gestation, which would mean that I should be having a little girl in just a few short weeks. 

Pinocchio

This prediction has nothing to do with your nose getting longer, but everything to do with it getting wider. (Why do so many of these predictions have to do with your looks?! Maybe it's not just in recent years that society has had an obsession with how women look. Hmmm.) If your nose looks the same as it did before you got pregnant then you will be having a little lady. If your nose has gotten wider or spread then it is because you are having a little lad. 

I can only assume that this would have something to do with hormones or water retention. I'm guessing though. I really have no clue. I also have no experience, as my nose never spread with either boy, making this another prediction with a 0% accuracy rate for us. This time around...Well, judge for yourself.

I don't think my nose has widened at all during this pregnancy. I feel that it looks the same as it always has, so I call this prediction for a little girl. I guess we'll see soon. 

Oh, My Head!

Headaches are a real pain. (Ha! I made a funny!) It can be even worse when you are pregnant, because you have to sit there, head pounding, trying to figure out if you have any kind of pain relief in your medicine cabinet that is safe for pregnancy. (And you never seem to either! Or maybe that's just me...)

Headaches are no fun, but they might lend you some insight about the sex of your unborn baby. Rumor has it that having no headaches is a very promising sign for a little girl in your future. If your can't seem to shake those headaches no matter what you do, it's because you're having a little boy. 

This one has been about 50% accurate for both of my previous pregnancies. I had several migraines with Parker that left me in bed for the entire day, and he is most certainly a little boy. I don't think I had even one headache while pregnant with Sebastian, and he is also very much a boy. This pregnancy the headaches have been unforgiving. I've had at least 2 a week, and they don't seem to have any idea why. I look forward to delivering, and hope that will bring them to an end, even if it doesn't bring me another little boy. 

Mugs & Jugs

This actually has nothing to do with jugs, though I suppose the same tale could apply to an old jug with a handle. Much like the tale about how a mother picks up a key, this OWT wants to know how you pick up your mug. If you grab it by the body it means a little girl and if you grab it by the handle it means a little boy. 

Since I am usually drinking a hot beverage if I am drinking it from a mug I almost always would pick it up by the handle. Just makes sense, right? Because of that, I guess I can say that this has a 100% accuracy rate  for us so far. I can also say that it is predicting that we will have another little boy in two months, but this seems like rather flimsy logic to base my child's sex on. Of course, it's not like most of these OWTs seem to be rooted in deep logic either, so I'm not sure that matters much at all.

All this talk of mugs has made me want some tea though. :)

Another week, and another strong push for team blue. (Isn't it always?) With 2 predictions for a little boy against 2 predictions for a little girl, this week is split 50/50. If we add it to the previous weeks though, the boys still have an impressive lead, with 33 total predictions for a boy vs. only 19 predictions for a little girl. I'm starting to doubt that the ladies will have a chance to catch up in the few weeks we have left, but it will be fun to see what happens! 

Until next week, happy predicting!

*Disclaimer: This, and all posts for The Gender Prediction Project, is something I am doing for fun. I am not a doctor, and I make no claims that these methods of sex prediction work. This should in no way shape or form be taken seriously. Please do not go out and buy clothes, furniture, toys, paint, or wallpaper based on any of the prediction methods you see here. These blog posts should be taken with a grain of salt, and if you choose to participate in them along with me, realize that there is no way to know the sex of your baby 100% until they are in your arms and you are looking at the evidence with your own two eyes. Even ultrasounds can be wrong, so join in at your own risk! ;) Happy predicting!*

Happy First Birthday, Rowan Arya!

One of the worst parts about living away from family is that you miss out on moments. Family moments. Growing up these were always the moments where I imagined the family together. Grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, siblings, parents, etc. all huddled together to share joy, comfort, support...I certainly never imagined giving birth or celebrating birthdays without my family right there by my side, but that is our reality for now. And sometimes it really sucks.

Last year I was on the phone, instead of standing in the hospital hallway, anxiously awaiting the first cries of our new niece, Rowan Arya. Rowan is our fourth niece, but the first from my side of the family. She's the first granddaughter on my side, and the first born of my baby brother, Storm. 

She is also Michael and my first Godchild! 

10 years ago I never would have imagined being over 2,000 miles away when my brother's first baby came into this world, but it's where we were. And it sucked. But if there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that you really can share in that joy, no matter where you are. Especially with all the technology these days, it might not be quite as good as being right there, but it's pretty darn close! 

And my family certainly knows how to make the best of what we have. I might have had to be pretty far away for most of her life so far, but my family has made sure that we get to experience the big moments too. I am so very thankful for that! 

Today, Rowan turns one year old. We might not be there to eat cake with her, but we are there in spirit. And, thanks to my amazing Grandmama, we got to experience the event right along with them. It was almost as good as being there.

Almost.

Happy birthday, Rowan! I hope you have an amazing day, and I can't wait to see you again very, very soon! We're sending all our love from Colorado! (Tell Mommy and Daddy that they will have to come out and visit sometime next year! Budget for it!)

With Daddy and Cousin Alex!

 Rowan with Daddy and Mommy.

My mind is completely blown that she could possibly be one already! I imagine she'll be dating before we know it. (Don't tell her Mommy and Daddy!) 

Because of the amazing birthdays we have in August, I'm a couple of weeks behind on Gender Prediction Project posts, but I will have the next one up soon. Remember to go and vote with your prediction at our online baby poll too. Be a part of the system. ;)

Happy Birthday, Sophia!

On August, 1, 2006, our first niece was born. Sophia Marie had ten little fingers, ten little toes, and was the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen! 

She wasn't due to arrive until some time mid-October.

To really put that into perspective, that would be like Bean arriving today, or even as early as last week. This teeny, tiny, perfect little being was sitting there in front of us when she desperately still needed to be warm and safe inside the womb, growing and thriving and preparing for her debut.

However, there she was. From moment one, she's been a survivor. Tiny enough that we could slip our wedding rings all the way up her arm to her shoulder, her size didn't matter. She was a fighter. Odds meant nothing. Not to her. Not to us. As a first time Auntie and Uncle, Michael and I were smitten. Despite the initial moments of fear, the fact that the odds were against her was quickly pushed to the back of our minds by the sheer determined force of the little soul in front of us.

She wasn't going anywhere. She had work to do!

Her very first birthday card and gift. Obviously Aunt Holly had to be sure there were bears involved. :)

Her first goal was pretty simple. Cause everyone and anyone who met her to fall so deeply in love that there would be no coming back from it. I dare say that she succeeded. She was less than 3lbs, and all the machines, tubes, straps, and needles seemed to shrink next to her already charming little personality. Despite being almost 3 hours away, Michael and I spent every moment we could driving up to the NICU, and there wasn't a single doctor or nurse that didn't smile when they spoke of their little patient. Every single person that walked by her small, quiet area stopped to admire and compliment her. She was a star. A star before she was even expected to be born! She was a star like no other, and she proved it by shining brighter than we could have hoped for!

She was home in October! Home, when many hadn't thought she would survive past the first few days! And people continued to fall in love with her. How could you not? Being home didn't mean she was out of the woods. We all knew that there were many health challenges ahead of our little Peanut, but we also had complete confidence that our little fighter would take them on with the same spunk that she had everything up to that point. So we loved her with everything we had, and we watched our amazing, tiny one grow. (And thrive on the complete adoration of everyone around her! She's been a heart breaker since day one!)

 

Sophia's First Birthday! Those eyes!

Shortly after she turned one, Sophia was "officially" diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. It was a diagnosis that we'd expected, but it still wasn't easy to hear. Everyone had been hoping and praying and pulling for her for so very long that it felt wrong to have any kind of diagnosis that suggested that she might have a harder road ahead. But this was Sophia. One little diagnosis wasn't going to bring her down! It was just another pot hole in the road. Nothing she couldn't easily get around. 

It wasn't even the hardest thing in her life she would have to overcome. Over the years other medical issues have piled up. Again, not unexpected, but sometimes it seems so unfair. She's been in the hospital countless times, and a few of those it was hard to hold onto any kind of hope. Even knowing the strength and determination that she has, there were a couple of times that I stood next to her in a hospital bed trying to find the words to say everything I needed to, because I wasn't sure she was going to beat it this time. There have been times Michael and I have held one another and sobbed, thousands of miles away, praying for our Peanut, because there was nothing else we could do. As the years have passed it has been encouraging to see how very far she has come, but also frustrating to realize that she is not as far as we'd always hoped she would be. But those were our goals and hopes for her, not her's, and it's not hard to smile when you realize that she is so advanced compared to where some people thought she could/would be. 

Nothing has exactly been easy for our little fighter in her day to day life, the last couple of years having been particularly hard. Like some of the darkest times in every life though, they have also brought her (and her sisters) some of their most amazing blessings! Nothing that Sophia has come up against is anything a person would ever wish on a child. But she has battled through it. She's battled through it with a smile on her face. She's battled through it despite having almost every odd stacked against her that was possible. She's battled, and won, and I have yet to meet a person who has brought so much joy and light into the lives of others just by being themselves, because that is what our Sophia does! She blesses the world! 

Today, she is eight years old. Eight! As Michael said, "How did that happen?!" I'm not sure. I still remember holding this tiny little baby that weighed nothing, and now this little girl that is all arms and legs and comes up to my chin is sitting there in her place! We have been so blessed to have her in our lives, and I look forward to watching her grow and change in the years ahead! 

I've tried here, though I can't possibly, to express what Sophia means to those who love her. How she has changed us and our lives. I can't explain what a joy she is to this world, to her sisters, her cousins, her Uncle, and me. It's just not possible. But I can share her, because she is a star, and deserves to be seen!

Happy birthday, Sophia Marie! We love you!

Center of the "pack". Such a loved little girl! I can't wait to have you all together again!